Forced Air

Forced air system is a heating system that uses air to transfer heat into different parts of the building. It is also known as the warm air heating system. In simplest terms, this works by carrying air into a central air handler for heating. Vents and ductworks help in directing forced air heat into the rooms; it is then recycled back to the central air handler, and then back once more to the rooms.

An estimate cost of forced hot air gas heat system is around $600 to $1,500. Having it installed in your house or building will entail an additional estimated cost of around $3,000 to $5,000. Forced air system has several types, classified according to the fuel source. They are as follows: electric-based, heat pump, natural gas, oil, and propane.

With the electric-based, a simple heating element installed in the room warms the air that is forced through the vents. With the heat pump, warmth is extracted from an outdoor source and is processed through a refrigeration cycle; a refrigerant coil is installed in the air handler device. Natural gas, oil and propane undergo almost the same forced air heat process. Usually, heat is produced by the combustion or the burning of the fuel source, i.e. propane. The propane forced hot air heat is pushed through the chimney using an induction fan.

Comparing these different types of forced air heating systems, there are of course, advantages and disadvantages to each. For example, when you compare heat pump versus forced air furnace, the heat pump will prove more efficient than those that use natural gas, oil and propane. It also has less byproduct like soot and smoke.

Water heat vs. forced air

The forced air heating system might also be compared to the water heating system or the hydronic water system which uses hot water and steam. The hydronic utilizes a water pump forced air heat exchanger; water is heated in the boiler and “delivered” via vents to the designated rooms.

When it comes to concluding which is better, hydronic or forced air heat system, in regards to fuel source consumption, the forced air heat cost less in volume than the water needed by the hydronic system. Another benefit of force air heat system is its efficiency rate: from 65% to almost 96% as compared to the hydronic’s rate of 30% to 70%. On the other hand, the hydronic’s steam versus forced air heat has less dangerous byproduct, and may even be recycled time and time again. Natural gas, oil and propane are dispensable and cannot be submitted for recycling.