If your heating system is not working effectively, it’s time to call in a professional. Uneven heating can be a sign that your system is getting older and losing efficiency.
Heating units include furnaces that provide heated air through ductwork, boilers that heat water for steam radiators and heat pumps that offer energy-efficient heating and cooling for homes without ducts.
Gas Furnace
A gas furnace (also called a “combustion furnace”) heats your home with the combustion of natural or propane gas. A burner within your furnace ignites the fuel, which heats a metal heat exchanger that transfers that energy to cold air. The exhaust from the combustion is then vented outside your home through a vent pipe.
Your furnace runs on a control circuit board that deciphers signals from your thermostat when it senses that you want to heat your house. The controller opens the gas valve and activates the blower fan.
The hot heat exchanger then blows conditioned air into your home via ductwork. It’s important to note that the blower fan can operate at multiple speeds to achieve greater energy efficiency. Heating costs account for a considerable portion of a home’s energy bill, so it’s wise to invest in a high-efficiency gas furnace. This will recoup the upfront investment with lower utility costs over time.
Electric Furnace
An electric furnace uses a motor to generate heat for your home. Look for 1-2 large wires (at least 240 volts) running from your home to the heater. Inside the furnace, a transformer reduces the voltage to 24 volts and directs that electricity to the thermostat. The thermostat relays that signal to turn on the heating elements until the desired temperature is reached.
A blower fan and filters keep the furnace clean and distribute the heated air. You can even choose to add zone heating for a more targeted heating of rooms in your home.
An electric furnace is affordable to buy and install. However, it requires a higher usage of electricity to operate than other heating systems and can result in high energy bills.
Electric Radiator
Electric radiators are a great long-term heating option for your home. They offer quick and versatile installation as they don’t need a gas pipe to operate and can be plugged in anywhere in your home. They are also easy to maintain and control.
With the birth of the digital age, electrical heaters have been able to evolve into much more sophisticated appliances. As an example, Haverland RC Wave electric radiators have LED screens and digital controls which allow for precise and accurate heating management.
The programmability of electric heating systems can really help with managing your energy usage and reducing your heating bills. By using electronic thermostats with a +-0.2 degC level of accuracy, electric radiators can monitor room temperatures and respond to them accordingly. This reduces power consumption and unnecessary heating, particularly when used with well-insulated homes. This, combined with full 24/7 programming, allows you to save money and use the bare minimum of energy in your home.
Oil Furnace
Furnaces use heating oil to heat the air, which is then distributed throughout the house through ducts. These systems tend to be more expensive than gas furnaces, but they can save money over time if maintained properly. They are also more dependable as they do not have to rely on the availability of natural gas.
These systems also require a fuel tank, which can be located indoors or outside the home. They are prone to leaks, so the tanks must be inspected regularly. It is also important to have a heat loss calculation done in order to ensure that the furnace is properly sized for the home.
Heating oil can be more costly than other options, but new innovations have increased the efficiency of this energy source. Modern oil furnaces can have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of up to 95%. This makes them more efficient than older models, which may only have an AFUE of up to 60%.