Is a boiler heating system (ie: radiant or hydronic) more energy efficient than a hot air furnace heating system?

Answer: No
Explanation: Efficiencies are set by AHRI which is the department of energy and boilers have to go through the same SEER program that forced air furnaces go through.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: They both use the same utilities to provide heat. A boiler will provide more comfortable heat, but we usually will still need to set a forced air system for Air Conditioning. So double the costs for needing two systems.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Hydronic heating is more efficient because the heat comes from the floor. The rises from the pipes to the cement than floor . It goes in low and heat rises. F.A.U.s the heat is coming out at the ceiling. The floor get very little heat.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: All about the installation and the needs of the customers. A boiler system does not cool the house, if the customer wants air conditioning

Answer: No
Explanation: It puts out a different type of heat and is less apt to dry out the air.

Answer: Not sure
Explanation: In some cases yes but not in all cases.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: I like to say Yes but it depends on what kind of structure/building we are talking about. There are many factors that must be looked at before you can make that call. A design eng. with a survey would be a good starting point.

Answer: No
Explanation: Depends on the boiler

Answer: Yes
Explanation: radiant in floor heat is the most efficient because the temperature of the boiler can be run much lower then typical baseboard or hot water coils on an air handler. The lower temperature provides less heat loss because the difference of the boiler and the ambient air temperature is dramatically less.

Answer: Yes
Explanation: more control of btu's

Answer: Yes
Explanation: Yes, they are typically more efficient but there are high-efficiency hot air furnaces available as well.