Heating Equipment
Heating your home means installing heaters that provide comfort and safety to the family and at the same time keep the energy bills low. The cost of operating heating equipment is more than half of the total utility bill. Only recently was the heating equipment with high-energy efficiency become available. Depending on where you reside and the structure and size of the house, you can install the heating equipment. Forced-air heating, fueled by gas, oil, or electricity is a very common type of central heating. Other types of heating include radiant electric and hot water.
Furnace
The size of a furnace is critical to efficiency. A system that’s too large wastes energy warming up and cooling down as it continuously cycles off and on a furnace that is too small will fail to warm the house. The size of a heating system is measured by its “BTU” per hour input or output capacity, depending upon the manufacturer.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are most effective at saving energy when in the heating mode. The problem with an air-source heat pump in a cold climate is that the heat pump works less efficiently at lower outdoor temperatures. Whether or not a heat pump will save you money on energy bills depends on a number of factors, including the type of fuel prevalent, climate, and the amount of insulation and other energy-efficient features built into your home
Radiant floor heating
Radiant floor heating is friendly. It warms you silently, invisibly, and relatively economically. You will need to choose between electric and hydronic systems radiant floor heating systems. You will also need to consider whether the installation will be ‘wet’ that is embedded in a concrete slab or light weight concrete or ‘dry’ that is attached on top or beneath the sub floor or sandwiched between two layers of sub flooring. The right choices will depend on whether you’re dealing with new or existing construction, the type of finish floor you have or wish to install, energy costs in your area, and how much you’re willing to spend. Radiant heating is just heating. It will not cool your home or clean the air. However it will offer your bare feet a toasty welcome when you step out of the shower or bed.