A heating and cooling system is one the most important components effecting a homes livability. Before investing in a new system or purchasing a system along with a new home, it is prudent to understand the main types of heating systems commonly found in modern residences.
The most common type of heating appliance is a furnace, usually fueled by natural gas, oil or another combustible fuel. The combustion of the fuel is the heat source, but more important than the fuel, is the means by which the heat is distributed throughout the house, most often a forced air distribution system. These types of systems are associated with floor, wall and ceiling vents that deliver the heat from the appliance to the different rooms in the house.
The second most common type of heating system is the hot water system, or hydronic distribution system. In this system, a boiler heats up water which is pumped through a system of pipes routed to all the rooms of the house. These systems are distinguished most often by large radiator apparatuses in a corner of each room. This type of system is also common in shared living spaces, such as condominiums and apartments.
Space heaters are usually small and portable and apply heat directly to the space they are installed in. Space heaters can be an excellent way to add heat to a space that receives inadequate heat from a larger central system like a furnace or a boiler. Often back rooms or basements that have been converted into dens or extra bedrooms do not get enough heat distributed by the main heating system, as these rooms were not originally designed to be lived in on a regular basis. A total redesign of the system can be avoided by means of efficient and powerful space heaters.
A heat pump is an advanced method of home heating not often found in older structures but is more and more common in new developments. A heat pump extracts heat from the outside air, ground or water and distributes it through the home with a forced air distribution system much like the vents found alongside furnace heating systems. Heat pump systems can be the most efficient type of heating system, as natural heat sources, such as geothermal power, is virtually inexhaustible. Once a geothermal power extractor has been installed, usually under a garden or a driveway, the monthly heating bills can be reduced nearly in half, as the energy source is free as opposed to natural gas or electricity. The only cost is the heat pump itself to distribute the heat to the various rooms.
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