Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 29, 2010
While some Northern Ohio furnaces run on heating oil, most U.S. homes are heated by natural gas-burning furnaces.
How Gas Furnaces Work
Here’s how gas furnaces work. Hot gases created by the burning gas pass through curved metal tubing called a heat exchanger, then exit your home through a vent pipe. At the same time, the air circulating through your home is directed over the heat exchanger where it absorbs the heat from the hot metal. This warmed air is then circulated through your home by the furnace fan.
Why does gas smell like rotting eggs? The natural gas used to run your furnace is an odorless, colorless, highly-flammable gas. Because natural gas can be highly dangerous, particularly in enclosed spaces like your home, a minute amount (less than 1%) of ethyl mercaptan is added to serve as a warning should a gas leak develop. This stinky additive creates the distinctive sulfuric smell associated with natural gas.
Natural Gas can be Dangerous to your Health
Why is gas dangerous? Natural gas is an asphyxiant that can cause suffocation and death. As natural gas leaks into the air, it displaces the air’s oxygen content. When the oxygen level drops below 19.5%, suffocation gradually occurs. Asphyxiation progresses through several stages. At first breathing and pulse rates increase. Headache, nausea and drowsiness develop. Vision problems may be experienced with dizziness and confusion. As the level of gas increases, muscle coordination fails. Muscles feel weak and develop tremors. As oxygen levels fall below 8%, unconsciousness (narcosis) occurs. Extremities become numb and turn bluish (cyanosis) from lack of oxygen in the blood. The central nervous system is permanently damaged and death follows. If oxygen levels continue to decrease below 6.5% to 3.8%, the gas ignites.
A tragic scenario and one that can be avoided with an annual Heating Performance Check by a licensed home heating professional. It is not to late to have a heating performance check. Schedule today!
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Fri, Jan 08, 2010
It was recently reported that there have been significant finds of natural gas in shale deposits. Due to advances in drilling technology it’s now easier to remove these natural gas deposits, and it’s speculated that they could provide gas supply for the next 90 years.
While this discovery definitely effects the current energy debate throughout the nation – there’s another, equally important question about our energy use.
Will the U.S. Conserve Natural Gas or are we Energy Gluttons?
Americans are 5% of the global population, but consume 25% of the resources. Gas prices are the lowest they have been in seven years. Why upgrade to high efficiency heating equipment when you are saving 40% over last year without the investment in new equipment? In fact, crank up the thermostat! You can keep your house warmer and still pay less then you did last year – this is the U.S. mindset.
The U.S. population will not conserve energy when energy is cheap.
The 90-year supply will dwindle down as more industry; electric generation and homeowners consume gas like the quarter-pounder value-meals they line up for at lunch. When the costs start to rise because of dwindling supply they will call a foul and ask the government for help in curbing their energy consuming bellies.
The power companies aren’t waiting for Washington to “jump on the gas bandwagon” as it were. Moreover, with the impending energy legislation, calculating cost has changed dramatically, “coal may still be cheaper, but natural gas emits half as much carbon” – so what? We need to curb the national energy appetites before we switch to a ‘low-carb’ plan.
What’s the best way for you to lower your energy usage today?
For more information on natural gas prices and energy conservation click here.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Dec 16, 2009
Natural Gas Heating Costs Decreasing
Good news for Lorain County residents who heat their homes with natural gas, gas rates are expected to be lower this winter than last year. Significant declines in the cost of natural gas are expected to lower Lorain County household gas heating costs by 11% this winter, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The agency says people who heat their homes with gas furnaces can expect heating bills to average $792 this winter. Naturally, the more energy-efficient your gas furnace is, the lower your heating bill. New Energy-Star gas furnaces can provide energy savings of up to 96.6%.
Find the Lowest Natural Gas Rate
Lorain County residents can maximize their gas savings by shopping for the lowest available natural gas rates. Ohio allows Lorain County residents to choose their natural gas supplier. Some suppliers offer flat rates guaranteeing the cost of natural gas for a year or more. Other natural gas suppliers adjust their rates monthly to reflect their actual costs. Click here to find the lowest available natural gas rate for your Lorain County home.
Heating Oil Costs Increasing
In contrast to decreasing natural gas prices, higher crude oil prices are driving up the cost of heating oil which is expected to increase by 4% this winter. Lorain County residents who heat their homes with heating oil can expect an average winter heating bill of $1,940, more than twice the cost of natural gas. Considering the average 20-year life expectancy of new energy-efficient gas furnaces, Lorain County residents with access to natural gas could reap considerable savings over the life of their furnace by making the switch from heating oil to an energy-efficient natural gas furnace this winter. Installing an energy-efficient gas furnace that qualifies for the government’s energy-efficient appliance tax credit could save you up to $1500 on your 2009 or 2010 taxes. Click here for more information on the Federal Stimulus Tax Credit.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Wed, Nov 18, 2009
Conserve Energy and Decrease Your Gas Use
A bumper acorn crop has naturalists predicting a harsh winter from the Midwest through the Northeast. The reasoning goes that more acorns mean fatter squirrels; and when squirrels start packing in the calories, it’s a sure sign of a cold winter coming. Whether you subscribe to the acorn theory of weather prediction or hail from the wooly caterpillar school of meteorology, you’d better prepare for a cold, snowy winter this year. From the venerable Farmers’ Almanac to the statistics-driven scientists at the National Weather Service, meteorologists are warning that while weather conditions may be warm and dry across America’s western states, Midwesterners should prepare for frigid temperatures and plenty of snow this winter.
Heat Your Home for Less this Winter
The good news is that it should cost you considerably less to heat your home this coming winter. Compared to last year, natural gas prices have dropped considerably and are expected to remain low all winter. According to the American Gas Association, plentiful domestic natural gas supplies and lower wellhead prices have driven down the cost of natural gas in the U.S. Consumer suppliers have taken advantage of decreasing market prices to increase winter storage quantities. Consumers are expected to benefit from lower fuel bills all winter, a welcome relief for cash-strapped Ohioans.
Even though gas bills are expected to be lower this winter, heating costs can still take a big bite out of your budget. Follow these tips to conserve energy and decrease your gas use:
- Schedule a thorough furnace inspection and cleaning with your heating/cooling professional. Annual inspections ensure that your furnace will run efficiently and safely all through the heating season.
- To boost efficient operation, have your heating professional set your furnace’s internal thermostat for the longest and, therefore, fewest number of cycles. This simple adjustment can decrease energy use (and increase savings on your gas bill) by as much as 15%.
Reduce your winter heating costs with a heating performance check.
Posted by Raymond Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning on Thu, Jul 16, 2009
To our valued customers,
Raymond Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning has done a great deal of research on the best available rates for natural gas and have just completed a special arrangement with a company called Consumer Choice Marketing (CCM).
CCM specializes in getting low rates for both residential and commercial users of natural gas.
Currently if you were to compare rates with your neighbors, you would find a variety of gas rates being charged by various suppliers. Now as an added benefit for our valued customers, you are eligible for the lowest rates that we have found.
In order to lower your gas bill, just call our energy consultant, Bill Gibb at 440-986-2655 or e-mail a copy of your bill to billgibb@hotmail.com and he will contact you with the potential savings and take care of the entire change over for you.
The change is easy, your utility company will continue to bill you, read your meter and service your account. By making this change you are only changing the supplier of the actual gas, which is what makes the savings possible. There is no hook up fee, no contract to sign and no risk. If at any point you are unsatisfied with the savings you can change at no cost at any time with a 30-day notice.
Raymond Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning is working to help our customers save money in these challenging times!
If you have any questions about this opportunity please feel free to contact Bill Gibb, this CCM Energy Consultant at (440) 225-9266 or email him at billgibb@hotmail.com.