Archive for the ‘Oil Heaters’ Category

New Years Resolution:
Combat High Energy Bills and Lower Your Carbon Footprint

Here are some expert penny-pinching solutions to combat high energy bills as well as reduce your carbon footprint:

What can I do now to prepare for the expected increases in my utility bills this year?

Utility companies can calculate a budget plan for the upcoming year, based on your previous heating bills.  Regardless of how much energy you use per month, a fixed rate would be applied monthly, and the difference would be applied to your bill at the end of the year. Budgeting can help you avoid an unexpectedly costly heating bill, and will give you time to save money.  Contact your utility company now to discuss a budget plan.

What are some “no-cost” investments that can save me money during the heating season and reduce my carbon footprint?  

• Replace or clean your furnace’s filter approximately every 30 days. Dirty filters restrict airflow, forcing the system to be less efficient and have to work even harder.
• Remove objects from in front of your heat vents in each room to help make your system more efficient and prevent heat from becoming trapped.
• Make sure areas with windows and doors they are completely sealed at all times.  Although they are closed, windows and doors tend to lose heat.  Caulk windows to seal air in preventing heat loss, and resulting in huge money savings.

When do I need to think about replacing my heating systems?

Heating systems that are over 20 years old are less efficient than today’s models and should be replaced. Furnaces now have efficiency ratings up to 96.6% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) and boilers from 95% AFUE (some up to 98%). Call us today to have your system checked annually to ensure it is running efficiently and safely or to discuss replacement options.

I’m ready to buy a new system. What is the most efficient system available?

• Carrier’s Infinity™ System is the most energy efficient forced-hot-air system you can buy. A complete Infinity System comprises Carrier’s top-of-the-line Infinity variable-speed furnace, the Infinity Control, and an Infinity heat pump or an Infinity air conditioner. This system allows you to vary settings in up to eight zones throughout your home, thus saving energy.
• A condensing boiler is the most energy efficient gas-fired, hot-water system you can buy. We recommend Triangle Tube’s Prestige Series, Burnham’s Alpine or Freedom models, and Buderus models. On a standard boiler heat is lost through a flue, on condensing boilers a second or larger heat exchanger is used to trap heat, which is normally lost and turns it back into a liquid water or condensate. Condensing boilers also has a gas valve, which can regulate the temperature, this means that if the house is up to the temperature required rather than turning on and off like a standard boiler it will turn the gas down and therefore reduces the temperature and saves money.  One thing to consider with your heating system is the type of heat emitters you have. A high efficiency condensing boiler retrofitted to a baseboard system may be able to only achieve an operating efficiency of between 87% to 89% during the height of the heating season (not the manufactures published efficiency of 95%). In some cases it may be more cost effective to install a cast iron mid-efficiency boiler (84% to 86% AFUE) along with a gas heat manager (10-20% reduction in heating fuel usage) – PurePro Gas Heat Manager or Beckett Heat Manager – which would allow you to optimize the efficiency of your existing distribution system and not break the bank for a boiler that can not deliver what is published.

What advantage does a programmable thermostat offer?        

As opposed to a “Click Thermostat”, a programmable thermostat can automatically adjust the temperature at various times of the day, to certify maximum comfort levels while at home and reduce energy consumption while away from the home. Watch this video on the benefits of programmable thermostats.

Carrier’s latest innovation, the Infinity™ System Remote Access Kit, allows you to change your comfort settings while you are away from your home, via the Internet or telephone. This results in up to a 25% savings on your energy bills. 

Click here to read more about programmable thermostats and how to set it and save.

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