Types Of Heating System

Forced Air System

Radiant Heat
System

Hydronic Sytem

Steam Radiant
Sytem

Geothermal Sytem

This system is by far

the most common type
of home heating and
Air Conditioning
system.
Furnaces may heat air
using various fuel
sources such as natural
gas, propane, oil or
electricity.

Forced Air
System

Fuel
Sources
Advantage

Distribution
Disadvantage

Furnaces may heat

Only distribution
air using various
method that can
fuel sources such
used for cooling.
as natural gas,
oil or
propane,
Air may be
electricity.
humidified/dehumi
dified.

Air
heatedductwork
in a
Requires
furnace.
and takes space in
walls.
Air distributed
from
Furnace
fan can
furnace
often be ductwork
heard.
through
intoair
thecan
room
and
Moving
by
register.
distribute
allergens.
Air requires
filtration and
regular
maintenance.

Inexpensive.
Air may be
filtered.

Radiant Heat
System

It works through
the process of
radiation or direct
transfer of heat
from a hot to a
cold surface.

Fuel
Sources
Advantage

Distribution
Disadvantage

Comfortable,
In-floor systems
even
use
hot water
heat.
by abe
boiler.
heated
Boilers can
Boiler
be
energymay
efficient.
fueled by natural
gas, propane, oil or
electricity.
Heating stoves
may use wood or
coal.

Most
commonly
Slow heating
up
cycle since
provided
via hot
surrounding
water
tubing
embedded
in the
materials must
floor
warmor directly
the floor
below
Expensive
installed
surface.
cost
Radiant
Difficult panels
access to
may
be piping
used inif
hidden
ceilings.
maintenance
Heating
problemsstoves.
emerge.
Air conditioning
requires a

Similar to radiant
heat, this system
uses hot water
heated by a boiler
to heat a space by
a combination of
radiation and
convection.

Hydronic (Hot Water Baseboard)

Fuel
Sources
Advantage

Boiler
Energymay
efficient
be
fueled
Quiet by natural
gas,
Closepropane,
temperature
oil or
electricity.
control

Distribution
Disadvantage
Hot
Baseboard
water heated
by
boiler and
piped
radiation
/
to
"fin-tube"
convection
units
baseboard
units
must remain
unobstructed
mounted
alongand
can provide
walls.
The fins
increase
the
challenges
in
surface
area of
furniture
heat
dissipation
placement
and
drape design.
making
the unit
efficient.
more
Slow temperature
Air
is distributed
increase.
as
by
Airconvection
conditioning
air
rises and
is
requires
a

One-pipe System

Two-pipe System

They are characterized

by cast iron upright
radiators radiating
heat with steam.

Steam Radiant
System

Fuel
Sources
Advantage

Distribution
Disadvantage

Boiler
may
be
Efficient
and
fueled
natural
warms by
spaces
gas,
propane, oil or
quickly.
electricity.
Radiant heat is
comfortable.
Old hot water
system radiators
can now be
replaced with
smaller convection
units or vertical
wall panel
radiators.

Heat is distributed
can be
Radiators
unsightly.
with
steam piping
and
Radiator
locations
radiator
units.
may limit furniture
placement and
window coverings.
Air conditioning
requires a
separate ductwork
distribution and
cooling system.

Geothermal systems exchange

heat with the earth using an
underground network of pipes
filled with water or refrigerant.

Geothermal System

Advantage

Can be used to
al
heat and cool.
il or Geothermal uses
renewable energy.
Long Life (50+
years for a closed
loop ground loop)
Low maintenance
(for a closed loop
ground loop).
No noisy outdoor
units such as you
would find with
standard AC.

Disadvantage D

Very costly to
install.
One-third or more
of heating energy
derived from
electricity which is
expensive.

Repairs to
underground
pipes, though
seldom necessary,
can be difficult and
expensive.

Ex
wi
us
un
ne
fill
re
ref
In
pu
gr
tra
ho
he

Forced Air System