Types of heating system for home
It’s simple to find yourself raising the thermostat when the weather becomes colder in order to keep your house comfortable. The appropriate kind of home heating system can reduce the load on your thermostat and aid in energy conservation. All heating systems strive to transfer heat to living areas in order to maintain a cozy atmosphere. Let’s read on to see what is a heating system and how to choose suitable type of heating system for home.
1. What is a heating system?
A heating system restores heat lost through your home’s exterior. The amount of energy needed by your heating system to make up for the heat lost relies on four things: the location of the house (heat loss is greater in colder areas), its size, its energy efficiency, and its heating system’s efficiency. Regarding your home’s energy efficiency, upgrading the insulation, plugging air leaks, and fixing the heat distribution system (ducts or pipes) all give fantastic chances to save money and energy.
Keep on reading to understand common types of heating system for home.
>> Read more: Common Kinds of Residential Heating and Cooling System
2. Types of heating system for home
2.1. Furnaces
When a furnace is operating, heated air is blown via ducts and then distributed around the house via air registers or grills. A ducted warm-air or forced warm-air distribution system is the name for this kind of heating system. It can run on fuel oil, natural gas, or electricity.
The fuel is combined with air and burned within an oil- or gas-fired furnace. The heat from the flames is transmitted to the air through a metal heat exchanger. The furnace fan on the “air handler” forces air through the heat exchanger before forcing it through the ducting below the heat exchanger. Combustion byproducts are evacuated from the furnace outside the structure using a flue pipe.
>> Read more: Electric Heat Furnaces – Pros and Cons
2.2. Boilers
In an oil- or gas-fired furnace, the fuel is mixed with air and burned. A metal heat exchanger transfers the heat from the flames to the air. Prior to being forced via the ducting below the heat exchanger, air is forced through the heat exchanger by the furnace fan on the “air handler.” A flue pipe is used to exhaust combustion wastes from the furnace outside the building.
A boiler employs a pump to move hot water through pipes to radiators instead of a fan and duct system. Thermostats, aquastats, and valves that control water temperature and circulation are crucial boiler controls. Hydronic systems typically make it considerably simpler to install “zone” thermostats and controls for different rooms than forced air systems do, despite the fact that the expense is not trivial. New boilers come with some controls as standard equipment, but you can also add more to save energy.
>> Read more: Boiler Heating System Types and How They Work
2.3. Heat pump
Heat pumps are simply two-way air conditioners that operate in both directions. An air conditioner operates in the summer by transferring heat from the relatively cool inside to the relatively heated outdoors. This trick is reversed in the winter by the heat pump, which uses an electrical system to scavenge heat from the chilly outside and discharge it inside the building. Most heat pumps distribute the heated air throughout the house using forced warm-air delivery systems.
There are two heat pump kinds that are comparatively prevalent. In the winter and summer, air-source heat pumps use the outside air as a heat source and a heat sink, respectively. Ground-source (also called geothermal) heat pumps get their heat from underground, where temperatures are more stable year-round. Due to its lower cost and simpler installation, air-source heat pumps are much more prevalent than ground-source heat pumps. However, because ground-source heat pumps are so much more efficient, people who intend to stay in their homes for an extended period of time or who have a strong desire to live more sustainably typically choose them.
An air-source heat pump can be installed similarly to a central air conditioner, while ground-source heat pumps need to have a “loop” dug in the ground, typically in a series of vertical boreholes or long, shallow (3-6′ deep) trenches. The installer’s experience, the size of your lot, the subsoil, and the scenery will all influence the specific approach that is employed. As an alternative to employing a refrigerant, some systems extract groundwater and circulate it through the heat exchanger. Next, the aquifer receives the groundwater back.
2.4. Ductless, Mini-Split, Multi-Split
Ductless heat pump is a widely used heating system, it distributes energy through refrigerant lines instead of water or air. Large-scale field tests in the Pacific Northwest indicate that they can function well in cold climates and replace electric resistance heating at a very low cost. Similar to ground-source systems, whole-house multi-split systems are more expensive because of the market’s relative infancy.
2.5. Radiant floor heat
In general, radiant floor heat refers to systems that circulate warm water in tubes under the floor. The warm water increases the temperature of the floor, which in turn warms the people inside the room.
The majority of in-floor radiant heating systems use plastic water tubes embedded in concrete slab floors or fastened to the underside of wood floors. Compared to other house heating systems, they are relatively quiet. There are in-floor radiant heating systems as well, which operate with ceramic or stone tile materials by using electrical wiring.
Despite its expensive installation, this type of heating system is highly controllable and supported by its advocates as being effective. Additionally, it requires a very skilled system designer and installer, and restricts the types of carpet and other floor finishes.
3. How to choose the best house heating system
The answer can be difficult given the variety of residential heating systems available. The ultimate result depends on a variety of elements, including your geographic location, the age of your house, how big your living area is, how close you are to a fuel source, and of course, your budget. Using these criteria, you may decide which heating system is appropriate for your home based on your demands and your budget.
The size and kind of your home heating system are both influenced by your location. Different heating system designs provide a property extra benefits. A mini-split or straightforward space heater can function effectively in an area with typically moderate chilly. However, a more powerful system like a furnace or boiler would be more useful if you reside in the Northeast.
It would be best to consult an expert while selecting a heating system. For the heating systems to be used safely and comfortably, ensure correct installation.