Throughout the communities we serve, there are two types of heating system we most commonly find in homes—either the forced-air furnace or the hydronic boiler system. Both have long histories, and both have their pros and cons.
The one thing they have in common is that either makes a great option for homes in Tacoma and beyond. But how do you make the decision between the two if you have neither? Perhaps you’re getting by with space heaters right now. This is highly inefficient, plus in some cases can even be dangerous (you definitely never want to leave it a space heater on when you aren’t home). In this post, we’re going to talk about some of the benefits of boilers, if this is, in fact, an option you’re considering.
It may not be winter yet, but with temperatures already on a cooling trend, it’s a good reminder that we’ll soon be using our home heating systems on a regular basis. And having a reliable heating system is just the start—you want it to work efficiently, too. Our colder temperatures last too long and it’s just too chilly to be overpaying on your energy bills.
Do you want your boiler to perform efficiently? Then it’s important that you care for it properly. This starts at the beginning with a professional installation from a highly trained and experienced team of heating professionals. It also means following up with boiler maintenance each year, and managing repair needs as soon as they crop up.
If you have a gas powered furnace, like many other homeowners in our area, and it has a cracked heat exchanger, then yes, you should be concerned! Gas-powered heaters are extremely popular and for good reason. Gas is a more affordable fuel type than electric, and furnaces are highly efficient at keeping your entire home warm. They produce a large amount of heat and for that reason are relied on by many.
Temps are already beginning to cool down drastically this fall. If you aren’t already using your heating system on a daily basis, chances are you will be very soon. If you have a furnace keeping your household warm, has it been tuned up recently?
Fall has just begun, and soon enough temperatures will drop to the point that you’ll need your heating system running a regular basis. What’s more, you need that heating system to work flawlessly—and efficiently as possible. The best way to ensure this is the case is by having a maintenance tune-up done on your system, if you haven’t already done so. For a furnace, this should be done once a year, and is one of the most important 
With nights still on the cooler side, chances are you’re still using your heater on a fairly routine basis, even if it is officially spring. That’s pretty much the norm here in our area, which rarely reaches the sweltering spring and summer temperatures that other states on the West Coast do.
We may not suffer from blizzard-like conditions and below-zero temperatures on a regular basis like other parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have any cold weather to deal with during the winter. In fact, our winters are typically more drawn out than our summers, which means our heaters get put through a good deal of work. For this reason, it’s imperative that you make sure your furnace is in good condition by staying on top of 
We may not get as bitterly cold weather in our part of the world as other states do, but we’re still relying on our heating systems for at least a few more weeks. By the time we reach the end of the season, our heaters have been put under a lot of strain, and the more strain your heater receives, the higher likelihood there is for problems to form, which is bad news for your system and your comfort. You don’t want your heater to break down, and you can’t delay repairs until next year if you want to rely on it to work the next time you need it, either.
Even though our area doesn’t get as bitterly cold as other parts of the country, our winters are nothing to scoff at. That being said, when you seem to have a problem with your heating system, chances are you want to get scheduled