Sunset Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Heating Replacement’

Why Is Size an Issue for Heating Replacement?

Friday, November 14th, 2014

Getting a new heating system for your home is a great opportunity to increase your comfort and energy efficiency. However, if your system isn’t sized correctly for your home, you most likely won’t see these benefits. Many people go by the “rule of thumb” that square footage is all you need to properly size a new heating system. While the square footage of your home factors into sizing, it isn’t the only item to consider. Working with a trained heating professional can help you with sizing, choosing and the installation of your new system. If you are ready to take the next step toward heating installation, call Sunset Air today!

Why Does Size Matter?

Your home needs a certain amount of heating to be comfortable and energy efficient. If the heating in your home isn’t adequate, you’ll be chilly and your system will run constantly in order to achieve the temperature you’ve set on your thermostat. Conversely, if the amount of heating your system provides is too much, your home will heat too quickly, possibly making your home too warm too fast. You may also see short-cycling develop, where your system turns on and off rapidly. Short-cycling can wear down the components in your system, potentially leading to overheating and breakdown. The bottom line: it’s best for both you and your home to have a heating system that is the correct size.

Heat Load Calculation

Doing a heat load calculation is the best way to determine what size heating system you’ll need for your home. This calculation includes several factors that all contribute to understanding how much heat your home needs throughout a day. Some of the factors included in a heat load calculation are:

  • Your home’s orientation
  • Number of windows and doors, and what type they are
  • Insulation levels throughout your home
  • Number of occupants
  • Number of rooms
  • Floor plan
  • Square footage

As you can see, there are multiple other factors to include in a heat load calculation beyond the square footage of your home. Missing these factors can lead to purchasing and installing an incorrectly-sized heating system, which is not to your benefit.

If it’s time for a new heating system in Olympia, WA, call the people you can trust to help you choose, install and maintain your new system: Sunset Air.

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Signs That You Need Heating Replacement in Puyallup

Tuesday, October 1st, 2013

Puyallup heating systems are as omnipresent in our homes as water and electricity. Our wet Washington weather makes the need for a reliable heating system inescapable. And while regular maintenance and careful use can give your heater many years of life, sooner or later, the time comes to replace it with a newer and more efficient unit. It can be hard to tell when exactly you need to install a new unit, especially if it’s seeing regular use (though once the decision is made, it’s best to do it just before the heating season starts, if possible). Here are some signs that you need heating replacement in Puyallup:

  • Age. A furnace or boiler that is more than 15 years old, or a heat pump that is more than 10 years old, should be considered for replacement. It’s not necessarily a make-or-break factor – again, with proper care, a heater can last quite a long time – but if you have an older unit and you notice additional problems with it, it may be time to consider something new.
  • Bills are rising. As heaters age, they become more inefficient, requiring greater maintenance and repair sessions to keep functioning. If you notice your heating bills steadily rising, despite not running the heater any more often than normal, it’s a good sign that replacement is in order. The same holds true if you’re scheduling repairs more and more often; eventually, the cost of replacement outweighs the constant cost of maintaining the older one.
  • Insufficient heating. Along those lines, a heater needs to maintain adequate comfort levels when it runs, even if that costs you more in heating bills. If your house is never comfortable – always a little too chilly or drafty, no matter how long you run the heater – a newer and more efficient unit can probably solve the problem.

If you spot signs that you need heating maintenance in Puyallup, you need to speak with a professional about your options. Sunset Air handles Puyallup heating issues and can install a great new heater for you to help you tackle those cold and rainy days head on. Contact our staff for a consultation today.

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