There are many different varieties of home heating systems that can be used when constructing a new home or to replace an current system in an older home. Some of these alternatives are: forced hot air, hot water baseboard or heat pump. Which one is best for you? There are good points and bad points about each one.

Found in the majority homes, a forced hot air system uses air heated by a furnace, that is blown into each room through ductwork. The furnace can be run by natural gas, oil, propane gas or electricity. The positive aspects are that the same ductwork can also be utilized to supply air conditioning and this system is cheaper than most others. Regular service will be necessary to replace filters, and the moving air will generate more dust and allergens than other heating choices. With today’s high-efficiency furnaces, you’ll conserve money on energy bills compared to your current furnace.

Hot water baseboard heat uses heated water that runs through baseboard units placed on the bottom of the walls in a room. The metal baseboard has fins that radiate the heat into the room. Hot water baseboards can also be run on by natural gas, oil, propane gas or electricity. It is very efficient and quiet, but is slow to heat effectively and furniture cannot be placed immediately in front of the units. Maintenance will also be necessary to clean and repair the furnace that heats the water.

A heat pump is a system that is placed outside the home and takes air from a cooler area to convert it to a higher temperature. Heat pumps can also be used for cooling, conserving money since you will only need to set up one system. Temperate environments are ideal for this type of system, or another heating source will be needed in colder climates. These units are typically fueled by electricity, which can increase the cost of your electric bill.

Whichever system you use, your home will be more efficient and cleaner than the system being replaced. New homes are able to use earth friendlier systems that need less fuel and a supply savings on repair fees. Investigating these systems will help you make wise choices for all of your needs.