When the temperature starts to dip, a reliable home heating system will come in handy. The right heating system can ease the stress on your thermostat while saving energy in the home. When was the last time you had your heating and cooling system upgraded? According to the Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy, about 3 million heating and cooling systems are replaced in the U.S. every year. The goal of all healing systems is to transfer heat within living spaces to sustain a toasty, comfortable environment. Below are five common types of home heating systems to consider.

1. Furnace

These systems, also known as forced air distribution systems, are one of the most common home heating systems. They have both cooling and heating capabilities within one system. Typically, it's a furnace fitted with a blower fan that distributes heated air to different rooms through a network of ducts installed in the structure's interior walls. The fact that forced air systems share similar ductwork and blowers with the air conditioner means they can be used in the summer months. The furnace's fuel sources include natural gas, oil, propane, or electricity. However, most U.S. home furnaces use natural gas instead of oil, propane, or electricity to heat the air. Its drawback, however, is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, explosions, or fires. Regular maintenance is a must no matter what system you choose.

2. Radiant Heat Systems

Also referred to as in-floor radiant heating, many of these systems have plastic water tubing attached beneath wooden floors or inside concrete slabs. There are also in-floor radiant heating systems available that work on stone and ceramic tiles using electrical wiring. Typically, buildings or homes with boilers have the option of using a radiant heating system. Water is simply heated in a boiler and sent through special tubes that are installed beneath the floor, or sometimes in the walls or ceiling. Heat radiates evenly above the floor to the rest of the rooms. Compared to other home heating systems, radiant heat is extremely quiet.

In-floor radiant heating systems are slow, both in adjusting to temperature variations and heating up. The radiant system boiler is powered using natural gas, electricity, propane, fuel oil, or solar hot water systems. Tearing down the floor to access the hidden tubing could be part of maintenance. Its lifespan is dependent on the heating source system.

3. Electric Systems

This heating system is prevalent in homes that lack access to oil, propane, or natural gas. A common alternative is the installation of thermostat-controlled baseboard heaters that can be individually controlled. However, the electricity cost is high during winter when temperatures drop. Hydronic and electric are the two baseboard heating options available. Generally, they're reserved as heating in an add-on or as supplemental heating. Hydronic is a modern and extremely effective hot water baseboard heating system. A central boiler heats the water, which in turn circulates through water pipes into baseboard heating units.

4. Steam Radiant Heat Systems

Old buildings or homes with multiple radiators in different rooms have steam radiant heating systems. The main boiler distributes hot water to all the radiators as cold water circulates back to the boiler unit for reheating. They have radiators that operate with one or two piping systems, adding humidity to the atmosphere. They can be noisy and also require high maintenance.

5. Geothermal Heating Systems

This heating system is big on energy efficiency. It uses water from the ground wells and at the same time obtains heat from the ground. Geothermal heating systems use minimal electricity and are excellent for keeping utility bills low in the cold winter months. Note that setting up geothermal heating systems is more expensive than other conventional heating systems. Geothermal heating systems harness the Earth's heat. The Earth has a near-constant temperature just a few feet below its surface, which contrasts with the winter and summer extremes of ambient surface air. Geothermal energy is a renewable resource with both cooling and heating applications. In some places in the U.S., volcanic and tectonic activities bring steam and pockets of superheated water to the surface. These bring high temperatures that enhance the use of geothermal systems.

As stated before, some heating systems are compatible, meaning there are scenarios where some homes feature multiple heating systems. Some have forced air, radiant heat, electric, steam radiant heat, or geothermal in combination. Some, on the other hand, aren't compatible. Unsure what the best heating setup is for your home? A heating service can help. Call us at Rutty & Morris Air Conditioning today to learn more!