The Plumbing and Heating Shop Inc, Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton Furnaces, Heating, Air Conditioning
Frequently Asked Questions
General
- I had an HVAC person over to look at my furnace that desperately needs to be replaced. The fellow was courteous, had a reasonable sounding price and was able to schedule us soon. Do I really need to get a second estimate if I'm happy with this person?
- Should I take advantage of special pricing on a replacement being offered if I agree to the installation while the HVAC specialist is there?
- We run our heating system infrequently even during the traditional winter months because we live in a very mild area. When we first turn the heater on it smells badly. Is this a cause for concern?
- Do I have to purchase online?
- Do you have any suggestions on how I can conserve water?
- What should I know about the 2009 Home Renovation Tax Credit?
- What purchases are eligible for the 2009 tax credit?
- What products or services are not eligible for the tax credit?
- How do I get the 2009 tax credit?
Furnaces
- Should I take advantage of special pricing on a replacement being offered if I agree to the installation while the HVAC specialist is there?
- How do I determine the correct gas furnace size for my home?
- Is a higher efficiency furnace always better?
- What does the "variable speed" feature of a gas furnace mean to me?
- What does the "two stage" feature of a gas furnace mean to me?
- What is the highest efficiency furnace you offer?
- Should I install a gas furnace or a heat pump?
- My service tech told me that higher efficiency products break down more frequently. Is this true?
- Do all furnaces use the same type of "chimney" or flue?
- My neighbour has only one pipe sticking out of his house and I have two pipes, what’s up with that?
- The gas company said “They don’t make them like this anymore, that furnace will last forever - you don’t need to change it”
- What are the differences between mid efficient furnaces and high efficient furnaces? Are there “real” savings and how does the price vary?
Air Conditioning
Humidifiers
- What is the recommendation for plumbing a water supply line?
- What mechanical advancements have been made to TrueSTEAM to improve the steam humidification performance?
- What configuration options are available for TrueSTEAM?
- How do I know when maintenance is needed on TrueSTEAM?
- How is TrueSTEAM cleaned?
- Why is maintaining ideal humidity important?
- How does TrueSTEAM compare to other humidifiers?
- What installation options are available for TrueSTEAM?
Air Quality Filters
- How do the life cycle costs of a TRANE CleanEffects unit compare to other air filtration systems?
- Some people have expressed concern about the ozone emmisions of ionizing air cleaners. Does TRANE CleanEffects have an impact on ozone?
- How does TRANE CleanEffects compare to other systems in terms of installation and power supply?
- What kind of maintenance does TRANE CleanEffects require compared to other systems?
- Is it true that TRANE CleanEffects "captures" but does not "kill" germs, viruses, fungi, bacteria or allergens?
- How often should I be changing my furnace filter?
Controls/Thermostats
Zoning
Water Heating
- How much energy will I save?
- How does a tankless heater work?
- Where should the heater be installed?
- What is causing a shortage of hot water in my home or business?
Answers
General
You don't have to do anything, it's your home and your money. However, we feel it is never a good idea to get expensive repair, replacement, or installation work done without getting at least two and preferably three opinions. Unless you have a pre-existing relationship with the individual company you should get more information.
Be cautious - there is an increasing number of reports from all over coming in about consumers being "pressured" into making a decision by repair and installation people. If you are not being given the option to at least get a second opinion and estimate we would shy away from doing business with that individual. A professional will be confident in his assessment and not be concerned about you getting another estimate.
If you don't use the furnace often it is likely you are simply having dust settle on the heat exchanger and then burnt off as the system heats up. If you use the system even once a week and you are having this happen you might want to consider checking why your heat exchanger is getting dust built up so quickly. Perhaps a filter needs to be replaced or there is an opening in your system that needs to be taken care
No you do not have to purchase online. But to take advantage of online specials the order must be completed online...
You can conserve water by using a low flush or variable flush toilets. Low flush toilets use less water on every flush. Variable flush toilets have two settings, one for low flush and one for heavy flush. You can conserve hot water and energy by installing a recirculating pump. Advantages of a recirculating pump are: Hot water on demand Heating can be controlled by a timer to match peak usage, thus reducing power consumption Less use of the heating element in your hot water tank, which increases the longevity of your hot water heater. Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth and shaving. Use a Dixie cup for your teeth and fill the sink while shaving. You'll save 4 to 10 gallons per day. Stop using the toilet as a wastebasket and flushing needlessly. Throw Kleenex into the trash and you'll save 1 to 3 gallons per flush. Limit showers to five minutes. You'll get just as clean and save 3 to 7 gallons per shower. Close the tub drain before turning on the bath water. Saves 3 gallons per bath. Check and repair leaky fixtures and toilets that flush randomly or run on. This can save you hundreds of dollars per year!
It's the perfect time to tackle those home reno's you've been planning. If you claim eligible purchases this year, you can claim up to $1350.00 on you 2009 income tax return.
Labor costs, professional fees, building materials, fixtures, equipment rentals, permits.
Furniture and appliances( fridge, stove, couch), purchasing of tools, carpet cleaning, maintenance contracts ( furnace cleaning, snow removal, lawn care, pool cleaning, etc.)
Keep your original receipts for eligible purchases and submit them for a 2009 tax credit when you complete your tax return.
Furnaces
Be cautious - there is an increasing number of reports from all over coming in about consumers being "pressured" into making a decision by repair and installation people. If you are not being given the option to at least get a second opinion and estimate we would shy away from doing business with that individual. A professional will be confident in his assessment and not be concerned about you getting another estimate
One of the most important aspects in your selection of a heating system is proper sizing. A properly sized heating system will provide a high level of comfort, while maintaining maximum efficiency. An oversized system will "short-cycle", meaning that it will cycle on and off more frequently. Short cycling will limit your comfort due to the frequent on/off cycling and reduce the system operating life. Having said all of this keep in mind that with gas furnaces you don't have to nail your requirement down to the very last BTU. Furnaces are typically sold in 20,000-25,000 Btu increments because the manufacturers know that with heating, you just need to be in ballpark in terms of how many Btu's your home needs. If you are off by 20-25% there is no real harm. If your heating requirement is about 10% or more above a given furnace's capacity go up to the next size furnace.
If you live in a colder climate (frequent dips below 30 degrees) a high efficiency furnace is worth considering. A 93% furnace consumes about 16% less gas than a standard 80% efficient furnace. However in warmer southern climates the limited operating time may not justify the price increase. Another important consideration is installation and serviceability. 93% furnaces are more complex than standard efficiency furnaces and if they are not common in your climate the service technicians in your area may not be familiar with proper installation and service procedures.
In a nutshell, it reduces the operating cost of the blower by about 75%, provides better humidity control in the cooling mode, and delivers more consistent air throughout your home in both heating and cooling modes.
A two-stage gas valve adjusts the furnace heating output based on demand. When demand is low the furnace will operate in the lower stage, reducing your fuel bill by about 20%. When the demand is higher the furnace automatically cycles up to the higher stage, providing full capacity and more heat. The lower operating stage also allows the furnace to heat more evenly with less on/off cycling. Instead of frequent blasts of full capacity heat the furnace will provide just the warmth called for without over-heating your home.
We have found that high efficiency furnaces (up to 96.7%) have a cost/benefit ratio that decreases exponentially as the efficiency increases above this level. Simply put, the reduction in operating costs offered by higher efficiency furnaces is normally not justified by the increase in the initial purchase price. These furnaces typically will include other features that may enhance comfort but from a strictly return-on-investment point of view the extra cost is almost impossible to justify. If you are in a colder climate we do highly recommend the 96.7% efficient furnaces for the lowest possible energy costs
Let's break this down by climate: Extreme northern climates.. Natural or propane gas wherever possible. Cold Climates...Natural gas if available or a heat pump with bias toward gas. Moderate climates... Natural gas or a heat pump without bias one way or the other. Extreme southern climates... Heat pump, electric heatstrip or natural gas if available. Of course, a heat pump system includes air conditioning as well.
Possibly. However, ask your installer if his automobile has power steering, power brakes and power windows, and even an electronic air conditioning system. These are just more things to go wrong but we all want the convenience and comfort they provide. Quality control has improved warranties dramatically in the last ten years through the use of manufacturing process certifications and increasingly efficiency assembly methods. Product innovations in efficiency and function will increase complexity slightly but the return in comfort and energy savings will more than offset any potentially slight increase in maintenance. Base your decision on features, initial cost, ownership costs including energy usage, and comfort.
All 80% furnaces use a standard double-wall vent that exhausts through a flue, normally through the roof of your home. They need to be properly lined to prevent condensation from forming and should meet your local code requirements. 90% efficient furnaces are known as "condensing" furnaces and do not require a traditional flue vent. Instead, they use a 2-3 inch PVC pipe that is easily vented either horizontally or vertically to an outside wall. They do produce some condensate (moisture) in the combustion process that will need to be trapped and disposed of.
Your Neighbour’s furnace is using the air within their home for combustion. This is robbing their home of air which has already been heated, used for combustion then exhausted to the outside. Your two pipe system brings cold air from outside for combustion then exhausts it back outside without using any heated air from within the home. Some manufacturers will not honour the lifetime heat exchanger warranty unless a 2 pipe system is used. Often furnace and laundry facilities are located in the same room. In a single pipe system the air being used for combustion is bringing with it fabric softeners and detergents that give off gases that are very corrosive to the internals of the furnace. Insist on a two pipe system where the intake and exhaust are piped to the outside.
That person is probably right! We could make it run forever! Providing you are willing to take the chance that parts are available for the older furnace ( they usually are) and you're willing to withstand the cold until a repairman can fix you up! The questions that I have are this: Are you comfortable in your home from floor to floor and one end to the other? Are you happy with the sound level of your furnace? Are you happy with your utility bill to operate your furnace? Most of today’s furnaces deliver an even, consistent flow of heated air to eliminate hot and cold spots throughout the home. Nearly continuous operation at very low speed means little sound from fewer start-up cycles. Some of the same technology that makes these furnaces so quiet makes them very efficient all year long. Low electrical combined with 96% combustion efficiency makes this choice much clearer.
Mid-efficient furnaces are in most cases 80% efficient. To translate, every dollar that you spend on gas, .80 cents is used to heat your house, .20 cents goes out the chimney. A high-efficient furnace from “The Plumbing & Heating Shop” is up to 98% efficient, using the analogy, .98 cents is spent on heating and .2 cents is going out the chimney. Mid-efficient furnaces draw air from the house to provide oxygen to the burner. This is accomplished by a power exhauster, drawing anywhere from 150cfm (cubic feet of air per minute) to 200cfm. This is warm air you have already paid to heat. A high efficient furnace from “The Plumbing & Heating Shop” has intake and exhaust piping directly to and from the outside. Therefore air is not taken from the house to provide oxygen to the burner. The price difference between the two systems at is roughly $500.00- $700.00. The pay back on a hi-efficient over a mid efficient would be less than two years in most cases.
Air Conditioning
Efficiency and cost savings.
At The Plumbing and Heating Shop Inc. we realize that purchasing a air conditioning system is no small matter. However, if your existing system is old, in need of repair or simply inefficient, purchasing a new unit, one which can be as much as 60% more efficient than a system purchased just 10 years ago, can offer long-term benefits. Rather than continuing to pay for ongoing maintenance and costly monthly bills, invest in a new system today that will save you money for years to come.
Humidifiers
TruSTEAM has its own interior heating element which will bring cold water to a boil. Using a hot water supply for TrueSTEAM is not necessary. For homes with hard water, a quick-connection, in-line water filter is packaged with TrueSTEAM which, when installed, inhibits debris from entering the water tank.
Honeywell has developed a number of innovative advancements to address the concerns of yesterday's humidifier quality issues.
Fail-Safe Water Sensing
The water float and relays used to sense water levels have been replaced with multiple sensors (two low, two high and one ideal), which are housed within a separate compartment of calm water. This increases the accuracy or water level readings and reduces the likelihood of mechanical failure.
Incoloy 600 Heating Element
This robust material, commonly used in the water heating industry, helps inhibit mineral build-up by expanding and contracting as it operates.
Condensate Collect Dome And Nozzle
Prevents water from condensing out of the unit, delivering only true stema into the airflow.
Dual-Action Water Valve
Automatically fills and drains when needed through the same integrated design, which helps inhibit debris from building up in the tank and valve. The manual shut-off valve allows the solenoid to disengage easily from the water tank, leaving the mechanical and electrical contacts on the humidifier while the tank slides free for service.
Automatic Flushing Cycle Options
CAn be configured to auto-flush after 10, 20 or 30 hours of operation. Homes with hard water would benefit from more frequent flushing, whereas homes with high-cost utility bills or local codes would benefit from less frequent flushing.
Auto End-Of-Season Shutdown Options
TrueSTEAM has the built-in intelligence to know when the humidification season is over. After 48 hours of inactivity, the tank will drain and remain empty, preventing water stagnation.
Service Timer Options
Timer-based service lights will activate when it's time to perform annual maintenance on the tank.
Common-Sense Interface
TrueSTEAM's intuitive LED user interface provides feedback to the technician during installation and indicates when the system is running or needs service. This not only provides homeowners with the peace-of-mind that TrueSTEAM is functioning efficiently, it also reduces callbacks and ensures that TrueSTEAM is maintained properly for long, reliable operation.
Auto-Flush
TrueSTEAM self-regulates to automatically flush debris when necessary, and has the built-in intelligence to empty the water during periods of inactivity, avoiding water stagnation.
Annual Cleaning
Once a year, the TrueSTEAM tank should be manually cleaned with soap and water, or run through a dishwasher to ensure peak efficiency. No tools are required to access and clean the tank, which saves time on contractor's annual service calls.
Optimum relative humidity (RH) is defined by industry experts as between 40 and 60 percent RH on an average annual basis, and 35 percent during the heating season in dry climates. An environment with too little humidity leaves the body vulnerable to viruses and bacteria, and can cause woodwork in the house to shrink and crack. On the other hand, too much humidity creates ideal conditions for mold and mildew growth.
TrueSTEAM takes the best features form current steam humidifiers with their efficiency, performance and decreased water consumption, and combines them with the ease of installation, reliability and value of flow-through humidifiers.
Many whole-house humidifiers list their humidification capacity in gallons per day (GPD), or the amount of moisture they can deliver in a 24 hour period. Typically the GPD claim is based on a home's heating equipment running 100 percent of the time, for 24 hours at 120F. Since most humidifiers only work when equipment is running (and no equipment runs full-time), they rarely deliver more than one gallon of moisture for every three gallons that they claim. Plus, for every one gallon of water evaporated, three gallons go down the drain.
TrueSTEAM offers the most reliable and efficient levels of moisture because of its near 1:1 humidification delivery rate, regardless of equipment operation.
Traditionally, steam and flow-through humidifiers have required a lot of duct surface in a conditioned environment to install, and homes with HVAC equipment in tight-fitting or unconditioned air spaces were excluded from the benefits of whole-house humidification as a result.
TrueSTEAM provides limitless installation opportunities through its remote-mount capability, which allows installers to mount the humidifier up to 20 feet away from the ductwork, so finding space in a conditioned space is no longer an issue. The accessories needed for installing remotely are available in a separate kit, and feature a durable steam tube that can operate in unconditioned air spaces.
Air Quality Filters
TRANE CleanEffects has a permanent filter, unlike other systems that require replacement filters, which can cost up to $200 each. The TRANE CleanEffects filter never needs to be replaced.
TRANE CleanEffects is also easy on power consumption. Its air cleaner consumes no more power that a 15-watt bulb, and running the continuous fan consumes no more power than a 75-watt bulb. On average, it adds only $6 per year to homeowners' energy costs.
This concern likely comes from previous reports that in-room air cleaners emit high levels of ozone. TRANE CleanEffects emits a negligible amount of ozone - less than 5 ppb - which is no different than the amount that naturally occurs in air.
TRANE CleanEffects is designed to fall well below the FDA voluntary emission limit for medical devices.
TRANE CleanEffects utilizes a 24VAC power supply.
Other air filtration systems utilize a 110/240 V power supply, which could cause the installer to hire an electrician, increasing their installation costs and adding an extra step.
TRANE simplifies installation and decreases consumer costs by eliminating the need for extra parts and vendors. Installation is easier to schedule and complete.
TRANE makes maintenance cost-efficient and time-saving. While some air filtration systems may claim their filters never need cleaning, they do, however, need replacing. This can be costly and time-consuming.
TRANE CleanEffects cleanable filters alleviate the costly need to purchase replacement filters. They are easy to clean by vacuuming or washing, whichever the consumer prefers.
TRANE recommends maintenance by a licensed TRANE installer annually. The cost of one service call can be about the same as the cost of replacing another model's filter, and provides an opportunity for dealers to solidify their relationships with customers.
With TRANE CleanEffects, homeowners are more likely to purchase a service agreement, which is better than selling replacement filters for "infinity".
TRANE CleanEffects also provides real-time feedback so owners know it's operating appropriately. Indicator lighs remind users when routine cleaning should occur, which can be completed in minutes by vacuuming or washing.
Some air cleaner manufacturers claim to "kill" germs, viruses, fungi (mold spoers) and bacteria. The claim to "kill" is inaccurate. Viruses and many forms of allergens cannot be "killed"; viruses can be inactivated or rendered "non-infectious"; and allergens, which include dust mite debris, pollen and mold spores don't have to be alive to cause allergic reactions.
Accurate testing methodology for "kill" or "inactivation" does not exist and cannot be proven. any clain to "kill" by an air filter system is marketing hype and does not add any value for consumers. The value lies in removing essentially all airborne viruses, fungi (mold spores), bacteria, and allergens fro a home's filtered air.
Removal from the breathable air in your home is what is most important. TRANE CleanEffects removes up to 99.98 percent of all particles and allergens from the filtered air down to 0.1 microns.
There are many variables regarding furnace filters. For example: What type of furnace filter are you using? Do you run your fan continuously? Do you have shedding pets? Have you had any renovations or construction done lately? My advice to you is buy a good filter and check it regularly. No two houses are the same; the filter is the best protection for your furnace. We sell excellent furnace filters here starting at $6.99 for a 16x25x1. That being said, this is the cheapest insurance you can have.
Controls/Thermostats
Zoning
Water Heating
Tankless water heaters use up to 50% less energy than a conventional tank water heater
A tankless unit has a heating device that is activated by the flow of water when a hot water valve is opened. Once activated, the heater delivers a continuous supply of hot water.
You can install a tankless hot water heater anywhere. Where the existing hot water tank was is usually the the most cost effective.
There are several common reasons for a shortage of hot water. Two of the reasons we see most frequently are: A burned-out element in the hot water tank A faulty dip tube in your water heater Too much demand on an existing hot water tank, perhaps because of more people living in a home, the addition of a basement suite or rapid of expansion of a business, especially if the business requires hot water. The first two problems can be corrected by testing the hot water tank and replacing it if necessary. The third can be corrected by upgrading the old water tank with a tank sized to meet the increased demand.
Testimonies
Great Service!
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Rebate Information
The Local, Provincial & Federal Government all have offered rebates to residents who upgrade their homes energy efficiency.
Click here to read about some of the currently offered rebates.
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