According to the US Census Bureau, over 60% of the homes in Cheshire County are still using oil for home heating, and the stats for nearby counties are equally as dirty. Home Heating oil is, hands down, the highest carbon footprint of any common home heating system.
In the 1800s, most homes in Cheshire County relied on wood for heating, shifting to coal by the late 1800s and early 1900s. By the 1930s, home heating oil became popular, leading many houses to be updated with oil-burning hot air furnaces or oil boilers that distributed hot water through baseboards or radiators.
Although many homes had their heating systems upgraded in the 1970s and 80s, most continued to use the existing ductwork or piping, resulting in little change in heating technology over the past century.
One significant shift, however, is the increased focus on cooling compared to the 70s and 80s. As these aging 40- to 50-year-old systems now require upgrades, homeowners are looking for ways to retrofit for air conditioning.
Consider this: would you rely on technology from 40 or 50 years ago for any other appliance in your home? Or even from 20 years ago?
If you have an oil-fired boiler, note that there are no direct boiler replacements that provide cooling. You’ll need to add mini-splits anyway. And if you’re investing in mini-splits for cooling, why not opt for cold climate heat pumps? They can heat your home much more efficiently than an oil boiler.
While some companies may attempt to install central air conditioning units atop oil furnaces, most A/C coils can’t handle the heat generated by oil furnaces, and the ductwork in our area is often not sized properly for A/C coils. (If you have a propane or natural gas furnace with insulated ductwork, we can likely install a Mitsubishi Hyper Heat Pump.)
Additionally, many oil furnaces in Keene and across New Hampshire and Vermont operate on a single zone. This means that to warm your favorite chair, you need to heat the entire house—imagine if turning on your bathroom light also illuminated every light in the house. It’s incredibly inefficient.
If you’re looking for someone to repair your oil furnace or install a new oil boiler because that’s what the previous owners did in the 70s, consider a better option. A heat pump offers the lowest carbon footprint of any heating system available, while also providing air conditioning, air filtration, and dehumidification.
With a Mitsubishi Electric Ductless mini-split heat pump, expertly installed by Bergeron Mechanical Systems, you’ll enjoy year-round comfort and, most importantly, peace of mind. You’ll know you chose the cleanest, quietest, safest, and most efficient system on the market, backed by the company with the highest Google ratings and the best warranty around!
