Selecting an appropriate heating system for your house is essential since it determines how comfortable you will be. In addition, your decision will influence how much you’ll spend on utilities and your environmental impact. To select a suitable heater, you must understand your requirements, be acquainted with various kinds of heaters, and consider essential factors like energy efficiency, cost, and your home’s demands.
This guide will lead you step by step through selecting the most appropriate heating system, emphasizing the essential things you must check before purchasing. The following information will be helpful for those planning to build a new home and require an appropriate heat supply or those interested in upgrading their present household heating system.
1. Determine Your Heating Needs
Firstly, understanding your heating needs is a crucial starting point. Consider the size and layout of your home because larger homes or those with open floor plans may need more powerful systems than smaller, compact homes. Your home’s insulation can also influence how much heat is required, with well-insulated houses keeping heat in more effectively.
The local climate also plays a significant role because colder regions like Utah require a more robust heating system than milder climates. Also, think about your family’s specific comfort needs. Some prefer a warmer home, while others are content with lower temperatures. Additionally, consider whether you want a system that provides both heating and cooling for year-round comfort.
2. Understand the Different Types of Heating Systems
Understanding various heating systems is essential before selecting the one that fits your house. There are primarily three types: furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps.
Furnaces are the most common type of heating system. They blow heated air through ducts and distribute warm air throughout the house via supply vents. Furnaces can be powered by natural gas, heating oil, or electricity. This type of system is suitable for areas with harsh winters, as they can heat a home quickly and maintain a consistent temperature.
Boilers are different because they heat water or steam that flows through pipes under floors to create radiant heat or into radiators. Most also provide hot water for everyday day use, like showering. Boilers can use natural gas, propane, heating oil, or electricity as a fuel source. Some advantages of installing a boiler are that they are more energy efficient than furnaces and tend to be quieter. The downside is that they tend to be more expensive to purchase and install than other heating systems.
Unlike other heat sources, most heat pumps are powered by electricity and can provide both heating and cooling for a home. They take in warmth from the outside during the winter and push it into your house. Heat pumps are the most energy-efficient option in regions with moderate climates. However, they become inefficient at heating a home in extremely cold conditions like the winter months in Utah.
3. Consider Energy Efficiency
Selecting a heating system involves energy efficiency issues and their associated costs. If you are most interested in reducing your monthly energy costs, you will want to find a heater with a high energy efficiency rating.
However, more efficient systems usually come with a higher price tag. You may recuperate some of the initial cost in utility savings. In addition, you may be eligible for tax credits or government rebates if you install a high-efficiency unit.
4. Fuel and Electricity Costs
When choosing a heating system for your home, fuel or electricity costs are a significant factor. Most Utah residents choose natural gas-fueled heating systems to keep down their utility costs. However, you may not have access to a municipal gas line network, depending on the location of your home. In this case, oil is the next cheapest option.
Electrical heating systems have the advantage of being the cheapest to install and have a longer expected lifetime than other systems. They are also smaller than gas or oil furnaces, making them attractive to people with smaller homes.
Even though most heat pumps only operate on electricity, the high efficiency of these heating systems makes them cheaper to run than natural gas and oil heaters for most of the year. Some homeowners choose a dual heating system with a furnace and a heat pump. They only use the furnace during the coldest months of the year when using their heat pumps to keep their homes comfortable would be inefficient.
5. Consider the Impact on the Environment
Homeowners have become increasingly concerned about the impact of their HVAC systems on the environment. High-efficiency oil and natural gas heating systems consume less fuel to heat your home and consequently emit less greenhouse gases than cheaper, less efficient models. Heat pumps and other electric systems do not emit any gases that contribute to climate change. If you’re concerned about your carbon footprint and energy consumption, upgrading to an eco-friendly system could be the right choice for your home.
6. Consult With a Professional
When selecting a heating system for your home, you should consult an HVAC professional. As part of the process, they will determine the size of the unit you will need. A technician will need to inspect your home before making a recommendation. Some of the factors their suggestion will be based on include:
- Orientation of your home
- Location and type of windows
- Insulation levels
- Size of rooms
- Number of occupants
- Home appliances that emit heat
After collecting the data, a professional usually uses software to calculate the system size you need to heat your home comfortably.
They will also give you an overview of various heating systems and tell you about the newest energy-efficient models. Once you have narrowed down your options, they can give you a breakdown of installation costs for the heating systems that appeal to you. In addition, they can give you an idea of how much money you can save on monthly utility bills by investing in a more expensive, high-efficiency unit. Finally, they will inform you about maintenance costs and lifetime expectances associated with a range of heating systems. With all this information, you can make a much better decision about the system that will work best for you and your family.
During your consultation with an HVAC professional about a new heating system, they can also offer tips on making your home more energy efficient to maximize the benefits of this project. For instance, they can tell you if upgrading your insulation and windows would result in significant utility bill savings. They will also explain how less expensive upgrades like replacing an older thermostat with a smart model can benefit you by allowing for more precise temperature control to reduce energy waste.
Contact the Prosfessionals
At Main Street Heating & Cooling, we have been serving the residents of Sandy, UT, for over a decade. We install, maintain, and repair residential heating and cooling systems. In addition, we offer indoor air quality and commercial HVAC services. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our expert HVAC technicians.
