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If you’re in the market for a new water heater, a good alternative worth considering to your conventional water heater is a tankless water heater. Often referred to as on demand system, like in the name, it does not have a tank that holds water to continuously heat but instead heats it up as required. So what are some of the pros and cons? Keep in mind these are for non-combi boiler installations (read further below for more details) PROS: · Energy Efficiency over longer period of time · Less impact on mechanical room sq ft · If sized properly, provides a continuous hot water supply for the home · Technology & Efficiency is always improving CONS: · Initial up-front cost (venting, permits, etc) · After warranty period, repairs can be costly · May require water treatment to prolong appliance life · Power goes out, you have no hot water (conventional water heaters do not require electricity to heat water) There is one other caveat, and that is tankless units are not designed to run in-floor heating as a heat exchanger is required to separate the domestic and in-floor heating water. However, even when you do add an external heat exchanger, the units are not designed to supply in-floor and domestic as running both may cause the unit to fail prematurely. Ideally, domestic water is to be heated to 130 degrees, where in-floor heat shouldn't be heated more than 120 degrees. If a tankless is supplying both, it has no way of controlling separate temperatures for separate demands. When tankless units first came out, there was no equipment to handle both, so this is how builders/installers would get away with installing the units. Now, there is what we call a Combi-Boiler (Combination Boiler), which can handle domestic and in-floor heating. Clear as mud? If you’re having trouble deciding, give us a call and we would be more than happy to chat more and give you our best recommendation based on your household.

Although it may be tempting to skip regular furnace maintenance, there are too many benefits for your furnace to ignore. Some of these benefits include but are not limited to: • Improved household safety • Lower monthly utility bills • Better, general system efficiency and functionality • Cost savings on repairs and prolonged life of your system. • Lower chance of equipment breakdowns One of the main reasons for regular furnace check-ups is for safety, as we can help detect the dangers of gas and carbon monoxide leaks. Carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless gas that can be fatal if inhaled in large concentrations. This is a potential safety risk but a regular check up will give you peace of mind that your family will be safe. Another important aspect is energy efficiency. When operating properly, a furnace will run more smoothly leading to lower energy bills. However, when it is not maintained, it will lose efficiency due to dirty filters, clogged air ducts and many other potential issues. Staying on top of regular maintenance will extend the life of your unit and save you money in long run. A unit that has been regularly serviced will last longer than one that has been not. With regular maintenance, we can catch minor issues early before they become major ones. This could save you thousands of dollars in the long run. Finally, furnace maintenance will help catch a problem before your furnace quits working in the middle of the night. When you have to hire a heating professional due to a furnace breaking down, you’re likely going to end up paying emergency rates, but regular furnace maintenance will save you the cost and stress! So what does a furnace maintenance entail? At Express, we offer visual equipment inspections that include the inspection of your: heat exchanger, fan switch, pilot light, safety controls, gas lines, filters and more. Make this winter a comfortable and much more affordable one! To ensure that your furnace is in safe, working order, call our experts at Express to get the job done!