Tankless efficiency

Storage-tank water heaters consume energy by heating water for future use, maintaining temperature of the stored hot water, and wasting heat energy in the form of standby heat loss. A tankless water heater does not do this, which is why it’s typically about 33 percent more efficient.

Tankless water heaters heat water when called on. Cold water flows through the tankless system where it’s heated either electrically or by a gas burner. There isn’t a storage tank. You are only limited in your hot-water supply by the flow rate of the unit compared to the flow rate of your household’s hot-water demand.

Whole-house or point-of-use

If your household uses an average of 150 liters (40 gallons) of hot water a day, you may be fine with one whole-house tankless system. Many households use 300 liters (80 gallons), or more, on a typical day. A household of this size would benefit with either two tankless systems, or one whole-house system, with one or more single point-of-use systems.

Single point-of-use water heaters are small units installed at one outlet, such as the kitchen sink. One or more point-of-use systems in combination with one whole-house system have proven to be exceptionally energy efficient, delivering as much as 50 percent efficiency over storage-tank water heaters.

Installation

Factors such as the layout of your hot-water outlets and the location of the tankless unit are key. Water will lose heat over distance. The farthest outlet may not provide water hot enough for your needs. For example, two bathrooms located at one end of your home may need one dedicated whole-house system, while the kitchen and laundry room may need a second whole-house system. Your home and water usage are unique, which requires specific evaluation.

Call Husky Heating & Air Conditioning in the Greater Toronto Area for your home’s evaluation.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about  tankless water heaters and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offersand get started today!

Static shock can also be painful. Have you ever tried to walk up to a loved one and give them a kiss, or even simply touch their hand? The sparks literally fly as you’re both zapped by a static charge. You can also zap yourself by innocently walking across the room to turn on the light switch or open the door.

Finally, static electricity can damage your electronics. You may accidentally fry your sensitive computer simply by touching the case when the air is dry in your home. With a sharp jolt of electricity ready to strike from the end of your finger, you could accidentally wreak havoc on a number of electrical devices in your home.

The all-around solution to static buildup is a whole-house humidifier. When the air is moist, static electricity simply can’t build up. That’s why static shock is virtually non-existent in the summer when the air is humid. Even if the air is dry outside in the winter, you can alleviate static electricity inside by raising the indoor’s relative humidity to a comfortable level with a whole-house humidifier.

Other benefits include lower susceptibility to illness, a reduction in chapped lips and dry skin, a better night’s sleep, less dust, and protection for wooden furniture and musical instruments. You can even lower your utility bills in the winter because humid air feels warmer than dry air, thus allowing you to turn down the thermostat without reducing your comfort level.

For more information about whole-house humidifiers, please contact Husky Heating & Air Conditioning. We serve the Greater Toronto Area.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about whole-house humidifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!

A furnace with a cracked heat exchanger or some other serious problem is dangerous mainly because of the potential for carbon monoxide to escape into the indoor air. The poisonous fumes are often undetectable until it’s too late.

A crack in the heat exchanger may be caused when a filter isn’t changed often enough. This restricts airflow and causes the heat exchanger to glow red-hot during every cycle. The metal can be damaged and a crack can form.

Rust is another issue that can cause a red-tag furnace situation. A heat exchanger made out of aluminized steel will rust if it’s exposed to excessive moisture or frequent and extreme changes in temperature.

Once you have a red-tag furnace on your hands, you have two options: either you can replace the heat exchanger only or replace the entire furnace. The cost of purchasing and installing a new heat exchanger can be high, so this option should only be chosen if the part is under full warranty or your furnace is relatively new.

The other option – replacing the entire furnace – should be your route if your furnace is older than 10 years and has shown other problems recently. Choosing an efficient replacement and sizing it properly could help you appreciate a return on your investment in the years to come.

If you are trying to navigate a red-tag furnace situation, please contact Husky Heating & Air Conditioning in Greater Toronto for professional advice.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about red-tag furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offersand get started today! 

1. Scraping or Grinding – These types of furnace noises may indicate a few different problems, one of which is worn-out bearings inside the motor. This can be dangerous as it may involve metal on metal contact, which can create extreme temperatures and lead to much bigger issues. If you hear this type of noise, turn off the unit and arrange for service.

2. Clicking – A clicking noise may be a sign of a leaky gas valve and can be quite serious. Detection and repair of the leak should be done by a trained and qualified technician, and the sooner the better.

3. Loud Rattling – If you hear this noise, in particular just prior to the furnace blower starting up, it could signal a crack in your heat exchanger. This is very dangerous, as a crack could be leaking carbon monoxide into your home. It requires immediate attention.

Furnace noises may be harmless or easy to fix, but more often than not they signal a bigger problem. At Husky Heating & Air Conditioning, our well-trained and fully licensed technicians are experts at the detection and repair of all the components of your HVAC system. We’ve been serving the Greater Toronto Area since 1974, and we offer 24-hour emergency service, because breakdowns don’t always happen from 9 to 5.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace noises and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today! 

1. Use the right product. Regular household duct tape, or any cloth-backed duct tape, will break down over time and leave you right back where you started. The way to get a proper, long-lasting seal is to use either duct mastic or foil-backed tape.

2.  Get down to it. After a visual inspection and repair of all accessible ductwork, get down on the floor and remove vent and register covers. Seal the area between the floor and the duct, as this is a common area of disconnection. Also be sure to check any vents or registers in the walls or ceilings, and seal them well.

3. Seal at the source. Don’t forget to check the seal at the furnace itself, as well as the filter area. Duct sealing alone will show major improvements, but if you’re losing air at the source, repairs down the line won’t solve the problem.

Along the same lines, insulating your ducts, especially in part of the home that don’t received conditioned air, such as the basement, crawlspaces and attic, is just as important as making sure your ducts are properly connected and sealed.

Duct sealing is an important part of keeping your home a comfortable temperature and cutting down on heating costs. For all your HVAC needs in the Greater Toronto Area, call Husky Heating & Air Conditioning. We are a family business that stands for quality workmanship and great customer service, and have over 35 years of experience behind us.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about duct sealing and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offersand get started today!   

• You could buy the wrong equipment, as proper sizing can be tricky. Choose a furnace that’s too small, for example, and it won’t fully heat your home. Choose an air conditioner that’s too large, on the other hand, and it will switch on and off too often, resulting in increased utility charges. An experienced professional can perform a load calculation to determine which size heating or cooling appliance is right for your home, or you can try to calculate it yourself using past utility bills.
• The equipment could be stolen or purchased off the black market. If the price seems ridiculously low, chances are it’s not being sold legitimately. Criminals use stolen credit card numbers to buy expensive products, then sell them very cheaply online. If you buy these products,
• you are supporting a black market and hurting licensed business professionals.
• The equipment could be broken, damaged or missing parts. In short, there’s no way to be certain of the product’s condition when buying HVAC equipment online. Because the seller has no guarantee that the equipment will be installed properly, equipment purchased online is usually not covered by a warranty after it’s installed. This means you won’t be able to replace or return your equipment if it’s damaged or broken.
• You may need to install the equipment yourself, or hire someone who’s not certified or experienced in this type of work. Most contractors will not install HVAC equipment purchased online because they cannot be certain of its condition, and therefore cannot warranty it. They also lose the profit from an equipment sale, and likely will not make much from a simple one-time installation. Contractors that do install online purchases usually do so at an inflated rate to make up for the lost profit, and you may end up paying more than your “online deal” saved you.

As you can see, buying HVAC equipment online can be a sour deal. For more information about which system is right for you, contact your Greater Toronto Area experts at Husky Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about buying hvac equipment and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

1. Go For Experience – While choosing an HVAC contractor who has been in business for many years is no guarantee, there is something to be said for experience. Someone in business a long time will have many references for you to choose from and should be well known in the industry.

2. Check for Qualifications – In the Greater Toronto Area ensure that your contractor has his Certificate of Qualification. This is an assurance that your contractor has completed the apprenticeship program and passed the qualification exams within the province of Ontario.

3. Ensure They’re Insured – A reputable contractor will carry an appropriate amount of liability, property damage and worker’s compensation insurance. If the contractor is underinsured or carries no insurance, you as the homeowner may be found responsible for any injuries suffered on your property, as well as any damages caused. Ask to see a certificate of insurance and check that it’s up to date.

4. Ask Around for Recommendations – Before choosing an HVAC contractor, ask family, friends and neighbours if there is anyone they would recommend. References from people you trust can help to point you in the right direction.

5. Open the Lines of Communication – Hiring an HVAC contractor that you can understand clearly and communicate with easily is the key to a great working relationship. Your contractor should be pleasant, open and honest – all great indicators of a solid work ethic and quality workmanship.

Take some of the uncertainty and guesswork out of choosing an HVAC contractor for your next project by taking the time to do your research. Contact Husky Heating & Air Conditioning Co. for all your HVAC needs. We have been proudly serving the Greater Toronto Area since 1974 and have a solid commitment to quality and customer service.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about choosing an hvac contractor and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offersand get started today!

Installation

The location of ductwork, return grills, air-supply registers, jumper ducts and transfer grills is important for even air flow and efficiency. Ducts need to be installed in the shortest route from air source to air-supply registers. When possible, ducts should not be installed in exterior walls or inaccessible spaces. Avoid unconditioned spaces wherever possible. Air-supply registers should be installed away from kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. Return grills should be installed on each floor. Optimal installation for return grills is a smaller grill in each room that has a register. For areas with hindered return flow, jumper ducts or transfer grills should be installed.

Duct distribution

Ductwork should be used for all air distribution. Do not use cavities, walls or raised floors for circulating air. These spaces are difficult to seal, and they hinder air flow measurements. It could compromise the entire system.

Insulation

If you must run ductwork in unconditioned spaces, make sure that the ducts are adequately insulated. Conditioned air quickly loses energy in uninsulated ducts. If possible, insulate all ductwork, even in conditioned areas. This maintains the target temperature from the thermostat and heating and cooling system.

Sealing

To ensure minimum failure over the ductwork’s lifetime, mechanically secure all joints, air-supply registers and return grills. Sealing the connections with mastic and fiberglass mesh is preferred.

Optimal air flow

To control the amount of air that flows through each duct unit, install volume dampers that can be adjusted and tightened in place. This will ensure even air pressure throughout your home.

To consult with a duct-design professional, contact Husky Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve served homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area since 1974.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about ductwork design and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offersand get started today!

If you have indoor air quality concerns, you can take charge with these three tips.

• Air purification system
• Ventilation
• Eliminating air pollution sources

Air purification systems: One of the easiest ways to take charge of your indoor air quality is by using an air purification system. There are many different types and brands of systems to choose from. Some of the purification systems are designed to clean the air throughout your entire home, and some of them are portable and can be used in a specific room or area. You need to determine which type of air purification system would be the most beneficial in your home.

Ventilation: If your home has inadequate ventilation, you could be increasing the indoor pollution levels by not bringing enough outdoor air into your home. There are natural ways to increase ventilation, including the most obvious, simply opening windows and doors. However, sometimes the whether makes this option impractical. There are also mechanical ways to increase ventilation from the outdoors. These can range from vented fans for use in a single room to air-handling systems for larger areas.

Eliminating air pollution sources: Another way to increase your indoor air quality is by eliminating the sources of the air pollution in your home. Your home could have many different sources of air pollution. One possible source may be dirty or leaky air ducts. This can be addressed by having your air ducts cleaned and sealed, and keeping a clean air filter in your furnace.

These three tips include different ways to improve your air quality and eliminate sources of air pollution in your home. To improve indoor air quality, you should determine what causes the air pollution in your home and decide which tips will be the most beneficial to you.

For all of your air quality and home comfort needs in the Greater Toronto Area, please call us at Husky Heating & Air Conditioning Co.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

There are six major points of comparison when it comes to furnaces:

• Manufacturer
• Fuel/energy type
• Furnace size
• Energy efficiency
• BTU rating
• Warranty information

When you’re out to upgrade heating systems, you want a furnace made from a reputable manufacturer that uses a safe and compatible fuel type or energy source. The furnace must be appropriately sized for your home, and the more energy efficient it is, the better. Furnace efficiency is measured using a metric known as AFUE (“annual fuel utilization efficiency”), which is a ratio between energy input and heat output. The higher the AFUE rating, the more energy is converted to heat. Look for furnaces with an AFUE of 90 percent or better to minimize operational costs.

The British thermal unit, or BTU, rating indicates the heating load the furnace is suitable for. Both furnace size and heating load calculations are best left to professionals, as they require complex calculations to accurately assess a furnace. Finally, a comprehensive warranty gives you added protection, so it may be worth investing in a furnace that comes with a longer or more complete warranty.

Keep in mind, too, that when you upgrade heating systems with Energy Star-certified equipment, you may be eligible for tax credits or rebates.

Above all, don’t rush as you shop for a new furnace, and take advantage of professional resources that can help you. Investing a little in bringing an HVAC contractor on board to help you with proper sizing, heat gain calculations and system design issues can save you big money in the future.

At Husky Heating & Air Conditioning, we understand the needs of homeowners in the Greater Toronto Area. We’re here to help you avoid guesswork as you upgrade heating systems by providing professional, friendly, no-obligation advice. If you’re in the market for a new furnace and would like some assistance, please contact us at Husky.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about upgrading heating systems  and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Husky Heating & Air Conditioning services the Greater Toronto area in Canada.  Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!