Home comfort

home comfort Wood vs Pellet!

Here's what you need to know...

Chimneys 101!

Up close and personal with your chimney.

Get the lowdown on the popular Mini Split!

FALL & WINTER 2016

1600 Woodstove

2000 Woodstove

2200 Woodstove

OSBURN1600B

OSBURN2000B

OSBURN2200B

Black Door Model

Black Door Model

Black Door Model

2.3497 in 65,000 BTUs. Heats 500 to 1,950 sq. ft.

17" log length.

Up to 8+ hours burn time.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

127.

$

97

INCLUDING HST!

75,000 BTUs. Heats up to 2,100 sq. ft.

20" log length.

Up to 9 hours burn time. Built in blower.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

150.

$

00

INCLUDING HST!

70,000 BTUs. Heats 800 to 2,000 sq. ft.

18" log length.

Up to 9+ hours burn time.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

175.03

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

O.A.C. Details instore.

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $1,278.00

Reg. $1,498.00

Reg. $1,748.00

www.osburn-mfg.com

2400 Woodstove

5000 Pellet Stove

OSBURN2400B

OSBURN5000B

Black Door Model

100,000 BTUs. Heats 1,000 to 3,000 sq. ft.

21" log length.

Up to 10 hours burn time.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

High Efficiency

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

180.

$

04

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $1,798.00

8,500 BTUs to 50,000 BTUs. Heats up to 2,400 sq. ft.

70 lbs. hopper capacity.

60 hours burn time on low feed setting.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

www.osburn-mfg.com

24 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

153.72

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $2,944.00

Table of Contents Page 5...

Wood versus Pellets

We’re comparing heat, fuel sources, maintenance, size and so much more. What will be your heat of choice?

Page 21...

Chimneys 101

Get to know all the ins and outs of your chimney. Keep your family safe with regular maintenance and cleaning.

Page 36...

What's the Deal with Mini Splits Everything you need to know about the ever growing popular source of heat.

We hope you enjoy the time you spend reading Home Comfort, and look forward to showing you all the home heating options available in our stores!

Home Comfort is published annually by Central Supplies, and is available at all Central stores and on-line at ‘centralns.ca’. All content remains the property of the publisher, and may not be reproduced without express written permission. Please direct all inquiries about this publication to ‘advertising@centralns.ca’.

Wood versus Pellet Stoves

by Alexandra Kelter

A stove adds a lot to your home. There’s the charm— what’s cozier than a nice fire warming everyone up after a lovely day?—the aesthetics, and the practicality. Stoves are an excellent way to subsidize your heating, giving you a less expensive and very effective means of raising the temperature while lowering how much you use your more expensive options, such as the furnace. When it comes to fuel for your stove, there are two main schools—wood and pellet. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, so it can be challenging to know which type is right for you.

When comparing the two, there are keys considerations to evaluate, which can make the decision easier based on your preferences.

A traditional woodstove uses a metal firebox to burn logs of wood. The fire generates heat for your house, while the smoke is drawn up through the same chimney concept as a fireplace. Available in free-standing models or as a fireplace insert, modern advancements have made woodstoves greener and more economical. They are now able to run on significantly less wood than older models, and they generate comparatively minimal amounts of smoke and ash. EPA-certified woodstoves produce 2 to 7 grams of smoke per hour while their dated, non-certified predecessors generated approximately 30 grams. Able to

Home Comfort, October 2016

burn almost any kind of wood, this stove doesn’t rely on electricity or any other form of fuel beyond wood.

Pellet stoves are similar in appearance but instead of burnings logs, they require wooden pellets, usually made of waste material, such as sawdust and shavings. While also available in free-standing and fireplace insert models, pellets stoves do not require a full chimney—they can be direct-vented to the outdoors via a small hole in a wall.

They require electricity to operate, but it’s a minimal amount. This newer stove-type can be connected to your thermostat to self-regulate the amount of heat they generate, and, though the pellets are easier to store anyways, most units have a fuel storage system on-board.

Pellet stoves are considered the more environmentallyfriendly option as they burn materials that would otherwise have been waste, and they conserve more heat and fuel.

Getting down to brass tax, there’s the difference in cost between the two. Wood stoves tend to be a more complex installation process as they require a full chimney. If you already have one, they can be built into the pre-existing fireplace unit, which will save you a pretty penny. The unit itself tends to be less expensive to purchase, but this varies (cont’d. Page 9)

Page 5

Kodiak 1200 Woodstove KODIAK1200

Heats 800 to 2,200 sq. ft.

Up to 10 hrs burn time.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

168.02

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $1,678.00

Kodiak 1700 Woodstove KODIAK1700

Heats 1,000 to 3,000 sq. ft.

Up to 12 hrs burn time.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

200.06

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Kodiak 1700, Pedestal, Painted Door

Reg. $1,998.00

Boston 1200 Woodstove* 1200CF-FS

Heats 800 to 2,200 sq. ft.

Up to 10 hours burn time.

24 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

127.82

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $2,448.00

Meridian Pellet Stove EFNFS-A

55 lb. hopper capacity.

Heats up to 2,000 sq. ft.

Up to 50 hour burn on low setting.

24 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

151.32

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $2,898.00

P3 Pellet Stove* P3-R/P3-I

55 lb. hopper capacity.

Heats up to 1,200 sq. ft.

Available in Red or Ivory.

Up to 60+ hours burn time on low setting.

The

Meridian | C A S T

24 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

151.32

$

IRON

MEDIUM+ PELLET STOVE

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $2,898.00

Meridian Bay Cast Iron Pellet Stove EFMFS-C

55 lb hopper capacity.

Heats up to 2,000 sq. ft.

Up to 50 hour burn time on low setting.

24 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

156.54

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $2,998.00 Meridian Freestanding Pellet Stove, Optional Log Set

Design Features ■

Cast iron construction

■

Tri-mode enabled thermostat

■

Remote thermostat compatible

■

Large heat exchanger

■

160 cfm variable speed fan

■

Large Hopper

Stove Details BTU Max Input Heating Area

Design Features 45,000 BTU 2,000 ft

Efficiency

75.8%

Glass Size

138 in

2

2

31”

■

Cast iron construction

■

Tri-mode enabled thermostat

■

Large glass size (231 in2)

■

Large hopper capacity (60 lbs)

■

Optional brick liner

■

Optional log set

Stove Details BTU Max Input Heating Area Efficiency Glass Size

on the model and features you want. Having the stove delivered and installed, however, will almost certainly be more expensive, even with an existing chimney. With a pellet stove, the price of the stove itself is about 18% higher on average (though this depends solely on the model and capabilities you choose), however installation is significantly less, due to a pellet stove not requiring a traditional chimney. With both options, the cost of the install can greatly fluctuate based on the location in your home, the complexity of the ventilation system required, and other variables.

The cost of fuel tends to be higher for a pellet stove, particularly if you have an inexpensive source for firewood.

A word to the wise though—if you burn wood logs in your home, make sure the wood is seasoned, otherwise it will greatly hasten the build-up of creosote, a flammable residue caused by smoke which forms in your chimney and must be professionally removed when it reaches a certain thickness to prevent chimney fires. With wood stoves, you are able to choose from different types of wood, depending on which burn you prefer. After you’ve tried a few, you’ll begin to recognize your preferences, usually based on the smell released as the wood is burned, and the way the fire itself behaves. Different types of wood release different levels of heat at varying intervals of time.

Pellets are pricier to purchase, but they do burn longer than wooden logs. Not all wood pellets are created equal, and higher quality options are usually better for the health and longevity of your stove, as well as offering a longer, more fuel-efficient burn. Some types of pellet stoves can also only burn specific types of wood pellets, so it’s important to check the manufacturer’s instructions on this before you purchase the fuel.

If we’re comparing more than price when it comes to fuel sources for these stoves though, one has to keep in mind that storing a pile of wood is not always easy depending on your home and property. If you’re keeping enough wood (cont’d. Page 10)

Home Comfort, October 2016

Page 9

on hand to fuel a stove as a source of heat through the fall, winter, and early spring, you’ll need a large woodshed or similar area where your wood can be protected from the elements. You should never store large quantities of firewood in your home (including a cellar, basement, or garage) as apart from the risk of being flammable, this can encourage molds and mildew to form in your house.

Firewood should also not be stored directly on the ground, and it needs to be covered but still able to have air circulating around the logs. In this way, pellets are easier, as most pellet stoves have a holding section on the stove itself.

Available in different sizes, the larger bag of pellets you buy, the lower the cost per volume will be. A 40lb bag of wood pellets should provide approximately 24 hours of solid heat. Pellets also don’t require chopping, stacking, or large deliveries. Pellet stoves do, however, also use electricity to run. While they don’t use enough energy to really impact your electric bill, it means your pellet stove won’t work in a power outage unless you have it hooked-up to a generator.

Alternatively, a wood stove runs solely on wood, so in the event of a winter storm knocking the power out, it can continue to heat your home.

and money, and generate more pollution than is required.

Likewise, if your stove is too small to suit your purpose, it will never effectively contribute to your home heating.

This is an area where a pro can also assist you in. Their expertise and knowledge of home air circulation lets them decide what size of stove is best-suited to your house’s layout and special requirements.

When it comes to the environment, while modern developments have made woodstoves significantly greener by lowering their smoke output, pellet stoves take the crown as they generate almost no smoke. Their environmental footprint is so small that the EPA doesn’t even monitor them. Because they burn wood pellets that would otherwise be in a landfill somewhere, pellet stoves also utilize recycling. Of the many fuel sources available for heating our homes, wood in pellet or log form is one of the (cont’d. Page 13)

When it comes to heating capabilities, this will vary for both types based on the model you go with. Stoves have a BTU rating, which is partially indicative of the size of the space they can heat. A stove, be it pellet or wood, with a 60000BTU can heat roughly 2000 square feet of house, while a stove with 42000BTU is capable of approximately 1300 square feet. The abilities of your stove will also depend on where it is placed. Your house has an air flow, and there are structural elements which affect and block this, and will in turn also work against the heat spreading successfully. Because wood and pellet stoves need a professional installer, this expert will also be able to suggest the best location for optimal heat output.

It’s important that you get the right size of stove for the space you are heating. If you opt for a stove that is too large and powerful for your needs, you’ll waste your fuel

Page 10

Home Comfort, October 2016

CAB50 Pellet Stove CAB50

The Eco-Choice CAB50 cabinet-style, large pellet stove reduces your heating bill and lets you ‘live green’ by utilizing renewable wood pellet fuel.

Featuring a 120-pound hopper and ashpan with an easy-clean firepot, this stove delivers impressive heat with ease. Heats up to 2,000 sq. ft.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

200.

$

06

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $1,998.00 Home Comfort, October 2016

Page 11

it just makes

“CENTS�

At over 8,000 btu's/lb, Eastern Embers Wood Pellets will save you money by offering the equivalent heat of furnace oil at about 65 CENTS/litre.

Enjoy the comfort that comes from the natural wood heat of Eastern Embers Premium Wood Pellets. Burn Eastern Embers Premium Wood Pellets not your money.

Page 12

Home Comfort, October 2016

least harmful to the planet in terms of what is released into the atmosphere as it’s burned. If you are opting for a wood stove, make sure that you only purchase your wood from eco-friendly, sustainable sources. The reputable wood lots now guarantee that they are employing responsible practices, meaning they replace the trees they cut down for fuel, and logging is done in ways that don’t disrupt and harm the ecosystem to the same degree that rampant, widespread clearcutting does. Careless harvesting of wood is extremely harmful to the planet, so ensuring that your supplier is green is an easy way of doing a lot.

When it comes to regular operation and maintenance of stoves, they are both slightly different from each other. Pellet stoves will have strict instructions from the manufacturer on how to start the fire and turn it off. It’s very important that you follow these steps, otherwise you can damage the pellet stove’s operating system and void your warranty. Some of them run on switches, while others will require a specific type of starter. You have the pellets in the stove hopper prior to lighting which replenishes the pellets that are burning as needed. Depending on the size of your hopper, you may have to add pellets a couple of times a day or every three to five days—it will vary on your stove-type.

Most pellet stoves have temperature regulators you can set or connect to a thermostat, allowing you to determine how much heat you want the stove to generate, which in turn will affect how long it can run for on the pellets you’ve put in. Wood stoves need kindling to light, so it’s wise to always keep some around. This can be newspaper (avoid

Home Comfort, October 2016

glossy magazines and flyers) and slim, dry, small pieces of wood that will catch easily. Larger, dry logs of wood need to be added to the fire to maintain it, and more wood and fuel can be required if you want a hotter burn. Though pellet stoves run more independently than wood stoves, neither should be left unattended and you should not leave a house unoccupied anytime you have a fire burning in either a fireplace or stove.

For cleaning and regular maintenance, this will vary with both types of stoves depending on the fuel you burn, the frequency you use the stove, and the model itself. Pellet stoves have a burn pot (a small drawer in the bottom front of the unit) which should be checked beforehand any time want to use the stove. To ensure that the air inlets remain unclogged, you should clean this regularly—this will allow your pellet stove to operate to the best of its ability and extend its lifespan. The ash drawer should be emptied after every fire, or a couple of times a week, depending on the fuel source and how long you run your stove for.

Sometimes the pellets will melt and harden, creating small, hard coal-like blocks—these should be removed during your cleaning as well (there are tools specifically created to rake these out). The hopper should also be checked once a month or so for accumulated wood pellet residue, such as sawdust, which should be wiped out before adding more pellets. To do this, you have to let the hopper run empty during a burn. It’s important that you keep the glass portion of the oven door clean, though this can only be done when it’s completely cool. The glass window allows (cont’d. Page 18)

Page 13

Century Woodstove

Leg Model S244E

35,000 BTUs. Heats 500 to 1,000 sq.ft. 17" log length. Up to 8+ hours burn time.

Limited Five Year Warranty.

6 No Interest Equal Monthly Payments of

128.

$

03

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $ 668.00

Century Woodstove

Pedestal Model FW2600

50,000 BTUs. Heats 500 to 1,300 sq.ft. 17" log length. Up to 8+ hours burn time.

Mobile home approved.

Limited Five Year Warranty.

6 No Interest Equal Monthly Payments of

162.53

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $ 848.00

Eastwood 1800 Woodstove

Pedestal Model DB03161

60,000 BTUs. Heats up to 2,000 sq.ft. 20" log length. Up to 8 hours burn time.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

6 No Interest Equal Monthly Payments of

191.

$

28

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $ 998.00

Black Stag Woodstove

Leg Model DB03410

90,000 BTUs. Heats 900 to 2,100 sq.ft. 20" log length. Up to 10 hours burn time.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

124.96

$

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $ 1248.00

Drolet Heatmax II Wood Furnace DF01001

310,000 BTUs. Heats up to 2,500 sq.ft. 21" log length. Up to 10 hours burn time.

Limited Lifetime Warranty.

24 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

135.

$ Uses 30% less wood than a conventional wood furnace.

65

INCLUDING HST!

O.A.C. Details instore.

Reg. $ 2598.00

Ceramic Wool Blanket

Stove Blower 130 CFM

AC03095

AC02520

$

26.98

Ultra quiet blower with variable speed control.

Stove Blower

$

168.

Stove Fan AC05520

100 CFM AC02050

Page 16 Variable speed control. Fits most Drolet stoves manufactured after 2001.

$

148.

Home Comfort, October 2016 Variable speed control.

Fits most Drolet stoves.

$

168.

Firestarter

50-Pk.

AC02597

Wood Stove & Fireplace Gloves

FireBrick

16.98

$

4" x 8" AC07600

AC07820

$

8.98

Stainless #8 Hex Self Drilling AC02506

$

Stove Top Magnetic Thermometer AC07830

Digital Wood Moisture Meter

AC07835 Ideal to accurately measure moisture content in wood logs.

For installation on single wall stove pipe.

$

9.98

High-Temp Silicone Sealant 300ml 36/097

$

19.98

$

54.48

Aerosol Stove Paint 342g

AC05956/AC05959/AC05959

Available in Black Metallic, Flat Black & Charcoal.

$ Available in Sliver, Black, Red & Clear.

5.38

14.68

SBI Gasket & Silicone Kits

AC06000/AC06100/AC06400/ AC06500/OA11390

Starting At

$

9.98

$

Starting At

11.68

you to see into the oven to ensure that the flames look right (they should be bright yellow or white—if they’re dark or very orange, this is a sign that something is wrong with your pellet stove). Every couple of cleanings, you should check the soot build-up on the inner stove walls. If it’s more than 1/10 inches deep, clean the soot off with a specially designed wire brush made for pellet stoves. At least once a year, you will need a professional to come in and clean and inspect your pellet stove system. It’s advisable to have one come before the start of the burning season (late summer).

An expert can also advise if your usage will require an additional mid-season professional cleaning. Because pellet stoves have more complex internal workings, there are more things that can go wrong with it—another reason why an annual inspection is so important. The sooner any issues are identified, the easier and less expensive the repair will be. Make sure you carefully review your warranty so that you’re familiar with what areas are covered by it.

Wood stoves also require the benefit of a professional inspection and cleaning at least once a year, ideally before the cooler weather begins. In addition to the stove being cleaned, the chimney will also need to be inspected and tended to. A neglected chimney can easily lead to cracks in

the flue lining (very expensive and potentially dangerous), and, far more concerning, fires. When it comes to cleaning out the ashes from your fire, it’s actually beneficial to leave a small amount in the fireplace as this can lead to a better burn and help protect the floor of your stove. Because wood stove ashes may sometimes still contain glowing or hot embers (they’re extremely insular), even long after the fire has gone out, you should have an ash box that is metal with a lid. Ashes should be left in there for days after cleaning before being thrown into the garbage. Unfortunately ash is not recyclable, however if you are only burning clean wood, it can be used as fertilizer depending on the type of wood.

As with a pellet stove, it’s important to keep the glass of the over door clean. It’s also crucial that the door seal be tight and in-tact—if it’s not, the door may need to be adjusted or the seal may need to be replaced. It’s important that you always check the stove pipe, particularly where it connects to the fireplace. This part of your woodstove experiences a lot of wear and tear—any signs of corrosion mean it will probably need to be replaced before you burn any fires.

If the connections are not healthy, dangerous smoke can leak into your living space instead of being carried up and out into the atmosphere. Similarly it’s always smart to do (cont’d. Page 19)

a visual inspection of the sides, top and bottom of your stove. If anything ever looks wrong, it’s best to consult with a professional.

When it comes to safety, both stoves are a good choice as long as the operator is smart and educates any household occupants who can come into contact with the stove.

Both will have parts, such as the glass doors, which will get extremely hot when in use. Touch the glass of your stove when a blaze is going and you could really hurt yourself.

A woodstove’s fire can give off sparks, particularly when wood is added, which is also when the door is open. For this reason, it’s important not to have kindling stored close to the stove door, and the area should be clear whenever a log is added. Keeping the inside of the woodstove as well as the chimney clear of too much creosote build-up is essential to ensuring safety. A pellet stove’s fire is quite contained by the system and gives off no sparks. Because of the hopper, you never need to open the stove door when the unit is in use—more fuel can just be added to the unheated hopper. Because pellet stoves burn so cleanly, creosote is non-existent for properly cared-for and operating systems.

With all models, making sure you are knowledgeable about the proper way to operate and maintain the system is the most important step in guaranteeing the safe handling and enjoyment of it. The annual inspection and cleaning also ensure that everything is operating as it should be, and that nothing requires replacement or repair. If your inspection does turn-up anything requiring work, it’s important that you have that done before you use the stove, otherwise the problem can quickly escalate, potentially creating a safety risk and increasing the repair bill.

lifestyle and tastes best. Either way, proper maintenance and care of your stove will ensure that the investment eventually pays for itself, all while keeping you comfy and toasty in your home. ❆

Whichever you choose, be it wood or pellet, you’ll come out the winner when you are kept cozy this winter by your lovely and practical stove. Able to generate a terrific amount of heat, wood and pellet stoves offer ideal supplementary heating at comparably low operating costs.

While both have their individual merits, it comes down to assessing which works best in your home and suits your

Home Comfort, October 2016

Page 19

Page 20

Home Comfort, October 2016

UP CLOSE & PERSONAL WITH YOUR

CHIMNEY

by Alexandra Kelter

There are few things in life as cozy as snuggling around a fireplace enjoying a lovely blaze, preferably with a warm cup of tea and good company. When it comes to preserving these pristine moments, you need to look to your chimney. Sorry for the swerve into practicality— I find with chimneys you can ease into it by singing “Chim Chim Cher-ee” in your head as you go.

Chimney maintenance is a critically important business, mind you. Apart from the financial implications, there’s a major safety factor involved with proper chimney upkeep.

While they add a pleasing aesthetic value to the exterior of your home, they actually carry a very important role: chimneys are responsible for removing the toxic and dangerous flue gases (smoke) from your fireplace or woodstove so that they don’t go into your house, where they could potentially cause injury and even death. A

Home Comfort, October 2016

chimney keeps your air breathable by creating somewhere for the fumes generated by a nice fire to go, other than your lungs.

It’s common knowledge that a fire generates smoke, but have you ever really thought about what that is? Made up of tiny gas, liquid, and solid particles, the key ingredients in most smoke are carbon (soot), tar, ash, volatile organic compounds, oils, and, in the case of wood fires, the minerals the tree’s cells contained (these are what essentially become ash). Depending on what’s being burned, there will be other chemicals in smoke as well, but those are the core composites. This is one of the reasons why you should only burn recommended fuel sources, such as wood and stove pellets. Many materials, such as plastics, contain highly poisonous chemicals which bleed into the smoke if you burn them. Apart from the dangers of what is in smoke, (cont’d. Page 22)

Page 21

the temperature is also a risk. Smoke tends to be hot—so much so that inhaling it can burn your upper respiratory tract. Up to 80% of fire-related deaths are actually caused by smoke inhalation.

When a chimney is not properly maintained, its ability to remove smoke becomes hindered and even prevented.

With nowhere to go, the smoke will then come into your living space. There is also the risk of chimney fires. With all of those ingredients in smoke, a residue called creosote builds up in your chimney, and most of that residue is flammable. By having your chimney professionally cleaned on a proper schedule, there is never enough build-up to pose a hazard, but not taking this important step allows the deposits to get to the point where they can catch fire due to the hot temperatures coming from your fireplace.

Certain factors cause creosote to build-up faster, including unseasoned wood, an unclean chimney (this causes the smoke to stay longer in the chimney, and the longer it lingers, the more creosote it generates) and not enough oxygen from below to push the oxygen upwards (this can be caused by not opening the damper wide enough or by closing air inlets on a stove too soon).

There are three main types of chimney fires, all of which are extremely dangerous. The first will burn upwards, creating a high risk of your roof catching on fire, potentially leading to your house burning down. There are also explosive chimney fires, which can spread so quickly that witnesses have reported seeing flames “exploding out” from the top of the chimney. Imagine how quickly that can ignite the rest of your home… The third type of chimney fire is slowburning, which can make it far harder to detect. The first two types of fires make their presence known through loud sounds, dense smoke, and the similar obvious signs.

A slow-burning chimney fire can easily go undetected. If there’s enough build-up in your chimney for a fire to start but not enough for it to create full flames, or if the fire is not getting enough oxygen, then it burns with almost no flame, however the temperature becomes unbelievably hot. In this situation, the best case scenario for an unknown fire is for it to burn itself out, with major and expensive resulting damage to the chimney. The worst case scenario is that it heats up nearby combustible parts of your home structure, leading to a house fire. If you suspect you’ve had a chimney fire, a professional Chimney Sweep needs to be called stat to check it out and you must avoid using the fireplace or woodstove until they have. The most obvious signs that this type of fire has occurred are flakes of creosote on your roof or the ground near the chimney, damage to your roof, and cracks on the exterior of your chimney.

Here’s the thing about all this scary information though— as long as you are knowledgeable about how to operate your fireplace or woodstove, and you take the proper steps to maintaining your chimney, you are armed against these issues. Information really is power, so now that you know the risks, let’s look at how you prevent them.

The first thing to keep in mind is that chimneys are specifically designed to handle smoke safely. They are built with materials chosen especially because they resist heat and stay relatively cool, such as stone and certain types of metal. When the hot smoke reaches the chimney, (cont’d. Page 24)

Page 22

Home Comfort, October 2016

Stove Pipe Length (Black)

6" x 12"

6" x 24"

6.98

8" x 24"

BM6812

9.34

BM6824

12.48

$

7" x 90° Crimp

8" x 90° Crimp

BM4690

BM4790

BM4890

$

12.98

$

13.98

$

6" x 36"

7" x 36"

15.38

$

9.98

$

BM6790

11.98

13.98

9.44

$

BM6600

26.

$

98

BM6700

31.

$

98

7"

8" Tee BM6800

35.

$

98

8"

BM6706

10.24

$

BM6806

11.68

$

Stove Pipe End Cap (Black) 6"

7"

8"

BM6900

BM7900

BM8900

$

7.48

$

8.48

$

10.98

Stove Pipe Increaser Stove Pipe Reducer BM6056

(Black)

7" Tee

BM6606

(Black)

Stove Pipe Tee 6" Tee

17.38

$

6"

BM6890

$

BM6736

Stove Connector (Black)

6" x 90° 7" x 90° 8" x 90° Adjustable Adjustable Adjustable BM6690

BM6636

$

14.98

$

10.28

$

Stove Pipe Elbows (Black) 6" x 90° Crimp

BM6724

7.98

$

8" x 12"

7" x 24"

BM6712

9.28

$

$

7" x 12"

BM6624

BM6612

BM6067 BM6068 BM6078

5" x 6" x 6" x 7" x

6" 7" 8" 8"

(Black) BM6065 BM6076

$

15.

68

BM6086 BM6087

6" x 7" x 8" x 8" x

5" 6" 6" 7"

condensation occurs, which is how creosote is created, but this is also one of the many things which make a chimney safe for expelling smoke.

Get to know the parts and names of your chimney. The fire box is the section where the wood burns, and is what you’ll be most familiar with. Behind that is the damper, which should be open when you have a fire and until the ashes have completely cooled, and closed when the fireplace is not in use. The damper helps pull smoke up and out of the chimney when it’s open, and prevents your home’s warm air from being pulled out when it’s closed—that way you aren’t paying to heat Mother Nature. Connecting the firebox to the upper portion of the chimney is the throat, which brings the smoke into the smoke chamber—a larger area inside of the lower part of the chimney that gently compresses the fumes without creating a dangerous backdraft into your home. The smoke chamber then leads

upwards to a narrow passage called the flue, the interior of which is encompassed in a clay, ceramic, or metal conduit called a flue liner, designed for safely containing smoke and pushing it up and outside. The flue liner is very important, because the materials used to create the exterior of your chimney (what is known as your chimney walls) are not able to safely come into ongoing direct contact with the fumes. The flue liner goes all the way to the top of your chimney for safety purposes.

With all of these parts of a chimney, there are several places where creosote can build up or things can go critically wrong. You should plan to have your chimney inspected and cleaned by a professional once a year (unless there are signs of an issue, in which case you should arrange for one to come asap). For professional cleaning, you may need to do this more than once every 12 months depending on how you use it (frequency, what you burn, etc.). If you run (cont’d. Page 30)

Combo Smoke & CO Talking Alarm 900-0119C

65.68

$

Worry-Free Hall-Way Smoke Alarm P3010H-CA

41.48

$

Page 24

Worry-Free Kitchen Worry-Free Bedroom Smoke Alarm Smoke Alarm P3010K-CA

35.48

$

Worry-Free Digital CO Alarm C3010D-CA

43.98

$

P3010B-CA

37.98

$

Full Home Fire Extinguisher

466296

Worry-Free Living Area CO Alarm P3010L-CO-CA

57.98

$

31.48

$

Home Comfort, October 2016

Universal Shielding Insulation JUSI

Supervent Rubber Boot Flashing

6"/7"/8" Universal Roof Guy Kit

For Steel Roofs 200275

$

26.64

0/12 to 10/12 Pitch for all steel roof systems.

6" Insulated Super Thimble DSP6IWT

JURGK

Provides support where chimney extends more than 5-feet above roof line.

$

212.

$

Used to pass a smoke pipe through a combustible wall.

62.44

$

174.

OIL & FIREPLACE CHIMNEY 6" Attic Insulated Sheild FC Chimney

6� Adaptor Plate FC Chimney JSC6AP

JSC6AIS

45.98

$

6" Raincap Deluxe FC Chimney JSC6DRC

57.98

$ 6"x 12" Length FC Chimney JSC6SA1

44.98

$

6" Elbow Kit FC Chimney JSC6SE3K

138.

$

6" Flashing Chimney w/Storm Collar 0-6/12- FC JSC6AAF

56.98

$

6" Wall Support FC Chimney JSC6AWS

$

48.98

37.98

$

6" Roof Support FC Chimney JSC6RS

38.98

$

6" x 24" Length FC Chimney

6" x 36" Length FC Chimney

JSC6SA2

JSC6SA3

64.98

$

6" Wall Band FC Chimney JSC6WB

14.98

$

86.98

$

6" Wall Support Kit FC Chimney JSC6DCSK

188.

$

www.selkirkcorp.com Home Comfort, October 2016

Page 25

6" Ceiling Support Packages Packages include: • Ceiling Support • Raincap • Stovepipe Adaptor • Required Chimney Lengths • Locking Banks • Attic Shield • 0/12 Flashing • 6/12 Flashing • Storm Collar

6' Height

9' Height

GSW66C

449.56

$

GSW96C

553.52

$

12' Height

15' Height

GSW126C

657.48

$

GSW156C

761.44

$

18' Height

21' Height

865.40

$

24' Height

27' Height

GSW186C

$

GSW216C

969.36

GSW246C

$

1126.30

GSW276C

1230.26

$

www.selkirkcorp.com Page 26

Home Comfort, October 2016

6" Wall Support Packages Packages include: • Wall Support • Raincap • Adaptor • Required • Chimney Lengths • Locking Bands • Wall Thimble • Base Tee with Cap • Wall Bands

6' Height

9' Height

GSW66W

GSW96W

$

693.50

$

12' Height

15' Height

GSW126W

GSW156W

890.44

$

$

$

786.48

994.40

$

18' Height

21' Height

GSW186W

GSW216W

1098.36

$

1238.28

24' Height

27' Height

GSW246W

GSW276W

1401.22

1523.16

$

www.selkirkcorp.com Home Comfort, October 2016

Page 27

Double Wall Stove Pipe THROUGH THE WALL INSTALLATION

VERTICAL INSTALLATION

INSTALLATION INTO A MASONRY CHIMNEY

DOUBLE WALL STOVE PIPE IS A SUPERIOR PRODUCT IN A NUMBER OF WAYS: • Only 6" clearance to combustible materials • Double wall stove pipe lasts significantly longer than single wall stove pipe • Stainless Steel inner liner

6" Universal Chimney Adaptor

6" Damper Kit DSP6DK

• Aluminized Steel outer casing • 1/4" air insulation • Black enamel finish • Easy to install • Certified to UL & ULC standards • LIFETIME WARRANTY

6" Superpipe Masonry Adaptor

36.58

DSP6SA

DSP6MA

DSP6CA

$

6" Superpipe Stove Adaptor

$

39.62

$

36.44

26.44

$

6" Superpipe Tee

$

6" x 12" Length Superpipe

6" x 24" Length Superpipe

6" x 36" Length Superpipe

DSP6P6

DSP6P12

DSP6P24

DSP6P36

25.98

6" x 7" Superpipe Increaser DSPI67

49.98

$

30.88

$

$

49.78

7" x 6" Superpipe Reducer

6" 2-Piece Adjustable Length

49.98

$

DSPR76

$

DSP6AL

59.78

6" x 90° Superpipe Elbow DSP6E9

DSP6E4

6" x 6" Length Superpipe

$

6" x 45° Superpipe Elbow

61.68

$

36.78 DSP6TE

$

44.98

$

52.44

6" Telescopic Length Superpipe DSP6TL

121.

$

Central also stocks a full line of 7" Double Wall Stovepipe & Accessories.

www.selkirkcorp.com Page 28

Home Comfort, October 2016

Versa-Liner Stainless Steel Chimney Liner & Accessories • Use the same component parts with either Rigid or Flex.

• Use Versa-Liner flexible lengths where offsets are required.

• Use Versa-Liner rigid lengths inside straight chimneys.

• Available in kits or individual component parts.

• 0" clearance between liner and chimney interior.

6" x 12" Stainless Steel Liner Length

6" x 24" Stainless Steel Liner Length

6" x 36" Stainless Steel Liner Length

SL612

SL624

SL636

22.98

$

31.98

$

41.98

$

6" x 45° Stainless Steel Adjustable Elbow

6" x 90° Stainless Steel Adjustable Elbow

6" Flex Adaptor Stainless Steel Liner

SL6E45

SL6E90

SL6FA

28.98

$

30.98

$

6" Stainless Steel Liner 6" Stainless Steel Liner Flashing Rain Cap SL6FL

58.98

$

SL6RC

$

57.98

Central also stocks a full line of 7" Stainless Steel Chimney Liner & Accessories.

29.98

$

6" Stainless Steel Liner Slip Connector SL6SC

27.98

$

6" Stainless Steel Liner Tee

6" x 48" Stainless Steel Liner Length

$

SL648

45.98

6" Stainless Steel Liner Adjustable Length

$

31.98

6" Stainless Steel Liner Starter Kit

$

SL6SK

137.

6" Stainless Steel Liner Tee Cap SL6TC

SL6T

52.98

$

SL6AL

$

14.98

www.selkirkcorp.com Home Comfort, October 2016

Page 29

your fire or wood stove a lot, you’ll probably want to have it cleaned more. This also gives you the added benefit of having expert eyes surveying your chimney.

To check if it’s time for a cleaning, you’ll need your fire poker, a powerful flashlight, a basic disposable dust mask, and eye protection. First, ensure that there’s no downdraft in your chimney. If there is one, you need to wait until it’s passed before you conduct your check. You can expedite this by opening a door or window near the chimney— this encourages the air flow to reverse. Once you are able to check, don your safety equipment and with your flashlight facing at the area you’re working on, scratch your poker along the black surface above the damper (smoke chamber). If the layer of creosote is more than 1/8 inch thick, it’s time for a cleaning. If it’s more than ¼ inch thick, you cannot safely use your fireplace until a professional has worked on it.

While you can and should clean out old wood and kindling from your fire grate after every couple of fires (ideally after every fire, but it’s probably more realistic to plan for every other depending on how much debris remains and what you burned), the major cleaning and work should absolutely be left to a qualified professional. Despite what you see in movies, a pro should be doing more than just sweeping a chimney with a brush. For chimneys, you want an expert with experience. Someone with proper qualifications will know to check for signs of deterioration, venting issues, fire hazards, and other potential issues, they’re familiar with building codes, and they can advise on the overall health of your chimney. In Canada, we have something called W.E.T.T. Certification, and your Chimney Sweep should have it. Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. is a nonprofit training and education association whose focus is on making sure that wood-burning systems are safely and effectively used. They offer training and education for professionals who inspect and look after chimneys, and issue certificates of qualification when an individual has successfully completed their different W.E.T.T. courses.

Page 30

Issues with a chimney should be repaired as early as possible or they can quickly escalate, along with the cost. A good Chimney Sweep is looking for any signs of corrosion, damage, defects, and structural issues, checking the flue, inner lining, exterior and interior of the chimney, and damper). He or she will then repair any loose or crumbling bricks or mortar, cracks in the chimney, and similar issues.

The flashing, which is installed where the exterior of your chimney connects with the roof, will also be checked and potentially replaced.

The flashing is important both for the sake of your chimney (if it’s damaged, leaking can occur which causes creosote to build-up much quicker, along with corrosive damage to the chimney itself) and for your roof. Openings in your roof for things like chimneys and skylights are potential weak spots, susceptible to leaks and wear. The flashing protects this vulnerability, but it can only work if it’s in top shape.

Because precipitation can greatly speed-up the wear and tear on your chimney, it’s important to have a cap on it.

When properly installed, this helps minimize the amount of rain and snow that get into the chimney, and as an added bonus it helps prevent wildlife from taking up residence in there—something that can be very unpleasant and expensive to remedy. A chimney cap also helps prevent burning embers from landing on your roof, which can turn at the very least damage your roof, and at the worst, set it on fire. It’s better to have a professional install your chimney cap, as they can also check the flashing and chimney at the same time, and improper installation can pose significant safety risks.

You should also have your chimney waterproofed.

Specifically developed for this purpose, chimney water repellant is designed to minimize how much moisture gets into the masonry while in no way decreasing the chimney’s permeability for water vapour (if water vapour is continuously trapped in the masonry, it will quickly cause issues and weaken the structure). This is again a job for a (cont’d. Page 34)

Home Comfort, October 2016

Polysweep Round Brushes

Stove Pipe Lengths (Black)

6" Round

16.68

7" Round

BM2001

14.48

$

6" x 30"

7" x 30"

BM2003

BM2004

$

CB0707

$

7" x 24"

BM2000

$

CB0706

$

6" x 24"

17.68

16.98

18.24

$

7" Telescopic

BM2006

BM2007

52.98

(Black)

15.48

6" Telescopic $

Stove Pipe Tees

$

57.98

Stove Pipe Elbows (Black)

4" Pellet Chimney Flue Brush $ CB04

6" x 90° Crimp

7" x 90° Crimp

BM2017

BM2018

$

20.48

18.48

19.48

7" x 90° Adjustable

BM2014

BM2015

12.48

BM2020

30.48

$

6" x 90° Adjustable $

6" Tee $

7" Tee BM2021

34.48

$

13.48

$

Stove Pipe End Cap

Stove Pipe Slip Connector

(Black)

6" 7" (No Crimp) (No Crimp)

6" x 6" Square Sweep’s Choice Brush $ CB0206 54.98

BM2023

10.

$

48

Fiberglass Chimney Rods - 2 Meter CB0005

$ Page 26

(Black)

10.98

BM2024

11.

$

48

6" x 12" BM2008

11.

$

48

7" x 12" $

BM2009

12.48

48" Pellet Stove Brush Rod Flexible nylon rod is designed to navigate 90° joints in most flues and vents. 1/4" 20 Male/Female thread.

CB003

16.98

$

Home Comfort, October 2016

Castable Refractory Cement

Hi Temp Stove & Furnace Cement

101K

105K

3 Lbs.

(Black Pebble-Steel Finish)

Black 6 Oz. BSP

3 Lbs.

Dry mix.

Stove Board

Stove Polish

Grey.

17.48

$

$

17.98

8.48

$

Sweep’s Aid Creosote Treatment Powder

Clear Flame Glass Cleaner

Flame Magic Fire C rystals

KK0319

KK0290

KK0316

907 g

22 oz.

SBB3242

114.

$

12.98

11.48

$

Stove & Gasket Cement

Hi Temp Silicone Sealant

KK0075

KK0321 KK0322 KK0309

80 ml

8.98

SBB4652

162.

$

134.

$

SBB4048

148.

Allows stove to be ins closer to wall. Ste talled el over mineral board. M odular design for multiple bo installation. Scratch ard resistant finish. Also recom mended for Floor Ember Pr otection.

Wall Spacer Kit

(for Stove Board) BM28-500

5.48

11.88

$

$

Safely reduces minimum clearances between combustible surface & the wood stove.

29.98

$

3/8" Stove Gasket Kit

1/2" Stove Gasket Kit

5/8" Stove Gasket Kit

3/4" Stove Gasket Kit

GK38

GK12

GK58

GK34

GK14

9.38

GUTK

Red Clear or Black

$

$

Glass U-Tape Gasket Kit

46" x 52"

SBB34

40" x 48"

SBB3652

144.

1.98

2.7 oz.

Squeeze tube.

1/4" Stove Gasket Kit

$

$

36" x 52"

1.45 oz.

$ $

36" x 48"

32" x 42"

10.98

$

$

11.98

$

13.38

18.44

$

Plastic Floor Registers

Metal Floor Registers

36/095

36/095

Assorted sizes & colours.

Assorted sizes & colours.

Starting at

Starting at

5.98

$

$

Victorian Floor Registers

3.96

Floor Grills 36/095

36/095

Assorted sizes & colours.

Assorted sizes & colours.

Starting at

Starting at

$ Insulated Flex Air Duct MEA-0425/MEA-0525/MEA0625 Available in 4”, 5” & 6” .

12.68

$ Take Offs

Boots

Adjustable Elbows

34.

36/010

36/010

Assorted sizes.

Starting at

98

Tees

36/010

Starting at

$

27.84

5.

$

68

Starting at

2.24

$

Pipes

4" x 5" & 6"

4" x 5" & 6"

36/010

36/010

Assorted sizes.

Starting at

8.

$

68

Starting at

2.

$

98

Starting at

7.58

$

professional, but it’s a worthwhile investment.

Nova Scotia is particularly hard on chimneys, especially on the exterior portion. Our weather is notorious for flash freezes followed by thaws and refreezing. For chimneys, this is a recipe for damage, and causes problems like cracks or weakening mortar to quickly worsen. Compounded with our sometimes-ferocious winds, and humid summers, it becomes more important than ever to take proper care of your chimney.

Anytime you have a professional inspect, clean, or work on, your chimney, remember to keep a copy of the invoice and a brief description of the work they did in your records.

It’s very smart to send copies to your insurance company

Page 34

as well, both for the sake of lowering your bill and in case there ever is a problem—that way you have a paper trail with them proving your due diligence.

A fireplace or wood stove provide an excellent supplementary heat source, and can significantly lower your heating bill. A nice, contained blaze creates a lovely, homey ambiance, and an ideal space for snuggling around with loved ones, a favourite movie, a good book, or your own thoughts. Having a basic understanding of the mechanics of how it works will allow you to be safe and protected by properly maintaining the chimney, meaning you can then sit back and relax, simply enjoying the beauty of a warm, cozy fire. ❆

Home Comfort, October 2016

Ductless Mini-Split Air Source Heating/Cooling Systems

12,000 BTU Heating Complete Installation F rom

52.10*

$

INCLUDING

Ask about our Extended Warranty Plans... coverage up to 10 YEARS!

Nova Scotia P HST! o 120-Month w/1 wer 0 Year Parts & Labo r Warranty.

Reg. $3,398.00 +HST *O.A.C. Other finance options available! See in-store.

We offer all sizes and configurations of heat pumps.

• Problem-free, no-hassle complete installation of a new, Energy-Star Certified mini-split heat pump.

• Our installers are Certified Red Seal Refrigeration technicians.

• Standard installation includes heat pump, all installation accessories and electrical connection.

• No cost in home assessment included prior to commitment.

M INI S PLITS

by Alexandra Kelter Controlling the temperature of your home can easily become an expensive ongoing balancing act. Apart from needing to regulate it for the sake of the comfort and enjoyment of the occupants, it also plays a role in the structural health of the house itself. If your home gets too cold, your pipes can freeze, crack, and even burst, along with other similarly fun disasters. Likewise if it gets too hot, the wood (flooring, furniture, joists, etc.) can warp or crack (all of which are very expensive repairs). Hot weather in Atlantic Canada is also usually accompanied by intense humidity—a recipe for molds, mildew, dust, paint bubbling, and more. Extreme indoor temperatures shorten the lifespan of your home’s costly structural components too, such as roofing and the foundation.

The risk and expense of severe temperatures is the rock, now for the hard place: depending on your heating system,

adjusting the temperature can be very costly too. High oil and gas prices have made these expensive heating sources, but forced-air electric furnaces can be a pricey system to run too. Electric baseboards and radiators can be cumbersome and run interference with the design of a space, and put anything on or against them and you’re also looking at a potential fire hazard. As with most major systems, all of these options will have a lower monthly cost if you have a relatively new system and adhere to the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance schedule, but you’re still looking at a significant investment. Then there’s your home’s cooling system to take into consideration. Air conditioning can be a life-saver on those scorching summer days, but again, this is not an inexpensive system to install, run, or maintain.

Before you despair and start contemplating the merits (cont’d. Page 38)

Page 36

Home Comfort, October 2016

Ductless Mini-Split Air Source Heating/Cooling Systems

HSV Series 12,000 BTU Heating • High efficiency.

• Ultra Quiet.

• Inverter V Technology.

• Gold fin anti corrosive coating.

• Optional wired thermostat.

• Optional WiFi control (control from anywhere in the world with a Smart phone).

• SEER Ratings up to 27.5

Ask about our Extended Warranty Plans... coverage up to 10 YEARS!

Complete Installation F rom

56.65*

$

INCLUDING

Nova Scotia P HST! o 120-Month w/1 wer 0 Year Parts & Labo r Warranty.

Reg. $3,798.00 +HST *O.A.C. Other finance options available! See in-store.

We offer all sizes and configurations of heat pumps.

• Problem-free, no-hassle complete installation of a new, Energy-Star Certified mini-split heat pump.

• Our installers are Certified Red Seal Refrigeration technicians.

• Standard installation includes heat pump, all installation accessories and electrical connection.

• No cost in home assessment included prior to commitment.

of cave-dwelling, consider mini split heating and cooling systems. This fairly new development in home improvement could change the way you keep your home’s climate fair, all while saving you money and eliminating energy waste— nothing like throwing a bone to the environment while you’re at it!

Mini splits, also known as air-source heat pumps, are a supplementary temperature-regulating system which allows you to minimize the usage of your existing heating system, and, thanks to Nova Scotia’s relatively moderate temperatures, with proper installation you can also rely solely on it for air cooling in the warmer months. Far less expensive to run than traditional built-in options, they are also energy efficient, can be installed in almost any space, and take up very little room.

Mini splits are ductless and run off of electricity. On a hot day, the system pulls the heat and humidity from the air in your home and expels it outside thereby lowering the temperature indoors, whereas in the cold months, it pulls

the air from outside, heats it up, then pushes it into your home, warming it.

A mini split has two main physical components—a compressor/condenser (which is usually located outside) and a small air-handling unit that is mounted inside to a discreet wall, drop-ceiling or ceiling inside your home (floor-standing models are also available if you prefer).

The two units are linked by small piping hidden in your walls, which generally only requires a 3 inch hole through a wall or ceiling to connect to the air-handling unit, all but eliminating the air leakage that air conditioner ductwork usually entails. Most mini split models can have as much as 50 feet between the indoor and compressor components, giving you the choice to hide the larger outdoor system at the back or side of your home, or in your furnace room (in the case of specific heat pumps). Each air-handling unit has its own remote control to turn it on and adjust the temperature, as well as a thermostat for regulating.

VOLTEX®® VOLTEX HYBRID ELECTRIC HYBRID ELECTRIC HEAT HEATPUMP PUMP WATER HEATERS WATER HEATERS 60 and 80-Gallon Capacity

® The Voltex Electric Heat Pump — MoreHybrid storage translates to more savings — As high heating as 84-gallon cost first hour the reduces water bydelivery up toin 66% Hybrid mode through an innovative design that pulls Up to 2.4 Energy environmental heat Factor while dehumidifying — Absorbs environmental heat and transfers it to the and cooling the ambient air at the same water — More than twice the efficiency of standard electric watertime. heaters!

Multiple Operating Modes including a It offers premium features Adjusts to environmental and demand conditions — Efficiency Mode vacation mode and user-friendly display, — Hybrid Mode heavy duty anode that protects your tank — Conventional Electronic Mode — Vacation Mode for 10 years.

(cont’d. Page 40)

HYBRID WATER HEATE

RS

• Problem-free, no-hassl e complete installation of a new, Energy-Star Hy brid Water Heater.

• Certified installers.

• No cost in home assess ment included prior to commitment.

Voltex® Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater SH PT-50

Maintenance-Free Powered Anode Rods Large LCD Touch Screen Display

— “User-Friendly” control design for easy interaction

www.hotwatercanada.ca ENERGY STAR ®

Qualified

Full details instore.

Complete Installation From 24 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

118.21

$

INCLUDING H

O.A.C. Details in

ST!

store.

Reg. $2,264.00 +HST

Comfort without compromise.

Additional CONNEX™ enabled Smart Heaters

CONNEX™ is a smarter way to heat with electricity.

Ceiling-mounted Heater (RCH) (RCH5031CXW)

312.00

$

SEB Series: Starting at

37.48

$

Smart Eclipse™ Baseboard

Precision Comfort Heater (PCH) (PCH2000TCC)

Multi-zone Programmable CONNEX™ Controller (CX-MPC)

69.98

$

298.00

$

Single-zone CONNEX™ Controller (DPCRWS)

31.98

$

Enjoy greater comfort without worrying about your electricity bill with Smart Eclipse Baseboards.

Reclaim your wall space with more compact lengths that produce the same amount of heat, and warm a room you’ve turned down up to 40% faster than with a traditional baseboard. Enjoy another level of comfort and savings by adding a wireless CONNEX controller, to program a schedule that suits your lifestyle and set up to four heating zones that can lower your heating costs even further.

Talk to a Central heating expert to learn how you can enjoy greater comfort and experience up to 33% more energy savings with. CONNEX™

Does your old HRV Unit need replacing?

FLEX 100 HRV

Benefits Of A Heat Recovery Ventilator

Top Port FLEX100H

Complete Installation From

130.32

$ Upgrade To A Full 7-Year Parts & Labour Warranty For $196.00 With Installation.

12 Low A.P.R. Equal Monthly Payments of

47-105 CFM. Install includes Wall Mount Bracket, HRV Unit, Wall Control, Installation & Home Balancing.

O.A.C. Details instore.

LIFETIME ALUMINUM CORE 7 YEAR MOTOR WARRANTY

Reg. $1,301.48 +HST

INCLUDING HST!

• Brings a continuous supply of fresh, filtered outside air into the home.

• Exhausts environmental contaminants for improved indoor air quality • Saves energy by recovering heat from exhaust air in the winter.

• Cools incoming air in the summer when the house air is cooler than the outdoor air.

• Controls excess humidity in cooler seasons by introducing outdoor air into the house.

We offer various sizes of HRV Units.

• Problem-free, no-hassle complete installation of a new, Energy-Star Certified HRV. • Our installers are HRAI Certified.

• No cost in home assessment included prior to commitment.

The small size of the indoor unit allows you to easily hide it in any room, and lets you direct warm and cool air to particular areas of your home. The system is designed to have zones, giving you greater control over moderating the temperatures in specific locations. The zones are determined by space, not rooms, giving you choice over what parts of your home they heat and cool. An installer will be able to asses where the indoor unit(s) should be placed for maximum coverage. The amount of square footage a unit can handle is determined by the BTUs. In our climate, 12000 BTUs is the more common option, which can regulate between 450 and 550 square feet of living space. 6000 BTUs will work for a 150 to 250 square foot area, and 24000 BTUs can handle a zone of between 1400 and 1500 square feet. When selecting the right size for your needs, consider the existing insulation of your

Page 40

home (windows, doors, seals, etc.)—if it’s not good and you’re not yet ready to repair this, you should opt for a slightly higher BTU choice. High ceilings (8 feet-plus) also require about 20% more BTUs than the square footage would otherwise necessitate.

Each zone has its own thermostat, letting you control the temperature in spaces as required, contributing to the energy efficiency by allowing you to keep the parts of your home warmer or cooler when they are occupied, while maintaining more moderate temperatures in the vacant areas. Each unit is controlled by a remote, making it very easy to adjust based on comfort and occupancy. While a zone requires its own individual air-handling unit, multiple ones can all connect to the same outdoor unit via hidden conduits. (cont’d. Page 41)

Home Comfort, October 2016

The ductless nature of this system makes installation far less of an undertaking (they’re even great for additions where extending existing ductwork is not feasible). Ductwork can make your ceilings feel lower which in turn makes a room seem smaller. Because of the versatility and smaller size of the mini split air handling unit, it’s far less intrusive in your home, and can placed with more consideration for aesthetics than heating and cooling systems can usually allow.

Apart from the space-saving and visual benefits, eliminating ductwork also plays a major role in energy consumption.

When it comes to space conditioning, leakage and air loss in ductwork can account for upwards of 35% of your energy consumption, a number which increases if your ducts are hidden in an unconditioned space, such as the attic.

That volume of leakage is a substantial waste of energy, which is detrimental to the environment and your wallet.

Elimination of the ducts with a mini split system also means elimination of that large waste—the leakage drops to 5% or less. More than half of the overall energy consumption in a home can be attributed to regulating the internal temperature, making this a particularly valuable area to minimize waste in. While mini splits do utilize refrigerant in the heating and cooling cycles, more eco-friendly mixtures have been developed, which most manufacturers choose to opt for now.

When choosing your mini split system, look for an Energy Star qualification. Based on the EnerGuide rating, a system established by Natural Resources Canada and the Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Institute of Canada, this is only given when the model meets a set standard for being environmentally-friendly (which will also be more economical on your energy bill). To encourage homeowners to opt for greener choices for their houses, the government also offers rebates and financial incentives for this type of unit. Though an Energy Star Rating can sometimes raise the purchase price, in the long run, mini split systems are substantially less money to run and maintain, particularly (cont’d. Page 42)

Home Comfort, October 2016

Page 41

when they meet this criteria. It means that your model will help reduce emissions of smog precursors and greenhouse gases, and significantly reduce electricity use (which is also beneficial to your wallet).

When it comes to installing your mini split system, you want to make sure you’re using an experienced professional. It is advisable to ensure Red Seal Certification with any tradespeople you use, and I definitely recommend it for this project. The Red Seal Program is the standard of excellence for skilled trades in Canada, achieved when the tradesperson’s abilities meet the high level of expertise set by the program. It is very important with mini splits to also make sure that the installer is familiar with the systems.

Though not difficult to install, someone inexperienced with mini splits can easily make a mistake that causes your system not to work properly, damages the equipment,

shortens the lifespan of the system, or voids the warranty.

A good installer will be able to help you determine which size of mini split you should use for your home, which is very important. If you purchase a larger unit than is necessary, you’ll pay a higher purchasing price, the cost to run it will be higher, and you’ll be wasting energy. Alternatively if the unit you choose it not powerful enough for your needs, it will prove rather ineffective. A professional can also identify where to place the air handling unit(s) for maximum efficiency. They are able to ascertain what constitutes a zone (considerations such as air flow, walls, and more, need to be assessed when determining zones) and can hook up the hidden conduits with minimum disruption to it the walls. With our weather, how the outdoor compressor is situated plays a major role in the mechanics and lifespan of the mini split. It needs to be sheltered from high winds, (cont’d. Page 43)

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mind, it’s advisable not to put it right by a window.

Regular maintenance for your mini split system is not extensive, but you should stay on top of it to maximize the output and extend the lifespan. Any time you are working on your mini split, be sure to turn it off first. Ask your installer to show you how to access the filters within the air handling unit when he or she is first installing it. These filters catch dust, allergens, dirt, and other debris from the air, ensuring that what it pushes into your home is as clean as possible. Depending on where you live (suburban areas tend to have more in the air) and if you have pets (you’d be surprised at how much hair and dirt your furry family members generate), you’ll probably want to clean the filters about once a month. When you do, you’ll be able to ascertain whether more frequent cleanings are required. You don’t want these filters clogged, as that

yet also has to be in the open to prevent recirculation of outdoor air. The unit has to be connected to a drain, and it’s important that a serviceperson can access it for maintenance and repairs. It’s preferable for water, ice, and snow not to be sitting on or directly against the unit, so it should be outside of your house’s drip-line, and needs to be 15 to 25 inches above the ground on a stand. For stability and draining purposes, that stand should be anchored to a concrete pad set in a bed of gravel. If a lot of precipitation falls in your unit, it can reduce airflow or cause damage to the internal mechanics. There is even an option to have it mounted to the exterior wall of a house, but again, you’ll want a professional to build this to make sure that it’s properly engineered and situated. Ideally, the exterior conduits going into your house to connect with the internal air handling unit should be insulated, and the shorter and straighter they are, the better. While the indoor part of a mini split runs quite quietly, the outdoor unit can be a bit noisier, similar to an air conditioning unit. With that in

Home Comfort, October 2016

restricts air flow, which prevents your mini split from heating or cooling the zone as required. Cleaning them is a simple matter of removing them and giving them a gentle vacuum with a brush hand tool. You don’t want to tear or damage the filters as that will let unclean air through.

Every three months or so, you should give them a wash in gentle soap or mild detergent. Make sure the water is no hotter than lukewarm, as anything more can damage the filters. Give them a gentle scrubbing, rinse them, then put them somewhere cool and dry. You need to let them dry completely before putting them back into your unit or they can cause damage.

For your outdoor unit, it’s very important that you shovel the snow off and away from it in the winter. If it’s buried in snow, it can’t pull in air, meaning if you run it you could cause major damage to the internal motor. Likewise you should keep it clear of leaves and other debris for the same reason. Your unit needs to be able to draw in air freely for optimum performance. You don’t want weeds, plants, or grass growing against it as they can limit air flow and roots growing around it will weaken the support system keeping your unit off the ground. While keeping things off and away

(cont’d. Page 44)

Page 43

from the outdoor unit is a must, you should not hose or pressure-wash it. If you find the unit is dirty, wipe it down with a damp cloth, but make sure you’re ringing the water out of the cloth first. You want to avoid precipitation in your unit whenever possible, particularly when it contains soap and other cleaning agents. It’s particularly wise to gently wipe the grills drawing air in, to ensure they are as open as possible. Your indoor unit should be dusted regularly, and using a damp cloth it’s good to lightly clean the vents every couple of weeks or so.

Depending on your manufacturer’s recommendations and your warranty, you’ll want to bring in a professional to check and clean the coils located inside both your outdoor and indoor unit. This is something you’ll have to do every two years or so. The coil is key to cooling and heating air, so it’s important that it be properly cleaned and the unit checked. Similar to having your furnace serviced, this semi-

Page 44

regular care will guarantee that your mini split is in tip-top shape.

The ever-increasing popularity of mini splits reflects a growing shift in priorities for home owners and builders.

More and more awareness and consideration is being allocated to energy efficiency, the environmental footprint, and long-term costs for occupants. We’re seeing more and more solutions from developers for how to adapt your living space for comfort without undergoing major construction, and these solutions are also utilizing green initiatives, yielding options which are ideal for both you and the environment. Your mini split will keep you cozy in those chilly Maritime winters, cool in those humid, sunshinefilled summers, and all while keeping more money in your pocket. Regulating the temperature of your home need no longer be a costly balancing act, leaving you with more time and funds to really enjoy it. ❆

Home Comfort, October 2016

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Call us Toll-Free at 1-888-348-8888 or visit us online at www.centralns.ca Prices correct at time of printing (Sept. 23, 2016) but are subject to change without notice. Unless otherwise stated, all sizes for products advertised in this publication are approximate. Exact measurements are available instore. Although we do our best to avoid printing errors, they do occasionally occur. Errors are corrected through signs posted in all stores. Photos are for illustration purposes only - text prevails.

Unless otherwise indicated, prices in this magazine do not include HST.