Most people are familiar with using their gas boiler and radiator to heat up their home, but this is not the only option to have a toasty house.
In fact, warm air heating systems have been around for decades and are still an effective way to protect your dwelling from the cold outside.
So how do they work?
Warm air heating system explained
A warm air heating system works by drawing in air from the outside and passing it through a heat exchanger, which is fuelled by gas or electricity.
This air, which is now warm, is released throughout the property by vents, heating the house up.
The different types of warm air heating system
There is a huge variety of warm air heating systems to choose from. For instance, you could opt for gas-fired units that pass the air over a gas flame to heat it up.
Homeowners might prefer a hybrid heat pump. This works together with gas boilers, enabling homeowners to swap between the two for their heating. They can, therefore, benefit from the consistency of a reliable boiler while also reducing their carbon emissions.
Alternatively, the system could utilise a ground source heat pump, which makes the most of underground heat. The pipes absorb the natural heat to warm up the air before releasing it in the house.
Another option is an air source heat pump, which works by extracting heat from the air outside.
The latter two are forms of renewable heating, which is why warm air units are returning to the mainstream again, as more homeowners want to do their bit to help the environment.
Why are they a good option?
Although most Brits are used to their gas central heating system, warm air units still have their place in many homes.
- Smaller houses
They are particularly popular in smaller properties, such as those that are single storey. Bungalows and flats are, therefore, more likely to have these systems over bigger family homes.
- More eco-friendly
As most warm air systems do not use fossil fuels to warm up the house, they are more environmentally friendly than other options.
- Cheaper to run
Although installation costs can be steep, once they are in place, they can be considerably cheaper to run than gas boilers, particularly if using a ground source heat pump or air source heat pump.
- You don’t need radiators
As the air is released through vents, there is no need for radiators. This is good news for homeowners who either find them unsightly, or do not have a lot of wall space, and would prefer to have a sofa or bookcase there instead.
Again, this is particularly relevant to bungalow or flat owners, who are limited with space, as they can lay their furniture out the way they want without restricting heat convection by having things positioned against the radiators.