Category: Heating

Tankless water heaters are quickly becoming popular for modern homes, and for good reason. Unlike traditional water heaters, tankless models do not store hot water in a tank. Instead, they heat water on demand, providing a continuous hot water supply whenever you need it. 

In this article, we will discuss seven benefits of tankless water heaters and why they are a smart investment for homeowners.

Energy Efficiency

One of the most significant benefits of tankless water heaters is their energy efficiency. Traditional water heaters must keep a large water tank heated 24/7, even when you’re not using it. This constant energy use can quickly add up and result in high energy bills. Tankless water heaters, on the other hand, only heat water as you need it, resulting in significant energy savings.

Longevity

Tankless water heaters also have a longer lifespan than traditional models. While traditional water heaters typically last around 10 to 15 years, tankless models can last up to 20 years or more with proper maintenance. This extended lifespan means that you’ll save money in the long run by not having to replace your water heater as frequently.

Space-Saving Design

Traditional water heaters are often large and bulky, taking up valuable space in your home. Tankless models, however, have a compact and space-saving design. They can be installed on a wall, freeing up floor space and making them an excellent option for smaller homes or tight spaces.

Endless Hot Water Supply

With a tankless water heater, you’ll never run out of hot water. Unlike traditional models, which can run out of hot water if the tank is emptied, tankless models heat water on demand. This means that you can take a long shower or run the dishwasher without worrying about running out of hot water.

Improved Water Quality

Traditional water heaters can accumulate sediment and rust over time, affecting water quality. Tankless water heaters, however, do not store water in a tank, reducing the risk of sediment buildup. This means that the water coming out of your taps will be cleaner and fresher.

Lower Risk of Water Damage

Traditional water heaters can be prone to leaks and water damage, especially as they age. Tankless models, however, have a lower risk of leaks and water damage, as they do not store water in a tank. This reduced risk can save you money on costly repairs and prevent water damage in your home.

Better for the Environment

As tankless water heaters are more energy-efficient than traditional models, they are also better for the environment. By using less energy, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Conclusion

Tankless water heaters are a smart investment for homeowners. The initial cost of installation may be higher than that of a conventional tank water heater, but the long-term savings in energy and water costs will quickly offset this cost. Tankless water heaters are more efficient than tank water heaters, as they only heat water as needed.

This means that they use less energy overall than a traditional tank water heater, resulting in lower energy bills. Additionally, tankless water heaters have a longer lifespan than traditional tank water heaters, so they are a great investment for homeowners looking for a reliable and cost-effective water heating system.

Furnace King Home Services specializes in providing heating and cooling services to its customers. With years of experience and expertise, we will assess your needs and suggest a system that meets your needs and budget. If you need furnace maintenance in Brampton, contact us to request a quote.

As the temperatures drop, ensuring that your furnace is functioning at its best becomes increasingly important. An inefficient furnace fails to heat your home adequately and can lead to increased energy bills, reduced indoor air quality, and even safety hazards. By following the tips outlined in this article, you can improve your furnace’s efficiency and enjoy a warm, comfortable home without breaking the bank.

Regular Maintenance

One of the most important things you can do to ensure your furnace’s efficiency is to schedule regular maintenance. This includes annual inspections by a professional HVAC technician and regular filter changes. A dirty filter can restrict airflow and cause your furnace to work harder than necessary, leading to increased energy consumption and wear and tear on the system. Changing your filter every one to three months can reduce strain on your furnace and improve its efficiency.

Proper Ventilation

Another key factor in furnace efficiency is proper ventilation. Your furnace must be able to draw in air and expel exhaust gases to function properly. If your ventilation system is obstructed or damaged, your furnace may not be able to operate efficiently. Ensure your vents are unobstructed and your exhaust pipes are free of debris or damage. Additionally, consider investing in a carbon monoxide detector to ensure your furnace does not emit dangerous gases into your home.

Smart Thermostat Use

A smart thermostat can be a valuable tool for optimizing your furnace’s performance. You can avoid wasting energy on heating an empty home by programming your thermostat to adjust the temperature based on your schedule and occupancy patterns. Additionally, many smart thermostats offer features such as remote control and energy usage tracking, which can help you identify ways to improve your furnace’s efficiency further.

Sealing Leaks

If your home has air leaks around windows, doors, or other openings, your furnace will have to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. By sealing these leaks with weatherstripping or caulking, you can reduce the heat that escapes your home and improve your furnace’s efficiency. Additionally, consider adding insulation to your home’s attic or walls to reduce heat loss further.

Upgrade to a High-Efficiency Furnace

If your furnace is more than 10-15 years old, consider upgrading to a high-efficiency model. Newer furnaces are designed to operate more efficiently, using less energy to achieve the same level of heating as older models. This can lead to significant savings on your energy bills over time and improved indoor air quality and safety. Be sure to consult with a professional HVAC technician to determine the best type of furnace for your home’s needs.

The Bottom Line

Maintaining a comfortable and efficient home during winter requires attention to detail and regular maintenance. Following the tips outlined in this article can improve your furnace’s efficiency and reduce your energy bills. Remember to schedule regular maintenance, ensure proper ventilation, use a smart thermostat, seal air leaks, and consider upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace. By taking these steps, you can enjoy a warm, comfortable home all winter long.

Furnace King Home Services specializes in providing heating and cooling services to its customers. With years of experience and expertise, we will assess your needs and suggest a system that meets your needs and budget. If you need furnace maintenance in Brampton, contact us to request a quote.

Investing in a high-efficiency furnace is a smart energy choice for homeowners. Not only can these furnaces provide superior indoor air quality and significant savings on your energy bill, but these energy efficient systems also avoid unnecessary damage to the environment.

Today’s high-efficiency furnaces have a AFUE rating between 90-97 per cent compared to an AFUE of 60 or lower for many older furnaces. While the efficiency of oil furnaces have improved, gas furnaces are considered the smarter choice. For example, 95% of the energy produced by a new gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 95 is converted into heating your home and only 5% becomes exhaust.

These units operate more quietly than standard furnaces to keep your home at a consistent temperature and help to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. By some estimates, high-efficiency furnaces can cut your average heating bills by about 35 percent. The latest smart heating systems also include programmable thermostats which allow you automatically control the temperature so you can conserve energy and reduce costs while you sleep or when you’re not at home.

Converting your electric or oil furnace to gas is another option to improve the efficiency of your home heating system and save on heating costs. You may even be eligible for a government rebate when you switch from your existing furnace to a high-efficiency model. Look for friendly service from our & air conditioning Mississauga company that deals in EnergyStar qualified products and can help you with the rebate process.

Besides the prestige of having a tankless water heater (which let’s face it are the coolest on the market) there are a number of eco-friendly pros of going tankless. As HVAC specialists in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville we have personally seen the eco-friendly, earth-helping (and wallet-helping) differences that tankless water heaters make. This includes elements like saving water and saving on your electricity bills.

1. Energy Savings

The biggest eco-friendly pro of having a tankless water heater comes in the form of energy savings—something that is as good for the environment as it is for your wallet. We’re talking about a significant impact in energy savings given that hot-water tanks account for 20-30% of residential energy use.

The energy savings are significant with tankless as a standard water heater holds between 150 to 300 litres of water at any given time, which is heated to 50 degrees or more—24 hours a day. The water is heated so hot that cold water must be added to it, so you are heating water rather uselessly. On top of all this, about a quarter of the water in the tank isn’t usable hot water as it is lost as cold water is added to the tank. On top of even that heated water tanks, even insulated ones, radiate heat—which loses even more energy.

The energy savings from using a tankless water heater or a tank water heater averages between 24% to 34%, but can reach up to 50% for heavy hot-water users.

2. They Last Longer—Less Landfill Space

Disposing of water heaters is a significant problem in landfills. In North America over 8 million tank water heaters are disposed into landfills, a process which can cause dangerous chemical leaching into groundwater. Also, as you can imagine water heaters don’t decompose quickly. Tankless water heaters are smaller, take up less space in landfills, last significantly longer and have more replaceable parts.

3. Less Emissions

Energy efficiency causes less emissions. If North America switched to tankless water heaters we would save 1 billion litres of fuel, 620 million litres of propane—or 22 billion kw hours of energy, each and every year.

The eco-friendly pros of having a tankless water heater are numerous. There is the all-important energy savings, less toxic garbage and lower global-warming causing emissions. To find out the specific difference you can make by installing an eco-friendly tankless water heater—call us at Furnace King today, your HVAC specialists in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville. 

As HVAC specialists in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville we are regularly asked “why is now the ideal time to switch from oil to gas for my HVAC system?” The answer is simple: savings. The explanation however is a little more difficult, as there are two elements to consider in terms of HVAC costs: the cost of fuel and your furnace’s efficiency.

Fuel Costs

The oil furnace was a popular system in years gone by thanks to the low prices of oil and the, relatively, high prices of natural gas. The tables have turned however now that natural gas prices are at an all-time affordable rate when considered in relative comparison to oil. In fact, for the last 5 years natural gas prices have been below their rates from 20 years ago. Time hasn’t been so kind to oil—making natural gas a cost-efficient fuel choice. To make a historical-price comparison use the calculators below:

1. PECO Residential Oil to Gas Heat Conversion Calculator

2. PSE&G Residential Oil to Gas Spreadsheet Calculator

But of course, fuel cost alone can’t determine whether it is a good financial choice to make the switch from oil to gas, so here is another tip from your HVAC specialists in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville…

Your Furnace’s Efficiency

Very few oil furnaces have been installed in recent years, which means most oil furnaces are rather dated—a solid reason on its own why now is the time to switch from oil to gas. Most are close to—or more than—a decade old, BUT, HVAC has come a long way baby! The gains in energy efficiency have been massive, which means to determine your overall total cost of ownership you will need to compare the cost of each fuel along with the energy efficiency of your current oil unit and your possible natural-gas furnace upgrade.

Generally, new systems are at least 20% more efficient, so add up your bills and multiple them by 20%. You can then take that number (your potential savings) and use it to divide the cost of a new unit and installation. This will give you how long until you break even and begin with monthly savings. If the length of ‘pay me back’ time is too long you may want to consider energy-saving measures that will reduce the overall ‘heat load’ for your house, to offset the costs.

When calculating and deciding that now is the time to switch from oil to gas, be sure to include a local HVAC specialist in Mississauga, Brampton and Oakville in your decision, to ensure that you have properly calculated your installation costs, energy efficiency and total cost of ownership numbers.

One of the things you need to consider when you own a home in Canada is the climate and how you’ll heat the space you live in. Replacing or remodeling the heating source means you’ll have some choices to make, and looking at the benefits of converting from oil or electric to gas means you’ll need to look at a few different factors.

Keep in mind, gas is the cheaper option so converting over from electric is a good idea. The conversion will be easier if you’ve got a forced air system, although it’s still possible if you’ve been using baseboard heaters. While there’s an initial cash outlay to change the furnace over, there’s generally short payback period involved.

In a word, the conversion from oil to gas is even easier since there is almost always the proper ductwork and HVAC system in place. With the prices of oil skyrocketing, the average homeowner sees the benefits right away in making the switch and like the changeover from electric to gas, the period to recoup the costs of the conversion is extremely short.

One more point to consider. Natural gas provides a domestic supply with air quality that’s often improved over older heating techniques like oil.

Everyone wants to stay warm in the winter, but we would all love to keep as much money in our pockets as we can. There are all kinds of ways we can make our homes more energy efficient but here are some quick tips you can implement today to save some money.

1.Get your furnace cleaned

There are cheaper things you can do on this list, but having your furnace cleaned and maintained by a professional, licensed technician will have the biggest impact on your furnace’s efficiency.

Having your furnace serviced when the cold weather starts every year can save you a ton of money on your energy bill.

Even modern high efficiency furnaces can perform well below their efficiency ratings if not cleaned and maintained annually by a licensed technician.

2.Replace your filter

Furnaces can lose performance and even stop working all together if using an old, clogged filter. Putting in a clean filter will help you and your furnace to breathe easier.

Replacing a furnace filter is a simple job and can be done by most homeowners on their own. Just make sure you get the right size filter for your furnace to ensure proper operation.

If you aren’t sure what size filter your furnace needs, ask your heating contractor. They usually have all the most common sizes in stock, and since you’re already getting that furnace cleaned, they’ll install the new filter for you for free while they’re there.

3.Turn down your thermostat

You can save about 3% on your energy bill for every degree you turn down your thermostat. Turning your thermostat down by10 degrees when you leave for work and again when you go to sleep can add up to a decent savings on your energy bill.

An even better option is to use a programmable thermostat so that you don’t even have to remember to constantly adjust your temperature. You can even set it to warm up the house a little bit before you wake up to prevent those dreadful cold mornings.

4.Catch some free solar

Opening your curtains during the day allows the heat from the sun to help warm your house. If you have a lot of sun exposure, why not take advantage. As a bonus, the more sunlight you allow in your home, the less you need to use electric lighting leading to even more energy savings.
Just remember to close the curtains once the sun goes down to keep all that heat in.

5.Watch those fans

A kitchen or bathroom fan can get rid of a house full of warm air in about an hour if left on. When you use them make sure to turn them off as soon as they’ve done their job.

6.Plug your leaks

You wouldn’t leave your door open all winter, would you? Yet the average house has close to that big of a hole in it if you put all the gaps and spaces together.

Applying weather stripping to doors and caulking window frames is an inexpensive way to improve your entire homes energy efficiency, and the negligible cost of supplies will easily be made up for by the energy savings of a single season.

7.Unplug your vents

Make sure your heating system has an unobstructed flow through your house. Rugs and furniture in front of vents can prevent hot air from circulating in your home properly.

8.Shrink your house

Have a room no one spends time in? An empty guest room maybe. Closing the vents and door to that room can quickly make your furnace’s heating load 100-200 square feet smaller.

9.Add some insulation

A properly insulated attic and exterior walls will help keep all that heat you paid to generate inside your home. This means your furnace won’t be working overtime to replace escaping heat.

10.Dress seasonally

It’s a no brainer but keeping your house so warm in winter you need to wear shorts and a tank top to stay comfortable makes about as much sense as having your AC so high that you’re wearing a parka in the summer.

We’re not saying you should have to wear jackets indoors in the winter,that’s why we have furnaces in the first place. Set the temperature to something you’re comfortable with wearing pants and a long sleeve shirt or light sweater. Remember, it’s always free to put another layer on.

What Next?

These are a few quick tips to get you saving money right away but the best thing you can do if you have a furnace over 10 years old is replace it with a modern, high efficiency model. The energy savings alone often pays for the installation, which is the most important factor in determining a furnace’s efficiency. If you’re planning to go that route(we’ve already discussed how to choose the right installer) why not give us a call to find out about our current promotions on new furnaces.

Furnace King is a heating and cooling company with over 40 years experience, always putting customers first.

Call us today for a no cost, no obligation free Home Comfort Survey at (905)564-5464
or Click Here to have a member of our friendly team contact you.

Investing in a high-efficiency furnace is a smart energy choice for homeowners. Not only can these furnaces provide superior indoor air quality and significant savings on your energy bill, but these energy efficient systems also avoid unnecessary damage to the environment.

Today’s high-efficiency furnaces have a AFUE rating between 90-97 per cent compared to an AFUE of 60 or lower for many older furnaces. While the efficiency of oil furnaces have improved, gas furnaces are considered the smarter choice. For example, 95% of the energy produced by a new gas furnace with an AFUE rating of 95 is converted into heating your home and only 5% becomes exhaust.

These units operate more quietly than standard furnaces to keep your home at a consistent temperature and help to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. By some estimates, high-efficiency furnaces can cut your average heating bills by about 35 percent. The latest smart heating systems also include programmable thermostats which allow you automatically control the temperature so you can conserve energy and reduce costs while you sleep or when you’re not at home.

Converting your electric or oil furnace to gas is another option to improve the efficiency of your home heating system and save on heating costs. You may even be eligible for a government rebate when you switch from your existing furnace to a high-efficiency model. Look for friendly service from our & air conditioning Mississauga company that deals in EnergyStar qualified products and can help you with the rebate process.

One of the things you need to consider when you own a home in Canada is the climate and how you’ll heat the space you live in. Replacing or remodeling the heating source means you’ll have some choices to make, and looking at the benefits of converting from oil or electric to gas means you’ll need to look at a few different factors.

Keep in mind, gas is the cheaper option so converting over from electric is a good idea. The conversion will be easier if you’ve got a forced air system, although it’s still possible if you’ve been using baseboard heaters. While there’s an initial cash outlay to change the furnace over, there’s generally short payback period involved.

In a word, the conversion from oil to gas is even easier since there is almost always the proper ductwork and HVAC system in place. With the prices of oil skyrocketing, the average homeowner sees the benefits right away in making the switch and like the changeover from electric to gas, the period to recoup the costs of the conversion is extremely short.

One more point to consider. Natural gas provides a domestic supply with air quality that’s often improved over older heating techniques like oil.