In forced air central heating system air is used as the medium to transfer heat to the house. In force air heater hot air travels through the duct work and vents to different rooms of the house. Once temperature inside the house reaches the programmed temperature the heater shuts off until the temperature increases.
Many forced air heating systems are highly energy efficient and can help in heating your house whole winter season without wasting much of the energy. But not all the forced air heater will have the same performance standards.
Noise coming from the unit, their energy efficiency and their performance depends on the type of unit you are purchasing. Biggest difference in these heaters is the component which is used to heat the system.
Types of forced air heaters
• Gas furnace
In these heaters fuel is used as the medium to generate heat. Heat is generated by fuel combustion. The burner of these systems is present inside the heat exchanger. These heat exchangers do not allow the by-products of the combustion to enter the stream.
There are different types of safety devices installed which don’t allow the fuel or gasses to be accumulated in case of failure of ignition, or venting. Different types of gases used in these systems are natural gas, propane gas or oil gas.
• Electric
Air is warmed with the help of electric heating component. When the heat is required thermostat turns on the blower and components when the desired temperature is reached they are turned off.
This type of heater is easy to handle and does not require large amount of maintenance. But as they work on electricity they are more expensive.
• Heat pump
In these system refrigerant is used to transfer the heat. They make use of the available outside and transfer them inside the house. They are termed as heat pump as they pump the outside heat inside the room.
• Hydronic coil
Hot water is provided along with the transfer of heat. Heat is generated inside the boiler by fuel combustion. In thus system heat exchanger is present inside the evaporator coil. Heated water is pumped through the heat exchanger then back to the boiler to be reheated.
Tips while installation
• It is more preferable to install a humidifier along with forced air heater.
• Installing a air filter is necessary specially if your family members are having allergies. Air filters help in increasing the indoor air quality and prevent dirt and dust from entering the house.
• Have your home properly insulated to make sure that all the rooms are properly warm.
• Make sure that ducts are properly installed and there are no leaks, as they are source for the air to reach inside the house.