If the winter chill is getting you down, ducted heating might be the perfect solution for you! Ducted heating systems utilize a series of ducts that connect to vents or grilles on your ceiling or floor. When you switch the system on, toasty warm air will quickly be distributed throughout your home.
Ducted heating systems are cost-effective and environmentally friendly, making them an excellent long-term option for your home or business. However, it isn’t ideal for every property, and there are many other heating styles to consider.
In this article, we’re going to break down the key considerations you need to think about when purchasing ducted heating.
This is a contributed post from Kiara Waylen, a knowledgeable and qualified blogger based in Australia. She loves to write about on lot more general categories with useful information which help to get more ideas. You can connect with Kiara on Facebook or Twitter and check her blog.
Table of Contents
There’s More Than One Type of Ducted Heating
If you’re considering ducted heating for your home or business, there are two major categories to consider. There is gas ducted heating and reverse cycle ducted heating and cooling.
1. Gas Ducted Heating
Gas ducted heating typically utilizes natural gas. However, if you want ducted gas heating and you’re not connected to gas mains, you will need to utilize Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tanks.
Gas ducted heaters consist of a gas furnace outside your home, as well as concealed ductwork and vents or grilles. Ducted gas heaters gather air from inside your home, heat it using the gas furnace, and distribute warm air throughout your property.
Gas ducted heating is known for its superior thermal comfort and fast heating. Natural gas is relatively environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and affordable.
2. Reverse Cycle Heating
Reverse cycle heating is commonly known as reverse cycle air conditioning. It is powered by electricity and heat pump technology. Reverse cycle systems have all the same parts as a refrigerated air conditioner, such as a refrigerant and a compressor.
Reverse cycle air conditioners can “reverse” the cooling process. In heating mode, these systems distribute warm air that is highly energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, and affordable.
The best system for you will depend on your preferences and priorities. Gas ducted heating is generally considered more comfortable, while reverse cycle ducted heaters offer heat with unbeatable efficiency, lower running costs, and superior eco-friendly operation.
Ducted Heating Offers a Whole-Home Solution
No matter what form of ducted heating you choose, you will be able to enjoy a whole-home solution. This is because the ductwork sends warm air throughout every room of your property. This contrasts with space heating solutions such as split systems or portable heaters, which are designed to heat only the room they are located in.
Whole-home heating will be the preferred option. However, if most of your rooms will be empty most of the time, a space heating solution might be preferable for you.
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For Greater Control, Choose Ducted Heating with Zoning
If you want a whole-home option with greater control and flexibility, zoning is the solution for you. A ducted heater with zoning allows you to warm up different areas of your home or business independently.
Some zoning setups allow you to create 20 or more different zones. You can create zones so that you can heat the bedrooms and living rooms separately, or you can zone every room independently. You can also have different airflow and temperature settings for each zone, so everyone can enjoy the heater how they like it!
It Is Incredibly Affordable
Ducted heating is energy efficient, meaning it uses less energy to heat the home, therefore costing you less. Gas ducted systems offer great energy efficiency, but reverse cycle systems are the gold standard. According to the Australian Government, reverse cycle heaters and coolers boast 300% – 600% efficiency, meaning one unit of energy can create up to 6 times as much heating for your home!
It Is Barely Noticeable!
If aesthetic considerations are important to you, then you can’t go past ducted heating! Unlike portable heaters or split systems, ducted heaters do not contain an indoor unit. Instead, you have ductwork that is hidden above the ceiling or below the floor. This is complemented by vents or grilles that can seamlessly blend with your property.
Ensure Accurate Sizing for Your New Ducted Heater
When it comes to heating and cooling installations, size matters. This applies to all systems, but especially ducted heating systems.
An oversized heater will use more energy, produce more carbon emissions, and cost far more to run than necessary. You might think an undersized system would do the opposite, but it also results in higher running costs, greater energy use, and a larger carbon footprint. That’s because undersized systems need to work overtime. This results in worse performance, greater wear and tear, and a higher likelihood that your system breaks down!
Make sure you partner with a trusted ducted heating installer to avoid sizing issues and all the problems that come with them. A professional can ensure your ducts and furnace are both correctly sized.
Service Your Ducted Heating Regularly
Once you have a ducted heater, it’s important to schedule regular preventative maintenance. Ducted heating systems should be professionally serviced at least every 2-3 years. In between this time, you should arrange ducted heating repairs whenever you notice an issue with your system.
Take Advantage of Passive Heating Principles
To help your ducted heating operate at its best, investigate other ways you can passively heat your property.
Ensure there is adequate insulation in the floors, walls, and roof, and seal any draughts where cold air might enter the property. Keep your drapes closed to retain warmth when the heater is on and throw them open when the sun is shining. You can also invest in double glazing for greater thermal insulation around your windows.
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It Is Suitable for Most Properties – But Not All!
Despite its enduring popularity, ducted heating remains unsuitable for many multi-story residential and commercial complexes. Some homes also won’t be suitable for ducted heating due to a lack of space above the ceiling or below the floor.
If this applies to you, look for small, ducted heating systems (sometimes known by names such as slimline or flat ceiling ducted heating). If these systems still won’t work for your space, there are many other heating options you can consider.
To get started with ducted heating or to discuss your options, contact a trusted heating and cooling installer today.
Sharing is Caring
It’s truly a good system for the house. In my country we don’t use this kind of heating system as the place is so hot. But it’s nice for me to know.
We are have been considering this however we thought it’s going to cost a lot of money. Happy to know that it’s affordable and is energy efficient. Will discuss this with my husband and see if we can finally get this done at home. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for this! I am planning to install ducted heating at my place in home town and it is good to know about them
Hhhmmm…this is interesting. I haven’t been in a place that needs ducted heating before. These are good pointers to carry with me.
Awesome! This ducted heating looks dependable and it’s easy to install. Perfect for any kind of home. Thanks for showing this to us! Such a great find!
I love that it doesn’t affect the aesthetic of the house, so you can really place it anywhere you want. Thank you for the info and tips about ducted heating, really learned a lot.
This is very different from what we have in europe (radiators)! good tips though!
We have this system in our house. And it is funny, but I just realized it is ducted heating. I`m pretty happy with the heat in our house.
The only thing I don’t like about floor ducts is their ability to attract dirt. But it’s an effective way to heat and cool a home!
Yes, this is what I have had since 2005. And if I ever have to look for another place, ducted heating will be high on my WISHLIST.