Radiant Heating Faq

Q. Why is radiant heat (radiant floor heating) superior to other heating methods?

A. With radiant heat, every object in the room becomes warm and contributes to your overall comfort. Because you're heating more than just the room's air, your living space maintains an even, satisfying warmth with no air currents, blowing dust, or cold spots. Unlike other heating methods, radiant heat doesn't dry out the air. The warmth starts at your feet where it is most desired instead of blowing out of ductwork and ending up on the ceiling. With traditional hydronic baseboard heating, the hot air flows up the wall creating a convective current that can actually draw in cold outside air.

Also, with radiant heat, you feel comfortable at a lower thermostat setting, so your fuel bills will be lower...a major plus!

In addition, the system is silent, has only one moving part, needs minimal maintenance, operates more efficiently than any other heating system while offering superior comfort, and if that isn't enough, you can walk around in socks all winter!

Imagine stepping out of your morning shower onto a warm floor. Imagine never again sitting on a cold sofa. Imagine stretching out on a cozy floor and reading the paper, working on a school project with the kids, doing yoga exercises. These are only a few of the reasons why radiant heat has been used in Europe for over sixty years

Furnace Repair Faq

What You Should Know About Furnace Repair

To familiarize yourself with your furnace you may want to review how a furnace works, and exercise some of the preventative maintenance yourself. Here are some things you can tackle, if you're up to it:

Confirm that the furnace cycles through start-up to shut-down via your thermostat.
Check the supply (small grates in each room) and return air (large grate, usually in a hallway) temperature to make sure your thermostat is accurate.
Clean and level your thermostat. For older thermostats this ensures proper function since many of them have liquid mercury switches. And always, this is aesthetically more eye pleasing.
There is a safety switch on all furnace doors that “pops out” when the door is removed. Make sure this is unobstructed and clean
Look at all the visible wiring and electrical connections for burns or unraveling/loose wire nuts or tape.
Check the condition of your vent connection pipe and chimney for rust or gaps. Venting system parts can deteriorate over time.
If you decide to hire a specialist, go well-armed into your search for a company. Here are a few questions that you could ask of the HVAC dealer you are considering:
Which is the best furnace on the market?
Is my furnace operating at peak performance?
Is my furnace energy efficient?
Could I save money on my utility bills with a new furnace?
How closely can I manage my home comfort with your line of furnaces?
Which furnaces have easy-to-clean filters?
Which of the heating manufacturers you represent have been around the longest?
How long has your company been in business?
How quickly can you typically respond in an emergency situation?
Do you have any special furnace service or maintenance plans?
What are your billing and payment methods and terms?
Do you have client references I could contact?

Again, during the hotter months, furnace repair maintenance and other heating repair issues can be taken care of by widely available professionals at a time when you aren’t relying too heavily on your heating system. And it’s likely that you won’t have to wait in line.

Tankless Water Heaters

Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

The technology employed by water heaters has been around for a hundred years and has been virtually unchanged in all that time. This is mainly because that technology worked so well back then and still works today. Traditional water heaters use tanks that heat and store water ready for use. You always have hot water on hand just in case. Whether or not the water is used, energy is still put out to keep it hot. This can be wasteful and energy inefficient.

Tankless water heaters, also known as demand or instantaneous water heaters, are an excellent alternative to conventional tank heaters. Tankless water heaters heat water on demand rather than keeping hot water in reserve. Because they don’t have to keep a volume of water hot indefinitely on standby, they require less energy than tank heaters and generate lower utility costs. The difference can be as much as 30%. Tankless water heaters have very high efficiency ratings at nearly 99%. With more and more attention being paid to energy conservation and environmental issues, tankless water heaters have become very popular.

Tankless water heaters can be operated electrically or with natural gas or propane. In general, gas tankless water heater models can heat more water faster for less money. Electric tankless water heaters need access to a lot of electric power to rapidly heat water. It’s best to install tankless water heaters in new construction because an already built home may not have proper venting or the necessary hook-ups available, and it can cost a lot to make the house compatible with a tankless water heater. If you’re involved in building a new construction, you’re going to have to get a new water heater anyway, so you might as well get the best kind, the tankless water heater. The cost difference is really not that much.

You may wonder about the output of a tankless water heat in comparison to a tank heater. Gas tankless water heaters that provide hot water for whole homes can heat over 5 gallons of water by 60 degrees F each minute. That’s enough water to supply two showers running at the same time. You won’t have to sacrifice convenience when you choose a tankless water heater.

Fireplace FAQ

Most people have questions when it comes to fireplaces. Listed below are some of the most common questions asked:


Can a wood burning fireplace be converted to gas?

The answer is yes and is actually quite popular due to both efficiency and convenience. Natural gas is inexpensive and burns much cleaner than that of a wood burning fireplace. Just be sure you have a professional complete the installation for safety reasons.



Does a fireplace increase the value of a home?

Fireplaces do add value although the exact amount depends on the part of the country where you live. The Hearth Product Association conducted a study that shows a fireplace hearth remains the most preferred amenity for a home and in some cases, could produce a 130% return on your investment when you decide to sell.



How much heat do fireplaces really produce?

A gas fireplace will give off more heat than wood burning if you have the right type of glass to absorb and distribute heat after the fire is out. A fire that puts out 21,000 BTU has an efficiency of approximately 70%, which is enough to heat a 1,000 square foot area easily. For wood burning fireplaces, certain woods burn hotter, including fruitwood and oak. Just remember, the harder the wood, the hotter the burn. If you plan to use your fireplace as your primary heat source, you should definitely have a thermostat installed.



What is the cost to heat a gas fireplace?

The answer is dependent on the amount of time you will use your fireplace. An average cost of a thermostat for 100,000 BTUs runs .50. If you calculate that, to operate a 12,500 BTU fireplace for one full hour, you would use approximately .12. When you weigh out the difference between gas and wood burning fireplaces, using natural gas can provide you with as much as a 75% savings.

Infloor Heating Faq's, Muskoka, Bracebridge area Heating Contractor

What is radiant floor heating?

Radiant floor heating is a comfortable and efficient form of heating where warm water circulates through flexible, specially designed PEX tubing installed under the floor. The heat radiates evenly up through the floor warming people and objects in the room and providing more comfort for less money.


What makes radiant floor heating so comfortable?

Unlike traditional heating systems that just warm the air, radiant heating warms the floor and the objects in contact with the floor. The entire floor distributes a consistent, even and quiet heating. There are no drafts and radiant floor heating takes the chill out of cold tile, marble and wood floors.



What is PEX tubing?

PEX (crosslinked polyethylene) tubing is specially designed plastic tubing with distinctive properties that make it ideal for radiant floor heating and plumbing systems.
What if the tubing leaks? Leaks are not a concern with PEX when the system is properly installed. With a life expectancy of more than 100 years, PEX tubing has withstood the most extensive tests in the industry for over 30 years.



Can the floor get too hot?

No. A properly designed radiant floor heating system will deliver comfortable warmth that's a pleasure to walk on - especially in bare feet! If additional heat is needed to satisfy the heat load, additional warmth can easily be added by installing radiant walls and/or ceilings.



We already have a concrete floor in the basement. Is it too late to install the tubing?

Not at all. The Quik Trak™ system is perfect for remodeling or retrofit projects. Quik Trak is installed over a plywood subfloor. It's great for putting radiant comfort in a basement or anywhere in your home.



Is it possible to just heat the ceramic tile floor in our master bath?

Absolutely. Radiant floor heating systems are flexible, meaning you can heat the entire home or only those rooms you want to heat. The bathroom is a popular area of the home to heat.
We're not ready to make this investment right now.


Can we rough the system in for the future?

Yes, the PEX tubing is installed in the slab during construction and you can complete the system later. This adds relatively little to the cost of a poured floor, but can add a great deal to the value of your home later.



If I have radiant floor heating, can I still have air conditioning?

Sure you can. In fact, separate heating and cooling systems really make the most sense. Radiant floor heating keeps the heat near the floor where it does the most good; and air conditioning ductwork is placed only where it is needed to cool your home. The result is optimal comfort and efficiency all year.

Muskoka Heating and Air conditioning, radiant heating, fireplaces, solar hot water. Bracebridge Ontario

Furnace FAQ's

I had an HVAC person over to look at my furnace that desperately needs to be replaced. The fellow was courteous, had a reasonable sounding price and was able to schedule us soon. Do I really need to get a second estimate if I'm happy with this person?



You don't have to do anything, it's your home and your money. However, we feel it is never a good idea to get expensive repair, replacement, or installation work done without getting at least two and preferably three opinions. Unless you have a pre-existing relationship with the individual company you should get more information.




I like my home to smell great so I cover my registers with fabric softener sheets!



Your registers are putting the heat and cool into your home. They are extremely restricted when covered with even specialty products designed for use in registers. When the air flow is restricted your furnace is struggling to find air. This will over work the motor on your furnace and can cause several internal problems. Register’s should be cleaned regularly and left to flow freely. This is similar to running your furnace with a plugged filter..no air, no efficiency, strain on equipment!

Muskoka Air Systems Bracebridge,Ontario

No matter what type of HVAC work you need, we can assure you of a first class job at competitive prices. We are fully licensed and insured for your protection. Located in Bracebridge, Ontario in the heart of Muskoka, we specialize in all phases of HVAC contracting. Whether it's a new installation, appliance replacement or just an emergency repair, we have the experience necessary to complete the job in a most efficient manner. Even if you're concerned about the current HVAC system in your home or cottage, we can help. We make it a point to provide expert HVAC services, which are always finished as quickly and carefully as possible.When you have a job that demands a qualified HVAC Contractor contact us at 705-645-5083 for a free estimate. Regardless of the size of the job, if you want the work done right, we are the contractors to call.
Serving Bracebridge and Muskoka area for 9 years, 23 years of HVAC experience.