Recently we wrote about the advantages of gas-fired heating devices over electric resistance heating. Today we'll supply some other home heating alternatives.
First, a little history. Old fashioned steam-heating still in use today in some places utilizes steam to warm a radiator which in turn warms the air in the room. The steam is created by heating water in a boiler. Coal, coal oil and other oils are used to fire the boiler in a steam-heating system. Coal is dirty and oil is expensive. If you are considering buying a home with a steam-heating system, be aware of the cost and the maintenance involved. A lot of hardware is involved. There is a good side, however. People with allergies prefer steam heaters and hydronic and radiant heaters too because air from the outside is not drawn into the home. Outside air is brought inside with some other types of heating systems.
Another type of heating system, gas-fired hydronic heating, is based on the same principle as steam heating. But, instead of sending steam from an oil or coal boiler to a few radiator locations, the hydronic heating system sends heated water from a gas-fired boiler to several long, narrow baseboard-style radiating units. Less intense heat is distributed, or radiated, over a greater area. A hydronic system is cleaner, safer, more energy-efficient and easier to decorate around than its steam-snorting ancestor.
Radiant heating is another form of hydronic (water) heating. Here, a gas-fired boiler heats water that is then distributed through a series of metal or plastic tubes. The tubes form a hidden pattern that covers the area within a wall, ceiling or floor, or a combination of them. Since heat rises, the floor is usually where the radiant heating tubes are hidden. Generally speaking, radiant heat is even and subtle. Unfortunately, it can be very expensive to install and maintain.
In all types of hydronic heating systems heated water is distributed to radiating units that gently heat an area. The better the distribution of the water the more even the heating. This means allergy free heat since no air from the outside is needed. However, because such a device contains water, corrosion and leaks eventually can be expected. Over the long haul, this kind of maintenance can be expensive compared to other types of heating systems.
A heat pump is a somewhat more complex heating alternative that can double as an air conditioner. Although a heat pump is run by electricity, it should not be confused with energy-consuming electric resistance type heating devices. Heat pumps are far more energy-efficient. The electricity used in a heat pump operates an electric motor not a heat coil that runs a compressor and a blower fan. Far less current is used than in an electric coil type.
A heat pump contains mechanical devices that can change its freon from a liquid to a gas or visa versa. Freon can be used to heat or cool depending on its state. The freon is contained in copper tubes and air is fan blown across the tubes. So, even though electricity is used to run a heat pump, heat comes more from the action of the freon and less from electricity.
Finally there are gas-fired, forced-air units (central heating) and wall units. They use gas burners to heat a large metal chamber. With central units, air is fanned over the chamber, warmed and then forced through ducts to various rooms by an electrical fan. With wall units, the chamber is heated and heat radiates naturally into the room. Some wall units can be fitted with fans that use little energy and distribute heat. Units that use fans, such as gas-fired central heating units, bring outside air into the house. This can cause two problems: 1) dust from outside is brought inside and creates a cleaning problem, and 2) sneezing and sniffles for allergy-prone people. The upside is that gas-fired units are comparatively inexpensive to purchase, install, maintain and operate.
