There are several types of heating systems that can be used to provide efficient heat throughout the home. No matter what the system is, the common purpose of the heating equipment is to provide thermal energy from a fuel to the interior environment of the home. From a wide range of fuels and mechanical systems, let’s dive into the different heating systems that exist.
Furnaces are the most common heating system installed in homes. It is fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, fuel oil, or electricity. This system makes use of air ducts installed throughout the home to distribute the warmed air. Furnaces can also remove dust and are fairly affordable. However, it can be noisy and need frequent maintenance.
Gravity air systems operate by the simple physics of warm air rising and cool air sinking. The system uses metal ducts to distribute the warmed air to the other rooms in the home while the cool air is returned to the furnace heat exchange chamber via a system of cold-air return ducts. This system is highly dependable and requires little maintenance but the temperature adjustments can be slow.
Radiators work differently compared to furnaces and gravity air. Radiators transfer heat to areas of the home where it is cool. One of the common applications of this system is radiant floor heating, in which hot water tubing or electrical wires warm up a mortar or ceramic tile floor to radiate heat into the room. This system is highly energy efficient but the system can take more time to heat up.
Boilers are another common heating system for homeowners. The boiler can be fueled by natural gas, liquid propane, fuel oil, or electricity. The heat produced by steam or hot water circulates through metal pipes to radiators shaped to facilitate the transfer of thermal energy. This system is quite energy efficient and can be updated to a low-profile baseboard or wall-panel radiators. However, their locations can limit furniture placement and window coverings and they cannot be combined with air conditioning.
These are some of the different types of heating systems that exist and which are widely used by homeowners. This post can help you choose the one that best suits your needs. Click here to learn about the 10 best electric heaters for homeowners in 2018.