Austin Heating Systems

For all the weeks we spend complaining about the triple digit heat of the Austin summer, we just might complain with similar volume and annoyance at the first mention that the overnight lows might dip into the 30s. While our cousins from the north may laugh at us, any dramatic change in temperature is going to be felt by someone accustomed to warmer temperatures. Home heating systems in Austin may not be overly discussed as a residential installation, but it's still imperative for every Austin homeowner. Typically, Austin homes have central heating, but it may not be the most dependable system, the most comfortable, or the most energy-efficient. Whether it's time to repair, upgrade, or install a heating system for a new home, here are some important things to consider about furnaces and heating systems.

Austin Gas Furnaces & Heating Systems
Forced air heating and gas furnaces in Austin are the norm. Radiators may still be used in older homes and give off extremely pleasant heat, but low-cost, dependable furnace and forced-air systems reign in new construction, despite putting out what is commonly called ?dry heat.? Newer hydronic heating systems provide more luxurious heating options, but are rarely installed in Austin homes where a state-of-the-art heating system is not typically coveted. If you already have one of these forced-air systems, chances are your biggest question surrounds when to replace your furnace with a newer, more energy-efficient unit.

Alternative Austin Heating Systems
Although Austin homeowners need some type of heating solution during the winter, it typically doesn't top the list of home improvement needs. In fact, one way Austinites initiate a search for a heating system is in tandem with their new cooling system. Rather than simply run into the established arms of gas furnaces and A/C units, you might think about looking at heat pumps.

Heat pumps exchange warmer and cooler air between your home and the outside air, almost like taking a wash cloth and squeezing the warm air particles out of the atmosphere. The process can be reversed for cooling purposes. These units are extremely energy-efficient, although they may need help from an auxiliary system in the dead of summer when there aren't enough cold air particles to go around. While most heat pumps are reversible, models can be more effective at heating, others at cooling. Each unit should have a separate capacity rating. If you already have a satisfactory cooling system, look for a heat pump that works better during the winter. If you're trying to make a heat pump work in both seasons, focus more on the cooling capacity of your unit.

Geothermal Cooling & Heating Systems in Austin
Of course, if a long-term, truly energy-efficient solution is a top priority, forget everything that's been said to this point, and take a look at geothermal heating and cooling systems. These systems use the consistency of the Earth several feet below ground level, where the seasons have no effect, and pull the power of this geothermal equalizer into your home. Installing a geothermal heat pump is not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but you can pretty much forget about paying utility costs for home heating and cooling. Again, one great aspect of these systems is that they can work for summer cooling as well as winter heating.

Cost of Austin Gas Furnaces & Heating Systems
Austin gas furnaces are essentially a get-what-you-pay-for proposition. Units with greater energy-efficiency, safety measures, and longer warranties are going to cost more. The range of a new unit can literally range from one thousand dollars to as much six or seven thousand dollars, maybe more. This decision tends to depend on how much money you can afford for the initial installation, and toward investing in the future of your home. Installing entire heating systems will naturally be a lot more expensive, particularly if you're given the unenviable task of installing original ductwork along with a furnace. Of course, a blank slate of this nature may also be exactly what you need to pull the trigger on an alternative, energy-efficient, and eco-friendly heating system.