FAQ

New Energy-star furnaces have drastically improved overall efficiency over the year. A few decades ago no one could have ever imagined having furnace with 90, 95 or 98% efficiency, now they are the norm. A comparison between a standard efficiency furnace (60%) versus a condensing high-efficiency furnace (95%) for an average home in Ontario could save you almost $200/year in gas.

An ECM (Electronically Commutated Motor) is a brushless motor technology in forced air heating applications that works to reduce the electrical consumption of the furnace motor by as much as 60% over a standard motor. This air flow motor will provide your home with quiet, efficient and constant air circulation throughout the house.

A Dual Gas Valve delivers 2 Stages of Heat; this technology monitors the incoming data from the thermostat and adjusts the heating capacity of the furnace. It provides you with just enough heat that is required to maintain a consistent temperature in your house.

BTU stands for “British Thermal Unit”, it is the measure of power of a heating and air conditioning unit. It is defined by the amount of energy needed to cool or heat one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. That number can vary in residential applications from 45,000BTU (smaller homes) to 125,000 BTU (for larger homes). Sizing is always important, if your heating unit is too big, it will turn on and off too frequently, or “short cycle”, which will cause a loss of efficiency and even damage your heating unit over time. If your heating unit is too small, it will run too often and on the coldest days of the year, may not be able to properly heat your home.

A Humidifier is a whole-home solution that helps you achieve total comfort through humidity control. These systems are installed in your central heating and cooling system ductwork.

Media filters are systems attached to your furnace or air handler to combat indoor pollution by capturing allergy-aggravating particles such as dust, pollen, smoke, mold and pet dander.

SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), it is the way we measure the energy efficiency of an air conditioner. The higher the number, the more energy-saving the unit is thus qualifying for provincial rebates offered. The minimum allowed in Canada is 13 SEER and that number can go up to 25. Also, the SEER rating of your A/C can be boosted by pairing it with a more efficient furnace since the two are linked.

The refrigerant is a substance that circulates through the air conditioner, alternately absorbing, transporting and releasing heat. There are two types of refrigerant for residential air conditioners; Puron or R-410A, the new, now standard environmentally-friendly refrigerant and Freon or R-22, the now obsolete refrigerant in Canada.

Tankless water heaters, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide hot water only as it is needed. They don’t produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters, which can save you money. When a hot water tap is turned on, cold water travels through a pipe into the unit and a gas burner heats the water. As a result, tankless water heaters deliver a constant supply of hot water. You don’t need to wait for a storage tank to fill up with enough hot water.

COMFORT: You’ll never run out of hot water. With tankless water heater technology allows you to enjoy continuous hot water, no more compromising on hot water usage or scheduling your family’s bathing times.

COST SAVINGS: Tankless will reduce your water heating costs. Compared to your typical tank, these units do not operate 24/7; they are on-demand unit so you can enjoy monthly savings up to 40% off your utility bill for the life of the product, making them an investment that pays for itself.

SPACE SAVINGS: Tankless hot water heaters take up significantly less room than traditional water heaters. Most of them are as big as a suitcase and mounted on a wall.

ECO-FRIENDLY: With 30% more efficiency than a 50-gallon tank water heater, tankless water heaters are not only healthy for your pocket but on the environment also.

LONG-LASTING: Because of their simplicity and ease of service, tankless gas water heaters can last up to 20 years.

STRONG WARRANTY: Most tankless water heaters come with up to 15 year warranty on the crucial parts.

CLEAN WATER: Since a tankless does not store water, you avoid using water contaminated with years of accumulated rust and scale.

SAFE: Most tankless models are equipped with unique safety features to prevent scalding water from reaching your faucet.

PEACE OF MIND: When 7 out of 10 tanks fail, whether a slow or massive flood, they leak 50 gallons of contaminated water right in your basement, damaging floors, foundation or anything they can come in contact with. This not only causes not only a major mess, but tens of thousands of dollars in repairs. This would never happen with a tankless since no water is ever stored.

AFFORDABLE: You can lease a tankless water heater installed for as low as $23.99/month which is still a better investment compared to rental of a power vented tank that can cost you an average of $25/month.