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Have you considered zone heating?

1/30/2014

Have you been feeling sympathy for your hard working furnace, or boiler lately? Or worried about your next natural gas bill??
We are experiencing a particularly cold winter this year in Southern Ontario, so it is no surprise that we keep hearing the same concerns from multiple clients..
Concerns about homes that still feel chilly, even while the thermostat is turned up and the furnace or boiler rarely takes a break. All the while there are the fears of enormous utility bills due to thermostats being cranked way up, to try and fight the chill of record breaking outside temps.
Unfortunately, you could be fighting a losing battle - especially if you live in a drafty, or under insulated home.
A great solution to consider, if this is your predicament, is one we often suggest to our customers.

ZONE HEATING

Think about the room, or rooms you use most often. Imagine that room having a separate heat source, such as a cozy gas fuelled fireplace, that it used when that particular room is occupied. This would allow you to turn DOWN your central heating thermostat - while maintaining a very comfortable temperature in the room that is most often used. Your furnace works hard constantly to maintain a steady temperature throughout your home, whether the entire home is being used or not.

While zone heating can be a comforting bonus in the depths of winter, it can also be of great help during the spring and fall months. With a fireplace keeping your zone comfortable, you'll be one of the first to turn your furnace/boiler off in Spring, and last to fire it back up in the Fall!

Not only is zone heating with a gas fireplace a great solution to your house heating dilemmas, but as a bonus, they also look great! And perhaps the biggest bonus of all, is the peace of mind in knowing that your gas fireplace requires no electricity to operate. Therefore, it will continue to heat your zone even during a power outage, while your other heating systems will not.

Think about giving your central heating system, and your wallet a break by implementing a bit of zone heating in your home!

Give us a call to schedule a completely free, no obligation consultation and quote with our fireplace specialist.

Give us a call!

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Black bean and corn chili with vegan cornmeal pancakes

1/29/2014

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For us, chili is always the first dish that comes to mind when extreme cold weather strikes. This particular recipe produces a light, mildly spiced stew, but packs enough heat to warm you through when a polar vortex strikes!
It has big bright tomato flavour, sweetness from the corn, heat from the cayenne, and lots of protein from the black beans. The light sauce, pulls it all together. It's not overly thick and rich – more like a hearty salsa; perfect for ladelling over these fluffy cornmeal pancakes..

In our opinion, this is a perfect dish when you're craving something warming and hardy (or is it hearty?) but not interested in eating something heavy and bloating. It warms and comforts, but doesn’t leave you comatose on the couch.

Simple Black Bean and Corn Chili

1 tbls olive oil

1 medium sweet onion diced

3 cloves garlic minced

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp garlic salt

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

1 – 32 oz can diced tomatoes

1 can black beans rinsed

1/2 green pepper chopped

1/2 can tomato paste

1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

salt and pepper

Saute diced onion in olive oil for 3-5 minutes, until translucent. Add minced garlic and saute for another minute. Combine the cumin, oregano, garlic salt, paprika and cayenne pepper in a small dish then add to saute. Continue to saute for another minute. Add the diced tomatoes, black beans, chopped green pepper, tomato paste. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 20 mins. Add frozen corn and simmer for another 5 mins. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Vegan Cornmeal Pancakes

1 cup all purpose, or w/w flour

1/2 cup corn meal

3 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tbls sugar

1 tsp salt

1 cup unsweetened or original almond milk

2 tsp apple cider vinegar (white vinegar is fine, if it's all you have on hand)

3 tbls olive oil

In a medium to large sized bowl mix together the flour, cormeal, baking powder, sugar and salt.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, vinegar and oil. Make a well in the dry ingredient mix, and pour in the wet ingredients. Use a fork to gently combine. Do not over mix.
Allow the batter to sit for approximately 10 minutes. Heat a bit of oil in a non stick pan. Spoon about a 1/4 cup of batter onto the pan, gently press into pancake form and cook over medium heat for about 2-3 mins until you begin to see small bubbles appear over the surface of the pancake. Once the bubbles appear, flip the pancake and cook for an additional 2 mins. Transfer to plate. This recipe yields approximately 8-10 medium sized pancakes.

Adapted from IsaChandra Moskowitz' Puffy Pillow Pancakes

Serve warm, topped with a generous ladle full of chili. We topped our chili with a dollop of velvety vegan cream cheese, which added just the right amount of creaminess and tanginess to the dish. Yum!

To be followed-up with a glass of red by the fireplace, of course!

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Another Great Fireplace Installation by Family Comfort

1/23/2014

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We are big fans Valor Fireplaces. Many of Valor's timeless designs are based on fireplaces and stoves of the past. The best way to describe a Valor Fireplace, is by comparing it to a historical home that has been expertly modernized, in terms of it's interior mechanical workings, while taking great care to preserve it's exterior charm and character.

Here is a past installation of a Valor 738 natural gas insert. In this project, the unit was built into custom cabinetry, in a cozy family room.

Luckily this homeowner's installation was completed prior to Ontario's December 2013 ice storm. Our clients were without hydro for three full days, but were able to keep their home heated with the help of two gas fireplaces installed in the house.

Chimney liner has been dropped, and gas lines have been run. Now time for the fun part..

Leak testing the gas line.

Clean up!

Final adjustments are made to ensure the insert is level, and fitted correctly into the firebox before the logs are placed and trim/accessories installed.

The fireplace running..and warming us up after a particularly cold day spent working outside, and up on a roof!! FYI our photography is crooked, the fireplace is not!

A beautiful project completed. Sadly we can not take credit for the beautiful custom cabinetry work!

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Fun Facts about Natural Gas

1/19/2014

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Here are some fun and interesting facts about natural gas, courtesy of Spectra Energy. Some of them might surprise you!

Fueled by natural gas

This city bus runs on clean burning, low emission producing natural gas.

» Natural gas arrived in the home during the first century A.D. in Persia. It seeped from the ground and was ignited by lightning, producing an 'eternal flame' that burned day and night. Seeking to take advantage of this continuous heating source - and since pipelines wouldn't come around until the 1800's - the king of Persia built his royal kitchen next to it.

» Besides being a heating fuel, natural gas has other cool uses ... like chilling the glycol used to produce ice for hockey and skating rinks.

» Many NFL teams tackle cold weather by warming their fields using tubes heated with natural gas. This lets the turf grow in the winter.

» Museums use natural gas-fueled equipment to help maintain the proper humidity for the conservation of art, fabrics and historic papers.

» If all the natural gas pipelines in the U.S. were connected to each other they would stretch to and from the moon almost three times.

» Did you know that increased shale gas activity is expected to generate at least $37 billion in government revenues by 2020 and $57 billion by 2035? (IHS Global Insight) These types of revenues can help fund many items, such as road construction and provide other services.

» Rembrandt Peale, a famous portrait painter, founded the first natural gas utility in Baltimore in 1816 after using natural gas as an energy source to light an exhibit at his museum and gallery.

» William Hart dug the first natural gas well in the U.S. outside Fredonia, New York, in 1821. The well was about 27 feet deep compared to today's wells which can run more than 30,000 feet deep.

» The Philadelphia Zoo uses natural gas to cool a greenhouse for a rare bird and one of the most endangered species in the world, the Micronesian Kingfisher.

» Every hour on the hour in the evenings, a volcano erupts in front of the MGM Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. It's fueled by pina colada-scented natural gas.

» Slightly more than half of the homes in the United States use natural gas as their main heating fuel.

» We depend on natural gas to go about our daily lives. More than half the homes in the U.S. are heated by natural gas. And did you know it's used to manufacture items such as paper, fertilizer, brick, photo film, even medicine.

» Natural gas in its pure form is colorless and odorless. Utility companies add the smell of rotten eggs - a product called mercaptan - to make natural gas detectable.

» There are approximately four million Americans employed either directly or indirectly by the natural gas industry - America's 'Blue Jobs.'

» Did you take out the trash this morning? If so, thank natural gas, which is used to help manufacture trash bags.

» A study from America's Natural Gas Alliance reveals that if natural gas was an actual U.S. state, it would rank 12th in gross domestic product - just behind Virginia.

» There are more than 120,000 natural gas vehicles on American roads, as many companies and municipalities are deploying fleets of natural-gas powered vehicles to reduce emissions.

» Did you know that North America has more natural gas than Saudi Arabia has oil? As a nation, we must continue our focus on safely and responsibly developing this clean-burning, sustainable and versatile energy resource.

» Natural gas complements renewable technologies such as wind and power, providing the necessary low-emission backup generation.

» Natural gas is efficient. About 90 percent of the gas produced is delivered to customers as usable energy. Greater efficiency means fewer greenhouse gas emissions.

» Pipelines make new gas supplies accessible. In fact, according to the Energy Information Administration, there are 300,000 miles of intrastate and interstate natural gas transmission pipelines in the United States.

» North America reaps huge benefits from domestically abundant natural gas. In fact, proved domestic reserves are their highest in 40 years and domestic production is the strongest since 1974, according to the American Gas Association.

» Storage facilities help meet large and immediate natural gas demands. In fact, from November to March, consumers get 15-to-20 percent of their natural gas from stored gas, according to the American Gas Association.

A professional gas range, built for a chef (or professional home cook!)

» It's dinner time! A national survey shows that 80 percent of Canadian executive chefs prefer cooking with natural gas, according to the Canadian Gas Association. Chefs cited the speed and the outstanding quality of natural gas as the top two reasons they prefer cooking with natural gas.

» When used to generate electricity natural gas burns cleaner than other fuel sources, with less pollutants and no mercury. This means cleaner air in our communities.

» Between 2005 and 2010, natural gas companies contributed, on average, more than $4.4 billion per year in gas royalty payments to the federal government. (Source: IHS Global Insight, 2010)

» Natural gas development creates jobs. Did you know that more than 600,000 Americans are directly employed by natural gas development? (Source: IHS Global Insight, 2010)

» Did you know that to provide 1,000 households with electricity for one year, only .3 acres is needed to operate an electric generation facility powered by natural gas? In fact, the land requirements are significantly less than a facility operated by solar or wind, which require 6 acres.

» Did you know that in a single year the average U.S. home uses 665,720 U.S. gallons of natural gas? (Source: The Natural Gas Supply Association)

» Who uses the most natural gas? Power generators, which provide electricity to homes and businesses. In fact, it's estimated that more than 80 billion cubic feet per day (bcf/d) of natural gas will be needed for power generation by the year 2030. To put this into perspective, 80 bcf/d of natural gas could power at least 400 million homes.

» Did you know that a modest increase in natural gas supply from shale deposits would generate more than 400,000 new jobs in the United States, more than $132 billion in U.S. economic output and $4.4 billion in new annual tax revenues? (Source: BlueJobs.org)

» Did you know that storing natural gas not only helps mitigate disruptions to service, it also helps reduce price volatility and manage weather-induced demand spikes?

Thanks to Spectra energy for these interesting, and little known facts about natural gas. We've even learned some!

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The CHD4 - See Through Direct Vent Fireplace by Continental

1/17/2014

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We are completely smitten with this stunning see through direct vent fireplace from Continental's newest line.
We see this unit being used to create a subtle separation in a large open concept living space, while also serving as a very bold and magnificent focal point. What a treat it would be to view the CHD4's dancing flames from several vantage points throughout your living space. Although the carpentry and finishing work required to create this custom look would be a bit more extensive than your standard on the wall application, the results would be well worth the effort.

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Buying a used fireplace? What to look for...

1/16/2014

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With a multitude of resources available to us such as Ebay, Kijiji, and Craigslist, the concept of buying a pre-owned fireplace can be very tempting. Not only can you save some money (hopefully!..we'll get to that later) by opting for used, but you're also helping to keep something from being tossed into a landfill. Good for you!

There are a few things to consider when shopping for a used fireplace. Keep in mind that if the fireplace you've purchased is not deemed safe by a licensed gas technician, he or she can not legally install it.

A few things to consider and check for....

How old is the fireplace? and will it run as efficiently as newer models? If not, your higher gas bills could quickly eat up any savings you've acquired, by buying used.

Does it need replacement parts? The cost of replacement parts can quickly add up, and possibly end up costing you the price of a new fireplace - that would include some warranty!

What is the model number? This is important. Every fireplace should come complete with a rating plate attached to it somehow. It will either be chained to the unit, or stuck on as a sticker. If this plate has been tampered with, removed or painted over, it's time to walk away. If the rating plate is gone, there is no way of knowing whether the fireplace has been recalled, how to get replacement parts if needed, or how many BTU's it puts out. If it is deemed unsafe for use, it will be red tagged ie..shut down by a gas technician.

If you happen to come across a suitable unit, that meets all of the above criteria, consider contacting a local and reputable gas technician to assist you in the purchasing decision. A gas tech with inspect the unit with a fine tooth comb. He/she will not only be able to tell you whether the unit needs any refurbishing/new parts, but also whether it is the correct application for your particular home and needs.

Best of luck with your search!!

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Always hire a TSSA licensed gas technician

1/15/2014

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Gas work is serious business, and at Family Comfort we take our work very seriously. When gas work is done professionally, it is done to code that is written and mandated by the Technical Standards and Safety Authority. When this code is followed to the letter, as it is here at Family Comfort, natural gas heating sources and appliances will perform exceptionally safely and trouble free. When code is not followed, usually the result of the work being done by an unlicensed technician or "handyman", the results can be devastating. When hiring a gas technician to do anything in your home that relates to natural gas, no matter how small, please be diligent and be sure to ask the right questions:

- Are you a certified gas technician, licensed by the CSA?
- Do you carry liability insurance that adequately protects me, when you are working in my home?
- Are you a TSSA licensed contractor? (a quick call to the TSSA can easily verify the info as well)

Cheapest is not best, especially when it comes to your safety. Professional licensed contractors pay hefty fees, insurance premiums, and are audited regularly by the TSSA to maintain their accreditations. They are continuously brought up to date when gas code changes, and regularly attend training to stay current in their field. Gas work is specialized work. The story below emphasizes the importance of hiring only licensed technicians:

http://www.tssa.org/CorpLibrary/ArticleFile.asp?Instance=136&ID=E088979C509711E3A788000C2922855A

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The threat of discarded batteries - Video

1/15/2014

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FYI - This is not natural gas related. Just an important consumer warning.

Discarded batteries can pose a serious fire hazard. Like us, I'm sure that many of you have a junk drawer full of spent batteries just waiting to be discarded. We know that they shouldn't be thrown away. We know that the right thing to do is to dispose of them properly and responsibly by taking them to a recycler, but a couple of tiny batteries just don't seem to merit a trip to..anywhere. So we wait. And that junk drawer accumulates more and more batteries. But who knew that, that drawer of batteries could pose a serious threat to your home and your family? We certainly didn't. Please take the time to watch this informative video, about the danger of old batteries and the simple measure we can take to prevent a devastating outcome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSJH21WmALc

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Happy New Year from Family Comfort!

1/6/2014

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Wishing you all health, happiness, and warmth from our family to yours in 2014!!

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