Affordable Heating Systems For New Homeowner
If you’re in the market for a new home, you might be in luck with the many homes that are on the market! Once you’ve seen about 10-15 homes of your choice, you might feel that they all start to look alike. Even homes that have the exact same floor plan can differ greatly in the amenities that are offered, either by the neighborhood or appliances that come with the purchase (and by appliances, we are mainly talking about the heating units.) It can be such a hassle to find a home you like that meets your budget and size requirements.
It can be even more of an issue finding out that the home runs inefficiently, costing you hundreds of dollars extra each month. With that said, there are a number of cost-efficient heating options that are available. We are going to explain what each one is and the perks of choosing it. Keep reading for more information!
Harness The Sun With Solar Heating
Solar heating, like solar power, is based in the collector. The collector is basically the panels that you see on some homes’ roofs. The collector absorbs energy produced by the sun and transforms it into heat.
A heat-conducting liquid (think anti-freeze) and water circulate between the collector and the warm water tank. When the temperature on the collector reaches a few degrees hotter than the water in the storage tank, a regulator switches on the circulation pump.
The heat-conducting liquid then transports the heat received from the collector to the storage tank. This might be a bit confusing, but the most important part is that solar heating is environmentally friendly AND can save you money. Solar panels do cost a bit up front but generally will recover that cost in a matter of months.
Geothermal Heating Comes From Underground!
The word geothermal can be broken into two parts: geo, meaning earth and thermal, meaning heat. Geothermal heating basically is a system of underground pipes filled with water that circulate below the surface of the ground.
The earth naturally holds a certain level of warmth, and the liquid is able to capture it and transport it back, heating up your home.
The cost of a geothermal heating system can be high if you are installing it, but if you purchase a home that already has it, you may have hit a gold mine.
Geothermal heating is also economically and environmentally friendly as well as having the capability of lasting for over 20 years, with certain components lasting even far longer than that!
How do Heat Pumps Help?
Similar to a geothermal heat pump, an air heat pump extracts heat from the outside air by using a heat-conducting liquid. It is efficient because it transfers heat instead of creating heat, but will not heat a home in very low temperatures.
Typically, a secondary heat source is needed if you are expecting weather that dips below 25 degrees. However, the upside to this is that an air heat pump can be reversed and used similarly to an air conditioner in warmer temperatures. On average, these appliances do not cost much more to install than a normal heater, but as mentioned, they are quite efficient!
Choosing The Best System For Your Home
Typically when buying a home, you settle for whatever heating system comes with it. If you do have a choice, take the time to research what is best for your home, budget, and if it’s important to you, the environment. All three of these options are environmentally friendly and are budget friendly after they have been installed.
It really comes down to finding which one will work best for your family and if you need to install it yourself, which is best for your budget! If you enjoyed learning about different heating systems, take a second to share this blog with your friends!