Heat is an essential component of a comfortable home and finding the most efficient way to heat a home is a fact of life for most homeowners out there.
Below we will cover the three most efficient ways to heat your home, but if you’re short on time and just want the answer then the most efficient way to heat your home is with a furnace, followed by a heat pump, and a boiler.
Now, let’s get into it!
Table of Contents
What Does “Efficient” Mean?
The term “efficient” is somewhat open to interpretation but the three main definitions of “efficient” are based on time, energy, and cost. Essentially something that uses the least time, energy and cost whilst still achieving results.
All three should be considered when deciding how to heat your home.
Why this matters
Efficiency has always been important, but perhaps more so today when fuel prices have risen to some of the highest levels in a generation.
Heating will account for about 42% of an average family’s utility bill, and approximately 5-10% of all household income.
So, it’s understandable that most families will want to save money. This is even more of a concern if heating is a necessity, such as during winter, and for Americans living in traditionally colder states.
The most “efficient” way to heat your home will always depend on multiple factors including where you live, your environment, access to fuel etc. So keep this in mind.
How we’re defining “efficient”
This article will judge efficiency upon the “AFUE“, which stands for “Annual Fuel Utilization”.
This is the percentage of energy that comes from the fuel used for heating. Almost everything creates some form of waste energy, be that via sound, light, etc.
But, the goal of any form of energy should be to produce as little waste energy as possible.
The US Department of Energy says that any home heating method should be at least 80% efficient. Still, modern technology has allowed that number to be as high as 98.5%!
Obviously using old or outdated equipment and heating systems can severely impact this figure and overall performance.
Most Efficient Way to Heat a Home
Furnaces
The most efficient way to heat your home is via a furnace.
Although a furnace can be heated with natural gas, oil, electricity, or even wood, the more efficient resource is natural gas. Having said that, it’s vital to ensure it’s a modern model, as older setups do not have such a high-efficiency rating.
Furnaces work by heating air in an airtight component. A fan spreads this heated air to the rest of the house.
There are several ways a furnace might spread heat throughout a large home. Some use wall heating, others simple infrared radiation. Many will heat water in pipes which are in the walls and travel throughout your home.
Although a gas-powered furnace is currently the most efficient method, some people may be against it. It often uses fossil fuels and can be expensive to install.
Heat Pumps
A heat pump is the second most efficient way to heat your home. This device is essentially a two-in-one heater with air conditioning.
When the weather gets hot, you can use it to keep cool. The reverse is also true during colder periods.
When in “heat mode”, air pumps will not suck air in from outside. They will instead take warmer air from inside your home and heat it up to a comfortable temperature before pumping it out into the room again.
Most heat pumps will also feature some form of air filtration to prevent dust and other allergens from being spewed into a room.
Modern heat pumps are almost all energy-star certified. They are great for milder climates with varying temperatures – icy winters and sweltering summer. Generally, those who heat with a heat pump can expect a higher electricity bill, which is balanced out by a much lower gas bill.
For prices, we recommend asking a professional for a quote.
Some heat pumps are geothermal. Instead of taking air from the house, then take it from underground. But, this is only possible for homes in suitable locations. A geothermal air pump can cost between $11,000 and $25,000.
Boilers
The third most efficient way to heat your home is with a standard water boiler. There’s a reason boilers are the most common home heating method in the USA.
They work by using gas to heat up a water tank. This hot water is then distributed throughout the home – it travels via a network of pipes and emits heat through radiators which are usually in every room.
Essentially, boilers and furnaces work the same way, but boilers use water, and furnaces use air.
Again, some homeowners may not be comfortable with a boiler because of the fossil fuel usage and higher costs since the price of natural gas is rising.
Disclaimer
Please note that these three methods might not suit your location or lifestyle. However, they are the three most efficient ways to heat your home, judging by AFUE standards.
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Heating a home has been an important aspect of managing a household for centuries and it’s understandable to have concerns or questions.
We hope this has helped, and for everything else home heating stick with CosyWarmer.com