Page 14 - UGI_Fall_2019

naturallyBetter

Water, water, everywhere

Natural gas and water team up to heat homes in various ways.

By Drew Robb

atural gas and water can bring comfort to every part of a Unsdorfer said buy-
home. These natural gas heating systems employ a boiler ing the right boiler for
to supply hot water (or steam) through a network of pipes. a homeowner’s specific
N The result is a cozy and comfortable residence with low needs will keep them
utility bills. comfortable for years to
ENERGY STAR , a program managed by the U.S. Environmental Pro- come while keeping en- Photo courtesy of rinnai america corP .
®
tection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, helps businesses and ergy bills low.
individuals save money and protect the environment through superior
energy efficiency. According to ENERGY STAR, about half of the energy GiaNT radiaTor
used in homes goes to heating and cooling. Making smart decisions Natural gas radiant
about the heating system can have a significant impact on utility bills. floor systems offer an
“Compared to electricity, natural gas systems are by far the more alternative to heat being
cost-effective choice,” said Bob Dressler, a licensed heating, ventilation fed to spaces via radiator
and air conditioning installer and product expert, eComfort, in Boling- units. They typically con-
brook, Illinois. sist of a piping system
laid under a floor that is
NeW heiGhTS fed hot water from the
Boilers are at the heart of every radiated heating system. They pro- boiler. The entire floor,
duce and send hot water (or steam) to radiators that distribute heat in effect, acts as a giant
evenly throughout the entire home. Residential boilers used to take radiator.
up half the basement and required the placement of ugly, clanking Radiant floor heating
radiators in each room. fueled by natural gas is
For people who have older boilers and radiators in their homes, it is more efficient than base-
well worth considering the installation of a modern system. Over the board heating systems. It
past decade, standards in efficiency have propelled natural gas boiler- doesn’t distribute aller- Tankless water heaters, such as this
technology to new heights. Modern boilers are compact and can be gens like forced-air sys- unit by Rinnai America Corp., provide
abundant hot water whenever and
as much as 50 percent more efficient than their older counterparts. tems and uses relatively wherever it is needed.
Warmth is transported throughout the premises via pipes to unobtru- little electricity. Installa-
sive baseboard radiators. tion costs, though, should be factored in.
Stewart Unsdorfer, licensed HVAC contractor and founder, Central “I would almost always recommend natural gas for radiant floor heat,
Heating & Air Conditioning Co., in Cleveland, Ohio, said there are sev- especially when used with a high-efficiency boiler,” said eComfort’s
eral factors to consider when purchasing new residential boilers. He Dressler said.
stressed correct sizing. A boiler that is too large will waste energy and Some homeowners install such systems in one room while others
cause bills to soar. A boiler that is too small won’t do the job. Homeown- place them throughout the home. Comfort settings for these systems
ers should seek advice from utility representatives and HVAC contrac- are controlled by thermostats, just like other types of heating systems.
tors about correct boiler sizing. For example, bathroom floors are often set to run in the first part of the
Another factor to check is the energy efficiency rating of the natural day, replacing cold tile with a welcoming morning warmth. Home heating
gas boiler. A unit with a higher rating will provide more heat at a lower professionals can install automatic valves and thermostats for each space.
cost than an alternate unit with a lower score. The Department of Energy For homeowners looking for a heating solution that provides low
estimates indicate that replacing an aging natural gas boiler with a new, utility bills, the combination of natural gas and hot water from a boiler
high efficiency-one could reduce fuel bills by half. is worth a look. n

14 naturalLiving ❙ Fall - Winter 2019