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Facts, Physics, & The Environment
Pellets - Boilers - Furnaces - Space Heaters - Radiant Floor - Baseboard - Services Offered - Facts - Essays- Cost Per BTU - Emissions - Tune-Up Time - Choosing Boilers
There are 3 forms of Heat Conduction Convection Radiation
The Human body likes Radiant Heat.
Convection heat is not as comfortable (air currents moving across your skin have a cooling effect)
Room Thermostats are set lower in Radiant Heat homes.
A "Heat Loss Calculation" determines the amount of Heat that must be introduced to the structure to maintain a comfortable room temperature at the coldest outdoor temperatures in your location.
The "Heat Loss Calculation" is expressed in Btu's per hour.
Knowing the Btu/hr needs allows selection of the size of heating equipment.
Over sizing wastes fuel.
L-P Gas + Fuel Oil are sold by the gallon.
One Gallon of the L-P Gas has a heat value of 93,400 Btu's.
One Gallon of #2 fuel Oil has a heat value of 140,000 Btu's.
Modulating boiler temperatures according to outside temperatures saves a lot of fuel.
Modulating flame size saves even more.
During the Heating Season a structure loses heat at a constant rate.
Greater comfort is achieved when heat is constantly delivered.
We commonly heat with on - off cycles. Heat up - cool off - heat up - cool off. This is not comfortable, costs more, and creates wear and tear on Mechanical components. Imagine driving your car this way. Instead of matching your accelerator pedal to match the speed, you floor the accelerator and apply brakes over and over. Accelerator - Brake - Accelerator - Brake. Low comfort. Wastes fuel + Wear and Tear.
Lowering the stack temperature sends less heat up the chimney and leaves more money in your pocket.
Extracting more heat from flue gases lowers stack temp.
Lowering flue gas temps causes flue gas condensation.
#2 Oil Flue gas condensate is comprised of sulfuric acid.
In the U.S. We send hot Flue gases into the atmosphere and these gases then condense out and become Acid Rain.
Oil Boilers and Chimneys can be destroyed by Flue gas and condensate, so we are forced to run high stack temperatures.
European Countries have mandated Low Sulfur Oil.
Low Sulfur Oil protects the environment, and allows the use of "Condensing Boilers."
Countries with high Fuel Prices have developed higher efficiency heating products.
L.P. Gas contains no sulfur.
L.P. Gas condensing boilers are available and run as high as 99% efficient.
Nox Gases are created when fossil fuels are combusted at high temperatures.
Nox Gases are a major cause of ground level Ozone (Air Pollution.)
Low Nox Burners are mandated in most European Countries.
The Coast of Maine has dangerously high ozone levels.
Flue gases in the atmosphere condense out when they meet the cold air of the Atlantic Ocean.
The Flue gases we send up into the air fall back down on us.
Bio Diesel contains virtually no sulfur and is renewable.