Different Types of Heating Systems For Your Home

There are many different types of heating systems available in a home. When looking for heating solution or choosing a home, it helps to understand how they operate and what the advantages and disadvantages are for each type. Here is a quick review of the most popular types of home heating systems

Type Description Pros Cons
Forced Air This system is the most common type of home heating system.

Air distributed from furnace through ductwork and into room by registers.
    • can be used for cooling
    • Air may be filtered
    • Inexpensive
    • Requires ductwork.
    • Furnace fan can often be heard.
    • Moving air can distribute allergens.
    • Requires filtration and regular maintenance.
Radiant Heating This system is known to provide the most natural and comfortable heat in a home.

Most commonly provided via hot water tubing embedded in the floor or directly below the floor surface.
    • Comfortable, even heat
    • Boilers can be energy efficient
    • Slow heating up.
    • Expensive install cost.
    • Difficult access to hidden piping if problems emerge.
    • Air conditioning requires a separate ductwork.
 Hot Water Baseboard Similar to radiant heat, this system uses hot water heated by a boiler to heat a space by a combination of radiation and convection.Hot water heated by boiler and piped to “fin-tube” baseboard units mounted along walls.
    •  Energy efficient
    • Quiet
    • Close temperature control
    • Baseboard radiation  units must remain unobstructed.
    • Slow temperature increase.
    • Air conditioning requires a separate ductwork distribution and cooling system.
 Electric Baseboard  An electric baseboard heater is installed as its name indicates, on the floor at baseboard level.Baseboard heaters powered by electricity have no moving parts, so the heat is generated through conduction.The heat rises naturally and evenly to fill the room. Then when the air at floor level reaches the desired temperature, the unit automatically shuts off.
    • Easy to control the temperature
    • Easy to install
    • Inexpensive to purchase and/or replace
    • Maintains more consistent temperature in a room
    • Self-contained heating units allow for total control over the home’s heating needs
    • Very low maintenance
    • Quiet operation
    • Expensive to operate if hydro prices are high.
    • Puts limitations of furniture placement.
    • Can be easily dented or damaged.
    • Dangerous for young children.
    • Requires routine dusting.