The typical home is warmed by one of two methods of HVAC heating: convection or radiant heating. If you have an HVAC unit installed at your home, it very probably uses one of these two types of heating. When considering purchasing a new HVAC unit, you will be confronted with the need to choose between these two.
Both convection and radiant heating have their pros and cons. You can determine which of the two best suits your needs by considering these. Here’s a comparison between the two.
How Does Convection Heating Work?
Convection heating works by transferring heat through a fluid. It utilizes a liquid, such as water, oil, or gas, to carry heat from the heating element to the target surface where it needs to be delivered.
The internal workings of a convection heater are similar to those of a conduction heater—the fluid used internally is heated, the heated molecules rise, and the cooler molecules are then heated in turn. However, the heated liquid or gas molecules do not have direct contact with the intended object. Instead, the fluid molecules simply circulate close to the target surface, heating up the surface sufficiently.
Benefits of Heating via Convection
- The stand-out advantage of convection heating is that it can deliver an exceptionally even degree of heating across an entire space. This surface can be a floor, a wall, or virtually any other area. This enables convection heating to achieve even heating within a closed space.
- Heating units can be mounted virtually anywhere across the house. This allows for more versatile and adaptable installation.
- Installing a convection heater does not require ductwork, reducing the upfront costs of this method of heating.
- Thanks to the absence of ductwork or powered fluid movements, heating appliances offer a quiet operation.
Downsides of the Convection Approach
- Convection appliances typically lack an air filter. This is primarily because the air is not directly released. However, this allows for dust accumulation and other debris to form over time.
- When it comes to heating large spaces, convection heaters are simply not effective.
How Does Radiant Heating Work?
Radiant heating works by heating a panel on the floor or a wall. This panel then radiates heat through a given environment, allowing objects within that environment to absorb this heat. Radiant heating does not rely on the movement of the air or liquid molecules.
As with convection heating, radiant heating has its own pros and cons. Here’s a look at these.
Benefits of Radiant Heating
- Radiant heating achieves a far better and even greater warmth than convection heating. Objects heated thus also retain the heat more effectively.
- Radiant heating systems are easy to install. A heat source is installed on the floor or the wall, and it delivers direct heat to the space around it. Another great thing is that such heating appliances require little to no maintenance over time.
- A radiant heating system uses less energy to heat a space than a convection heating system. A radiant panel also heats a target space more quickly.
- Radiant heating comes with a perfectly quiet operation.
- With radiant heating, the air molecules are not disturbed, and no outside elements are introduced into the indoor air. This effectively prevents dust or allergens from entering the air.
Downsides of Radiant Heating
- The key downside to radiant heating is the upfront costs. Compared to convection-based heating systems, radiant heating systems can cost much more.
- If you already have a finished home, installing radiant heating panels may require dismantling the floor or wall sections. This only adds to the installation costs. These costs are avoidable if radiant heating is installed during the construction phase of a house.
Hiring Heating and Air Experts At General Air
As detailed above, both convection and radiant heating systems have advantages and disadvantages. If you are considering having either of these systems installed in your Greenville home, we have you covered.
At General Air, our HVAC experts can install, troubleshoot, and repair all heating systems. We are the go-to residential and commercial HVAC contractor serving Greenville, SC. Contact us today for a free quote, or hire our HVAC professionals.
