Furnaces, Boilers, and Heaters
Furnaces Heating;
Furnace Repairing Cleaning;
Boilers;
Boilers Repairing & Cleaning;
Heaters Sales & Service;
Heating Equipment Systems
The majority of the homes in the Unites States are heated by either a
furnace or
boiler. Furnaces work by heating air and then distributing it through the house via ducts. Fuel sources for a furnace include
natural gas,
propane, oil,
electricity,
wood, or
wood-based pellets. Natural gas furnaces are the most popular fuel source found in homes today and until recently provided the most fuel efficiency. That is changing however, as electric furnaces are becoming increasingly more efficient. Boilers work by heating water or creating steam as the source of heat. The steam is distributed through pipes to upright radiators, baseboard radiators or radiant flooring.
Efficiency Ratings
The efficiency of
furnaces and
boilers is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). This measurement represents how much of the energy the
appliance creates is actually used or consumed. For example, a 90% AFUE signifies that 90% of the energy created is used to heat the home. The remaining 10% escapes via the system or up the chimney depending on the appliance. The AFUE measurement does not include heat that is lost via duct work or pipes. This can sometimes account for a 30% loss depending on the efficiency of the
ducts and
pipes. The Federal Trade Commission requires that all new appliances provide a minimum AFUE. An
electric furnace must maintain an AFUE of 78%, a
gas-furnace 80% and a
gas-fueled steam boiler is 75%. However, many heating manufacturers far exceed these levels of efficiency. As an electric furnace or broiler has no flue loss via a chimney, therefore AFUE ratings are often 90-95% for these systems.
Regardless of the heating method you choose for your home, ensure it is efficient and running properly. This keeps your family warm while using the least amount of energy and money.
Replacing a Furnace or Boiler
If your furnace or boiler is in need of replacing, ensure the new system is highly efficient and the right size for your home.
Efficiency: Choose a model with the highest AFUE possible based on your climate. Colder climates require a higher-efficiency system with an AFUE of at least 85% or higher. Milder climates have lower annual energy costs and don’t require the same level of efficiency. Maintaining the 78% FTC requirement is sufficient.
Review the Energy Star® label as guide to determine the estimated annual cost to run the system. This label also serves as a comparison guide to determine the system that is right for you. Work with your
contractor or
heating system dealer to determine the actual annual saving you can expect from a particular system.
Ensuring maximum efficiency for your home cuts fuel bills in half and reduces the amount of harmful, carbon dioxide emissions released per year.
Proper Size: Older furnaces and boilers found in homes today are oversized. Newer models provide modern efficiencies and are modified to match the capacity needs of each home. A properly sized furnace meets the needs of the home and keeps it warm on even the coldest days of the year. An oversized system cycles on and off too frequently, wasting valuable energy as it excessively warms up and cools down. A smaller system becomes overworked and still fails to keep the house warm on cold days. Determining the right system for the home should be left to a
heating and
cooling contractor. They will conduct measurements and electronic evaluations to determine what is required based on the size of the home, number of
windows and insulation levels.
Heat Pumps:
In moderate climates, heat pumps provide an energy efficient alternative to
furnaces,
boilers, and
air conditioners. Instead of using fuel combustion, heat pumps use a small amount of energy to move heat from one location to another.
Heat pumps pull heat from the air or ground to warm a home, and reverse the process pulling cold to cool it. This makes heat pumps a unique system in that it can do the job of both a
furnace and an
air conditioner.
Working on the basic principle of heat transfer, there are different types of heat pumps.
Air-Source Heat Pump: As the most common type, an
air-source heat pump removes heat from the outside air and pumps it inside passing it through refrigerant-filled coils. Fans then push the heated air throughout the home. When it is needed for cooling, the opposite process occurs. Instead of pushing heat throughout the home, the fans reverse the flow of air and push the hotter air outside.
Ground-Source Heat Pump: This type of system absorbs heat from the ground or an underground water source and transfers it inside. The majority of ground-source heat pumps transfer heat through a refrigerant or water within buried pipes. The liquid within the pipes are continually pumped either through a closed-loop or open-loop system. A closed-loop system circulates the same refrigerant or water continually removing heat with each cycle. An open-loop system takes water from the source, cycles it through removing heat, and then sends it back to the source. This process is repeated continually, drawing fresh water from the source.
Absorption Heat Pumps: Working similarly to air-source heat pumps,
absorption heat pumps use power from
natural gas,
solar,
propane, or geothermal heated water, not
electricity. Once used primarily for larger, commercial
applications, these types of units are appearing in larger homes.
While heat pumps lower energy bills they do have some drawbacks. Because they draw heat from the air and ground, heat pumps do not produce enough heat when temperatures get below freezing. While there is still heat that can be pulled from colder air, the system has to work harder to warm things up. Often times the system cannot keep up with the temperatures to keep rooms warm enough.
The heat generated by heat pumps is also not as strong as heat generated from a
furnace or
boiler. If you prefer a more intense heat, a backup heat source may be required to supplement the heat pump.
Radiant Heating:
With
radiant heating, heat is applied directly to
flooring or panels within the ceiling or walls. Relying on radiant heat transfer, people or objects in the room are heated via infrared radiation or as heat is transferred directly from the heat source. This is similar to how heat is felt across the room radiating from a hot stovetop element.
Radiant Floor Heat: As the most common form of radiant heat, this type of heating uses electric cables or hot water tubes embedded in the floor as a heat source. Heating a room from the floor up, radiant floors distribute heat evenly, are quiet and very efficient. Radiant flooring is available in three different options, each with its own benefits and drawbacks.
Air-Heated Radiant Floors: This option as the name suggests, uses air to distribute heat. As air cannot hold a significant amount of heat, this is the least effective option. Therefore, it is rarely used in residential homes. To make it more efficient, air-heated radiant floors are often combined with
solar air heating systems. While this is beneficial during the day, it does not offer much advantage once the sun goes down, traditionally when the heat is most desired.
Electric Radiant Floors: With this option, electric cables are built directly in to the floor. As electricity is the heat source, unless utility companies offer reduced rates, it is more costly to run. Using reduced rates between 9pm and 6am, the floor is heated during these off hours and then draws off the heat stored in the surface over the next 8-10 hours. In areas of the home where a traditional heating system cannot be installed, electric radiant floors provide an efficient heating system.
Hydronic Radiant Floors: Using heated water tubes, this option is the most popular and cost-effective system. Heated water is pumped from a
boiler through tubing laid directly under the floor. Through a system of zoning valves and
thermostats, the flooring in each room is individually controlled.
Installation: The process for installing radiant heat floor is basically the same regardless of whether cables or tubing is used. There are two types of installation processes: wet and dry. With wet installations, cables or tubes are embedded within a thick concrete slab or a thinner layer of concrete installed on the top of a
sub-floor. As concrete has a high capacity to hold heat, it is ideal for radiant flooring. However, concrete is slow to actually heat which is inefficient on colder mornings and evenings. With wet installation, a constant temperature in the home is recommended to maximize its efficiency.
Dry installation places the cables or tubing directly under the finished or sub-floor or it can also be sandwiched between two layers of sub-flooring. The cables or tubs heat the air between the space which radiates through the floor. As air is being heated, the temperature of the system itself needs to be more intense. Because it is easier and quicker to install, the dry process is often the preferred installation option.
Certain
flooring is ideal for radiant heat floors as they hold heat longer adding to the overall heat efficiency. The most common flooring is
ceramic tile as it stores heat for a longer period of time.
Vinyl,
linoleum,
hardwood, and
natural stone are also ideal for radiant flooring.
Radiant Panels: Typically made of aluminum, radiant panels are attached to walls or ceilings, using electricity or tubing to radiate heat through the room. Because of the possibility of leaking and water damage, tubing is used less frequently. Again, using electricity becomes more expensive but radiant panels provide good supplemental heating to rooms where conventional heating is lacking.
The panels heat up quickly and often raise the temperature of the room very quickly. Wall panels distribute heat more evenly as ceiling panels often keep everything above the shoulders warm but have a hard time reaching the floor level. Also, the closer you are to the panel, the more comfortable the heat.
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