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Benefits of Gas Heat
Systems
While there are many heating options available, none offer as
many benefits as gas heat systems. Fueling your home using
natural gas is convenient, affordable, safe and reliable.
That’s why gas heat systems are the most popular heating
systems in the US.
The convenience of natural gas cannot be disputed. Unlike
several other fuels including oil and coal, natural gas pumps
through underground pipelines. Consequently, you are never
without fuel to run your home on even when the weather makes
the roads impassable. You don’t have to be dependent on a fuel
delivery when you choose natural gas. As a resource, natural
gas is plentiful in the US with no signs of shortage for at
least 100 years.
There are many different kinds of gas heaters and appliances.
No matter what size or kind of home you have, you are sure to
find a suitable gas heat system. Gas heat systems are
available in many different configurations to complement all
of the different types of homes and different climates. They
are available at a variety of price points.
Newer gas appliances have higher efficiency ratings than older
model systems, but they also tend to cost more. However, the
higher the efficiency rating, the more you will save on your
gas bill each month.
Another benefit of natural gas is its cleanliness. Gas heat
systems whether they are running a furnace, a water heater, a
fireplace, a stove, an oven, a washing machine or a dryer
always runs clean. You don’t have to worry about unpleasant
odors, soot or ashes when you use gas heat.
The only byproducts of gas combustion are water vapor and
carbon dioxide, so the environment is not damaged when you use
it. Oil stored in an underground tank can leak into the
ground, which is also bad for the environment. This won’t
happen with natural gas as your fuel source.
Gas Heat Advantages
Gas heat systems are one of the most cost efficient forms of
home heating available. When you compare gas run appliances
with those that run off electricity, gas appliances
consistently cost less in energy costs to accomplish the same
tasks. For instance, a gas water heater can produce as much as
twice the amount of hot water that an electric model can in
the same amount of time for approximately 1/3 of the cost.
Likewise, a gas dryer can dry twice as many clothes in the
same amount of time as an electric dryer and for less money.
When it comes to cooking appliances, gas heat is king.
Professional chefs agree that cooking with gas is the most
precise way to cook. Moreover, you don’t have to wait for a
gas range to heat up like an electric range. The heat you get
is instant and you have complete control over the temperature.
Just like other gas appliances, there are less energy costs
with gas stoves in comparison to electric stoves. It even
costs less to heat your pool or spa with a gas heater than an
electrical heater, a difference of hundreds of dollars
annually.
Unlike electric heating systems, there are rarely ever natural
gas outages. If there is an outage as the result of some kind
of accident or natural disaster, it will be fixed immediately
as gas line ruptures or leaks are a public hazard. Electrical
outages are far more common and tend to last longer. In the
winter, an electrical outage can force you out of your home if
you rely on electricity for heat.
For all of those reasons, gas is the preferred home fueling
method of homebuyers. A gas heat system consequently adds
intrinsic value to your home and will be an asset when it
comes time to sell. Home buyers know that once a home is
connected to the gas line, there are many other possibilities
available to them such as installing a heated pool, spa or
barbecue sometime in the future.
Propane gas, while not as convenient as natural gas, is also a
clean and cost effective way to heat your home and run your
appliances. In areas where natural gas in not available;
propane gas is a good alternative.
Like natural gas, propane appliances are almost twice as
efficient as electrical appliances and propane furnaces and
water heaters can save you hundreds of dollars annually over
their electric counterparts.
Ventless Fireplace
Benefits
Another thing to consider when getting a ventless fireplace is
humidity. Ventless fireplaces will add humidity to the air as
a byproduct of combustion. If you live in a region that is
already very humid, this could cause a problem with
condensation, corrosion or even mold and mildew. It’s a good
idea to get a portable humidity meter in these situations so
that you can adjust the usage of your ventless fireplace
accordingly.
One of the reasons ventless fireplaces have become so popular
with homeowners is because they are extremely versatile. They
come is many different shapes, sizes and styles to fit any
home’s décor, and they can be installed virtually anywhere.
Because they don’t require the installation of a chimney or
any other exterior ducting, they cost less to put in as well.
Bedrooms, kitchens and bathrooms have become popular places
for ventless fireplaces because of their ease of installation.
Fireplaces add so much in terms of ambiance and character to
these rooms that they more than make up for their cost.
Within a room, a ventless fireplace can be installed almost
anywhere. Some units come with built-in hearths or mantels,
and others are just inserts that require you to build a hearth
for them. Either way, installation is quick, easy and
relatively inexpensive.
No matter what interior design style is in your home, you are
sure to find a ventless fireplace to match. Ventless
fireplaces can be contemporary, country, traditional and even
modern in style. If you don’t have access to a gas line to run
a ventless gas fireplace, don’t worry; you can get a ventless
fireplace that’s also flameless.
There are faux gas fireplaces that run off electricity and
produce a simulated flame using optical illusion. They can
even come with an electrical heater built-in to put out heat
like a real fireplace. These fireplaces will not put of any
carbon monoxide as they are actually doing any combustion.
Air Purifiers
Air purifiers can help improve the quality of your indoor air,
but how exactly does an air purifier work? And is it any
different than an air filter?
Specifically, an air “filter” only filters the air in a room.
It uses simple technology – it catches particles larger than
the holes in the filter screen. Although filtration may be
part of the air purification process, it doesn't use the same
method as an air filter.
Instead, it replaces any missing ions and ozone in your room
so that your indoor air resembles fresh outdoor air.
Essentially, air filters are more limited than ionic air
purifiers, which offer a lot of benefits.
Air filters remove particles in the air but fail to rid the
air of biological pollutants and chemical gases emanating from
building materials, paint, carpet, vinyl flooring, furniture,
and other items.
Home air purifiers, on the other hand, replace missing ozone.
Because ozone isn't just present in particles, this is a more
effective method of air cleaning. Ozone can effectively
dissipate chemical and biological pollutants. Some units can
even sanitize bacteria and mold at a high setting in an empty
room, which can really improve indoor air quality. This comes
in handy if you want to sanitize a bedroom or bathroom when
it's unoccupied, without having to use chemicals or get down
on your hands and knees to scrub. In addition, air purifiers
in your attic or basement can kill mold.
Air purifiers have been in use for many years and are a safe
way to clean the air in your home. They can be used in homes,
offices, day care centers, bars, restaurants, hospitals,
laboratories, retail stores, and in many other environments.
With air purifiers you don't have to deal with filters at all.
Because air filters only trap particles bigger in size than
the holes in the filter, smaller particles still pass through.
Even high-tech HEPA filters are limited to particles of .3
microns. This is quite remarkable, but at the same time,
particles much smaller than .3 microns have the ability to
enter human lungs. Ion replacement, however, works on all
sizes of particles.
Air purifiers are also more economical, as you don't have to
replace expensive filters and electricity consumption is kept
to a minimum.
If you want to improve your home's indoor air quality,
purchasing a good air purifier may be the perfect solution.
Questions to Ask a
Heating Contractor
If you have been considering hiring a heating contractor for
your home, you may want to begin with a few basic guidelines
first. These days more homeowners than ever are throwing good
money at some less-than-savory solutions, sinking hundreds and
even thousands of dollars into shoddy work they've retained on
the cheap. Needless to say, it pays to look into more
responsible care if you have dreams of a warm and safe home.
The best heating contractors will usually start with a
conservative estimate, factoring in everything from labor
through aftermarket parts into the final tally. Figures such
as these can be a smart guide to get you started, although a
growing number of homeowners like to double-check all the
numbers online before they sign any paperwork. After all,
sometimes all that's required is a bit of research to earn you
a far better price on the very same parts.
Once you've got the numbers down, it's important to ask that
heating contractor a few essential questions before anyone
begins work. Besides knowing how long it will take and how
much labor is required, you may also want to probe such issues
as scheduling, security and how many personnel you can expect
in your home. Repairs and installation are trying enough
without having to contend with crowds and noise pollution
throughout the day and night.
Thankfully the best heating contractors in the nation take
pride in HVAC work that includes seamless installation and a
responsible cleanup process. Many heating contractors offer
tips and tricks on how best to economize that energy outflow,
and you may even be able to solicit a few creative ideas for
integrating the new system. Add in superior materials and a
sound effort at ready communication and you could find
yourself recommending that heating contractor to everyone you
know.
Heating systems can be notoriously complicated design and
install, but that doesn't mean you should settle for the first
business you find. Use the Web as a better resource to
research the many heating contractors in your area and you'll
quickly discover why so many other homeowners head online for
better information.
Questions to Ask an Air
Conditioning Contractor
Anyone who has ever moved into a new home or built a house
from scratch knows that dealing with contractors can take over
your life. If you worked with an air conditioning contractor
in the past, you may have found yourself struggling to come up
with questions to ask before that installation takes place.
Thankfully the experts in the HVAC industry tend to agree
about what's most important in this process.
Probably the first question to ask any air conditioning
contractor is what kind of energy rating you're working with.
The cost of cooling homes has only grown over the last few
years, and today countless homeowners find themselves
staggered by each month's bill. Savvy architectural features
and green installation approaches may literally shave hundreds
of dollars off your annual climate control tab, so do not
hesitate to find out what steps are being taken and the
projected cost of each.
After energy, the most important question for an air
conditioning contractor relates to the maintenance of that
unit. Too many homeowners nowadays forget about such
procedures entirely, rendering pricey AC units effectively
worthless within a few years. Air conditioning contractors
with considerable experience in home upkeep should be able to
point you toward better resources in this area. Often all it
takes is a few replacement filters and some very basic
management to keep your home cool and dry.
Of course the greatest challenge for any air conditioning
contractor is keeping all those vents beautiful and clean.
Technicians with integrity will usually sign a waiver sharing
liability for the condition of your home, as the last thing
you want is for an otherwise successful job to set you back
thousands because of botched installation. Ask your air
conditioning contractor this question early if you want to
enjoy peace of mind throughout the process.
Finally you may want to nail down a timeline for the work. The
demands placed on air conditioning contractors can make it
expensive to keep technicians around longer than necessary, so
try and bracket all that labor to the day if you can. Overflow
is a necessary evil of this business, but that doesn't mean
you should tolerate days or even weeks without a hard-working
professional in your home. |
