No matter where you live, being able to heat your home appropriately is important. Even if the temperature rarely reaches single digits or you simply don’t mind the winter’s chill, you still need some sort of heating system to prevent your pipes from freezing when the weather turns and to help control humidity, condensation, and the quality of air within your home.
There are many different types of heating systems. Older homes (and some contemporary ones) frequently make use of traditional radiator heaters. However, there are several more cost-efficient options than a radiator heater. Let’s take a look:
What is a Radiator Heater?
Traditional radiator heaters circulate hot water or steam through a system of pipes to units placed throughout the home. Originally, they were powered by coal. Today, most are fueled by electricity, natural gas, propane, or oil. Whatever the fuel, radiator heaters consume a lot of energy, requiring a lot of time to heat up (and cool down)
Systems typically last 10-15 years and cost anywhere from hundreds to thousands of dollars to replace depending on the type, material, size, and source of heat used and whether or not the boiler itself has failed. Moreover, many radiator heaters must be regularly maintained with central heating inhibitor, a liquid additive that prevents corrosion in radiator pipes, thus, adding to their expense. These issues, along with the fact that many homeowners spend a lot of money on decorative covers to hide radiator heaters and/or design their homes and buy furniture based on the inconvenient placement of individual units within their homes, mean radiator heaters are often more expensive than other types of heating systems.
Better Options than a Radiator Heater
In today’s modern world, there are significantly more cost-effective options for heating buildings than radiator heaters.
- Heat Pump — In moderate climates, heat pumps are super efficient and very cost-effective. They work by transferring heat energy out of the home when it’s hot outside and into the home when it’s cold. Because any energy consumed is already present in and around the home, heat pumps are environmentally friendly and significantly cut utility costs for homeowners.
- Gas Furnace — Furnaces are the most widely used type of heating system in the U.S. Gas furnaces, in particular, are present in 47% of American homes (compared to 1% of those with radiator heaters). They utilize natural gas, a fairly inexpensive source of energy, to power their heating systems. While not as energy efficient as a heat pump, there are multiple types of newer furnaces that can be installed to maximize energy usage, converting anywhere from 80-98.5% of available energy into usable heat (instead of wasting it).
- Mini-Split — Mini splits are ductless heating and cooling systems that can be used in combination with other HVAC options or as standalone units, maximizing the energy efficiency of a home. For example, they can be installed in single rooms that are less often utilized, allowing homeowners to more completely control their overall energy usage. In addition, their use of advanced control algorithms, heat exchangers, and inverter-driven compressors to convert high-voltage electricity into DC voltage means they are able to operate on very little energy when they do run, allowing homeowners to save even more!
Want to Learn More?
Today’s technologies provide a lot of heating and cooling opportunities for homeowners. To learn more about modern options available for replacing inefficient and ineffective radiator heaters in and around Flagstaff, Arizona, please contact Confident Comfort Heating and Cooling.