Forced Hot Water Heating: 

This type of system has a boiler for a heat source and heats the water inside the boiler.  The heated water is sent up pipes throughout the house by either circulator pumps or zone valves.  Fins in the baseboard then disperse the heat throughout the house. 

Advantages:  Provides fairly even heat with little to no drafts.  It allows for domestic hot water production without a separate burner for the hot water tank.

Disadvantages:  The system does not allow for air conditioning, air humidification or air filtration without adding ductwork and an air handler.

Key System Features:

•  AFUE
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. AFUE is a rating that reflects how efficiently heating system converts fuel to energy.

•  CONDENSING BOILER
Condensing boilers are far more energy-efficient than conventional boilers, as they reuse heat that would otherwise be wasted.  Some heat generated by conventional boilers disappears up the flue in the form of hot waste gases.  But condensing boilers use some of the heat from the flue gases to heat water, making the boiler far more efficient.

•  OUTDOOR RESET CONTROL
Outdoor reset is a weather-responsive control. Based on changes in outdoor temperature, it automatically adjusts boiler water temperature. If the temperature is colder outside, it takes more heat to overcome its effect inside the building than if the weather is warmer! Outdoor reset is the same as turning down the boiler water aquastat in the spring and fall — automatically.  Outdoor reset is an essential part of advanced boilers. It makes it possible to have only as much stand-by heat as the weather demands. This increases energy efficiency and comfort. And outdoor reset makes it more likely to have the cool return water temperatures required for condensing boilers to perform up to efficiency expectations.

•  STACKABLE WATER TANK OPTION
Short on space?  Stack your boiler on top of your water tank.
 

Gas Fireplaces & Log Sets: 

Warm up your favorite room with the beauty of a Kingsman Gas fireplace.  Kingsman offers gas fireplaces and inserts to free standing stoves and gas log sets.

Advantages:  Gas fireplaces are an ideal choice for anyone who wants to enjoy the warmth of a fire without the chores of hauling wood and cleaning ashes.  Inserts and freestanding stoves provide supplemental and emergency heat.
 

• Kingsman Gas Fireplace
  Available in natural gas and propane, Kingsman quality fireplaces let you enjoy the beauty of glowing embers and dancing flames and up to 85% maximum efficiency.  Create an elegant and warm focal point in your home. Choose from a variety of decorative options to create your own distinctive appearance and be assured of complete safety, comfort and long lasting value from a manufacturer of wood and gas fireplaces with more than 30 years of experience.  Kingsman fireplaces have fully sealed combustion chambers with no pollution spillage to depreciate the indoor air quality of your home.
   
• Kingsman Freestanding Gas Stoves
  Kingsman quality stoves let you enjoy the beauty of glowing embers and dancing flames and up to 99.9% maximum efficiency.  Safe and efficient heating appliances with big choices in decorative options and accessories.  This product is well-suited for renovations and as a replacement of wood stoves.
   
• Kingsman Fireplace Inserts
  Inserts are complete units that fit into existing wood burning fireplaces. They require no additions such as glass doors or screens, and consist of a combustion chamber with gas logs. Inserts are available as a vented or direct vent appliance, and they utilize the existing chimney by using a flexible gas liner(s).
   
• Kingsman Gas Log Sets
  Enjoy the elegance and warmth of glowing embers and dancing flames around our oak log set. It is sure to be the focal point of your home.  Logs are available in propane or natural gas. They can be installed in approved fireboxes, masonry fireplaces and zero clearance fireplaces. Kingsman offers a variety of styles with different features and benefits.

Heat Pump Systems: 

A heat pump is an outdoor unit that warms your home in the winter and cools your home in the summer.  It doesn't burn fuel to create heat; it uses electricity to keep your home comfortable all year round.  Heat pumps work in conjunction with a furnace or an air handler.  There are two kinds of heat pump systems available; Ones that transfers the air through a duct system into your home and the other kind is a ductless system which uses a wall hung air handler to blow the warm or cool air into your home.  Ducted systems allow you to heat and cool many different rooms on different floors with one system.  Ductless systems only heat and cool the area around the wall hung air handler.  One ductless unit would not service multiple rooms.  The ductless units are ideal for family rooms, master bedroom suits, open concept homes, office spaces, and open commercial areas that need heat or cooling.

Advantages:  Heat pumps offer state of the art technology that gives you increased efficiency and comfort.

Disadvantages:  When the outside temperature falls below freezing, the heat pump can no longer cost effectively heat your home.

Key System Features For Central Heat Pump Systems:

•  ACCULINK™ COMMUNICATING SYSTEM
AccuLink™ Communicating System is an integrated and self-configuring system that makes it possible for your components to automatically talk to each other.

•  HSPF RATING
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor refers to the efficiency of the heating mode of heat pumps over an entire heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit.

•  SEER RATING
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a rating that measures the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air conditioner

•  TWO-STAGE
Two-stage heating and cooling is considered to be more efficient, because it operates at a low, energy-saving speed most of the time. However, on days when more heating or cooling is required, it switches to the next stage for maximum comfort.

•  VARIABLE SPEED OR ECM (ELECTRONIC COMMUTATED  MOTOR)
The fan motor inside higher efficiency indoor and outdoor units is designed to change its speed based on your home's requirements.
 

   American Standard Heritage Central Heat Pump Systems
   These heat pumps must be installed with a furnace and a ductwork system

• American Standard Heritage® 20 Communicating Heat Pump
• Automatically communicates and coordinates with your other system components via the AccuLink™ Communicating System
• Variable Speed - Runs quietly and evenly distributes warm air to every room with its variable speed fan motor
• Up to 19 SEER - Among the highest efficiency in the industry, significantly surpassing government efficiency standards and helping you save up to 56% on your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Up to 9 HPSF rating
• Contains two compressors that provide two-stage heating and cooling, running at an energy-saving 50% capacity most of the time, which may help lower your heating and cooling bills
  
  
• American Standard Heritage® 16 Communicating Heat Pump
• Automatically communicates and coordinates with your other system components via the AccuLink™ Communicating System
• Variable Speed - Runs quietly and evenly distributes warm air to every room with its variable speed fan motor
• Up to 17 SEER - Among the highest efficiency in the industry, significantly surpassing government efficiency standards and helping you save up to 50% on your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Up to 9.2 HPSF rating
• Contains a two-step Duration™ compressor with two-stage cooling which runs at 70% capacity most of the time, and steps up to the second stage on the hottest days
  
  
• American Standard Heritage® 15 Heat Pump
• Up to 16.5 SEER - Surpasses government efficiency standards, helping you save up to 50% on your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Up to 9 HPSF rating
• CoolSmart Rebates may be available for NSTAR and National Grid electric customers
• Many models meet efficiency requirements for a federal energy tax credit when installed as part of a complete system
   
  

   Bryant Evolution® Central Heat Pump Systems
   These heat pumps must be installed with a furnace and a ductwork system

• Bryant Heritage® 18 Seer Heat Pump
• Two-stage compressor
• Up to 18 Seer
• 9 HSPF
• Optional temperature, humidity and indoor air quality controller
  
  
• Bryant Heritage® 16 Seer Heat Pump
• Two-stage reciprocating compressor
• Up to 16 Seer
• 9 HSPF
• Optional temperature, humidity and indoor air quality controller
   

Hybrid Heating Systems: 

This type of system uses an air-to-air heat pump as the primary heat source and a fossil fuel forced hot air furnace, either oil, natural gas or propane fired as back up heat.   Oil or gas furnaces now come with an electronic commutated motor (ECM) which is much more efficient that a regular motor.  This motor drives the blower fan which uses less energy that a 100 watt light bulb.  Oil furnaces use a state of the art Riello oil burner with AFUE ratings of 87%.  The gas furnaces are condensing and have AFUE ratings of 95% and come in 1, 2 and 3 stages of heat.  Some models are fully modulating.  The heat pump also has 2-stages of heat and comes in 15, 16 or 20 SEER rating. 

Advantages:  A hybrid heating system has multiple stages of heat to optimize efficiencies.  You can choose between fossil fuel or the heat pump depending on fuel prices and electric rates.  The heat pump gives you air conditioning as well.

Disadvantages:  Hybrid heating systems require ductwork which takes up space in walls.  They tend to dry out the air.  A separate direct-fired hot water tank is required.  When the outside temperature falls below freezing, the heat pump can no longer cost effectively heat your home so you would need to rely on the fossil fuel furnace for heating.

Key System Features: 

•  ACCULINK™ COMMUNICATING SYSTEM
AccuLink™ Communicating System is an integrated and self-configuring system that makes it possible for your components to automatically talk to each other.

•  HSPF RATING
Heating Seasonal Performance Factor refers to the efficiency of the heating mode of heat pumps over an entire heating season. The higher the number, the more efficient the unit.

•  SEER RATING
Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, a rating that measures the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air conditioner

•  TWO-STAGE
Two-stage heating and cooling is considered to be more efficient, because it operates at a low, energy-saving speed most of the time. However, on days when more heating or cooling is required, it switches to the next stage for maximum comfort.

•  VARIABLE SPEED MOTOR(S)
The fan motor inside higher efficiency indoor and outdoor units is designed to change its speed based on your home's requirements.
 

American Standard Heritage Central Heat Pumps
These heat pumps must be installed with a furnace and a ductwork system

• American Standard Heritage® 20 Communicating Heat Pump
• Automatically communicates and coordinates with your other system components via the AccuLink™ Communicating System
• Variable Speed - Runs quietly and evenly distributes warm air to every room with its variable speed fan motor
• Up to 19 SEER - Among the highest efficiency in the industry, significantly surpassing government efficiency standards and helping you save up to 56% on your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Up to 9 HPSF rating
• Contains two compressors that provide two-stage heating and cooling, running at an energy-saving 50% capacity most of the time, which may help lower your heating and cooling bills
  
  
• American Standard Heritage® 16 Communicating Heat Pump
• Automatically communicates and coordinates with your other system components via the AccuLink™ Communicating System
• Variable Speed - Runs quietly and evenly distributes warm air to every room with its variable speed fan motor
• Up to 17 SEER - Among the highest efficiency in the industry, significantly surpassing government efficiency standards and helping you save up to 50% on your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Up to 9.2 HPSF rating
• Contains a two-step Duration™ compressor with two-stage cooling which runs at 70% capacity most of the time, and steps up to the second stage
  
  
• American Standard Heritage® 15 Heat Pump
• Up to 16.5 SEER - Surpasses government efficiency standards, helping you save up to 50% on your energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Up to 9 HPSF rating
• CoolSmart Rebates may be available for NSTAR and National Grid electric customers
• Many models meet efficiency requirements for a federal energy tax credit when installed as part of a complete system
   

Bryant Evolution® Central Heat Pumps
These heat pumps must be installed with a furnace and a ductwork system

• Bryant Heritage® 18 Seer Heat Pump
• Two-stage compressor
• Up to 18 Seer
• 9 HSPF
• Optional temperature, humidity and indoor air quality controller
  
  
• Bryant Heritage® 16 Seer Heat Pump
• Two-stage reciprocating compressor
• Up to 16 Seer
• 9 HSPF
• Optional temperature, humidity and indoor air quality controller
  

Hydro-Air Systems: 

A Hydro-Air system is a combination of a hot water and a hot air system.  This type of system incorporates a hot water boiler, either oil or gas fired, which heats water and sends it through pipes to a coil in an air handling unit.  As hot water heats up the coils, a blower then passes air over the coils. This air is then distributed throughout the home via a duct system. The rooms heat up very evenly because the air is heated to around 120ºF to 140ºF.  The air is also not dried out as much as a regular forced hot air system due to the regulated coil temperatures.  The same ductwork is also used to distribute cool air if an air conditioning unit is also attached.
 
Advantages:  Having hydro-air you can very easily add air conditioning to the system.  Your boiler can also do domestic hot water production.  You have the option to do radiant floor heating in bathrooms or kitchen areas and in some cases you can heat your garage. 

Disadvantages:  If you do not have forced hot air currently in your home, you will have to add it in either the attic or the basement.

Key System Features:

•  HEAT
Forced hot air heating, radiant floor heating for bathrooms and kitchens and unit heaters for garages are all available with a hydro-air system

•  AIR CONDITIONING
Any central air conditioning or heat pump unit can be added to the hydro-air system to give you cooling in the summer

•  DOMESTIC HOT WATER
An indirect fired water heater can be installed with the boiler to give you domestic hot water

•  RADIANT
Radiant floor heating is great for bathrooms and kitchen areas

•  GARAGE HEAT
A hydronic unit heater can run off the boiler to heat your garage

•  AIR FILTRATION
A central air filtration system can be installed on the air handler removing pollutants and allergens in your home's air which can do wonders for your health, and the quality of your life

•  HUMIDIFICATION
Industry experts state that keeping your home's humidity between 30-60% can help reduce the effects of many unwanted conditions. Excess humidity or too little humidity can not only lead to an unhealthy home but also cause permanent damage to your home and belongings.
 

Hydro Air Handlers we sell:

• First Company Hydro-Air Handler
• Includes the hot water heat coil

Air Handlers we sell:
require the addition of a heat coil for a hydro-air system:

• American Standard Variable Speed Air Handler
• Automatically communicates and coordinates with your other system components via the AccuLink™ Communicating System
• Variable Speed - Runs quietly and evenly distributes warm air to every room with its variable speed fan motor
   
• American Standard Air Handler
   
• Bryant Air Handler
   
• Daiken Air Handler
   

Radiant Floor Heating: 

A Radiant Heating system uses a boiler and circulates the hot water through long-lasting PEX tubes at very low temperatures underneath the flooring, usually ceramic tile or hardwood.  Radiant floor heating heats your body and the objects in the room – not the air.  The warmth stays down around the floor where it is needed the most.   Radiant heat has been said to be the best type of heat you can have. 

Advantages:  Radiant Heat allows for the most even, cost-efficient heat available today.  The home is heated without noise, drafts, dust, or high heating bills.  It uses hot water directly from the boiler.  Since no space is taken up by baseboards, there is more room for furniture that can be placed directly against the walls.

Disadvantages:  Radiant heat can take more time and money to retrofit into an existing home that already has finished ceilings and floors.  Radiant Heating does not allow for air conditioning, air humidification, or air filtration without adding ductwork and an air handler.

Key System Features:

•  IN-SLAB
In concrete before the slab is poured

•  IN-SUBFLOOR
Over the subfloor for remodeling projects and additions before the finished floor goes down

•  IN-JOIST
Between joists for remodels and additions, and for heating the upper floors of your new home
 

Radiant Floor Heating we sell:

• Uponor
• A true pioneer in the field, Uponor first unveiled crosslinked polyethylene tubing for potable water systems in the late 1960s. Thus, before others had entered the market, Uponor had thousands of feet of PEX-a working trouble-free in real-world installations. With 12 billion feet of Uponor PEX-a now installed worldwide, it has become the trusted solution for plumbing and heating systems for residential and commercial buildings, and multi-purpose plumbing and fire sprinkler systems for one- and two-family homes. Designed, installed and operated properly, Uponor PEX-a systems will last as long as the structures they inhabit.