Home Heating Systems: Heater Buying Guide

Unless you’re looking at getting a pellet stove or some other kind of alternative heating technology, chances are good that you should consider one of four major technologies when it comes time to invest in a new HVAC system. Natural gas is perhaps the most common type, and some modern furnaces designed to use natural gas can boast efficiency figures of over 97 percent. That’s a huge benefit for anyone who wants to drastically cut down on the amount of energy they’re using.

You’ll have to consider which kinds of options are available in your area before you rush out to buy a new unit, however. One of the big reasons that Furnace Part Source has tried to create such an inclusive catalog is the fact that many people live in a part of the country where they’re not able to access certain types of heating technologies. Keep this in mind as you look over the four main choices.

Guide To Heating Systems And Warm Air

1. Natural Gas

Assuming that you have gas service in your area, this is likely to be your best bet. They’re extremely economical to run and buying a new efficient model could potentially even come with a tax break because it could save energy over an older unit that offered something like 65 percent in terms of thermal efficiency.

Around half the country now uses natural gas as a heating source, so some organizations are actually helping to run new pipes out to underserved areas. Nearly all of the major HVAC brands provide some sort of parts designed to work with natural gas-fired units.

2. Electricity

Electric heaters are the most affordable in terms of upfront cost, but they’re not as efficient as other sources of heat. Generating electricity often requires a fuel to get burned, and this heat power is turned into an electrical current. The heater converts current back into heat, so you do end up suffering some losses in the process.

On the plus side, an electric furnace can be used to heat any property that’s already connected to mains power. They’re also extremely durable and tend to need less maintenance than most competing technologies.

3. Oil Burners

Unless you live in the northeastern US, there’s a good possibility that you no longer see people using home heating oil. Upfront costs for heating oil-based systems are around a quarter less than those for natural gas, though you’ll have to work with a local business to provide you with the oil that you’ll need to run it. Existing heating oil systems often have legacy parts that may need to be brought up to current standards.

4. Propane Heating

Since propane is easily stored in tanks, it’s a very common source of heat for those who live in manufactured homes. Propane is perhaps most popular among those who live in rural areas that aren’t connected to gas mains and aren’t served by home heating oil companies. While propane tanks have to be periodically filled, it’s usually quite a reliable technology.

Refine Your Heating Equipment With Furnace Part Source

Furnace Part Source wants to help with energy efficiency and safe distribution systems in your home. We have the components and expertise to keep heated air flowing with minimal loss.

For more information on available heating options, make sure to contact us online. Furnace Part Source will help answer your questions about how best to manage radiant heating.