The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects more home energy consumption this winter compared to 2019-2020.
More people are working from home or attending school from home due to Covid, increasing residential heating needs, and energy consumption.
The EIA expects to see a corresponding uptick in propane, electricity, and natural gas usage.
Homes with an oil heating system will see price declines to counteract increased demand.
Now is a good time to look at the different ways to heat your home and evaluate each system’s pros and cons.
You may find that you’re not using the right heating system for your needs.
In the following article, we’ll discuss the best heating systems out there, their benefits and drawbacks.
Electric Heating System
Electric heat usually supplies heat through baseboard elements, although you can find electric boilers (more on that later) and radiant floor heat.
However, those are not typical, and most people run the baseboard.
The pros:
- Low-cost upfront
- Easier and less time consuming to install
- Easy maintenance
The cons:
- Longer to heat
- More expensive over time
- A dry heat
The baseboard heating elements are wired to the thermostat and power supply.
There’s no ductwork or ventilation needed. Also, there’s little danger with electric heat, and the units will work for years.
Yet, you are at the whim of your electric company, and when was the last time your regional monopoly reduced rates? (Psst. The answer is never.)
Furnace Heat
Furnace units heat air and then blow it through ductwork to different zones in your homes.
You install vents in individual rooms to distribute the heat from the ducts.
Homeowners often pair furnaces with an air conditioning system for the warmer months.
The pros:
- Easier to install, replace
- Runs on oil, natural gas, or residential propane tanks
- Heats quick and even
The cons:
- Noisy
- Some not energy efficient
- Blows allergens around the house
Furnaces need high-powered fans to push the hot air around, so the units are sometimes noisy. And although it may not have been a big deal in the past, pushing air particles through your whole house now seems a little ominous.
Boiler heat
Boilers heat water or steam and then pipe the warmed liquid through the home.
Once the heat dissipates, the water is returned to the furnace and heated again.
This is a closed system, and both vertical and baseboard types of furnace heat are extremely popular.
The pros:
- Quiet
- Energy efficient
- Runs on oil, natural gas, or residential propane tanks
The cons:
- Expensive to install
- Heats slowly
- A malfunction can cause damage.
Although boilers are quiet and energy-efficient, they are expensive to install and need regular maintenance. A failed boiler can cause homeowners real difficulty if the water inside the unit freezes or starts leaking.
Back to The Future?
While there’s probably nothing more cheery and comforting than a wood fireplace on a winter’s night, heating your home with wood was once labor-intensive and inefficient.
But this is changing with the advent of wood-pellet stoves.
Pellets made from compacted sawdust and manufacturing waste are used in the heating system, and they burn efficiently and cleanly.
However, the pellets weigh quite a bit, so the storage of enough bags to heat your home consistently is sometimes a problem, especially for smaller residences.
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