Keeping your home toasty during the winter is a top concern for many people. A common method of providing this comfort is by heating a house with a central heating system employing a furnace. These systems have been popular for decades — and with good reason. They’re capable of efficiently heating an entire house, channeling warm air through ducts to every room. But as with all heating options, there are pros and cons to using a furnace for central heating.
Welcome With a Warm Hug: Benefits of Furnace Heating
One of the big benefits of a central furnace system is the quick, even heating of a house. Since a strong blower fan is blowing heated air around in a series of ducts, temperatures in various rooms stay relatively constant. This means no chilly rooms with others that are toasty warm. A well-sized and maintained furnace, for example, is typically capable of keeping both floors of a two-story home at a comfortable temperature.
Furnaces can also run on different types of fuel, like natural gas, propane, or oil. In areas where it’s available, natural gas is typically less expensive, and that can help control the cost of your heating bills as time goes on. Moreover, central furnace systems can be readily combined with other home comfort systems, such as air conditioning. These systems can be conveniently powered by the same network of ducts you may use to send heated air throughout your house in the winter. So, it’s a twofer when it comes to your comfort year-round.
The Cold Truth: Downsides of Furnaces
While central systems with a furnace may be quite popular, there are some potential downsides that need to be considered. One thing to think about is the loss of energy through the ductwork. Even if the ducts are insulated, heat can still escape as the warm air moves from the furnace to the various rooms in your home. That inefficiency can result in higher heating bills than with some other heating systems, such as ductless mini-splits that send heat directly into a room. Furnaces also need regular maintenance to ensure they continue to run safely and efficiently.
Finally, the upfront cost of a full-blown central heating system varies depending on the model you choose. If you have an older house that lacks ducts, then you’ll have to get those installed first.
If you’re not sure which heating solution to choose for your home, an HVAC technician can best advise you. Call Olympus Electric & Air and ask about our heating repair and replacement services for your Abilene, TX home.