Heating System     2/2/12

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Current Heating Oil Prices

as of February 11, 2012

You wash and wax that shiny car of yours and pony up for the latest smart phone, but your heating and cooling system probably never get a second thought unless it fails to start, right?  Then it is foremost on your mind and it’s never a pretty thought.  Now may come the time when you have to weigh repairing …. or replacing the old bugg’r.  It’s a question we get often and there is much to consider.  I thought we’d lay out a few ideas to help you address that very question.

Age of Your System:

• Air conditioners and heat pumps typically carry a 10 year warranty and for good reason … they’re nearing the end of their useful lifespan 10 to 15 years. 
• Boilers and furnaces are closer to 20 years. 

Incentives, Programs and Financing:

• We have just come off a series of federal and state tax credits, but new ones may be coming down the line.
• AFC Financial offers special financing through state programs or you may want to take out an equity loan. 
• Many of our manufacturers have incentives throughout the year, let’s check it out!
• You can go to www.dsireusa.org and do a search for what may be available.

Equipment Efficiency:

• Comfort equipment that is up in years is less efficient than today’s equipment.  For example an 8 or 10 SEER air conditioner can be up graded to 18 SEER and at today’s energy pricing you’ll witness a 5-year savings of over $1,000.00.
• A furnace with a current efficiency rating of 62 AFUE can be upgraded to a 95% efficient condensing furnace and result in a $3,500 savings over 5 years.
• Energy prices will undoubtedly continue to rise, so your savings will likely be substantially higher!

Home Improvements:

• If you haven’t already, you should have us do an Energy Audit.  We are BPI certified and trained to inspect your home’s overall health and efficiency.  Everything from light bulbs to insulation, Heating to ceiling fans, and water issues to appliances.  We inspect it all and can recommend how minimal investments can save a great deal of money.
• Likewise, if you have put on an addition, added windows, or invested in other improvements, this may dictate that your current comfort equipment is either too big or too small, both of which cost you energy dollars.

Environmental Impact:

• We all should be doing our part from buying local to recycling.  New equipment will reduce your carbon footprint.  Heating your water and conditioning your home accounts for 50% of domestic energy use so it’s vital we save where we can and conserve energy!
• Today’s air conditioners and heat pumps utilize R410a refrigerant, a much friendlier product than its predecessor, R22.

Comfort:

• Today’s systems are not only more efficient, but quieter, faster, and more balanced resulting in a more comfortable habitat!
• Now you can control your home’s comfort systems with your notebook, computer or smart phone.  Turn the temp up on your way home from the office and save!

These are just a few ideas to consider.  We can provide you with current thoughts on equipment, comfort, and savings.  Give us a shout today to see what solutions are available to keep you in the comfort zone.

Interested in another topic?

Read our past Fuel for Thought: HERE