subject: What is Ducted Heating? [print this page] Ducted heating is essentially hot air circulating through the walls and floors of your home through ducts, hence the name. But let's get more specific here:
Fresh air is sucked into the house through a fan, similar to a regular air conditioning unit. It is then passed over a heat exchange powered by a furnace. This furnace is heated using natural gas or liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and is usually located in the roof of the home or outside, but can be stored in a cupboard or other out -of-the-way place if space is limited. From the furnace the now-warm air is sent through ducts that are installed either in the roof or floor. Ducts or vents called registers' are installed in the roof or floor and provide an opening for the warm air to pass in to the rooms of the house. The air inside the house is then recirculated back via a return air grille to the furnace, where it is heated and pushed back through the system again.
Ducted heating is one of the oldest types of heating in the world, harking back to the ancient world. It's basic system of circulating hot air throughout a house using ducts means that it can be used for cooling purposes as well. With add on cooling, the addition of a condenser and evaporator can use the same system to regulate cooling air circulating through your house.
As with many products, ducted heating systems are continually being upgraded, the industry standard jumping forward in leaps. If your home has a ducted heating system built before 2000, it's time to consider getting a new model installed. The energy saving costs alone will pay for the system, which will be more efficient and likely to last longer than an older model.
Making sure your heating systems is running at its full potential is important. If the ducts run through the roof then your registers should be located in the centre of the roof to allow them to filter throughout the room effectively. Conversely, if the ducts are running underfoot, then the registers in the floor need to be nearest the outside walls of the house. This forces the warm air towards the inside and produces a better circulation before the air is taken back to the furnace.
Many newer models of ducted heating systems will have a in-built zoning function, which allows you to control the level of air flow between each room. This ensures that not only each room, but the entire house is heated evenly.
From a simple concept to cutting-edge technology, ducted heating embraces your home, literally, with warm air. The fact that it can also double as a cooling system is just a bonus.
