Heating Unit - What Are Your Need-Based Options?

Choosing the right heating system for your home is essential for ensuring comfort, energy efficiency, and savings, especially during the colder months. Given the wide range of heating units retailed, which should you choose when building your house or replacing a heating system?

What are the advantages and downsides of each type of heating unit? How can you make a well-informed decision based on your home and budget? This article guides you through the different heating units to help you find the one that will heat your home as effectively as possible.

What Is a Home Heating Unit?

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A heating unit is a device designed to generate and diffuse heat inside a room, increasing indoor temperatures.

It operates according to two primary functions:

• Hydronic heating: Uses a boiler to heat water, which is then channelled toward radiators or underfloor heating.

• Forced-air system: Uses a furnace or heat pump to heat the air, which is then channelled through ducts.

What Are the Different Types of Heating Systems and Equipment?

There are several types of heating systems, each with unique specificities:

Furnace

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Furnaces heat air, which is then distributed via ducts throughout the dwelling. It can either be fueled by natural gas, propane, oil, or electricity.

What Are the Downsides to Residential Gas-Fired Heat Sources?

Gas-fired heating systems encompass two types of gas:

• Natural gas

• Propane

The former is a fossil fuel, extracted via fracking practices. 

As for the latter, it’s the commercial name under which liquified petroleum gas (LPG) is retailed. Albeit not as common as natural gas, it allows those without access to natural gas to have it delivered in a cistern.

In any case, gas is a fossil fuel that actively contributes to the greenhouse effect.

For more information, check out our article: Gas-Fired Heating Systems—Heading Toward a Ban in Quebec?

Forced-Air Electric Furnace

Silent, efficient, and safe are the three words best used to describe this heating unit.

Forced-air furnaces are today’s version of the standard electric furnace. Said conventional system was typically installed in a building’s lower level, ensuring a natural flow of heated air. On the other hand, forced-air furnaces distribute hot air courtesy of a ventilation system.

Steam Boiler or Hot Water Boiler Heating System

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Boilers heat water or produce steam, which then circulates inside radiators or underfloor heating systems. They can be powered using various energy sources, such as natural gas, oil, or electricity.

There are two types, depending on whether they produce:

• Hot water

• Steam

While both types of boilers are similar in appearance, they highly differ in their functioning:

Electric Heat System

Electric heating systems, such as baseboards or wall convectors, directly convert electricity into heat. Such methods of heating require very little maintenance and are relatively simple to install. They also allow for accurate temperature control in every room of the house, while some devices even offer quick temperature spikes, ideal for areas like bathrooms.

Given their numerous upsides, electric heaters are the most commonly used heating systems nowadays.

Ductless Home Heating Solutions

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Ductless heating systems are gravity furnaces; the heating unit is typically installed under the floor or in the walls. However, keep in mind that this type of floor-level heating is a permanent installation.

It can either be powered with gas, oil, or electricity and depending on the chosen model, it can come equipped with a programmable thermostat.

However, more and more ductless heating units are heat pumps. What are those? Heat pumps are mechanisms that draw in outside air indoors, compressing it.

The compressed air is then heated and once warmed, distributed around the room. And best believe heat pumps aren’t hindered by cold outside air; devices work efficiently in temperatures as low as -26°C.

But the question remains, how does a ducted heat pump work? 

What Is a Ducted Heat Pump for a House and How Does It Work?

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During the wintertime, heat pumps transfer outside heat indoors, and vice versa for cooling purposes during the summer. Heat pumps are either air-sourced or geothermal. 

A ducted heat pump heats all rooms inside a home, while a ductless heat pump only heats a single room.

Another upside of ducted heat pumps is that they only have an outdoor unit (compressor/condenser), while ductless heat pumps are known as mini-splits, meaning they have both an indoor and outdoor compressor/condenser.

Cold Weather Limitations—How Does a Heat Pump Work in Winter?

Remember the -26°C we mentioned earlier? Chilly winter days in Canada regularly dip below this threshold.

As a result, being able to rely on another heating system is crucial, in case the latter fails because you can’t afford to lose heat at such extreme temperatures.

So why even consider installing a heat pump? Because it has the unique ability to serve as both wintertime heating and summer cooling. This characteristic is also unique to fan-coil units.

Curious about the energy-efficient powers of heat pumps? Check out our article on the subject matter.

How to Choose the Right Home Heating Option

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To facilitate your decision-making, focus on the following factors:

• Heating and hot water energy requirements

• Energy choice available

• Cost

• Gross yield

• Net yield

• System comfort level

• Pollutants generated

How to Calculate Heating Costs

Heat or thermal capacity is measured in BTU/h (British Thermal Unit). To measure the BTU capacity required, consider several parameters, such as: 

• Area of residence

• Build date

• Construction style

• Wall insulation

• Heating area layout

• Amongst others

To measure your needs, multiply your house’s square footage by 40. As a result, for a 1,000-square-foot home (roughly 100 square metres), get yourself a heating system that generates roughly 40,000 BTU/h (11.7 kW).

The Upsides to Various Heating Units

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Natural Gas Furnace

• Pros: Fast heating, low fuel costs, powered without electricity.

• Cons: Needs to be hooked up to a gas line, CO₂ emissions.

Forced-Air Electric Furnace

• Pros: Noise-free, straightforward installation, produces no emissions.

• Cons: High electricity costs, relies on a power supply.

Wall Convectors and Baseboards

• Pros: Effective, quick, durable, eco-friendly, straightforward installation, low maintenance.

• Cons: Electricity costs can skyrocket, dry ambient air.

Boiler

• Pros: Can also provide domestic hot water and is an even source of heat.

• Cons: Complex installation, requires proper, regular maintenance.

Heat Pump

Residential Heating Unit Pricing

Installing the Right Heating Unit

Choosing the right heating unit is essential to ensure comfort in your home during those beyond-cold Canadian winter days. By assessing your needs, comparing available options, and seeking advice from qualified professionals, you can select a system that’s perfectly suited to your situation. Don’t overlook regular maintenance to ensure your system's efficiency and longevity.

FAQ About Heating Units

What heating system best suits a 538 sq. ft. room?

There are several options available to efficiently heat a 538-square-foot room:

• Wall convector: straightforward installation, heats a room quickly.

• Electric heating: Electric baseboards or radiators provide even heat.

• Propane heating: A portable and efficient solution for areas without access to a natural gas supply.

What is the cheapest heating system?

The cost of running a heating system depends on several factors, including the type of fuel used, the system's efficiency, and local energy rates. Generally speaking:

• Natural gas heating: Often cost-effective given the relatively low cost of natural gas.

• Electric heating: Often an expensive option, depending on the price of electricity. 

• Heat pump: Provides enhanced energy efficiency, reducing costs in the long run.

How much does it cost to put in a new heating unit?

The cost of installing a new heating unit depends on the type of system you're considering, the manufacturer—some brands are more expensive than others—the size of your home, the system's energy efficiency, labour, and ductwork.