About the House with Henri de Marne by Henri de Marne

Author:Henri de Marne [Author]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Home Repair, Home Maintenance, Home Improvement, Home Ownership
ISBN: 9780942679397
Publisher: Upper Access, Inc.
Published: 2014-01-15T16:00:00+00:00

Options for Upgrading Heating Systems

Comparing oil- and gas-fired systems

Over the years, many readers have asked for advice on upgrading to various boilers and furnaces. They have usually narrowed their searches to three or four brands or models. For the purpose of this book, it seems more appropriate to generalize a bit, listing some of the considerations in making the choice.

At the risk of stating the obvious, the more efficient the system, the less you’ll spend on fuel and the less negative impact you’ll have on the planet. Most new furnaces and boilers have efficiency ratings of between 80 and 95%, while many older systems are in the 50% range. Therefore, upgrading to a new system will almost inherently lead to significant fuel savings.

The efficiency ratings (officially called Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, or AFUE) should be in the product literature or the manufacturer’s Web site. Other useful information is provided by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE), at www.aceee.org.

As a practical matter, most people must balance energy efficiency with cost. If a more efficient model is significantly more expensive, will the fuel savings be enough to pay back the difference over time? If so, how many years will it take to recover the extra investment? Be sure to take all costs into consideration, including purchase price, cost of installation, additional equipment that may be needed (Will the new system require a new expansion tank?), projected maintenance costs, and any tax benefits for energy efficiency. If you are discussing this with a qualified and honest heating contractor, he or she will help in making these comparisons.

In computing savings, keep in mind that as efficiency increases, the amount of savings between the higher and lower efficiency models diminishes. An easy comparison would be with miles per gallon of various automobiles. You would use 5 gallons of gas to travel 100 miles in a car that gets 20 MPG, but only 3⅓ gallons in a car that gets 30 MPG—a saving of 1⅔ gallons. But you would only save an additional 83% of one gallon if you drove a car that gets 40 miles per gallon, which would only burn 2½ gallons per 100 miles, and only half a gallon more if your car got 50 miles per gallon. It’s the law of diminishing returns, which applies equally to furnaces and boilers. The difference between 50% and 80% efficiency is very significant, but boosting efficiency to 90% may yield smaller savings than you would expect.

Also keep in mind that improving the energy efficiency of the house may have a greater effect on fuel savings than replacement of the furnace or boiler. If you have an inefficient old house, then improving insulation and reducing drafts may be the most important steps to take. This will also allow you to get by with a smaller (and less expensive) heating plant.

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