Natural gas is a popular form of home heating in New York, but many people don’t know that this heat source can potentially be catastrophic. Below, we discuss 5 surprising things you might not have known about natural gas heating, how ductless HVAC is a better choice, and how Jones Services can help you get reliable, affordable, and clean home heating with a ductless heat pump.
1. It Could Be Making You Sick
Slow gas leaks and carbon monoxide buildup may not be enough to trigger any alarms, but it could be enough to make you and your family ill. You may experience headaches, nausea, fatigue, brain fog, and other debilitating symptoms that interfere with daily life seemingly without cause. The only way to completely prevent a natural gas leak is to stop using a natural gas system to heat your home. Otherwise, you will always be assuming some degree of risk, no matter how small.
2. Older Heaters May Have Outdated Safety Features
Furnaces that use natural gas are typically equipped with multiple safety features to reduce the risk of gas leakage and carbon monoxide poisoning. However, furnaces and older homes that have not yet been renovated may lack updated safety features. Sensors designed to warn you may no longer be able to detect potential issues, or degraded materials may be allowing more toxic fumes to enter your home then it did when the heating system was first installed. If you live in an older home with a natural gas heating system, make sure to have an experienced HVAC contractor evaluate your system for out-of-date features and make any repairs that are necessary.
3. Gas Heating Systems Use Air Filters Too
Most gas heating systems use the same ducts to transport warm air generated by a gas furnace throughout a home that central air conditioning systems use. This means that the system also draws air through the return air vent before heating it and redistributing it throughout your home. You will still need to change your air filters monthly, if not more frequently during the winter due to poorer air quality or if you have pets that shed.
4. There Are Two Toxic Gases to Worry About
Many people assume that they only need to worry about natural gas leaks when they use this type of heating. Breathing natural gas is toxic and potentially deadly, so an additive is used to give the gas an unpleasant odor so dangerous leaks may be noticed more easily.
However this is not the only type of harmful gas that you need to be concerned about if you have a natural gas heating system. You also need to be concerned about the buildup of carbon monoxide, which is a deadly gas caused by the incomplete burning of fuel sources. Carbon monoxide does not have an odor and is only detectable by a functional and properly installed carbon monoxide detector.
5. Natural Gas Is Expensive
Many people erroneously tout natural gas as the least expensive form of heating your home in New York. While the cost per gallon of natural gas may not seem too high at first glance, this can add up if you have a large tank to fill. You will also need to budget for the large expense in the fall, before winter really gets underway.
The cost of completely filling your tank may be several hundred dollars or more depending on the price of gas and the size of your tank. There may also be minimums that the gas company imposes, meaning that you must purchase a minimum number of gallons of gas in order to complete the transaction. If you are struggling financially, coming up with this much money at once may not be feasible.
Say Goodbye to Gas & Try a Ductless Heat Pump Today
Natural gas heating isn’t really all that it’s cracked up to be and its reputation is much better than its actual performance and affordability. A ductless heat pump also doubles as an air conditioner and provides you with clean, energy efficient home heating that you can rely on even in the harshest of New York’s winters.
At Jones Services, we can help you decide if switching to ductless heating is the right move.
Contact our office today to get answers to your important questions about ductless heating or to book an appointment for one of our experienced certified HVAC technicians to come to your home and calculate a quote for how much you can save per year by switching to ductless. Call now by dialing 845-295-3887.
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