One is Electric heat. This method is the most efficient way. It uses electric heating
coils/strips, like turning on a stove eye or the oven, moreover a plug in electric heater.
Sure it will do the job after a while but cost way more than expected.
A furnace or Gas package system is
most commonly found in North Alabama. It uses Steal heat exchangers and burners to
transfer heat through a forced air duct system.
Gas is considered an “On Demand” heating
system. It is the fastest way to heat your home but its a dryer heat.
Many homeowners find
it works well with a humidifier to keep the air from drying out to much. Although I find
many that prefer this method they are equally afraid of it as well, due to the whole
FLAME thing.
However there are MANY safety features to prevent fire damage or
Carbon monoxide poisoning; such as, Roll out sensors, flame sensors, pressure
switches, and High heat Limit sensors. All of which would cut power to the gas valve
before a fire would start in the event of failure.
These safety switches are all checked
and tested in our 33 point Master Comfort inspection, and we include a carbon
monoxide test with each inspection.
This is a very efficient
way to heat the home and uses the same Freon that cools the home to heat it as well.
It
simply reverses the flow of Freon causing the indoor coil to become a hot dry coil and
the out door to become a wet cold coil. This will cause the unit however to freeze up
when the weather gets colder outside.
A Heat Pump is NOT an “On Demand” heat source, it is a gradual
heat or “Soft Heat”. Temperatures typically being delivered from system are about 90 to
95 degrees during normal operations. Although 95 degrees is heating your home pretty
well, it is below your body heat of 98 degrees which can leave the homeowner feeling
like the air is cooler coming from air vents.
Having a well maintained system with clean
coils and well working defrost control will allow your system to work at its peak
performance.