Traditional Furnaces
Furnaces are a type of equipment that draw air from the house into a ductwork system. The air will be warmed and then will be delivered back to the living space. A furnace may be fueled with:
- Gas: this type of furnace has a pilot light that warms a heat exchange unit. This unit warms the air and after that circulates the air back to the room. These heaters have a sort of flue that vents the exhausts air to the outside.
- Oil: works in the same way as those fueled by gas.
- Electricicity: these furnaces use strips, or elements, that warm the air.
- Wood: these ones have a sealed firebox that burns the fuel and a heat exchanger that warms the air before it is delivered.
- Coal: it works just like the ones that use wood.
Besides raising the ambient temperature, the traditional furnaces, in general, have a filter that helps rid the house of dust.
Electric Heat Pumps
These types of heater work by withdrawing the heated air from one place and taking it into another.
Radiant Baseboard Heat
These types of heaters are usually used as a home's sole source of heat or as supplemental heat in rooms cooler than others. They are the best option for rooms where it is difficult to install ductwork. In general, these heaters are more expensive than the furnaces. An advantage of these systems is that they heat objects and people without heating the air around, which creates an even more comfortable space.
Radiant Ceiling Or Floor Heat
These systems warm objects just like the sun does. The usual blowers are not required in these systems. Another example of radiant heaters is hydronic heating. In this system, hot water flows through tubes under the floor or through units that resemble baseboard heaters. A common use for hydronic heating has to do with installing it in doorways in order to avoid snow and ice from accumulating.
Patio Heaters
Enjoying some time in the outdoors during winter may be impossible but nstalling patio heaters, besides creating a warmer ambient temperature, also creates a charming and comfortable environment.
These patio heaters can be fueled either by electricity or gas. In case you choose a heater that uses gas, a good option would be using natural gas. Besides the great capability of heating large spaces, electric patio heaters are in general pretty economical to operate.
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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Heaters
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