High energy costs are one reason why people continue to look for efficient ways of heating their homes. Whether it is a medium apartment or a large home, options exist for reducing the overall heating bill. Alternatives do exist. Some require remodeling; others are as easy as considering zone heating.
What Is a Zone?
Heating your entire house does not make sense unless you have someone in every single room. Directing the heat to a single high occupancy room is one way of making sure you use energy more efficiently and effectively. When you heat a single room using an alternate heat source such as a fireplace, professionals refer to the room or space as a zone.
Providing Heat for Zones
While a furnace is a form of central heating, a fireplace or a fireplace insert is not. It is restricted in the nature of its heating capabilities. Heating a zone is specifically that. The heat supplied by the source warms up the specified area and nothing further.
Various products are designed to produce this effect. Among the more popular are fireplaces, although stoves may also perform the same task.Fireplaces can utilize gas, wood or electric. If you have an existing fireplace and wish to improve its warming capabilities or change it from one form of heating to another, this is possible through the addition of inserts. Many companies are ready to install a gas fireplace insert.
Factors to Consider
Before opting for zone heating, it is important to identify certain factors that will influence the ability of the heater to perform optimally. You need to consider:
- What is the method of heating your currently employ? How efficient is it?
- If you already have a fireplace, is it effective enough, given its current fuel and condition?
- Can you improve its capabilities by installing an insert?
- If you do not have an existing fireplace, do you want a fireplace or stove as your zone heating system?
- What is the size of the selected room?
- How often is it in use?
- How do you envision the overlook, approach and type of heating system?
By looking at these aspects, you can help determine the validity of choosing a new system as well as thinking ahead towards what system will work for you and your family.
Zone Heating: Talk to an Expert
It is not difficult, given today’s products, to find the right type of heating system to warm only certain zones of your home. Before you make a decision, take the time to talk to experts. Those in the stove and fireplace business can help you make the right decision on what zone heating system will prove to be the efficient heater and energy saver you need.