What are warm-air furnaces typically referred to as in residential settings?

Warm-air furnaces are commonly referred to as central heating systems in residential settings. This designation arises from their ability to heat the entire home by delivering warm air through a network of ducts that distribute heated air into various rooms. Central heating systems effectively elevate the indoor temperature and maintain comfort levels across the living space.

While there are other types of heating systems, such as radiant heating systems, which rely on surfaces to radiate heat into a room, warm-air furnaces specifically use air as the medium for heat transfer. Space heaters typically refer to portable units that can heat individual rooms rather than an entire home and lack the centralized ductwork characteristic of warm-air furnaces. Although warm-air furnaces can also be referred to as forced air systems, the term "central heating systems" encompasses a broader range of configurations and is more commonly used in residential contexts to describe their function and system design.