7 Different Types of Central Heating Systems Explained

Central heating systems are cheaper to run than any other systems. It is more convenient and effective to install central heating in your home rather than having, for example, fireplaces in every room. This type of heating is a bit costly to install, but it is a reliable, safe, user-friendly and long-lasting system that should give you a good run for your money. Read on to learn about various systems and how they work.

Water Circulation

This system, which is very popular in Europe, uses hot water generated in a boiler, which passes through specialized wall panels to transfer some of the heat from the water into the surrounding air.

Steam Boilers

Radiators, placed in various areas of the house or building, are fed with hot water or steam from a boiler using gas or oil to heat the water to steam. Nowadays, you can find small-sized units having vertical wall radiators.

Heat Pumps

These are popular in warm weather countries as in winter the heat pump takes the warm air from outside to heat it and works in reverse in summer by expelling the warm air outside.

Forced Air Furnace

Air is heated in the furnace which can make use of oil, gas or electricity to work. This heated air is then distributed through various ducts by means of a blower. In this way the house is heated up since the various ducts would be installed throughout the whole house and so the heated air can reach all rooms.

Solar Heating

Solar power is a great renewable source of energy. It is expensive to install but government subsidies exist in various countries. On the positive side it uses sunlight through specialized panels, it is cheaper to run than most other systems. The captured solar energy runs through a heating system and is distributed into the house or building using fans.

Electric Resistance

This system consists of a heating unit which is plugged into an electrical supply. The resulting heat is distributed into the house ventilating system through fans in the furnace.

Biomass System

A biomass system burns organic matter, example of which are wooden pellets, chips or logs, in a boiler or stove. Boilers can be connected to existing central heating system. It is very expensive to install but the energy it produces is carbon neutral.

All these systems have their pros and cons. While oil running ones are highly efficient, the fuel used is not a clean source of energy. On the other hand, solar panels, though very efficient, can only provide 50% of hot water needs, so a boiler or electric system to provide central heating is still needed. Biomass uses carbon neutral energy, but the system depends on a lot of factors like storage space and fuel availability.

Seeking specialized advice before committing yourself to a particular system is indispensable, especially if this is your first time and are not so technically minded. Your central heating system should enhance your lifestyle and not be a drain on your resources.