Radiators Vs. Forced Air: The Great Heating Debate (2023)

FAQs

Do radiators work better than forced air? ›

PRO: Compared to forced air, radiator heating may be more humid and comfortable because it doesn't remove moisture from the air by blowing it over an open flame. Many furnaces require an additional appliance, a humidifier, to replace the moisture the furnace removes. CON: Are slower to react to thermostat changes.

Warm air heating systems don't need a hot water distribution system (pipes and radiators), so you are less at risk of household plumbing problems. The systems can also be good for small properties because you save space in your rooms by not having radiators or wall mounted heaters.

Designer electric radiators heat your room as efficiently as your central heating system does. Their main advantage is that they have no moving parts, which means there's less to go wrong and therefore they will need less maintenance – no bleeding, no balancing, and no flushing.

A gas central heating radiator system can never be 100% efficient because the whole system uses pipes to pump the hot water around your home. Even brand new boilers are only able to be about 92% efficient, whereas electric radiators will turn 1 kWh of electricity into 1 unit of heat, making them 100% efficient.

In general, furnaces are the most efficient of the heating systems, especially if you have natural gas. They work by heating air with a component called a heat exchanger and pushing it into the home through a duct system, using a fan (often referred to as a blower).

Warm air systems are renowned for their quiet operation so your home or business will not be disturbed by unwelcome noises. Modern warm air heating system are very energy efficient with running costs as much as 20% lower than some other types of heating system.

If you want to replace your warm air heating system, a popular option is a gas-fired boiler and water-filled radiators.

For the efficiency of the heating that you're getting, forced air heating is highly effective while maintaining a reasonable price. Because the installation of forced air heating tends to be easier than the other alternatives, this also lowers the overall price.

Air conditioning units heat up much more quickly than heating systems with radiators and boilers which means less energy is wasted getting them up to temperature before they start heating the rooms. Sending heated water long distances through pipes also results in significant heat loss and wasted energy.

Do radiators make the air dry? ›

The fact is, boiler heat systems, either with hot water radiators or steam radiators, do not provide any more humidity than a forced-air system – at least they aren't supposed to. A properly working boiler and radiator heating system simply heat – it does not humidify.

Aluminium Radiators - The Kings of Efficiency

Aluminium is an excellent conductor of heat which means, when used as a radiator material, it's heats up to the desired room temperature very quickly. This means that less energy is used in bringing the material up to temperature when compared with other radiator metals.

Central heating engineers recommend that the average lifespan of a radiator is between 8-12 years. This could mean that any radiators in your home that are over 10 years old have stopped working efficiently are costing you more for a poorly heated household.

Removing too many radiators can cause the pressure to get too high, which could cause damage to the system. In general, removing one or two radiators isn't going to put the system under significant stress. But the job is probably best left to a professional if you need several radiators removed in your home.

Gas boiler

It's not as cost-effective without solar panels, but a gas boiler is still the cheapest way to heat your home – though that's set to change soon, with the cost of gas rising more than twice as quickly as electricity.

Central heating radiators create the ideal conditions for dust mites and mould spores plus microbiological infections to flourish resulting in a higher level of allergens, that is then circulated via heat convection, plus contributes to poorer indoor air quality that we breathe in.

Radiators can be an efficient, cost-saving way of heating your house. Their delivery pipes are a heat source, spreading the warmth out over a long, narrow area. The benefit of any radiator, whether it uses hot water or steam, is its efficiency.

Does steam heat cause mold? ›

How does mold develop? Mold always arises from moisture in the building. Humidity, sweating and steam from the bathroom or the kitchen increase the humidity. It only takes 24-48 hours for mold spores to develop, so if the humidity rises above 60-65% then you might start seeing the signs within 24 hours.

Energy-efficiency – Most warm air heating systems use natural sources in order to provide heating, making them renewable and eco-friendly. Using warm air heating systems can help to reduce your carbon footprint by approximately 60%.

warm air heating system or storage heater contains asbestos insulation, and what to do about it. What should you do with asbestos waste? Asbestos cement sheets should not be broken up and need to be sealed in heavy-duty polythene sheets or bags that are double wrapped.

The average cost for a new HVAC system is $3,250 to $12,550, which includes equipment and labor fees for the installation of a central AC unit and gas furnace. The chosen HVAC brand, necessary ductwork repair, and your location will influence the project cost.

Warm air systems are renowned for their quiet operation so your home won't be disturbed by unwelcome noises. These systems are very energy efficient with running costs as much as 18% lower than some other types of heating system.

Furnace Replacement Costs

A natural gas furnace costs on average $2,200 to $7,150 to replace. An electric furnace prices out to be more affordable and ranges between $1,000 to $5,500 to install.

Modern ducted heaters are much more energy efficient than older models, giving a more pleasing consistent temperature, better control of your fan speed, and no need for a pilot light. Ducted heating is also a major investment in your home and one of the most efficient forms of heating.

Forced air heating systems are popular because they are efficient, affordable, and compatible with central air conditioners.

“We are a heating-dominated country, not a cooling-dominated country,” said Tadj Oreszczyn, a professor of energy and environment at the University College London Energy Institute. He added: “We haven't designed our homes historically to cope with overheating. We've designed them to keep ourselves warm.”

Can you cool a house with radiators? ›

Yes, but it wouldn't work very well. The rate of heat transfer is more-or-less proportional to the temperature difference between the radiators and the surrounding air. This can easily be 50 or 60 degrees or more when the room is being heated.

If you're a European walking into the average American home, you'll notice that the walls are conspicuously free of radiators. That's because most houses in the US are heated (and cooled) using a forced air system.

When heating a home with radiators, there's no systemic way to produce moisture in the house like there is with forced air systems. Adding a humidifier to some or all of your cast iron radiators will add moisture to the air.

If your home has built-in radiators instead of central (forced air) heating, capitalize on these radiant heat sources by placing a bowl of water on top of each unit to humidify your rooms. Depending on how hot your radiators get, be careful and use a cloth or kitchen mitt when you lifting the bowls.

Adding bowls of water around a room works kind of like a humidifier, but at a slower speed. Place a few bowls of water around the perimeter of the room you want to humidify and leave them there to allow the moisture to evaporate into the air.

How Often Should Radiators be Replaced? There is no straight forward answer but in general you should replace your radiators anywhere between fifteen and twenty years. Sometimes, a lack of central heating does not mean that you need a new boiler but need to replace your radiators instead.

Central heating radiators

These radiators have the highest heat output and greatest heating efficiency of all plumbed radiator styles, making them a popular choice in many homes. They use corrugated panels (convectors) to radiate heat into the room.

Radiator Size:

Larger radiators will often be more efficient. This is because they have a larger surface area to radiate heat, so the water inside them doesn't need to be as warm as in a smaller radiator to generate the same amount of heat.

Generally speaking, you should flush your radiator once every five years or every 100,000 miles that you drive. However, there are some signs that your car needs a coolant flush.

It's easy to assume that radiators made decades ago are less efficient, but studies have shown that a new radiator can be as much as twice as efficient as even a twenty year old equivalent.

Do modern radiators work better? ›

Modern radiators are more energy efficient and they tend to heat up more quickly due to the lower water content which is typically around 24% less than that in radiators manufactured prior to 2000.

A more powerful engine gives out more heat so it will need an upgraded radiator to handle the higher heat output effectively. A properly maintained radiator should last at least 3 years, and up to 8-10 years.

You shouldn't place furniture directly in front of a radiator. The furniture would prevent heat from being distributed freely throughout the room, and could be damaged over time from the close exposure to heat.

Generally speaking, Halogen heaters are one of the most inexpensive types of electric heater. They average around 1200W in terms of power output and because they provide instant-heat at close quarters, you shouldn't need to leave them on for long periods of time.

Steam radiators are one of the oldest types of radiators and are still commonly used today. Steam radiators are connected to a boiler given the task of heating up water.

Some architects replace original radiators with new cast iron ones by the brand Governale, which look similar to the old radiators with a slimmer profile. The radiator brand Runtal is another option for those with hot water systems.

If they dont leak and the boiler is pressurised you can then use hot water. Boilers sometimes dont like being used in this way as they cannot disappate so much waste heat but its likely to be Ok but just watch it the first few times you use it in this way.

Air conditioning units heat up much more quickly than heating systems with radiators and boilers which means less energy is wasted getting them up to temperature before they start heating the rooms. Sending heated water long distances through pipes also results in significant heat loss and wasted energy.

Radiators can be an efficient, cost-saving way of heating your house. Their delivery pipes are a heat source, spreading the warmth out over a long, narrow area. The benefit of any radiator, whether it uses hot water or steam, is its efficiency.

Electric radiators are ultra-efficient because they convert 100% of the energy they use into heat. Their efficiency is also largely due to the amount of radiant heat they produce, as well as their in-built energy-saving features.

Do radiators make the air dry? ›

The fact is, boiler heat systems, either with hot water radiators or steam radiators, do not provide any more humidity than a forced-air system – at least they aren't supposed to. A properly working boiler and radiator heating system simply heat – it does not humidify.

“We are a heating-dominated country, not a cooling-dominated country,” said Tadj Oreszczyn, a professor of energy and environment at the University College London Energy Institute. He added: “We haven't designed our homes historically to cope with overheating. We've designed them to keep ourselves warm.”

Yes, but it wouldn't work very well. The rate of heat transfer is more-or-less proportional to the temperature difference between the radiators and the surrounding air. This can easily be 50 or 60 degrees or more when the room is being heated.

If you're a European walking into the average American home, you'll notice that the walls are conspicuously free of radiators. That's because most houses in the US are heated (and cooled) using a forced air system.

Radiators are inefficient

It takes a lot of energy to heat water. The time to heat up the water, and cool down when you no longer need the heating, make radiators less efficient compared with surface heating.

Removing too many radiators can cause the pressure to get too high, which could cause damage to the system. In general, removing one or two radiators isn't going to put the system under significant stress. But the job is probably best left to a professional if you need several radiators removed in your home.

Aluminium Radiators - The Kings of Efficiency

Aluminium is an excellent conductor of heat which means, when used as a radiator material, it's heats up to the desired room temperature very quickly. This means that less energy is used in bringing the material up to temperature when compared with other radiator metals.

Gas boiler

It's not as cost-effective without solar panels, but a gas boiler is still the cheapest way to heat your home – though that's set to change soon, with the cost of gas rising more than twice as quickly as electricity.

Generally speaking, Halogen heaters are one of the most inexpensive types of electric heater. They average around 1200W in terms of power output and because they provide instant-heat at close quarters, you shouldn't need to leave them on for long periods of time.

Oil-filled radiator heaters are very popular when it comes to heating up larger rooms. They can be placed pretty much anywhere, can provide 5,000 BTU of heating output, and are dumb-easy to install. The best oil-filled radiator heater is the energy-efficient and extremely affordable (below $100) Delonghi KH390715CB.

Do you need a humidifier with radiators? ›

When heating a home with radiators, there's no systemic way to produce moisture in the house like there is with forced air systems. Adding a humidifier to some or all of your cast iron radiators will add moisture to the air.

If your home has built-in radiators instead of central (forced air) heating, capitalize on these radiant heat sources by placing a bowl of water on top of each unit to humidify your rooms. Depending on how hot your radiators get, be careful and use a cloth or kitchen mitt when you lifting the bowls.