ISOEN Heating, Ventilating, & Air Conditioning

There are some important things to consider when selecting a central home heating system. You have to decide the type of heat best for your indoor heating requirement. This will help determine if a radiator, an underfloor heater, or both should be installed.

Radiator

This system is designed for quick and easy setup in the room. Its temperature control system makes it easy to control the room temperature. You can reduce the temperature using the heat adjusting valve of the radiator. You can increase or decrease the interior temperature based on weather, heating requirement, and other factors. Reduce the temperature when the weather is mild. The underfloor heating system increases the temperature to the required level quickly, but the room takes some time to cool with this setup.

Underfloor Heater

More and more homeowners now install underfloor heaters. This system takes more time to heat the space to the set temperature. Similarly, it takes time to bring down the temperature. The heating effect depends a lot on how underfloor heating is installed and the type of flooring material used on its heating pipes.

The pipe coil of the underfloor heater runs across the floor. The flooring is laid on top of it. The heated flooring heats the space above it. This is the way an underfloor heating system works.

Boilers

The size of your property is an important factor when selecting a boiler. The number of rooms you have affects what size of boiler should be installed for your home. Most homes now use condensing boilers that deliver high energy efficiency. Their efficiency rating can be as high as 90%, making them more environmentally friendly than earlier boiler models.

Boilers are available in two options – combination and system. The selection depends on the number of bathrooms you have in your house.

Combination Boilers

These boilers can deliver hot water on demand. They ensure a regular supply of hot water as per your requirements. Their drawback is that you can run them only for one application at one time. For example, when someone is using the shower, the hot water supply can be affected if a hot tap is opened in the kitchen, which happens to be the closest to the boiler. It happens because a combination boiler has heating limitations. If you need it to work for multiple water outlets, you must use a high output combination boiler.

The heating of the water supply is given priority over the heating of space. The space heating function of the heater remains switched off when a tap’s hot water is being used. The space heating function returns and starts working when the tap is closed.

System Boilers

These systems are installed along a cylinder full of water. This water is heated, and the cylinder is usually unvented.

Motorized zone valves control the central heating and hot water supply. A dedicated zone valve is used for the hot water function. On the other hand, the central heating system has the required number of valves for each zone that requires heating.

Heating Control

Both boiler systems use some type of control unit to regulate the temperature of interior space and water supply. A clock or programmer is used for this purpose. It works based on the heating requirements for hot water and central heating.

The heater thermostat ensures the most comfortable temperature in the room. It is installed in each room, allowing the occupants to control the temperature of their room independently. This thermostat can also be added to the radiator or underfloor heater to control the space temperature. The system with more temperature control systems runs more efficiently. You will save energy, and your electricity bill will be lower.

Different types of temperature control systems are available. A smart temperature controller lets you control the interior temperature through your smartphone.

Installation

Keep in mind some rules when finding the right installer for installing your heating system.

Look for a reputable company over the Internet. Check information related to it online. You can find such companies at trade sites that deal in heating products and services. Once you have narrowed down your search to a company, read its reviews posted by its customers. This information will help you check its record in the industry and market. After verifying the company, contact it for more information. You can invite the installer for a site inspection. The installer will evaluate your heating requirement before suggesting any heating system.

During the first meeting with the installer, discuss your heating installation requirements. This discussion will help you decide if that installer is the right professional to install your heater. If something looks amiss, move on and choose a different company.

If you plan to install a gas-operated boiler, you should also carry out some other important checks.

It’s not always a simple process to select the right home heating and cooling system. There are many variations of a highly functional system, and the right solution will depend on what the homeowner needs in cooling and heating the home adequately.

This is a tough decision for many because there are more options than ever. Some of the newest options have improved in their technology, so they may be more desirable than they would have been previously.

To help in the decision-making process, this article will review the various types of air conditioning systems and their features and what each system is most suited for in terms of cooling applications in the home. It will also cover maintenance issues and potential drawbacks of installing each system.

This article seeks to offer facts about cooling systems, so homeowners can be more informed when deciding on the type of system to install in their homes.

Types of System Design

 

There are three main types of cooling systems. There are variations to each. But, they all come with their own unique sets of features and benefits. A homeowner must decide on the type of system before deciding the brand or model of the unit(s) to be installed.

Split/Wall Systems

Split systems or mini-split systems have heating and cooling units installed in many rooms of the home. An outdoor compressor works with the wall units in each. Wall units contain the fan coils to complete the process.

These systems are efficient and allow for individual adjustments to room temperatures. This may help homeowners save on electricity costs because rooms that are used very little do not need to be cooled as much.

A disadvantage of this type of unit for some homeowners is that every room will have a visible unit installed on the walls, and some homeowners may not want this. These systems have improved over time and are more cost-effective than ever. Today’s models typically receive high energy star ratings, so they are less costly.

Ducted Cooling Systems

Ducted Cooling Systems are very popular because they require less adjustment, as every home tends to have only one thermostat to control the entire home. This type of system requires a compressor to be installed outside the home. The unit takes air, cools it, and then sends it throughout the home using the duct system.

This type of cooling system requires more work for installation. It’s best to install a ducted system when the home is in the process of being built. However, it can be added later but with a significant price tag if there is no existing ductwork. It requires opening walls or access from the ceiling. Then those areas must be closed again in a way that nobody can tell the work was done.

Ducted systems are usually reverse cycles. That means they can also keep the home warm during the colder months. Some split systems also have this feature. An advantage of a ducted system is that only the vents in the rooms are visible, and there are no wall units that some people may find obtrusive.

Ducted systems are easier to maintain because only the outdoor compressor needs to be maintained unless the homeowner chooses to have a professional duct cleaning company clean them periodically. With split systems, each wall unit must be professionally maintained.

An evaporative system is in its own category. It can be used with doors and windows open. It cools the air by taking it in and passing it through wet cooling pads. This type of system does not get as cold as other systems. But, homeowners can have cool breezes through their homes with windows and doors open. This type of system can still make the home comfortable for its residents in the summer heat.

An important benefit of the evaporative system is that it is beneficial to people who suffer from sinus and breathing issues because it adds some moisture back into the home. It is healthier for homes with newborn babies. An evaporative system is also the most economical to operate, as it uses less power than other cooling systems.

A disadvantage of evaporative cooling is that it only cools. It does not heat the home. Homeowners will need to find another way to heat their homes. Either an electric or gas heating system would be needed.

Summary

This article from the contractors at HVAC Livonia was intended to help homeowners understand the various types of cooling and heating systems available and the benefits and disadvantages of each. Being knowledgeable makes it easier for homeowners to make the wisest choice for their particular needs in cooling and heating.

Homeowners who are faced with how to cool and heat their homes must consider which systems are best for their particular needs, how often they are willing to pay for the cost of maintenance, and what their requirements are for heating and cooling. Each system comes with its own set of benefits and its own set of drawbacks.