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Title: Home Heating Options: 2007
Author: Gil Strachan
Article:
"Baby, it's cold outside."
Home heating costs have doubled over the past ten years, now
representing 60% of the energy spent in Canadian homes. No one
can predict how high fuel costs will go, however we can be
certain of one thing - the costs will go up. It's anyone's guess
which fuel might be the better bargain in ten or twenty years,
so it's tough to shop for a heating system today without
wondering if you've made the right decision. Although we can't
tell you which choice to make, we can show you how the different
fuels compare today.
Oil
Oil prices can be unpredictable; however fuel oil provides good
energy content, with efficiency ratings up to 86% with modern
equipment. If you decide to upgrade your furnace or boiler, you
will also need to install a stainless steel liner in your
chimney. Older oil burners can be fitted with a "flame retention
head" to improve efficiency, and regular tune-ups will also go a
long way toward lowering your fuel costs. Decorative oil-fired
stoves and fireplaces are available for space heating, and will
work without electricity. Oil-fired hot water tanks can heat
water quickly and are often used for in-floor heating, as well
as hybrid hot water forced-air systems.
Don't heat with oil if you feel guilty about burning
non-renewable resources, or if you can't afford unpredictable
costs. A central system will require ductwork or water piping,
as well as a fuel oil storage tank. Oil furnaces are priced
lower than gas furnaces and enjoy on average, a longer lifespan.
Natural Gas and Propane
Gas and propane are cleaner than fuel oil and provide odourless
heat with slightly lower energy content than oil. Gas prices are
higher than they once were, and the cost of heating with propane
is even higher. There is a greater availability of natural gas
in more densely populated areas, whereas propane is more often
the choice in rural locales where it is compressed and delivered
by truck.
Both gases are popular choices for fireplaces, space heaters and
hot water tanks, are clean and more convenient than wood-burning
fireplaces however, are about 25% less efficient than a gas
furnace. If you're considering one of these high-priced fuels,
shop for an appliance that will provide the best return on your
investment. Always compare installed prices, energy-efficiency
ratings and warranties. As with oil-fired equipment, ductwork or
water piping will be required. Modern appliances vent directly
to the outdoors without need for a chimney.
Don't heat with propane unless you have deep pockets, if you
feel guilty about burning a petroleum product or if you don't
want to see a submarine-sized cylinder beside your house.
Electricity
Electricity is 100% efficient. Every ounce of power leaving your
electric panel is turned into heat at the furnace or space
heater, with no line loss and nothing wasted up a chimney or out
a vent. Electricity can be more expensive per unit of heat
developed, however the cost of installation is lower than with
fuel-fired heating equipment.
Although the equipment in your house may be 100% efficient,
electricity isn't any greener than gas, oil or propane; in fact
the electricity you use may come from a coal-burning power
plant. Electric heat pumps are very efficient in more southerly
latitudes, however provide marginal benefit in northern areas
where temperatures are too low to extract heat from outside air,
and a backup furnace is required. Unlike electric furnaces or
space heaters, heat pump installations can be cost-prohibitive
and the lifespan of the equipment is relatively short.
Don't heat with electricity if you don't want to support the
operation of big power plants and other mega-power projects.
Wood
If you live in a well-treed rural area, heating with wood can be
a sensible choice. Wood is the cheapest of all fuels (you can
save as much as 70%) and is a renewable resource - however not
without drawbacks. Wood smoke can be a nasty source of air
pollution unless you dig deeper in your pockets and purchase a
high efficiency stove; they run up to about 75% efficiency when
used properly. Wood-burning furnaces rarely exceed 50%
efficiency, and with much higher emissions.
Don't heat with wood if you don't like chores, if you don't have
plenty of storage space or if firewood isn't readily available
nearby (trucking costs can really chew up your savings.) Don't
heat with wood if you don't want to pay an extra premium to your
insurance company, or if you have any respiratory problems; wood
heat will drastically lower the humidity in your home.
Other Considerations:
The size, design and insulating value of your home will have
direct impact upon your heating costs. Modern, well-insulated,
air-tight homes have much lower heat loss, and therefore require
less fuel to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures. The new
generation of "smart houses" require so little heat provision
that it may not matter which fuel you use - because you'll use
hardly any of it.
Setting thermostats lower will reduce costs. Zone-controlled
heating systems, and space heaters can also save a bundle... it
doesn't make much sense to overheat your entire house in an
effort to make one person warm, in one corner of the basement.
About the author:
Gil Strachan is a Certified Home Inspector representing
Electrospec Home Inspections in east-central Ontario, Canada
since 1994. For more information about houses and home
inspections visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com
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