Zone heating tips

Last month when I got my oil bill I almost died. It was almost 600 dollars. When I first bought the home the bill was around 198 @ .99 cents a gallon. So although summer is almost upon us I wanted to do some research on what is called zone heating. Here is what I found.


Zone heating and cooling is heating/cooling only the rooms you are using. This allows your central thermostat to be set low while maintaining the comfort level, and heating or cooling the room you are using with your zone heating/cooling system. Zone heating/cooling can work great in those hard to maintain rooms that may be drafty. So here we go.

The first option is under floor heating. You can't see it but you can feel it. The system is electric mats that are installed under your floor. It doesn't matter if its hardwood, ceramic or other types. It provides a current of electricity that can be controlled with a thermostat. Heat rises up through the floor, and warms it and the air above it. This system is great for kitchens and bathrooms. The system is allergy friendly, because it doesn't rely on forched air, so air borne particles are dispersed through the home. Under floor heating doesn't take up an wall or floor space.

Second heating is baseboard, a versatile heating solution. This is installed along any floor space in any size room. It is long lasting and low maintenance, and a covection heating system providing balanced heat from floor to ceiling. Electric baseboard heaters are inexpensive, easy to install and controlled by built in or wall mounted thermostats. The system is quiet, so it's great for bedrooms and small spaces.

Next is in wall heaters. These are perfect for big and small rooms. They come in a variety of sizes, and respond faster than baseboard heaters. They unit uses convection air technology, which draws air into the gap between the wall and the heater. Heated air rises from the top, than a fan distributes the warm air evenly in the room. Fan forced wall heaters have built in thermostats, fan delay switches, and automatic wattage/fanspeed adjustment.

Last but not least, in a long improvement over the years comes the oil filled and electric space heaters. They come in a variety of sizes and prices. Some are more perfect for drafty spots, such as a drafty door or window, that's in a room. Heat rises from the unit, and warms the area immediately. And this will elimenate your furnace working so hard. A ceramic heater is best for small space rooms. These systems radiate heat than uses a fan that blows the warm air to a specific area. The system has a fan only setting, but it helps air circulation when the heating element is not needed.