New oil furnaces a low: dramatic energy savings THE DAYS of switching from oil to another home heating system to save fuel and money may be over. New technology developed in recent years has improved oil fur- naces to the point where they can be more than 90 per cent efficient. The same technology also makes it possible to equip older furnaces with modern efficiency-enhancing devices. There are two common ways to measure furnace efficiency: seasonal and steady-state efficien- cies. Both refer to the percentage of available heat actually transfer- red to the living space of a house. Seasonal efficiency, as its name implies, rates the effectiveness of a Furnace Type % Conventional Conventional with automatic chimney damper Conventional with flame retention head burner Mid-efficiency furnace Condensing furnace Conventiona! with condensing add-on Steady-State Efficiency furnace during an entire heating season, keeping in mind the grad- ual and less efficient start-up and cool-down stages of the firing cycle and the peak performance stret- ches. Steady-state efficiency is calculated after the furnace is warmed up and before it starts to cool down. ‘It indicates the fur- nace’s ability to deliver heat at the peak of its performance. Traditionally, figures for steady-state efficiency have been higher than those for scasonal ef- ficiency for a given furnace. But new furnaces now on the market are so efficient that steady-state and seasonal efficiencies are simi- Fuel Savings Compared with Conventional Seasonal Efficiency lar and fuel savings can be as high as 37 per cent compared to older, conventional units. In addition to completely new furnaces, research has produced efficiency-enhancing equipment that can be adapted to conven- tional models. These include the delayed action solenoid valve, the flame retention head burner and the automatic chimney damper. Delayed action solenoid valves prevent any unnecessary flow of oil to the burner by cutting off oil to the nozzle until the fuel pump reaches its correct operating pressure. Similarly, the flow of oil is stopped the moment the burner shuts off. This equipment reduces sooting considerably and helps to keep the heat exchanger clean and operating efficiently. It also reduces the like- lihood of smoke and fumes linger- ing in the combustion chamber and eventually entering the house. Flame retention head burners also reduce soot deposits and allow for a more complete combustion of the improved oil-air mixture. These burners permit the use of smaller nozzles, which in turn enables better adaption of the fur- nace to the needs of the home and contributes to fuel economy. In conventional furnaces, barometric dampers allow heat to escape up the chimney, thus reduc- ing the unit’s efficiency. Many new furnaces are equipped with a se- cond damper, downstream from the barometric damper, that automatically opens and closes See New Page 31 LOVESEAT (Chair is also avaiiable) FACTORY AUTHORIZED This is our contemporary style sofa & loveseat with inviting pillow back and high density super sofa seat cushions. Choose from a variety of fabrics to match any decor. Many more Living room Suites to choose from at greatly discounted prices. Be Won't warp, crack or rot By ¢ Durable 24-gauge steel § ° Year after year of 29 - Friday, November 18, 1988 - North Shore News There’s no quality like Stanley quality Stanley Steel Garage Doors nie] Catto) © Virtually maintenance free ® Singie or double widths e The beauty of wood and trouble-free operation the strength of steel STANLEY DOOR SYSTEMS DIVISION OF STANLEY CANADA INC. 8145-130 STEEET, SURREY Bob Schmid, Office: 525-7702 Res.: 986-9625 a “ ALL HANGING PLANTS NOW 20-50% off {ivys, ferns, flowering) LAST 3 DAYS Sale ends Sunday 5 pm Jungle Interiors is Canada’s largest retailer of silk plants with over 150 varieties available to complete your interior decor. Designers of silk’ plants & accessories |e ing 985-9859 Mon Thur & Sat. 95:30 pm Fri 9 am-9 pm * Buy direct from the Factory and SAVE! " tetiooa FACTORY OUTLET 7206 Douglas Rd., Burnaby (2 buildings east of Thunderbird) Phone # 299-3172 Sun 12 prv-5 pm STORE Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. HOURS: Sun., Noon-5 p.m.