| It is always a good idea to have your heating | | | | instance, you need to work out if you wish to |
| system checked by a professional before starting | | | | heat the whole home or just certain areas at a |
| it up. This can help to avoid a cold morning and | | | | time. Heating individual areas, is called zoning, |
| depending on your system a cold shower. Many | | | | meaning that you are heating specific areas, |
| companies provide this service through their | | | | saving energy and money? You also need to |
| service contract so that there is no additional cost | | | | make sure that the heater is the right size for |
| to you. Take advantage of it you system life | | | | the space. If the heater is too big, it will be more |
| span can increase with these periodic check-ups. | | | | expensive, not operate efficiently, and may even |
| Know the Type of System You Have Is it hot | | | | be uncomfortable. A heater that is too small will |
| air, steam or hot water system? • The | | | | not heat the area adequately and will have to |
| Hot Forced Air System uses a duct system to | | | | work harder by running longer and inefficiently. |
| push warm air in and around the rooms in your | | | | Once you have worked through the first two |
| home. • A Steam System heats the | | | | considerations, you will need to work out exactly |
| water to the point where it rises into radiators | | | | what type of heater you require. This depends on |
| that radiate heat and allow the condensate water | | | | such things as your budget, the size of your |
| to circulate back the heating source. • | | | | home, availability of fuel, and how you wish to |
| Hot Water Boilers will heat water, which will | | | | heat your home. |
| circulate through the house, heating the copper | | | | Other Types of Heat Sources: • Wood |
| tubing and the elements (fins) that emit the heat. | | | | Pellet Stoves • Fireplaces - |
| These are just a few ways you can heat your | | | | supplementary • Coal Stoves • |
| home. There are many to choose from so have | | | | Wood Burning stoves • Electric Heating |
| a qualified heating contractor evaluate the best | | | | Systems • Solar Panel Systems - |
| way to heat your individual home. | | | | expensive at first, but cheaper in the end. It can |
| What Do You Mean By Zones? • Having | | | | be used as supplementary heat. |
| different zones in your home allows you to heat it | | | | Hector Seda is author of 'What Your Parents |
| more efficiently. • To have heat when | | | | Never Told You About Owning A Home'. For a |
| and where you need it. • To minimize | | | | copy of the book go to: |
| the amount at a specific time and increase it | | | | Hector's next book, Repair For Resale published |
| when the temperature in the room calls for it. | | | | by Adams Media Publishing Group, Inc. is to be |
| The type of thermostat you use has a great deal | | | | released in the spring of 2008. |
| to do with efficiency and the regulation of the | | | | Hector Seda is a correspondent and subject |
| zones in your home. | | | | matter expert for Comcast's CN8, Philadelphia's |
| \What to Consider When Buying Heating Systems | | | | "Your Morning" Show; which is seen in over 14 |
| • The size of your home - An oversized | | | | million homes from Virginia to Maine. Locally it can |
| unit will be inefficient and costly to operate. | | | | be viewed on Cablevision's channel 64. |
| • An undersized unit will not heat you | | | | KINDLY NOTE: We are looking for people that |
| home well enough and may run more than | | | | have been the recipient(s) of unfair play by a |
| necessary costing you more in fuel bills. • | | | | contractor. If you have been a victim visit my |
| Should you use oil, natural gas (proffered because | | | | website and tell me your story or send a letter to |
| it runs cleaner), or LPG (liquid propane gas)? You | | | | Ask Hector P.O. Box 254 Pompton Lakes, New |
| need to do a little research to find out if you | | | | Jersey 07442. |
| have gas in the street. Do you want an oil or | | | | With the cold and flue season approaching, find |
| propane tank exposed in your yard? You may | | | | out how simple it is to regulate the air throughout |
| not have a choice. • Do you want your | | | | your home and university tests show that it |
| boiler to heat the domestic hot water in your | | | | eliminates up to 99.99% of the bacteria living |
| house? I myself do not recommend this. If your | | | | there, including MRSA! |
| boiler is down then you have no hot water. I | | | | Go To |
| would want at least one or the other working. | | | | The solution is simpler than you think and, so |
| When purchasing a heating system for your | | | | should your decision. |
| home, some things will need to be considered. For | | | | |