What Type Of Heating Do I Choose?
Winter can mean different things to different people. Depending on where you live, and the type of heating you choose, the snowy season can mean a few snowy days, mild weather, or blankets of snow stretching to the horizon with subzero temperatures.
If your business is in a locale where harsh winters are typical, your customers probably have plans to install heating systems. However, choosing a heating system can be a headache. IB Tools is here to ease that stress.
There are two major types of heating that a homeowner can go for. We’ll run you through them.
Types Of Heating
- Forced-Air Heating
This system utilizes a central furnace to heat air, which is then circulated through the house using blowers. Most homes with in-built central heating are in this format. It could run on natural gas or electricity.
This method can also be used in the hotter months to cool air.
- Radiant Heating
This method warms a surface using touch to transfer the heat. This heat is then transmitted into the room via infrared radiation. This system is usually installed below the flooring but could also be installed in the walls or using baseboard heaters.
The heat in this system can be obtained via electricity, hot water, or air making contact with the system.
Choosing a heating system is a critical decision as it can affect many things. These include the cost of installation, the level and frequency of maintenance, energy efficiency, cost of usage, and many others.
We’ll run you through the pros and cons of both systems so that your customers can make their choice with all the necessary information.
Pros And Cons
Each system shines in some areas and is not so good in others. Let’s dive in.
- Heat Distribution
This is the primary use of any heating system, so it is an important point. Not only is heating speed vital, but the evenness of the heat spread is also note-worthy.
Forced-air heating systems can get rooms heated quicker than underfloor systems, especially when compared with a hydronic underfloor setup. However, the heat spread is not even.
Hot air rises, and as such, basements and floors get chilly, while the parts of the room near the ceiling can get oppressively hot. Underfloor radiant setups keep the entire room at a stable, consistent temperature, even the floors.
- Installation Cost
The traditional forced-air systems are up ahead in this aspect. Installing these systems is easier and takes a lot less money. Underfloor heating system installations are a lot more involving.
Installing these systems would require replacing your floors entirely. Experienced DIY-ers can attempt dry electric installations, but the wet ones need professional installation.
That and the cost of the heating system would make it more expensive than the forced-air systems.
- Energy Efficiency
Radiant energy systems are masters of energy efficiency. While their installation costs are much, many users find that their monthly running costs are much cheaper than that of the forced-air system users.
With the help of the Wi-Fi smart home thermostat from IB Tools, your customers can also regulate the electrical radiant systems in different parts of the building. This ensures they don’t waste energy heating parts of the home that aren’t needed.
These systems, coupled with adequate insulation, can ease the monthly bill burden. With the electrical systems, your customers would get a slightly increased electricity bill but a vastly reduced heating bill.
- Maintenance
Radiant systems generally require extremely low maintenance. Many of these installations come with a warranty of over two decades. It is a plug-and-play situation, with the high initial payment ensuring you don’t bother about it again.
That said, if there is any issue, your customers will have to enlist the help of professionals.
- Air Quality
Forced-air systems give notoriously low-quality air. That is due mainly to the air blowers it employs in its action. The air movement circulates dust and allergens around the house, making for terrible air.
The movement of air also ensures that cold, moist air stays low, which could elicit mold growth. These problems are non-existent with underfloor heating systems. The heat is transmitted naturally upward, while the air remains relatively static.
- Convenience
Forced-air systems are usually noisy when they work. This directly contrasts with the underfloor heating systems that don’t make a sound. The even heating also ensures that mold is not a problem, preventing the stress of cleaning.
Also, the lack of bulky devices like radiators opens up a lot of real estate in a room. Many forced-air system owners who switch to underfloor systems notice a lot of free space.
Conclusion
Using all we’ve said, you can help your customers make their choice quickly. If they’d like to gain a heating and a cooling system at once for a lower price, the forced-air system is their match.
But if their budget is big enough to accommodate the radiant heating system, it would be the best choice. You can have them try out the acclaimed heating cable set with Wi-Fi thermostat capabilities from IB Tools.
Our floor heating inventory is stocked with top quality materials to ensure that you deliver the best to your customers. Contact us for your account and we’ll create it in a jiffy, so you can get all you need. We’re always here to help.
