Is your furnace getting old, if so maybe time to think about replacing it.
Here is a presentation we recently did about this, enjoy.
Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!
Furnace facts,
Did you know that most times a new high efficiency furnace can pay for its self in three to five years in gas savings over the old equipment.
Here is a presentation we recently did about this, enjoy.
Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!
Cosy fire.
Turn the thermostat down!
It’s that time of year again when nothing beats watching TV with the fire on and a big mug of hot chocolate. It’s all about staying warm and cosy, but energy costs can sneak up on you and you would be amazed at the savings that can be made by simply putting on a sweater (or cuddling up to your special someone under a blanket) and turning the heating down just a few degrees. Cool at night is naturally better for the human body. We sleep better when the room is cooler….your sleep will be deeper and the kids will get up less.
The best way to do all of this is a programmable thermostat, which will automatically warm your house just before you wake, and then turn the temperature down when everyone is out during the day. It can then be programmed to ensure you always come home to a warm house, and cool again for sleep time! Programmable thermostats are reasonably inexpensive and will pay for themselves very quickly in the middle of winter.
Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!
Heating tips
With the colder weather now upon us, we thought we would do some quick heating tips to get you through the chill. This is a presentation we recently shared, we hope you enjoy it.
http://youtu.be/j4qBXqcVLiw
Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!
furnace
Quick heating tips
Some of the most popular questions at this time of year is ‘how long should my furnace last?’ and ‘when should I change it?’
First off – if your heat exchanger is cracked it’s usually cheaper and better just to replace the furnace. If your HVAC provider tells you it’s cracked (get them to show you if you have doubt in your mind), it’s time to start shopping for a new one.
A furnace should last you 15 to 20 years, at that point start budgeting for a new unit. Any furnace over 30 years old is on borrowed time! Although in the past they WERE made to last longer, it’s because the heat exchangers are thicker, making them very inefficient (costing more in fuel bills). The biggest worry with a very old furnace is that some insurance companies will not cover you if you still have equipment of this age. Can you afford NOT to change your furnace?
Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!
High efficiency furnaces
You’ve probably heard this phrase banded about – but do you know what it means? Well, ‘high’ efficiency basically means that it is over 90% efficient (to compare; a ‘mid’ efficiency runs at under 80%). To achieve this the equipment must take more heat out of the gas, which is done by adding a heat exchanger designed to pull the very last bit of heat, before it is exhausted out of the building. In doing this, the gas is cooled so much that some of the water in the gas is condensed, which is why newer heating systems need to have a drainage system. The cooler temperatures in the gas also mean that venting can be plastic PVC and, instead of needing a chimney, can now be expelled out the side of the building.
Due to the water that’s produced by these systems special care needs to be taken during installation (for example, all vent piping must be sloped back to the furnace so the water can drain away). As you can see from the attached video (taken on a cold day) the exhaust from a high efficiency furnace is very similar to a dryer vent.
Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!
Still 10% off furnaces – offer ends soon. Read October and September for details.
Thinking of a new furnace? Here’s what you need to know before buying.
With new furnaces there are three main variables to the cost:
• the efficiency percentage
Old furnaces are 60% to 80% efficient. The high efficiency furnaces are 95%+ efficient because they take more of the heat out of the gas. This cools the gas so much it can be vented with plastic (PVC) pipes out the side of your house.
• the choice of gas valve
With the old, mid efficiency furnace, the gas valve opened 100% until it got warm, and then the blower motor came on. Unfortunately, during this time, all the heat goes up the chimney! Newer furnaces will fire on a low/high or on a modulating gas valve (at 25%), which will save a lot of gas, and therefore money during the heating cycle.
• the type of blower motor.
The new blower motors, which move air around your house, are now variable speed ECM motors. This means they will ramp up and down slowly, providing quiet and efficient air distribution whilst reducing overall utility consumption.
Are you ready?
With cold weather just around the corner we are offering a warming 10% discount on all furnace work, until the end of November (St Andrew’s Day!). As our usual rates are very competitive, this is a deal you can’t afford to miss.
Do know about the mid efficiency furnace ban 1st January 2010? Contact us now (residential and commercial) for quotes, with questions, or just if you need some friendly, reliable help. Call (604) 262-5844 or email [email protected].
