What Heating And Cooling Solutions Work For Your Climate?
Staying warm during the winter and cold during the summer is important. There are a lot of different heating and cooling solutions, but some are not as effective in certain climates. Check out these four different climates and which heating and cooling solutions work.
Sunny Climates
Climates that have a lot of sunny days are great candidates for solar power. It doesn't matter if the weather is cold or hot. As long as there is a lot of sunshine, the panels get the sunlight they need. There are different ways in which solar energy can be used to warm a home. In some cases, the sunlight is directly converted into electricity to power the furnace or air conditioner.
Another common method is to heat water that is held within the solar panels. The water is then stored in a tank, used directly to warm the house or sent to a tankless water heater. In colder climates, a non-freezing solution is used instead of water. This liquid is used to heat the water in a storage tank.
Moderate Climates
Moderate climates are those that don't get too cold during the winter or too hot during the summer. They are also a great option for heat pumps. Besides solar heating, heat pumps are one of the most energy efficient heating options. They are inexpensive to install and operate. Heat pumps don't actually create hot air. Instead, they move the air. During the winter, they move cold air out of the house and pump warm air into the house.
However, heat pumps don't just warm the house. The same system can be used to cool it during the warmer months. It brings in cold air and pumps out the hot air. Just like with heating, cooling with a heat pump isn't as effective as other systems, which is why they are only good for moderate climates.
Extremely Hot Climates
If you live in an area where it gets uncomfortably hot or humid during the summer, central air conditioning is the best solution because it offers the most effective cooling available. The two types of central air conditioning are split-systems and packaged. Split-systems have two parts. The inside portion contains the evaporator, and the outdoor cabinet contains the condenser and compressor. If you already have a furnace or heat pump, the systems can be integrated.
A packaged central air conditioner stores the evaporator, condenser and compressor in one cabinet, which is stored outside the house. In many cases, these systems also come with electric heating coils or a natural gas furnace, so you only have to get one system for effective heating and cooling.
Extremely Cold Climates
In climates that have cold winters and mild to moderate summers, the focus in on providing adequate heating, so getting a good furnace is your best bet. Getting a packed air conditioner will provide heat, but you'll end up wasting a lot of money on air conditioning that you don't need. If you want some relief from the heat, consider a portable or window air conditioning unit.
Another option to consider in these colder climates is a heat pump with a backup furnace. It will cost you more to install, but if you can make it most of the winter with just using the heat pump, you'll save a lot of money. Plus, you'll have a way to comfortably cool your house during those warmer months.
Ultimately, the decision on which system you want is up to you, but there are some systems that just do well in different environments. Talk with a heating expert in your area to get an idea of what system would work best for your climate. For more information about heating and cooling, contact a contractor at a place like Glendale Heating & Air Conditioning in your area today.