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Show Citizen, Press, Review, Times, Wed., April 24, Make the right choice in selecting a high efficiency furnace By ELLIS V. ALLRED In the years past, homeowners have had very little motivation to replace their existing furnace. But with energy costs soaring, every American is now being affected. We all have seen the cost to heat our homes double and triple in the last Gve years and the future promises even higher rates. Most homes in our area are products of times when "gas was cheap." There wasn't much concern about insulation and double pane windows and R Values. Furnaces were often sized larger than the home required. If a 100,000 B.T.U. furnace was adequate to do the job, often times a 150,000 B.T.U. furnace was installed, just to make sure. There was very little concern about the amount of gas consumed. It only made $4 or $5 difference on the $20 per month gas bill you received. But with energy costs going up and up, efficiency is the "name of the game." Consumers are looking for ways to reduce that energy bill. What then is in the homeowner's best interest to combat the high cost of being comfortable? Is it practical to replace that 10, 20 or furnace you now have and install one of the new high efficiency models? What does the homeowner need to know when selecting a new furnace? R0WBERRY In the following paragraphs, I will try to answer these questions. High efficiency furnaces began to get serious attention by manufacturers in the Furnaces manufactured prior to that time had ratings in the 58 to 65 range. With new technology and innovations the market began to see furnace efficiency ratings boosted to the 70 and 75 range and now with further developments, that efficiency range has increased into the 80's and 90's. These ratings represent a furnace's Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), a rating method developed by the Department of Energy. AFVE test procedures are somewhat akin to automobile mileage ratings, and not only measure a furnace's steady-stat- e efficiency, but also take into account average consumer usage conditions which occur over the course of a year. There are at least seven major manufacturers of high efficiency furnaces on the market today. Each have their own way to achieve increased efficiency levels, some more costly than others. Many of today's offerings fail to adequately address such important factors as first cost, installed cost, payback, maintenance and reliability, warranty - all important elements in your purchasing decision. The consumer needs to know that when they do decide to change the "old furnace" they are spending their money in the most cost effective way, without sacrificing comfort. The following points may help you in making the right decision. 1. High efficiency furnace retail prices can range from $800 to $2,000, depending on the size and brand. mid-1970'- The installed price for taking out your old furnace and furnishings and installing a new one can vary from $1,200 to $3,500. The reason for such a wide range is "that some brands do not require any special installation, while others require special venting, a condensate drain pipe that connects in with your sewer drain system, vibration isolators and duct insulation to reduce noise. 3. The payback needs to be realistic. Will the savings in fuel costs return your investment to you within three to seven years or are you looking at 12 to 15 years to get back your investment in fuel savings? Often you will find that the higher priced furnace, even though it may also have a higher efficiency rating, will require a longer time to back investment. pay your Therefore, the highest efficiency, what with its higher installation costs, is not always your best buy. 4. In the area of reliability and maintenance, work with a heating contractor who knows the product he is selling. Ask him for references 2. Finally - yes it is practical to replace your old furnace with a new high efficiency unit. You can realistically expect to reduce your fuel consumption by a substantial amount. This is a proven fact. Don't be misled by those who make outlandish claims. A reliable healing contractor can show you what you can expect with his particular product. Don't be afraid to gel competitive bids and check out the payback you can expect. It is a big investment, but in these times of high fuel costs it is definitely worth it. Hot Water Extraction Another quickie method that leaves a good looking carpet is the hot or cold rinses. These are probably the most economical, and experienced operators can do an excellent job on carpets that are not too soiled. A rinse is basically just that. It rinses off the top soil and leaves the surface of the carpet looking nice for a short while. By WANDA YORK According to an independent research survey, the hot water (steam or vapor) extraction method was found superior to all other methods for cleaning most This cleaning carpeting. method works on the principle of injecting hot water deep into the carpet - along with chemicals - and almost immediately vacuuming them up (along with the dirt). There are other cleaning methods which cost less, but they do not clean as thoroughly or as deeply as the hot water extraction or vapor systems. Oldest Methods Probably the oldest and best known is the "shampoo" or the "conventional method." This is excellent if you need a quick clean for a party or wedding and you want your carpets looking nice. The shampoo is put on with different kinds of scrubbers and cleans the tips of the fibers. But it leaves the deep dirt and shampoo residue below the surface. This means that the carpet will soil again more quickly. And, if there is much deep dirt, it can be cutting into the fibers at the base everytime someone walks over it. It is this deep dirt cutting the base of the fibers that causes most of the wear in your carpet. Many operators claim that they can pick up the shampoo or chemical residues with a vacuum. Some vacuum while it is wet, ome vacuum after it is dry. Unfortunately, neither can remove all residue with this method. For a carpet that is old and wall-to-wa- ll -- & Pest Control 1717 W.8OS0. Provo 373-853- 7 g cleaning, and But, for I clean, prefer hot water deep (steam or vapor) extraction method. It flushes out the shampoo dirt, residue, gets the deep-dow- n and in the long run is the least expensive since carpets do not have to be cleaned as often. As a good rule of thumb, your carpets should be cleaned at least once a year. long-lastin- Wind- mills Beautiful Weather- vanes from $17.95 up. Adds a little Country Charm Cut the Work and Cut the Cost COLOR COUNTRY LAVA ROCK CO 1 100 North 1200 West (Next to Miller Ski) Orem. Utah - Phone 224-628- Why buy new furniture or why a reupholster? Clean for just fraction of the cost. most Cascade Shadows Plant and Garden Supply Now Open for your spring planting needs Vegetable Plants Geraniums Perennials Hanging Baskets GERANIUM (valuable coupon) White Cascade Petunias and Pansies If the estimator is a professional and knows his business, most likely the cleaning crew will be neat, professional and knowledgeable. These people obviously will have a pride in their company and will do the best professional job possible. Lcc Nicholas 'Cascade Shadows . 383 S. 500 E. Am. Fork nnPix?fiessional Raingutter 'Service Inc MASTER CARE years experience in 10 (Over Deep extraction steam cleaning is research proven as the safest, process cleaning carpets today. FREE Insurance Residential & Commercial Work Done Service & INSTALLATION) 3215 S. 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Retail Plumbing Supplies Service Work Available 136 No. West State Road next to Alpine Upholstery Call Carpet and Fumiturt Cleaners 8 SORE GTO TUF5F of RAINBOW 1 O 3 Carpet Cleaning 756-606- 1 CONTINUOUS SEAMLESS ALUMINUM CUTTER and MAINTENANCE DOWN SPOUT-N- Commwciai Performance and quality unconditionally guaranteed. complete Professional Quality w Rwidentiil CLEANING! most 1 Expires April 30, 1985 Truck mounted Mm Genii advanced chemicals and cleaning techniques. 8 WATERWORKS Deep Extraction Upholstery Cleaning Sawed Lava For Facing Natural Red and Chocolate Colors or Contract Bedding Plants acids, alkalines, carpet construction and fiber identification. He should have a good working knowledge of these basic things. If he does not, perhaps you should get another estimate. It is a little late to judge a company after the crew is on the job and has started to work. Steam Genie the industry's Ornamental Market. Courtesy of Holmes Heating & Cooling. Inc., 687 East State Road. Lehi. Day & Night Dealer. QUALITY STATEWIDE SERVICE SINCE 1974 use Free Maintenance Landscaping HeatingCooling Supply, Orem. They are the local distributor of Day & Night Heating and Air Conditioning products, a leader in the High Efficiency Furnace I We Our Material Is Of The Highest Quality, In Its Natural Form. It Is Not "Slap." This editorial was written by Ellis V. Allred, president of Contractors 1 Choose an Expert The Fiber Cleaning Schools of We Offer Full Home America says that hot water (steam And Yard Care or vapor) extraction is a superior system for carpets and upholstery. But school staff members Trees & Shrubs specifically warn that the quality of Fruit Trees the cleaning job depends on the Yard Spraying professional ability of the cleaning operators. These people must know Lawn Fertilizing how to handle the equipment and Weed Control the proper chemicals to use, or they Sterilizing can botch the job. Many housewives All phases of Pest - and even some businesses - have received shoddy work from inexand Insect Control perienced outfits who pretend that Guaranteed they are professional carpet Satisfaction cleaners. Free Inspection How do you tell the good ones from the bad ones? is First, do not be influenced by the shampoo deteriorating, Residential preferable to the hot water ex- size or wording of the ads in the traction cleaning process. It is also yellow pages of your phone book. Commercial slightly lower in price in most areas Check with your neighbors to see of the country. if their carpet cleaner does a good job. If they are satisfied, chances are he will do a good job for you. But if you can't find a good referral, there are several other ways to judge a cleaning company. Start by asking for an estimate. Most professional carpet cleaners prefer to see your carpet before Gladiolus Bulbs they can answer specific questions Onion Sets or give prices. I would be mighty Seed Potatoes cautious about any firm who makes Fertilisers promises or guarantees or even gives a firm price over the phone before he has seen the material he CLLjAJ Garden Shop is attempting to clean. for all Gardner PHONE Ask Questions Needs & Questions When the estimator comes to your 768-920- 1 l.ir (In. M... s(i...).ir Mil. home, ask him questions about Page 15 AMrCES GROUND Carpet cleaning expertise needed &S0NS Termite and then check them out. Is he a local dealer who will still be handling the product you are buying next year? Does he have the backup of a local wholesaler who carries parts and honors warranties, if needed? Is he selling you a product that is produced by a major manufacturer who will still be in business in years to come. 1985 - We specialize in If 756-584- 6 customers f" we don't have it, we will find it! - |