There are many factors that you should consider when building a new home, including the type of HVAC system. Heating your house is a major expense. The type of system you choose can impact your monthly utility costs. There are so many different heating options that it can be difficult to know which one is the right choice. We have created this guide to help you understand your possible options and how they compare regarding heating effectiveness, energy efficiency, and overall cost.
Forced-Air vs. Radiant Heating
Forced-air systems use either a furnace or a heat pump to heat air. Then the air gets circulated throughout a residence through ductwork. Radiant heating systems have a boiler that produces hot water, which is then used to heat surfaces instead of directly heating the air. Most new radiant heating systems have pipes underneath the floor in every room that the hot water gets pumped through.
Forced-air systems heat faster, but they also have issues with temperature fluctuation. Hot air always rises and settles near the ceiling, resulting in the lower part of every room quickly cooling off as soon as the system stops running. Another issue with forced air heating is that it can make your house feel dry, which is much less of a concern with radiant heating.
Radiant heating systems take longer to increase the temperature but work much better at keeping the temperature consistent. Hot water heats up the floor and furniture, and the heat continually radiates out across the entire space. The biggest concern with underfloor radiant heating is that one of the hot water pipes could start leaking, in which case you must remove the floor to fix it.
Your heating costs will often be lower with a radiant heating system than they would be with a furnace. On the other hand, a forced-air heat pump system will typically cost less to run than radiant heating due to the energy efficiency of heat pumps.
Furnace vs. Heat Pump
If you’re opting for a forced-air system, the next step is to decide whether a furnace or a heat pump is the better option. Furnaces produce more heat than heat pumps, allowing you to raise the temperature in your house quickly. They also burn fossil fuels, directly produce carbon emissions, and aren’t nearly as efficient. This means they have a large carbon footprint and aren’t as environmentally friendly as heat pumps. With a heat pump, you also don’t have to pay to install a separate AC system since it can cool as well as heat.
While heat pumps heat slowly, a quality unit shouldn’t have any issues keeping your house sufficiently warm. It may need to run constantly in extremely cold weather, but it will still put out enough heat to maintain your desired temperature. Most cold-climate heat pumps can continue working in temperatures as low as -13 to -22 degrees Fahrenheit. All cold-climate systems have electric heat strips that can provide auxiliary heating if it’s ever too cold for the heat pump to work. The heat strips can also be used to supplement the heat pump if you’re trying to heat your home faster.
When trying to decide between a heat pump and a furnace, one thing you should always consider is the cost of electricity compared to natural gas. While heat pumps are typically around three times more efficient than furnaces, they typically need to run for at least a few more hours a day. That means it may still cost you less to heat your house with a furnace depending on how much lower your natural gas rates are compared to what you pay for electricity.
Another option to consider is a dual fuel heating system, which has both a heat pump and a gas furnace. While dual fuel systems can be more expensive, they have some significant advantages over having a heat pump or furnace. The heat pump will typically do most of the work. However, you can always switch to your furnace if you want to heat your house faster or if it’s so cold that the heat pump can’t work efficiently.
If you must pay higher electricity rates during peak usage hours, you can also run the furnace during these times to keep your heating costs down. One other advantage is that both units should last longer since they don’t have to do as much work as if you just had one or the other.
Ducted vs. Ductless
If you’ve decided that a heat pump is an ideal choice, you should consider whether you want a ducted or ductless system. Although ductless systems cost more than central heat pumps, they can still be more cost-effective for a new home build overall. That’s because you don’t have the added expense of installing ductwork. Another advantage of ductless systems is that they are typically more efficient. They don’t have the same energy waste issues that most ducted systems do. With a ductless system, you have a smaller air handler unit in every room instead of just a large central air handler. That means the system provides zoned heating and cooling since you can control each air handler individually.
Ductless systems also save space by eliminating the need for ducting. Some people find the air handlers to be unsightly and distracting from a room’s aesthetics since they typically are just directly mounted on the wall. You may have the option to recess an air handler in the ceiling, but this will usually make it work less effectively.
Air-Source vs. Geothermal
Most central heat pumps are air-source units. This means they directly draw heat out of the air outside and bring it inside. Geothermal heat pump systems pull heat out of the ground, which makes them far more efficient. It also ensures that the system can continue heating effectively no matter how cold it is.
Another advantage of a geothermal system is that it will usually last longer than an air-source heat pump. The main downside is that geothermal systems are more expensive compared to other options. That said, they can still be worth it, as your heating costs will be far lower with a geothermal system than they would be with other heating options.
Considering System Sizing
Once you know what type of heating system you want to install, you should ensure the system is the correct size. Much more goes into sizing a heating system than just the total square footage of the house. You also must account for factors like the number of exterior doors, the number, size, and location of all the windows and skylights, the local climate, and how many people live in the house.
Installing a system that’s too big or too small for the house is a waste of money. It won’t be effective and can lead to your energy bills being quite high. It’s important that you hire an experienced HVAC company to design and install your new system so that you can ensure it is the proper size and can effectively and efficiently meet your heating needs.
Call Us Today
At Southern Pride Service, we’re proud to be one of the most trusted choices for new construction HVAC in the White Plains, MD area. We specialize in installing furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, ductless mini-splits, and geothermal HVAC systems. We have a range of options for different types of homes. With more than 30 years of experience and a commitment to excellence, you can count on us to make sure your heating system perfectly suits your new home. To schedule a design and installation consultation, contact us at Southern Pride Service in White Plains today.
