Heating Systems
There are many different types of heating systems. Radiant heating, forced air, hydronic, solar, and hybrid systems are used for residential heating. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Every home has some types of heating system; older homes can be updated for lower heating costs and energy usage.
Radiant heating is when you have a large surface warmer than the air temperature and heat radiates into the room it is in. For example, wall mounted electric heating fixtures are placed at the bottom of the walls, because heat will rise. The unit heats up with electrical current passing through the heating element along the fixture. Radiant flooring is another method of room heating.
Forced air heating systems feature a central furnace unit that contains a burner that heats a heat exchanger and the heated air is forced into ducts that distribute the warm air throughout the home. The heated air is forced by a fan. Forced air heating systems can be powered by wood, propane, natural gas, butane, fuel oil, heat pump systems or electricity.
Hydronic heating systems burn the above fuels to heat water or glycol, which is then pumped through pipes to either radiant heat elements or radiators in the home.
Solar heating systems use solar panels to capture electrical energy from the sun. The sun energy can be captured by solar roofing tiles, rooftop or ground mounted photovoltaic panels, indoor flooring tiles, and water systems that heat up with sunlight. Passive solar heat can be trapped using large windows that allow full sun energy into a room, or skylights. Use of a fan to move the passive heat throughout a home can help spread the heat around, as the heat will be very hot at the window position, and decrease as you get farther away.
Older homes or cabins may have wood stoves, which produce a radiant heat that is dry, so some attempt to add humidity is recommended. A pot or kettle with water can be placed on top of the hot stove, and that will produce some added humidity to rooms. Wood stoves can be installed indoors or outdoors. Placing the stove outside reduces dirt and smoke problems, along with wood storage and bugs.
Hybrid systems use more than one fuel, in the same system. It can select the more efficient fuel. Heating systems can be augmented by using passive heat from solar sources with regular heating systems to save money because the regular system does not have to run as often. Heating systems of all types should be maintained regularly and installed professionally.
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