Living in South Bend, Indiana, means dealing with long and brutal winter weather. As winds pass over Lake Michigan, they generate a great deal of snow and frequently create lake-effect snowstorms. These blizzards bring temperatures in the negative digits, bitter wind-chill and white-outs. It’s not unusual for the area to experience school closings, winter weather advisories and driving bans. We are trapped inside and rely heavily on the heating system. Because the summers aren’t long enough to require central air conditioning, a boiler is the ideal heating option in South Bend. While furnaces are definitely more popular, I am thankful to have a boiler installed in my home. The system utilizes water to convey heat energy rather than air. Because water heats up quicker and retains heat longer than air, the system doesn’t need to run as long to achieve the thermostat setting. The boiler sends hot water through a looping system of pipes concealed beneath the floor. The equipment takes up no living space, makes no noise and provides a very gentle type of comfort. The boiler and radiant flooring eliminates problems with hot air rising straight up to the ceiling. The temperature from floor to ceiling is wonderfully consistent. Radiant flooring is also especially clean. It doesn’t introduce contaminants such as dust or mold spores into breathing air. One of the major benefits of the setup is zone control. We have a thermostat in each room that provides independent settings to accommodate occupancy and preferences. No matter how cold and nasty the winter nights in South Bend, my home is always warm and cozy.