What Type Of Heating System Do I Need?
As the season is moving into the colder months of winter, many people are going to turn on their heating systems for the first time, only to discover that their unit isn't working properly. In some cases, a simple repair job may be all that is needed, but in other situations, you'll need to replace it completely. Depending on what type of space you have, there are a variety of heating systems for you to look at. Find the unit that is right for your home, and call a professional HVAC company if you need any assistance.
Central Heating
Just like a central air conditioner, a central heating system warms up your home by a centralized furnace and ductwork that snakes through your home and delivers warm air wherever it's needed. These units are relatively inexpensive to install, easy to maintain, and provide reliable warm air on demand. They're perfect for single-family homes or larger apartments that need a substantial amount of consistent heat.
Boiler
For many years, the heating system of choice was a boiler and radiator system. Using steam generated from hot water, various pipes would move the hot air through different rooms, heating all of them as it passed. While common in some countries and homes where a large number of rooms need to be heated at the same time, they are not very aesthetically pleasing with today's general decor, and can't be connected to an air conditioning source, such as ductwork.
In-floor Heating
One of the more recent technological innovations when it comes to heating systems is in-floor heating, which uses pipes underneath the floor to heat the room from below. The radiant heat that is generated is usually more comfortable, but unfortunately, these units can be significantly expensive and also don't always work with every type of flooring. You'll need to contact your HVAC company to see if this type of heating system would work well for a home. If so, you should enjoy a relatively low maintenance and energy-efficient system for many years.
Geothermal
It's not new to use the energy from the Earth to heat your home, but geothermal units have the advantage of providing a heating and cooling source for your home while also remaining remarkably energy-efficient. Even though these heating systems can be more expensive than their counterparts, they save money in the long run, since the only electricity that's used is to start the system initially. Once the system is activated, pipes inside the ground use the energy to either heat or cool the home, providing reliable temperature regulation year-round.
For more information about heating systems, contact an HVAC service.