Home 101: Heating System Tips For Winter

As temperatures dip, it's easy to take a toasty living room for granted. But do you actually know what systems are responsible for heating your home? It may sound like a silly question, but if you’re not sure, you could be putting yourself at risk of getting left in the cold.

Heating is the largest energy expense in the average U.S. home, according to Energy.gov. Not only can you keep costs down by getting familiar with your options, but the better you know your home’s heating system, the more prepared you’ll be if something goes wrong.

So, before you get too cozy for the winter, get wise on the most common home heating systems — and find the right local heating professional for repairs and installations.

Electric Furnace

What it is: A system that heats air with electricity and uses a blower motor and air ducts to distribute warm air

Pros: Inexpensive installation and maintenance

Cons: Extremely high monthly utility bills, especially in places with harsh winters (Stay away from them if it’s snowing outside your window!)

Find a Local Furnace Contractor for Installations or Repairs

Gas Furnace

What it is: A system that heats air with natural gas and uses a blower motor and air ducts to distribute warm air

Pros: Quick to warm up and low monthly utility bills

Cons: Pricier to install thanks to potential expenses like installing gas lines from the street and building ductwork

Find a Local Furnace Contractor for Installations or Repairs

Boiler

What it is: A mode of heating that works by cycling cold water through a series of heated pipes before distributing it throughout your home as either hot water or steam

Pros: Energy efficient and environmentally friendly

Cons: Expensive to install and requires a minimum temperature to prevent pipes from freezing

Find a Local Boiler Contractor for Installations or Repairs

Heat Pump

What it is: A system that pulls heat from the surrounding air to warm the house

Pros: Reduced energy consumption, lower bills, and dual benefit; it works as both a heating and cooling system

Cons: Typically more expensive to install than air-source heating systems

Find a Local Heat Pump Contractor for Installations or Repairs

Solar Heating

What it is: A system that draws from the sun to heat a liquid or air in the solar collector to provide immediate heat or store it for future use

Pros: Can drastically reduce your fuel bills

Cons: May require a secondary heating source, which can make initial set up costly

Find a Local Solar Panel Expert

Forced Air Heat

What it is: A component of a Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system that uses ducts and vents to distribute air from a furnace throughout your home

Pros: Takes up less space than other options and can also be used for air conditioning in the summer

Cons: Regular air quality testing and cleaning is recommended to combat allergens

Find a Local HVAC Contractor for Installations or Repairs

Electric Baseboard/Wall Unit

What it is: A type of zone heater that releases heated air out of the top while pulling cooler air into the bottom

Pros: Extremely affordable and requires no air duct or vent installation

Cons: May require installation of backup or multiple units since they only heat a small area

Find a Local Electric Baseboard or Wall Unit Expert

Radiant Heating

What it is: A system that can be installed in the floor or wall panels that transforms heat directly from a hot surface

Pros: Doesn’t distribute allergens and works well for rooms with high ceilings

Cons: Can be expensive to install and repair if a problem arises

Find a Local Radiant Floor or Panel Expert for Installations or Repairs

How to Control Your Heat

Thermostats are the most popular systems for regulating the amount of heat distributed through your home. For the lowest price, you can still get an old fashioned manual thermostat that functions entirely by moving a small needle left and right to select the temperature.

But lots of benefits come with springing for a programmable thermostat. Being able to set heating and cooling options for different times of the day and when you’re on vacation can decrease your energy bills in the long run.

Find a Local Thermostat Expert for Installations or Repairs

Photo credit: Dominik Kuhn via Unsplash