Combination Boilers vs Gas Boilers: Which Do I Choose?

by tdhmechanical on November 14, 2011

A lot of people out there have heard some bad things about combination boilers, and so they’re reluctant to choose one over the traditional gas boilers. Unfortunately, they’ve heard a lot of stuff that simply isn’t true anymore. Back when combination boilers were new, a lot of HVAC technicians were skeptical that they could work as advertised, and they talked a lot of smack. The truth is, modern combination boilers have almost every advantage over gas boilers.

Reasons to Choose a Gas Boiler

There are, of course, always reasons to choose something less cutting-edge. In the case of gas boilers, there are three:

1. With a combination boiler, one breakdown ends both hot water and a toasty home.

Because the combination boiler is a single appliance, if it stops working, you don’t have any source of heat — except maybe your stove — for anything in your home. The redundancy created by having a gas boiler and a (presumably) gas heat-pump mean you’re not likely to lose both at the same time.

2. Gas boilers are better for people who use a LOT of water.

It’s an admitted weakness of combination boilers that they don’t have a great amount of ‘parallel processing’ ability. If you want to run your dishwasher, washing machine, and shower all at the same time, a combination boiler might not work as well for you.

3. Older combination boilers are much less worthwhile than new ones.

If you think you might save some money and buy one of yesteryear’s heaters, you should stick with the gas heaters — combination heaters only really came into their own in the last few years. If your combi is from pre-2006, you really should upgrade.

Reasons to Choose a Combination Boiler

Combination boilers really are the better selection for 90% of the homes in the country. Each of these three reasons is actually more of a category than a specific benefit — which should tell you a lot:

1. Combination boilers save you money up front and in the long run.

Not only is it cheaper to purchase and install a single appliance rather than a separate boiler and heat pump, but it’s also cheaper to maintain the single unit rather than both. Add to that the money you save by not constantly heating a water tank — because combination boilers heat water on the fly — and you have a pretty significant difference in cost both up front and in the long term.

2. Combination boilers let you make the best of your space.

Not only are combination boilers smaller in terms of their square footage, but they are also more flexible in terms of where they can be put inside your home. This allows you to put it some out-of-the-way nook and use your useful floor space for something…well, useful.

3. Combination boilers are better for the environment.

With a reduced carbon footprint, better energy efficiency, and less waste when you do finally have to get the machine replaced, there’s no part of a combination boiler that isn’t greener in every respect.

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4 Reasons to Choose a Programmable Thermostat for your HVAC System

by tdhmechanical on November 9, 2011

With advancing technology, we are coming up with more and better ways to make our lives easier and more comfortable. One of the best advances in the area of heating and cooling has been the programmable thermostat. Most newly constructed homes these days come with one installed, but even homeowners with older homes are realizing the benefits of choosing a programmable thermostat for their central HVAC system.

If you don’t already have one installed in your home, here are 4 reasons for you to consider installing a programmable thermostat to regulate your HVAC system:

1. Greater Control Over the Temps in Your House

Unlike a conventional thermostat that you set at a certain temperature and it stays there until you manually change it, a programmable thermostat allows you to set the temperature to adjust while you’re asleep, outside the house, or coming back to the house. Many of the latest models allow you to program multiple daily settings based on the time of day and the anticipated temperature you will want. This is an unprecedented level of control over the operation of your central HVAC system.

2. A More Comfortable Home

The greater level of control on the HVAC system leads to a home that is much more comfortable. For example, in the summer, you can program the thermostat to run at 90 degrees all day while you’re at work, then set it to go down to 70 degrees an hour before you come home. By the time you arrive at your house, it will be at just the right temperature to make it cool and comfortable for you.

3. Reduced Energy Usage

Another reason to choose a programmable thermostat for your central HVAC system is the reduction in energy use that results from it. With the ability to program the thermostat to multiple settings daily, you will use energy only when you need to. Energy will not be wasted when you are sleeping or nobody is home to benefit from it. This energy savings is good for all of us, because it reduces our carbon use and has a positive effect on the environment.

4. Money Saved on Your Heating and Cooling Bill

The largest portion of our energy bills come from our heating and cooling costs. Whether it’s winter or summer, this can account for up to half of our overall bill. Perhaps the best reason to choose a programmable thermostat for your central HVAC system is the potential cost savings you will realize on your energy bills. In fact, the U.S. Department of Energy says that installing a programmable thermostat will save an average of 10% annually on cooling and heating costs. This means that the new programmable thermostat will likely pay for itself within a couple years and continue to save money on your energy bills for years to come.

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Is a Variable Speed Furnace Really Worth It?

November 4, 2011

With winter just around the corner, many Chicago homeowners are looking at upgrading their heating systems. Today, there are more furnace options than ever before. One of the questions often asked is whether or not it’s really worthwhile to buy a variable speed furnace. A variable speed furnace has a fan motor that operates at [...]

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Are You Over Paying For Your Furnace?

October 27, 2011

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How to Protect & Prolong the Life of Your Furnace

October 26, 2011

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5 Reasons to Tune-Up Your Furnace Before Winter Hits

October 20, 2011

Tweet We all know that one of the things Chicago is known for is its brutally cold winters. Our temps may not be as cold as some cities to the north of us, but the wind off the Lake gives us wind chills that make it feel just as cold or colder. With winter just [...]

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BEST Green Furnaces For 2011

October 20, 2011

TweetBest “Green” Furnaces for 2011 It’s that time of year again, Fall is almost upon is and “old man Winter” is waiting in the wings. With the cold weather just a few months away, it’s time to start thinking about our heating systems. For many homeowners, a regular furnace tune-up is all that is needed [...]

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Furnace Replacement In Elmhurst, IL

October 18, 2011

TweetWhen your furnace breaks down on a cold winter night, you need a technician. But you don’t need one next week, you need one IMMEDIATELY. When it comes to furnace replacement, Elmhurst residents can depend on the experts at TDH mechanical to be at your location within hours and have your heating system working again. [...]

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What Is The Life Span Of A Furnace?

October 12, 2011

TweetChicago has some nasty winters.  Though the lake keeps the temperature a bit more stable than, say, Minneapolis, there’s still at least one month every year where the average daily high temperature is below freezing.  That makes the household furnace a pretty important thing to residents of the Windy City. Fortunately, there are some simple [...]

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Top Energy Saving Furnaces for 2011

October 12, 2011

TweetMany of the old models of furnaces are low in efficiency and will only cost you more money in the long run due to expensive monthly utility bills. Models that are more than 20 years old can only convert at 50% to 60%, and even lesser energy in the amount of fuel that they consume [...]

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