I live in the northern part of the country, along the border. In this area, it’s usually necessary to start the heating unit in late September. We typically find a few inches of snow on the ground at Halloween. We can expect the freezing weather to continue through Easter. We face temperatures below freezing for between six and eight straight months. Occasionally, the temperature falls down below zero and the windchill makes it dangerous to step outside. The heating unit is essential and a huge expense. My house is kept warmer by a boiler heater. The only negative of this type of heater is that it fails to offer any type of a cooling system. Because of the extreme weather in my location, this isn’t a concern. I look forward to having the windows wide open in the summer. I enjoy the smell of the fresh air as well as the cost savings. During the winter months, the boiler keeps the house perfectly warm. It is a hydronic plan. It relies on water to transfer heat energy from the boiler to the rooms of the house. There is a series of pipes hidden under the floorboards which carry the heated water. The heat is dispersed evenly across the floor, from corner to corner, and this heat rises slowly. There are no cold drafts or uneven temperatures. The objects standing on the floor get warmed up and also radiate heat. The radiant floors enable me to maintain a lower than normal thermostat setting without diminishing comfort. Plus, the heating plan offers zone control which encourages further savings. I’m not heating empty rooms to the ideal temperature. I can answer to personal preferences and target more heat those areas that tend to feel cold on especially freezing days.