Heating Systems

There are many ways to heat your home. Let us help you find out what kind of heating system your home or building uses.

Furnaces or Heaters

Furnaces/Heaters operate by forcing air across the heating source. They may be installed in a closet, crawl space, attic or basement. Furnaces can be divided into several categories, depending on the type of heat source used.

Gas furnaces have one of the lowest costs of operation and generally produce heating temperatures higher than a heat pump. They include a chimney or exhaust pipe that runs outdoors. If you have a gas furnace, you are probably paying for gas or propane either independently or on your utility bills.

Electric furnaces typically cost more to operate than other types of systems, but can be used where no gas lines are available. Look for a large electric coil, similar to the one inside a toaster. If you are not paying for natural gas, propane gas or oil as a heat source, you might have an electric furnace.

Oil furnaces can also be used in the absence of natural gas lines. Typically the oil is stored in an above-ground or below-ground tank, or sometimes even a tank located in a basement or cellar. To identify an oil furnace, check for a chimney and the smell of diesel oil.

Package Units

Package units are self-contained units that come pre-assembled. They sit outside the house on the ground or roof and are connected to a ducting system.

Heat pump package units can be identified by first determining whether the unit is a package unit, then checking the thermostat. If your thermostat has a “back-up” or “secondary” heat switch, it is most likely a heat pump package unit. 

Gas package units can be identified by checking to see if the unit is a package unit, then looking for a gas pipe feeding into the unit.