Central Heating System by:Joanna Harris

It's freezing outside and inside too

It's freezing outside and inside too. Maybe the central heating is turned off? And what is central heating at all?

A central heating system provides heat and comfort to the interior of a building (or portion of a building) from one point to multiple rooms. It can be combined with other systems to modify or alter the climatic conditions inside a building such as air-conditioning or ventilation (known as HVACs).

Central heating is very different from local heating in the way heat is generated. In central heating, heat generation occurs in one place, such as a furnace room in a house or a mechanical room in a large building through the combustion of fossil fuel in a furnace or boiler. The resultant heat then gets distributed: typically by forced-air through ductwork, by water circulating through pipes, or by steam fed through pipes. Increasingly, buildings utilize solar-powered heat sources, in which case the distribution system normally uses water circulation.

But should one install a central gas heating? Nowadays, there are many more options available for heating up a room instead of the whole building. Room heaters are a cheaper option. Each room has its own room heater which removes the need for ducts, chimneys or a central distribution system. Fireplaces are another option. They can be fuelled by either natural gas or by propane. Direct vent wall furnace is also an option. These furnaces are compact and cost lesser than central furnaces. These furnaces draw in air from outside and release the combustion products outside through a vent in the wall.

One more consideration to be kept in mind is the emission of carbon monoxide, which is a toxic product of combustion. It is deadly, so it's build up should be prevented. This makes it important to have a carbon monoxide detector fitted in the house which will go off once the level of the gas becomes potentially high.

Choosing the correct central gas heating system may be a tiring job but if done properly, it will lead to a system which fulfils your needs, keeps the house warm and cosy, and whose running expenditure is not too high.

About the author

Joanna is a well renowned Polish journalist specialising in Polish, Russian and English translation services. She has been residing in the UK for 3 years where she has made her home among the Polish community in Tooting, South West London.

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