subject: Types Of Furnaces For Your Home [print this page] Are you to the point where you are considering a new furnace for your home, but don't feel like spending the money on the same old thing again? Maybe you are building a brand new house and want to know what all of your options are when it comes to furnaces and the various ways you can heat your house. With all of the improvements in technology and the HVAC industry over recent years, you now have a lot of options to pick from when it comes to that heat. There have been improvements in the energy efficiency in the heating units, and there have also been ways on which you can heat your house for a lot less. There is a type of furnace to suit every budget and every lifestyle so that a family can stay warm all year long, no matter how cold it gets.
Forced Air Furnaces
The traditional style of furnace was a forced, gas air system. The furnace air was heated with oil, propane, or natural gas. These furnaces work very well to heat a home efficiently. In recent years, however, oil and propane became a very expensive way to fuel the furnace. Natural gas is still a very affordable option.
The downside of forced air is that it can become very dry during the cold months when it runs a lot. A humidifier might be needed in order for the air to remain at a humidity level where there aren't shocks being passed back and forth. Dry air also makes it easier to catch colds and viruses. Humidity in the air at a regulated rate is still a good thing, especially in the cold months.
Geo-thermal Units
Another option for heating a home is a geo-thermal unit. These units are becoming more popular as the technology gets better with them. They work year round to keep the house a consistent temperature. For example, if you set the house at 68 degrees in December, then it will remain 68 degrees all year long until you change it. It could stay that way for years and never be changed. The benefits of this type of system is that it uses the ground around the house to insulate the pipes which keep the house either warm or cold.
The downside to the geo-thermal systems is that they are very expensive to install initially. They have a large price tag because they have so many pieces and parts to install and the technology is still evolving. The other reason why a geo-thermal system is not practical for some people is that it requires a certain amount of space in the yard around the house. For people who live in subdivisions with small yards, they cannot opt for one yet because they need more space than what is available.
For really large houses, you could opt for a small boiler that is usually used in schools or commercial buildings. Water is heated and passes through the systems of the building and the heat from the water radiates out through the coils, which warms the house. These types of systems have largely been replaced by forced air systems, but they are still available.
