Ventilation
The In's and Out's of Central Heat and Air Ventilation Systems
Whether you are considering installing a new heating and/or cooling system in your already established home or are building your own home and have reached the point where you have to make a decision on heating and cooling options, there are a few things that the wise builder or homeowner should take into consideration. After all, a house is more than just four walls and a roof over your head. It is your base of operations for years to com, for both you and your family. Besides, it is far more simple to make the right choice now than to have to reinstall the whole ventilation system at a later time.
First, take a look at your options. For heating, in today’s times, the general option of choice is that of central heat and air. Granted, this is by far one of the best ways to go when dealing with heating an entire house. Central heat and air consists of a compilation of heating ducts that lead to vents in each room. The only drawbacks of ccentral heat and air are those of where you are currently at in your building process, or the style of your house. Basically, it's about lower level space.
If you are building your home and have yet to install the flooring, the time is perfect for you to install the Central heat and air ventilation system. Simply run the ducts throughout the under-level of the house, taking into account exactly where the vents themselves will be, and then build your floor over them. This is the easy route to take. If, however, your house is already built, or at least up to the floor level, then it can get quite difficult. If you are at this point, your next option is to run the heating ducts up an outside wall and throughout the roof/attic area of your home. The drawback here is the fact that heat tends to rise, so heating an entire house will cost a little bit more when your electric bill arrives.
If your house is an already completed home, things can get a bit difficult. To run central heat and air in a house that has not formerly had it installed, you are looking at doing a considerable amount of crawling around under your home, sawing holes in the floor, and just generally working in damp and tight spots. Alternately, if your house is equipped with a basement, then you will find that installing new duct work is actually a fairly simple task.
There are many other options for heating and cooling solutions. One can choose from wood furnaces, gas furnaces, traditional fireplaces, baseboard heaters, and more. The options that you should avoid as much as possible is that of the single electric heating unit and the kerosene heaters. The single electric unit is a simple little solutions, it seems, as all you have to do is plug it in and turn it on. However, once you get that first electric bill, the problem will become evident. These units tend to take an unbelievably large amount of electricity to function, making your power bill skyrocket. Kerosene heaters, on the other hand, tend to release vapors in the air and usually have a very strong unfriendly smell about them.
Remember, when choosing the right heating system for your new home or replacing an old system, the first thing that you should always consider is that of the safety of your family.