FAQ - BUYING GUIDE
FURNACE BUYING GUIDE
AIR CONDITIONER BUYING GUIDE
BOILER BUYING GUIDE
HUMIDIFIER BUYING GUIDE
AIR CLEANER BUYING GUIDE

FURNACE BUYING GUIDE
People in all areas, regardless of climate, are likely going to be in the market for a new furnace sometime in their life. Perhaps the current furnace in the home is old or even broken. On old furnace might only be 65% efficient, which means that homeowners are throwing away money on their energy bills. Perhaps you simply want to change the type of furnace you are using. The most popular types of furnace are those fueled by gas, oil, propane, and electricity. In different areas of the country, these different fuels might be a different price, which means you might want to change to a furnace that uses the cheapest type of fuel. In the end, this could not only cover the cost of the change, but could keep you saving for years to come. Regardless of the reason you are changing your furnace, you will want to keep a few things in mind when you are shopping around.

  1. When it comes to saving money, you will also want to consider the AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) of the furnace you are considering. The higher the AFUE is, the more energy efficient the furnace.Some of the furnaces on the market today rate at 96% efficiency, which means that about 96 cents from every dollar spent on your energy bill will go toward your heating. This results in far less waste. A furnace that has a high efficiency rating might cost more when first installed, but will likely save quite a bit of money over the long haul.
  2. When choosing your furnace, you might also consider adding an air filter or purifier, which can keep the air in your home cleaner and healthier. This is great for those with allergies or breathing problems.
  3. Also, consider the noise level of the furnace. Fortunately, today's furnaces are much quieter than those of the past, so no matter what you choose it won't be as deafening and monstrous.
  4. Choosing a high quality, durable furnace with a brand name that you can trust is also very important. You want to find a furnace that will last a long time, after all, so it makes sense to go with name brands that you know and can trust.
  5. After you find a brand you like, you need to find a contractor to come and install the furnace in your home. When choosing a contractor, make sure they have a good reputation and are skilled enough to install the furnace of your choice and repair it should anything happen.

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AIR CONDITIONER BUYING GUIDE
Factors to consider:

  1. Are you paying a reasonable price for your central a/c?
  2. What capacity of central air conditioner should you buy?
  3. Should you buy a high, middle, or low-efficiency air conditioner?

Are you paying a reasonable price for your Central Air Conditioner?
There are essentially two costs when purchasing and installing a new central air conditioner: equipment costs and labor costs. Depending on your situation, you may be able to reduce your costs in one or both of these areas. Probably the single-greatest cost-saving solution is to buy your air conditioner from a direct-to-consumer retailer, and then hire a licensed HVAC contractor to install it. However,we recommends that you consider both the costs and benefits of this approach before you adopt it. As with installing a furnace or boiler, you will need to work with a good HVAC contractor when you install a new central air conditioning system.

Choosing the right size Central Air Conditioner
As with sizing furnaces or boilers, it is important to have an HVAC Contractor perform a load calculation before you decide which size air conditioning system to buy. If you install an air conditioner which is too large, it will cycle on and off too often, substantially reducing the efficiency of the system. Too small, and your air conditioner may not be able to meet the demands of a hot, humid day. The industry standard load calculation is called the Manual J calculation. It takes into account the size of your house, the amount of insulation installed, the square footage, and a host of other factors.

Central Air Conditioner Efficiency
The most common measure of the efficiency of a consumer central air conditioning system is the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Beginning in 2006, an air conditioner must have a SEER of at least 13 to be sold in the United States. Higher efficiency models have a SEER between 14 and 22. A more common rating method for commercial air conditioners is the EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio). EER is a measure of the ratio of the amount of cooling (measured in BTUs) to the amount of electricity it consumes (measured in watt-hours). The EER is a steady state measure -- that is, the efficiency is only measured once the unit has started up and is running at a steady capacity. SEER takes into account the startup and shutdown time as well, making it a more accurate measurement for determining the actual energy costs for the end user.

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BOILER BUYING GUIDE
Simple Steps to Take for a Hassle Free Boiler Installation!

Types of Boiler
With a few exceptions all new and replacement boilers must be high efficiency condensing boilers that can reduce CO2 emissions by up to 30%, aside from that benefit you can also reduce heating bills by a further 40%. It makes sense to embrace this new technology and accept that the slightly higher initial purchase cost will re-couped through lower heating bills. The next stage is to determine what type of condensing boiler will best suit your lifestyle and home. Regular (also known as conventional or traditional boilers), System or Combi? In most cases this will be determined for you, if you live in a flat you'll most probably need a combi boiler, if you have a large family home with no space restrictions then a regular boiler or system boiler will be best suited. Either way this is a job for an expert.

Be Prepared
Before the engineer arrives to inspect your home be prepared. The engineer should ask you some important questions about your lifestyle and current system. This will enable correct specification of the boiler and central heating system.

Have a think about

  • Where the new boiler will be sited. New condensing boilers produce a plume of steam due to the lower temperature of the exhaust gasses from the flue compared to older type boilers. This plume can be a nuisance for you and your neighbours so it's worth considering the implications of siting the flue in the same location. The engineer will be able to help with this but bear in mind it may be an issue.
  • Your living habits. For example, is there potential for more than one shower to be used at any one time and how well your current boiler copes with demand.
  • Future plans. Do you have any plans to extend your house or convert the loft? Regular boilers require loft space for feed and expansion tanks, System and Combi boilers don't.
  • Your budget. Know your budget, don't be persuaded to spend more than you are comfortable with. It may be worth checking out any finance deals on offer.


Consider Solar
Modern solar technology may not be as expensive an option as you may think. Most boiler manufacturers also make solar systems that work seamlessly with their own boiler and controls. Up to 1/3 of your hot water can be gained through solar hot water heating and combining this with a new boiler installation can be far cheaper than adding it at a later date, it will also add a great deal of value to your property. Government grants are available and solar systems attract just 5% VAT so it's well worth discussing this with your engineer.

Other Energy Efficiency Options
It's important to asses the energy efficiency of your home alongside the boiler installation. Supplementing loft insulation or installing cavity wall insulation can be a relatively low cost way to further reduce heating bills and ensure your boiler is working to its maximum efficiency.

Questions to Ask
Don't be afraid to ask some questions, the engineer will be used to ones below being asked regularly and should be able to give straightforward, honest answers. If he can't, ask why?
  • Ensure they are Gas Safe (for gas) or OFTEC (for oil) registered.
  • Ask them to provide local referrals.
  • What else is included? After sales service? (see below)
  • Ask for a full written quote itemising all work and parts.
  • What make and efficiency of boiler? Ensure this is specified within the quote.


After Sales Service
It's essential to establish the after sales service/support the installer is offering. Some installers may be very competent at specifying and installing systems but are they able to repair them? Surprisingly not all have the knowledge to fault find and diagnose problems on the new breed of hi-tech condensing boilers. Be sure to check their credentials preferably going with a firm that is qualified by the manufacturer to install that make of boiler. Most of the nationwide installers offer ongoing boiler service and boiler insurance plans. British Gas for example include a years free British Gas HomeCare with all their boiler and central heating installations, this package not only covers the boiler and controls but the whole central heating system, even if it wasn't installed by British Gas. Well worth considering.

Selecting the Supplier
Once you have all the quotes in go through them carefully, ensuring you're comparing apples for apples. Check that they are offering comparable makes and models of boiler. Ensure the outputs and efficiencies of all boilers are similar, if not, question why. Remember, it's not all about price but the full package on offer, including the ongoing maintenance.

Checklist
  1. Know your budget
  2. Think of future needs
  3. Ask questions
  4. After sales service?
  5. Get 3 quotes
  6. Cheapest is not always best

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HUMIDIFIER BUYING GUIDE
Balanced humidity is important not only for your family's optimal health and comfort but also for your house. Lower levels of water vapor in the air can increase bothersome static electricity, and higher humidity levels can encourage molds and mildew.

During winter, the first sign of overly humid air is condensation on the inner surfaces of windows. Though this normally isn't a serious problem, the same condensation may collect on the inner surfaces of exterior walls. This can rot the structure and ruin insulation. Peeling, blistering, or cracking

paint—especially if bare siding is visible in spots—usually indicates this condition.

Keeping humidity at the proper level often demands mechanical assistance. On sultry summer days, when indoor humidity rises above the comfort range, many people turn on air conditioners or dehumidifiers to help dry the air. And when the dry winter heating season sets in and drops relative humidity to skin-chafing lows, boosting the humidity usually calls for a humidifier.

A humidifier is simply a device that puts water vapor into a home's air. Depending upon its water-output capacity, it may serve a single room or the entire house. Room-size humidifiers are referred to as "tabletop" units. To humidify a whole house, you need either a freestanding cabinet "console" unit or a "central" humidifier that ties into the home's forced-air heating system.

Tabletop and console models are relatively inexpensive, easy to move from one room to another, and easy to hook up. Both types must be filled manually— usually on a daily basis.

Regardless of the method they use to humidify air, tabletop models run from about $20 to $70, and consoles run from $75 to $150. Tabletop units output from 2 to 4 gallons per 24 hours. Small consoles output 8 gallons per 24-hour period. The latter can handle up to a 2,000-square-foot area. A large console may output 14 gallons, enough to humidify a 3,250-square-foot house.

Central evaporative humidifiers are hooked up to the heating equipment, and water is piped directly to them, so they're out of sight and out of mind most of the time. Because they deliver humidified air directly to rooms throughout the house, they're particularly efficient. The only drawbacks are that you need a forced-air system to operate a central humidifier and humidification takes place only when the forced-air system is running (this isn't a problem in most homes because it is generally the heating process that dries out the air). Equipment prices range from $140 to $200; the cost of installation depends upon the complexity of the work, but it is likely to run about $100.

To put moisture into the air, humidifiers come in four basic types:

  1. Evaporative Humidifiers
  2. Cool-Mist Impeller Humidifiers
  3. Steam Humidifiers
  4. Ultrasonic Humidifiers

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AIR CLEANER BUYING GUIDE
Improve your indoor air and breathe easier Did you know that the air quality in your home can be 2 to 5 times worse than the air outdoors? Dust particles that you see floating in a beam of sunlight in your home have thousands of microscopic allergens such as pollen, mold spores, dust mite debris, bacteria and more, that can be harmful to your health

Medical experts say there are steps you can take to minimize the health risks associated with poor indoor air quality. A portable air purifier is one way to capture airborne particles and reduce or eliminate indoor pollutants. Clean air is a vital part of healthy living. Make it a priority in your home.

How to choose an air purifier

Determine your needs:

  • Reduce allergy or asthma symptoms
  • Minimize dust
  • Remove odours
  • Sanitize an area of the home

Know the size of the room you need covered:
Check the packaging for the CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) The higher the CADR, the more powerful and effective the unit can be at removing particles from the air, and the larger the size of room for which the unit is suited.

Choose the type of air purifier that matches your needs:
There are four:
  1. ue HEPA Air Purifier
    • Provides the highest air cleaning efficiency
    • The most recommended by doctors for relief of allergy and asthma symptoms
    • Tested to remove 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.3 microns
    • Available in all sizes, some with permanent filters that need cleaning annually
    • Look for AHAM seal to know unit has been tested and certified effective for your room size
  2. HEPA-Type Air Purifier
    • Great for general air purification
    • Used all year-round, 24 hours-a-day
    • Removes up to 99% of all airborne particles that are in every home
    • Comes in all sizes, some with permanent filters that need occasional cleaning
    • Look for AHAM seal to know unit has been tested and certified effective for your room size
  3. Odour Reducer
    • Helps remove odours caused by food, pets, tobacco smoke, etc.
    • Odours are removed using carbon filters
    • Carbon filters can be replaced
    • Odour reducers may be used anywhere in the home and at any time
  4. UV Sanitizer
    • Uses ultraviolet light to destroy airborne germs, bacteria and viruses in the home
    • No filters to clean or replace
    • UV light needs to be replaced annually
  5. Air Purifier Filters Since the effectiveness of your air purifier is dependent on keeping it well maintained, it is important to replace or clean your air purifier filter and pre-filter as recommended by the manufacturer's instructions. The majority of air purifiers use permanent filters. An air purifier's HEPA filter should be cleaned once or twice a year either with a vacuum or some can be washed. If it is a disposable filter, replace once every 12 months or so, depending on how much you use it. An air purifier's carbon filter should be replaced every 3 months, depending on the level of usage. Some air purifiers, usually top-end models, contain pre-filters for catching the larger particles in the air. These pre-filters, more often than not, should be replaced every 3 months. Some can be reused by simply washing them and leaving them to dry before placing back in the air purifier. An activated carbon pre-filter, which stops most particles of dust from going into the HEPA should be replaced every 3 months. Always read the label instructions for your air purifier system to get specific details for your particular air purifier.

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