Finding the right emergency heating equipment in San Francisco for your needs requires an understanding of technical terms and, in many cases, a consultation with a professional technician. In this blog, we’ll help you determine whether an indirect fired or direct fired heater is ideal for your home or office.
Having a heated home is essential in San Francisco, where humidity levels hover around 80%. That amount of H2O in the atmosphere could lead to moisture damage or a mold outbreak, warns eHow.com.
To help you avoid these issues and find the right heating equipment for your needs, let’s examine the differences between indirect and direct fired heaters:
Direct Fired
As the name implies, a direct fired heater forces the air directly through the flame to heat your space.
The Pros
- It’s the king of efficiency, with almost all the fuel being used to heat the air. The result: there’s very little wastage, which keeps consumption down and lowers your operating costs. Ka-Ching!
- Cutting out the middleman between the heat source and the cold air makes this a powerful option, capable of quickly upping the temps even when your space has turned into a frozen tundra.
- Typically made up of simple components, direct fired heaters are extremely portable, allowing you to move them from room to room with ease.
- Many units don’t require electricity. That means no cables or worrying about staying warm if a storm, flood, or electrical fault takes out the power.
The Cons
- Can only be used in ventilated spaces as the heat source requires a steady supply of oxygen.
- Instead of drying out the air and staving off mold and moisture, many direct fired heaters can create extra moisture.
Indirect Fired
In this system, the flame is contained safely in what is known as the burn chamber. This heats a separate component, the heat exchanger, which warms the air that is being forced through the system.
The Pros
- Don’t worry about ventilation; this heater reigns supreme in even the tightest spaces.
- It keeps the air clean and dry, staving off damp damage and mold growth.
- It’s typically fixed with a thermostat to regulate the temperature in your home or office.
The Cons
- It’s much less efficient than a direct heater, in some cases consuming 80% more fuel to provide the same level of heating.
- Requires installation.
- An indirect fired heater cannot operate without electricity.
Get a Professional’s Opinion
If you’re still struggling to pick the right heater for your space, Allied Rental Company’s technicians have the experience and training to help you find the best system for your needs. Click here to compare temporary heating equipment in San Francisco, or call us at 415-644-5792