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Most homeowners in Australia rely on central heating systems to make their properties warm during the cold seasons. You can choose several options for your home, including split systems or gas ducted heating. A gas ducted heating system is versatile, affordable, and energy efficient.
It provides a convenient heating solution because all your rooms are heated simultaneously at the same temperature. To help you gain more understanding, this article provides more information about the ducted gas heating system and how it works.
What Is A Gas Ducted Heating System?
This heating system works by pulling in cold air, heating it in a gas heater, and circulating it around your house through ducts. It comes with a controller, which regulates the system.
This means that it usually switches off when your space gets toasty and warm. The system utilises less energy to maintain your room's comfort levels, which is why it's popular among many homeowners in Australia.
Advantages Of Gas Ducted Heating Systems
When investing in a heating system in your home, you must consider the benefits you gain from your investment. Here are some significant advantages of investing in a gas ducted heating system.
Solves both cooling and heating problems
The great thing about ducted gas heating is that a single system solves all your indoor temperature problems, making it an efficient and convenient option. During hot weather conditions, you could add a cooling option to your system that uses the same duct to circulate cold and warm air. This saves you the cost of investing in another cooling system when it's hot.
Easy and quick to install
It is easy to install a gas ducted heating system, and it takes just a few hours to complete the installation. The ease of installation also means that you will spend less on labour costs.
Affordable
Gas ducted heating is more affordable because of its energy efficiency and lower running costs. The running costs are lower because gas is cheaper in Australia than other energy sources.
Energy-efficient
Ducted gas heating is more energy efficient because it heats your home faster. Thus, you use less energy to heat and cool your space.
Zoning preference feature
The smart models of gas ducted heating enable you to control the temperature and have a combination of zones in your space. With these smart models, you could create individual zones, each with its temperature settings and timers.
Eco-friendly
A ducted gas heater operates on natural gas. Therefore, it emits less carbon footprint than electricity. It is more eco-friendly because of its fewer greenhouse gas emissions. It also generates high-quality air; no smell, fume, or dry air enters your space.
Disadvantages Of Gas Ducted Heating Systems
Here are some of the cons of a gas ducted heating system.
Costly to install
It costs you more to install a gas ducted system than its counterpart, the split system. This is because it is more expensive to buy the units, and you might also have to pay more if you need the zoning or a reverse cycle air conditioner to be added.
Needs extensive installation
When installing a gas ducted heating system, you must consider several aspects, such as your house layout, door, structure, ceiling space, and many more. You also have to install piping into the floors or ceilings, ducts in all rooms, and access to the ceiling area. You must meet all the necessary conditions to install this heating system.
Takes up more space
A gas ducted heater takes up more space because of its large size. Therefore, if you have limited space on your property, you have more suitable options.
Parts Of A Gas Ducted Heating System
A gas ducted system comprises several components that enable it to take in cold air, heat it and redistribute it to various rooms in your house. These components include the following:
- A thermostat to control the temperature
- Vents to bring air into the heater
- Core central heating unit
- Grilles
- Insulated ducts for circulating heated air into the rooms
Note: The system won't function correctly if a single component is missing from your unit.
How Does A Gas Ducted Heating System Work?
Like the central heating system, a ducted system has vital features that work together to make it function properly. The system is powered by liquefied petroleum gas or natural gas. However, liquefied petroleum gas is not commonly used in most properties. Once the system pulls in cold air, it is heated and pushed through the many ducts. The air is then circulated back to the heater through the return air grille to allow the process to be repeated.
Unlike the other systems, a gas ducted system moves the air around your space before returning it to the heater to repeat the process. Therefore, its heating ability is not affected by the weather outside. A gas ducted heating system is more reliable because of its efficient working mechanism. Each component plays a significant role in ensuring that your house is well-heated.
For instance, vents bring air into the heater while the thermostat helps control the temperature. A fan helps draw in air that gets heated in the central heating unit. Once the cold air is heated, the hot air is transferred to rooms in your house through the ducts. The ducts are insulated to minimise heat loss. The zoning feature allows you to select the rooms you would like to heat and the time you need the rooms to be heated.
This ensures that you don't heat unused rooms and waste energy, and it is a smart feature that helps significantly reduce your bills. The system utilises one heating unit to generate warmth in your space. It could either be installed outside your house or on the roof. The installation must be performed professionally to ensure the system is well connected to the various rooms with the ducts. The networks of ducts help in transferring heat into the different rooms. The ducts can be installed on the floors or in the ceilings.
How To Get The Best From Your Gas Ducted Heater
You could use passive building principles to get the best from your ducted gas heating system. For instance, you could insulate your walls, roof, and floor. You could also take the necessary measures to seal out the drafts. This helps reduce your heating needs and improve your comfort.
Another option is to zone your home and only heat the spaces you use. You could also close your doors to prevent heat loss or escaping to the rooms you aren't using.
Choosing The Best Gas Ducted Heating System
There are many ducted gas heating systems in the Australian market. With the many options, making your selection can be challenging. The most important thing is to choose one that suits your home cooling and heating needs. Here are other essential factors for you to consider.
Energy efficiency
One of the most critical considerations is the energy efficiency of various gas ducted systems. Ideally, you want a system that helps you save on your energy costs at home. However, note that buying and installing a gas ducted system is costly.
So, you want a heater that is energy efficient to help you save a lot of money in the long run. Therefore, getting a gas ducted heating system featuring at least 4-star energy ratings or more is advisable.
Consider the size
You should invest in the right-sized system, which should be proportional to your space. It's also good to consider a size that will serve your needs. If you invest in a system that is too big, you spend much more on purchasing and running costs than is necessary.
On the other hand, if you invest in a system that is too small, it won't serve you well during cold weather conditions and won't meet your family's heating needs. If you are still determining the right size for your space, you could seek professional help from a gas fitter.
Hire A Plumber To Install Your Gas Ducted Heating System
A gas ducted heater should be installed professionally for it to work correctly and meet your heating needs. Therefore, you need to contact and work with a reliable plumbing contractor near you for the best results. Professional plumbers have the skills and knowledge required to undertake high-quality installation, making them reliable.
They also invest in the latest tools and use the appropriate techniques to ensure these systems are installed well. Additionally, they offer other ducted gas heating system services such as maintenance, repair, inspection, and replacement.
