Are you looking for a contractor?
Submit our quick form and get quotes now!
Heating Unit - What Are Your Need-Based Options?
By Editorial Team
Updated on November 15, 2024
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?
Source: Canva
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
Source: Canva
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
Source: Canva
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:
Steam Boiler | Hot Water Boiler |
Tank filled three-quarters of the way | Full tank |
Pressure: 2 psi (0.14 bar) | Pressure: 12 psi (0.82 bar) |
Low water cut-off (LWCO) | Low water cut-off recommended |
Needs a backup water supply to offset losses | Needs little to no backup water supply |
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
Source: Canva
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?
Source: Canva
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
Source: Canva
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
Source: Canva
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
Pros | Cons |
High energy efficiency | High upfront cost |
Dual function | Drop in efficiency during extreme cold |
Eco-friendly | Heat pumps require regular upkeep to maintain efficiency. |
Residential Heating Unit Pricing
Heating Device | Average Cost |
Heat pump | $1,000–$15,000 |
Electric furnace | $2,000–$4,000 |
Natural gas heating | $4,000–$8,000 |
Propane heating | $5,000–$7,500 |
Boiler | $3,000–$5,000 |
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.
Looking for something else?
Related articles
The latest industry news, interviews, technologies, and resources.
Équipe éditoriale • 07 Nov 2023
The anticipation of the incoming heat in the first few weeks of summer would drive anyone to want a pool, no? There’s no doubt that this prospect could lead you to dream of moments where you’ll be drinking sangria on an inner tube with your legs up and your hair in the wind.
Editorial Team • 28 Aug 2024
Hardwood floors are a beautiful but serious investment. Protecting and maintaining the surface of your hardwood floors is an important part of owning them. This flooring material shows all signs of dirt and grime, and therefore, cleaning should happen frequently. However, hardwood floors are a delicate material and must be maintained using soft and specific methods.
Editorial Team • 20 Nov 2023
In light of the COVID-19-induced sanitary crisis, traditional office space maintenance, which ultimately consisted of vacuuming, wiping down surfaces, washing windows, and emptying trash cans, has since been completely overhauled.
Léa Plourde-Archer • 24 May 2024
Foundation parging is a product that fulfills both useful and aesthetic functions. It is used to cover the exposed part of the foundation of your house. However, although practical, it does not last forever!
Editorial Team • 23 Jul 2024
Needless to say, the long-term durability of a house depends heavily on the lack of seepage, above all in the foundation. Excessive humidity can have devastating and damaging long-term effects, both on your home and your health. Moreover, mould and bacteria growth can end up being very costly.