18 — Friday, February 21, 1992 ~ North Shore News HOME & GARDEN Put your heating needs into perspective NOW IS a good time to assess your current forced air heating system and do some forward planning. Begin put- ting your heating requirements into perspective relative to your short- and long-term lifestyle. Before making your decision on whether to change your current heating system, walk through the following steps: 1. Start by selecting a reliable heating contractor. He can help you plan your heating and gas re- quirements specifically tailored to your home and lifestyle. When choosing a heating contractor look for the following: © Expertise-Ensure your heating contractor is familiar with doing heat loss analysis of your home to determine if you have the correct size of furnace. The heat required is measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units) and is the common standard of reference to furnace size and heat input. Remember, an oversized fur- nace is as inefficient as an under- sized one. Bigger is not necessarily better when selecting a furnace. e Experience and _ stability - How long has the contractor been in business? This will indicate his stability and ability to effect war- ranty service. © Service and references - Don’t be afraid to ask for names and addresses of past customers for whom the prospective contractor has completed work. This will of- fer you the option to physically view or at least personally discuss the service and results with a reli- able source. © Quality-1s the heating and gas contractor performing all the sheet metal, gas fitting, electrical and cleaning services, or are they subcontracting most of the work? Quality standards are difficult to control with too many subcon- tracts. Is the contractor a licensed gas fitter and is the contractor ap- plying for all applicable gas per- mits? All gas fitting is required to be inspected by municipality to ensure safety and to avoid potential insurance claim disqualification. © Value- Always receive at least two price quotations from reputable contractors. Buyer beware! Have all contractors in- clude with their price quotation full details of the work to be done from the gauge of the ductwork Gyotaku workshop offered NORTH SHORE Neighbourhood House is offering a Gyotaku workshop on Thursday, March 5. Gyotaku is the art of Japanese fish printing and was originally developed as a means of recording different types of fish. Students can create prints on materials of their choice. Favorite Selections include t-shirts, aprons and rice paper. The coursc, which runs from 6:30 to 9:3 m. and costs $19, is instructed by Roberta Jones, a professional arts and crafts in- structor. Interested participants are asked to pre-register and to pick up a supply list. For more informaticn visit North Shore Neighbourhood House at 225 East 2nd St. in North Vancouver, or cail 987- 8138. the resident - plans for your home and being used to the furnace model numbers and specifications. The details and specifications of an installation often make up the difference between the lowest and the highest price. A _ detailed quotation will help you avoid be- ing oversold and yet still not be undersold with false security. 2. Together with your heating contractor determine the condition of your present heating system: ef you currently use oil fuel you should strongly consider con- verting to gas. Fuel costs will be lower and the payback on the ini- tial conversion costs can be as quick as three to five years. e If you currently use gas fuel, have a qualified service technician assess the condition and life ex- pectancy of your furnace and cur- rent hot water tank. if your furnace is over 20 years old, or your water tank over 10 years old, they are likely on bor- rowed time. Replacement now may be more cost-effective than waiting for a breakdown or a damaging leak. ¢@ If your current system is still in sound operating condition you should still give strong considera- tion to upgrading your current forced air heating system to a more fuel-efficient furnace. To- day’s state-of-the-art gas fur- naces can save you up to 25-30% annually compared to standard low-efficiency gas furnaces. Even if your low-efficiency gas furnace is under 10 years old, upgrading to a more efficient fur- nace is strongly recommended if you plan on owning your present home for the next five years. Annual Fuel Udlization Effi- ciency (AFUE) is the standard to which the industry rates furnace efficiency. A low-efficiency fur- nace may be rated 50-55% AFUE while mid- and high-efficiency furnaces are rated 80% and over. The higher the rating the tower the fuel consumption. Your heating contractor can help you determine the model most suited to your home. 3. Once you decide te keep, con- vert, or upgrade your furnace or water tank, determine whether the current position of your furnace or water tank is practical for your long-term renovation or expan- sion plans. Your heating contractor can help you decide whether moving these appliances can give you more usable living space. Duct- work, vents and registers often may be moved to complement your future renovation plans or required lifestyle. Keep in mind, however, that what is esthetically pleasing may not necessarily be best to supply adequate heat and air flow in your home to maintain a comfortable and balanced temperature. BRING THE OUTSIDE.IN! - - PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM THE ELEMENTS. B High Quulity Solariums, Sun Rooms . : Patio o Covers, Home Aen call owe 4. When you’ve decided what ap- pliances you are going to install and their best physical placements, ask yourself what are your future plans, i.e., gas fireplaces, gas barbecues, gas cooking stoves, etc. Any appliance that will require gas piping should be considered. Have your contractor ‘trough in’’ gas piping now during the furnace installation for future gas appli- ances or fireplaces. This will offer you flexibility, economy and con- cealed gas lines and fittings when eventually you decide to add the new appliance. 5. When the decision to install a new forced air gas furnace has been made, the following options should be considered: Have all your vents and duct- work professionally cleaned. Orig- inal construction debris, drywall dust, sawdust, and just plain household dust find their way into the ductwork though the warm air and return air grills. The extrac- tion of this material means healthier air quality, more effi- cient air flow and longer furnace life. To greatly reduce household dust on a more permanent basis you may decide to install an elec- tronic air cleaner io your new or existing furnace. Properly installed electrostatic air cleaners are up to 98% effective in eliminating air- borne particles such as dust, smoke, dander, pollen and other microbials that pass through your system. Your heating contractor can kelp you decide which air cleaner is best for you. Power humidifiers are another option you may wish to add to your heating system. A properly installed power humidifier allows you to adjust the humidity level in your home by the simple turn of a knob. ‘ The decision to upgrade your present heating system need not be an anxious experience if you follow these simple steps and guidelines. Your heating contrac- tor should be able to detail a plan of action that is best suited to your needs. Remember, spring and summer are the ideal seasons to upgrade your heating systems. SPRING HOME & GARDEN SHOW 25 hort SPECIAL minimum $250. order Custom built closet organizers & mirror doors Eliminate waste, space and mess Create more useable space in any closet - INSTALLED OR DO IT YGURSELF Offer ends March 31/82 WOCGDLINES Custom Built Furniture for the hiome & office Showroom Open Mon-Sat. 9-5 CANADIAN CLOSET : * MARINE DRIVE 4 © Pemberton Ave tet, | “A family owned business since 1984” 4385 Crown St. N..van. 986-4263 . 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