Oil, Gas, Solar or electric: Which one are you going to pick?

There is certainly no shortage of alternative home heating methods to choose from these days, however do not be foolish and purchasing a system which is neither suited to you lifestyle or your budget.

All heating systems have benefits and drawbacks, some more than others, and it is the experts’ job to advise you one which systems you would benefit most from, and which to steer well clear of. Home design, installation requirements, fuel costs and personal preferences all needed to be taken into account before a heating system can be purchased and installed.

Some of the most popular choices for home heating solutions include gas furnaces, oil burning furnaces, solar heating and electric heat.

Gas Furnace:

Most gas furnaces are equipped to burn either propane or natural gas; both are cleaner than fuel oil and provide odourless heat. In terms of cost, natural gas prices have risen in recent years and propane gas can be fairly expensive when used for extensive heating, such as that required for a home, as opposed to heating something small such as an outdoor grill. You can easily determine the energy efficiency of a gas furnace by looking at its Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating; the higher the rating, the more efficient the furnace.

Oil-Burning Furnace:

Fuel oil provides good energy content, also known as heating value. A central system requires ductwork, piping and a Heating oil storage. In general, oil furnaces are less expensive and longer lasting than gas furnaces. However oil prices are unpredictable, therefore an oil furnace may not be the best choice if you're looking for a heating method that offers stable energy costs. In addition, heating with oil is not considered a "green' solution as it involves the burning of a non-renewable resource, yet some boilers are being installed with biogenic components, therefore allowing them to consume bio-oil which is a renewable material.

Solar Heating:

There's a reason why solar heating is often overlooked as a home heating method: When used as the sole source of heat, solar alternatives are not as cost effective as other fuel sources unless other fuel costs have risen to excessive levels. Solar heating is a good choice when used as a complement to other heating methods. Homes that use solar heating techniques in conjunction with other heating methods are called passive solar homes. This type of home is designed to attract and store the sun's heat when you need it and keep it out when you want the house to be cooler. Therefore solar system installation services are becoming increasingly popular.

Electric Heat:

Electricity is 100 % efficient; all of the power generated is turned into heat. However, if you're looking for a "green" heating method, electricity isn't necessarily a better choice than gas, oil or propane, and it may actually be generated from a coal-burning plant. Due to dramatic increases in electric costs over the years, heating with electricity has become less popular and may be an economical solution only if you have access to inexpensive or free electricity.