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Show Citizen, Press, Review, Times, Wed., April 24, 1985 - Page 15 jake the right choice in selecting a high efficiency furnace ELLIS V.ALLRED JJ years past, homeowners 1" , ,ery little motivation to K their existing furnace. But Energy costs soaring, every affected. We ' is now being AerlCf the cost to heat our TiSe and triple in the last and the future promises five lioher rates. C homes in our area are Sets of times when "gas was p " There wasn't much concern 'insulation and double pane ab7 s and R Values. Furnaces fl" ten sized larger than the o ' f, eauired. If a 100,000 B.T.U. t was adequate to do the job, Smesa 150,000 B.T.U furnace 2 installed, just to make sure ewas very little concern about ? ,mnunt of gas consumed. It only S4 or $5 difference on the $20 gas bill you received But 5 energy costs going up and up, Aiency is the "name of the L" Consumers are looking for 5 to reduce that energy bill. What then is in the homeowner's interest to combat the high cost nf being comfortable? it practical to replace that 10, or furnace you now toVe and install one of the new high efficiency models? i Wat does the homeowner need to I w When selecting a new fur- - In the following paragraphs, I will try to answer these questions. High efficiency furnaces began to get serious attention . by manufacturers in the mid-1970'- 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 in-creased 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, reliability, maintenance and 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. 2. 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 pay back your investment. 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 and then check them out. Is he a local dealer who will still be han-dling the product you are buying next year? Does he have the back-up 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. 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 heating contractor can show you what you can expect with his particular product. Don't be afraid to get 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. This editorial was written by Ellis V. Allred, president of Contractors HeatingCooling Supply, Orem. They are the local distributor of Day & Night Heating and Air Conditioning products, a leader in the High Efficiency Furnace Market. Courtesy of Holmes Heating & Cooling, Inc., 687 East State Road, Lehi, 768-415- Day & Night Dealer. I yVy rutES GROUND COVL Our Material Is Of The Highest Quality, In Its j ' Natural Form. It Is Not "Slag." Maintenance Free Sawed Lava For Facing Landscaping Natural Red and Choco-- Ornamental Wind-- late Colors mills or Beautiful Weather- - Contract vanes from $17.95 up. Adds a little Country Charm Cut the Work and Cut the Cost COLOR COUNTRY LAVA ROCK CO. 1100 North 1200 West (Next to Miller Ski) Orem, Utah - Phone 224-628- 8 Cm(m&s hmdnw Plant and Garden Supply Now Open for your spring planting needs Bedding Plants fPerennials Vegetable Geraniums Plants Hanging Baskets GERANIUM f (valuable coupon)- - j j White Cascade 57799 1 ! Petunias and IU Pmvsies ,lat Expires April 30, 1985 j Cascade Shadows 383 S. 500 E. A hi. 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RAINBOW SAUfi Carpet and Furniture Cleaners ga DOUG'S I WATERWORKS f a STORE K j We're a new business now open in American Fork. ffJ Retail Plumbing Supplies I Service Work Available ; 136 No. West State Road next to Alpine Upholstery Call 756-584- 6 We specialize in customers ; If we don't have it, we will find it! ; Carpet cleaning expertise needed 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 wall-to-wa- ll carpeting. This cleaning 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 Prnhahlv thfi oldest and best 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. But, for long-lastin- g cleaning, and deep clean, I prefer hot water (steam or vapor) extraction method. It flushes out the shampoo residue, gets the deep-dow- n dirt, and in the lone run is the least 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 com-pany after the crew is on the job and has started to work. 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. 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. Un-fortunately, neither can remove all residue with this method. For a carpet that is old and deteriorating, shampoo is preferable to the hot water ex-traction cleaning process. It is also slightly lower in price in most areas of the country. 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. Choose an Expert The Fiber Cleaning Schools of America says that hot water (steam or vapor) extraction is a superior system for carpets and upholstery. But school staff members specifically warn that the quality of the cleaning job depends on the professional ability of the cleaning operators. These people must know how to handle the equipment and the proper chemicals to use, or they can botch the job. Many housewives - and even some businesses - have received shoddy work from inex-perienced outfits who pretend that they are professional carpet cleaners. How do you tell the good ones from the bad ones? First, do not be influenced by the size or wording of the ads in the yellow pages of your phone book. Check with your neighbors to see 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 " they can answer specific questions or give prices. I would be mighty cautious about any firm who makes promises or guarantees or even gives a firm price over the phone before he has seen the material he is attempting to clean. Ask Questions When the estimator comes to your home, ask him questions about |