There are a number of different types of heating systems found in houses. The most common ones found in our area are forced air ducted systems, hot water boilers, and electric baseboard heat strips.
Some of the less common systems are steam boilers, heat pumps, in-floor (or ceiling) radiant heat and geo-thermal systems.
NOTE: As with any heating equipment, make sure that storage is kept away from these units. Cardboard boxes lying near the equipment is a huge fire hazard, a situation we home inspectors see all too often.
The forced air ducted system is the type of system we see most often. This is due to the lower initial cost for installation, especially in a new house.
Over the years the efficiency of these systems has been improved to the point where many models can be vented out the sidewall of the house. These styles are referred to as “direct-vent” systems. Direct vent systems were also designed to draw combustion air from outside the house, reducing to potential for depressurization issues, as well as improving the indoor air quality. Some of these systems have sealed combustion chambers, and are referred to “high-efficiency” furnaces.
Of the two, the hot water boilers are, by far, more commonly found in modern houses. Modern systems include a boiler, which heats the water within the system, and one or more circulation pumps (circ pumps) that feed the heated water through the house to the individual radiators. Steam boilers use the expansive force of water turning to steam to push the heat through the piping system to the radiators. We only see a handful of these every year, most being old systems. We could devote pages upon pages relating to these systems, but we want to keep it somewhat simple, not turn you into boiler technicians.
How to tell the difference between steam and hot water systems.
Steam systems have a glass tube on the side referred to as a sight glass. (Sometimes this tube is located on a tank in the attic.) NOTE: If the water in the sight glass is crystal clear, it probably suggests that the system is losing water somewhere. )
Modern hot water systems have circulation pumps. These are not found on steam systems.
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While not known for efficiency, we still find a fair amount of houses that are relying on this type of heat. Many are found in housing tracts that were constructed back in the 1970’s. Why, during the decade of the first energy crunch, would builders install heating systems known for their high operating costs into new houses, you might ask? Simple, many of these tracts are located in areas that were lacking natural gas, and it was easier than dealing with propane or fuel oil. Of the three most common types of heat, in our opinion, electric baseboard is the least desirable.
Electric Baseboard heat Upside
Electric Baseboard heat Downside
NOTE: We often see houses that were constructed initially with electric baseboard heat, and have been retrofitted with a forced air system. In split-level houses, many times the heating ductwork was provided to the first floor only, while the baseboard heaters have remained on the upper floor. This tends to be functional if installed correctly, as heated air rises, although at times, the baseboard units on the upper floor may still be necessary.
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Heat pumps are fairly rare in this neck of the woods, as they are not designed to operate to their full potential in our climate. They run on electricity and quite simply put, extract the heat from the outside air and feed it through a forced air system of ductwork. While we do run into these systems on occasion, and the people who have them generally seem quite pleased with then, this type of heating system would not be our recommendation in the Central New York area.
What’s it look like?
The outside component tends to look like an air conditioning condenser unit only these are generally set on stands that raise them up off the ground 1-2 feet. Inside, they look similar to a forced air system.
Heat Pump Upside
Heat Pump Downside
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RADIANT HEAT
This type of system is gaining popularity due to improvements in design. While they remain one of the most costly types of systems to install, they provide a wonderful source of heat. Found most often in floors, sometimes in ceiling panels. Some use a boiler, or even a water heater with a pump, to send heated water through tubing. Some are electrically operated.
Radiant Heat Upside
Radiant Heat Downside
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Tips for Lowering Your Furnace/Boiler's Energy Usage
Will Installing Air Filters in My Home Help My Asthma?
Although the American Lung Association and the EPA recommend air filtration, they say that controlling the sources of allergy-causing pollution and ventilation are more important. Air filters are worth considering, but not as a solution to your allergy problems by themselves. In fact, research studies disagree on whether or not filters give much added relief from asthma in a clean and well-ventilated home.
While many allergenic particles are suspended in household air, there are far more resting on surfaces like rugs, furniture and countertops. Keeping these areas clean is the most important step in controlling the cause of your asthma.
Are There National Health Standards for Air Filter Performance?
No. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has twice asked groups of experts to recommend national standards, but neither effort succeeded. Both groups concluded that there isn’t enough research data on the relationship between air filtration and actual health improvement to recommend national standards.
When you shop for air filters, you will find several rating systems that claim to compare filters. But these are not health-related rating systems. They are standards used by manufacturers or manufacturers’ organizations, and provide little or no guidance for the health-conscious shopper.
How Can I Find a Quality Air Filter?
Although the FDA has no health-related standards, it does consider some portable air filtration systems to be Class II medical devices. In the United States, nothing can claim this status without FDA approval. To get approval, a manufacturer must show two things: (1) that the device is safe, usually indicated by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL) seal, and (2) that it has a medical benefit. Look for both the UL seal and a statement of the FDA’s Class II approval. If no FDA statement is available with the device, check the FDA’s medical device listing before buying. Ask your doctor for guidance.
Are There Different Kinds of Air Filters?
Yes. There are five basic types.
Mechanical filters. These force air through a special mesh that traps particles including allergens like pollen, pet dander and dust mites. They also capture irritant particles like tobacco smoke.
Electronic filters, of which the most efficient are electrostatic filters. These use electrical charges to attract and deposit allergens and irritants. If the device contains collecting plates, the particles are captured within the system. Otherwise they stick to room surfaces and have to be cleaned away.
Hybrid filters. These contain the elements of both mechanical and electrostatic filters.
Gas phase filters. These remove odors and non-particulate pollution like cooking gas, gasses given off by paint or building materials, and perfume. They cannot remove allergenic particles.
Ozone generators. Although ozone cleans air, the EPA and the American Lung Association do not recommend these because ozone is harmful to lungs. When ozone concentration rises outdoors, people with asthma are warned to stay inside. Generating ozone in the house makes no sense.
Can Filters Actually “Change the Air” in a Room?
Yes. When shopping for an air filter system, look for one that can recirculate 8 or 10 room volumes per hour. This doesn’t guarantee completely clean air, but it will be much cleaner than with systems that recirculate less.
You should also ask about efficiency. You need a system that removes more than 90 percent of all particles larger than 0.3 microns in diameter. Most indoor allergens are larger than this, so this efficiency standard will handle them easily.
Is There a Type of Filter That Will Be Best for My Asthma?
Yes. The most effective is a kind of mechanical filter called the high-efficiency particulate air (or HEPA) filter. (Note: This is a type of filter, not a product name.) HEPA was invented during World War II to prevent the escape of radioactive particles from laboratories. To qualify as a “true HEPA” filter, a device must be able to capture at least 90 percent of all particles 0.3 microns or more in diameter that enter it.
Be aware, however, that there are filters on the market that claim to be HEPAs, but may be only half as efficient. Insist on a system that meets “true HEPA” filtration standards. This way you will be certain to get a system that removes at least 90 percent of the indoor allergen particles.
The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America recommends that if you decide to clean indoor air, you choose a “true HEPA” filtration system.
Are HEPA Filters Expensive and Difficult to Handle?
No. Up to a point, filters improve with age, since trapped particles fill spaces that later particles might get through. Eventually, though, they become clogged and costly to operate. It is easy to replace the mesh once a year for greater efficiency.
Be sure to ask questions about cost, difficulty and useful life of filters in your conversation with salespeople so that you won’t be surprised later with unexpected costs or difficulties.
What Else Should I Consider Before Buying an Air Filtration System?
If your home is heated or air conditioned through ducts, it may be possible to build filters into your air handling system. This has the advantage of the great force with which air will pass through the filter. And it eliminates a space-consuming appliance and an additional sound in your home. On the other hand, the filters may be more expensive and more difficult to handle; and they may need to be changed more often. Consult your doctor and your heating service on this alternative to a portable system.