Heating Your Home in New Jersey

September 28, 2017

Heating your home is an essential part of living in New Jersey during the fall and winter months. There are many things to understand and factors to consider when deciding what heating solution works best for your specific situation. Choosing between a heat pump, furnace, or boiler is largely dependent on the size of your home, the age of your house, and your budget.

Heat Pump

Despite their name, a heat pump can actually be used to cool as well as heat an internal space. Generally, the term heat pump refers to a vapor-compression refrigeration device that is optimized for efficiency in both directions of thermal energy transfer. To heat a space the heat pump will absorb the hot air from the outside and release it to a warmer space.  Believe it or not, there is warm outside air even on the coldest New Jersey days.

Heat pumps are durable, generally have a longer lifespan, and are available at a lower price point than other heating options. Although heat pumps run on electricity which could lead to a higher electricity bill, they are a very energy-efficient option to heat your home.

A.J. Perri proudly offers Carrier heat pump systems that can both heat and cool your home.

Furnace

A furnace uses natural gas to heat air that passes through it. The heated air is dispersed throughout the house using ductwork. A furnace will keep your home warm and toasty regardless of outside temperatures because it is heating the air itself.

The cost of a furnace is higher than that of a heat pump. Since a furnace uses natural gas your monthly electricity bill should be lower when compared to a heat pump. A furnace also creates warmer air faster than a heat pump and does not require a backup heat source when temperatures drop at night. Furnaces do require more maintenance than other types of heating because it is connected directly to your gas line.

Check out these state-of-the-art furnaces offered by A.J. Perri.

Boiler

Boilers create hot water or steam that it sends through a series of pipes in a home. The hot water can be distributed through baseboard radiators, in-floor heating, and even use a coil to heat the air. Steam generated by a boiler is sent through pipes into radiators. Boilers are either oil or gas-fired.

A boiler is considered a clean form of heating since no new air or particles are circulating the space being heated. For this reason, boilers are a great option for those living with allergies. Boilers infuse air instead of forcing air into the room. As a result, the warmer air is generally closest to the radiator. To combat this issue in-floor radiant heating has become popular in recent years.

Boilers from A.J. Perri offer a quiet, consistent, source of heat that is easy to maintain.

Heating and Energy Consumption in NJ Households

According to the Energy Information Administration, the average New Jersey home will spend a little over $3,000 per year on electricity. While the state has the 10th highest electricity rates in the country, New Jersey households use less electricity on average than the rest of the country. Half of the energy used by New Jersey homes is related to space heating. Conversely, air conditioning accounts for about 3% of energy use. More than 80% of homes in the Garden State are heated with natural gas and over 20% of homes were built before 1950. The age of the home is particularly relevant because older homes are more difficult to heat and cool.

Whatever the age or size of your home the experts at A.J. Perri are happy to discuss your needs and the different options that will work for your home. At A.J. Perri we install high quality and highly efficient Carrier heating systems that are designed to keep your home warm for years to come. Contact us today to learn more about system pricing and installation.