When its time to replace your current heat unit, you have many indoor heating options to choose from. You will need to decide what type of heat source you will be using. The most common choices are oil, power, coal, wood, natural gas, and propane.
There are several types of units to choose from; each with their own advantages as well as disadvantages.
Forced air is the most popular type of units today. The air is heated up inside a furnace and then pushed through air ducts, which will bring the air out of vents in every room of the home. There are advantages to using forced air. This type of unit is very cost-effective, you can humidify the air or dehumidify it. You can filter the air before it goes into the rooms, and you can add on a cooling system for the hot months. The disadvantages to forced air include the fact that the system takes up a lot of space, duct work can take up space, the blower or fan on the system that forces the air through the duct work can be noisy, the forced air can stir up allergens, and the system must be maintained on a regular basis.
Radiant heat is a popular type of indoor heating both in the past and in today's homes. Hot water is heated by a boiler that is fueled by propane, natural gas, oil, power, wood, or coal and puts out heat in units or panels that is directly under the floor or in the ceiling. The advantages to using radiant heat include the comfortable even heat that you will feel and they are energy efficient. The disadvantage is that it takes a while to heat up the water, installing may be expensive, pipes are under the floor or in the ceiling and can be difficult to get to when needed, and although air conditioning can be added it will require you to add separate duct work.
Hot water baseboard units works like a radiant unit by using hot water that heats up by a boiler. The hot water once heated travels through pipes inside a unit along the wall where the wall and floor meet. As the heat comes out it heats the room. Advantages to hot water baseboard units is that the heat is quiet, even, and energy efficient. The disadvantages include nothing can be on or in front of the unit, heats slowly, and you cannot run air conditioning in the same unit.
Steam radiators are older units that are not as popular today. There are two varieties to the steamed radiators; one pipe and two pipe systems. One pipe system works by steam and water using the same pipe but they travel in the opposite directions. Two-pipe system has a pipe for each. The advantages include quickly warming up to provide heat, comfortable, even, and the radiators can be small in size. The disadvantage is they are not very decorative.
Boilers come in many sizes. The size used for homes are considerably small and can generate water or steam to provide heat. Advantages for boilers include they are cost effective, compact in size, and minimal maintenance required.
Geothermal is becoming more popular than ever in indoor heating options. It works by taking the heat from one area and sending it to another area in the home. Nothing is wasted with geothermal heating units. Advantages to geothermal units include the fact that they are up to 70% more cost efficient and you can add a cooling system to the unit.
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