Gas is a popular fuel for heating homes, and there are a variety of systems available to suit different needs. From forced air to hot water, steam, and localized space heating, it is important to understand the different types of gas heaters and how they work in order to make an informed decision when it comes to choosing the right system for your home. Houses are typically heated with either ovens or boilers. Ovens heat the air and distribute it around the house through ducts, while boilers heat water and provide hot water or steam for heating.
Steam is distributed through pipes to steam radiators, and hot water can be distributed through baseboard radiators or underfloor heating systems, or it can heat the air through a coil. Steam boilers operate at a higher temperature than hot water boilers and are inherently less efficient; however, high-efficiency versions of all types of furnaces and boilers are currently available. Upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace or boiler is an effective way to save money on home heating. The Federal Trade Commission requires that new furnaces or boilers display their Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) so that consumers can compare the heating efficiencies of various models.
The AFUE is a measure of the device's efficiency in converting fuel energy into heat over the course of a typical year. The AFUE does not include heat losses from the duct system or pipes, which can represent up to 35% of the energy that leaves the furnace when the ducts are in the attic, garage, or other partially conditioned or unconditioned space. A fully electric furnace or boiler has no smoke loss through a chimney and has an AFUE rating between 95% and 100%. However, despite their high efficiency, the higher cost of electricity in most parts of the country makes all-electric furnaces or boilers an uneconomical option.
Furnaces and boilers can be modernized to increase their efficiency. These improvements improve the safety and efficiency of older systems that would otherwise be robust. If you decide to replace your heating system, you'll have the opportunity to install equipment that incorporates the most energy efficient heating technologies available. Other modernization options that can improve the energy efficiency of a system include the installation of programmable thermostats, the improvement of ducts in forced air systems, and the addition of zone control for hot water systems.
Modern conventional heating systems can achieve efficiencies of up to 98.5%, converting almost all fuel into useful heat for your home. Improvements in energy efficiency and a new high-efficiency heating system can often halve fuel bills and reduce boiler pollution by up to 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year if heated with natural gas, or 2.5 tons if heated with oil. If your boiler or boiler is old, worn out, inefficient or very oversized, replacing it with a modern high-efficiency model is often the best solution. Old coal burners that were changed to oil or gas are prime candidates for replacement, as are natural gas furnaces with pilot lights instead of electronic ignitions.
Specify a sealed combustion furnace or boiler, which brings air from outside directly to the burner and flue gases (products of combustion) directly to the outside, without the need for a hood or shock absorber. Furnaces and boilers that are not sealed combustion units draw hot air into the unit for combustion and then send it down the chimney, wasting energy that was used to heat it. Sealed combustion units avoid this problem and do not pose any risk of introducing hazardous flue gases into your home. In furnaces that are not sealed combustion units, reverse absorption of flue gases can be a big problem. Properly functioning chimney systems will eliminate byproducts of household combustion from entering your home. Most older furnaces and boilers have natural draft chimneys; however, atmospheric open-burning furnaces and boilers, as well as fan-assisted furnaces and boilers must be vented in masonry chimneys, double-walled metal chimneys, or other types of manufactured chimneys. When considering different types of gas heater plumbing systems for your home, it is important to understand how they work in order to make an informed decision about which system is best for you.
Modern conventional heating systems can achieve efficiencies of up to 98.5%, converting almost all fuel into useful heat for your home while also reducing boiler pollution by up to 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year if heated with natural gas, or 2.5 tons if heated with oil. Upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace or boiler is an effective way to save money on home heating while also improving safety and efficiency. Additionally, modernizing existing systems with programmable thermostats, improved ducts in forced air systems, and zone control for hot water systems can further increase energy efficiency. Finally, specifying a sealed combustion furnace or boiler brings air from outside directly to the burner and flue gases (products of combustion) directly to the outside without introducing hazardous flue gases into your home.
