Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

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How Does a Heat Recovery Ventilator Work?

Monday, October 20th, 2014

Vermont gets very cold in the winter, as anyone here can tell you. Making your home more energy efficient with good windows and doors, insulation, and a well-maintained heating system can make a big difference in heating bills. Unfortunately, it can also cut down the ventilation in your home, making it challenging to have clean air circulating inside. Good ventilation is important to your health, and opening a window during a Vermont winter is really not an option. What is a great option is a heat recovery ventilator in Southern Vermont. Also known as an HRV, this device not only helps to greatly improve your indoor ventilation, it also improves your energy efficiency, all at the same time. The trained experts at HB Energy Solutions are ready to help you this winter with all your heating and ventilation needs, so call us today.

What Is an HRV?

An HRV is a ventilation device that can be added to your HVAC system or mounted to an exterior wall – it just needs a direct air supply. The HRV works by exhausting the stale, warm air from your indoors to the outside while bringing in the cool, fresh air from the outside. In the heat exchanger, which is the core of the HRV, the heat energy from the outgoing air is applied to the incoming fresh air, pre-heating it before it enters your HVAC system. This pre-treats the incoming air, warming it up so your HVAC system doesn’t have to. The two air streams never mix, so there is no chance of cross-contamination.

Why Install an HRV?

Here are some of the benefits an HRV can offer your home:

  • Improved energy efficiency – as we mentioned above, an HRV can help improve your energy efficiency because it pre-heats the incoming fresh air. This takes some of the burden off your HVAC system to heat your home, which can result in less energy usage.
  • Improved indoor air quality – an HRV provides a continuous, fresh stream of air for your home, and filters it before it becomes a part of your indoor air flow. This helps improve your indoor air quality.
  • Less wear on your system – during excessively cold weather, your system has to work harder to achieve your set temperature. An HRV does some of the work ahead of your HVAC system, allowing it to operate normally, which can reduce the level of wear and tear.

If you’ve been looking for a way to overcome the winter cold without blowing your heating budget, it may be time to consider the installation of heat recovery ventilator in South Vermont.

For more information on heat recovery ventilators, contact HB Energy Solutions today and let one of our indoor air quality experts help you!

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Why Is My Boiler Leaking Water?

Monday, October 13th, 2014

In general, a boiler is an extremely reliable heating system that requires little repair over time. Boilers work by heating water and circulating it through a set of pipes and to a baseboard or radiant heat exchanger, such as a radiator or radiant floor heating system. Boilers can be very efficient, and radiant heating may be more comfortable than a forced air furnace.

Because boilers have few mechanical parts, they may not need as many repairs as other types of heating systems. However, with any type of system that involves the use of water, there is a risk of water leaking from time to time. If your boiler is leaking water, there may be many causes. A technician will check for the following problems when you call for heating system repair.

  • High Water Pressure: The expansion tank in your boiler helps protect it from problems caused by excessive water pressure. Your boiler is meant to keep water at a steady pressure level, but if there is a problem with this tank, water may leak from your unit. Luckily, the pressure relief valve safely releases water in the event of high pressure. A leaky pressure relief valve requires immediate repair.
  • Improper Installation: Unfortunately, some leaks occur simply because the system was not installed by expert heating installers. If this is the case, a technician may need to repair the fittings around the tank and solder any faulty connections. Unfortunately, major problems brought on by poor installation may require replacement.
  • Corrosion: If your boiler is leaking due to rust and corrosion, you may need a new unit entirely. While some leaks can be fixed, rust and corrosion generally means your boiler is too old, and there is simply no way to prevent further corrosion. Luckily, boilers are built to resist corrosion, so it should take a long time for rust to affect your system.

Leaks can damage the foundation of your home, lead to reduced heating, or cause mold or mildew to develop, so be sure to call a technician as soon as you suspect a problem.

For professional heating system repair throughout New Hampshire, call the expert heating team at HB Energy Solutions today!

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How Does Solar Heating Work?

Monday, October 6th, 2014

In the continuing struggle to find viable forms of alternative energy, solar has taken the lead as having the most promise. More and more people are installing solar panels on their homes to supplement their traditional heating systems. What most people don’t know is how solar heating actually works. Let’s take a look at some of the most common options for solar heating.

Liquid Solar Heating

Similar to other heating systems, solar heating is split into liquid and forced air methods. Liquid solar heating is a radiant heating system, using pipes to distribute hot water throughout the house. These pipes then radiate the heat up through the floor boards or through the walls. Radiators and baseboard heaters are also common.

Rather than using a boiler to heat the water, solar heating collects thermal energy directly from a sun. Solar panels are usually mounted on the roof or a south-facing wall for maximum exposure during the day. The thermal energy collected by the solar panel is then directed to a solar storage unit, which heats the water and distributes it.

Like all solar systems, this kind of heating becomes less effective if access to sunlight is limited. Some storage units can serve as backup water heaters. You may still have difficulty heating enough water if demand is high during evenings or overcast days, though.

Forced Air Heating

Forced air solar heating works much the same way as other forced air systems. The solar panel on the outside of the house collects and uses thermal energy to warm the air in a collector unit. The collector then circulates the air throughout the house using an electric fan. Ducts are obviously required for this kind of heating if you want to heat more than one room.

Forced air solar systems tend to collect slightly more thermal energy than thermal systems. However, this advantage is usually balanced out by water being a much better medium for thermal energy than air is.

If you are interested in learning more about solar heating, contact HB Energy Solutions. We operate all over the Southern Vermont area.

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What are the Benefits of Wood Pellet Conversion?

Monday, September 29th, 2014

If you have been looking for a way to make your home heating more green and energy efficient, you may want to consider a wood pellet conversion in New Hampshire. This simple process allows you to swap out the oil burner in your heating system for a wood-pellet burner so that you can heat your entire home using wood pellets. Seem easy? It is – for our Pellergy-trained and certified technicians. If you’ve been looking to convert to wood pellets for your central heating, call HB Energy Solutions today.

How Does a Conversion Work?

There are four main components to a wood pellet heating system: the burner, a hopper (where the pellets are stored) a conveyor, (which feeds the pellets into the burner), and a controller that works with your home’s thermostat to tell the heating system when to turn on and off.

The conversion happens with the burner: the burner is taken out of your boiler or furnace and replaced with a wood pellet burner. The hopper can be as large or small as you like, and may hold enough pellets for a week or a month. The converted system can also work with other existing pellet appliances, like pellet stoves.

What Are the Benefits of Converting?

Here are some benefits of converting your central heating fuel source to wood pellets:

  • Save in fuel costs – it’s estimated that homeowners can save anywhere between 25-40% in annual fuel costs by converting to wood pellets.
  • No permanent modification – should you need or want to go back to your previous fuel type, you can.
  • Very environmentally-friendly – wood pellets are carbon neutral and release very little greenhouse gases.
  • Available fuel supply – wood pellets are readily available at various retail outlets.
  • Can be used with different distribution outlets – wood pellet heating systems can be used for radiators, baseboard radiators and radiant floor heating.
  • Can be used with different heating systems – wood pellets can be retro-fitted for both furnaces and boilers.

Wood pellet heating systems do need to have the ash vacuumed once a week to ensure proper operation and the hopper needs to be filled regularly.

If you’ve been thinking of moving forward with a wood pellet conversion in New Hampshire, call HB Energy Solutions today and schedule an appointment with one of our experts today.

 

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Does My Furnace Need Repair, or Is It Time for a Replacement?

Monday, September 22nd, 2014

Whether to replace or repair a furnace is a question we hear a lot during the fall. Fall is a good time to replace, if that’s what’s needed, but you should first assess whether or not your furnace needs replacing. There are some key factors to consider when deciding whether or not to replace your current heating system, and we’ve outlined them below. Whether you need replacement or repair for your furnace in southern Vermont, HB Energy Solutions has the trained technicians to assist you with all your heating needs.

Signs It May Be Time for Replacement

There are some telltale signs that it may be time for you to replace your current heating system:

  • Constant repairs – did you make a lot of repairs to your system last winter, and are facing more this year? Repair costs can add up, sometimes to the cost of a new system. It may be worth looking at where your money is better spent.
  • Rust, cracking and corroding components – it is normal for your system to incur some general wear and tear, but if you are seeing clear signs of physical breakage, it may be time to consider a replacement. Cracking and corroding parts can be dangerous – carbon monoxide may be able to escape from them – and it isn’t always possible to repair or replace the broken areas.
  • High energy bills – did you see high energy bills last winter, despite not changing how you use your heating system? Decreased energy efficiency is a symptom of a poorly-performing system.
  • Age – the average lifespan for a furnace or boiler is about 15 years. If your system is over this age, and is experiencing any of the above problems, you may be better off investing in a new heater.
  • Decreased comfort – an aging system may no longer be able to meet your heating needs. This is usually indicated by hot and cold spots in your home, or an inability to achieve the set temperature. If your heater is not operating effectively, it may be time to consider a replacement.

The best way to truly assess whether it’s best to replace or repair your furnace in southern Vermont is to work with an expert.

For all your furnace repair needs call HB Energy Solutions today and make an appointment with one of our heating specialists.

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When Should I Schedule Heating System Maintenance in Southern Vermont?

Monday, August 25th, 2014

It’s always tough to say goodbye to summer and turn toward the colder months. But a winter in Vermont can be one of the loveliest in the country, and if you properly prepare your home for the coming cold weather, there’s no reason that you can’t make the winter as joyous a season as the summer.

With summer almost finished, now is the time to start thinking about your home’s heating system. You may not need to turn on your furnace or boiler, or switch the heat pump to heating mode, for a couple of weeks yet, but you should take advantage of this cooler time to schedule your annual heating system maintenance in Southern Vermont.

HB Energy Solutions is one of your best options for heating maintenance. We install and service an enormous variety of home comfort systems, from wood-burning boilers to solar-powered heat pumps. You can rely on our expertise to make sure that your heater is ready for the coming Vermont winter.

Why you should schedule heating maintenance now

Professional maintenance for a heating system is sometimes called preventive maintenance, because one of its principle objectives is to prevent repair problems and breakdowns. You don’t want to wade into the cold season without all the proper preventive measures done for your home’s furnace, boiler, etc. A repair issue or a complete breakdown during one of the coldest days of the year is something you definitely do not want to occur! With your heating maintenance taken care of a few months ahead of the heaviest colds, you will have the best assurance possible that you won’t need to make emergency heating calls.

Another reason to take advantage of the early fall for heating maintenance is that technicians have an easier time scheduling the sessions. Between the summer heat and fall chill, HVAC companies experience a lower amount of emergency calls, and you should have no trouble arranging a convenient time for a skilled technician to come to your home and inspect and tune-up your heater.

Call us to schedule your heating maintenance today

Yearly maintenance for a heater is mandatory: it keeps the system from prematurely aging and wasting energy, and it also protects you from malfunctions. Take care of the job as soon as you can so you can scratch one more “to-do” from your fall list. Contact HB Energy Solutions today to sign up for our maintenance plan, or download the plan from our website.

Let our wide range of expertise in heating and cooling help you receive the best heating system maintenance in Southern Vermont. Call us today!

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Why Install a Wood Stove

Wednesday, March 19th, 2014

Wood stoves are centuries old and continue to provide reliable heating for communities all over the world. Installation isn’t expensive and can provide an excellent auxiliary form of heating as well as a number of other advantages. Why install a wood stove? We have several answers that we think you’ll agree with.

  • Efficient. Wood stoves provide an excellent and inexpensive form of heat. They require nothing more than wood to run, which means you can use them when the power goes out, and because of their nature, they are much more efficient at distributing heat than traditional fireplaces. That makes them a quick, cheap and easy way to keep warm during the winter.
  • Environmentally friendly. Wood stoves produce up to 70% less particle pollution than fireplaces according to the EPA, as well as dropping CO2 and methane emissions to a minimum. All of that comes on top of the fact that they consume no fossil fuels and don’t require electricity. That makes them a very eco-friendly option to warm your home.
  • Safer. Wood stoves cut down on the build-up of creosote in the chimney, making them a safer option for heating than fireplaces.
  • Cozy and romantic. The aesthetic value of a wood stove cannot be underestimated, especially in a snug cabin or home on a cold winter’s night. Wood stoves provide an easy gathering place for the family, as well as a spot for a romantic dinner. All of that helps improve the resale value of your home, providing an easy selling point when the time comes to sell the house.

For more information on why you should install a wood stove, or to schedule installation in Southern Vermont or New Hampshire, contact the experts at HB Energy Solutions. We have years of experience and we’re dedicated to your complete satisfaction throughout every step of your wood stove installation. Pick up the phone and give us a call to set up a consultation today. You’ll be glad you did!

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What Type of Boiler Is Best for New Hampshire?

Monday, March 3rd, 2014

Boilers come in many different model types that can use a variety of fuel sources. Although the boilers most commonly found in homes today use natural gas power, boilers can also use electricity and oil. Even wood-powered boilers are still around, and they aren’t antiques: technological advances can make wood and wood pellet boilers efficient and attractive options for heating in New Hampshire.

If you want to know which choice of boiler will provide you with optimal heating, we can’t give you a basic answer—at least, not yet. Your home has specific needs when it comes to heating, and your plans for saving money and helping the environment and the local economy will also affect how you should heat your home. We can give you a better answer if you schedule an appointment with us to assess your home. Call HB Energy Solutions today and find out about the types of boilers available.

Here’s a short guide to some of the boilers we install:

Natural gas boilers

If you have a natural gas line into your home, a gas-powered boiler makes for a great heating option. Natural gas burns cleanly and efficiently, is domestically produced, and you’ll always have a ready supply of fuel available. Gas boilers can score extremely high AFUE (efficiency) ratings, which means you’ll receive large energy savings.

Oil-fired boilers

If you don’t have a natural gas line, you can have an oil-fired boiler installed. Older oil-burning boilers had lower efficiency ratings and created higher levels of pollution, but modern advances have made oil-fired boilers much more efficient than ever before, and many earn the U.S. Department of Energy’s ENERGY STAR label for their fuel-efficient performance and clean-burning.

Wood boilers

They sound terribly antiquated, but contemporary wood boilers have the advantage of using a renewable and locally available fuel supply, and they are one of the most environmentally friendly ways to heat a home. Wood gasification combustion technology means wood boilers have competitive efficiency ratings as well.

Pellet boilers

These boilers use compressed wood pellets to increase their efficiency and clean burning. Some models allow for bulk fuel storage so you won’t need to spend as much time maintaining the wood supply.

You have many choices when it comes to boilers, but don’t worry about having a daunting time picking a type. If you contact professionals in home heating, they can help you narrow the field to the boilers that will work best with your home and your available fuel. You will need to have professionals size and install the unit as well, so make sure you have them involved from the start.

To find your best choice for heating in New Hampshire, contact HB Energy Solutions and talk to one of our experienced specialists today.

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Why Would I Want a Wood Boiler Installed?

Monday, February 3rd, 2014

In the earliest days of hydronic heating, boilers used wood or coal as their fuel source. Today, the majority of boilers use either natural gas or electricity, although oil remains common as well.

But wood boilers still exist today. And not only as antiques. There are modern boilers designed to burn wood for their fuel. HB Energy Solutions offers wood boiler heating installation in New Hampshire for customers interested in this alternative to standard gas and electric models. We carry Tarm Biomass and Pro Fab Empyre wood boilers.

Of course, this begs the question: “Why would I want a wood boiler?” There are some good reasons to consider wood boiler installation for a modern home.

Here’s what a wood boiler can offer you

  • Locally available, renewable fuel: Wood boilers support local industries, and in small towns this can be extremely important. Unlike natural gas, wood is a renewable energy source, and the planting and harvesting of trees is a key regional industry.
  • More efficient than ever: Burning wood has a lower AFUE rating than natural gas or oil, but with the advances in wood gasification combustion technology, wood boilers burn much more efficiently than ever, using less wood than you would expect—and producing between 100,000 to 330,000 BTUs output of heat energy.
  • Low-cost installation: Many wood boiler models cost less to install than standard large tank boilers.
  • Energy savings: Using wood pellets instead of electricity or natural gas can save homeowners approximately 40% off their annual heating costs. Wood is also rarely affected by global market trends that cause inflation in the prices of gas and oil.

Discover if a wood boiler is right for you

Wood boilers do have disadvantages, of course, and they may not be the best choice for your home. If you are interested in a wood boiler for heating installation in New Hampshire, contact HB Energy Solutions to set up an appointment to investigate the possibilities. Our boiler experts will determine how much you can save with a wood boiler and if it will provide sufficient heat for your home. If a wood boiler is ideal, we’ll help you select the right model and install it so you’ll receive all its wonderful benefits. And if a wood boiler isn’t optimal, we’ll find and install a system that is.

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Why Furnaces Are Great Heating Options

Monday, January 6th, 2014

Chances are good that you’ve spent the greater part of your life inside homes that were heated using a furnace. Furnaces have always been popular choices for home heating, and they’ve been around for a long time. Over the years, they have become more effective and efficient than ever before. The basic concept of how furnaces operate has stayed the same, but many components have undergone modifications over the years to produce the models that now warm our homes, schools, and businesses. Here are a few more reasons why we think furnaces are good option for your New Hampshire heating.

Contact HB Energy Solutions for more information about the benefits of a furnace and to learn what sort of heating system will work best for you this winter.

The Benefits of Furnaces

  • Flexibility: Furnaces come in an astonishing variety of models and types. They can be sized to fit almost any home, and they can use many different fuel sources (with natural gas, electricity, propane, and oil). It’s rare that an installer can’t find a furnace type that will supply a home with just what it needs to keep warm through to spring.
  • Efficiency: Once upon a time, furnaces were energy-drainers, wasting a lot of their fuel as they converted it to heat. But those days are far in the past—most current furnaces earn the U.S. Energy Star label for their high AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings and are competitive with other heating systems. Gas furnaces are especially efficient at converting most of their fuel into heat.
  • Effectiveness: Unlike the popular heat pump, which can suffer a drop in heating effectiveness during extreme cold temperatures, furnaces can provide powerful heating no matter the temperature outside.

Should You Install a Furnace?

That was our pitch for furnaces. But now we have to temper it: a furnace might not be the best choice for your home. There are many individual factors to consider when you start looking for a heating system to install. If a furnace is a good choice, you still have to decide the kind and size to have installed.

This is where professionals come in. HB Energy Solutions can help you make the right choice for the heater that will provide you with maximum comfort at a price that fits your budget. We feature quality brands and take pride in our installation speed and skill. When you want the best heating in New Hampshire you can get, contact us.

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