Fall is ending and winter is approaching. How do most people go about buying a furnace? First, they call contractors such as aplusair.ca Heating, Air conditioning & Ventilation and ask for estimates. Traditionally furnaces in most homes are larger than necessary. Remember that a furnace that's too large will cycle on and off more frequently. That puts more wear on its components, wastes energy and might cause the temperature to vary … [Read more...]
Although the number of homes heated by clean, renewable solar energy is growing, the majority still rely on fossil fuels (natural gas and fuel oil) or even electricity generated by nuclear and coal-fired power plants. While the long term costs of any of these fuels continues to rise, it’s becoming increasingly expensive to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer months. Fossil fuel combustion also contributes to climate change, as … [Read more...]
Want a more efficient home vis-à-vis heating and cooling? A natural assumption would be to make the house airtight. Not so. A furnace or boiler burns fuel in order to heat a house. The fuel requires mixing with air in order to combust properly. When the burner on a conventional furnace or boiler fires up, it draws air into a combustion chamber and the exhaust gases are vented outside. Air rushing into the combustion chamber and then up the … [Read more...]
There are many people that subscribe to the theory that making a house airtight is a bad thing. Well, yes and no. If a home was built to modern environmental standards, the answer would be no, not necessarily – mainly because it is likely that an air exchanger would be a significant addition working in tandem with a home’s heating and cooling systems, efficiently and effectively. The so-called ‘too tight’ theory holds that houses … [Read more...]
By now we are sure that you are all aware that there are two significant actions that can help reduce your home heating and cooling bills – regular scheduled maintenance and a programmable thermostat. But, you might ask yourself, am I leaving any cash on the table if I stop here? Simply, yes! A professional organization such as aplusair.ca Heating, Air conditioning & Ventilation is a terrific resource of simple, easy to initiate … [Read more...]
Last time we spoke about the heart – and brain of your home’s heating and cooling system – the thermostat. Now that has been dealt with, let’s take a metaphorical walk around your home and examine other areas where some simple adjustments can end up reducing the cost of your home’s utilities. A professional organization such as aplusair.ca Heating, Air conditioning & Ventilation is a terrific resource of simple, easy to … [Read more...]
As energy prices rise, most homeowners are concerned about keeping heating and cooling costs down. Let’s start based on certain assumptions from earlier postings; your furnace and central air conditioning system has been regularly maintained and cleaned. Now let’s look at the visible device that controls the heart and soul of your home’s heating and cooling requirements – the thermostat. First, protect the thermostat from … [Read more...]
While energy costs, especially those associated with home heating and cooling continue to rise, there is one inexpensive way all homeowners can fight back – and that’s by going to the local hardware or big box store and buying a relatively inexpensive programmable thermostat. This type of thermostat saves energy and money on utility bills by allowing residents to set home temperatures according to various personal factors. These … [Read more...]
There are only a few general types of furnace-mounted, whole-house humidifiers on the market. The most common are traditional drum and sponge units and flow-through. In the 90s, a new drum-style humidifier with a unique rotary disc evaporative surface emerged on the market. Most homeowners are familiar with the once standard drum humidifier with a foam or sponge pad. A cylindrical-shaped sponge is attached to a rotating wheel that in turn dips … [Read more...]
While you may not be ready for a replacement humidifier or even a brand new one today, here is a ‘taste’ of what you might expect. There are many brands out there; consider one that is physically attached to your furnace and offers you flowing, warm moist air to help maintain hardwood flooring, furniture and cabinetry, your families’ skin – and general peace of mind. Perhaps considered the Cadillac of humidifiers, steam humidifiers … [Read more...]