What is the Best Type of Furnace For Your Home?

From geothermal heating to gas furnaces and electric heaters to wood burning stoves there are many different ways people choose to heat their home. Of course, this warmth does not come cheap. Whether you use natural gas, electric heat or an alternate heat source, heating bills in the winter typically supersede the cost of keeping cool.

So, how can you determine what the best form of heating is? Here are a few considerations to help you before you make a final decision.


Source- If you are building a new home the heating options are more varied as you can go with whatever method will be best for you. However, for existing homes, it may necessary to stay with the type of heat already in use and just change the size and efficiency of the model. For new homes, many homeowners are choosing to use alternative heating methods such as solar heating, absorption heating or geothermal heat pumps.
Cost- Typically fuel is measured in physical units such as gallons or watts with the most common measurement being the Btu (British thermal unit). A Btu is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water 1o F. Currently, the most inexpensive forms of heating are (from lowest to highest)-seasoned firewood, propane, natural gas and electric heating.
Environmental concerns- In this "Going green" society, many are choosing to use firewood, propane, natural gas or solar heating as it is far more earth-friendly than electric heat since it does not require coal to be burned in order to be used.
Efficiency and Size- A furnace that is too big for a space will cycle off and on more than necessary using more heat and energy and adding higher costs to the bill. When you are deciding on a furnace, be sure to know the dimensions of the space to be heated so that you can select a heat source that will keep the space warm without straining the system and costing you too much money. To ensure the best possible furnace, be sure to look for an Energy Star certified heater.
Talk to a certified HVAC technician or a contractor who is a member of the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) group. They will be able to tell you what type of heating unit and fuel will be best for you home. You may also want to talk to friends and neighbors to get their insight.
If you are still uncertain what type of fuel and furnace will be best and whether or not the investment will actually pay off, use this formula to determine the Return on Investment (ROI): Take your first year savings (or potential savings) and divide them by the cost of installation. The answer will give you an idea of how long it will take you to pay back your savings with your new furnace.

For further information on furnaces for you home, please visit www.abelonsite.com today.

Article independently authored by Janet M Slagell. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Abel Onsite Heating and Cooling.