What Are The Different Types Of Furnaces?
Posted on: 16 September 2020
Depending on where you live, you may have an option for several different types of heating system installation. Some are more efficient than others, but choosing the right one for your home can be a challenge. Below are the five most common types of furnaces, along with their own unique strengths and weaknesses.
Oil Furnace
Though almost exclusively found in the Northeastern part of the United States, oil furnaces are not very energy-efficient but are very inexpensive to install and maintain, making them ideal for older homes that already require a lot of upkeep. Though you may pay more in heating costs over the long run, if you're looking to save money and just get by for a few winters, an oil furnace heating system may be perfect for you.
Natural Gas
Offering substantially more energy-efficiency than their oil furnace counterparts, a natural gas is one of the most popular heating solutions in the United States, with more than half of American citizens choosing natural gas to heat their homes. The initial cost may be higher, but if you're using natural gas to power your appliances, the choice to switch over to gas for your heating system installation is much easier since many of the gas lines are already installed.
Electricity
Coming in close to natural gas in terms of popularity, electric furnaces are a great idea for people who may not have access to natural gas. Generally, those living in housing communities are limited on the amount of options they have to heat their home, and electricity is not very invasive and easy to install and service. Electric heating systems are much smaller than gas or oil furnaces and are more inexpensive than natural gas, but are in between natural gas and oil furnaces in terms of energy efficiency. If you already have electricity powering the rest of your home, electricity may be a logical choice for heating your home.
Wood
Historically, homes have relied on wood to heat their homes because the fuel sources are readily available and the installation is extremely simple - possibly even done by the homeowner if done carefully. The major downside to wood-burning furnaces is their labor-intensive operation; homeowners will need to constantly replenish the fuel source as it goes down, which makes it nearly impossible to heat the home in case of a long absence. To counter this obstacle, many homes use wood in tandem with one of the other heating system installations mentioned above.
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