How is your heating system in the home? Everyone knows that a heating system is an essential life support system during cold Ottawa winters.
It is safe to say that a furnace, boiler, or heat pump sustains Canadians through tough and unpredictable weather. Hence, you must ask yourself:
Is it time to replace your furnace?
If a furnace is 20 years or older, it is time to get a replacement. A heating system has a maximum life expectancy of 25 years but not all systems last as long. If your furnace is old and near breaking point, you could actually experience a furnace problem in the middle of winter which is not good.
If you have a 15-year-old furnace and repairs will cost a lot, it may be smarter to just install a new one which will last you another 20 years. Repairing your old furnace multiple times is not going to be worth it.
Lastly, if you are paying higher energy bills than expected, your furnace may be using more energy than needed. Replacing it with an energy-efficient model will save you a lot of money in the long run.
Is your home properly insulated?
Any talk of energy efficiency when it comes to your heating system is useless if your home is not properly insulated. By increasing your attic’s insulation to recommended standards, you can save a lot of money – enough to pay for a shopping spree or a weekend getaway.
A poorly insulated house will have drafts and cold zones, preventing you from getting the most out of your heating system.
An HVAC contractor can provide you with reliable and expert advice regarding your home’s insulation and how to make the most of your heating system.
What energy sources works best for you?
A home’s heating system doesn’t make the heat. Rather, it transforms one energy form into another to provide warmer air. Popular heating sources are propane, natural gas, electricity, and oil.
It is important to understand that the cost of one energy source can be very different from another.
Gas furnace
A gas furnace is very common throughout Canada because it offers a reliable and safe heating solution. Many advanced systems have smart thermostats that make then more efficient and easy- to -use.
New gas furnaces have efficiency ratings of 92% to 98% AFUE which assures you that you won’t be paying too much for your energy bill.
Depending on your area, gas furnaces generally cost less to operate than propane or oil.
They require ducts to distribute the heat in the house. They are also larger than ductless mini-split systems and will need more space.
Propane furnace
Many homeowners in rural areas or where fuel is scarce can opt for propane furnaces. A propane tank is installed outside the home and refilled by a local provider.
This type of furnace meets the required minimum efficiency standard of 92% and many have AFUE ratings that go as high as 98.5%. They are, however, more expensive to operate than gas furnaces but cheaper than electric systems.
A propane furnace will also need ductwork to distribute heat around the home and require regular inspection by certified professionals.
Oil furnace
If you are located in an area when gas and other fuel is difficult to obtain or expensive, you can choose an oil furnace.
It is readily available throughout Canada but less popular because of operating costs, emissions, and efficiency.
A tank to hold the fuel is also installed outside the home and ductwork is used to distribute the heat throughout the house. Like propane systems, an oil furnace must have regular inspection.
This type of furnace is a good choice if other fuel options are unavailable. The home’s temperature can be controlled via smart thermostat.
Electric furnace
An electric furnace moves hot air through ductwork with a fan but rather than gas, oil, or propane, it produces heat with electrical heater elements managed by a circuit breaker.
The operating cost of an electric furnace is higher, making it less popular as a heating system.
Its advantages include almost no emissions and can use renewable sources like fossil fuels. A chimney is not required; hence, installation is less expensive.
Before buying an electric furnace, compare with heat pumps and other electric options such as baseboard heating.