Comparing Radiant And Central Heating
Radiant heating is quickly becoming a more popular alternative heating option, but it still secondary to central heating units. Both types of heating offer different sets of benefits over each other. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each can help you decide which type of heating option is best suited for your needs.
Radiant Heating
Radiant heating units are extremely efficient, and retain heat in a room very well, which helps reduce your energy bills over time. Additionally, radiant heating units require no maintenance in order to continue functioning properly. They have no filters to replace, no ductwork to clean, and no parts to check. It is important to note that the absence of ductwork means that radiant heating can help reduce the severity of allergies indoors, as it will not circulate dust and other allergens throughout the house. Radiant heating units are also extremely quiet in operation, and beyond a slight hum, are completely silent. This means that you won't be woken up in the middle of the night by your heating unit turning on.
However, radiant heating units can take a while to heat up a room, which can be a problem in the winter months. It is also important to note that while radiant heating systems tend to be maintenance free, repairs if something does go wrong can be extremely invasive and expensive, as the floors or walls may need to be ripped up.
Central Heating
Central heating units are the most common type of heating unit in most homes, and provide heat to your entire home, unlike radiant heating, which needs to be installed in multiple rooms to heat your entire house. Central heating units can also warm up your entire home extremely quickly, within minutes depending on the model. It should also be noted that central heating systems can be programmed to turn on and off at certain times of the day, which can be extremely useful for those who are out of the house for most of the day in the winter.
However, central heating units need regular maintenance, as their filters and ducts need to be cleaned. Additionally, the high initial price of central heating units is a significant factor for many homeowners operating a budget. This high price is continually brought upwards by the constant maintenance that these systems require, though the maintenance itself is cheaper than any repairs that radiant heating requires. It should also be noted that central heating units use much more power than radiant heating units, which results in higher energy bills, another expense that builds up over time.
A heating and air conditioning company like Nathan's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. can help you get more information on different units available to you.
