Top 4 Equipment Options from Your Heating Services Contractor

Our Rhode Island and Massachusetts customers rely on us for high-quality heating services and equipment. During a New England winter, you need the most effective heating system for your home and an experienced contractor with the knowledge and experience to meet local heating requirements. At Call the Whale, we install gas furnaces, heat pumps, mini-splits, and boilers (and provide heating maintenance and repair services). Here’s a look at each type of system to help decide what best suits your home.

  1. Furnace
  2. Heat Pump
  3. Mini-Split
  4. Boiler

Furnace

Furnaces are the most common heating appliances in the U.S., with over 65% of homes relying on them.1 A standard vent gas furnace we install is 80% efficient. But if a top-of-the-line 97% efficient modulating system fits your budget, we can provide one. 

Gas furnaces connect directly to a natural gas supply, so there’s no need for refueling. The gas fuels a burner and heats the air passing through a heat exchanger. This air is then blown by a fan into supply ducts and distributed throughout your home. Air is drawn into return registers and ducts to the furnace air handler, where it’s reheated.

Furnaces are the go-to heating units for central HVAC systems. If well-maintained, they can last 15 to 20 years. Newer systems can include high-efficiency variable-speed blowers and multi-stage heating. Many are compatible with high-efficiency air filters, air purifiers, and humidifiers, while condensing models can use PVC venting instead of a conventional chimney.

Heat Pump

Heat pumps differ from standard HVAC equipment in that they provide both heating and cooling. Similar to a refrigerator, a heat pump extracts heat from one location and moves it to another. A reversing valve allows it to switch modes. Therefore, the system can send heat into your home in winter (even on a cold day, enough heat energy can be collected to maintain comfort). It can also pull heat from indoors (and release it outside) to cool things down in the summer.

Most residential heat pumps are air-source models that integrate with your central HVAC system. While these extract heat or release it into the air, ground source systems use underground pipes to access heat. Water-source units transfer heat to and from lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. 

Standard air-source heat pumps become less efficient in extremely cold temperatures. Depending on your home, you may need a backup heat source such as a gas furnace. However, today’s heat pumps are more efficient and cold-tolerant than those of the past. They include improved coil designs, thermostatic expansion valves, and variable-speed blowers that make them highly efficient and reliable. 

Mini-Split

Mini-split heat pumps have increased in popularity due to their flexibility and efficient design. While a standard heat pump works with central HVAC ductwork, a mini-split is ductless. A conduit connects the outdoor compressor to multiple indoor evaporator units. Requiring a 3-inch-wide hole, this conduit contains the refrigerant, power, and drain lines.

The absence of ductwork improves efficiency since there’s no air loss to contend with. Meanwhile, the different types of mini-split units allow for unparalleled installation flexibility. Wall-mounted air handlers are the most popular. However, some units are built as ceiling cassettes. The recessed mini-split unit sits above a grill that’s flush with the ceiling. There are also suspended, floor-mounted, and concealed duct hybrid units that connect to existing air ducts.

Temperature zoning is another advantage of mini-split heat pumps. Each indoor unit can be operated independently and turned on and off as you wish (without reducing performance or efficiency). Some units have variable-speed compressors, linear expansion valves, and multi-speed fans to match the heating or cooling load precisely. This saves energy because the system doesn’t start and stop repeatedly.

Boiler

An oil or gas boiler is an effective heat source. Oil-fueled models are suited for homes without access to natural gas. A boiler heats water that can be delivered via pipes to room-based radiators, baseboard convection units, or tubes (as in a radiant floor heating system). Hot water may also be sent through a coil, while a blower helps transfer heat to the air.

Boilers also support zoned heating. Each zone has its thermostat, allowing for precise temperature control. We install boiler-based heating systems in a variety of configurations depending on the needs of your home or business. These include high-quality systems from Buderus that are thermally insulated, have a durable cast-iron heat exchanger, and are easy to maintain (other brands are also available).

If you need a boiler installed, we can provide one with an ETL-approved chimney or direct vent system. Call us if you’re considering replacing your boiler. Our technicians will inspect your existing unit and home to determine the options to recommend.

Contact Call the Whale

Home and business owners can trust Call the Whale for high-quality heating services, including furnace, heat pump, mini-split, or boiler installation. Whether you need an urgent repair or to schedule heating maintenance, our licensed technicians are ready to help. Our team installs and services many brands of heating equipment. To request service or obtain a quote, contact us through our website or call 802-909-4253.

Source:

https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/articles/building-america-best-practices-series-vol-14-energy-renovations-hvac-guide

Call The Whale mascot

Book Oil Boiler Replacement or Installation

Call The Whale is Your Local Boiler Expert

Brands We Service Include (but are not limited to)

Call the Whale specializes in servicing most major furnace, air conditioner, water heater and water softener brands. Contact the experts at Call the Whale today to find out more about your brand, make and model – We have experience with many more brands than listed!  More likely than not, we can service your equipment even if not listed here.

SERVICES WE PROVIDE

Central AC

Ductless Mini Split

Other HVAC

central Geo Heat Pumps

Trane logo
American Standard
Mitsubishi Electric
Rinnai
Weil-McLain
Bradford White