Heating Repair & Furnace Installation In Seattle

Furnaces – These are among the most popular heating systems in America. Many homes typically depend on a central furnace heating system. Furnaces heat spaces by blowing hot air (there are fans involved) through ducts and air registers or grills to warm up rooms. The heat generated by a Seattle furnace installation can be through the burning of natural gas or fuel oil, or an electric system.

Boilers – Boiler heating systems, as opposed to installed furnaces, distribute heat through hot water instead of distributing heat through hot air. They employ a system of radiators that are made to pass through different parts of the building being heated. Boiler heating systems are also called hydronic systems. To heat the water, natural gas, fuel oil, or electricity may be used. There are some boiler models, which are rather rare nowadays, that distribute heat through steam instead of having hot water flow through radiators.

Heat Pumps – Heat pumps are basically two-way air conditioners. They are machines that can be used for both cooling and heating purposes. They have a reversible mechanism of transferring heat. During winters, instead of driving heat out of an enclosed space, they reverse the process so outdoor heat can be brought in. Heat pumps can be air or ground-sourced (also known as geothermal heat pumps). They “scavenge” whatever available heat can be obtained outdoors to raise the temperature indoors. Air source heat pumps are more popular since they are easier and cheaper. However, ground source heat pumps are considerably more efficient, which makes up for its costlier acquisition and installation.

Direct Heating Systems – These are heating systems that, as the name suggests, provide direct heating to spaces. These appear in different forms. The most common of which are as follows:

• Fireplaces – Of course, everybody already knows about these iconic heating systems. They also serve ornamental functions in living rooms. Without proper sealing and chimney damper, fireplaces generally release more heat into the outside than they provide heat inside a building.
• Stoves – By burning wood or pellets, stoves provide heat to spaces. However, they are considered a problem in some parts of the United States, as wood burning generates pollutants.
• Gas-Fired Space Heaters – These are like stoves, except that they use gas (kerosene, propane, or natural gas) to generate heat. They can be freestanding or wall-mounted. They don’t make use of ducts (but have vents) so they are only useful for single room use.
• Unvented Gas-Fired Heaters – There are gas-fired heaters being sold on the market that don’t come with vents. They are marketed as highly efficient gas-fired heaters that they no longer require venting. It is advisable not to get these heaters, though. The accumulation of combustion byproduct poses serious health and safety risks.
• Electric Space Heaters – These are generally portable heaters that can be easily installed and operated. All that needs to be done is to find a suitable place for them, plug them into a power outlet, and turn them on. Many of the wall heaters in the market are electric space heaters. They are generally inexpensive to buy although somewhat costly to use.