If you are looking to upgrade your heating system or choose the perfect option for your newly constructed home, it’s essential to consider all your options. Different heating systems are suitable for different spaces and knowing what is on the market is the best way to make a great decision.
We know how time-consuming and exhausting it can be to carefully research every home heating option, so we have done some of the work for you!
In the following blog, we will be exploring four popular heating systems: forced air heating, electric heating, hydronic heating, and geothermal heating – and contrasting them based on their pros and cons.
We hope that this write-up helps you find the perfect heating solution for your property – happy reading!
Forced Air Heating
Forced air heating systems are extremely common. They work by collecting air from inside your home, warming it, and redistributing it through your space through ducts and vents. Forced air heating systems most often refer to furnaces.
Pros:
Efficiency
Because your air is heated directly by a heat source, it can be heated and distributed very quickly – meaning you’ll experience a temperature change without much delay.
Simplicity
Forced air systems are simple and reliable. The ductwork used to distribute the air consists of very few moving parts, and the parts that are included are easy to replace and repair.
Affordability
Forced air systems are pretty economical, and installing them is cheaper and easier than other heating options.
Cons:
Inconsistencies
Although there are ways to mitigate inconsistencies, forced heat may blow uneven temperatures.
Noise
Compared to their electric counterparts, furnaces and other forced air systems can make a fair amount of noise.
Space
If you have a large basement or storage room, space isn’t an issue. But if you own a small house or apartment, a furnace may simply be too large.
Electric Heating
Electric heating is a good alternative if your home doesn’t have ductwork to accommodate a forced heating system. Electric heating typically functions through baseboard heaters and fans that blow warm air through the house.
Efficiency
Unlike central heating, electric baseboard heating works on a room-by-room basis, allowing you to pick and choose where you use energy and saving money where you don’t. This makes electric heating an efficient option.
Affordable Installation
Electric heating systems are simple and can be easily installed by your average electrician without much hassle. The installation cost is also low because it doesn’t require the fitting of ductwork and vents.
Maintenance
Unlike furnaces that need to be maintained fairly frequently, it’s unlikely that your electric baseboards and heating systems will malfunction without regular servicing.
Environment
These days, everyone is switching to electrical power because of environmental reasons, and electric heaters are no exception.
Cons:
Speed
Typically, electric heating systems take longer to heat up than their forced air counterparts.
Long-Term Cost
In the long-run, electricity costs more than natural gas. However, it is important to note that electric heating systems are becoming much more sophisticated and efficient, so this may not be the case forever. When you weigh the greater environmental impact of natural gas vs. electric power, electricity becomes a strong contender.
Hydronic
As the name suggests, hydronic heating is a type of heating system that runs on water. Most hydronic systems use tubing that runs hot water beneath the floor and through radiators to heat your home.
Pros:
Reduced Allergens
Because hydronic heating systems don’t rely on ductwork, they are less likely to collect and distribute allergens in the home that could otherwise trigger respiratory issues for those using your space.
Quiet
Besides the water boiler firing up, the system functions with very little noise.
Energy Efficiency
It takes less energy to run water through tubing than to force hot air through ducts meaning that you will save money on your energy bills!
Cons:
More Maintenance Required
The tanks of your hydronic heating system need to be drained regularly to ensure its continuous function. Maintenance and repairs are also more difficult to complete because the tubing can be difficult to access.
Freezing
If your power goes out in the dead of winter and doesn’t click back on quickly, you could face the risk of the water freezing – meaning that your heating will be jeopardized.
Less Air Circulation
While other heating options circulate air, a hydronic system could cause the air in your home to be more stagnant and less fresh.
Geothermal
Geothermal heating or ground source heat pumps (GSHPs) are sophisticated and innovative heating options that work great for some properties more than others. Let’s look at the pros and cons.
Pros:
Savings
Many people are curious about geothermal heating systems because they can help property owners save money and energy more significantly than other heating options. Though they can be expensive to set up initially, they are energy efficient, and you may be eligible for environmental tax rebates too.
Environment
Incredibly, geothermal heating systems eliminate the need for fossil fuels in addition to dramatically reducing the need to generate power. Geothermal heating is, therefore, the best option when it comes to reducing emissions.
Cons
Installation
Not only is the installation process a bit more strenuous than other heating options, but it may require you to make some landscape changes too – which might be especially difficult on smaller properties.
Contamination
There are open-loop and closed-loop options when it comes to geothermal heating. If you opt for the open-loop option, groundwater contamination is a small risk. However, working closely with a trusted HVAC team can help you mitigate these risks.
Reach Master Tech Heating & Cooling to Learn More
Now that you’ve taken the time to explore the industry’s most popular home heating options, we’re confident you have a better idea of what systems would best suit your property. However, if you are looking for guidance from a professional team, Master Tech Heating & Cooling would be happy to survey your property and provide you with further information.
Reach us to get started!