Though we’re likely a few weeks from the imperative need to turn on the heat, we all know that time is coming. The afternoons may still be peaking on the heat index, but those cool mornings are quite the tease.
Heating your home is always an in-depth conversation – primarily for homeowners, though it certainly is of concern for renters as well. What works best? What is the safest? What is the most efficient? What provides the highest heat index? What kind of system best complements the style and age of the home in question?
I currently rent, and the unit I’m in utilizes gas heating. Growing up, my family lived in homes that utilized a combination of gas and electric heat. When we moved onto the farm in my junior year of high school, we started experimenting with several different setups – beginning with anthracite coal (learn a little more about the types of coal via this factsheet from the Department of Energy).
Now, some 13 years later, my parents heat their home with hard wood (University of Missouri Cooperative Extension) using a vintage wood stove piped into their kitchen.
There are a lot of heating systems available for a variety of applications: boilers, furnaces, heat pumps, pellet stoves and more. These articles courtesy of Efficiency Vermont and the Department of Energy do a great job of breaking down some of the options that are available out in the market.
As to what is most efficient? There seem to be a variety of opinions on the subject. Consult a local heating/cooling or HVAC expert. Country Culture is privileged to partner with several in their advertising efforts across the Mohawk Valley and Herkimer-Utica area – be sure to check them out in the Fall Edition of Country Culture, on Facebook or in our weekly newsletter. They would love to earn your business!
Lastly, but equally important, when choosing the system that will heat your home, we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you of safety. This article from the folks at the American Red Cross provide some good things to keep in mind when interacting with heat sources in your home.
Whatever you choose, there are ample resources out there to meet your needs and keep you warm this season.
