What interesting weather we are having, a few days of rain and then in the middle will be this gorgeous sunny day. I was watching the weather report on Global BC the other morning, and our favorite Global TV senior Meteorologist Mark Madryga was saying that this summer will definitely be a HOT one. Though after visiting the Global website I see rain predicted for all of next week ! Well it is only May.. and we still have great sunny days in June, July and August.

Rainy Days in Vancouver

For us the heat in Vancouver means Air Conditioning !!

There are many types of air conditioning systems that you can have installed in your home. I will review some of these in future blog posts. There are  many factors will determine which type of system is best for you, and of course you want to make sure you get the most appropriate product.

Papa Plumbing and Heating will make the whole process a lot easier for you. Our Plumbing and cooling experts are always on hand to answer whatever questions you may have and we’ll keep you in the loop from start to finish. If you’re having problems with your current system, we’ll give you an accurate rundown of your repair and replacement options.

So give us a call if you have any air conditioning needs, whether you are in Vancouver, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Surrey, Delta, White Rock.. I know I missed some cities but we travel from Hope to Horseshoe Bay !

So don’t be left in the Vancouver summer heat – Let Papa cool you down – ya I was just waiting to say that !!

Stay tuned as we go through some air conditioning options in your home with our air conditioning experts !

Here it is, In Vancouver a  coupon  from Vancouver’s plumbing and heating company: Papa Plumbing

Vancouver Plumbing and Heating Coupon

Papa Dale and Papa Manj from Vancouver plumbing and heating company worked on this Raypak boiler system today in Vancouver. Here are before and after pictures of the Raypak boiler install. Papa Plumbing and Heating Ltd is also able to service and provide any repairs for your boiler system.

Raypak Boiler Repair and Install

Raypak Boiler Repair and Install

Technicians Sony and Wayne of Vancouver plumbing and heating company have been busy putting in this Viessmann high efficiency boiler system in Vancouver. This particular system has 12 heating zones.

Viessmann Boiler Surrey Burnaby Vancouver

So here we are.. Papa Plumbing on CTV News… it was so exciting when it actually aired !

Yesterday we were fortunate to have CTV’s Chris Olsen and his camera man Steve on job site during one of our high efficiency furnace installs. He will be airing this story sometime next week. The main topic was furnaces and the regulations being placed by the Government on Dec 31,2009. It was great meeting Chris and Steve and we are excited to see the final version next week.

Inside of a High Eff Furnace

Chris wiith Glen from Carrier Canada

Action Shot

Olsen on Papa's Side

Attractive Heat Pump

Group Shot

Our first article for the online BBB Newsletter, made Papa Proud.

Choosing the Right Furnace

As fall begins, many households are preparing for the cold blast of the winter season that lies ahead.  Typically around the fall season, households begin to get their furnaces serviced.  It is recommended that your furnace or heating system be fully inspected once a year by a certified technician.  The average lifespan of a furnace is between 18-22 years.

The majority of households have forced air heating systems. Forced air uses air to transfer heat through your house via ductwork, vents and plenums. The type of forced air system that we will review in this article is furnaces.

When choosing the right furnace, there are a number of factors involved.  It is important to choose the right type of heating system for your home to conserve energy and money.

To start, a certified technician will visit your home to do a Heat Loss Calculation.  This determines the size (BTU) and type of furnace needed for adequate distribution of heat throughout your home. The furnace motor must also be considered.   A standard motor, when used all year long, will use more electricity than an average refrigerator. Electricity can be reduced considerably by using a variable-speed fan which uses a DC current.  Use of this fan will also better distribute heat through your house.

Until Dec 31, 2009 the consumer has a choice between a mid efficiency or high efficiency furnace. A mid efficiency furnace has an AFUE rating of roughly 80%, whereas, a conventional gas furnace usually has a rating of  60%.  Mid efficiency furnaces use B vent (metal chimney) to vent flue gases. High efficiency furnaces usually range between 90-98% efficiency. They use 636 PVC piping (plastic piping) to vent the gases outside through the side of a wall.  The holes should not be drilled near any openings such as window, doors, etc..   The high efficiency furnaces are awarded with the Energy Star Symbol.  As an incentive to upgrade, the federal government is offering rebates for high efficiency furnace installations.  Effective January 1, 2010, only high efficiency furnace installations will be permitted.

When obtaining quotes for your furnace, one should verify that the contractor is registered with the Gas Safety Authority of BC and ensure that the senior technicians are certified gas fitters.  It is also advantageous to refer to the BBB website to source reputable companies with a proven track record.

For more information, please visit the following:

Federal Rebates: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/retrofit-homes/retrofit-qualify-grant.cfm

Information on Heating Systems: http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/residential/personal/heating.cfm?attr=4

Papa Plumbing, Heating & Drainage Ltd, www.www.papaplumbing.ca/blog, www.www.papaplumbing.ca