In the last several posts, I’ve focused on home heating and the pros and cons of using heating oil versus natural gas. For some Bostonians, simply getting through the winter with any heat at all is their primary concern. A program that helps low-income households in Boston and other places around the country may lose [...]
In the last few posts, I’ve talked about the pros and cons of using oil for home heating in Boston. In addition to the rising cost of heating oil, and the issues that arise as a chimney deteriorates, there are some environmental issues that are unique to heating oil that homeowners should think about when [...]
Still Thinking About An Oil-to-Gas Conversion in Boston?
October 7th, 2011 · DIY Air Conditioning · DIY Blog · DIY Heating
Last week, I talked about how heating oil and natural gas compare from several different standpoints. We get a lot of interest from homeowners who would like to convert their Boston residential heating equipment from heating oil to natural gas. While there are many benefits of making such a conversion, there’s one consideration that many [...]
As the fall weather turns cooler, for some homeowners in Boston, heating their homes in winter is becoming a big concern. The cost of home heating oil continues to rise, and many people who use it are considering the switch from oil to gas. How do oil and gas compare, and what are the options [...]
Boston Furnace Replacement Considerations
September 23rd, 2011 · DIY Air Conditioning · DIY Blog · DIY Heating
The decision to replace a furnace can be difficult. If the decision to replace hasn’t already been made by circumstance, cost is the usually primary factor in the decision. Can you afford to replace your heating equipment, or can you get one more season out of the old furnace? Boston homes need heating equipment that [...]
Now is a great time to get your high-efficiency furnace tuned up for winter heating. Boston Standard Plumbing & Heating offers these tips to help you get ready for the colder fall weather. High efficiency furnaces typically take in fresh air and exhaust to the outside. High efficiency furnaces can be vented through pipes at [...]
Earthquakes In Boston? Could (And Did!) Happen!
September 2nd, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Heating · DIY Plumbing
Last week, there was a whole lotta shakin’ goin’ on as an earthquake centered in Virginia rattled much of the East Coast, including Boston. No significant damage to buildings was reported here, but infrequently, earthquakes can and do happen along the East Coast. When they do occur, it’s a good idea to have plumbing and [...]
New Water Heater? Boston Homeowners Get A Tax Credit For That
March 17th, 2011 · DIY Blog · DIY Heating · DIY Plumbing · Water Heaters
As I mentioned last week, the federal government has extended the tax credit available for the installation of non-solar water heaters in Boston homes. The credit, which applies only to certain high-efficiency water heaters will put as much as $300 back in your pocket, if you claim the credit by December 31, 2011. What qualifies? [...]
Boston Heating And Cooling Tax Credits Are Still Available
March 10th, 2011 · DIY Air Conditioning · DIY Blog · DIY Heating
Homeowners haven’t totally missed the boat on last year’s home heating tax credits. Boston home heating can hit you right where it counts – in the pocketbook – so programs designed to reduce the cost of modernizing your Boston home heating system are welcome, no matter how much they cover. This year, the generous $1,500 [...]
In my last post, I talked about winterizing a property that will be vacant/unheated over the winter. In this post, I’ll talk about how to drain and winterize a boiler-based heat system in your Boston home. If you have a boiler, you’ll need to turn off the heating source and drain the water from the [...]