Choosing the Right Heating System

There are different types of heating system for your home and that is why you have to take into consideration all the possibilities before taking a decision. In this article we are going to make a brief presentation of the most used systems be they conventional or not. Another thing that we will try to do here is to help you understand which solution is the best for your household. There are a few things that must be taken into consideration when deciding on a certain heating system, such as the fuel availability, the amount of hot water needed and so on.

Home Heating Solution Boilers

Some of the most popular heating solutions are boilers. Today there is quite a wide variety of such systems on the market. The conventional boiler is designed with a combustion chamber, which is surrounded by water. Once the water is heated it starts to circulate through the entire system. The thing about this type of heating system is that it wastes a lot of the heat produced, and thus the fuel, by heating the surrounding air. That is why a much better option would be to use a condensing boiler that is much more efficient. This type of boiler wastes almost no heat and they are environmentally friendly. However, the condensing boilers have a much shorter lifespan and they are much more expensive than the conventional ones. The last type of boilers is the combination boiler that besides hot water it also provides central heating of your household. The problem with this type of system is the fact that it cannot provide central heating and hot water at the same time and it also has a low water rate meaning that only one tap can be fed at a time. In case there is not too much need for hot water in your household the best choice for you would definitely be the combination boiler as it takes very little space and it is quite easy to install and most importantly really cheap to run.

Other types of home heating solutions

There are also some other types of systems that are quite popular worldwide. For instance there are the furnaces, which are quite used in North America. The latest types are using blowers in order to recycle the warm air. Such a system can be fueled with gas, oil, and electricity and sometimes even with coal or wood. The temperature in the household is controlled by a thermostat. It is very important to note that if fueled on oil the furnace will need an oil tank that can be quite dangerous if leaking. Another very popular system is the radiant ceiling or floor heat that works by heating the floors or ceilings by means of radiant elements. Another more effective way of radiant heating is the hydronic heating which uses tubes of water installed under the floors. This is a much environmentally friendly option and it seems that the warmth is kept longer with this latter system.

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Before You Buy a Radiant Heating System

Installing a radiant heating system should not be taken lightly. There is a lot of research that should be done to ensure that you get the right system that will complement both your home and your heating needs. Here are just a few questions that you should ask yourself before deciding which type of radiant system you wish to install or if you even want to install one at all:

Do I want my new radiant heating system to be the sole source of heat for my home? If so, you will need to consider a hydronic system that uses preheated water to heat your home through a series of pipes laid beneath your sub floor. While there are other types of radiant systems that use energy sources such as electricity, air or wood, these systems may not be efficient enough to heat your entire home, unless the house is designed from the start to be heated completely with such a system. These are best used as a supplemental heat source or to heat certain areas of your home.

How much construction to install a new radiant heat system?

Hydronic heating systems are best installed in new constructions due to the fact that the pipes needed to circulate the heated water throughout your home are installed in a bed of light concrete below your sub floor (though they can be installed underneath a wood floor, this is not the best way to. While new technology has made it possible to install these systems in existing homes, the installation usually involves a major remodeling project. Electric systems, on the other hand, can be installed on top of your existing sub floor directly below your tile or carpeting.

What type of flooring will I install over my radiant heat system?

Since a radiant floor heating system heats your home by radiating heat through your floors and into your home, the type of flooring that you place over the system is very important. Flooring, such as ceramic tile, will heat quickly, hold onto the heat, and transfer it readily. Carpet and vinyl, on the other hand, can work as insulators and keep the heat trapped beneath the sub floor. If you must have carpeting, choose a floor covering that will allow the most heat through possible.

What type of energy source will heat the water for my hydronic radiant heating system? As you already know, hydronic systems use heated water to warm your home but how does that water get heated? The answer lies in a boiler system that is powered by one of several ways including gas, oil, electric, solar power or geothermal power.

How much maintenance do you want to perform on your radiant heating system? Hydronic heating systems are very intricate. They require professional installation and upkeep. Electric systems, though, can be easily installed by any homeowner and require little to no maintenance.

As you can see from just these few questions, there is a lot to consider when choosing and installing a radiant floor system. The upside is that one of these systems can keep you comfortable for years to come and can on average save you up to 40% of your current traditional heating bill

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Efficient Alternative Heating Solutions for Your House

The rising cost of heating their homes has led many to pursue alternative heating solutions. In fact, many are using alternative energy for all of their home’s energy needs and it’s saving them a lot of money. Alternative energy is also ideal because it is clean and environmentally friendly.

There are several alternative heating solutions available. Any one of them might be the answer that you’ve been looking for when it comes to inexpensively and efficiently keeping your home cozy all year long.

While some solutions to heating your home are relatively new and high-tech, there are some antiquated ways of heating that have become revamped and modernized for today’s homeowner. Just one of these alternative heating systems includes burning wood to keep your home comfortable. Now before you go get the idea to purchase an old-fashioned wood burner or install a fireplace in your home, you should know that today’s wood furnaces can be situated outdoors and pump heat into your home using your existing duct work. In addition to burning whole logs, you can also burn other types of energy in these furnaces such as coal or wood pellets.

Although not new, solar energy is just now gaining increased attention from homeowners looking for alternative heating solutions. Solar heating systems capture energy from the sun’s rays using solar panels and converts it into energy that can be used to not only heat your home but to perform all other energy functions as well. With solar energy, you can either choose to supplement solar power with your current energy choice or to convert your home to operate off of solar power completely.

A floor or hydronic heating system is also a great way to cut energy costs. This alternative heating solution uses a series of pipes that is laid underneath your home’s flooring. Warm water is circulated through these pipes to provide a radiant heat that warms your home from the ground up. Similarly a geothermal system heats your home by pumping warm water throughout a series of pipes or radiators installed in your home. What’s unique with a geothermal system, though, is that the energy to warm the water is extracted directly from the ground. You see, once you reach a certain depth, the ground stays a constant temperature of about 70 degrees. A geothermal system taps into this natural heat and uses it to heat your home. It can also be used to cool your home during the warm summer months.

Other alternative heating solutions include burning natural, renewable fuels that you may not have thought of. Fuels like corn, grain and rye burn very efficiently and create a great deal of heat for your home. And, unlike wood, these fuels can be grown right on your property and renewed every year. While wood is a renewable resource it is not as easily and quickly replaced as these other alternative fuels which is what will no doubt make these the alternative energy choice of the future.

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