Variations in Heating System Designs: How Medium is Heated and Distributed
During winter, cool air penetrates even the most insulated structures. Although energy-efficient walls can hold back cold temperature effectively, the permeating cool air is still uncomfortable for building occupants. This is the reason most buildings in states that experience cold winter have a central heating system. It is designed to regulate the building's indoor climate and make the occupants feel comfortable by warming the air.
The process of heating involves four major elements. A fuel source, such as a gas supply line, provides the combustion that is needed to heat the water in the boiler. The boiler can be connected in various ways to the furnace, which makes variation in the heat transfer. After being heated in a closed-water system, water is pumped to circulate through the pipes installed throughout the house. Radiator panels are mounted through the walls to radiate the heat from the water flowing through the pipes.
A sealed water system is ideal for any heating system that uses water as the medium. There's no continuity in the supply of water, rather the same water is used cyclically in the system. No steam escapes from the system and it takes several times of use before the water is replaced. Heating system repair experts normally check the condition of the sealed water system for any damage or clogging to determine the cause of heating malfunctions.
Some heaters use air as the medium of heat. Instead of boiling water through burnt fuel, electricity can be used to heat up the air. Electricity acts as the fuel source for heating up a heating element. Air is blown across the heating element before being supplied through the pipelines that distribute it into the house. Heating Houston TX houses using electric heaters can be expensive though, as it requires a large amount of energy to work efficiently.
Other heating systems use steam as the medium. The same method of burning fuel to heat water in a boiler is used except that steam (not the boiled water) is blown into the pipes to distribute heat throughout the house. Unlike water-circulating systems, steam heating Houston TX home systems do not need a pump to distribute the steam into the house.
Solar panels are now being used to replace other sources that are found to have major effects in the environment. Instead of burning fuel, the heat captured by the panels during the day is used to heat up a medium that is distributed by the system into the house. With this new method that requires less extensive operation, heating repair and Houston AC repair can be avoided.
Author (averysimek). Submitted on Sat, 4 Feb 2012
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