Home development requires the owner to make many decisions. Decisions regarding the house’s location, the total floors constructed and the technology incorporated, etc. can clog the owners’ thoughts. A similar decision can be regarding the heating system inside the house. Currently, multiple heating systems are available in the market with different features and specifications. The owner may choose any heating system they see fit for their home. However, most homeowners need advice on the best system that can reduce their home development costs. Here, we will consider the five cheapest heating systems in this order:
- Geothermal Heat Pumps
- Heating Oil
- Pellet Stoves
- Solar Heating Systems
- Under-floor Heating

Geothermal Heating Pumps
This option may only be suitable in certain areas that match the geological requirements for them to work. However, they are extremely cost-effective. Geothermal heat pumps rely on the heat from the earth’s core. Yes! They depend on the most consistent source of heat on our planet. The geothermal heat levels remain warm even during extreme surface winters. As a result, the heating sources are the best option for year-round heating.
The system has a high upfront cost. However, that is something common to most renewable energy sources. The system requires complete drilling into the earth’s surface. However, once installed, the heating system has a useful life of more than ten years. In certain cases, the equipment can last up to 25 years.
Heating Oil
Heating oil is usually more accessible in rural areas than natural gas. Thus, a heating system installed in these areas may incur lower costs if it relies on heating oil. It cannot be denied that oil-based models have slightly lower efficiency than natural gas systems. However, their prices are considerably lower. Some people avoid heating oil because they require an onsite storage tank that can be dangerous.
However, the cheap system has many advantages. The oils made from biofuels make a lower contribution to pollution when burning. Similarly, the oil provides ore heat than most other energy sources.
Pellet Stoves
Pellet stoves are cleaner, cheaper, and more efficient than many home heating solutions. The entire home can be heated properly using high power pellet stoves. Usually, the pellets are made from wood compounds that are mixed with other organic substances. Additionally, nutshells and corn husk powered pellet stoves are also available. The installation of these stoves is easy and requires lesser time compared to many other heating systems. The only major consideration is the correct size of the stove, given your house’s requirements.
Additionally, the stoves come in different efficiency values ranging from 8,000 BTU per hour to 90,000 BTU per hour. However, these stoves have high maintenance requirements. Also, they need professional annual cleaning that can increase their running costs.
Solar Heating
Solar heating is a rising trend amongst homeowners. It offers both active and passive heating systems. Active heating is extremely cheap as it relies on the direct heat of the sun. Usually, this heat is directly transferred to the home. Generally, it may be used to keep home temperatures optimum or heat the water. However, contractors usually use passive heating as a supporting system for other methods. Passive solar heating relies on collecting the solar heat in masses stored near the roof of the house. The heat is then transferred to the home. Thus, heat loss is prevented when the sunlight is not available.
Under-floor heating
Under-floor heating is an intelligent approach to keep your home warm. In this heating, the electric boiler or solar heat is used to save heat loss’s energy costs. The air gets warm as it passes the ductwork. In this case, the system’s efficiency rises by more than 15 percent compared to general heating systems. Additionally, it does not require a force air blow. Thus, the use of mechanical components reduces. However, this system is only applicable if the home is undergoing major remodeling or reconstruction.
Compare and Contrast
Geothermal Heating | Heating Oil | Pellet Stoves | Solar Heating | Under-floor heating | |
Upfront Costs | Heavy upfront costs | Average upfront costs | Average upfront costs | High upfront costs depending on the type of system | Heavy upfront costs |
When can it be installed? | Anytime | Anytime | Anytime | Anytime | During new construction or major remodeling |
Running Costs | Low | High | High | Low | Low |
Does the system require regular manual inputs | No | Yes – Oil | Yes – Pellets | No | No |
Average Life of Equipment | Over 25 years | Depends on input | Depends on input | 5-15 years depending on quality | Practically depends on input only. |