Maintaining a balanced and warm indoor temperature can be challenging in colder regions. With the availability of various efficient heating systems in the market, choosing a cost-effective and nature-friendly heat pump option for homes gets challenging.
The choice of heating system shouldn’t just provide comfort but also be suitable in terms of the size of the house, the locality you are living in, and most importantly, the budget. From old-fashioned fireplaces to advanced and cutting-edge heating system options, this blog has got you covered. Keep reading!
10 Most Effective and Quality Heating Systems for Cold Climates
There are several good-quality heating systems available in the market that work well in colder regions. Here’s a list of the 10 most efficient heating systems for cold climates that are worth considering.
Fireplaces
The unique and old-style fireplace heating system is known for its attractiveness. The flame creates a welcoming surrounding. Fireplaces are making a huge comeback in modern times, which makes homeowners nostalgic about their childhood house with a cozy feeling. In urban areas, fireplaces are run by using gas. Whereas, in rural areas, recycled woods are used as a source of fuel.
Minisplit
A minisplit heating system is a kind of ductless air-source heat pump. It is the right substitute for baseboard heating and an ideal option for homes that lack ductwork. Minisplit helps in reducing energy bills as it is one of the cost-effective options for zone heating. These are highly preferred by the people living in or around the New England or Mid-Atlantic regions, as the radiator heating is popular compared to ducted systems.
Reverse Cycle Chillers
Reverse cycle chillers are a unique type of air-source system that emits hot or cold water rather than air. It can be combined with radiant floor heating systems when used for heating.
In-Floor Radiant
In-floor radiant heating systems distribute heat evenly across the entire room. It is mainly made up of plastic water tubes that are placed inside the slabs or attached beneath wooden flooring. Advanced pieces of in-floor radiant systems are comparatively higher in cost if they work well with ceramic or stone tile.
Absorption
Absorption heating systems are a gas-fired heat pump that operates with thermal energy instead of mechanical energy. Unlike compression heat pumps, the absorption heating system is run by natural gas, steam, solar-heated water, and geothermal-heated water. It is large and complex compared to compressed heat pumps, but it requires less electricity. Therefore, many people go with this option.
Dual-Fuel Heat Pumps
This serves the benefit of both heat pumps and gas furnaces, making it an ideal option for cold areas. This has the advanced feature of switching the heat pump system to the gas furnace based on the weather conditions. For example, a heat pump works in milder weather, and once the temperature drops down it switches to the gas furnace system. This feature is one of the major reasons for its higher cost as compared to other heating systems.
Boiler
A boiler is a highly efficient heating system, an ideal choice for areas that have cold temperatures for a longer period. This gives comfort by producing heat through warm water, which is distributed through radiators or underfloor heating. Steam boilers functioned by heating water. The steam generated spread across the house, making the space warm for loved ones.
Electric Resistance
Electric resistance heating works as a backup solution to keep your house warm when the main system stops working. This system is easy to install but expensive to operate due to the increased price of electricity. Hence, it is not used by many people. However, as per research, 37% of US families prefer purchasing and using electric resistance systems, mainly in rural areas or isolated areas, making it a popular choice in the market.
Baseboard Heaters
Baseboard heaters are often known as hydronic heating, which uses radiant heat to balance out the temperature inside the house. This system uses a central boiler to warm up the water and pass it through pipes to different baseboard units installed in every room.
Electric Space Heaters
It is one of the oldest heating systems that produces heat waves within a few minutes. However, many users claim that it consumes a large amount of energy, which could raise their utility bills. Plus, if left unattended for a long time, it may cause a fire.
To Conclude
Choosing the right and effective heating system will facilitate comfort and sustainability. Hence, it is crucial to explore as many options as possible. Whether you’re buying a new system or upgrading the older one, make sure to pick the one that is energy-efficient before making the final deal.
