3 Different Ways Of House Heating Systems

Living in a cold country has its pros and cons too, especially when the winter season comes. Contrary to what some people on the other side of the globe think, too much cold can be a pain in the ass too.

So, even before the climate gets colder, it’s already challenging for many homeowners to find the best heating systems for their needs because the market can be a bit overwhelming.

If you’re also one who is still a bit lost at finding the right heating systems for you, one of the first things you should know are the types of heating systems available in the market. Knowing them is a must to help you decide better for your home.

Luckily, you’ve come to the right place as we can give you insights into some of the things you need to know first about the types of heating systems. Without further ado, here are some of them.

Furnace

Furnaces are the most popular choice among the three types of home heating systems. This is because of its numerous benefits. This includes low-operating noise, long lifespan, high efficiency, and compatibility, to name a few. It also has different types, which can fit different homes and needs: gas-fired, oil-fired, wood burning, and electric.

Gas Fired

Gas-fired furnaces are used in nearly 60 percent of American homes. This is because it’s cheap yet it’s powerful. In fact, it can heat a home faster compared to electric furnaces. It’s also versatile as you can pair it with a cooling system, such as a heat pump or air conditioner.

However, gas-fired furnaces have a shorter service life. On average, a gas-fired furnace will only last for up to 15 to 20 years if maintained properly. Also, it requires a gas line to your home. Or, you might need to relocate it only to accommodate the furnace, which can increase the installation cost.

Oil Fired

Oil-fired furnaces, on the other hand, are commonly used in areas that have limited access to natural gas. But unlike gas-fired furnaces, it has a lifespan of 30 years. Plus, it’s less expensive than gas-fired furnaces.

However, the oil you’ll be using can be more expensive as the prices can be volatile. These types of furnaces also require frequent maintenance as they develop soot and carbon deposits on the heat exchanger surfaces. Additionally, you will need to replace the nozzle on the burner unit and the oil filters occasionally to remove impurities from the fuel.

Wood Burning

Wood-burning furnaces are usually a viable option for homes located in areas where firewood is affordable and abundant. According to furnace connoisseurs from https://www.buyfirewooddirect.co.uk/, this type of heating system is one of the cheapest, especially if you live in a place with plentiful firewood. The best part of using it is you can improve forest health as you’re using forest wastes.

One of the cons, though, is the space that it requires. Because compared to other heating systems, wood-burning furnaces eat up more space. And unless you buy ready-to-use firewood, you’ll need to invest in equipment to dry wood chips.

Electric

Electric furnaces are more ideal for those who are on a tight budget as it requires low upfront cost. It also requires no venting, unlike the other types of furnaces, to get rid of combustion gases. On top of that, maintenance is easy to keep it working.

But, as they say, you can’t have it all. Electric furnaces have some cons too. One of them is that it gets more expensive in the long run. Because it needs electricity to run, the overall cost of using an electric furnace depends on how much you have to run it in the winter.

Heat Pumps

Many people often confuse heat pumps with furnaces. But, apparently, they are different. While both help with heating your homes, they have different ways of doing their jobs. 

Furnaces generate heat by burning fuel. Heat pumps, on the other hand, don’t do that. Instead of relying on fuel, heat pumps collect the heat from outside and send it indoors. They’re a bit like air conditioners.

Just like furnaces, heat pumps come in various kinds too that can work in different climates. And each of them has different methods of collecting heat. For the main types of heat pumps, you can choose between air source, ground source, and water source.

Air Source

As its name suggests, air-source heat pumps collect heat from the outside air source. Because of that, it’s inexpensive and it works well in places that experience moderate climates.

Water Source

Water-source heat pumps, on the other hand, collect heat from water instead of air. While they’re also common, they require a reliable water source, such as a lake, well, and the likes. 

Ground Source

Also known as geothermal heat pumps, these heating systems rely on thermal energy stored on the ground. Because of the constant geothermal temperature, they offer more effective operations.

But unlike the first types of heating pumps mentioned, this one costs more. This is because of its complicated installation process that requires excavation and underground piping installation.

Heat pumps also have sub-types: the hybrid heat pump, solar, and absorption heat pumps.

Hybrid Heat Pump

Hybrid heat pumps use combined renewable energy and fossil fuels to bring heat to your home. They are also more efficient in places that experience a wide range of climates throughout the year. There are two kinds of hybrid heat pumps – the ground and air-source heat pump combo and the heat pump and gas or oil boiler combo.

For the former, it uses air-source systems but can also switch to using ground sources when the temperature in the area drops. The latter, on the other hand, uses a simultaneous operation to produce consistent warm temperatures effectively.

Solar Heat Pump

This heat pump integrates solar panels as its source of power supply. And because of that, your home is heated or cooled by renewable energy, which is safer for the environment.

Absorption or Gas-Fired

Heat pumps like this are driven by another source of heat aside from electricity. This could use solar, gas, or geothermal sources. Such types of heat pumps, though, are more ideal for industrial purposes.

Boilers

Boilers are also good sources of heat during the colder months. However, if you’re planning to buy it for your house, you should conduct more research about it as the wrong boiler could cause you significantly higher bills. On top of that, it could also cause delays in delivering hot water.

Even so, it’s also a good choice for many homeowners. But then, again, it’s not always the best option for everyone. That said, it’s a must to get to know its types better before buying or installing it.

For starters, there are several types of boilers. And just like the other heating systems, each of them comes with its advantages and disadvantages.

Combi Boilers

Combi boilers contain all components that a boiler itself should have. What makes it different, though, is that it is more compact and looks a lot neater. You won’t need cold water or feed an expansion tank in your home as you can get hot water on demand.

However, a boiler like this has moving parts inside. They could move or even loosen over time. Thus, many homeowners complain about several issues over time.

Also, before you buy a combi boiler, note that you can only use it for one task at a time. So, for instance, if someone is already taking a hot shower, you won’t be able to use it at the same time, unless you have another one installed. That said, it’s more ideal for homes with a smaller number of people who can easily take turns using it.

System Boilers

For starters, system boilers are a closed system that often only contains two parts – the boiler itself, which heats up the water, and the cylinder that stores the heated water.

Unlike combi boilers, system boilers are better options for households with more family members. This is because they allow users to run multiple showers or taps at the same time even with a high demand for hot water – which combi boilers can’t do.

Apart from that, they are compact too. They’re so compact that you can even put them in a kitchen cupboard – such a space saver!

However, its cylinder needs to be insulated well. Or else, it could lose heat. Also, the hot water you can consume on demand depends on the size of your cylinder. This means that the bigger the cylinder you have, the more hot water you’ll have ready on demand. But, then again, a bigger cylinder also means you need more space in your home too.

Conventional Boilers

If you’re a millennial or a boomer, you’ve probably heard of conventional boilers as it is the oldest type of boiler on the list. Also known as regular or traditional boilers, these heating systems, on the other hand, use hot water cylinders and cold water storage tanks.

And unlike the newer models of boilers, these conventional ones can take up quite a huge space in your home. That said, it’s only advisable for people who have enough space in their homes.

And if you do have enough space in your home, it’s worth considering for its numerous benefits that other types of boilers can’t bring to the table. One of them is that you can get to enjoy enough heated water supply to the different corners of your home at the same time.

And if your household suffers from low water pressure, conventional boilers can still do their job, unlike other boilers. On top of that, they’re compatible with various types of energy-efficient options like solar thermal systems.

But, of course, just like other heating systems on this list, it still comes with downsides. One of them is the amount of space that it eats up, so you’ll need to allocate more space in your home for this if you really want to try it.

The installation cost and process might also hinder you from using it. This is because installing it is more complicated and time-consuming.

And just like system boilers, the amount of hot water ready depends on the size of your cylinder. So, if you have a big family, a bigger cylinder for your conventional boilers is needed. Also, it requires proper insulation.

Oil Boilers

Oil Boilers, on the other hand, are more suited for households that don’t have any connection with the mains gas supply. This includes isolated and rural areas.

As its name suggests, this boiler relies on oil to heat up the water in your home. It helps with stopping any heat escaping, which makes it more efficient, it’s versatile as you can place it inside or outside of your home, and it doesn’t require much upkeep.

There isn’t actually much difference between the other boilers and the oil boilers. What only makes it a bit different is that it requires oil to run instead of gas. However, note that oil prices fluctuate, which can greatly affect your budget. Plus, it requires a tank underground.

Biomass Boilers

Also known as wood boilers, these heating systems run with the use of wood pellets or logs. They’re like wood-burning furnaces that depend on wood. And just like wood-burning furnaces, these boilers are more affordable because, needless to say, all you need are logs or wood pellets to run it.

The best thing about it is that, unlike boilers that rely on oil, biomass boilers aren’t likely to see a price hike. They are also renewable

But because you’ll need to use logs, you’ll need to provide space for fuel storage outside your home. Plus, the fuel it uses might require more work unless you have access to the fuel delivery.

Knowing the right heating systems for your home will save you more money in the long run. It might be overwhelming to get to know their types and sub-types, but everything will be worth it.