The middle of winter is a pretty inconvenient time to have to install a new heating system in your home. No one likes to be without heat for any length of time during the coldest months of the year. Still, sometimes you don’t have a choice. Maybe your current heating system just isn’t up to the task of heating your home anymore, or you’re moving into an entirely new home and you don’t have a heater yet. Regardless, here are some possible options for installing a new heater this season.
Furnace
There’s a reason that furnaces are still so popular in homes across the country, despite more modern heating system types arriving on the market. Furnaces come in a wide variety of types, and are quite effective at heating a home even during very cold weather. If you’re looking for a new heating system, chances are good that a furnace is out there that can meet your needs. There are limitations, of course. If you want to use a gas furnace, for example, you’re going to need to have access to a natural gas line. Still, for many people, this is the ideal heating method.
Heat Pump
A heat pump looks and acts like an air conditioner in most respects, with one big exception. Heat pumps are able to change the direction that refrigerant flows through their systems, which enables them to act as either heaters or air conditioners on demand. This advantage makes them very attractive options for homeowners who want to save money and space on climate control. You’ll need to schedule maintenance for a heat pump more often, since they’re put under more strain throughout the year. They can also suffer a slight decrease in efficiency if used in extremely cold temperatures. Still, in exchange for that you get a very convenient and efficient method of climate control for the rest of the year.
Ductless Mini Split
A ductless mini split system is a heat pump, but one that doesn’t use ducts. Instead, the system consists of smaller air handlers, one of which is installed in each zone to receive heat throughout the home. Each air handler has its own thermostat, which makes it possible to set a different ideal temperature for each room in the home. Like all heat pumps, ductless mini splits are able to offer both heating and cooling functions.
Because a ductless mini split is not a centralized system, installing one will often require a bit more of an up-front investment. Most homes are not already outfitted to make immediate use of a ductless mini split. If you want to have a more granular control over your home’s indoor climate and save money on heating costs, though, it might be well worth it. Just make sure that you have a qualified professional take care of the installation for you, regardless of the system.
Carney Plumbing Heating & Cooling offers comprehensive heating installation services in Bucks County, PA. If you need a new heating system installed for whatever reason, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our experts.