Home Heating: Helpful Tips and New Technologies

BUFFALO, NY — 2 On Your Side says the cost of natural gas has skyrocketed recently, with National Fuel predicting it will cost the average homeowner over $1,000 to heat their home this winter. I told him I was there.

There are some seasonal suggestions for heating system care, but climate change concerns have also taken a look at new heating technologies on the horizon.

Some of us might consider it a basement beast, but it really is a mind- and body-warming device to shower with caution this time of year. It’s a friendly furnace that needs to be checked annually by the contractor to check for leaks and potential equipment problems.

Ian Donnelly, Project Manager at T-Mark Plumbing, Heating, & Cooling, said: “Are they leaking gas or carbon monoxide as well as looking at the equipment when they’re there?

“What does the blower motor indicate? Are there any signs of failure? Is the inducer motor possibly starting to squeak? Bad bearings? These are all telltale signs of a problem with the trained ear.”

Also, don’t forget to replace the furnace filters which can be purchased from hardware or home improvement stores. They are usually easy to replace at the furnace.

“If you don’t change the filter and it’s clogged, it means your furnace isn’t breathing properly,” says Donnelly. It takes time, the longer it takes to heat up, the more gas it burns and the more it costs.

“So what you can do as a homeowner is change your filters once a month during the winter to make sure your system is as effective as it needs to be for your home and family.”

And consider a programmable thermostat to reduce heat and gas usage when you’re not home.

Additionally, keep heat in your home with proper insulation and sealants, or caulk drafty windows and doors.

Next, adjust your water heater to a mid-dial or range setting to conserve natural gas usage, if possible, by producing heated water at 120 degrees instead of the usual 130-140 degrees. You can also

Some customers may eventually consider a more expensive tankless hot water heater that heats water without tank capacity limitations.

When it comes to heating systems, they’re obviously not cheap, but an upgrade to a high-efficiency furnace with external PVC vents can really pay off with utility rebate programs.

“The difference between a chimney-vented furnace and a high-efficiency furnace is 15%. That’s a substantial amount of money,” says Donnelly. “And when you think about that price increase, especially with the rise we’re seeing here this year, not only are the gains very fast, but they’re paying us back in dividends. You can get away with venting to the chimneys. We’ve got a problem with the chimneys. .”

In 2019, New York State passed climate change legislation. This is one of the most progressive in the country. Albany officials should increase the use of heat pumps, especially in new home construction, over the next few years.

Electric heat pumps for heating and cooling homes are more popular in the temperate southern United States. However, technology for cold climates is advancing.

One might consider a hybrid system of heat pump and furnace combination. This is thousands of dollars expensive, but efficient when switching from electric to gas. Its switch-off is usually set when the outside temperature reaches 40 degrees.

“With the thermostat and temperature sensors and the quality equipment we installed, the house could use electrical energy to heat the house initially and then switch to gas when it was really needed,” Donnelly said. I can do it.

There are more traditional single-system air source-based heat pumps that may require more engineering modifications to accommodate the colder climate of western New York.