Direct Heat

This old house, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning review-chapter eigh

In this chapter of “This Old House, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning,” Richard Trethewey and Don Best inform the reader of the variety of direct heating systems available. Direct heat systems are space heaters, pipeless wall and floor furnaces, wood and gas fireplaces, wood stoves, radiant electric, and baseboard electric resistance heating.

Baseboard Electric: These systems are simplistic and offer a variety of installation processes. They are less expensive than other options and are easy to zone. With this type of heat there is no combustion happening anywhere in the installation. The only drawback to this type of heat is the cost of the electricity to drive it.

Radiant Electric: This kind of heat actually heats up objects which then send heat into a space. One of the ways to do this is to install flexible heating element heaters above the ceiling or beneath the floor. As the element increases in heat, this heat extends to the sheetrock or ceiling tiles.

Wood Stoves: Using wood to heat a home can be labor intensive, but the type of heat is unsurpassed. The types of wood stove available have increased in efficiency over the years.

Pellet Stoves: This type of stove uses pellets made of recycled cardboard or agricultural waste. These pellets are fed to the fire through a series of augers.

Wood and Gas Fireplaces: Fireplaces enjoy a prominent position in the the wants and needs of the homeowner. Most everyone wouldn’t mind having a fireplace in their home. This type of heat source is both practical and aesthetic.

Space Heaters: This type of heat is thought of as a supplement to the primary heat source in the home. A cold place may be heated that is not heated by the central system.