Wednesday, December 22, 2010

            Should You Replace Your Existing Heating System

A boiler is the heating plant used to create hot water or steam for  baseboard, radiant heat or steam radiator heating systems. Boilers can use a variety of fuels including natural gas, propane, oil or electricity.


Heating is the largest energy expense in most homes, accounting for 35-50% of annual energy bills in colder parts of the country. Reducing your heating energy use is the single most effective way to save money and reduce your home’s contribution to global environmental problems.


If your boiler is older than 20 years, chances are it is a good investment to replace it with a high-efficiency model with the guidance of a good contractor. Also consider a replacement now if your system is one of the following:
1: Old coal burner that was previously switched over to oil or gas
2: Old gas furnace without electronic ignition. If it has a pilot light, it was probably installed prior to 1992 and has an efficiency of about 65% efficient (the least efficient systems today are 80%)
3: Old gas furnace without vent dampers or an induced draft fan (which limit the flow of heated air up the chimney when the heating system is off.

If your boiler is 10–20 years old, and you are experiencing discomfort or high utility bills, hire a highly-qualified home performance or heating contractor who can help you evaluate your existing system. Often it will be more cost-effective to improve house insulation and air-tightness repair.


Because no two houses are alike, it is very difficult to advise what kind of new system will be the most appropriate, efficient and cost-effective for your house without actually visiting your home. That is why the first step in replacing your system is finding a contractor who has experience in high-efficiency systems.
Indirect Water Heater 

Modern boilers with low thermal mass and good insulation can actually make very efficient water heaters, because they don't both heat and store water at the same time. When installing a replacement boiler, consider replacing your existing storage water heater with a well insulated indirect tank that connects to the boiler with an external loop. Even in the summer you are likely to save energy because heat losses through the water heater fuel will be eliminated.




Finding a qualified plumber




Finding the right  Plumbing or heating engineer is a daunting task, and many times has to be done under extreme time pressure, for example when the boiler is not working on a very cold day, make sure they understand the nature of the problem with the boiler or any other system and apply the right solution.


Furthermore, any Plumbing or heating engineer that is going to service your boiler must be registered and be able to display their identification card,to ensure they meet all the required standards to deal with heating systems in general and gas boilers in particular.


Do Not Over Emphasise the important of dealing with a  registered Plumbing  or heating engineer. As a stark reminder, there are than 30 deaths every year form  (Carbon Monoxide) poisoning every year. Such cases happen primarily when there is incomplete combustion, and the boiler is working incorrectly. Since carbon monoxide has no smell or colour it is impossible to see or smell it and therefore impossible to detect it before it is too late.

7 Please Comment Here:

sandhiya said...

Good Post! Very informative, glad that you are going to continue writing things like this!

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Unknown said...

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Unknown said...

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