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What is a boiler?

A boiler heats water for home heating, sending hot water or steam through pipes to radiators. Unlike a furnace, it does not distribute heated air through ducts. ENERGY STAR lists gas-boiler efficiency ratings of 90% or greater; request the rating and exhaust-venting scope when comparing replacement proposals.

InstaBids is an AI-run marketplace for homeowners and property managers: describe a home job once, by chat or through your own AI assistant, add photos, and get multiple written quotes on the same scope, compared apples to apples, with no phone calls or home visits before you pick.

By InstaBids editorial team with AI research agents. Updated

What this means for your home project

  1. Look for radiators connected by pipes when describing your existing boiler heating system. Source: Vermont Energy Saver, read 2026-11-05.
  2. Request each proposed boiler’s annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating so the written proposal identifies its fuel-specific efficiency. Source: ENERGY STAR, read 2026-11-05.
  3. Request a written exhaust-venting scope that identifies whether the proposed installation uses a wall vent or chimney lining. Source: Vermont Energy Saver, read 2026-11-05.
  4. Compare the warranty documents for the boilers under consideration and record the differences before choosing. Source: Vermont Energy Saver, read 2026-11-05.
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What boiler job do you need done in your home? Describe it once to start your written scope.

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What is the difference between a furnace and a boiler?

Use Vermont Energy Saver’s comparison to identify your heat distribution system before describing boiler work (read 2026-11-05). “Boilers heat water and distribute it (either as water or steam) through pipes that feed radiators.” (source) “Furnaces heat air (“forced hot air”), distribute it through ducts and deliver it to registers throughout a building.” (source) “A primary difference between a furnace and boiler is that a furnace system’s ductwork can also be used to deliver cool air from a central air conditioner.” (source)

What is boiler efficiency?

Vermont Energy Saver identifies the parts of a heating system to consider alongside its equipment rating (read 2026-11-05). “How well your system converts the fuel to delivered heat (its efficiency) is affected by the unit’s design and operation, how effectively the heat is distributed, and the type of thermostat you use.” (source)

When is it time to replace a boiler?

Use ENERGY STAR’s warning signs to decide when to request a professional assessment of your boiler (read 2026-11-05). “Certain telltale signs indicate it's time to consider replacing heating and cooling equipment, or improving the performance of your overall system.” (source) “Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.” (source) “Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.” (source)

What else should I look for when buying a boiler?

Use ENERGY STAR boiler specification 2024 to frame the efficiency information you request with a replacement proposal (read 2026-11-05). “The current boiler specification is revised and effective as of January, 2024.” (source) “ENERGY STAR certified boilers have annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) ratings of 87% or greater for oil boilers and 90% or greater for gas boilers.” (source)

What drives boiler replacement cost?

Vermont Energy Saver’s guidance helps you identify exhaust-routing work to include when comparing retrofit and replacement proposals (read 2026-11-05). “High-efficiency sealed-combustion units generally produce acidic exhaust gases that are not suitable for old, unlined chimneys (there are also other potentially harmful gases in the byproducts of combusion in a furnace or boiler), so the exhaust gases should either be vented through a new wall vent or the chimney should be lined.” (source) “However, the costs of retrofits should be carefully weighed against the price of a new boiler or furnace, especially if replacement is likely within a few years or if you wish to switch to a different system for other reasons, such as adding air conditioning.” (source)

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