[ Home ] [ Up ]

The choice of a heating system for a new home has consequences that will most likely be felt for as long as the house exists.  It is therefore not a casual decision.

The two most important factors to consider before making a choice are cost and comfort.  A careful examination of the evidence reveals that oil heat is the preferred choice for both factors.

1. Although wood is the cheapest source of heat in Newfoundland, it is frequently impractical, especially for urban dwellers.  Besides being labor intensive and requiring a large storage area, wood heat loses some of its price advantage because it is often an uneven heat.

Of the remaining common sources of heat (oil, propane and electricity), oil heat is the least expensive.  (For a comparison of the cost of various types of heating fuel, see Fuel Cost Comparison.)

2. Hot water heating systems are both more comfortable and healthier than electric heat.  The main reason for this is the evenness of hot water heat.  Even with the most sensitive of thermostats, electric heat is up and down.  The heater is either on or off, which creates drafts.  People are often tempted to go to the thermostat and turn it up or down.

Hot water heat, on the other hand, does not experience these fluctuations.  Even after the thermostat reaches the desired level and the flow of hot water is turned off, the water remaining in the radiator cools slowly, and the temperature in the room remains steady.

This steadiness of hot water heat also creates a healthier environment.  In an electrically heated home the natural humidity is dried out by the electric heat, which creates an unhealthy environment.  Hot water heat, because it is steady, does not adversely affect the natural humidity in the air.

If you are interested in installing hot water heat in your new home - or your existing dwelling - please contact us.  We can provide expert advice, and if you want to install this type of heat, we can provide a firm quotation for your consideration.