We are your Mid-Michigan Area Boiler Specialists.

Radiant Heat Versus Forced Air Heat

Comparing baseboard heaters to forced-air systems involves considerations of installation costs, monthly fuel costs, ease of construction and other factors. A big factor in your decision may be the question of how much is a forced-air furnace going to cost compared to a boiler with baseboard heating or in-floor radiant heating. If you are renovating your home, your existing heating system may determine what type of heat you continue to use. If you already have an adequate duct system for a furnace, you are likely to choose a new furnace. If your home already has baseboard hot water heating, then a new boiler will make the most sense. But, for new construction or a complete home renovation, you can make the decision without regard to what you already have. Following are some pros and cons of each type of system:

Furnaces are usually cheaper to install than boilers, although the equipment cost of each is determined by many factors, including energy efficiency. A high efficiency condensing furnace can cost more than a slightly less efficient boiler.

Radiant heat systems run almost silently. Forced-air systems are relatively noisy.

Boiler systems are easier to maintain than furnace systems. There are no filters to change and no ducts to clean. You don’t need to worry about things like blocking vents with furniture or keeping doors between rooms open to allow adequate airflow.

Hot water systems are extremely reliable and last for many years, but if they ever have leaks they can cause a lot more damage to your home’s structure and furnishings than a leaking forced-air duct can.

Radiant systems provide better indoor air quality than forced air systems. There is no air blowing dust and allergens around with a boiler. Boilers do not dry the air out in winter like a forced-air system does.

There is no danger of freezing with a forced-air system. With a boiler you have to worry about equipment and pipes freezing and breaking during an extended power outage in winter.

Zoning is easier in radiant heating systems than in forced-air systems.

Many HVAC contractors are more familiar with furnaces than boilers, so finding reliable maintenance and repairs may be easier with a forced-air system.

Boiler Service & Upkeep

At Carey Plumbing & Heating, Inc., we specialize in keeping our customers comfortable. Having your heating system serviced will improve its efficiency, reliability, and longevity. We won’t just inspect your boiler system, we actually clean the boiler and test the safety devices.

• We specialize in steam boilers, hot water boilers, baseboard, and radiant heat.
• We service all manufacturers.
• We install mid efficiency 83% cast iron boilers to high efficiency 96%
condensing boilers.
• We install a high performance air elimination system on all our boiler installations.
• We perform load calculations to ensure that the boiler is sized correctly.
• We install heating emitters from baseboard to radiant heating panels.
• We will service and maintain your existing heating system.
• We will troubleshoot and repair a problem heating system.
• We will perform backflow prevention testing.

Commercial Boiler Testing

In the State Of Michigan it is mandated that boilers be tested on a yearly basis. This testing ensures the safety of the system.

On commercial boiler systems we will set you up for automatic CSD-1 boiler testing as mandated by the State of Michigan.

  Fuel Oil Service

At Carey Plumbing & Heating, Inc., we continue to service and install fuel oil heating systems as we have since 1939. Having your heating system serviced will improve the efficiency, reliability, and longevity of your equipment.

• We will perform yearly maintenance on your fuel oil heating system.
• We will troubleshoot and repair problem systems.
• We can perform combustion analysis on your heating system.
• We stock repair parts for your fuel oil heating system.

Carey Plumbing & Heating is one of the only companies in the area that services fuel oil heating systems. It really is important to get these systems serviced on a regular basis in order to keep them running smoothly and safely.

Note: A basic service call for a furnace cleaning is $82.00. This charge covers the first hour of work on site. If your system has not been serviced in several years, it has most likely built up soot and dirt that needs to be cleaned before servicing the unit can actually begin. Depending on the condition of the unit, it could take up to 4 – 5 hours to complete the cleaning and service which will cost. At $82.00 per hour, the cost adds up quickly. -Ouch

It is much better to get your system serviced yearly. It will be cleaner and will take much less time to service. Just saying.

There are so many choices for Gas Log Fireplaces for your home.

Do you have an old fireplace where you would like to install gas? Are you remodeling or adding on to your home and want to install a fireplace? Do you have an nice deck or porch area where a fireplace would make a lovely addition to make you space useable for a longer season? We can help you with that.

Do you already have a gas log fireplace but it is not quite working the way it should? We can service your unit, whatever the issue may be. Do you need a new log set? Do you want to switch from Propane to Natural Gas?

Our techs are here to help you choose a fireplace or to ensure your existing unit is working at peak performance.

The purpose of preventative maintenance is to keep your HVAC system up and running all season long with no surprise breakdowns, while operating at top efficiency.

Benefits of annual maintenance:

• Lower energy bills
• Fewer repairs
• Lower chance of a catastrophic breakdown
• Longer equipment life
• Safer equipment operation

Note: A failing HVAC system does more than cost a lot of money to repair; it can also endanger your family. For instance, if the furnace develops a crack in the heat exchanger, carbon monoxide gas can escape and poison the air you breathe. Also, electric HVAC systems can develop a short circuit, which is a serious fire hazard if ignored. Clearly, your family’s safety is very much a reason to schedule annual HVAC system maintenance.

Every central heating and cooling system should be serviced by a heating and cooling professional twice yearly – at the beginning of cooling season and the beginning of heating season.

For furnaces, your service technician should:

Perform any necessary cleaning, including the heat exchanger and burner.

Inspect the venting system and confirm that it is operating properly.

Check for soot, leaks, rust, corroded electrical contacts and frayed wires.

For heat pumps and air conditioners, your service technician should:

Inspect the indoor evaporator coil for cleanliness and clean if necessary.

Inspect the furnace or air handler blower assembly for proper operation and cleanliness.

Inspect all electrical connections.

Check the system’s refrigerant level.

Check the operation of the compressor and outdoor fan motor.

If the outdoor unit’s refrigerant level is low, your service technician should check for leaks and repair the leak or replace the leaking component – not just add more refrigerant.