As we begin a new year, with fresh hopes and goals and resolutions, don’t forget to consider your heating system. The majority of New Year’s resolutions have to do with personal health, like joining a gym or eating more healthily. But your home is important, too, and taking good care of it will have a huge positive impact on your life.
Chances are, this time of year, you’re getting a clear sense of how well your heating system is—or isn’t—working. If it’s getting old, requiring repair, failing to keep your home comfortably cozy, or dropping in efficiency and driving up your utility bills, it’s time for a change. What kind of new heating system should you get? Here are some options for you to consider.
A Gas Furnace
This is a familiar, standard choice. A gas furnace is less expensive than an electric one and uses less expensive natural gas rather than more costly electricity. It will generally keep running well for around 15 years as long as you have professional maintenance done annually. If you haven’t had one before, though, you’ll need to make sure your home is connected to your local gas lines.
An Electric Furnace
While somewhat more expensive on average than a gas furnace, an electric furnace has a longer lifespan, so you can spread that investment out over 15 years or maybe more (again, provided it gets annual maintenance). If you have solar panels or another green source of energy, an electric furnace is a great environmental choice. And there’s no need to have your home connected to gas.
A Heat Pump
If your air conditioner is also aging and will soon require replacement, or if you’re looking for the ultimate energy-saving heating system, there’s no better choice than a heat pump. With the flip of a switch, your cooling system will become your heat source, carrying warmth in from outdoors even when it’s quite chilly out there!
A heat pump uses less energy than any other heating system because instead of creating heat with combustion, it only has to move heat from one place to another. As long as your home is well-insulated and temperatures rarely drop below freezing, it could provide all the heat you need at an unbeatable monthly energy cost.
A Hybrid System
But what if your home isn’t as well-insulated as you’d like it to be, or you’re concerned about those extra-chilly overnights we get on occasion in the winter? A hybrid system relies on a heat pump as much of the time as it is efficient to do so, and when the temperature causes the efficiency to drop, it automatically kicks on a backup heater, just for as long as it’s necessary.
The Professional Touch
Before you make any major decisions about changing your heating system, it’s critical to have input from a qualified professional. They will assess the size and layout of your home, as well as the ease of the installation process or modifications required to make different heating systems possible. This will help narrow down the vast array of options to only those that will work best for you.
When you’re ready to have that conversation, we’re ready to get you started on the path toward heating replacement in Jefferson County, AL and a new heating system for the new year!
“Your experience is what matters most!” Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today for help with all your heating system needs.
