Nashville-area homes come with many different heating options. Whether you’re shopping for a home or want to see what options are available for upgrading your home’s heat, knowing your options can help you pick the right systems for your home, comfort, and wallet.
At Temp Control Heating & Air Conditioning, our teams of HVAC and heating experts are here to help install, repair, and maintain your heating system. Start by learning more about forced air heating, then weigh different factors when deciding if it’s right for you.
What Is Forced Air Heating?
Forced air heating pushes heat throughout your home. It relies on a furnace or boiler, which heats the air, and a distribution network of vents in your ceilings or floors to make sure that warmed air reaches every space in your home. This is the most common type of heating system throughout the United States, and most homes with forced air heating have furnaces.
Less common alternatives to forced air heating include mini-splits, radiant heating systems, and electric baseboard heaters. These systems are common in older homes, which may not have ductwork, and apartments or townhomes, so residents have individualized control over heat within their units.
What Is Central Air Conditioning?
Central air conditioning is the opposite side of the coin from forced air heating. It uses an outdoor unit and coolant-based system to generate cooled air that travels to each room in a home through ducts. Both forced air heating systems and central air conditioning systems typically use the same vents, ducts, and thermostats. HVAC, or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning is the common name for a home climate control system that includes both elements.
How does central air conditioning factor into your research when you’re curious about what is forced air heating? It’s important to understand both systems because they aren’t alternatives; each system handles different aspects of keeping your home comfortable. And in Nashville, Tennessee, where average winter lows sit in the 20s, and summer highs are nearly 90°, many homeowners need both central air conditioning and forced-air heating in their homes.
Factors to Consider When Choosing a Heating System
Installing a new heating system is a great investment in your home. It can make winters safer and more comfortable, and it can add value if you decide to sell your home in the future. Keep these factors in mind as you decide the right fit for your home:
Do You Have Ducts?
This is one of the biggest factors in choosing a new heating system. Forced air systems require ductwork. Older homes may not have ducts, and homes with extensions or changed layouts may have ducts that don’t adequately map to the entire space (which can put strain on your unit). Installing ductwork is an expensive project, but it can give you access to both forced air and central air options. Without ductwork and on a smaller budget, options like baseboard heaters and ductless units can be a comfortable and valuable alternative.
What’s Your Budget?
What is forced air heating going to cost to install? An HVAC technician can help calculate the costs of any forced air installation project, such as:
- Upgrading to a new furnace
- Completing repairs on existing ductwork and systems
- Installing mini splits and heaters
- Installing ductwork and a furnace
They can also quote you the costs of materials and labor for installing alternatives to forced air heating and central air conditioner units.
Do You Need Heat Throughout Your Whole Home?
You might prefer different temperatures in different rooms. For example, you might have a guest room that will stay empty most of the season, and you may have roommates or tenants who want their own temperature control. In these circumstances, mini splits and heaters give every occupant more versatility.
Contact Temp Control Heating & Air Today to Learn More
At Temp Control Heating & Air Conditioning, we’re here to help you heat your home so you stay comfortable all winter long. Reach out today to schedule an appointment to service your existing heating system or to learn more about different heating options for your home.
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