Surviving a northern winter can be a difficult challenge without some method of heating a home. Thankfully, a superior heating contractor can offer a lot of choices for this situation. The most common is an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system or similar central heating unit. These appliances are often known as forced air systems because they use a large blower to force the treated air through a series of ducts so it can reach every designated room. It is a common misconception that central heating fills every area of the building even though it does treat the most commonly used spaces. Large areas like an unfinished basement, attic or garage usually don’t get heat unless a lot of insulation is in place.
Another type of heating method recommended by a knowledgeable heating contractor is radiant heat. Most people may remember those huge radiator systems used in schools or government buildings. This is one form of radiant heat and uses either steam or hot water. Modern alternatives still make use of water or a chemical solution for transporting the heat, but some models also use electrical resistance. The latter is useful in homes that don’t supply a gas connection. Radiant heating options include wall-mounted heaters, similar models inset into the wall, baseboard heating units and under-floor heating. In some instances, a homeowner may use both forced air and radiant methods since under-floor heating is useful for areas like bathrooms and kitchens. A homeowner may also prefer under-floor heating in rooms with that use hardwood or simulated hardwood flooring.
Thankfully, a contractor can do more than simply replacing a failing system; one of these tasks is routine maintenance. This is a set of procedures that need to be performed at least once a year. These steps vary from those used for maintaining an AC even when the two functions are part of an HVAC. This is partly because the furnace uses a combustion chamber for creating heat that requires special care. If the system is combined with an AC, then additional attention may be required for cleaning the evaporator coil and other parts of the air exchanger.
