The majority of homes have separate heating systems for heating the home and for heating hot water. There are homes, however, that have systems where both of these tasks are combined into one unit, such as homes that have an oil-fired furnace. In these systems, the furnace pulls double-duty by heating the home and by doubling as a tank-less water heater. If you have this type of set-up in your home, or perhaps are considering installing an oil-fired furnace like this, there are several things that you should keep in mind.

Advantages

An obvious advantage to this type of furnace system is that you will have just one appliance to worry about. As long as the furnace is functional, you’ll have not only a steady supply of heat for your home, but also a continual supply of hot water. And you will not be paying to heat water that may sit unused in a traditional hot water tank, since this system is an ‘on demand’ system that heats water only as needed. Very little heat is lost from this type of system, and it is quite energy efficient. In fact, this is one of the ‘greener’ choices when it comes to outfitting your home with a heating system.

Drawbacks

For all of its convenience and efficiency, this system does have its share of drawbacks, too. This type of water heater does not usually produce as much hot water per minute as a traditional water heater will. Many plumbers will use a 1/2″ diameter outlet pipe in lieu of the traditional 3/4″ outlet pipe that is used on traditional water heaters to help lessen this problem. If you have a large family where two or more people may need to use hot water at once, a sudden drop in water temperature may be experienced. This can be counter-balanced, however, by adding a supplemental heating tank that will work to moderate the supply of water and the temperature. Nonetheless, this extra tank does add to the initial expense of installing the system.

Another problem that is oftentimes experienced with this type of set-up is the phenomenon of overly hot water. Since the water is heated to the same temperature as your furnace, it is not uncommon to see hot water coming through a faucet that is as hot as 160 degrees. This very hot water can be dangerous, particularly if you have young children in the home. And while lowering the temperature of the furnace will also lower the temperature of the water, it can also result in the furnace operating less efficiently and in the home becoming uncomfortably cool in the winter months. A mixing valve may need to be installed that will allow cold water to be mixed with the hot water to achieve a more desirous water temperature.

As a homeowner, weighing both the pros and cons of installing this type of system is important. An oil-fired furnace is not for everyone, but it can definitely save you some cash by way of reduced energy bills on down the road.

Author Bio: Fiona Baron is a writer who loves working on her home. If you need a Sacramento HVAC contractor to work on your furnace or air conditioner, visit Newmans Heating and Cooling or call 916-344-6625 and they’ll do a great job! They also specialize in Sacramento heat pumps.

Category: Home Management
Keywords: furnace replacement, furnace installation, oil fired furnace