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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-02-25, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987. PAGE 23. Repair or replace heating systems for efficiency After airtightening and insula­ tion improvements have been made to your home and other conservation measures adopted, your attention should turn to your heating system. A heating system works most efficiently when it is adequately sized for the job and is properly maintained. After you have airtightened and insulated or added an auxiliary source of heat, it may be that your heating system is more powerful than necessary. An opportunity may exist to reduce or downsize the capacity of your system. Downsizing can be accomplished in two ways: either you can modify your present system or, when you buy a new heating system, a smaller one may satisfy your reduced heating re­ quirement. Determining the size and capa­ city of a heating system requires expert consultation. Factors such as the house design, insulation levels, airtightness and local weather conditions must be con­ sidered. Tuning or maintaining a heating system also requires a knowledge­ able professional. However, some routine maintenance can be-carri- ed out by many householders. For example, changing the air filter on a forced-air system and cleaning dustfromthecoils of an electric baseboard or wall insert unit are two chores that do not require a professional. Furnace efficiency A furnace efficiency test conduc­ ted by a professional can help you determine what improvements should be made to increase your heating system’s efficiency. Before you convert or modify Before you convert or modify your heating system consider: •the efficiency of your present system •its life expectancy •the efficiency of the new system •the installed costs of a new system •the cost to remove the old system •the availability (now and in the near future) of the fuel you select •the cost of the fuel you select. Improving your oil furnace Where converting from oil is impractical and tuning fails to provide adequate efficiency, modi­ fications to the heating system can improve its performance. To increase your oil furnace’s efficiency consider: a retention headkitor a new retention head burner, a delayed action solenoid valve, and an automatic vent damper. Purchasing a new heating system When the time comes to pur­ chase a new heating system, Canadians have a wide range of choices, not only of energy sources but of the types of equipment Easy energy information Further information on energy conservation is available from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Booklets First, Seal Your House; Conserve Energy When you Renovate; Make the Most of Your Heating System; A Window Review. Factsheets Air-Vapour Barriers; Insulating Basements; Exterior Insulation; Improving Fireplace Efficiency; Caulking and Weatherstripping; Flat Roofs and Cathedral Ceilings. Write to: Housing Renovation and Energy Conservation Unit Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing Queen’s Park, Toronto M7A 1N3 available. When comparing heating costs, it is important to consider the heat content of the fuel, the efficiency of the appliance and the cost of the fuel. Electricity Electricity is a popular fuel option. Its cost varies. For an all-electric heating system your home’s electric service may re­ quire upgrading. If upgrading is necessary, this cost should be included when comparing alterna­ tives. Many householders can take advantage of the flexibility that electricity offers by combining it with other fuels. It is possible to combine an oil heating system with an electric system such as a plenum heater or heat pump to eliminate the use of oil in all but the coldest CASHWAY 4’x8’ PANELLING - THE QUALITY, THE VALUE, THE SELECTION! Attractive new walls from old...walls with warmth and eye-appeal instead of dingy, grey basement walls. That’s the magic of panelling and the beautiful choices you’ll find at Cashway. Here’s a range of sale prices, each representing a selection of 4’x8’ panels. All are prefinished and ready to apply right to your framing...and even to existing finished wall areas. YOU CAN DEPEND ON US!™ CASHWAY BUILDING CENTRES Main Street on Highway 23 Atwood 356-2214 weather. Natural gas Natural gas is a plentiful Cana­ dian fuel which makes this energy source an attractive alternative to oil. Advanced technology has produced many improved and high-efficiency gas heating appli­ ances. Heating systems incorporating this new tehcnology are more costly to purchase but over their lifespan may cost less to run. If you choose to heat with natural gas, consider a high-efficiency, continuous condensing furnace. If you select a conventional gas furnace make certain that it has a factory installed electric ignition and automatic vent damper for greater efficiency. OU In recent years there has been a consumer trend away from oil brought about by uncertain sup­ plies and high prices. In some regions, alternatives to oil as a heating fuel are limited. If you decide to purchase a new heating system and there is no satisfactory alternative to oil, consider a high-efficiency oil­ burning system. Recent develop­ ments in oil-burning furnace tech­ nology have greatly improved the efficiency of oil for home heating. Propane When already in use on the farm or in the home, or when the cost of converting to other alternatives is high, propane can be an appropri­ ate choice. In areas scheduled for future natural gas service (call your local gas utility), propane heating equipment can replace your cur­ rent system now, and may be adapted to natural gas when it becomes available. Wood Especially for rural household­ ers, wood may be a good choice to supplement or replace current fuel. Satisfy yourself that now and in the future you can obtain wood at reasonable prices and that you are prepared to devote the additional time and effort wood burning systems require to operate and maintain. Combination heating systems If a combination system is carefullychosenandused, both fuel components can be very efficient and less costly to operate. Two-fuel, hybrid or combination heating systems such as oil/elec- tric, wood/electric, gas/wood, and oil/wood are available.