Homeowners who are in the market for a new heating system have more options available to them now than ever before. As the technology behind HVAC systems has improved, new types of heating systems have been designed that are more efficient than ever. Today we’re going to talk about the three main home heating options that are available to St. Louis area homeowners and the advantages behind each one!
3 home heating options for your St. Louis area home
- Mid-efficiency gas furnace. A mid-efficiency gas furnace is a heating system that has an AFUE rating under 90 percent. Although these systems are on the low end of the spectrum of your home heating options when it comes to efficiency, they are much more efficient than the older systems that can be found in some St. Louis area homes (which can have AFUE ratings down into the ’50s and ’60s). The main advantage of mid-efficiency furnaces is that they are the least expensive to install, but they will cost more to operate than the other types of systems on this list.
- Air source heat pump. Air source heat pumps are different than the gas furnaces above because they don’t use gas at all. Instead, they use a small amount of electricity to extract heat from the air outside and move that heat into your home. Heat pumps also operate in reverse during the summer months to cool your home, allowing you to get both heating and cooling from the same system. Heat pumps are the most efficient type of heating system on this list. Just like a high-efficiency gas furnace, an air source heat pump can pay itself off in decreased operating costs throughout its lifetime.
High efficiency gas furnace. A high-efficiency gas furnace is a heating system that has an AFUE rating of 90 or above. These furnaces utilize a second heat exchanger to extract more heat out of the gas that they consume. A high-efficiency furnace will cost more upfront than a mid-efficiency furnace, however, it will cost less to operate due to its increased efficiency level. That’s why an investment in a high-efficiency furnace can pay itself off in decreased operating costs throughout its lifetime.
If you have any questions about these home heating options, or if you’d like a heating system serviced or installed in your home, contact Jerry Kelly, your St. Louis heating and cooling contractor. We service the St. Louis area, including towns like Maryland Heights, O’Fallon, and St. Charles.
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