According to Burnham's technical specialist the old boilers were built primarily for reliability which meant leaving some energy-saving components off the boiler.

In the old days, they tolerated cold basement air entering the boiler after it shut off. Air would go through and cool the warm sections that contained the water, then go up the vent. The heat literally disappeared up the chimney. In addition to these so-called 'stand-by losses,' there was little insulation to trap heat inside the boiler. And on gas models, inefficient pilots could lose up to 2,000 BTUs in just one hour!

Modern Burnham boilers are tightly constructed with insulation and vent dampers that minimize stand-by losses. Gas boilers have pilots that use one-fourth the fuel of older units. Plus, if domestic water heating equipment is added to a new boiler, the high cost of operating an electric hot water heater can be eliminated.

How can you determine whether these modern features will pay off for you? Older boilers have a seasonal efficiency rating of around 60%. The typical efficiency of modern boilers is about 82%. Divide 60 by 82. Subtract the result from 1, then multiply that by your annual fuel cost to determine your annual savings with a new boiler.

For example:
60 / 82 = .73
1.00 - .73 = .27
$800 annual fuel cost x .27 = $216 annual
savings with an 82% efficient modern boiler!

Finally, multiply your annual savings by the years you expect to own the home. Compare that to the cost of a new boiler, and you'll quickly see when your investment will start paying off.

A boiler does not depreciate like a car, so you can expect to reap the dividends of new-boiler efficiency for years. That's why it pays to work with a qualified heating contractor, such as a member of the Home Heating Team. This select group of professionals is expert in providing pre-winter service, repairs, or parts replacement if ever needed. You can count on your Team contractor to make sure your home heating investment adds up to the best deal for you.