Home Heating Options: A Guide To Help You Select The Best Systems To Keep Your Family Warm
When choosing a home heating system, there are many factors to consider, such as budget, durability, and comfort. If your home needs a new heating system, it helps to be familiar with the different types of systems available in order to find one that meets your needs. The following information will help you plan your heating installation project:
Radiant Heating Systems
Radiant heating systems are gaining popularity in the United States. They are easy to install and provide comfortable heat for your home. Here are some radiant heating options that can be added to your home:
- In-floor heating—This type of radiant heating system is the most common. It heats your flooring through the tubing, which is installed underneath the flooring. The heat is distributed evenly throughout the floors in your home. The tubing used for this can either be made of plastic or metal. The installation method differs for both of these types.
- Radiant heaters—These heaters are installed on walls or floors, giving out heat in all directions. You can choose between electric or hydronic heaters for these systems, depending on your preference and budget. Electric heaters are safer than hydronic ones because they don't use water to warm up the radiators, which could cause a fire hazard if not installed correctly.
Radiant heating solutions are a cost-effective alternative to forced-air systems. Radiant heating systems can also use alternative fuels like biomass.
Forced Air Heating Systems
In a forced-air furnace, air from outside the home is brought in through a register and blown by a fan across a heat exchanger, which transfers the heat to the air. This heated air is then distributed throughout your home via a network of ductwork. Air from the ductwork passes over a second heat exchanger, which transfers the heat to your home's interior.
The advantages of this system are that it's inexpensive to install and can be very energy-efficient. One of the big complaints about this type of system is that it transmits noise throughout your home. As with any forced-air heating system, you'll need to make sure that your ducts are sealed tightly at every junction to prevent air leakage.
Heat Pumps and Geothermal HVAC
Heat pumps are more expensive than other types of equipment since it is more complicated, but they are more energy-efficient. They come in two types: air-to-air and water-to-air. An air-to-air unit takes outside air and heats or cools it before blowing it inside the house, while a water-to-air unit heats or cools liquid inside the house before pumping it outside, where it is then reheated or cooled again before being blown into the house.
Geothermal HVAC uses a loop of piping that is buried underground to provide both heating and cooling for your home. The pipe loops are placed in trenches that are dug during installation and then covered back up after installation; they can be installed in all kinds of terrain, including hillsides, swamps, or even under buildings like garages or shops.
When you need a new heater for your home, contact a heating installation service to find out what type of system will be best for your home.