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Have you considered zone heating?

1/30/2014

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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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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.


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Chimney liner has been dropped, and gas lines have been run. Now time for the fun part..
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Leak testing the gas line.
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Clean up!
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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.
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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!
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A beautiful project completed. Sadly we can not take credit for the beautiful custom cabinetry work!
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Why Natural Gas?

12/12/2013

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Thinking about converting your water heater, clothes dryer, stove, fireplace, or barbecue to natural gas? Natural gas is a safe, convenient, planet friendly and cost effective alternative to other fuel sources.

Consider the benefits..

Safety
Natural gas has an enviable safety record! Natural gas is non-toxic, and lighter than air which allows it to dissipate rapidly in well-ventilated areas. When used properly, it is one of the safest and most convenient energy sources.
Despite being naturally odourless and colourless, a gas leak is highly detectable due to the chemical odourant  called "mercaptan" that is added to it, for increased safety. The industry is very closely regulated. Licenced Gas Technicians are held to rigorous standards. They are well trained, and audited regularly by the Technical Standards and Safety Association to ensure proper adherence to the Ontario gas code.



Environment
Natural gas is an extremely clean burning fuel, producing very few emmissions. When burned cleanly, natural gas releases heat, water vapour and carbon dioxide.
Coal, oil and wood on the other hand, release a variety of potentially harmful chemicals into the air when burned, as they are far more chemically complex. When natural gas replaces other fuels, greenhouse gas emissions are significantly reduced. 


Cost
According to Enbridge Gas, "over the past five years, natural gas has been about 63 per cent less expensive 
than electricity and about 64 percent less expensive than oil". 
Consider also that electric heating, which is generated from coal or other fossil fuels, is only 30 percent efficient. 
Natural gas heating by comparison, is 94 percent efficient!

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GEAR UP FOR WINTER

10/24/2013

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It's mid-October in the Golden Horseshoe. The escarpment is at it's most beautiful...auburn and ochre coloured leaves abound. 
The familiar sound of crisp leaves being crushed underfoot is soothing,  yet a grim reminder that winter chill is around the corner. We've had an unseasonably beautiful and warm fall, but the winds are changing and the cold is on it's way. What better time to think about a complete fireplace clean and service. 
A fireplace clean and service ensures that your fireplace is running at it's peak performance and efficiency level, all winter long.  It also greatly reduces the chance of a mid-winter breakdown.
Our technician will perform a complete checklist of services to ensure your fireplace meets health, safety and efficiency standards. Of particular concern is testing to make sure that combustion gasses (including carbon monoxide) are flowing out of your home, and that nothing is flowing back in. Although many of us take our hardworking fireplaces for granted, hoping that they will continue to keep us warm and toasty with out any special care; the truth is that your fireplace needs the same type of attention as your furnace does. Your natural gas fireplace is an investment that not only increases your daily comfort, but also your home's value. An annual service and clean will ensure that it continues to perform at it's peak efficiency, for many years.

Please ask us about our "Gear up for winter" service.

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    Family comfort is dedicated to servicing your heating and natural gas needs here in beautiful Hamilton, Ontario and the greater Golden Horseshoe. Thanks for stopping by!

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