How Home Heating Systems Work

With temperatures starting to drop throughout Arizona, the last thing you want to be without is a home heating system. Home heating systems are an important part of any home, and there are many different types that might be best for your individual needs. Every heating system is composed of a heat producer, exchanger, distributor, and thermostat, but the specifics of different systems can vary greatly. Because of the wide variety of heating options available today, it’s worthwhile to review the differences between them. Here’s a quick look at forced air, radiant heat, and geothermal heating.

Forced Air

The most common form of home heating is the forced air systems which incorporate a furnace that is generally located in your attic, closet or garage. This system works by generating combustion gases that are passed – through a heat exchanger, which then warms air from your home as it is blown across the outside of the heat exchanger. The now-heated air distributes through ducts and into the rooms of your home. Furnaces can be designed to use a variety of fuels, including natural gas, propane, oil, or electricity, though the specific fuel source largely varies by region. Forced air systems can also be used to cool air during warmer months, which make them a great option for Arizona homes by providing heating, cooling and filtration in one system.

Radiant Heat

Available in a variety of forms, radiant heat can be employed by something as simple as a pot-belly stove or as advanced as hot water tubing that is installed within your home’s floors. Radiant heat functions through direct heat transfer. Today, this system is most commonly put into place via tubing embedded in your floorboards, which are heated by a boiler fueled by natural gas, oil, propane, or electricity. Stoves used for radiant heat use wood or coal to radiate heat outwards throughout your home. While radiant heat is considered the most natural form of heating, it can take a while to effectively warm an entire home and can be expensive to install.

Geothermal

Geothermal heating is the newest form of residential heating and cooling technology. It works by taking heat from the earth and transferring it into your home through a ground loop pipe. While the EPA reports that Geothermal Heat Pumps can actually save homeowners up to 70% on heating costs, these systems are also very expensive and might not be a practical choice for most homeowners.

Geothermal heating is the newest form of residential heating and cooling technology. It works by taking heat from the earth and transferring it into your home through a ground loop pipe. While the EPA reports that Geothermal Heat Pumps can actually save homeowners up to 70% on heating costs, these systems are also very expensive and might not be a practical choice for most homeowners.

Are you interested in learning more about your heating options? Schedule an appointment online today or by calling (602) 328-5066 in the Phoenix area or (520) 618-1884 in Tucson.