Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

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New Hampshire Heating Installation FAQ: Why Install a Boiler

Tuesday, October 15th, 2013

A boiler is one of the most common methods of heating homes in the United States. Boilers work by heating water, with the steam or hot water circulated through pipes or radiators in your home. As the water or steam cools, it travels back to the boiler to start the process again. When it comes to installing a new heating system in your New Hampshire home, boilers make a lot of sense. Why install a boiler in your home? The answers vary, but boilers provide a number of tangible advantages. A few of the biggest are listed below.

  • Evenly distributed heat. Unlike furnaces, which usually use a system of ducts to blow hot air throughout the house, boilers don’t heat the space unevenly. Water-based heating infuses the existing air with heat, rather than redistributing hot air throughout the system. This can eliminate drafts, cold spots and other problems with furnace heating.
  • Efficient heating. Boilers can easily heat larger houses and apartment buildings. Big spaces are less of a problem for a properly sized boiler than they are for furnaces or space heaters, and boilers can be scaled to fit the size of whatever space they are heating. Besides that, boilers don’t blow dust around the way furnaces do, and they don’t generate much noise the way that furnaces do. All of that increases their overall efficiency.
  • Zone controls. With boilers it’s very easy to install zone controls, which let you tailor the heat to fit specific tastes and needs. You can choose to heat just the area you’re occupying while leaving the rest of the house cold, or set one temperature for your kitchen and another for the bedroom. That not only gives you greater control over the heat, but helps keep monthly costs in check.

If you know the answer to “why install a boiler?” and need further advice on your New Hampshire heating installation options, call the experts at HB Energy Solutions for advice. We can explain your options to you, then install a boiler in your home with courtesy and professionalism. Contact us today to set up an appointment.

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Southern Vermont Heating Guide: Protect Your Budget This Winter

Monday, October 7th, 2013

Few winter landscapes look more beautiful than those in Vermont. But beauty does not equal comfort. You’ll need a dependable and efficient heater in your home this coming winter to keep you warm enough to enjoy the season.

But just getting sufficient heat is not enough: you want to get heat that won’t drain your budget by the end of the season. Is it possible to get decent, comfortable heating without seeing your energy bills balloon? There are some basic steps you can take to protect your budget from unpleasant surprises this winter. HB Energy Solutions has advice for your heating system that will help you keep those energy bills under control:

Find a pleasant, lower temperature on the thermostat

The U.S. department of energy has found that simply dropping your thermostat ten degrees for eight hours a day can mean an almost 20% savings on your annual energy bill. Don’t set the thermostat up to the high 70s or 80s: with an extra layer of clothing, you’ll find that 68°F is ideal for comfort. When you’re sleeping, you may be able to turn the temperature down even more.

Update to a programmable thermostat

This goes hand-in-hand with keeping the thermostat down. A programmable thermostat gives you precision control over temperature, and the automation means you won’t need to remember to change the setting when it’s necessary. You can also have the thermostat lower the temperature when you leave for the day, and then start warming the house up before you return.

Schedule maintenance for your heater

Getting a maintenance check-up on your heater isn’t only to avoid extra repairs and abrupt breakdowns. The maintenance technician will give your heater a tune-up so it won’t drain extra power when it runs. A heater in good repair is a heater that will run its best, and you won’t see unnecessary spikes in your power bills.

It’s a good idea to schedule maintenance for your heater right now, so you’ll not only be prepared for winter, but you’ll take advantage of a slower time for HVAC professionals. We at HB Energy Solutions offer a maintenance plan that will keep your heater in prime health. We’re ready to answer any questions you may have about getting additional savings on heating in Southern Vermont.

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Heating Repair in New Hampshire: Furnace Blower Problems

Monday, September 23rd, 2013

If you use a furnace—either oil or gas-powered—it needs a blower to send the heated air through your ductwork system. If the blower malfunctions, you’ll have a hard time getting through the cooler spells in New Hampshire. A faulty blower could stop working entirely, leaving you in the cold, or it could run continuously, draining money and pushing cold air into rooms when the furnace’s heating elements aren’t on.

In this post, we’ll give you some tips to help you figure out what the problem is and what repairs might solve it. If you need to call for professional heating repair in New Hampshire, contact our staff at HB Energy Solutions.

  • One of the first things you should check when you notice a malfunctioning blower is the thermostat. If the blower won’t turn off, the thermostat may be set to have the fan on constantly. If the blower won’t come on at all, then the thermostat might be malfunctioning and unable to communicate with the furnace. Thermostat issues usually require professional repair or replacement.
  • A motor belt with cracks or breaks that comes loose may be responsible for the blower not turning on.  As in a car motor, a belt that develops problems will cause the motor to stop working. The belt will probably need to be replaced, but fortunately this is a fast fix for a professional. The technician can determine what type of furnace blower belt to get and can install it safely for you. .
  • A third possibility for a failed blower is a broken motor, which can happen from overheating. Don’t attempt to fix or replace the motor yourself—this requires professional HVAC experience. Problems with motors are usually a warning sign that you need to have more preventive maintenance done on your furnace to keep it from wearing down faster.

A furnace is an intricate and complicated piece of machinery, so don’t try to handle complicated repairs on your own if the blower starts experiencing problems. Rely on experts with years of training, like those at HB Energy Solutions. We have 24/7 emergency service to give you peace of mind for your heating repairs in New Hampshire.

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New Hampshire Heating System Buyer’s Guide: Pros and Cons of Different Systems

Monday, September 16th, 2013

Once upon a time, there were few options for heating your home: coal in a stove, wood in a fireplace. Today, technology has given us a multitude of choices for how to make our living spaces comfortable and pleasant during the winter. But choice also brings a dilemma: which heating system is the best one for your home? With winter approaching us soon in New Hampshire, heating systems are probably on your mind, and you need a helpful guide to navigate through your choices.

HB Energy has put together a short list of the pros and cons of some of the available systems. For heating system installation in New Hampshire, call HB Energy.

Boilers

Boilers are one of the most common heating systems and are frequently found in older homes. Boilers use either gas, oil, or electricity to circulate heat around your house using hot water, either in pipes or radiators.

  • Pros: Boilers are quiet and efficient. Because they do not use air circulation, they are excellent choices for homes with people who have allergies to airborne pollutants. There are also no air filters to change.
  • Cons: Boilers heat your home more slowly than other heating systems.

Furnaces

A furnace sends hot air through vents in your house, and can also operate from electricity, oil, propane, gas.

  • Pros: Newer model furnaces are very efficient at providing heat, with high AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) ratings.
  • Cons: Furnaces require a system of ducts to distribute heat, and therefore take up more space. Since they use air ducts, they can circulate pollutants throughout your home.

When you need an expert opinion on the heating system that is right for your home, contact the New Hampshire heating experts at HB Energy and schedule an appointment today.

 

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What are My New Hampshire Heating Oil Options?

Monday, September 9th, 2013

In New Hampshire, heating oil is a fact of life: seeing common use as a way to combat our notoriously cold winters. In the United States, the standard heating oil is known as No. 2 oil, or regular fuel oils. It’s used as the standard in most homes, and has replace a number of older oils because it burns more cleanly than they did. (Those older types – known as #6 oil and #4 oil – are still used in commercial power plants and other industrial capacities.) #2 oil is also preferable as a fuel because it’s comparatively hard to set on fire accidentally, requiring a high-voltage spark and oil set at the right pressure.

You might also see #1 oil, also called K1 kerosene which is essentially filtered kerosene. It’s not as efficient as #2 oil, but is more refined and has a lower pour point. It’s often sold as lamp oil in high-end shops, though it rarely sees use in oil furnaces. Instead, home heating oil sometimes appears as a “kerosene mix,” which is a combination of #1 and #2 oil (usually with about 10-20% #1 mixed with 80-90% #2). It will function in your heating system, though it may not burn as efficiently.

Recently, another option has raised its heat. Biofuel – created from vegetable oils such as soybean oil – can be blended with #2 oil or even used straight. It burns efficiently while reducing greenhouse gasses and can be produced in the United States without being exported from somewhere else.

If you have questions regarding New Hampshire heating oil options, talk to an expert before making any decisions. HB Energy offers both traditional heating oil and Bio Heat (a blend of #2 oil and Biofuel), as well as providing diesel fuel and propane. Contact us today and let us help keep your home warm this winter.

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New Hampshire Heating Problems: Why Does My Heater Cost So Much?

Monday, April 1st, 2013

Maintaining warm, comfortable temperatures throughout the heating season is a goal that most homeowners share. Unfortunately, many homeowners are dissuaded from keeping their homes as comfortable as they’d like due to high energy costs. At HB Energy Solutions, we do not think that anyone should have to compromise their comfort in order to keep their energy bills manageable. Here are some common causes of heating problems along with some possible solutions from the heating professionals at HB Energy Solutions. Contact us today with any questions you may have.

One reason that your home heating costs may be too high is if your ductwork is in poor condition. Leaky, torn and improperly installed air ducts will allow the air that you have already paid to heat to escape from your system before reaching its destination. This means that your heater will need to heat more air to make up for this loss, causing efficiency levels to drop. This can also cause further problems, as your heater will need to work harder to replace lost energy. Your heater will incur more wear and tear that can potentially lead to damage.

In fact, minor and developing problems with your heating system are another very probable cause of your high heating costs. If even one component of your heating system is not working properly it can throw off the performance of the entire system. Only when each individual part of the system is operation correctly can you get the best performance and efficiency that your system has to offer.

That is precisely why routine heating maintenance is so important. During routine maintenance, a professional heating technician has the opportunity to inspect and tune up your entire heating system. Any small problems can also be discovered and resolved before they can have much of an impact on your heater. Keep your heating costs manageable by scheduling routine heating maintenance with a qualified professional today.

When you have heating problems in New Hampshire, call HB Energy Solutions. We can help you heat your home in a more efficient manner. Keep comfortable and cut heating costs by scheduling service today.

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Getting To Know Your Heating Options in New Hampshire

Monday, March 11th, 2013

If you’re considering a heater replacement in New Hampshire, then you need to know what’s available to you, as well as what’s best for your home. HB Energy Solutions offers a wide range of heating options to customers throughout the area. We cover all aspects of heating installation, repair, and maintenance. We are a full service heating and fuel company, which means we can cover everything for you. Call one of our New Hampshire heating experts at HB Energy Solutions today!

Is it time for a new heater for your home? Let’s take a look at some options.

  • Furnace. The furnace is one of the most common heating options in the Northeast. Your furnace converts energy drawn from a fuel into hot air and distributes the heat through the ductwork in your home.
  • Boiler. The boiler works just like a furnace, but instead of heating air, it heats hot water or steam and distributes it throughout your home by means of baseboard heaters, radiators, or radiant flooring. It can also heat your water, which is an added bonus for many homeowners.
  • Wood or Pellet Stove. A wood stove offers an excellent heating solution to many customers in the New Hampshire area, where wood is a plentiful fuel source. Pellet stoves are another efficient form of heat, and they are also ideal since pellet fuel is available through HB Energy Solutions for customers throughout the area.
  • Pellet Boilers. Available in steel or cast iron and in three sizes, we feature the Pellergy Pellet Boiler here at HB Energy Solutions. They are an efficient and clean-burning heating solution, which burns compressed pellets made form sawdust and sawmilling. Their low moisture content and high density allow for high combustion efficiency.
  • Ductless Split Heat Pumps. As its name suggests, ductless split heat pumps do not use ductwork to transfer heat into your home, but rely on a split system: an outdoor unit and indoor air handler. Ductless systems tend to be highly efficient because ducts tend to account for the majority of heat loss during the winter.

Whatever heating option you select for your home, make sure that it’s appropriately sized to match your heating needs. A professional heating installation makes all the difference. Call HB Energy Solutions for all of your New Hampshire heating installation needs.

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What You Need To Know Before Wood Stove Installation in Southern Vermont

Monday, March 4th, 2013

A wood stove can make a classic addition to any home system. It can also be configured as your primary means of heating when installed professionally. If you’re thinking of installing a wood stove in your home, there are a few things to keep in mind. HB Energy Solutions is committed to informing its customers as to the value of a wide variety of heating options. Here are a few of things that you should know before moving forward with installing a wood stove.

  • Weight. Depending on the brand and size of the model, wood stoves can be very heavy. Even the smallest of steel and cast-iron wood stoves may weigh well over 200 pounds, and it increases substantially as you move up in size. Your local wood stove professional will be able to advise you on where the weight of your wood stove system is best placed.
  • Chimney. Your wood stove needs a clean and well-ventilated chimney in order to be able to efficiently exhaust smoke and fumes outside. Check to see what kind of chimney your wood stove needs. Every wood stove tends to come with its own set of ventilation requirements. The flue must also be made of heat-resistant material, leak-proof, and the correct diameter and height.
  • Clearance. The heat radiating from your wood stove requires an appropriate amount of clearance. For example, if you have wood flooring surrounding your stove, it can deteriorate over time.  Wood stoves require a certain amount of floor protection based on the size of the stove and its height off the ground. Your local technician will know exactly what you need to keep your home safe and warm throughout the year.

When thinking about which wood stove to purchase, contact the Southern Vermont wood stove installation professionals at HB Energy Solutions. We install high quality stoves from brands like Pacific Energy, and we know how to maximize the energy efficiency of your unit. Call us today.   

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New Hampshire Heating Guide: Where Is My Boiler Leaking From?

Monday, February 25th, 2013

Boiler leaks are not always obvious. Often, they occur in places that are difficult to access or hidden by covers. Consulting your boiler technician is the first step to repairing a leaking system. For over 20 years, HB Energy Solutions has installed, repaired and serviced boilers. If you think your boiler might be leaking, call us today.

Boiler problems can be tricky for homeowners to detect. After all, sometimes the only indication a boiler leaks is a drop in system pressure. But this may occur at such a slow rate that it’s nearly undetectable. When it’s particularly slow, there can be little trace, for small amounts of leaked water evaporate on the hot piping. At times of high usage during the winter months, leaks may be more noticeable because the total system pressure is at its peak rate throughout the year.

Calling in your local New Hampshire boiler expert is the first step to ensuring the longevity of your boiler system. If there are problems with your system, it is important to repair them as soon as possible. There are a few things an expert boiler technician may do to determine where that leak in your boiler system is coming from:

  • Comprehensive system inspection. Unless the affected component or area is obvious, there is no substitute for the discriminating eyes of a professional. They’ll check your hot water piping, boiler, controls, valves, circulator pumps, piping elbows, baseboards, and radiators to look for evidence of mineral depositing, which may indicate a leak.
  • Water supply shut-off.  Temporarily shutting off the water from the boiler allows the boiler technician to monitor the resulting pressure.
  • Thermography. If all else fails, there are certain technologically-advanced measures to take, like using thermography cameras, which can detect abnormally hot points in the system. This can help pinpoint the location of hard-to-find leaks.

If your boiler is no longer working as it once did, or if you have noticed pressure loss over the past few weeks or months, your system may have a leak. HB Energy Solutions are only a call away. Contact us today for more information about boiler repair in New Hampshire.

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Pellet Stoves vs. Wood Stoves: Which is Superior?

Monday, February 11th, 2013

For Southern Vermont homeowners that are interested in switching from oil or natural gas, pellet and wood burning stoves are a great option. But which one is more efficient and which one has the fewest emissions? At HB Energy we specialize in alternative fuels for homeowners that are seriously interested in reducing the amount of energy that their homes use. We wanted to put together quick comparison to give homeowners a good starting place as they start thinking about switching fuel sources.

What Are Wood Pellets?

So what exactly are wood pellets? Sawmills and other wood working businesses produce a huge amount of waste wood shavings and saw dust. Normally, those would be thrown away in a landfill. Wood pellets are made from that waste material by compacting them under high pressure. The wood shavings are pressed into a small, pill-shaped mass that can then be used to fuel wood pellet stoves.

Pellet Stoves: Pros and Cons

Wood pellet stoves offer extremely high efficiency and BTU output when compared to wood burning stoves. In almost every instance, the pellet stoves provide greater efficiency and higher head output per unit of fuel consumed. However, pellet stoves require electricity, though, not a lot of it. But if the power goes out then you can’t use your pellet stove. Additionally, wood pellets are not available in all places and in the event of a natural disaster if you can’t acquire any pellets then you can’t heat your home.

Wood Burning Stoves: Pros and Cons

One of the best pros for wood burning stoves is that its fuel source is readily available. You can find wood pretty much anywhere and if you have trees on your property they can be used to for fuel as well. However, wood burning stoves are much less efficient than pellet stoves and they also require more fuel to produce a similar amount of heat. But wood burning stoves don’t require any electricity to run so if the power goes out your home will still be comfortable.

If you have any questions about wood burning stoves or pellet burning stoves in Southern Vermont, call the experts at HB Energy.

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