Heating Options For Your Home

Homeowners today have a number of options when it comes to heating their homes. Both modern and traditional methods are popular throughout the country. Some of the options include whole-house HVAC systems, propane or natural gas furnaces, oil furnaces, wood stoves and geothermal heating systems. Each method is different and each has its own advantages and drawbacks.

HVAC Systems
The advantage of an HVAC system is that it is a solution to both heating and cooling needs. It will warm the house in winter and cool it down in the summer. A system can be installed that will heat a house of any size. One disadvantage of HVAC systems is their power requirements. If the electricity goes out, so does the heat. It can also be quite expensive to run these units, but new systems are much more energy efficient and Energy Star models are available.

Propane or Natural Gas Furnaces
Propane and natural gas are both popular heating methods. Both methods involve furnaces located inside the house. Propane is stored in a tank located on the property. The propane is delivered by local companies. Tanks can be sized to last anywhere from a month to a couple of years. Propane can also be used to run some appliances. Natural gas is piped in via the utility network. The primary advantage of both methods is the ability to keep heating the house during winter power outages. Both propane and natural gas are quite expensive, however. Propane can be used anywhere, as long as codes allow it, but natural gas is only available in areas that already have natural gas lines.

Oil Furnaces
Heating oil furnaces are most common in New England. These furnaces, usually located in the basement, heat the house by burning oil. The oil is delivered by local companies and stored on-site. Once again, the house can be kept warm during power outages, but heating oil is rapidly increasing in price. It can also be hard to find sources for the oil outside of the northeast.

Wood Stoves
Wood stoves are not the giant, wasteful monsters they once were. Modern wood stoves are airtight and energy efficient. They can be sized to efficiently heat any size house. Some newer models can even be installed outside the house proper. There are also pellet stoves available that burn a type of pellet made from corn. Wood stoves are relatively inexpensive and homeowners with a woodlot can heat their home for free once they have paid for the stove. Disadvantages of wood stoves include a risk of fire if the stove is improperly maintained and the generation of air pollution. Local codes may also prohibit the use of such stoves.

Geothermal Heating
Geothermal systems use the latent energy of the earth to heat and cool a building. A heat pump is used to circulate fluid through pipes buried at least 10 feet beneath the surface. The fluid is warmed and the heat is used to warm the house. These systems can be also be used to cool the house in summer. Unfortunately, they are quite expensive and rely on electricity to operate.

Peter Wendt is a writer and researcher living in Austin, Texas. He recommends you check out Austin Air Conditioning repair and you can learn more about air conditioning here.