New Home Owner Suggestions

If you are in a new property and not familiar with the equipment in your home have us come out. We will check over the equipment, review it with you and explain a few things. Our people will be able to show you things you should be doing that you may not know about.

As a new home owner there is a list if the things you need to be familiar with and need to do to get the best performance from your home comfort equipment.

Replacing the filter in your furnace regularly is important. If the filters are dirty the furnace will not run efficiently and your air conditioner may not run at all. We can show you how to check and change your filters. This is an easy job that most home owners can do themselves.

Thermostats come in a wide range of vintages and styles. You need to know how your thermostat works, its features and limitations. In an older home it may even be beneficial to replace your thermostat. We find many people do not understand that with most thermostats, you need to switch between the heating program and the cooling program.

To maximize your comfort levels, you want to ensure that your humidifier is working properly and that you know how to use it. Optimal settings differ depending on the time of year. Your humidity levels within the home have a major impact on how you feel in the home.

You need to know how to shut down your air conditioner for the winter. While not difficult it is important to ensure this is done correctly to protect the unit and make sure it is functional in the spring.
Prior to temperatures getting cold you need to start up the furnace to ensure that it is running properly. The first chilly day is not a fun time to find out that your furnace needs service.

Optimal air conditioning and heating is dependent in part, on how your vents are set up. Most people do not understand the science behind airflow, and the experts at Salmons can review this with you.

Check the condition of your water heater. The age of the unit is one indicator of potential issues. The colour and temperature of the water that comes out of your tap can also indicate the status of your heater.

Make sure you know where the various shutoff valves are for the water lines inside and outside the house. If you should spring a leak every minute counts to minimize damage.

People sometimes will notice that something is a little different but, will ignore it, hoping it will correct itself. Quite often equipment will put off different warnings before it fails. Addressing warning signs early is the best practice. If you are not sure, give us a call.

Belt-Drive Furnace Fans

If you have a forced air furnace that is more than 30 years old, chances are that it has a belt driven fan. There is a large fan that is joined to an electric motor with a fan belt, much like you would see in a car.

Many modern high efficiency gas furnaces use a direct drive fan with an ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor). These motors use a fraction of the electricity needed to power an older belt drive system. Many new furnaces also have variable speeds for the furnace fan. This also saves energy because your fan runs slower when it's not as cold outside and you do not require as much heat.

Modern homes also rely on the furnace fan to move cool air produced by your air conditioner, in the summer months. Modern ECM's will move more air, more efficiently, which leads to improved air conditioner performance.

Older belt drive, chimney vented furnaces are only about 60% efficient. Many new high efficiency furnaces will be 95% efficient or greater. There's a big saving on your gas bill. The ECM also creates a big saving on your hydro bill.

Belt-drive Furnace Fan

In addition to the energy savings, you'll experience a big improvement in home comfort. Many people are surprised when their new furnace actually keeps them more comfortable during the cooling season. This is especially true in two storey homes. The upper floor will always be warmer than the lower floor in the summer months. A new furnace will move more air, doing a better job of balancing the temperature of your home. In addition, with the ECM motor, if you decide to run your fan continuously to help minimize the temperate difference between the floors in your home the cost for the hydro to run the fan will be significantly less ( up to 80% less).

What are the Energy Savings?

This varies depending on the age and size of your home. We can tell you for sure that if you have an older chimney vented furnace with a belt drive fan, a new furnace will pay for itself.

It costs nothing to have Salmon Plumbing & Heating come out to your home and access your home comfort system. We have financing programs in place so you can purchase your new equipment with low monthly payments. Your energy savings will offset some or all of these payments, depending on the age of your current furnace.

A new furnace can pay for itself. Click here to see our website page.

What to Think About When Buying a New Furnace

There are several reasons you may be in the market for a new furnace:

• A large estimate to repair your current furnace.
• Your existing furnace is not energy efficient and a new furnace will actually save you money.
• Your existing furnace has had a critical failure, like a cracked heat exchanger.
• To improve your home’s comfort.

Daikin Furnace + Air

Whatever the reason, a new furnace is a large investment in a piece of equipment that you will have for 15 to 20 years.

Home owners are likely to look at the price, manufacturer and warranty when making their decision. An equally important consideration is the contractor that will be installing your equipment. Here are a few considerations:

• Will they stand behind the product after it is installed?
• Do they service the product themselves, or do they contract service to somebody else?
• Is there somebody local you can talk to if you have a problem?
• Do they employ licensed tradesmen? A proper installation requires electrical work, a gas fitter and custom sheet metal work.

Modern furnaces are complex pieces of equipment. A furnace needs to sized, for your home. Once it is installed, it needs to be set up properly to ensure your safety and comfort. Finally, a good contractor will show you how to operate your new furnace to give you the best performance.

Home owners can do many things themselves to keep their system running smoothly including:

• Changing furnace filters
• Adjusting your humidifier for summer and winter
• Keeping fresh batteries in your thermostat
• Making sure that heating vents and cold air returns are not obstructed
• Keeping air intakes and exhaust vents clear of snow and debris

Changing Furnace Filters

A good contractor will show you how to do all of this after installation. All new furnaces require an annual maintenance check-up. Annual maintenance is important to:

• Keep your manufacturer’s warranty in place.
• Extend the life of your equipment
• Keep your equipment operating safely and efficiently

It only makes sense to have an installation contractor that’s familiar with your equipment and can help you resolve any warranty issues. A good contractor will call to remind you to get your equipment maintained every year.

There are many ways to make sure you are dealing with a reputable contractor, including:

• The Better Business Bureau
• The manufacturer’s website
• The HRAI (Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada) website

If you are thinking of a new furnace, Salmon Plumbing & Heating provides a free no-obligation visit to your home. We’ll take a look at your old furnace and recommend a brand and model that will best meet your needs. If you would like to finance your furnace, we can also help you set up an affordable payment plan.

Just call (519) 451-8910.

Rebates from the government on new energy efficient equipment are designed to help homeowners move into new equipment. We’ll explain all the programs that are currently available and help you with the paperwork.

Government Rebates on New Furnaces and Air Conditioners in Ontario

The Ontario Government is currently running a program called ‘saveONenergy’. The program is run by a department called IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator). This provincial department ensures that there is enough power to meet the province's energy needs both today and in the future.

The saveONenergy Heating & Cooling Incentive offers rebates to Ontario residents looking to replace their old central air conditioning or heating systems with ENERGY STAR® qualified models. With 60% of your yearly electricity bill going toward heating and cooling your home, it makes good sense to look for ways to reduce your usage and your bills.

The program offers consumers very attractive rebates. If you purchase a qualifying furnace, there is a rebate of $250.00. For a qualifying air conditioner there is a rebate of $400.00.

When you are buying a complete system that adds up to $650, which is a pretty attractive incentive to purchase new equipment. You also see the benefit of lower utility bills and improved home comfort. New equipment carries worry free warranties of up to 12 years, providing peace of mind for our customers.

Why is the Government Doing This?

To meet the increased demands for electricity the provincial government has two choices. Build more power plants and infrastructure or encourage consumers to use less energy.

It is cheaper for the government to offer these rebates and encourage consumers to move into more energy efficient equipment that it is to build new power plants.

Is it Complicated to get the Money?

We will make sure that you are choosing equipment from Ruud or Daikin that qualifies for the rebates.

We strive to make the process simple, we do this all the time. We’ll help you with all the paperwork and ensure that you get your rebate after your new equipment is installed.

Bill Salmon talks about Government Programs: