Winter is fast approaching, and now is the time to ensure your home heating systems are in efficient, working order so that you don’t have to go cold through the winter months. Some of you will, unfortunately, find that your current heating systems are well and truly due for replacement.
But wait, before you go and replace your existing heater with the exact same old system you always choose, first consider these relatively unknown heating types that have some fantastic benefits over more conventional heating methods.
Geothermal Heating
Geothermal heating is taking heat from the earth itself and transferring it into your home.
How it works
A heat pump situated above ground moves water throughout a series of buried underground pipes.
These pipes go deep enough below ground to access the earth’s natural heat, this heat is then absorbed by the pipes and the water within.
The heated water is then pumped back to the building where it is used to heat the house.
The water is then recirculated back through the pipes, and the process continues like this.
Main Benefits
- Considered a renewable resource
- Very efficient
- Cheap to run
You can learn more about geothermal heating at the EPA website here.
Pellet Stove
Pellet stoves have been around for a while now, but are still relatively unknown despite their impressive efficiency.
They involve burning biomass pellets in a fireplace like system to provide radiant heat.
How it works
Pellet stoves are similar to your standard wood fireplace, but with a few key differences:
- They burn a pellet fuel commonly made from waste products
- The pellets are fed automatically into a specially designed burn chamber which burns the pellets very efficiently.
- The heat is captured by the stove and transferred by a fan to the space to be heated.
Main Benefits
- Very efficient
- Pellets are made from waste products that would typically be thrown out
- Provides radiant heat, just like a wood fireplace
- Low emissions due to high burn efficiency
In-Floor Heating
In-floor heating is exactly what it sounds like, heating that is situated in the floor of your home – usually in the concrete slab.
How It works
An in-floor heating system uses a series of electric coils or pipes filled with warm water to heat up the floor itself and radiates heat up through the floor into the desired areas.
Main Benefits
- Long lasting – will outlast almost any other system
- With a warm floor, the thermostat can be set to a lower temperature while remaining comfortable
- Totally silent – no noisy fans
- Can be selectively installed to heat only specific rooms or areas
Active Solar Heating
Active solar heating involves solar collectors that are placed on the roof or ground in direct sunlight.
How It Works
Water is pumped through these collectors to absorb the solar energy and returned to a holding tank.
The warm water is then pushed through a heating coil, which has a fan blowing air past the heating coil, and then into the area to be heated.
There is a backup electric heating system for when cloudy days prevent the water from heating up to sufficient temperatures.
Main Benefits
- Cheap to run – Uses only a small amount of electricity
- Environmentally friendly
Choosing The Right Heating System
As you can see, there are many more options for heating your home than you are probably aware of.
Do yourself a favor and take your time to do the research and pick the right heating system for our home. Remember: just because a heating system is the most popular, doesn’t mean it is the best choice for you.
