Methods of Forced Air Heating

Integrated Forced Air Heater

• An integrated forced air heater is the most common type of domestic furnace. The furnace can be either LP gas or oil fired and controlled by a thermostat. Hot gases from the furnace pass through one side of a heat exchanger while a fan blows ambient air through the other side. The air is heated and passes through ducts to all of the rooms in the house. In some ducted air systems it is possible to isolate specific rooms so that no heated air passes to them.

Fixed Air Conditioner/Heater Combination

• Many of today's fixed air conditioners are air conditioner/heater combinations. This is an efficient system for an apartment without central air conditioning, for an outside room that is used for perhaps an office or for an addition that does not have ducted air. There are dozens of different fixed air conditioners on the market, giving you the opportunity to choose exactly the design and power that you need.

Portable Air Conditioner/Heater Combination

• Portable air conditioners are becoming more popular, and many of the latest models are combination heaters. They can be used exactly like fixed appliances but have the advantage of being suitable for any room with a window. A window is necessary to pass the venting air hose to the outside; the unit usually comes with an adjustable slide bar and sealing strips to prevent cold air from entering from the exterior. These are conditioners are available from 7,500 to 30,000 BTUs.

Portable Blower Heater

• Portable blower heaters have a fan that sends ambient air through a heating element and into the room. They are usually small and very portable, but their big disadvantage is that they do not humidify the air at all. These units are good at heating up a small restricted space in a relatively short time.