Waukesha is a historic city with Victorian-era neighborhoods along the Fox River, the McCall Street Historic District, and diverse housing from the 1880s through today. For homeowners throughout Waukesha County who rely on a boiler for home heating — or who want to add one — Burkhardt Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric brings over 60 years of experience installing and replacing boiler systems across southeastern Wisconsin. historic Waukesha homes are among the best boiler conversion candidates in the metro — steam-to-hot-water upgrades are common and transformative.
High-Efficiency Condensing Boilers
Today's condensing boilers are a major step forward from the cast-iron systems that heated Queen Anne, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Bungalow homes alongside mid-century and newer construction for decades. Standard boilers waste a significant share of fuel energy through exhaust gases. A condensing boiler captures that waste heat by cooling exhaust until it condenses, extracting an additional round of energy before venting. The result: AFUE ratings of 90–98%, versus 60–80% for older equipment. For Waukesha homeowners heating through long Wisconsin winters, that efficiency gap has a measurable impact on annual energy bills.
Radiant Floor Heating
High-efficiency condensing boilers pair naturally with radiant floor heating systems, which warm floors and objects directly rather than circulating hot air. The result is even temperature distribution, no cold spots, and a comfort level that forced-air systems can't replicate. Waukesha County homeowners adding finished basements, tile floors, or open-concept spaces are increasingly including radiant floors — and a properly sized condensing boiler is the most efficient way to power them.
Steam-to-Hot-Water Conversions
Many of the older Queen Anne, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, and Bungalow homes alongside mid-century and newer construction throughout Waukesha were originally heated by steam boiler systems. Steam systems are more complex to maintain, prone to comfort inconsistencies, and typically less efficient than modern hot-water systems. Converting to a hot-water condensing boiler with updated distribution improves comfort, simplifies maintenance, and cuts fuel consumption. Burkhardt crews have completed hundreds of these conversions across the Milwaukee metro.
Right-sizing matters: an oversized boiler short-cycles and wears out faster; an undersized one can't keep up on January nights. Our technicians perform a full heat-loss calculation before specifying any new system.
GreenSky financing is available for qualifying customers. Call 414-206-3049 to schedule a boiler consultation in Waukesha.
Radiant Heating Systems
Many boiler systems in Southeastern Wisconsin power radiant floor heating — one of the most comfortable and energy-efficient heating methods available. Our technicians are experienced with hydronic radiant systems, including in-floor tubing, baseboard radiators, and cast iron radiator systems found in older Milwaukee-area homes. Whether you need radiant system repairs, zone valve replacement, or a new radiant floor installation, we handle the complete system.
We work on all boiler brands including Weil-McLain, Burnham, Buderus, Lochinvar, Navien, Slant/Fin, Crown, Peerless, and Utica. From cast iron steam boilers in older Milwaukee homes to modern high-efficiency condensing units, we've seen and repaired them all.
How do I know if my Waukesha home's boiler should be replaced rather than repaired?
Boilers typically last 15 to 25 years with proper maintenance. Replacement usually makes more economic sense when: the system is over 20 years old, repair costs exceed half the cost of a new unit, efficiency has declined noticeably, or the system requires frequent service calls. Our technicians will give you an honest assessment of whether repair or replacement is the better investment.
Can a new boiler handle both heating and domestic hot water in my Waukesha home?
Yes. Many modern condensing boilers can be configured as combination (combi) units that handle both space heating and domestic hot water, eliminating the need for a separate water heater. This is particularly attractive in Waukesha homes with limited mechanical room space. We'll evaluate your home's hot water demand and heating load to determine whether a combi unit or separate systems are the better fit.
Related Services
Learn more about our HVAC services across southeastern Wisconsin.
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Call Us At: (414) 206-3049
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