17/12/2020
A popular method of heating the home is Ducted Gas Heating. In this form of centralized heating, Gas Ducted Heaters (GDH) supply warm/hot air to the entire house. This is in contrast to other methods that use a space heater to heat a specific or single area. A central gas furnace draws in cold air from outside and heats the air to about 50-60°C, or even 80°C. The warm air is then supplied to the entire house through a series of ducts (enclosed pipes or channels). With the cost of heating rising, and people becoming more concerned about carbon emissions impacting climate change, it has become necessary to use more effective methods. The following are some of the latest methods that are being adopted:
Zone Based Ducted Gas Heaters:
According to the Australian Gas Association, ducted gas heating is among the most eco-friendly modes of heating. Research shows that it accounts for only 1/3 of the green house gas emissions. However, this can be lowered much further by adopting zone based heating. In this form of heating, the ducts feature a mechanism which distributes the warm air to specific rooms. This reduces the load on the central heating unit and lowers the cost of energy. Zone based duct heating also suffers from lesser wear & tear, and also reduces the amount of carbon emissions. A popular choice is the super-six duct heating system which can heat up to 4 zones at the same time, and can also be restricted to a single area.
Non-Condensing Duct Heater:
Unlike other types of heaters, the non-condensation heater provides hot air that is free from condensation. This is accomplished through new technology that doesn’t allow moisture to form. It also has eliminated the need for an extra/tertiary heat exchanger. This leads to cleaner and fresher air that is free of moisture or condensation. It also improves efficiency since the system doesn’t have to deal with moisture. This is a convenience since it doesn’t require to be drained on a regular basis.
Better and Improved Insulation:
Ducted gas heaters come in similar material, and also follow the same design. Common designs of ducted gas heating include duct interlock, glued duct polyethylene, and glued duct glasswool. However, it has been noted that many systems fail prematurely due to use of poor insulating materials. It has also been proven that bad insulation leads to increased energy consumption and inefficiency in the system. Energy losses can be as high as 58%. One way companies are addressing this problem is through the use of thicker and more durable insulation. Newer ducts feature a metallic foil on the inner as well as outer circumference. This increases thermal efficiency and minimises leakages leading to reduced energy losses.
The above are some of the efficient and cost-effective methods that are being adopted in the market. As of 2010, gas ducted heaters consumed 60 PJ (Peta Joules which is 1015 Joules) of energy. This is expected to increase to about 80 PJ by 2025. CO2 emissions are also expected to increase from 3,800 kt (kilo tons) to 5,000 kt CO2 (2025). It is therefore critical for homes to embrace and adopt greener and energy efficient central heating solutions.
The heating and cooling experts here at All Climate Solutions have years of specialist experience in ducted heating, air conditioning and cooling and only deal with brands that we trust. Fill up a Contact Form on our website or call us at 03 9561 0220 should you have any questions on effective centralized heating solutions.
