Choosing the right heating system for your home is not something that should be taken lightly. A good heating system can easily last a couple of decades if chosen wisely.
So, how do you choose the right heating system for your home?
When buying a new heating system, you should factor in the area of your house (or number of rooms) that needs to be heated, the cost involved, and the energy source for the system.
Read on to find out more about choosing the right heating system for your home. Also, find answers and other helpful information on related topics. Happy reading!
How do heating systems generate heat?
Heating systems generate heat by using a certain kind of fuel. Normally, these fuels include wood, natural gas or LPG, and electricity. Different homes have different requirements and access to different kinds of fuel.
So when choosing a heating system for your home, the availability of fuel is something that should be considered. Houses in most modern residential areas have heating systems powered by electricity instead of wood or gas.
What types of heating systems are available?
In addition to being powered by different kinds of fuels, heating systems themselves can be divided into 3 main types: ducted heating systems, direct heating systems, and ductless heating systems.
These heating systems can be divided further into multiple categories, based on the equipment that is used.
All three heating systems work in a unique manner and determining which one is the best would be pointless.
Each heating system is best suited for heating a certain type of room or building – which we’ll explore in more detail in a while.
All three heating systems have their own pros and cons and determining which works best for your home boils down to a number of factors including cost, efficiency, space, and the size of the area that has to be heated.
In the upcoming sections, we explore each type of heating system in more detail.
1. Ducted heating system
A ducted or central heating system is perfect for providing heat to multiple rooms or an entire building.
The heat is generated using the heat source, which is usually installed in places such as the attic or basement. Such places are secluded from the main interior of a building yet accessible in case of fixes, repairs, etc.
As the name implies, a ducted heating system makes use of several pipes or ducts that run throughout the interior of a building and provide heat where needed.
Due to the network of ducts needed in a ducted heating system, more space is required for installation.
Ducted heating systems can be further divided into these categories:
- Ducted heating using boilers: heat is distributed using pipes that pump hot water
- Ducted heating using furnaces: air is heated and distributed using fuel (electricity, oil, or gas)
- Ducted heating using heat pumps: use electricity to provide hot as well as cool air
2. Direct heating system
The direct heating system is perhaps the easiest way of heating an area. Direct heating, as the name implies, provides heating to an area directly from the heat source.
Direct heating systems include gas-fired heaters and electric heaters. These heaters can either be mounted on walls or placed on the ground.
Direct heating systems are cheaper to acquire and install than other heating systems.
Moreover, they don’t require additional equipment or supporting infrastructure such as vents and ducts.
However, direct heating systems only provide heat effectively to small spaces such as a single room. For larger spaces, they are not that effective.
3. Ductless heating system
As can be ascertained from its name, a ductless heating system provides heat to interior spaces without using any vents or ducts.
Ductless heating systems include mini-split heat pumps and air conditioners (with heating capability). These systems usually have an indoor unit (which regulates airflow) and an outdoor one (which generates heated air).
The advantages of such systems are that they’re easy to acquire and install and don’t require any vents or ducts to function.
However, due to the lack of ducts and vents, ductless heating based on a single indoor unit isn’t effective in heating a whole house. To do that, multiple indoor units are needed for the different areas/rooms of the house.
One other type of HVAC system worth mentioning is the ductless mini split system.
This setup is comprised of one outdoor unit and one indoor unit.
While the initial cost of this system is more expensive to install, it will be more efficient and save money on the long run.
As with any HVAC installation, be sure to use a reputable company for ductless mini splits in San Jose CA, for example.
Things to consider when choosing a heating system for your home
Here are some important things to keep in mind when choosing a heating system for your home.
- Size of the house (area, number of rooms, etc..). If you have a large home with many rooms, you’ll need either a ducted heating system or a ductless one with multiple indoor units.
- A direct heating system would be fine for smaller spaces such as a single room.
- Access to fuel or power. In some areas, fuels such as oil or natural gas might not be readily available.
- So you’ll have to choose heating systems that can run on whatever source of energy you have access to.
- Cost. Getting a heating system for your home is no small investment. The cost of acquiring and installing different heating systems should be compared to see which one is most effective and economical based on your needs and finances.
How much does it cost to install a heating system?
There is no definite answer to this question since the cost can vary greatly; it depends on many factors, including the type of heating system being installed.
The minimum cost of installing a new heating system is usually around $ 2,000 and that can easily go up to $ 10,000 – or more.
If you want to get a new heating system installed in your home, check out Morris Jenkins, who provides excellent installation services for heat pumps, furnaces, and gas packs.
Final thoughts
Choosing the right heating system for your home is important.
To do so, you need to factor in the size of your house (area, number of rooms, etc.), the cost of installing a particular system, and the fuel or energy source the system will use.