14 TIMBER HOME LIVING October 2019
to the areas that will need hot water, so
it won’t have to travel far, wasting the
heat and defeating the purpose. Bo-
nus: On-demand systems are smaller
and less obtrusive than traditional
50-gallon tanks.
- Choose the right HVAC system.
The kind of system you need to heat
and cool your house depends on where
you live and what you’re building. For
example, if you’re planning a two-story
house in the southeastern part of the
country, consider splitting your systems,
installing a heat-pump to serve the sec-
ond floor and a gas unit on the ground
level (if gas is available to you). Why?
Gas systems heat more efficiently than
electric, and since heat rises, you really
only need the second-story unit to cool
the second level. When shopping for a
heat pump, look for one with a higher
SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ra-
tio) rating. The higher the number, the
more efficient the unit, and the more
money you can save. But be careful not
to buy more than you need! You can get
a 22-SEER unit, but it may be unneces-
sary. The upfront cost is higher without
significantly impacting the return on
your investment. To get the most bang
for your buck, look for a unit between
12 and 18 SEER, but be sure to check
with your local building department on
code requirements first.
If there are rooms that you don’t
use often, such as a guest bedroom or
a bonus room over the garage (or your
timber home is quite small), mini-split
units are an option for those occasional
or small-space HVAC needs. - Choose quality windows and
doors. Window and door manufactur-
ers are required to meet energy-code
guidelines, and products that are EN-
ERGY STAR rated are ideal. In most
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