What is the best way to heat a home in New England?

For New Englanders living in more densely-populated areas, gas heating systems may be all they need – with cheaper fuel costs and easier delivery methods, gas is preferred for homes and apartment buildings in these areas. Electrical heating is undeniably the cleanest and potentially the safest option out there.

Does hydronic heating use gas or electricity?

Hydronic heating provides homeowners with the option of choosing a suitable design for their individual needs. Versatility stems from the choice of using natural gas, solid fuel, propane or electricity as your local fuel source. While gas is the most common choice, the choice is still up to you.

What is gas baseboard heating?

In the baseboard hydronic heating systems (shown below), water is heated in a gas-fired or oil-fired furnace located in the basement. The heated water is distributed through pipes into baseboards in various rooms. The heat is then delivered through radiation and convection.

Do all homes have natural gas?

Nationwide, natural gas heats most homes. About 48 percent of all U.S. homes use natural gas for heating, while electricity is used in 37 percent, U.S. Census Bureau data show.

Is natural gas the cheapest way to heat a home?

If you live in a colder climate, such as the northeast, then there is little doubt that the cheapest way to heat your entire home through the winter months is not with electricity. The best option is a natural gas furnace that provides maximum efficiency and the lowest bills when compared to other fuel types.

Why is baseboard heating so expensive?

The upfront cost of installing electric baseboard heating is less expensive compared to other types of heating, but it can be more expensive in the long-term because it isn’t as efficient. One reason is because baseboard placement often results in heat leaving the home.

How long do hydronic heating systems last?

Age – hydronic systems have an average lifespan of about 20 years. If yours is older than this, you may want to consider replacement, even if the system is still working ok. Waiting for a leak or other problem to occur before replacing the system may cost you more down the road.

Can hydronic heating be zoned?

A hydronic heating system-equipped house could be zoned for an increasingly comfortable living area. Zoning lets you isolate different living spaces in a home and provide heat to only the areas needing it. The heating system could be divided into multiple zones depending on the comfort level desired.

Is a hydronic heating system right for your new home?

As a result, the overall heating performance of your furnace or heat pump in your newly built “dream home” might be suboptimal. Hydronic systems, on the other hand, heat the space via “warm mass”. That may be a radiator of some type, or warm floors.

Why are there no cold spots in a hydronic heating system?

Because of this mass, and the fact that water is a much better conductor of energy than air, cold spots within a home are far less of a factor with a properly designed hydronic system than with forced air. Radiators and radiant floor systems heat a space via two means: conduction and radiation.

Is it time to winterize your heating system?

Winter is coming. Now is the time to assess your heating system and replace any aging or malfunctioning components. The first thing to look at is your boiler—the most common heating source in any water- or steam-based system.

What are the different types of heating systems?

Without diving into the many details of each system type, your choices are, for the most part, as follows: electric baseboard, forced air systems (furnace or heat pump), and hydronic heating systems (fin tube baseboard, radiators, and/or radiant in-floor systems). As a reminder, hydronic systems use hot water from a boiler to heat your home.