Heating, Furnace, Air Conditioning , High Efficiency , Toronto Gas Company

Comfort Design

Ron Potter — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 14:22:03 +0000

I would like to pose a few questions.
1) Is it more important to have a pleasing appearance in a living space, or comfort?
2) Would you want to be updated on newer technologies that are available to maximize your room by room comfort?
3) If you could implement systems that were not conventional to gain comfort, would you invest more money than you had originally included in your budget?
In 23 years of discussing home heating,cooling and air quality, I find it a common error to leave planning for comfort until is too late. It is also common to find people bullied by aggressive salespeople into buying systems that are unsuitable and poorly designed.
Here is how to avoid uncomfortable sleepless nights in the humid summer, or freezing cold rooms in the dead chill of winter.
1) Design for comfort. I would never advise cutting costs in this area. Too many people come short in their budget on a renovation and choose the heating and cooling system as the compromise.
2) Do some research. Call around and talk to guys like me who know the industry and will give you straight talk on what are your options and what you have to gain or lose.
3) Ask questions and lots of them. A smart contractor will listen to you and suggest systems to suit your desires.
4) Become a judge of credibility. Too many people get in a hurry or get sucked in by low prices and aggressive salespeople and later regret it.
5) Look for experience. Find a contractor who has a solid reputation installing the systems you are considering.
6) If an individual who has experience and credibility says “this is a bad idea”, listen! They are likely to be telling the truth or at least raising a huge caution flag.

It is your money. Invest wisely and remember that comfort is the first consideration. If you are not comfortable you will never be happy.

Rheem high efficiency furnaces and central air conditioners, fewest repairs of any brand

Ron Potter — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 18:47:00 +0000

Based on the experiences of 32,500 Consumers Reports readers, Rheem air conditioners required the fewest repairs of any brand. Based on the the experiences of 22,000 Consumers Reports readers, Rheem furnaces required the fewest repairs of any brand. This is why Laird and Son have added Rheem to their product repertoire.
Maybe you have not heard of Rheem. The names you do know have been promoted through advertising on television and radio. But Rheem have chosen to build their reputation on quality and economy, offering the best products at the best price.
Laird and Son is committed to Rheem as part of our product lineup and stock emergency parts on our trucks and in our shop to ensure prompt response times. But, with many systems already installed the component failures are few and our technicians and installers all applaud our decision to offer the top rated Rheem brand to our customers.

Furnace over sizing and inadequate duct work issues

Ron Potter — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:52:41 +0000

“In our survey of repair history, we found no statistically meaningful differences in percent of models ever repaired for the leading brands of furnaces.”
This is a quote from consumersreports.org and I believe it to be factually correct. However, if you speak to your friends and neighbors you will hear comments such as, “I bought a (blank)furnace and had nothing but problems”. Some brands are prone to specific problems and a little research on your part will show you what to avoid, but by far the major reason for furnace failure and poor performance is improper installation.
For instance, inadequate duct work will not allow the furnace to access the airflow necessary for the unit to cycle properly which will lead to component failures. Over sizing the furnace will also lead to short cycling which will shorten the lifespan and cause expensive repairs.
We should not be blaming the manufacturers for much of our dissatisfaction. It is more likely that improper installation is the source of trouble and this points to the heating company you choose.
Heat loss calculations are part of the solution to furnace over sizing. This is a process where the amount of heat required for your home is determined taking into consideration the R values of the building envelope. But a consideration of the existing ducts and any upgrades necessary is also vital to proper operation of any furnace.
Laird and Son has qualified staff to perform heat loss calculations, size duct work and install modern equipment competently, performing a detailed diagnostic check on every installation. This includes calibrating gas valves and setting the air temperature in your ducts to ensure your comfort and the smooth performance of the furnace.
Our installations are performed to the highest standards. We guarantee it.

Choosing an Ethical, Qualified, Responsible, Heating and Air Conditioning Company

Ron Potter — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:45:08 +0000

How do you choose the right company to repair, service, or install heating and air conditioning equipment in your home? There are three things to consider:
1)Ethics: How seriously does the company treat the concerns of the customer? How well do they perform on a continual basis? How well do they respond when something has gone wrong? Will you need to make repeated phone calls or chase them down?
2)Qualifications: Most technicians in the field have licences but not all are trained. A gas ticket does not mean a person will know how to diagnose and repair your equipment.
3)Liability: If someone is working on your property without Workers Safety Insurance (WSIB) coverage you will be liable in case of injury. Does the company provide liability insurance coverage if property is damaged? If the company uses subcontractors are they Technical Standards and Safety registered contractors?

Laird and Son is committed to customer satisfaction. Our performance on installations and service receive top ratings. Over 80% of our business is referrals and repeat customers. But only Nadia Comaneci ever earned a perfect 10 performance and when something goes wrong Laird is persistent in resolving problems quickly and to the highest standards.
All technicians and installers have proper liscences for the work they perform but also take additional training from equipment manufacturers and industry leaders to provide a wide area of expertise to make repairs quicker and installations smoother.
We ensure all of our staff have WSIB coverage and we carry $5,000,000 liability insurance. We use employees for the bulk of our work but do require subcontractors for specialized situations and removals. In these cases our contractors are the most reputable in the industry and are TSSA registered, carrying proper insurance and WSIB coverage. You are never at risk when Laird and Son is on the job.
In summary I will say that Laird and Son meets all criterial as an ethical, qualified and responsible contractor.

Heat Transfer High Efficiency Condensing Boiler with Heat Exchanger in the Tank

Ron Potter — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 15:39:05 +0000

This is a discussion of how HTP increases boiler efficiency with a unique design. Most boilers have the water inside the heat exchanger. The Pioneer, Versa Hydro and the Versa Flame have the heat exchanger in the water. Most high efficiency boilers hold less that a gallon of water. These boilers hold a minimum of 55 gallons of water.
You benefit by this technology that allows the boiler a longer run time with less cycling resulting in improved efficiency and reducing wear and tear on components.
We can compare a boiler cycling with a cars mileage. If you take a car out on the highway, your gas mileage improves by 25% over city driving. Cars that are used for primarily for long distances last longer with fewer repairs than cars that start and stop, speed up and slow down in the city.
The performance of the Pioneer, Versa Hydro and Versa Flame boilers improve for the same reason. Reduced cycling with longer run times results in savings in gas usage and repair costs, and greatly increases the lifespan of the unit.

Versa Hydro High Efficiency Combination boiler for radiators in older homes

Ron Potter — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:17:09 +0000

There is a problem. Most high efficiency boilers installed in older homes only achieve their efficiency rating for a portion of the time. These units operate as more of a high mid-efficiency boiler. High efficiency means over 90% and this is called condensing when water vapor in natural gas is condensed into liquid during the combustion process. For this to take place the return water to the boiler must be below 130 degrees F.
The old cast iron and copper systems keep the water hotter than that, always above 140, making it impossible for the high efficiency boiler to achieve its potential (except on start up and in mild weather).
The Versa Hydro has a thoughtful approach to deal with this dilemma. It uses a massive heat exchanger in a tank that is a minimum of 55 gallons. The tank acts as a water heater producing unlimited amounts of hot water for your homes domestic use.
With 55 gallons of water you can control conditions in the tank thereby maximizing efficiency. Remember the need to have the return water below 130 F? When you open a hot water tap and use the water from the tank you introduce cold 50 degree tap water and the Versa Hydro burner comes on in condensing mode, producing unlimited amounts of hot water at over 90% efficiency.
Keep in mind that to heat radiator water is easy once it has been brought to the desired temperature. The Versa Hydro uses a heat transfer plate to transfer heat from the tank into the hot water circulating in your radiators. This is the most efficient system for heating with cast iron or copper radiators. This is also an excellent system for adding infloor radiant or zones because the unit does not need to fire every time you need some heat. It only comes on to heat up the tank, eliminating unnecessary wear and tear on components.
Other benefits of this system include:
The heat exchanger is in the tank of water and is scoured by turbulence when the unit runs. The heat exchanger never needs cleaning.
The tank has a high resistance to heat loss. The tank will only lose .5 degrees F in the water temperature every hour, 12 degrees a day if the power was out.
The heat transfer plate is transferring heat from hot water in the tank to hot water for the radiators preventing the scaling that occurs when you heat cold water with a heat transfer plate (as is the case with wall hung combination boilers and tankless water heaters).
The manufacturer of the boiler is HTP (Heat Transfer) in Boston, a family owned manufacturer that introduced high efficiency boilers to the North American market in the mid 1990′s. They are committed to creating energy efficient and environmentally minded products especially for cast iron heating systems in older homes.

Zuba Heat Pumps by Mitsubishi verses Geothermal

Ron Potter — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 15:12:54 +0000

I love the idea of using the warmth in the soil to warm water in underground pipes, and then to extract that heat with a heat pump to warm your home.
I also love the idea that you can reverse the system in the summer to put heat into the ground and provide cooling at extremely high efficiencies.
The difficulty with a Geothermal system (just described), is installing the pipes in the ground. In the country the job is easier, even with trenches of up to 300 feet.
In the city, however, we must drill vertically, usually up to 180 feet in depth and often with 4 to 5 holes per system. This is a very difficult process for many urban properties.

Did you know you can also extract heat from air and do so very efficiently? The Zuba heat pump uses a variable compressor to extract heat in temperatures down to -30 degrees Celsius. This system also reverses to provide high efficiency cooling in the summer.

Conventional air source heat pumps cannot produce heat at temperatures below freezing and also utilize an electric furnace to provide back up heat. These systems can be expensive to operate. The Zuba has an option of using a hydronics hot water coil for supplemental heat allowing the use of a 98% efficient tankless water heater for back up heating. This system rivals the efficiency of Geothermal while allowing a more efficient backup heater.

Heat pumps produce a mild soft heat that most people prefer over furnaces. You will find temperatures more consistent throughout the house and humidity levels are easier to maintain.
And as everyone knows, Mitsubishi quality is second to none.

The Most Efficient and Quietest Furnace You Can Buy LENNOX SLP98V

Ron Potter — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:18:16 +0000

If I were to buy a furnace today (my current Lennox is only 6 years old) I would install the LENNOX modulating furnace with a variable speed blower. The efficiency is 98% and the blower motor is 60% more efficient than a regular furnace motor. And up until December 2nd the furnace receives a $500 rebate from Lennox, $650 to $790 from the Federal Government and $250 from Hydro (OPA). It will never be cheaper to buy this furnace than it is right now.
The most frequent complaint about furnaces is that they are noisy. When the furnace comes on you reach for the remote and turn up the TV.
Lennox has created a furnace that runs so quiet you barely notice it come on and go off. The secret to accomplishing this noiselessness is the modulating gas valve. This furnace has the ability to turn it’s own heat up and down like a gas burner on a stove. Because a house loses heat very gradually, the SLP replaces the heat gradually with a slower fan speed and softer heat. Add to this the special sound dampening insulation that lines the cabinet. This is the furnace you put in the closet beside a bedroom.
Because of a longer cycle of heat circulation you will not notice temperature changes and the heat throughout the house will be more consistent with fewer hot and cold areas; an ideal remedy for houses with inadequate duct work
I love the quiet operation. I listen to classical music and when my furnace comes on it disrupts my listening. The SLP is the music lovers dream. Actually, if you enjoy the quiet moments in your life, you will want this furnace to keep you warm and content.

Bigger is better?

Ron Potter — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:34:06 +0000

We are discussing air conditioning here folks, and bigger is not better. Oversizing an air conditioner will create damp chilly air and leave more cold air on the lower levels of your house. You want to size the unit according to the heat gain calculated on the building. This is a process to determine how much outside heat infiltrates your house and how much cooling you need to remove that heat as it accumulates. If you have a two storey house the second floor will always be warmer than the main floor and the basement. The reason for this is that cold air drops like water and your furnace fan has the job of pushing against gravity to the top of the house where most of the heat is generated. Add a second disadvantage with the thermostat on the first level where cool air will want to accumulate telling your system it has done its job. Often people will experience up to a five degree difference between levels.

I tell my customers it is better to size the air conditioner a little smaller so that the system will run longer pushing more cold air upstairs before the thermostat is satisfied. It is your best bet. It does not hurt the outdoor unit (the condenser) to run longer and it actually uses less energy (it is when the compressor starts that the lights dim).

If you are attempting to cool a third floor with the furnace in the basement your chances are slim. We have been installing numerous ductless units for 3rd floor applications with excellent results. Ductless units are an excellent way to cool rooms and areas that your central air conditioning cannot reach.

Call and ask Dave or Ron for more information.

The Importance of Yearly Maintenance

Heather Browning — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 14:18:26 +0000

There are many reasons why you should have your furnace, boiler, and air conditioner maintained on a yearly basis. Not only will it prolong the life of your equipment, but ensuring that it’s running safely and efficiently can also help reduce your energy bills. Our certified service technicians can also help you keep your repair costs low by notifying you of small issues before they become big, expensive problems.

A cooling tune up would include:

Testing refrigerant pressures
Cleaning of the equipment
Measuring temperature differences
Testing drains
Checking thermostat signal
Oiling the indoor and outdoor motor

A heating tune up would include:

Cleaning the flame sensor and burners
Cleaning the ignition assembly and blower
Checking the heat exchanger and manifold pressures
Testing all safety switches
Inspecting gas and vent pipes
Carbon Monoxide testing

Don’t wait until you have an emergency. Eliminate the confusion and worry by signing up for a maintenance plan with us. We’ll call you to remind you about booking your maintenance appointments. You’ll have peace of mind knowing that you’re in good hands.