When it comes to home heating systems there are three major categories: central heat, direct heat, and state-of-the-art heating systems, and within each, there are multiple types of heating appliances.
This time of year, the weather is turning cold and people are turning up their heat. How often do you think about the type of heat you use in your house and not just the fuel it uses for energy? Do you know if it is the best type for your home – do you even know what the many options out there are? When it comes to home heating systems there are three major categories: central heat, direct heat, and state-of-the-art heating systems, and within each, there are multiple types of heating appliances.
Central Heat Systems
Central heat systems are designed to heat the entire house. The most popular type in North America is the furnace, which burns fuel (usually gas or oil) to heat air, which is then circulated through the house to warm the rooms. These systems use ducts to carry the warmed air, and that air is pumped directly into the rooms through vents. A similar system is a boiler, which heats water instead of air, and that water is pumped through pipes to radiators or other devices throughout the house. These radiators then give off heat and warm the rooms. Finally, heat pumps use an outside source of warmth as a heat source (either the air or the ground) and deliver that heat inside through electrical means. Heat pumps tend to be more expensive systems because they are far more efficient than any other heating system.
Direct Heat Systems
Direct heating systems are most often used for heating a single room at a time. Examples include a pellet stove or fireplace to warm a living room or an electric space heater for a bedroom. Wood burning stoves are making a comeback as a popular addition to a kitchen, where they may even serve double-duty as a cooking appliance.
State-Of-The-Art Heating Systems
One of the most popular options in this category is radiant floor heating, which circulates warmed water in tubes under the floor to warm the floor. This is a good way to warm up a small space like a bathroom or mudroom. Ductless heat pump systems that use refrigerant lines to distribute energy (rather than water or air) are another state-of-the-art system, though much less common in this country, for the time being.
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