Forced-air heating system.

This system is the most common type of heating used in homes. The idea is to heat air in a furnace then forcing the heated air out into vents and ducts installed in various parts of the house. This system is also termed as central heating system as heated air comes from one focal point in the house where it can be humidified, dehumidified and filtered then distributed in the house. The air can be heated up with the use of electricity, propane, gas or oil. This system is inexpensive and convenient as the same system can be used for both heating and cooling. Some of the disadvantages of this system are: the requirement of ducts in walls and ceilings; the furnace could be quite noisy; the moving air could be a source of contamination and allergens; the air requires filtration and maintenance.

Radiant heating system.

This system works through the process of direct heat transfer from a hot to a cold surface. The heat is delivered through a system of hot water tubes underneath the floor or embedded in the ceiling. The water is heated by a broiler powered by electricity or gas or the sun through solar panels. The heat produced by this system is naturally comfortable. However, the system is slow to heat up a house as the water in the tubes has to be heated and circulated first. The hot water tubing is also quite expensive to install and you would need another system for the cooling. In case of breakdown, locating and accessing the problem tubing would be quite hard.

Hydronic heat system.

This heating system is similar to the radiant heat system. The dissimilarity is the placement of the hot water tubes as they are embedded in baseboards attached to the walls of each room in the house. The air is distributed by convection as hot air rises as it is heated by the baseboard fin-tube. This system is highly efficient as temperature for each room can be regulated separately. The system is also expensive because a separate cooling system would be required if the hydronic heat system is used. Some furniture and curtain placement should be considered as the baseboards cannot be obstructed by such. The heating process is slow because of the way the tubes are heated.

Date: 2014-12-22; view: 1050