Natural Gas Heaters: 5 Crucial Steps on Choosing

Well, there are available several type and sizes of natural gas heaters. And therefore, you may be confused by this situation on choosing the best one. The following are 5 crucial steps that you have to consider carefully on choosing and installing natural gas heater.

Determine the right type to choose!

Like mentioned before, natural gas heaters are available in several types, from gas fireplaces or small units to central heating units.

1. Central heating; basically consists of three major separate units (unit to produce the heat, unit to distribute the heat, and unit to control regulate and control the heating process and distribution). As the name suggests, central heating is purposed for heating the entire home.
2. Forced-air heating units; they is one of the most popular types of natural gas heaters. They have 78 % of AFUEs ranging. And there are two different major types (based on the way to heat the air); air to be warmed up (heated) then distributed into the room, and air to mix with the gas combustion chamber.
3. Hydronic systems: they are water based heating system and as the name implies, they heat the room by heating the water and then the heated water will be distributed underneath the floor (through a system of pipes) to warm up the room.
4. The combination systems (typically space heating and water heating systems), the combination can be between hydronic system and forced-air, or between baseboard heating system and hydronic heating system.
5. Room space heater for supplemental heating of an existing central heating! This type is great idea to heat a room that is not often used! It can be a baseboard heater, wall-mounted heater or designed like a small fireplace.

Calculate the size!

The size is generally rated in BTUs (British Thermal Units). Determining and calculating the BTUs size is closely dependent to the large square feet of the area that will be heated. The other factor that can influence is the insulation, because a room that does not have a proper insulation will need more heat energy to be warmed up. Although the up-front cost for installing insulation can be expensive but if you seriously want to save more energy and get lower energy bill, it is much more recommended to install insulation.

For room natural gas heaters, the size calculation can be finished not too difficultly, you just need to measure the large square feet of your room then you can figure out the approximate size of the heater that you should choose.

On the other hand, for central heating, the size calculation can be more complex and more difficult. Therefore you may need to hire a qualified gas heating contractor in your local area. The procedures for the size calculation for this case include; the total sq-ft area that will be heated, the height of the ceiling, the number of window & doors, insulation, local climate, and so on.

Consider the venting mechanism!

Natural gas heaters are combustion heating appliances! Therefore, they must be properly vented to vent unfriendly pollutants, like carbon monoxide (one of byproducts of gas burning process). You can choose directly venting or conventional venting (chimney vents). Whatever the venting design that you choose, make sure it can be properly installed in your home and easy to be maintained.

For better safety, you can also use a stand-alone ODS (O2 Depletion sensor) to monitor the Oxygen level in your house!

Compare the costs!

This issue is divided into two crucial considerations; the up-front cost and the operating cost (the energy bill and the maintenance costs). Unfortunately it is difficult to reach ideal choice for both costs! The cheaper up-front cost of a natural gas heater can result higher operating costs, and on the other hand units that need expensive up-front cost will be friendlier on resulting lower operating costs.

But if the budget permits, it is better to install the high efficiency system that usually need higher up-front cost but will return your money on lower operating costs.

Furthermore, the same type of natural gas heaters that can work efficient in a certain area can be less efficient if installed in the different climate area. So, the local climate also has a significant contribution to the performance of the system. For more detailed information, it is better to discuss with a local gas heating contractor.

Select the right qualified heating contractor!

Below are helpful checklists to choose and find the right heating contractor:

1. Gather more information from your neighbors, your local gas utility company and other friends that can give any advances on choosing a qualified gas contractor.
2. The one that you choose should be properly licensed of recognized group!
3. Make sure the contractor that you choose will be familiar and completely understand about all equipment installation and local building codes & regulations, so thus the system can be installed successfully.
4. Make sure the installation is fully insured for saving more money in the future.
5. They should measure and estimate an amount of heat-loss and determine the correct size BTUs that must be installed.
6. Ask to all components of the heating system that will be installed, make sure all of them are the newest natural gas technology that can work more efficient, reliable and last longer.
7. Find some positive-feedback testimonials of the heating contractor! If you cannot find those testimonials then it is better to take a look for another contractor.

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