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Ducted Heating and Add On Cooling

July 30, 2010 By



Ducted heating system’s are among the most common and traditional heaters used in homes located in cold climatic regions. It is fueled by either electricity or gas, though older models also used wood and coal. As the term implies, the system makes use of ductwork to draw the air, heat it, and send it back to the living areas. A thermostat controls the flow of warm and cold air. The air goes to the rooms through vents that are usually located near doors and windows.

Unlike many other types of heaters, ducted heating is the only medium that can welcome integration with a cooling system. When add on cooling is installed, the system can reverse the heating process. During summer days when temperature dramatically increases, the system’s cooling components—condenser, evaporator and lines—transform and condition regular air.

Upgrading Your Ducted Heating and Add On Cooling System

If your current heater was built before 1995, it’s time to upgrade to a new system. Even if you stick with a forced-air system, current models are much more efficient than older ones; the upgrade will pay for itself in energy savings in less than three years.

If you’ve just moved in to a new home, make sure that your ducted heating and add on cooling system is quite new, preferably manufactured during the 2000s. Note that newer models are more energy efficient. Even though you need to shell out a few hundred dollars in the beginning, the money will definitely be exchanged with a lower electric consumption in the following several years of use.

To maximize convenience in the system, it is recommended to choose a model that can accommodate zoning. Note that the vents cannot ensure even heating and cooling of rooms. Advanced models however are equipped with mechanisms guaranteeing that air is blown evenly and that all areas are not warmer or cooler than the others.

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What is Ducted Heating?

May 10, 2010 By


A ducted heating system is one of the essentials of a comfortable home, especially if you live in areas where temperatures reach sub-zero levels. If you’re not familiar with the term, ducts refer to the areas behind the walls where air is warmed, and these are cleverly built to form a system wherein heat can be generated effectively and warm air can be circulated around the house.

Flame HeatingMore advance ducted heating systems also incorporate add on cooling mechanisms that work in the opposite manner. Systems with add on cooling are recommended for homes that also experience very hot summers. Today’s heating and add on cooling systems are equipped with reliable thermostats to control the home temperature.

If you’re new to installing and maintaining a heating and cooling system, make sure that the system you install in your home has dedicated, electronic, and easy to maintain blowers. These blowers effectively suck the air from the ducts and deliver it more effectively to the living areas.

Ducted Heating Power Sources

Heating systems work through a variety of power sources. Some use gas, others electricity, others oil, and some even wood. Today, however, oil-fueled systems are discouraged because they can be very dangerous in the event of leakage.
Gas ducted heating employs pilot lights to work. These lights generate the necessary warmth to heat up the air. The air created is then forwarded to heat exchange units which in turn send it to the home. Electric systems, on the other hand, use heating mechanisms called strips. These strips warm the air and bring it to metal vents that distribute it to the house.

The least effective, but fashionably old-fashioned system is wood-fuelled ducted heating. This system contains a firebox into which the wood is placed and burned. The heat produced from the process is sent to a heat exchanger, which will send it to the home.

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Pros and Cons of Ducted Heating and Cooling Systems

October 22, 2010 By

Like other equipments that provide home convenience, electric ducted heating and cooling systems has its positive and negative sides. Below is a discussion to find out whether installing one is appropriate in your home:

Ducted Heating and Cooling Advantages

A ducted system is recommended for homes located in areas where temperatures reach the extremes of warmness and coldness. What is great about ductwork is that it is the only one that can integrate cooling and heating devices. For instance, ducted heating can accommodate central air conditioning, humidifiers, and air cleaners—tools that other systems simply cannot welcome.

Electric ducted heating and cooling systems are primarily safe. Unlike gas ducted cooling and heating which can send carbon monoxide and other dangerous substances to the living areas, electric systems are controlled. They have programmable thermostats that can combine manipulation of the factors working within the system. They can change the performance of blowers, vents, heating elements, cooling strips, and other features whose functions benefit the user.

Systems run by electricity are highly energy efficient. In fact, it is the only home ventilation system with an energy consumption that can be measured through an evaluation process called the AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. In fact, many countries are now giving incentive programs to homes that use electric heating systems, hoping to reduce atmosphere-destructive emissions.

Ducted Heating and Cooling Disadvantages

Heating and cooling systems that go through ductwork also has their cons. For one, a system that is incorrectly installed may lead to leaking and cause problems like air contamination. Contaminated air contains particles that may participate in developing diseases. Aside from this, ducted heating and cooling systems also require periodical replacement of filters, which can be tedious and pricey. In spite of today’s technologies, majority of heating device manufacturers cannot resolve the noisy performance of their products. Noise can be tolerable during the day, but when one is sleeping and the whirring becomes worse, sometimes the comfort that the warmth or coolness the system brings is offset by the inconvenience of having to cover the ears.


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Ducted Heating Buying and Installation Tips

October 22, 2010 By

An integrated ducted heating and cooling system is one of the essentials of a comfortable abode. If the peak of hot and cold seasons is imminent, you must make sure that the system will work effectively and won’t screw up lest you find yourself freezing or perspiring to death. Below are some tips in buying an electric ducted heating system:

Ducted Heating Buying Tips

One, make sure that the thermostat is reliable. Aside from the literal sense of the word, it also means that it must be able to provide complete control over all the important aspects of the machine, from the speed of the blower, to temperature control, and to any feature that will help the user be more comfortable. It is also recommended to choose models that can shut off the blower and the heating element when the desired temperature is already achieved.

When looking for an integrated ventilation system also check that the devices work quietly. Many cheap models in the market become louder through extended use. Sometimes the noise can be so disturbing that you cannot sleep at night or properly watch television.

Electric heating systems are safer in comparison to gas ducted heating, but it’s still also a must to ensure that the brand chosen commits to industry standards of safety operation and offers a reasonable multi-year warranty. Brands that can promise at least three years are recommended.

With the increasing concern for green living, many states and cities today are offering incentive programs to home owners who choose electric heating systems instead of oil or gas fueled ones. Aside from these, many electric companies provide programs involving cheaper electricity rate to homes employing electricity generated heat. Get to know these programs and this will definitely subtract a significant amount of money from your monthly expenses.

Lastly, make it a habit to control the use of ducted heating and cooling system. Turn it off when the temperature is tolerable.

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Why Choose Ducted Heating and Cooling Systems

October 14, 2010 By

Forced air systems, more commonly referred to as ducted heating and cooling systems, are an important part of any home. These systems are designed to deliver both cool and warm air to homes that are located in areas where the climate is unpredictable. Ductwork heating and cooling systems contains plenum that draws air from the vents that it gets from the home. This air is then brought to a central air handler to be processed. When the air is already warm or cold, it will be sent back to another plenum, which in turn will deliver it to the living spaces where it is needed.

Generally, all ducted heating and cooling systems contain air filters that cleanse the air, blowers that force to the air to be ejected, heat exchangers that manage the flow of unprocessed and processed air, and many various controls. The most common among these controls is the thermostat, which regulates the room temperature.

Ducted Heating and Cooling System Power

There are many ways to power up a ducted  heating and cooling system—oil, gas, electricity, even wood. The models that make use of electricity are recommended, though. Electric systems employ a very simple element called “strip” which easily warms the air. They have a very reliable thermostat that also controls the strip, the vent, the blowers, and the heat levels. For instance, when the thermostat feels like the room is already warm enough it will shut down the blower and the strip in order to maintain the temperature.
Electric systems are also more environment-friendly.

Unlike other types, ducted heating and cooling systems fueled by a socket do not produce gas, oil, and coal emissions. They are also relatively inexpensive in terms of maintenance, and because their fuel is already incorporated with the electric utility bill, there’s no need to shell out more cash.

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Which Kind of Ducted Heating System Should You Choose?

July 23, 2010 By

If you’re in a region that experiences very cruel winters, you know that a ducted heating system is one of your essentials for survival. Even if you cover yourself in ten blankets, this will not bring the same warmth that a reliable home heating system provides. The problem now is how will you choose one?

How Ducted Heating Works

Before anything else, you must know how a ducted heating system works. If you’ve been to a cozy hotel room during a winter day before, it’s more likely that you very well know how the temperature inside the building is warmer and very relaxing. This is the work of ducted heating. All around the building, behind their walls, there are several spaces wherein heat is processed. These spaces are organized into a ductwork maze field with vents and plenums. The system snatches regular cold air, puts it in a kind of heating chamber, and then sends it back to the vents to increase the temperature of the rooms.

Because homes are mostly smaller than buildings, this just means it’s relatively easier for you to install a ductwork ventilation system. There are so many considerations to think of on how to design your ducted heating system but the general premise is it should deliver the best possible warm air with the least energy consumed.

Systems can be exhibit an up flow, down flow, and horizontal flow movements. Well these flow types simply explain in what direction they will send the air. These are engineered to accommodate different types of situations like those for the basement, the attic, and rooms with limited spaces.

It should be noted that the bigger your living spaces are, the larger the ducted heating system you will need. In fact, the system might have to be divided into a network of multiple zones that concentrate on particular areas. Needless to say your HVAC professional can best determine the size of system best for your home.

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Types of Ducted Heating Systems

July 16, 2010 By

Have you just moved in to a new home, and are looking for the best ducted heating and add on cooling system to be installed in your home? Then you might want to learn some of the basics of these systems so you’ll be able to discuss this with home professionals.

The most traditional and perhaps the best way of home heating is through the installation of a furnace. Furnaces get air from the home into a ducted heating system and take it to areas where it can be warmed and then sent back to the living spaces. Furnaces can work with an array of fuels; among them gas, oil, and electricity. Traditional homes even use wood and coal. Advanced furnaces are equipped with high-tech blowers to distribute the hot air.

Types of Ducted Heating Systems

Electric ducted heating furnaces are common in today’s homes. These make use of heating strips and other mechanisms to warm and circulate the air around the house. When getting one though, it is important to remember that the installation should be flawless and maintenance should be done regularly. The energy it consumes depends on the model and/or manufacturer, so researching which ones are energy efficient is necessary.

The second best choice for furnaces is one that employs gas and oil. This type of heating and add-on cooling system is designed with pilot lights that warm up heat exchange units. This unit produces warm air and then delivers it to the living areas. To vent the gases outside, the systems employs dedicated flues.

If you want to go the traditional way, you can opt for a heating system fuelled by wood or coal. This kind of system contains a sealed firebox where the fuel is consumed. The heat the fuel produces is then processed by heat exchangers, which in turn will deliver it to the house.

Advanced ducted heating systems are designed with filters that prevent the house from accumulating dust and other particles. These filters however must be cleaned every once in a while to prevent damage.

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Tips in Maintenance of Gas Ducted Heating

July 14, 2010 By

Due to the persistent global campaign on green living, hundreds of companies have recently emerged and began marketing products and services that promise to enhance the quality of our indoor heating and cooling systems through ducted heating cleaning. Most of us are aware of their advertisements, from TV commercials to radio to print ads, but are you aware of what duct cleaning actually covers?

The process is very complex as it blankets countless of procedures in maintaining heating and cooling systems. Among these processes include cleansing of registers, diffusers, and grills, clogging dirt off the heating and cooling coils, tidying up drain pans, motors, and housing.

Cleaning Your Gas Ducted Heating System

But why do you need to have your gas ducted heating and cooling cleaned? The answer is simple—it may affect your health. This is because if these systems are not properly maintained, their component parts may develop contamination like dust, pollen or other potential contaminants. Most – if not all – of these contaminants may result in allergic reactions and others symptoms that may develop into serious diseases.

Once you decide to have your gas ducted heating maintained, you must be wise in choosing the service provider that will clean the components of your home heating and cooling system. Before anything else, make sure that the company or individual that you will be hiring is qualified to do the procedures. Note that the procedure should be thorough. If the professional fails to clean any of the components of a polluted duct system, re-contamination can happen fast, and thus defeat the aim of maintenance.

If you haven’t tried getting your ducted heating system cleaned yet, you should keep in mind that the average rates of services fall within the $300 to $1000 range. This price range however depends on the degree of services being offered and other factors like the size of the system, its accessibility, and its needed level of maintenance.

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How to Choose a Ducted Heating System

May 10, 2010 By

Heating wavesOne of the most preferred heating and cooling systems today is ducted heating. This system accumulates air around the house and brings it to the ducts surrounding the walls. It is in these ducts where the air is heated and cleansed. After this, the hot air will be delivered back to the living spaces through vents.

Needless to say, heating and add on cooling systems in the market don’t follow the same performance standards. The first thing you take into consideration, of course, is the quality of air that they take in. A good system should be controllable, which means you must easily get the desired temperature of air that you want, whether it’s warm or cold.

Ducted Heating Energy Efficiency

Next to this, you should consider the system’s efficiency in regards to energy consumption. Do not think of the tag price that a system carries, but the amount of fuel that it will eventually consume when you use it regularly. Upfront cash for an expensive ducted heating system may be a pain in the wallet, but consider that you will be spending more on fuel than the actual equipment.  What’s the sense of installing a very affordable heating unit when your utility bill increases significantly?

When choosing the ventilation system for your home, you also need to consider where your region is located. If you are in a region that experiences harsh winters and very hot summers, then you need to get a heating system with add on cooling. If your region does not dramatically increase in temperature, then you can forego the cooling add-on.

It goes without saying that the price of these systems increase as their quality gets better. Since your home will be using the system long-term, think carefully of how much you’re willing to spend, and how much you actually prioritize the convenience of controlling the temperature in your home’s living spaces.

It is also important to consider whether you want a ducted heating or gas ducted heating system.

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Advantages of Ducted Heating Systems

April 29, 2010 By

In terms of reliable heating and cooling, nothing beats a home system run by ductwork. Today’s technologies have created many other ways to warm and cool the living spaces—radiant systems, hydronics, steams, what-have-you—
but nothing beats the features and advantages that ducted heating systems offer.

If you’re totally clueless about ductwork, note that these are the spaces behind the walls or floors wherein warm air gets out. A brilliantly planned home and ducted heating system will be very efficient in warming your home, especially during cold months.

ducting heating and add on cooling ceiling plan

But how does this system work you may ask. Well just like the pipes around the house that systematically circulate clean water and throw away used water, the ducts behind the walls are meant to form a process in which it gets normal air, brings it to a heating mechanism, filters its contents, and distribute it to the home living spaces. The system can heat air using several fuel sources such as natural gas, oil, and electricity

One of the biggest advantages that ductwork heating systems offer is add on cooling. And this is especially important for homes situated in climates that experience temperatures in both extremes. During hot months, a ducted system with add on cooling can reverse the whole process. It collects air, sends it to a cooling mechanism, and then lets it escape to the vents and enter the home.

Unlike other types of home heating and cooling systems, ducted heating gives you much more control over the temperature and quality of air being produced. For one, they are equipped with tools that can humidify and dehumidify the air, allowing flexibility during seasons where temperature fluctuates. Aside from these the systems can also be complemented with dedicated filters that clean up the contents of air before delivery, ensuring that dirt, bacteria, and other airborne allergens will not reach the living spaces.

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How to Choose a Ducted Heating System