Pros and Cons of 3 Popular Heating Systems Used by Edmonton Homeowners
Home heating, in the middle of a freezing winter in Edmonton, Alberta, will cost a king’s ransom. Since Edmonton homeowners use 80% of their total monthly fuel and energy just for space and water heating, it’s a good idea to discover your alternatives, along with the benefits and drawbacks, before selecting a heating system. heating. By searching for the home heating system that best meets your unique needs, you’ll be in a position to achieve an affordable price and ensure your comfort level is of the highest quality.
Standard equipment for a heating unit (eg, furnace or boiler) consists of an instrument for circulating heat (eg, ducts, registers, pipes) and thermostats that control the indoor climate. In a small number of cases, space heating units, such as electric baseboard heating, do not require expensive duct work.
It’s no secret that energy efficient heating and cooling systems use much less energy and are much better for the atmosphere. Also, the type of energy your heating system uses has a direct effect on how much it will cost you to heat your home. For example, nearly 95% of Alberta’s gas-rich homes are heated with natural gas. According to Statistics Canada, Alberta homeowners spend around 30% less on natural gas than other families residing in other provinces.
Selecting the exact size Edmonton heating system
Making a decision about the right size heating and cooling equipment for your home is no easy task. The combination of multifaceted heating equipment and well-insulated homes means that a boiler or furnace does not require as much fuel and electricity as the previous ones. To decide the exact size, you need a trained HVAC contractor to assess the heat/loss in your residence.
Below are some options for residential heating systems…
1. Forced air heating system
Forced air is by far the preferred heating equipment in Edmonton. Approximately 90% of Edmonton homes use a central forced air system to distribute warm air. Forced air systems consist of a furnace with a fan to heat and distribute the air, supply ducts to bring warm air to each room, return ducts to bring cool air back to the furnace, and a centrally located thermostat to Check the operation of the heater. .
The advantages of forced-air heating systems include their lower price and ability to heat up quickly in winter weather and cool performance in the summer months. Plus, with a forced-air system, air conditioning is easy to use with the same ductwork, and it’s easy to humidify and filter residential air.
The drawbacks range from the large space required for the ductwork and due to the air coming out of the vents it can sometimes feel like a draft and moving air can contain allergens. Also, the noisy oven fan can be irritating.
If your furnace is 10 to 15 years old, the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) is probably only 60 to 65 percent. This means you’re wasting up to forty cents for every Canadian dollar spent on fuel. Even if your current furnace is still working properly, it may be time to consider upgrading to a high-efficiency component.
If you’re really considering a furnace replacement, high-efficiency or condensing furnaces achieve an AFUE of ninety to 98 percent. Through the method of turning fuel into heat (combustion process), the condensing furnace removes so much heat that you could touch the vent without burning your hand.
On December 31, 2009, the Canadian government implemented a minimum energy performance standard for gas furnaces. All ovens placed on the market after that date have to be high efficiency ovens. It does not affect your current oven.
2. Electric heating system
While electric heat is the next common option in Canada, not many Edmonton homes use it due to higher electricity costs relative to natural gas.
Electric baseboards rely on the movement of warm air, called convection, to circulate heat, while ceiling heaters rely on heat waves, also called radiation. Since electric heating completely eradicates combustion problems and chimney losses, they are considered 100 percent efficient.
For homeowners, the main attraction of this type of heating system is the low initial cost of the equipment, making it a preferred alternative for supplemental heating. Having said that, they use a lot of electricity, plus they can be a fire hazard if not implemented correctly.
3. Hydronic (liquid) heating equipment
Hydronic home heating appliances heat fluid (water along with glycol) in a boiler fired with natural gas, oil, electricity, propane, or solid fuel. Shortly after heating, the liquid circulates through loops of plastic pipes under floors, along baseboard heating units, or through radiators to heat your home.
Hydronic underfloor heating systems supply uniform and regular heat from the floor in all rooms. Even if the system is turned off, it continues to produce heat. (Note: Radiant heating in the home is the effect you feel from the heat of the hot sun.)
Another advantage of radiant home heating is that it takes up much less space than forced-air units. Forced-air equipment distributes heated air through ductwork, which is much larger than the pipes needed to move the fluid. In addition, hydronic home heating equipment can be used to heat water for cooking, washing, and showering.
Along with warm floors, hydronic equipment is less noisy than forced air systems since there is no fan or blowing air. There could also be better air quality, since particles and pollutants are simply never blown into the air around your home. This is really why infrequent filter changes on forced air equipment can be detrimental to your loved ones.
The main problem with radiant heating is that it is not a complete heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. If you need central air conditioning or ventilation, you will have to install additional equipment, which adds to the total price.
Canadian residential gas boilers available today absolutely need an AFUE rating of at least 80 percent. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol, boilers require an AFUE rating of 85% or higher. Condensing boilers that have a secondary heat exchanger have an AFUE of up to ninety-five percent.