See also:
|
Furnaces and Whole House Heaters
Although some homes still use a fireplace to heat them, most modern homes rely on
"whole house" systems that can
be controlled by a thermostat. The following provides basic information
on your options.
Heat Source
There are three modern choices for the source
of your heat:
- electricity - electric heat is the simplest
and cleanest form of heating as it does not
need refueling, is not combustible, and warms
without burning. Two common methods are using
heating coils or a heat pump. However, electric
heat is not as efficient as gas and oil and
so is more expensive to operate
- gas - natural gas is available in most urban
and suburban areas. It's advantages include
clean burning and continuous supply (via
a pipe). It's down side is the rare potential
for gas leaks that could lead to an explosion
- oil - heating oil has the advantage of portability
(no need for a pipe running from the energy
company to your house) and low flammability.
Its down side is the soot produced during
combustion and the need to store and refill
the oil tanks on your property.
Heat Circulation
There are three choices for how
the heat
is circulated around the house:
- forced air - a fan circulates heated air
through ducts to the various rooms of the
house. Forced air systems tend to remove
humidity as well and so may require a humidifier. Also, the air should be filtered to prevent
circulating dust and dirt; this furnace filter can also be used to clean the air in your
home
- radiator - hot water or steam is circulated
through pipes (which take less room) to radiators
(which take more room than a vent and can
become extremely hot in steam systems). Optionally,
a fan can then circulate the room's air past
the radiator's coils
- floor/wall systems - some homes use hot water
piping or small electric heating coils embedded
in walls and floors to warm the house without
the intrusion of blowing air or visible radiators.
However, while such systems can provide a
cozy house, they deliver their heat slowly
and so cannot quickly heat a cold house.
|
|
|
