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Getting the facts about popular heating equipmentResidential Furnaces and BoilersFurnaces and boilers are the most common home heating equipment nowadays. A furnace works by drawing air inside a heat exchanger, where it is warmed with a flame of natural gas, propane or fuel oil, or with heated electric coils. A blower sends the warmed air through the house via metal ducts; it enters the room through a register or grills in the floor or wall. Indoor air is circulated continuously through the system, so a furnace filter is used to contain dust, pollen and other airborne particles. Electric Heat Pumps Another example of home heating system is an electric heat pump. This unit works by moving existing heat from one area to another in one of three ways: • Air-to-air: A condenser absorbs heat from the outdoor air (even the coldest air contains some heat) and transfers it to an indoor heat exchanger inside the home. Indoor air is warmed in the heat exchanger and circulated throughout the home. During the summer, the process is reversed to cool and dehumidify the home. • Water-to-air: Instead of extracting heat from outside air, this type of pump absorbs heat from ground water or surface water, such as a farm pond. • Ground-to-air: Also known as a geothermal system, this type of heat pump uses underground loops to absorb heat from the earth. Geothermal systems are usually installed in newly-built homes, but can also be used in existing home. One advantage of this type of heating equipment is that it provides both heating and cooling capabilities in one unit. Electric heat pumps are usually supplemented with a backup system, such as radiant floor heaters or baseboard units, in case of extended periods of extreme temperatures. Heat pumps also use filters to reduce airborne particles and keep the heating equipment clean. Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Heat Pump Water Heaters are 2 to 3 times more efficient than conventional water heaters because they transport heat from a source (e.g., outside air or air inside a building) rather than producing it by combusting gas or using electric resistance elements. Commercial HPWH systems have installed costs that are several times that of gas or electric water heaters; however their lifecycle costs can be significantly lower because of their greatly reduced operating costs. This heating equipment becomes increasingly attractive in building applications where energy costs are high, and where there is a steady demand for hot water. |
An older home might have a boiler, fueled by natural gas, liquid propane or fuel oil. A boiler works by heating water and circulating it through pipes to radiators, where it warms the surrounding air. Unlike a furnace, a boiler doesn't circulate air throughout the house, which is why the air in a boiler-heated home that is not well ventilated might seem "stuffier." Although older forced-air and hot water boiler systems had efficiencies in the range of 56% to 70%, modern types of heating equipment can achieve efficiencies as high as 97%, converting nearly all the fuel to useful heat for the home. Conservation efforts and a new high-efficiency heating system can often cut fuel bills and furnace's pollution output in half.