Does your electricity bill skyrocket during the winter? Are you constantly running the furnace? You may want to invest in an energy-efficient heating system.
Read on to learn how an HVAC contractor from Kingston Home Heating can help you choose the most efficient home heating system for your needs.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump transfers heat between your home and the air outside. A modern heat pump is one of the most efficient electrical heating systems and can be twice as efficient as baseboard heaters. Heat pumps also act as dehumidifiers.
A heat pump works like a refrigerator or an air conditioner, with air being passed over cooling coils. In heating mode, refrigerant in outside coils extracts heat from the air, which then gets passed into the house. When used in cooling mode, a valve switches the direction of the refrigerant flow to cool the air inside and transfer the heat outside.
You can use the product's EnerGuide label to choose the most efficient heat pump for your needs. Heating efficiency is indicated by the heating season performance factor (HSPF), which measures the total heat produced for the amount of electricity used. Cooling efficiency is indicated by the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), the total heat removed from the conditioned space during the cooling season.
Gas Furnaces
Furnaces are rated on their annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE), which shows the percentage of heat produced for the amount of fuel burned. A furnace made in the 1970s might have an AFUE of 65. New models can reach as high a rating as 97, where nearly all the heat produced is used inside your home.
A standard furnace system burns fuel to produce heat, which is captured by a heat exchanger to warm up air that is blown through the house. In this system, some heat is lost when steam rises up the chimney, while more heat is lost through the ducts.
A high-efficiency furnace captures some of the heat normally ventilated to the outside. The hot emissions pass a second heat exchanger, which absorbs heat and cools the gasses. Not only does such a furnace reach nearly 100% efficiency, but it also emits a lower amount of greenhouse gases.
Wood Stove
While a wood stove can seem old-fashioned, it's also a reliable way to produce heat. The newest models can be up to 70% efficient, far more than older models, and also emit less smoke. A wood stove can save you money on your heating bill, and it produces fewer greenhouse gases than a conventional furnace since it's not using fossil fuel.
Gas Fireplace
A gas fireplace is an excellent way to supplement your heating system. The most efficient gas fireplaces have an efficiency rating of up to 70% according to the Canadian Fireplace Efficiency rating (FE). While this is lower than a furnace, it can heat a single room instead of using the furnace to heat the whole house.
A gas insert can be placed in a standard fireplace and will be much more efficient than a wood-burning fireplace. It can use natural gas or propane.
Choose an Efficient Home Heating System
Whether you decide on a gas furnace, a heat pump, or a fireplace, we can help you install the most efficient home heating system for your needs. Contact Kingston Home Heating to find a heating contractor and learn more about all the options we offer.