Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Heating Installation’

Why High-Efficiency Heating Equipment Makes a Difference

Monday, February 12th, 2018

If you’re like most people, you typically spend time comparing your options before making a big purchase. When you want a new car, you might spend time looking into special features like reclining back seats or sunroofs or any number of safety features. When buying a new washer or dryer, you might prefer them to be stackable or to have a stainless steel finish.

So why are we content to pick just any model of heating and cooling equipment? In our area, high efficiency makes a huge difference, and we recommend putting this as a priority above the initial price. Here’s how this may benefit you.

Tags: Canonsburg, Heating, Heating Installation
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Is It Time to Upgrade Your Heating Equipment?

Monday, January 2nd, 2017

This year, make a commitment to better health, wellness, and energy savings with a new heating system from your local HVAC contractor. It’s a great time to upgrade your furnace or radiant heating system to something that operates more and more efficiently and effectively for better whole-home comfort.

Read more about when it’s time to upgrade your heating system and what your options are in today’s guide.

Tags: Baldwin, Heating Installation, Heating Replacement
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How Do I Judge the Efficiency of a Heating System?

Monday, December 14th, 2015

If you need to install a new heating system, either now or in the imminent future, one of the most important things you need to assess before installation is the efficiency of the system(s) you are reviewing. The major types of heating systems – furnaces, boilers and heat pumps – come with an assessment you can easily see right on the packaging. However, if you don’t understand what the given rating is telling you, it won’t be of much help. Here is a basic overview of what efficiency ratings you will see on these kinds of systems.

Tags: Heating Installation, Pittsburgh
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Upgrading to a More Efficient Furnace in Pittsburgh

Monday, March 25th, 2013

The spring off-season is a great time to make any upgrades to your heating system. If your furnace is getting older or requires frequent repairs, then it’s probably time to think about a high-efficiency replacement. Efficiency measures the amount of fuel or electrical input to the amount of heating output. Upgrading is a great way to improve your long-term savings, and allows you to take control of the future of your home comfort. Today’s energy-efficient models are powerful systems that make very little waste. Are you ready for a new furnace in Pittsburgh? Call Boehmer Heating & Cooling today!

One of the most important ratings in the heating industry is known as AFUE, which stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It estimates the yearly average of heating output per energy input. It’s a percentage that indicates how much of the furnace’s energy is converted into heat, and how much is waste product exhausted outside the home. Some of today’s furnaces have AFUE ratings of up to 97%, which means that only 3% of the furnace’s energy is wasted—an incredible ratio. Most modern furnaces are AFUE rated at 90% and above, which is a drastic improvement from those produced just 15 years ago.

If you’re considering upgrading to a more efficient furnace, perhaps one with a much higher AFUE than your current system, you’ll also need to consider whether to choose gas or electric. You should take into consideration several factors: what type of energy source your current system runs on, the respective costs of gas and electric in your area, as well as your budget. If you’re already set up for a gas furnace, then perhaps it makes sense to stick with your setup and simply swap out the unit itself. If you previously had electric and you want natural gas, then you’ll need to make sure that you have a gas hook-up nearby that is available. While both types are efficient, electric furnaces tend to be more so, because they don’t need to convert a fuel, such as gas or oil, and they can theoretically operate at 100% AFUE.

Upgrading your furnace is a great way to maximize your savings over the long term and your comfort in the short term. For furnace installation in Pittsburgh, call Boehmer Heating & Cooling today!

Tags: Furnace, Furnace Installation, Heating, Heating Installation, McCandless, Pittsburgh, Washington
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Boiler or Furnace: Which is Right for Your Pittsburgh Home?

Monday, January 21st, 2013

Boilers and furnaces are two of the most common heating systems in the United States. There are pros and cons to each heating system but when it comes down to it, the best system for your home is the one that you like the most. But which one is right for your home? This can be a hard question to answer without knowing the specifics of your home, your budget and your personal preferences. Boehmer Heating & Cooling has been providing complete boiler and furnace installation in Pittsburgh for many years. We’ve help countless customers figure out which system is right for their home and then installed it for them so that it works when they need. Here are some of the things to think about as you move forward with this process.

Radiant Heat vs. Forced Convection

Boiler systems generally heat your home using radiant heat. This means that the heat from the under floor or wall pipes radiates out into the room and heats up the objects in the room. You can also have baseboard radiators which heat the air. A forced-air convection system, like a furnace, heats up the air and moves it through your home.

The Pros and Cons of Boilers in Pittsburgh

As is the case with everything, boilers do offer some great advantages to your homes but they also have some disadvantages. To begin with, many people report that radiant is more comfortable than forced-air heating. If you have radiators in each room, you can turn some of them off if you’re not using the room which offers energy savings. However, boilers are typically much more to install and to replace. They also don’t offer any humidity control for your home because they don’t circulate air.

Pros and Cons of Furnaces in Pittsburgh

Furnaces offer certain benefits over boilers. They allow you to incorporate an air filtration and humidity control system directly into your heating system. They also cost much less to replace and to install. However, because they move air around, they pick up dust and other allergens and move them into the air.

If you need any kind of help picking out a new heating system for your home, just call Boehmer Heating & Cooling. We have years of experience providing complete furnace installation and boiler installation in Pittsburgh. Call us today!

Tags: Boilers, Furnaces, Heating, Heating Installation, Pittsburgh
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Boehmer Heating and Cooling Welcomes Jim to the Team!

Thursday, December 27th, 2012

Boehmer Heating & Cooling would like to welcome Jim to the team! Jim comes to us as a veteran of the lumber and building materials industry for 38 years. He brings his experience in sales and management to help our customers plan the replacement of their heating and cooling systems. Jim calls Jefferson Hills home with his wife Paula. He enjoys spending time with his grandkids and volunteering at church.

“I enjoy working for Boehmer Heating & Cooling because of their reputation, honesty, and commitment to their customers. It is a great pleasure to work with a third-generation family business that has been around for 80 years!”

Boehmer Heating & Cooling offer heating installation, maintenance and repair services in the greater Pittsburgh area. If you need boiler, heat pump or furnace services give us a call today!

Tags: Boehmer Heating & Cooling, Boiler, Custmer Service, Furnaces, Heating Installation, Heating Repair, Pittsburgh
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Pittsburgh Heating Tip: Decisions to Make Prior to Your Furnace Installation

Monday, December 10th, 2012

While summer and fall are excellent times to start planning a new furnace installation for your Pittsburgh area home, it’s never too early to start comparing the different models if you know that you will need to replace your furnace.

There are some decisions you will need to make prior to the furnace installation, such as what type of furnace you want to install and what features are most important to you. You can always call Boehmer Heating & Cooling for advice. Meanwhile, we’ve put together some things to think about as you start making these decisions.

You can begin making your decisions by monitoring your heating bills and paying attention to how well your current furnace is performing. Are you paying outrageously high heating bills? How did your furnace test during the annual tune-up? If you decide that you want a high-efficiency system, you’ll need to know how to read and compare the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) percentages and what they mean for you.

It’s a good idea to begin speaking with your heating contractor about the different models on the market, and they should be able to help you select the most cost-efficient furnace for your home. You’ll also need to decide what type of fuel you want to use. For instance, if your home has access to natural gas, heating with a gas furnace is much easier than getting oil delivered, and if you switch over, you will also save space since there’s no tank involved.

Don’t hesitate to call Boehmer Heating & Cooling if you having any questions about installing a heating system in Pittsburgh!

Tags: Furnace Installation, Heating, Heating Installation, McCandless, Pittsburgh, Upper St Clair
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What to Consider Before a Boiler Installation in Pittsburgh

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Boilers are a terrific heating system for your home in Pittsburgh and are one of the most popular heating systems in the United States. They offer reliable and comfortable heat for your home. When you start to think about getting a boiler installed there are a number of important considerations to take into account. At Boehmer Heating & Cooling we’ve installed countless boiler systems. We thought that it would be helpful if we put together a list of some of the most common considerations before you have a new boiler installed in your home.

Boiler Efficiency Rating

One of the most important considerations is the efficiency of your new boiler. Difference heating systems receive different efficiency ratings. Boilers are given an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. This rating describes the percentage of fuel that is actually converted into usable heat. For example, some older boilers and furnaces have an AFUE rating of 60%. This means that 60% of the fuel consumed is turned into heat while the other 40% is wasted. Newer systems can have an AFUE rating of 95% and higher. Obviously, you want to get the most efficient system possible. Normally, the efficiency rating is noted on the side of the unit.

Fuel Type

Depending on your home and where you live, you may want to think about the type of fuel that your boiler will use. If you have a natural gas line coming into your, perhaps for a water heater, you can have it piped to your boiler as well. But if you don’t have a gas line, it would probably make more sense to install one that uses oil.

Size of the Boiler

The physical size of the boiler is another thing you should think about before you have it installed. You want to make sure that you have the physical space for the new unit.

Installation

The final thing to think about is who you want to install your new boiler. You should always have a professional heating contractor come to your home to finish the installation. Improper installation is one of the most common sources of problems for our customers in the Pittsburgh area. You want your heating system to start off on the right foot.

If you have any questions about our boiler installation services in Pittsburgh, give Boehmer Heating & Cooling a call. We have experience working with all types and brands of boilers. Contact us today!

Tags: Boiler, Boiler Installation, Coraopolis, Heating, Heating Installation, North Hills, Pittsburgh
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Why AFUE Ratings Matter When Installing a New Furnace in Your Pittsburgh Home

Monday, November 5th, 2012

When you are in the market for a new furnace for your Pittsburgh home, there are several reasons you should pay attention to the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. All newer model furnaces get an AFUE percentage, which measures how much fuel a particular model converts into heat. Furnaces with higher AFUE ratings are more efficient, but the size and type of furnace will also factor into how much you’ll save on energy costs.

Understanding the AFUE Ratio

The minimum AFUE rating for new furnaces is 78%. This means that seventy-eight percent of the fuel is turned into heat, and the remaining percentage is lost either through poor insulation, air leaks, or the ventilation system in the home. Because there’s no heat loss through a chimney flue, some all-electric furnaces can have an AFUE rating as high as 98%. However, if the cost of electricity used to meet your normal heating needs is higher than the efficiency savings, you may want to consider other options. Talk to a qualified HVAC contractor for advice about the most cost-efficient heater for your home.

Furnace Efficiency Features

Furnaces manufactured 15-20 years ago have significantly lower AFUE ratings (between 55%-70% for most older models) because they are typically single-stage, or single-speed systems. Single-stage furnaces are less efficient because they are designed to cycle on at full capacity and shut off when the desired temperature is met. Newer, two-speed models have a second setting that runs consistently at a lower speed, which saves energy by burning less fuel. Multispeed furnaces that have variable-speed blowers are the most efficient because they operate at various levels and automatically adjust to the thermostat to maintain a constant temperature.

If you look at the AFUE ratings for multispeed and variable-speed furnaces, the ratios should be above 80%. Keep in mind that this only determines the efficiency levels for the furnace itself. You’ll need to factor in whether or not your home has proper insulation and other upgrades, such as double-paned windows and doors.

Call Boehmer Heating & Cooling to speak with one of our qualified HVAC technicians about a furnace upgrade for your Pittsburgh home.

Tags: AFUE, Brentwood, Energy Efficiency, Heating, Heating Installation, Mt Lebanon, Pittsburgh
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What You Should Consider Before Upgrading the Heating System in Your Pittsburgh Home

Monday, October 29th, 2012

Many Pittsburgh homeowners who heat their homes with an older heating system—whether it’s a furnace or a boiler—may want to consider upgrading to a more efficient system. Older furnaces with an AFUE rating of less than 80%, for instance, could be costing you a lot more than you realize in heating bills.

While it is a significant initial investment, upgrading to a more efficient furnace or boiler will pay for itself in energy savings. Before you decide on whether or not an upgrade is right for your home, here are some things to keep in mind.

Fuel Costs

Some types of fuel, such as electricity, are more expensive in certain areas. Depending on where you live, you may want to compare the cost of fuel before choosing a heating upgrade. In fact, natural gas may or may not be available to your home. Check with your utility company to find out what types of fuel are available and which ones would be more cost-efficient for heating your home. You can always call a qualified HVAC technician if you have any questions about a heating system upgrade.

Insulation

Whenever you are thinking about upgrading your heating system, you’ll want to make sure your home is properly insulated and sealed. If you purchase and install a highly efficient furnace, it won’t save as much in energy bills if your house is poorly insulated. Get a home energy audit with a local energy resource organization if you aren’t sure. You might want to also consider upgrading your old windows and doors, or installing storm doors and windows to improve air tightness.

Property Value

A lot of homeowners forget that any upgrade or remodeling project will increase the value of their home. Not only will a heating system upgrade lower your heating bills; it will also add value to your home and property. Always make sure you choose the right system for your home so that it lasts as long as possible.

If you are considering upgrading the heating system in your Pittsburgh home, call Boehmer Heating & Cooling Company to speak with one of our HVAC experts to ask about our quality products and installation services.

Tags: Heating, Heating Installation, Heating Upgrades, Monroeville, Pittsburgh, Washington
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