Toronto’s a beautiful city with beautiful winters. That being said, it gets cold in these parts. As such, it’s necessary for Toronto residents and business owners to make use of heating systems.
Are you on the search for a heating system? Wondering how to find the best heating system in the greater Toronto area? Read on to find out!
Find the Right HVAC Company
In order to find the perfect heating system, you have to find the right HVAC company. The quality of the HVAC company you hire will have a large effect on the quality of the heating system you receive. When searching for the appropriate HVAC company, look for these characteristics.
Find a Company With Ample Experience
First and foremost, your HVAC company needs to have some experience under its belt. Companies with experience understand the heating system installation process and will be able to carry out a proper installation.
At a minimum, your selected HVAC company should have 5 years of experience. After all, if a company has lasted for 5 years, it likely has the ability to get the job done.
Find a Company With Reputable Suppliers
Most HVAC companies work with designated suppliers, utilizing those suppliers’ products when carrying out installations in homes and commercial properties. Your goal is to find an HVAC company whose suppliers are reputable.
When it comes to heating, there are a few suppliers you should look out for. On the furnace front, these suppliers include Trane, and Amana; On the boiler front, these suppliers include NTI, and Viessman; If you’re looking for ductless heating, you should keep an eye out for Trane, and Mitsubishi.
Find a Company That Offers Warranties
Though heating systems are designed to thrive through years and years of use, they can incur unforeseen problems. To counteract such problems, you want to be sure that they’re covered under warranty.
There are two types of warranties you need to be cognizant of. One is the manufacturer’s warranty. It comes with the purchase of the furnace or boiler itself and covers any manufacturing flaws that may arise within the first few years of the system’s use.
The other warranty is the labor warranty. Labor warranties are provided by HVAC companies, and they cover most of the labor-related costs that arise after the installation of the system.
When searching for an HVAC company, you want to be sure that it provides a labor warranty. While most HVAC companies do, there are some that don’t.
Compare Your Heating Options
There are a few different types of heating that you can utilize, each of which offers its own pros and cons. Below, we’re going to get into the specifics of each.
Furnace
One of the most popular heating systems is the furnace. Furnaces can be powered either by gas or by electricity. Regardless of what they’re powered by, they work in tandem with a duct system in order to force heated air into different rooms throughout a house.
The gas furnace is the cheaper of the two options, not only in terms of the purchase price but in terms of operation as well. That said, electric furnaces are quite affordable as well.
The downside to furnaces? They require the installation of duct systems. And unfortunately, the installation of such a system could set you back thousands of dollars.
Boiler
The 2nd most popular heating system is the boiler system. Boiler systems heat homes by heating water and transferring it through wall-mounted pipes. More efficient than furnace systems, they are often cheaper to operate.
Like furnaces, boilers can be powered by either gas or electricity. Again, the gas models are generally cheaper to operate.
The downside to boiler systems? They’re relatively expensive, costing more than furnaces when it comes to the purchase price.
Ductless Mini-Split System
Another option for you to consider is the ductless mini-split system. These systems are designed to accommodate just one room and are mounted on the interior walls of the rooms that they serve.
What’s unique about ductless mini-split systems is that they can deliver both heat and cold. As such, they can be used to heat your home in the winter and cool your home in the summer.
Mini-splits run on electricity. Because of this, they’re fairly expensive to operate. However, if you’re only using a single unit, it will ultimately cost less to run than a full furnace or boiler system.
The big problem with ductless mini-split systems is that, if you’re going to use them as a whole-home heating solution, you will need to buy several units. Unfortunately, buying several units will end up costing you much more than if you had just installed a furnace or a boiler.
All of that said, if you’re only trying to heat a single room, a ductless mini-split system would be the ideal option. Furthermore, ductless systems are not designed to heat in extremely cold weather, so they may not be sufficient during a real cold-snap when temperatures in Southern Ontario dip below -15 degrees Celsius. While this is relatively rare in Toronto compared to some other parts of Canada, it does happen.
Wood Stove
Looking to go traditional with it? If so, you could consider buying a wood stove. Wood stoves operate by burning wood logs or pellets and radiating heat throughout their respective homes.
In truth, wood stoves are actually very cheap to operate. After all, wood is cheaper than gas and electricity.
The problem with wood stoves, however, is that they’re exceedingly inconvenient to use. Not only do they require you to start a new fire every day, but they also require you to maintain a batch of wood. For many, this extra work isn’t worth the cost savings.
This is not a great solution for central Toronto, and is more common in the countryside and more rural areas outside Toronto.
Looking for the Best Heating System in the Greater Toronto Area?
If you are, indeed, looking for the best heating system in the greater Toronto area, you needn’t look any further. City Home Comfort has you covered.
Toronto’s leading heating and cooling company, we’ve been supplying top-notch heating systems to Toronto area residents since 1981. Whether you’re looking for a boiler or a furnace, our team can accommodate you.
Contact us today to schedule a free no obligation in home consultation.