The first things to consider with heating systems are the fuels. They are natural gas, oil, electric, propane, wood and coal. The next thing to consider is the type of system such as forced air, hot water, steam and space heating. The type determines the distribution system.
Natural gas is the most popular today and is used in every type of heating system. Technology in heating systems surpasses all other fuels. Maintenance for gas heating systems is far less then all other fuels, except for electric. Carbon monoxide and gas leaks are a concern with natural gas heating systems, which require they be checked periodically. Detectors can be purchased to monitor those gases and is prudent in my opinion. It is good to note that the federal government along with state and local governments impose numerous standards on the manufacturing and installation of natural gas appliances. These standards primary concern is to the safety of the public.
Fuel oil is a common fuel used today, it comes to you in a liquid form and is stored in a tank on the premises. It is also used in every type of heating system today, unfortunately the technology surrounding fuel oil is not as great as natural gas. Maintenance with oil systems is more than most types of heating systems. This is primarily due to the filter and the burner nozzle. The concerns with oil are tank leaks and not sweeping the chimney on a regular basis. The major difference between oil and gas is the state in which it comes to you in. Gas comes to you in a vapor form and if you put a match to it, it will ignite. Oil comes to you in a liquid form and if you did the same with a match, nothing would happen. Hence the need for a burner. Basically what the burner does is physically change the liquid into a vapor or fine spray so that it can be ignited. This burner uses electricity and is rarely calculated in determining one's annual heating bills.
Electric is a common fuel used today, unfortunately it is expensive. The reason for this is the enormous loses that occur in transmission of electricity. It is for that same reason why electricity is the future heating fuel. There will never be superconductivity in our lifetime; however, in the near future there will be advances in this field that will make electricity a very cost-effective fuel to use to heat your home. Furthermore, advances in technology with heating units will enhance the use of electricity to heat your home, but not today.
Propane is a gas that is usually brought to your home and is stored in a container on the premises. These containers are expensive and need to be replaced on a regular basis. People who fill these tanks are required to inspect these tanks before filling them. Propane can be used in every type of heating system.
Wood is used mostly as a supplement heat source. The concerns with wood are fire, chimney sweeping, disposal of ashes, cleaning of the appliance, obtaining and storing of the wood. It is for those reason wood is rarely used as a primary heat source for the home.
Coal at one time was the most used heating fuel used in this country. Today it is probably the least. The problem with coal is the gas it emits into the atmosphere when it is being burned. It is very difficult and expensive to meet federal standards on clean air. It is good to note that coal is used a lot in the generation of electricity in the US and these facilities do meet federal clean standards.
Protect America's Forests. This is link from the Sierra Club, I support them because they do good work.
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