It usually isn’t until we receive our energy bill that we remember how our home is heated.  Recently we have become more conscious of how much heat is used because energy costs are taking a bigger bite out of our household budgets.

Fortunately, there are ways to minimize the attack of the energy bill. In order to do so, you will need to invest in an energy efficient heating system. Energy-efficient heating systems include boilers, energy-efficient furnaces, radiant heating systems, and tankless water systems. The bottom line is that homeowners today want a mechanical system that offers amazing comfort with low operating costs. At Metro, we care about our customer.  We think the following information about heating systems will help you understand your choices.  In addition, our trained staff is here to provide you with the reliable assistance and service you deserve when repairing, replacing or installing a heating system.

Forced air heating is a traditional heating system that utilizes gas burners which then heat a large metal chamber. The air is pushed over the metal chamber, warmed and then forced through ducts into various rooms by an electrical fan. Since hot air rises, the air near the ceiling may reach 82 degrees while the air near the floor might be only 69 degrees. The higher the ceiling is, the greater this effect becomes. Homes that include vaulted ceilings experience enormous comfort and efficiency challenges with forced air systems. Furthermore, conventional systems often leave houses with hot and cold spots as well as drafts.

Heat Pumps are another traditional system used widely. They are extremely energy efficient, but they tend to be more complex in that they can double as an air conditioner. Heat pumps are run by electricity, but the electricity used in a heat pump operates differently then expected. It uses an electric motor not a heat coil therefore it uses far less current. With heat pumps, more energy is supplied than consumed, simply because heat is extracted from the air and water within its surroundings. For these reasons, heat pumps can circulate more air and last for longer periods of time.

Hydronic heating is a heating system that uses water. It can be used with forced air or radiant heating systems. With hydronic forced air applications, heated water is passed through several long, narrow baseboard-style radiating units and a blower pushes the cool air across the units. As the cold air passes over the units, the air is heated and directed to the living area. Unfortunately, this option often causes hot and cold spells. Radiant heating systems increase comfort, economy, and flexibility. The heated water is run through pipes in the floor (or walls) and the floor gets warm as the heat radiates into the living area. Radiant systems provide a more constant heat than forced-air options.

Radiant heating systems are considered to be the best of the best. Unfortunately, radiant heating systems can be very expensive to install and maintain. However, they also use less energy than comparable forced air systems which will end up saving homeowners lots of money. Radiant heating systems can use 20% to 40% less energy to heat the same space, while maintaining a much more comfortable heat level.

Boilers are important considerations with radiant heating systems. The boiler is responsible for heating the water that circulates through the baseboard radiators or the tubing in the floor. Without a sufficient amount of heated water, the baseboard radiation and tubing will not have enough heated water to radiate into the home. For this reason, choosing the right boiler can make or break a system.  Metro is the Boiler service and replacement expert in the Pittsburgh area.  Many old homes and commercial buildings have boilers heating them.  We have the expertise to Air Condition these buildings like no one else!!

Here's another money saving suggestion you may want to consider before you replace you failing water heater.  You can save money with a radian heating system by connecting an individual water heater to the boiler. The boiler will heat a greater volume of water more efficiently than a conventional water heater. The truth is that conventional water heaters heat about 40 to 50 gallons of water in an hour at 55% efficiency. By connecting a conventional water heater to a boiler, it will heat 200 gallons or more in an hour at 87% or more efficiency. For households that require a lot of water, the ladder is the most logical choice.

Call us at (412) 561-7330 to speak to us or Email Us about your HVAC and OHAC needs.