Old Heating System Vs. New Heating System

If you have a gas furnace in your home that is your primary source of heat by heating the air then distributing it through the house using ducts, and it is showing signs of fatigue (no heat, thermostat and controls going bad, etc..), it may be time to upgrade. But what are your choices? 

1) Do nothing different: Replace your old gas furnace by a new one. The benefits are as follows: Your new furnace will be more energy efficient than the one you are replacing, and also, with any gas furnace – that meet the 25C requirements of 95% AFUE -meaning that 95% of the energy in the fuel becomes heat for the home and the other 5% escapes elsewhere, you are eligible for a manufacturer’s tax credit up to $500.00 through 12/31/2013, if placed in service before the end of 2013. With most forced-air systems, the heat distribution throughout each room is uneven, and there is no zone control. In addition, you don’t only blow air, but dust, miscellaneous debris and allergens. 

2) Do what will save you money and the environment: Replace your outdated system with a high-efficiency boiler. Boilers provide hydronic radiant heat circulating hot water through PEX or copper tubing tied to baseboard radiators or radiant in floor heating systems, or heat air using coils placed in walls, ceilings or floors. A boiler’s controls permit individual zoning singling out entire floor space or portions of designated floor space areas with greater or lesser heat temperature. This heating system may save you as much as 30% on your annual heating bill. This upgrade will not only result in significant cost savings, but also in environmental savings with reduced C02 emissions. Some units are also available for a rebate up to $500.00 through 12/31/2013. The benefits of radiant heat are significant: It is by far, the most comfortable heat available. Heat is a constant even radiant flow and quiet. 

3) Upgrade by replacing your existing heating system and your domestic water heating tank will go away automatically with your new high efficient radiant water tank, tank stores domestic hot water while your radiant heat coils run through tank heating domestic water storage, the boiler will also bring instant hot water to the rest of the domestic demand saving energy and water heating cost, carbon footprint friendly combination boiler which provides hot water for domestic use and hot water for heating distributed using baseboard radiators or radiant floor systems, or heat air using coils. Boilers are a clean heating solution. They do not blow dust, various particles and allergens… There is also no need to regularly clean out your ducts and change the air filters. The ultra-clean combo heating / domestic hot water system offers compact space heating and domestic hot water: two systems in one with the best technology available today allowing significant savings and reducing our carbon footprint. 

Maryline Linares, co-owner of On Shore Construction and Mechanical, Ca. Lic. #449998, a plumbing and heating company since 1983 serving San Francisco. www.on-shoreinc.com