Types of Residential Heating Systems Part 2

February 17th, 2010

Continuing the previous post about residential heating types, we continue the discussion with steam and geothermal heating solutions.

Steam radiant heating are a somewhat vintage way of heating. They are characterized by upright radiators which are fed by steam pipes which circulated around the house. Steam is generated by a gas furnace or boiler and then distributed around the home through pipes. The heat radiates into a room warming it up, while some of the steam moves on to the next radiator.

The advantages are similar to radiant heat and hot water in that the heat is constant and comfortable and the system as a whole can be very efficient. The disadvantages are that radiators take up space, need to be clear which will limit furniture placement and will also need separate air conditioning.

Geothermal is the latest heating technique to hit residences and we shall spend a little time on this subject because it’s likely to be a future for heating our home. Its full name is geothermal heat pump or GHP.

It works by burying a heat pipe into the ground, below the frost line and letting it absorb latent heat from the earth. As we know the earth generates its own heat from its core, which radiates through the layers of rock and subsoil. A geothermal systems likes like a refrigerator in reverse by removing heat generated by the earth and into the home via the ground loop.

The ground loop contains water and antifreeze which circulates, collecting heat from the ground and is then pumped throughout the home. The same water is then recirculated back into the ground to collect more heat.

The advantages of this system is that is costs almost nothing to run and is very environmentally friendly. The disadvantage is that it’s very expensive to install and will take many years to recoup the cost. It also requires a decent amount of land within which to bury the ground loop. It’s almost invisible once installed, but the installation takes a lot of effort, and a lot of digging. They can be laid horizontally, straight down into the ground, or horizontally if you have the space.

So there you have the main types of heating within the average American home. Admittedly not many will yet have geothermal, but the technology is advancing and the movement towards it is gaining ground. Once costs drop and a more convenient way of laying the ground loop is devised it should catch on much quicker. In the meantime, gas furnaces and the traditional fuelled systems prevail, and probably will for a long time yet.