Boiler vs Water Heater: What's the Difference?

It's one of the most common points of confusion we hear from homeowners: a boiler heats your home through radiators or baseboard heat, while a water heater supplies hot water to your faucets, shower, and appliances.

Why some homes have both

Many NYC homes with steam or hot-water heating systems have a separate, standalone water heater for domestic hot water, since the boiler's water isn't intended for household use.

Combi boilers do both

A combi boiler is a single unit that provides both space heating and domestic hot water, which can save space in smaller homes but requires careful sizing to meet both demands at once.

If you're not sure which system is failing when you lose heat or hot water, that's exactly the kind of question our technicians answer on every diagnostic visit — knowing which system is at fault is the first step to the right repair.