Design Comfort Blog

Navien Tankless Systems Offer Outstanding Energy Savings

January 4th, 2016

Hot water doesn’t come cheap. Sure, it’s an amenity that we have all come to take for granted, but it’s also one that requires energy consumption. All around us, the cost of fuel is in flux, and nothing is stable for long. What’s more, it’s difficult to ignore the environmental impact of energy consumption, and if you’re at all concerned about environmental friendliness, then you may be looking for a high-efficiency solution to hot water.

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How Newer Furnaces Are Improving in Energy Efficiency

December 28th, 2015

How old is the gas furnace that’s currently keeping your home warm during cold weather? If it’s more than 15 years old, and especially if it’s more than 20, it is definitely time to consider having the unit replaced. This isn’t just a way to ward off a furnace having its final failure at an inconvenient (i.e. freezing) time: it’s a way to improve energy efficiency. Not only is an aging furnace going to require more power to produce heat, but newer furnaces have improvements that have made them more energy efficient than ever. Where the average AFUE rating (an annual energy efficiency measure) of gas furnaces was once 60%–80%, most furnaces score higher than this today—and some even score as high as 97%! That means a furnace that wastes only 3% of its fuel source.

How Do Newer Furnaces Achieve This Increase?

The basic answer is that furnaces are simply better made today than ever before, with improved materials making it easier for them to effectively transfer heat from their heat exchangers to the air. They have also changed over from using a standing pilot light that drains power even when the furnace isn’t on over to using electronic ignition systems, which are not only less drain on power but also more reliable.

There are some specifics that go into the special high-efficiency furnaces currently available. One of these is the second heat exchanger found inside condensing furnaces. The second heat exchanger captures the combustion gas vapor from the first exchanger that would otherwise end up vented outside and wasted. The second exchanger condenses the vapor and draws even more heat from it.

Many modern furnaces have special sealed combustion chambers, rather than the older style known as an atmospheric combustion chamber. A sealed chamber loses less heat to the outside when the burners ignite. As an added benefit, furnaces with sealed combustion chambers are safer and run quieter.

Finally, many newer gas furnaces have multi-stage burners and variable-speed blowers, which means they don’t have to operate at the same power level whenever they turn on. Instead, the furnaces modulate the burners and the blower capacities to match the needs of their homes and to reduce energy use.

Design Comfort offers heating replacement services in Millcreek, UT.

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Should I Upgrade My Thermostat?

December 21st, 2015

With the coldest weather of the year still ahead of us, you may be thinking forward to the overall performance quality of your heating system. If you want to get a more efficient and effective performance from your system this year than you did last winter, know that you don’t have to completely replace your heating system. You may be able to enjoy a superior performance from the same equipment simply by upgrading your thermostat in Cottonwood Heights, UT. If you think that investing in a new thermostat may be on your agenda this year, contact the professionals on our staff to schedule service. Design Comfort is happy to ensure that you have the ideal thermostat in place in your home.

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Why Should I Choose a Tankless Water Heater?

December 14th, 2015

Modern homeowners have their choice of the litter when it comes to appliances, including their water heaters. There is a greater variety than ever before when it comes to the appliances that one may use in his or her home. In fact, there is so much variety that narrowing down one’s choices can sometimes feel like a project in and of itself. Of course, you don’t want to wind up with a water heater that doesn’t suit your needs well, so you should take the time to figure out which is best for your particular situation and user preferences. You may find that a tankless water heater in Holladay, UT is ideal. Contact Design Comfort to learn more.

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Is an ERV Effective in the Winter?

December 7th, 2015

Heating one’s home is not to be taken lightly. The winter weather in this part of the country is far too harsh and long-lasting to take any chances with the performance quality of one’s heating system. Of course, you also don’t want to be paying an arm and a leg in order to heat your home, nor should you have to sacrifice sufficient ventilation and great indoor air quality in your pursuit of efficient heating. If you think that enjoying efficient, effective heating as well as high indoor air quality is asking too much, think again. Just use an ERV in West Jordan, UT. Read on, and contact Design Comfort if you think that an ERV is a good fit for your home.

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Operation Underground Railroad: Get Involved with Design Comfort

November 30th, 2015

While this blog is typically chock full of tips and explanations regarding ways in which you can live more comfortably, we have something different to discuss with you today. Design Comfort is teaming up with Operation Underground Railroad in order to raise money with which to rescue kids from human traffickers and to ensure that they are able to resume safe, productive, and enjoyable lives. This is a complicated undertaking, and it is not something that any company or organization can achieve on its own. That is why we are asking you to join the Design Comfort team on December 5th, at 9:00 am, to participate in this fundraising 5K. Additionally, we encourage you to learn more about Operation Underground Railroad here, and to consider other ways in which to get involved in this great cause.

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Choosing the Right Water Heater for Your Home

November 23rd, 2015

One of the great benefits of being a homeowner in this modern age is the fact that you have so many options available when it comes to investing in household appliances and comfort systems. Of course, the converse of this benefit is the fact that having so many options to choose from can actually make it difficult to choose your new systems and appliances with confidence. Your water heater in Cottonwood Heights, UT is surely one of the most heavily-used appliances in your home. With that in mind, you really want to take the time to ensure that you choose your system wisely. We’ll briefly discuss the merits of both tank and tankless water heaters below. Contact Design Comfort to schedule your water heater services.

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What to Consider Prior to a Heating Installation

November 16th, 2015

Now that we have at least one foot firmly in the heating season, with temperatures—especially nighttime temperatures—dipping well-below comfortable levels, you need to get serious about your heating installation in Taylorsville, UT. Before you know it, temperatures are going to take a serious downfall, and they are not going to raise back up as much during the days, either. With that in mind, it is time that you give some careful consideration to your home heating options. We’ve put together a few tips to help you choose your new home heating system with the greatest of care. Whether investing in a new heater for the first time, or replacing your old system after years of quality service, we are the professionals to turn to. Read on, and call Design Comfort to schedule your heating installation. 

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Is My Furnace in Trouble?

November 9th, 2015

As the heating season progresses, you’ll find yourself running your heater, furnace or otherwise, more and more regularly. Hopefully you’ve had your heater professionally maintained prior to this point, so that it is in the best working condition possible during its heaviest usage time of the year. Even if your system was well-tuned up, though, there is always a chance that you’ll encounter problems of some sort over the course of the heating season. Should this happen, you need to recognize the problem as soon as possible so as to have the issues resolved promptly. Failure to schedule prompt furnace repairs in Holladay, UT can lead to compromised comfort, and even further damage to your system. Contact Design Comfort if you have any heating system concerns.

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3 Signs That You Need Boiler Repairs

November 2nd, 2015

We are admittedly very early in the heating season, but you must remember that there is no time during which you can guarantee with absolute certainty that your boiler will not encounter operational problems. Because it is always best to have any problems with one’s boiler resolved sooner than later, it only makes sense to learn to identify the warning signs of boiler problems. We’ve put together a few examples of some common indicators below. If you have any concerns regarding your boiler, or suspect the need for professional boiler repairs in West Jordan, UT, just give us a call. Design Comfort is available to help. 

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