headting design

Heating Design
Home Heating
What is the best way to save energy this winter? Programmable thermostats help with energy savings by lowering the temperature while you are working or sleeping. This thermostat lowers the temperature so the furnace does not run all day while you are gone. Savings depend on the temperature set-back, type of furnace or heat pump.
Heating Design
Gravity Furnaces
The furnace in the older house is a still working gravity furnace. Not many moving parts in this old furnace. But unlike modern gas furnaces, these coal furnaces are very inefficient. Asbestos was a common covering for the ductwork. Asbestos removal should be done by a certified removal company. The fibers in asbestos are know carcinogens. So, asbestos exposure is a very serious issue.
Heating Design
Heating Installation
Heating installation is not a do-it-yourself job. I know you want to save money, because the price of heating systems with installation is high. Working with sheet metal requires lots of skill. Making connections to the fuel line and exhaust piping is not for the timid. Invest your time in finding a professional who will do the job correctly.
Heating Design
Pilot Light
A pilot light is an endangered species. Some gas appliances still have them, but more and more electronic ignition is how a furnace, water heater or gas cooktop starts up. Finding a pilot light is easy.
Heating Design
Electronic Programmable Thermostat
Electronic programmable thermostats have a switch setting called auxiliary. This setting switches the heat pump into emergency heat or electric-resistance-coil heating. This is an expensive way to heat your home and should only be done when the heat pump breaks. If this happens, call a service technician.
Heating Design
Electronic Digital Thermostat
Setting the temperature ranges on a programmable thermostat is critical. The lower you set the setback temperature the more money you save. You save lots of money if the length of time is long before the furnace or heat pump starts to raise the temperature.
Heating Design
Heating Consulting
Heating consulting bid estimates generated each day by hundreds of contractors for thousands of homeowners often seem high. But the homeowners often fail to understand all of the hidden costs attached to a job. For example, the contractor has all sorts of fixed expenses that need to be passed on to the customer. All businesses do this or they eventually go out of business.
Heating Design
Water in Heating Ducts
Water in heating ducts is more common than you might imagine. Some houses built on top of concrete slabs have the heating and air conditioning ducts buried in the ground under the concrete. Water can enter these heating ducts when it rains heavily as the water table starts to rise and pushes water up into the soil under the slab and then into the ducts. It is easy to remove the water and to permanently stop the water from entering the ducts. You have to divert the ground water away from the house with a special outdoor trench drain.
Heating Design
Duct Noise
Metal ductwork, plastic piping and any other object that might expand and contract can rub against wood framing. The movement, in almost all cases, creates annoying noises anytime of day or night.
Heating Design
Heating Design
Heating design is very important. If your heating ductwork or forced air system isn't built properly for good air flow, you'll end up with a cold room. Heating systems can sometimes become blocked by debris or a damper control could be blocking the air. Another possibility is a poorly designed duct system.
Heating Design
Wood Pellet Stoves
A wood pellet stove may save energy dollars when heating your home, but do some calculations to see if staying with your natural gas home heating is more cost effective. Pellet stoves do allow for zone heating, but you may be surprised to know that your automated heating system will probably save you more money than the stove.
Heating Design
Programmable Thermostats Save
Old thermostats keep the house at a certain temperature until you moved it. If you forgot to set it back, it would cost you on the energy bill. Modern programmable thermostats do that for you. You set up your programs and the thermostat will adjust the temperature every day for you.
Heating Design
Programmable Thermostat Sources
Nearly thirty different companies manufacture thermostats. That is a lot to wade through and make sense of all the specifications. Here is one that I have personal experience using.