Living in the northeastern part of the country, winter is definitely the longest season.
The cold weather often lasts for eight months.
The temperature is in the thirties or below for most of the year. It’s not unusual to experience negative digits with brutal wind chill and up to six feet of snow accumulation. The heating system carries a heavy workload. It needs to be exceptionally powerful, reliable and energy efficient. When we built our house, my husband and I looked into all different types of heating options. We considered forced air furnaces, hybrid heating and a variety of makes and models. After a great deal of debate, we chose a boiler heating system. There are quite a few advantages to an operation that relies on water instead of air to convey heat energy. It won’t dry out the indoor air, eliminating the need to install a humidifier. The boiler runs almost silently and provides a more gentle style of heat. There are no concerns with drafts, cold spots or temperature stratification between the floor and ceiling. As a closed system, the boiler uses the same water and doesn’t draw in contaminants. It doesn’t spread air pollutants into the home. We also had our choice between any combination of baseboard heaters, radiators and radiant floor heating. We opted for radiant floor heating because the equipment is entirely concealed beneath the floor. It doesn’t detract from aesthetics, take up space, or require the furniture to be arranged to accommodate it. We also enjoy the added bonus of zone control. With a thermostat in each room, we can tailor the temperature setting to our preferences and the occupancy of the space.