Energy Efficient Furnaces - House Smart Home Improvements

Upgrading your home’s heating, cooling, and ventilation systems to energy-efficient equipment is not something to be taken lightly.

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There is an expense to buying a new furnace, but one that can result not only in reduced operating costs, but also in long term savings. Energy-efficient equipment may even pay for itself in only a few years. In addition to the financial benefits, a new furnace installation can also make your home healthier and more comfortable.

House Smart Home Improvements is experienced in assessing the critical factors involved in upgrading your furnace. Considerations such as overall household performance, lifestyle, number of occupants, their age, the climate and insulation levels of the house, all impact furnace performance.

Why a New Furnace Installation?

All equipment, including furnaces and boilers, has a finite life span, which is often longer than their optimum efficiency. It may need replacing due to normal wear and tear or a lack of regular maintenance. Your equipment may be working, but not working well and costing you more money in the long run!
Sometimes heating requirements change due to using the house differently; a new baby or an older person joining the household can mean different fuel needs.
Older homes can have cold areas due to inefficient heating and mechanical system layout.
Renovation work can mean changes that impact present mechanical systems and along with that, cause inefficiencies. At the time of renovation it would be a good opportunity to upgrade to new, more efficient products, or to install a proper ventilation system where one doesn’t exist.

Making Changes to Home Systems

Mechanical systems changes can cause imbalances between the air pressure inside and outside of the house; which can lead to combustion spillage problems from hot water heaters, fireplaces, and furnaces. A professional such as House Smart Home Improvements can assess whether this is a significant issue before proceeding, and make recommendations that will save you time and money.

Knowing the characteristics of how your heating and ventilation system operates can help you determine which changes to consider. Anticipating problems ahead of time, as well as discussing them with your heating professional, will help you avoid surprises.

Some questions to ask yourself, the options available to you, and the repercussions of not making that choice are outlined below.

Is the Furnace More than 15 Years Old?

Options

Depending on age and condition, replace the furnace. On average a well-maintained boiler will last up to 40 years, and a well-serviced furnace will typically last 15-20 years.
Choose a smaller furnace, replacing an oversized existing one. Gains in efficiency, and reduction in expense, may follow.
Replacing motors and heat exchangers in older furnaces may be a viable short-term solution; however, this is will not be as efficient at extracting heat compared with newer furnaces. In the case of a furnace over 15 years old, most professionals will recommend new, energy-efficient equipment over replacing individual furnace components.
Have the heating system regularly maintained for optimum efficiency. Clean and/or replace filters regularly, and maintain combustion system components according to specified guidelines.
Eliminate existing chimneys and replace with energy-efficient equipment. This is particularly optimal if the chimney is located on an exterior wall or mostly outside, which contributes to combustion gas backdraft.

Considerations

Improperly maintained equipment has a shorter life span, and inefficiencies. This can lead to premature failure, backdraft of combustion gases, incomplete combustion of fuels, fire hazard from clogged filters and flues, and air pollution from cracked heat exchangers.
Installing a new piece of energy-efficient equipment into an existing system may have additional duct, venting, and combustion air-supply needs.
Upgrading a single, significantly more efficient appliance may require venting modifications to the chimney.
The overall household environment may be impacted negatively by wrong choices!

Are the Heating Needs Met in the House? Can the House be kept at an Even Temperature?

Options

Considerations

Are there Areas of the House that are Difficult to Heat?

Options

Considerations

Is Your Furnace Affected by a Planned Renovation?

Options

Considerations

Do You Need an Air Conditioner?

Options

Considerations

Benefits

An energy-efficient mechanical system, well-planned to the needs of your family and house design, will offer superior indoor air quality, effective climate regulation, comfort, and economy.

We Offer Free In-Home Consultations!

House Smart Home Improvements are Experienced Professionals with an A+ Rating with The Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to Replace your Windows, Doors or Furnaces and Heat Pumps, or to Install Insulation, and other Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades, give us a call @ 604-585-2020.

Areas of Service Include:
Vancouver, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, Delta, Richmond, Ladner, Tsawwassen, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, Aldergrove, and more.