Types Of Furnaces

In the past, most types of furnaces were fueled by either wood or coal. It was all fairly simple then, but that has changed. Today, you have more options in the types of furnaces available than ever before. Sometimes, choosing the right one for you and your needs is the hardest part of the process. The following contains some general information that you may find helpful.

A good starting point for learning more about the types of furnaces is to learn more about the fuel types that power them. Today, the fuel types include natural gas furnaces, electric furnaces, fuel oil furnaces, heat pump furnaces, corn or wood pellet furnaces, and (coming along) solar heat sources.

Each of these fuel types has its own pros and cons, and in some cases may not be appropriate for use in your climate or location. If you live in a location where finding corn or wood pellets is difficult or overly expensive, then that would not be a good choice for you.

Another way of looking at the types of furnaces that are available is to examine the heat distribution systems that they use. In general, there are two types: forced air and hydronic.

Forced air systems require the use of fans and blowers. Hydronic systems are radiant type heat sources with the heating components located either in the floor or in the walls.

There are usually two occasions when the topics of types of furnaces come up. One is when a new home is being built and the other is when an existing home needs to have its furnace replaced.

During a new home build, the architect and the general contractor will often decide what type of furnace best suits the needs of the home. Several variables will go into this decision, including the size of the structure and the climate and location.

For those individuals who are switching out furnaces in an existing home, the variables remain the same for the most part. You will still need to know the square footage of the home along with other important details but the options that you have concerning the various types of furnaces that will meet your needs often comes from a heating and cooling professional.

This professional can also explain to you the various efficiency ratings and how they can affect your energy usage. He or she can explain the types of furnaces that will fit into the space you have and can also show you ways to save money by using existing ductwork or by adding additional components such as heat recovery ventilators. Their advice in these matters can be very valuable, so use them when you can.