Selecting a heating system for your home is an important decision since the sytem will be your home's largest energy user.  The right system will give you efficient room-to-room comfort.  The wrong system will leave you with drafts, cold spots, large maintenance costs and higher utility bills.  Purchasing a heating system is one of the largest investments (both at purchase and in operating costs) homeowners can make in their own property.  As with any major purchase, the more information you have the better decisions you can make.

• Selecting a reliable heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) contractor
• Getting a thorough load and system analysis completed on your home
• Considering the available energy sources - natural gas, propane, electricity or oil
• Choosing system accessories like set-back thermostats or air cleaners to enhance your comfort and system efficiency
• Knowing the differences between types of heating systems; for example, forced-air vs. in-floor radiant heat

HOW DO I SELECT AN HVAC CONTRACTOR?
When searching for a conscientious contractor, the starting point is always making sure thery are licensed, bonded, and insured.  A quick check on the State of Washington Contractor Licensing website will show their status.  Never be afraid to ask references from previous customers.  Another positive indicator is if the contractor has a regular place of business, regular hours and on-site employees and products. Make sure that they have dedicated service technicians to support you after the installation.

The HVAC contractor should offer various types of systems, such as in-floor radiant, forced-air and zoned forced-air so that they can knowledgeably help you decide which type of system is best for your home and budget without bias.  (If they don't offer all types, they'll only recommend what they have.)

Remember, experience counts! And you can count on Handy's Heating of Mount Vernon, WA, for years of experience and expertise in hearth and heating.

WHAT SHOULD THE LOAD AND SYSTEM ANALYSIS CONSIDER?
Heat passes through the walls, roof, windows and doors as it moves toward the cooler outdoors.  We call this heat loss.  It is measured in BTUH's and determines the size of your heating system.  In a new home, Washington State energy code gives a prescriptive method for determining your heating needs as part of the building permit process.  For existing older homes, your contractor will need to do a thorough on-site survey determining type of construction, insulation values, windows (quantity, size and type) and any other factors that could affect your home's heat loss.

HOW DO I SELECT THE ENERGY SOURCE?
The number one factor in operating costs for HVAC is the type of energy used. The second factor is the equipment selection.  As an example, look at today's energy cost to heat a 1,600 square foot home that was built in the 1970's. With electric baseboard heat or wall heaters, you could expect to pay $1,520 per year.  That same house using natural gas forced-air 93% high-efficiency furnace will cost $686 per year.  You can certainly see how the choice of energy can cost or save you money over the years after your installation.

WHY THINK ABOUT ACCESSORIES?
Although they are categorized as accessories, thermostats and air cleaners are an important part of your HVAC system.  A set-back thermostat can save you up to 15% of your annual heating bill by automatically turning your home's temperature down while you sleep or during regular unoccupied times.  Ask anybody with allergies if being able to clean pollens and other particles out of the air is an important part of their HVAC system.  Other items to consider are humidifiers, air-to-air heat exchangers and ultraviolet germicidal lights.