What's the Best Heating System for Your Home?
There are many methods that you can use to heat your home, but which is the best? The fact is that all heating systems have their own set of pros and cons. Here are a few of the most popular options along with their advantages and disadvantages.
Gas Heaters
Using a gas furnace is a tried-and-tested method of generating heat. Gas furnaces burn natural gas to produce heat, water, and carbon dioxide, which is safely vented to the outside.
Gas heating systems are relatively inexpensive to run and typically have a long lifespan. The downside is that there is a risk of producing a dangerous gas called carbon monoxide if you do not keep them well maintained. However, you can minimise this risk by installing a carbon monoxide alarm and scheduling regular services for your gas furnace.
Electric Heaters
Electric heating systems cost a little more to run than gas heating, but they are safe and reliable. If you get your electricity supplied by a company that uses renewable sources, then they are a very environmentally friendly choice. The downside is that they often do not produce heat as quickly as a gas furnace, so you will need to use a timer to turn the heating on automatically if you want to avoid feeling chilly first thing in the mornings.
Storage Heaters
Storage heaters are a particular type of electric heating that take advantage of electricity prices being lower at off-peak times, such as overnight. These heaters heat up overnight and then release that heat during the day.
Storage heaters can have very low running costs if you use them in combination with an electricity price plan that offers cheaper power at night. However, they are quite inflexible and do not give you the ability to quickly warm your home up whenever you want to.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump uses the same technology that your refrigerator uses but in reverse. They absorb heat from the air or ground outside and move it into your home, even when the temperature outside is very low.
Heat pumps are extremely efficient, which means that they are great for the environment and also great for lowering the amount that you spend on heating your home in winter. Although they cost a lot to install, heat pumps can save you money over the long run thanks to their low running and maintenance costs.
Talk to a heating contractor to learn more.
