Residential Heating Systems
Home heating systems provide warmth and comfort to your house. The most common types of heating systems are forced air furnaces, radiant (boiler) heating systems, and heat pump heating systems. Electric baseboard heat is another option, but less common in Southeastern Wisconsin due to the average cost difference between natural gas and electricity. These systems should always be installed, maintained, and repaired by qualified and trained technicians.
Forced air heating systems
Forced air furnaces typically either use natural gas, LP, or fuel oil as their main energy source. These are the most common home heating systems in our area, with the main component of most homes’ central heating system being the gas or LP furnace. The furnace is typically located in the home’s basement, with an air distribution, or “ducting”, system which usually services the whole house. But there are other installation applications where a forced air heating system may also be used.
The latest models available of forced air furnaces achieve energy efficiency ratings higher than 95% and are equipped with energy efficient blower fans. With improvements to furnace performance and an increased demand for indoor air quality solutions the benefits of keeping your home comfort system properly maintained reach beyond just peace of mind.
Radiant – boiler heating systems
Radiant heating systems use hot water and piping and radiators to deliver heat which circulates through your home. Radiant heating systems typically use either natural gas, LP, or fuel oil as their main energy source. Although not as common as forced air heating systems, there are many homes in Wisconsin with radiant heating sytsems. Benefits of a having a radiant heating system include: usually more quiet to operate, they provide comfortable, even heat.
Heat pump systems
The term “heat pump” can be confusing, and that is because heat pump systems come in several forms. The most common heat pump systems used in Wisconsin homes are: ductless heat pump systems, and air source central heat pump systems. A heat pump system essentially uses the refrigeration/compression process to extract, or “pump” heat from outside air and then uses it to heat your home. Heat pump systems are very efficient to use for most of winter and can help to reduce our carbon footprint. But the performance drops off as outside temperatures drop below freezing, which is why they are only considered supplemental heat in Wisconsin. Our Comfort Pros can help to determine if a heat pump system is a reasonable supplemental heating option for your home.
Electric baseboards
This type of heating system uses electric heating elements housed in wall-mounted units to provide safe, point-of-use, heat. For applications without a central heating system, or locations in a home to where ducting is unreasonable or impossible to install, electric baseboard heat is a great option. Electric baseboard heaters should be installed and serviced by a licensed electrician.
