Heating Your Home
When your home is cozy and warm on those cold winter nights, how much thought do you actually give to your heater or heating system? That’s right, not much – you’re comfortable, and that’s all that matters!
So, what if your means for keeping warm suddenly went to ‘heater heaven’? Do you simply replace it with the same type you had? There is a range of ways to heat your home these days, so it’s well worth doing your research before making any rash decisions.
One thing to keep in mind is that natural gas heating is cheaper and more environmentally friendly to run than electricity.
Space Heating
If you’re looking to heat a space, or a particular room as opposed to the whole house, you could look into one of the following options.
Flued Gas Heaters
This type of heater comes either fixed against the wall, inbuilt or as a log-fire imitation and provides a mix of both convective and radiant heat. Some are designed to heat up large living areas, but the cost and efficiency can vary quite a bit, depending on which model you end up with.
Fan Heaters
Fan heaters are ideal for underneath desks or anywhere you need a bit of instant heat. While they do the trick for spot heating, or heating a small room, this is certainly not the kind of heater you want to have on all day, as running costs can be quite expensive – don’t let the small size fool you!
Split System Heating
Split systems involve two separate units – one is mounted on the wall inside the home and provides the air, and the other is installed outside. It is also possible to fit ‘multi-split’ systems, which involves having more than one unit installed inside, heating multiple rooms from the single external unit.
Central Heating
When considering your options for central heating, there are a couple of different ways you can go.
Ducted Heating
While higher costs can be involved when installing ducted gas central heating, it is a very cost-effective way to heat your home. Ducted heating includes a central unit which is connected to a string of ducts. These ducts are located in either the ceiling or floor of the rooms you want to heat throughout the house.
Hydronic Heating
Hydronic is actually the most common form of heating in the world, being energy efficient, quiet and creating beautiful, natural warmth. It works by circulating water – heated from a boiler – to radiator panels throughout the house.
Both radiated and convected heat is provided without the air drying out, and there are no fans to blow allergens around, which makes it a very healthy method of heating.
So, when you’re next in the market for a new heater, these are a few of the choices you can consider. Be sure to have a chat with your local professional to establish which heating option will best suit your home; also, take note of the energy star rating on the heater. The more stars, the better for the environment as well as your pocket!
About the Author: Dion
Dion is the Marketing Manager for Digital360, based in Melbourne, Australia.
“Many thanks to the friendly team at Bosch Hot Water & Heating for their professional advice. Cheers guys!” – Dion