Various options to consider for home heating systems

As of our latest count, up to 15 different types of heating and distribution systems are currently being used in Manitoba to heat R-2000 and conventional houses. From simple electric baseboards to the more complex ground sourced heat pump systems, each brings its own advantages and disadvantages and must be chosen, designed and installed correctly as part of the overall house system.

Electric baseboard system

Electric baseboards — properly sized and installed in each room of a house with an exterior wall — not only provide adequate heating but exceptional individual room by room temperature control. Electric baseboard heating does not promote much airflow and therefore must be associated with a fully ducted heat recovery ventilation system to provide ventilation air to all rooms.

When installed in a well-insulated, very energy efficient building envelope, electric baseboard heating has proven to be the most cost effective method of heating certain home designs. Used in conjunction with a properly designed ventilation system, this method of heating is no longer associated with the excess humidity and unhealthy conditions of the past installations.

Using electric baseboard heating limits air conditioning options to “through the wall” or “window type” units. Because a furnace fan does not circulate the air in the home, filtering of particulates from the air is not possible with a conventional central filter system. If required, it must be done on an individual room basis with tabletop type room air filtration devices.

Electric forced air furnace system

Electric furnaces use a standard ducted air distribution system and a centrally located thermostat. An electric furnace uses a number of resistance coils and a fan to circulate the heat. The coils come on in stages to provide the amount of heat required — dependent on exterior weather conditions.

Electric forced air heating systems are very popular in rural Manitoba, in areas not serviced by natural gas. It costs the same amount of money to heat a home by electric baseboards or an electric furnace. Each system is close to 100% efficient; all electricity used, stays within the house as generated heat. The amount of heat used for either system is dependent on the heat loss of the building envelope.

Electric forced air heating allows for easy interconnection with an HRV system, central air conditioning, and a central air filtration device.