Types of Heating Systems
Central Heat
Furnaces
The majority of Canadian households depend on a central furnace to provide heat.
How a Furnace Works
A furnace works by blowing heated air through ducts that deliver the warm air to rooms throughout the house via air registers or grills. This type of heating system is called “ducted warm-air or forced warm-air distribution system”. It can be powered by electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil… for more information “click here”.
Boilers
Boilers are special-purpose water heaters. While furnaces carry heat in warm air, boiler systems distribute the heat in hot water, which gives up heat as it passes through radiators or other devices in rooms throughout the house. Instead of a fan and duct system, a boiler uses a pump to circulate hot water through pipes to radiators…. for more information on boilers “click here”.
Heat Pump
Heat pumps are just two-way air conditioners. In the winter, the heat pump finds heat from the cold outdoors with the help of an electrical system, and discharging that heat inside the house.
How a Heat Pump Works
There are two relatively common types of heat pumps. Air-source heat pumps use outside air as the heat source in winter and heat sink in summer. Ground-source (also called geothermal) heat pumps get their heat from underground, where temperatures are more constant year-round… for more information “click here”.
Direct Heat
Fireplaces
A staple in Canadian homes which offers itself as an architectural peace, a warm glow, and provides useful heat. For more information “click here”.
Wood-Burning or Pellet Stoves
A great idea for rural areas if you enjoy stacking wood and maintaining the stove or furnace. Wood prices are generally lower than gas, oil. or electricity. Newer models are quite clean-burning. For more information “click here”.
Radiant Floor Heat
A system that circulates warm water in piping under the floor. This warms the floor, which in turn warms people using the room. It is highly controllable, and considered efficient by its advocates. For more information “click here”.
Space Heaters
Gas-Fired Space Heaters, which includes wall-mounted, free-standing, and floor furnaces, all characterized by their lack of outwork and relatively small heat output.
Electric Space Heaters, which include a portable (plug-in) heater that are inexpensive to buy, but costly to use. They include “oil-filled” and “quartz-infrared” heaters. For more information “click here”.