Your home heating system keeps your home comfortable by generating or extracting heat and distributing it throughout your home. The exact process depends on the system you have, but most residential heating falls into one of two categories: forced air or radiant heating.
In this guide, we’ll share how each one works, so you can compare efficiency, maintenance needs, and operating costs, and choose which setup makes the most sense for your home.
The Two Main Types of Home Heating Systems: Forced Air vs. Radiant
Most home heating systems use either forced air or radiant heat. Forced-air systems heat air and move it through your home using ducts, vents, or indoor air handlers. Furnaces fall into this category, as do many heat pumps, though they transfer ambient heat from the air outdoors rather than heating it.
Radiant systems heat water, surfaces, or individual heating elements and transfer that warmth directly into the room. Boilers, radiant floors, and electric baseboard heaters are common examples.
The right system for your home depends on your climate, existing infrastructure, energy source, home layout, and how you prefer your heat to feel.
What Are Forced-Air Heating Systems?
A forced-air heating system circulates warm air throughout your home with a fan. Furnaces are the most common examples.
When your thermostat detects that the temperature has fallen below your selected setting, it tells the heating system to turn on. A furnace produces heat using natural gas, propane, oil, or electricity, while a blower moves the warmed air through ductwork and into each room. As the air cools, return vents pull it back toward the heating system so the cycle can continue.
Forced-air systems offer several advantages, including:
- They can heat rooms relatively quickly.
- Existing ductwork may often be used for central air conditioning.
- Filters can help capture dust and other airborne particles.
- Many systems work with smart thermostats and zoning controls.
Be aware that leaky or poorly insulated ducts can allow some heated air to escape before it reaches the intended rooms. In addition to your heating system, checking your ductwork once a year can help prevent heat loss and manage utility costs.
Other Types of Forced-Air Systems
Furnaces aren’t the only systems that heat a home by moving warm air.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
Air-source heat pumps transfer heat rather than creating it through combustion. During winter, they pull available heat from outdoor air and transfer it indoors. During summer, the process reverses, and the system removes heat from your home.
Ductless Mini-Splits
Ductless mini-splits also use heat pump technology, but they don’t rely on traditional ductwork. Instead, an outdoor unit connects directly to one or more indoor units, allowing you to control temperatures in individual areas.
Forced-Air Heating System Maintenance and Cost
Forced-air heating costs depend on the equipment, energy source, system efficiency, climate, thermostat settings, and the quality of your insulation. Routine maintenance can help your system work as intended. Important steps include:
- Replacing or cleaning filters
- Keeping vents and returns unobstructed
- Inspecting ductwork
- Scheduling regular HVAC service
- Checking the thermostat
- Addressing unusual noises or airflow problems
Remember that forced-air systems rely on steady air flow to be effective. Blocked vents and restricted ductwork may force your equipment to run longer to maintain your desired temperature, increasing your energy use.
What are Radiant Heating Systems?
Radiant heating systems transfer heat directly from a heated surface or heating unit into the surrounding space. Rather than relying on moving air, these systems use hot water, electric heating elements, or heated surfaces to warm your home.
Boilers are a common example of a radiant heating system. A boiler heats water and circulates it through pipes to radiators, baseboards, or radiant flooring.
Because radiant systems don’t rely on blowing heated air throughout the home, they can provide steady, even warmth. They also don’t circulate dust through ductwork like forced-air systems sometimes do.
Other Types of Radiant Heating Systems
There are three other types of radiant heating systems in addition to boilers:
- Electric baseboard heaters: Use electrical resistance to create heat along the baseboards of individual rooms. They can provide room-by-room control but may have higher operating costs in areas where electricity rates are high.
- Radiant floor heating: Uses electric cables or hot water tubing installed beneath the floor. Heat rises gradually from the floor surface, helping create an even indoor temperature.
- Passive solar heating: Uses sunlight and a home’s design to collect, store, and distribute heat. Windows, insulation, construction materials mass, and building orientation all play a role in how effectively the system works.
Radiant Heating System Maintenance and Cost
Maintenance depends on the type of radiant heating system you have. Hydronic systems may require attention to boiler pressure, pumps, valves, pipes, and similar components. Electric radiant systems have fewer mechanical parts, but still need professional attention if wiring or heating elements fail.
Operating costs of your heating system depend on:
- Your energy source
- System efficiency
- Home insulation
- Climate
- Heating habits
- Equipment condition
Radiant systems can provide efficient, consistent heating when properly designed and maintained, but installation costs can be higher if your home doesn’t already have the necessary piping or infrastructure.
How to Make Any Heating System More Efficient
No matter which heating system you use, a few improvements can help reduce energy waste.
Use a Smart Thermostat
Smart thermostats automatically adjust temperatures in your home, preventing unnecessary heating when you’re sleeping or away.
Seal Air Leaks and Improve Insulation
Even an efficient heating system will have to work harder if warm air escapes through windows, doors, attics, and other gaps in your home envelope. Simple winter weatherization projects such as weatherstripping, caulking, and replacing worn insulation can help your home retain more heat.
Keep Up With Annual Maintenance
Cleaning and maintaining your furnace and boiler can help prevent worn parts, airflow problems, combustion issues, and other concerns from developing into serious issues. Schedule professional service based on the manufacturer’s recommendations and the type of heating system you have.
Replace Dirty Filters
If you have a forced-air furnace, don’t overlook the air filter. A clogged filter restricts airflow and can make your furnace work harder to circulate heat. Checking and replacing your filter regularly is one of the simplest heating maintenance tasks you can perform yourself.
How to Choose the Best Home Heating System For Your Needs
Before replacing or installing a new heating system, consider how each type may fit your home. Ask yourself:
- What energy sources are available in my house?
- Does the property already have ductwork or hydronic piping?
- How cold are the winters in my area?
- How large is my home?
- Do I want whole-home heating or room-by-room control?
- What efficiency ratings does the equipment offer?
- What will installation cost?
- What are the expected maintenance needs?
- How much does the available fuel or electricity cost locally?
The condition of your current infrastructure also matters. If you have well-maintained ductwork, installing another forced-air system may be simpler than switching to radiant heat. If you have a boiler and radiators, it may be better to continue with hydronic heating.
Have a qualified HVAC professional evaluate your home before making a final decision. Proper sizing and installation are just as important as the type of equipment you choose.
Ready to Get More From Your Home Heating?
Agway supplies residential electricity and natural gas in participating areas of New York and Pennsylvania. But in addition to providing reliable residential natural gas and electricity supply, Agway Energy Services® also offers EnergyGuard to its customers.
EnergyGuard is a value-added service that helps cover repairs caused by wear and tear on qualifying systems.* For natural gas customers, this can include repairs to critical furnace and boiler components.
If your heating system develops a problem, call Agway and we will send a technician to diagnose the issue.
Home Heating FAQs
What is the most efficient type of heating for a house?
No single heating system can be considered the most efficient, as efficiency varies by equipment and home. High-quality heat pumps can perform well in many climates, while furnaces and boilers may make more sense in other areas based on your existing infrastructure, climate, and energy sources.
What temperature should I set my thermostat to in the winter?
You should set your thermostat according to your comfort needs and schedule, but setting the thermostat between 68 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit normally allows you to remain comfortable while controlling heating costs. Some homeowners lower it between 59 and 64 while sleeping or away to save energy.
How long should a home heating system last before it needs replacing?
The lifespan of your HVAC system depends on the equipment type, installation quality, maintenance, and usage. As a general rule, furnaces typically last between 15 and 20 years, boilers between 15 and 35 years, and heat pumps between 10 and 16 years.
Will my heat still work during a power outage?
Usually, your heat will not work during a power outage. Even modern natural gas and oil heating systems usually rely on electricity to operate thermostats, blowers, pumps, ignition systems, and safety controls. If you lose power during cold weather, safely restart your equipment once power returns and check for any issues with the system.
Why is my house cold downstairs and warm upstairs?
Uneven temperatures in your home could be caused by airflow problems, duct leaks, poor insulation, thermostat placement, or incorrect system sizing. If one level consistently feels different from another, contacting a professional can help you narrow down the cause.
