Furnace and Central Heating Considerations

• Fuel – The primary fuel options for heating your home are electricity, fuel oil, gas, coal, wood or solar power. Consider your local utility costs and fuel availability, as well as environmental concerns, when deciding on what sort of heating system is best for your home. If you live in an area with higher utility pricing during peak hours, consider an electric thermal storage unit. They store electrically generated heat in water or rock to be used at a later time, allowing for the bulk of heat generation to take place during off-peak hours.
  
  
• Furnaces – Choose a furnace that is the right size for your home. An oversized furnace will operate inefficiently, while an undersized unit will constantly struggle to provide sufficient heat. A more efficient furnace may cost more upfront, but down the line savings should cover the difference in cost, especially if you’re planning on staying in your home for a long time. Many retailers offer professional installation and can counsel you on what type of furnace will best suit your needs.
  
  
• Delivery – There are numerous options for distributing heat to the various rooms of your home.
  
     o Forced air units are easy to maintain and can be quite efficient.
     o Hot water units produce moist, even heat.
     o Heat pumps can double as air conditioners during summer months.
     o Electrically generated heat is clean, quiet and easy to maintain.
     o Radiant floor heating is an invisible and efficient option.
  
  If you plan to include centralized air conditioning in your home, consider using the same duct delivery system for your heat – this may be more cost effective than an entirely separate heat delivery system.
  
  

Each home has its own specific heating requirements. In houses where some rooms may go unused for regular periods of time, specific heat sources for different areas can cut down on overall energy consumption. For climates with greater temperature fluctuations, a combination heating and cooling system may be the best investment for year-round temperature control. Heat recovery ventilators can keep the air in your home both fresh and warm, which is especially useful in a well-sealed house.

Regular maintenance of your heating system will improve its long-term efficiency. In addition to periodically replacing your air filter, yearly service checkups can detect problems you may not have suspected, saving you serious money on utilities and repairs.