Heating System | Forced Air System | Steam Radiant | Radiant Heating | Hot Water Baseboard | Electric Baseboards |
PRO | It Can be used for cooling | Relatively Trouble free | Does not distribute allergens | Provide close temperature control | Low maintenance and quiet operation |
CON | Distributes allergens throughout the house | Requires separate distribution system for cooling system | Can be expensive to install and repair | Limits furniture placement and slow to increase temperature | Limits furniture placement and easily damaged |
Energy-Saving Tip | Clean your air filters monthly | Bleeding trapped air from hot water radiation, which can impede flow of hot water throughout the system | When installing in a wood framed floor, consider converting it with ceramic tiles, which adds thermal mass | Install programmable thermostat to take advantage of zone heating | Clean heating coils regularly to prolong life and efficiency |
Compatible Heat Source Systems | Furnace, Heat pump, active solar heating | Boiler | Boiler Heat pump, active solar heat, electric heating | Boiler, active solar heating | N/A |