Home Heating System: Which Type is Best?

There’s no way around it: heating your home is expensive. And the U.S. Department of Energy expects the average heating cost to increase this winter.

If you want to cut your heating costs, you can take steps like wearing two sweaters indoors or using a programmable thermostat. But the best way to reduce your heating costs is to install an efficient heating system.

When choosing a home heating system, it helps to know the pros and cons of your many heating options. Let’s look at the three types of central heating systems and discuss why you might choose one over the other.

Furnaces

Furnaces heat your home using a heat exchanger. This heats up the air and then uses a fan to push the warm air into your home through heating ducts.

The most common and most efficient type of furnace is powered by natural gas. Another type uses electricity as fuel, and it is relatively inexpensive to run. Another type uses oil as fuel, and it is very expensive to run.

A furnace is one of the most efficient heating systems you can get at a relatively affordable cost. The biggest downside is the noise. Because of their fans, furnaces are extremely loud.

Boilers

Boilers heat your home by heating water in a tank and then pumping the hot water through a series of pipes in your home. The pipes lead to radiators that distribute the heat in the rooms you have them in.

Even though they use some of the oldest heating technology, boilers can be very efficient. Natural gas boilers are equally or more efficient than furnaces.

Boilers are simple to set up and control. The downside to using boilers is that the system is very expensive to install, the repairs are often expensive, and the tanks take up a lot of space.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are multi-functional, fulfilling the role of an air conditioner and a heater at once. Its dual-purpose nature makes it incredibly efficient.

When heating your home, the unit grabs cool air from inside your home and warms it up. When cooling your home, the unit grabs hot air from inside your home and cools it down. The unit never brings outside air into your home.

Along with temperature control, heat pumps provide air filtration. The air filtration system can capture airborne contaminants, including the following:

• dust
• smoke
• allergens
• bacteria
• viruses
• fungi and mold spores

This results in improved air quality throughout your home. While other home heating systems may be slightly more efficient, the added benefits of air conditioning and air filtration make heat pumps a great option for any home.

Choose the Best Home Heating System for You

There are a lot of factors that go into choosing a home heating system that works for you and your lifestyle. Whether you experience frosty, snowy winters or simply prefer your home to be toasty, there are heating options to suit your budget and needs.

You now know three types of central heating systems, and can choose the best option for you.

Did you find this post helpful? Be sure to check out the rest of our blog for more tips and advice on home maintenance and home improvement.