How to Choose an Efficient Heating System

Finding a heating system with a high AFUE rating is helpful, but it is only one piece of the puzzle regarding finding the most effective heating system for your home. It's also essential to get one that works with the electricity in your house. Some residences are wired exclusively for electric heaters, while others can also use natural gas.

Generally speaking, natural gas is more efficient than electricity, so if you're interested in making the switch, but your home isn't already wired for it, you should contact your local gas provider to see if you can make the switch. If so, or if you already have your preferred energy setup, you'll need to choose between three common heating systems.

Types of Heating Systems

• Furnace

If you have access to natural gas, a furnace is the most cost-effective heating option. A fan forces heated air through the duct system and into the house, which is heated by a component called a heat exchanger (often referred to as a blower). Furnaces have good efficiency ratings, and their low price makes them a great investment.

The average cost of a new heating system is between $2,000 and $7,000. (Natural gas furnaces, as opposed to ones that run on electricity, are on the higher side). What's the catch with this option? The fan in the furnace causes a loud noise.

• Heat Pumps

You can use a heat pump as either a cooling or heating system (the fact that it is dual-purpose makes it efficient in its way). When the weather is hot, the unit draws in air from inside the house, cools it with a refrigerant, and then pumps it back into the house. It draws in warm air from the room, then heated and recirculated. The heat pump never draws in fresh air from the outdoors.

Benefits include low noise levels and efficient air filtering (unlike furnaces, they are quiet). Heat pumps can range in price from roughly $5,600 to over $20,000; there are three main types (air-source, split-duct, and geothermal) to choose from. Will a heat pump help you save money on your utility bills? It could be; then again, it could be no. They may increase your electricity costs while simultaneously decreasing your gas costs.

Heat pumps don't use the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating system to determine their efficiency. However, their effectiveness is measured by the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (for heating mode) and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SERS) (for cooling mode). Look for a heat pump with the Energy Star label to simplify your search (this will help ensure you get one that checks off all the right boxes).

• Boiler

You won't believe it, but boilers are still widely used today. Water is heated in a tank within the boiler, and then the water is pumped through a system of pipes to various radiators throughout the house to provide heating. Afterward, the radiators disperse the heat to multiple rooms and areas.

If anything, natural gas boilers outperform furnaces in terms of efficiency (some have AFUE ratings of up to 100). However, oil-fired boilers are still available, electric boilers are not commonplace in homes (at least in the United States), and neither is the reverse true. Being tall and cylindrical, boilers require more floor space than standard stoves. They can cost up to $10,000, and fixing them might be very expensive if something goes wrong.

To learn what heating system is right for you, be sure to schedule an appointment with us today so we can take a look at your current system and make sure it's the right fit for your home. If it's time for a new system we're happy to recommend the best one for your home and make sure it's as energy efficient as possible.