The home heating oil industry has a long and proud history, and Fuel Oil News has been there supporting it since 1935. It is an industry that has faced many challenges during that time. In its 77th year, Fuel Oil News is doing more than just holding
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50 AUGUST 2014 FUEL OIL NEWS | www.fueloilnews.com R ecently I attended what I will term an "energy update" training class that was focused mostly on the different types of fuel products: wood, coal, oil, LP and natural gas and how these products affect the consumer's annual energy cost. I know that most of the technicians and contractors read- ing this article will have heard of, and worked with, what are practically now "old" energy saving devices that do actually save the consumers any- where from 10% to 20% in annual heating costs. I must say that they are well worth the money, and my hat goes off to the design engineers for their creativity and to all the heating equipment manu- facturers who have adopted to this technology. So, what do we do next that will assure the consumers of today and into the future that they will be living in not only a warm home with an adequate hot water supply, but a healthy home as well? To the credit of one of the other class attend- ees and the owner of a contracting company, the "healthy home comfort system" issue became an important part of the class discussion. He went on to say that he has known of many cases where a contractor who is called in to quote a new heating system just sizes the replacement based on the existing tag information on the old system, or does what is called a heat loss. In my opinion, this is not what will provide the consumer with a healthy home comfort system. So, let's, as the contractor, ask ourselves a few more questions before we give the final quote. • Did we air pressure test each room to detect leakage that may be around the walls, windows and doors? • Are we still using the old numbers when siz- ing a heating system of 0 degrees outside and 70 degrees inside? • Did we address air quality? I would bet FON readers know that with the cost of fuel rising, a home owner on Social Security or in the middle income bracket should have their new programmable thermostat set between 66 – 68 degrees or lower. Also ask yourself how many 0 degree days do we get during the winter months when sizing for a new system? Five maybe. • Were you able to determine the actual amount of insulation in every area of the home? • Were you also able to actually determine the true IR value of the doors and windows, or were they recently upgraded? • Did we just use the numbers suggested from a load calculation program pertaining to some of these questions? There are now training programs offered that will help a contractor do a whole house energy audit with the proper equipment. This training not only supports more accurate heating and cooling equipment sizing, but can also help to generate more revenue. Again as I have written in the past, think of how diversification equals more $$$. Did you know that several cities and towns now require a leakage test on any new duct work before a CO will be granted? My final suggestion is don't just sell heating and cooling systems—change the title of the next quote to say Healthy Home Comfort System. l F O N Bio: Charlie Bursey began his long career in the oil heating industry in 1963. He has delivered coal, kerosene and oil and serviced heating and cooling equipment. He has also managed service departments, worked for a manufacturer and currently works with F.W. Webb, Warwick, R.I. He is a recipient of the Association of Oil & Energy Service Professionals' prestigious Hugh McKee Award for making an out- standing contribution to the fuel oil industry; having had an understanding and coop- eration with his/her fellowman; and having unselfishly aided the industry in education and related activities. CoNTACT: ChasBursey@aol.com Charles Bursey, Sr. SERVICE The Healthy Home Comfort System There are now training programs offered that will help a contractor do a whole house energy audit with the proper equipment.