When building a house, heating decisions are best made at the planning stage rather than later when more constraints exist.
Consideration should be given to the following:
- The position of the house on the block
- The direction the house faces
- The building materials used
- The insulation proposed
- The type of floor coverings
- Other items which may affect the thermal properties of the home
According to DEVI Heating Systems , when designing a good heating system, it is important to determine the correct heat load to minimise installation and running costs. The heating load is defined as the amount of energy required to offset the heat losses of the room or building and therefore maintain the desired temperature in the room.
Oversizing or undersizing the heating load can lead to inefficient operation. Oversized equipment results in wasted capital costs. Undersized equipment means the system runs continuously at maximum output without achieving the desired comfort level.
Sizing of heating systems depends on the following factors:
- Desired inside temperature
- Average outside temperature during winter for the location of the building
- Heat losses of walls, ceiling, windows and floor of the building