Selecting the Right Boiler for Your Home

It’s vital to ensure that you can depend on your boiler throughout the winter. If you’re thinking about  selecting the right boiler  for your home, there are many factors you’ll want to consider. You need to consider things such as the venting, efficiency, and size requirements of your current boiler.
As temperatures drop, a reliable heating system becomes essential. If any parts of your current system are starting to show their age or have had issues, replace those components. You should pay particularly close attention to your home’s boiler. What Is A Boiler? Boilers are a heating source in most steam and water-based systems. By utilizing fuel sources like propane, oil, natural gas, wood, and electricity, boilers produce steam or hot water that provides homes with heat. The boiler distributes the heat through various sources, including radiant floors, baseboard convectors, fan-forced coils, and radiators.
If you’re in the market for a new boiler, you’ll find a wide array of options to choose from. You can consider high-efficiency boilers that can reduce heating costs. Although a new boiler can be a significant investment, it could pay for itself as time goes on, especially if your current boiler is over a decade old.
Many old models are more significant than they need to be and cannot heat homes efficiently. An extensive heating system leads to higher energy costs and more maintenance. If you’re not sure that your boiler is the appropriate size for your household, you’ll want to calculate the heat loss in your home. The heat loss will help you determine if it’s time to invest in a new boiler. Calculating Capacity  We measure boiler capacity by British Thermal Units (BTUs). BTUs represent how much energy it takes to raise the temperature of a pound of water by a single degree Fahrenheit. The BTU requirements of structures can vary based on many factors. It includes how well the property is insulated, the climate in the area, and how many doors and windows the property has.
Generally speaking, properties in hotter climates require a BTU of approximately 20 BTU per square foot. In a moderate climate, you’ll need a BTU of 35, while a BTU of 50 will be necessary for cold areas. If your home is 2,000 square feet and you have cold winters (such as Calgary, AB), you should look for a boiler capable of producing 100,000 BTUs or more. Evaluating Efficiency  One of the most important factors to consider when selecting a new boiler is the model’s annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. AFUE describes how proficient the boiler is at transforming the fuel source into energy for generating heat. While it makes sense to look for a boiler with a high-efficiency rating, there are other factors you’ll have to take into consideration as well. You’ll want to consider the operating conditions the unit requires.
A boiler with an AFUE rating above 84% is considered a high-efficiency unit. The U.S. Environmentally Protection Agency has stringent guidelines that appliances must meet to receive Energy Star certifications. You may want to look for a unit with this certification. The majority of gas furnaces on the market day have AFUE ratings that fall between 89 and 98 percent. You can expect ratings anywhere from 80 to 90 percent for oil furnaces.
Some units can improve their efficiency with features, such as outdoor reset modulation. This feature adjusts based on the temperature outside. Since they don’t create any waste gas, it’s not unusual for electric boilers to come close to 100 percent efficiency. They can be a solid choice if you live in an area with reasonable electricity rates. Finding the Right Venting System  When selecting a boiler, it’s also essential to ensure that the venting system of the unit is compatible https://furnace-repair-calgary.ca with your house. Direct and power-vent boilers send exhaust out through a vent in the home’s roof or sidewall using fans. Power-vent boilers require air from the interior of your home. It means that a technician must install them in open spaces.
A boiler that’s chimney-vented will naturally send exhaust through the home’s chimney. Condensing units produce condensation with a high acidity, which means they have specialized requirements for venting. Selecting the Right Boiler – Conclusion Although a new boiler can be a significant investment, it could pay for itself as time goes on, especially if your current boiler is over a decade old. If you’re not sure that your boiler is capable of keeping up, then it may be time to find a new one.
You’ll want to calculate the heat loss in your home and determine if it’s time to invest in a new boiler. Generally speaking, you should look for a unit with an AFUE rating of at least 84 percent. Finally, you’ll also want to verify that your venting system is compatible with the boiler you’re considering purchasing.
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Discover 5 Advantages of Cleaning Your Furnace

So what are the advantages of cleaning your furnace? Read on to learn how cleaning your furnace can help you. And don't forget to do it - we'll go over some of the most common reasons you should clean your furnace.

What are the Key Advantages of Cleaning Your Furnace?

Improved indoor air quality

While air conditioning is very effective at removing pollutants, one of the primary advantages of cleaning your furnace is improved indoor air quality. The air conditioner works by circulating the air in your home, reducing the number of indoor pollutants and allergens in the air. However, some candles can harm indoor air quality, so be sure to choose beeswax candles. Beeswax emits negative ions, which counteract the positive ions in the air.

If your furnace is not working optimally, cleaning it regularly will help its performance. A dirty furnace will not clean the air as well as it should and may even stop working altogether. Contact your local HVAC service provider to determine the best maintenance program for your furnace.

A good air filter is the first defence against poor indoor air quality. A typical central heating and air conditioning system circulates over a thousand cubic feet of air per minute, meaning the entire house passes through the filter numerous times throughout the day.

Proper Ventilation Prevents fires

It's easy to forget about your furnace room during the warmer months, but regular cleaning and maintenance can help prevent fires. First, keep the area clean by removing clutter. Make sure there's enough room to vacuum regularly and maintain your furnace. Ventilation is also vital, as a dirty furnace increases the risk of fires. Cleaning your furnace will prevent dangerous gases from building up and causing a fire.

To clean your gas furnace, start by cleaning its filters. Dirty filters can cause a wide variety of problems with your heating system. Not only will they make the furnace less efficient, but they will also create a fire hazard. It is also essential to clean your filter every month to prevent clogs and harmful air pollution.

Improved efficiency

One of the key advantages of cleaning your furnace is improved efficiency. In addition, a clean furnace extends the life of your furnace is to clean it regularly. Dirty buildup can limit the furnace's ability to heat your home, causing unexpected breakdowns. It also increases the workload on various components. So, cleaning your furnace once a year can ensure maximum performance for years to come.

Here are some tips for cleaning your furnace:

Over time, oil filters can get clogged with grime and sludge. Changing the oil filter will allow the oil to reach the furnace much more accessible and provide a hotter burn. If the oil filter is dirty, your HVAC technician will clean it for you, and the HVAC technician may also remove extra sludge from the tank. If you're worried about the cost of cleaning your furnace, you may want to consider getting it cleaned by an HVAC technician. The professional will also be able to make necessary repairs and make recommendations for improved performance.

Lower noises

While learning about the advantages of cleaning your furnace, you may have come across the term "reduces noise when cleaning your furnace," but what does this mean? It simply means that you should lower the volume of the noise. Reducing the volume is crucial if you want to avoid being bothered by your furnace while cleaning it. Several factors cause the sound your furnace produces, but it is vital to determine which one is causing the noise. Some noises are caused by clogged air filters, while others can result from more extensive problems. Whether your furnace is making too much noise or is too old, you should consider repairing or replacing the parts of your furnace.

If you hear a rattling noise when you clean your furnace, you may have a cracked heat exchanger, which has become cracked. If you notice this noise, you need to replace it, as a cracked heat exchanger can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. Similarly, if you hear a whistling noise from your furnace's exhaust fan, the fan may be causing the noise. The motor bearings may be damaged or unsealed.

Diagnose small problems

One of the key advantages of cleaning your furnace is finding minor problems that most people won't notice. An HVAC technician might see that a fan is blocked or that a furnace element leaks. You can repair these minor issues to prevent more significant problems later.

Preventive maintenance is the best way to ensure your furnace lasts many years.

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