Your Guide to the Top Contemporary Heating Systems

If you’re planning to replace your heating system but you’re not sure what to expect, you aren’t alone. Many homeowners in Manassas, VA, often wonder whether they should select electric heat or gas heat. While the answer might seem a bit confusing, here’s a list of the best heating systems you can consider to help boost your home’s comfort.

Ductless Mini-Split Systems

Ductless mini-splits usually include a wall-fitted indoor system with an outdoor compressor. The mini-split systems are efficient and offer consistent space comfort. They’re often used in new home additions or to create multiple temperature zones in larger homes.

Ductless mini-splits can function as both an air conditioner and heater. They’re a great way to add heating and cooling to new additions without re-routing your home’s existing ducting.

Additionally, the ductless units often require a small space on the wall, making them less vulnerable to damages and air leakage. These systems are also energy-efficient and easy to maintain.

Heat Pumps

Heat pumps are often two-way systems; they can both cool and heat your home. They use electricity and refrigerant to circulate heat rather than producing it like a gas furnace. During hot days, the heat pump works like a refrigerator by compressing and cooling the air and transferring it inside.

During the fall and winter, the air conditioner reverses the process; it moves heat generated by compressing the air in the cold outdoors using an electrical system and transfers the generated heat indoors. Moreover, most standard heat pumps utilize forced air delivery units to transfer air across your home. Heat pumps are also more efficient than other conventional air conditioners.

Multi-Stage Furnaces

As its name suggests, a multi-stage or variable-speed furnace means that your system and the gas valves have two distinct stages. It operates at several energy levels.

These systems are high-efficiency and can reduce the blower’s loss of heat capacity by 40%. This means that you can customize the level of heat your home needs and save energy and money while doing so.

Hybrid Heating

The hybrid heating technique combines the power of a gas furnace with a typical heat pump’s energy efficiency. During moderate temperatures, the heat pump will work to cool and heat your home. However, when extreme weather knocks in, the furnace kicks on to more quickly obtain an optimal level of comfort and supplement the more efficient heat pump.

Using the hybrid heating method is a great way to keep your home running efficiently all year round without straining either of your units. This also significantly reduces the need for replacements or costly regular repairs.

Zoned Heating Systems

A zoned heating system divides your home into two zones, each with a separate thermostat. This allows for the efficient elimination of cold or hot spots and better management of different room temperature levels.

A zoned system uses valve-like dampers that run electronically through your ductwork. The thermostat on each zone helps control the dampers in your ductwork. When a certain area requires more air, the thermostat communicates to the damper so it can open and send the air.

When an area achieves optimal temperatures, the thermostat closes the damper and releases the rest into your space. Zoning your heating and cooling system can offer you several benefits, including optimal temperature distribution and customized comfort levels.

Zoned systems are particularly good for pairing with a smart thermostat to only heat or cool the parts of your home where you’re living at the time. For example, you can zone your living room and kitchen to heat or cool during the day and the bedrooms at night. You can also zone your guest rooms separately so that you’re only paying to warm or cool them when you need.

Call Brennan’s Heating & Air Conditioning today for all your home heating concerns. Our company has been providing excellent services for decades to help customers achieve their unique heating needs. Furthermore, our qualified service technicians are industry leaders in providing top-quality system installation, replacement and emergency repairs.

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