Picking the right heating system that provides comfort to your Scottsdale, AZ, home can be a challenging task. With the winter season fast approaching, you must ensure that your home has the best heating system to maintain your comfort. Below are things to consider when choosing the right system for your home.
Choose Your Heating System Type
The current market has various heating systems. When coming up with the right system that suits your home, you must consider your home’s size, fuel to use when operating the system and your indoor winter temperature. However, before considering the above factors, you must understand the different types of heating systems.
Natural gas is your go-to furnace when it comes to efficiency since it works with your home’s gas distribution system. Furnaces that heat large and medium homes require a floor model that resides in the basement or on a slab floor due to their weight. If you live in a condominium, apartment or small home, you may opt to install a wall-mounted furnace if you want to enhance efficiency rather than installing floor models.
A central forced-air furnace is the most commonly used type of heater. The system works by heating air distributed to your entire home through ductwork using a blower or fan. The heating element can be either electric or gas/oil.
A heat pump is another type of heating system that cools and heats a room. This system has two components: an indoor system called an air handler and an outdoor system or condenser. The air handler has angled fins that direct cold or warm air into the room to maintain your home comfort.
Heat pumps are very efficient; nevertheless, they tend to reduce their efficiency when temperatures are below the freezing point. If you want to maintain your home comfort during the winters season, you can equip your heat pump with a heating strip to improve its efficiency.
Consider the Size of Your Home
For a heating system to work efficiently, it must correspond with the ideal size of your home. To determine the extent of the system you need, you should call a service technician to evaluate your home and do a load calculation test.
This will involve estimating your home’s heat loss by considering your home’s parts with access to outside temperatures such as the roof, windows and walls. The service technician then uses the ideal winter temperature you want and the typical winter temperature to calculate how much heat your heating system needs to keep you warm during the fall season.
Remember, an extensive system that exceeds your home’s heating needs will function inefficiently, while a small system will not maintain your home’s comfort. Furthermore, if you want to replace a malfunctioned system, it’s good to contact a service technician to perform a home assessment test rather than swapping it with the same unit.
Consider the Efficiency of the System
The efficiency of a heating system affects the energy costs and the resale value of your home. For furnaces, you measure the efficiency rating in terms of Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The higher the rating, the more efficient the system.
Compared to furnaces that use fuel to run, heat pumps use electricity; thus, AFUE ratings don’t apply. This system uses a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) to measure the efficiency, and a higher rating implies that the system’s cooling power is efficient.
The Monthly Expenses of the Heating System
The final cost of your system doesn’t apply to the installation and purchase price alone. It also refers to the monthly expenses that the system will cost, including maintenance and energy bills. Remember, when purchasing a system, look for the incentives and various savings the installation company offers.
Fuel Availability and Power Source Type
Some common types of fuel, such as natural gas, can be expensive or hard to find in some areas. Therefore, it’s beneficial for you to figure out the type of fuel that’s easy to find in your area and suits your needs. The most common options to pick from include fuel oil, natural gas, electricity and propane.
If you want to learn more about choosing the right heating system for your home, contact REEis Air Conditioning today. We have competent service technicians who will help you choose the best option that suits your budget, lifestyle and family.
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