1. Standard Forced Air
The most common and cheapest choice for heating and cooling. Temperature swings, drafts and uneven heating and cooling are common problems with this particular method. This system requires a furnace which is installed typically in the basement and a compressor which is installed outside and is used to cool the air down. This system also typically utilizes large rigid rectangular or round sheet metal ductwork to transfer the heated and cooled air room to room. Because of the size of the ductwork and the work involved in installing it, it is best suited for use in new home or building construction. The ductwork may be insulated or uninsulated depending on the installation. Registers are kept to a minimum in each room, typically one or two in a room 15’ x 15’ or smaller, and are placed on outside walls only near windows and doors in order to control heat loss and heat gain from them. This is the most inefficient, but best method of heating and cooling for the price.
2. High Velocity Forced Air
This method is similar to standard forced air and can be plagued by many of the same problems. However, it doesn’t have as much problem with drafts and uneven heating and cooling. This system still typically requires a compressor like standard forced air, but also requires an air handler instead of a furnace like standard air. The air handler is typically installed in an attic and forces the heated and cooled air at very high speeds through much smaller flexible ductwork than standard forced air. This smaller flexible ductwork allows it to be installed in tighter, smaller or more awkward areas than standard forced air ductwork. It is particularly useful in older homes built before HVAC systems were invented as well as in modern homes where there is not much room to run ducts. This system typically utilizes several small often 4 inch circular registers per room. It requires more registers per room than a standard forced air system, however the registers can be placed in almost any location and still be very effective. The amount of registers per room and the high velocity of the air coming out of them allows the heating and cooling to be much more even than standard forced air. Because of the high pressure of the air coming out of the registers, it circulates the air better and evens out the temperature much better than standard forced air. This system utilizes smaller ductwork than standard forced air, which allows it to be installed in tighter, smaller or more awkward areas than standard forced air ductwork. It is particularly useful in older homes built before HVAC systems were invented as well as in modern homes where there is not much room to run ducts. This is one of the most expensive methods of heating and cooling to install, but because it is much more efficient and comfortable it is also one of the best choices for heating and cooling. 3. Heat Pump
This method is the most efficient and cheapest operating heating and cooling system. It can utilize standard ductwork or be integrated into a high velocity system. This system does not use or require a typical furnace or compressor as other forced air systems do. This system uses a single self contained unit often installed a basement which includes everything to heat and cool a home. There are three different types of heat pumps, ground source, water source and air source. A ground source or water source heat pump utilizes large flexible plastic pipes that typically run straight down several feet underground. A ground source heat pump utilizes a brine solution to collect or extract heat out of the ground to cool or heat the air in the home. Similar to a ground source heat pump, a water source heat pump utilizes water run through pipes in the ground to collect or extract heat out of the ground to cool or heat the air in the home. Unlike ground or water source heat pumps, air source heat pumps do not utilize pipes in the ground, instead it is installed outside and extracts or collects heat directly from the air outside. Air source heat pumps are the most inefficient heat pumps and are most effective in warm moderate climates such as Florida or California.
4. Radiant
This is the cheapest and most efficient system of heating, however it is not very effective as a cooling system. Radiant heating utilizes pipes placed in lightweight concrete, under concrete slabs or in metal channels on the subfloor. This system works by running heated water just slightly higher than typical body temperature through the pipes in the floor. The air in the room extracts the heat from the pipes in the floor and warms up the room. The water then returns through thermostatic valves typically in the basement and into a boiler which reheats the water. This system is a closed loop system and constantly recirculates the same water through the pipes, valves and boiler. It can be used in conjunction with a forced air system also to allow air conditioning as well as heat.
5. Indirect Heating And Cooling
This system combines both a standard, high velocity or heat pump forced air system with a radiant heating system. Rather than running the pipes in the floor the pipes run in a coil similar to a radiator and are placed in the ductwork at the outlet end of an air handler. Just like a standard radiant system this system also requires a boiler, however unlike a standard radiant system this system can be an efficient cooling system. Both warm and cold water can be circulated through this system and that makes it one of the most efficient and affordable forms of heating and cooling.
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