Posted by admin on March 16, 2015

The demise of your household water heater should not be seen as a tragic loss, but rather the chance for you to invest in something new. As you begin to look at possible replacements, the new option of an on demand hot water heater will appear. Naturally, one of the first questions you may want answered is if they are really worth investing your time and money. The fact is, these kinds of water heaters are excellent investments, for several reasons.

No More Reheating a Tank of Water

Traditional water heaters work by continuously reheating a tank of water, which reoccurs throughout the day. This process takes place regardless if anyone is home, or anyone is using the water. This results in you paying for energy that is being used regardless of its necessity. With an on demand water heater, there is no water tank that is constantly being heated, so no extra energy is wasted.

Life Expectancy

A key benefit in the purchase of an on demand water heater is that they are built to last much longer than their traditional counterparts. The life of a conventional water heater is somewhere in the area of 10 to 15 years; in contrast, a tankless water heater has an average life of 20 years. This means that not only will you be saving money by not constantly reheating water, but you will also save money by not having to replace your water heater as frequently.

Repair and Maintenance

Like all hard working machines, your on demand water heater will eventually require some minimal repairs throughout its lifespan. It is important to remember that an on demand water heater is designed so that these repairs will happen far less than with conventional water heaters. Given the repairs will not happen as often, and the maintenance is easy to manage, this will lead to more money saved in the long term.

Hot Water When You Want It

How often have you had to put off tasks around the house so that somebody could take a shower? With a conventional water heater, there is a limited amount of hot water available at any given time. Running the dishwasher at 8pm means that no one can take a hot shower until at least 9pm, and considering doing the laundry while these chores are being done is nearly impossible.

These issues disappear with an on demand hot water heater. The water is heated as you need it, and supply cannot run out. This means that dishes, showering, and laundry can be done at the same time without forfeiting hot water.

When looking into purchasing a new hot water heater, do not overlook your tankless options. Though this machine may cost you more immediately, you will see a great amount of savings over its lifespan. With its lower energy consumption, infrequent repairs and immediate hot water convince, the initial price tag is worth every cent. Talk to a plumbing professional today and begin to look into this option. This change will be the one of the best, and warmest, choices you make all year.

Posted by admin on November 02, 2015

There’s a lot to learn about heating and cooling, whether you’re looking for a new system, trying to figure out your old one, or looking into repairs and maintenance. To get you started, we’ve developed this list of 10 facts on heating and air conditioning that you may not be aware of, and may be affecting your monthly bills. 

1. Bad Ducts Cost Money

Incredibly easy to overlook, bad ductwork can waste massive amounts of energy, reduce the comfort of your home, look terrible, and even encourage pests to take up residence. Make sure that when you hire a contractor, they’re not skimping on the ductwork; look for leaks, wasteful openings, and other signs of shoddy work. Similarly, keep up with duct maintenance and have them cleaned regularly. 

2. Efficiency Adds Up 

Small gains in efficiency on their own may not seem like they’re saving you significantly on your bills, but they are! Homeowners that invest in high efficiency heating and cooling, weatherproof their home, keep filters and intakes clean, and generally focus on efficiency will over time see significant reductions to their utility bills. 

3. Humidity Matters

Your heating and air conditioning systems lose efficiency when the humidity in your home gets too high. Make sure that your ventilation fans are on when running a hot shower, boiling water, or even putting a meal in the oven. If you notice your home is constantly too humid, investing in a portable dehumidifier can help control large spaces. 

4. An Insulated Home Saves Money

See light around your door frame? Get drafts through the living room window? This is adding on to your energy bills. Proper insulation counts towards bills far more than many homeowners realize, so invest in proper insulation and keep your home the right temperature. 

5. Heat Pumps Can Do Double Duty

If you want a year-round high-efficiency solution, consider heat pumps. New breakthroughs, including geothermal installations, make them greater than ever for year round comfort at an affordable price.

6. Regular Maintenance is Crucial 

Lots of little problems can add up quite quickly on your utility bill. Leaks in refrigerant, gas, water, or any other sort can also cause serious damage to your home, so watch out!

7. Poor Appliance Sizing Can Be Wasteful

Whether you’re running an air conditioner that’s too small for your home or have a furnace that’s too large, poor sizing means poor efficiency in HVAC. Systems are designed to run at a certain peak for certain amounts of time; too large or small and they have to work harder to do their job. 

8. Filters Should Be Cleaned or Replaced Regularly

Letting filters turn into grime-caked walls on your intake system isn’t just a problem for air quality, it reduces the efficiency of your system. Remember to clean the filter regularly, and replace it entirely as recommended for your heating and air conditioning unit. 

9. Canadians Over-Use Energy

Canadians are the second largest consumer of energy per capita in the world. With a population far lesser than the United States, China, or India, Canadians need to find more ways to lessen their heating and air conditioning usage, and save on energy.

10. Variable Speed Systems Can Slash Energy Costs

On and off aren’t particularly energy efficient choices. Look for systems with variable fans speeds and output levels to achieve and maintain maximum comfort without running up your bills.

Want to learn more about your heating and air conditioning systems, follow up on one of these facts, or schedule an appointment for an estimate on an installation? Contact us today!