Bob meets with Alex Alexander to check out the new gas furnace, then takes a trip to the shop to see how Alex uses a computerized plasma cutter to cut out the ductwork.

Ron Ford from Kohler Power Systems joins Bob to talk about the 22-kilowatt backup generator that has been installed. The generator is permanently connected to the home's main power distribution center and will keep important household appliances (including furnaces, refrigerator, security systems, and computers) running in the event of a power outage. Powered by natural gas and is insulated to minimize noise, the generator automatically supplies electricity in the event of a power outage without having to be switched on by the homeowner. It will even kick in if the homeowner is away from home.

Bob visits a Heat n' Glo showroom where Ross Morrison shows him a variety of direct-vent gas fireplaces. With a sealed glass chamber there is no interplay of of room air�no products of combustion will get into the room and it doesn't use any of the the room's already warm air for combustion. The fireplace inserts come with ceramic fiber logs. When the flames hit the logs they produce a nice glow. The logs are light, unbreakable, and last a lifetime. Ross shows Bob the 6000 TRXI, a premium model that is rated as a furnace. It has a beautiful masonry appearance inside and a pumps out enough BTUs to heat a 1200 - 1500 sq. ft. house. The fireplace also offers the option of turning the flames down or off or opening the climate control damper to cut the heat by one half.

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. It may seem like a bit of a stretch to think of housework as a money-saving endeavor but, believe it or not, dirt can cost you money. For instance, did you know that if enough dust builds up on your refrigerator coils it can burn out the cooling fan and overheat and destroy the motor? That s a very expensive repair or replacement you can avoid. Run a vent brush under the fridge to clean the coils and vacuum them thoroughly with the brush attachment each season. Be sure you unplug the fridge first, though! Vacuum baseboard heating units often to help them radiate more efficiently. Clean out your dryer vent every couple of months to help it dry your clothes faster. Dirt can hide where you least expect it. Unscrew the aerator from the end of your kitchen faucet and check for sediment that could be reducing your water flow. Make sure you get the benefit of the light you re paying for: dirty glass on porch and overhead light fixtures, sconces and even windows can actually block a lot of light. Dirty furnace filters make your heating system work harder and cost you more. Next time you re at the hardware store, buy a few extra filters and date them so you ll remember to change them regularly. If you have an electronic air filter, don t wait until the cleaning light is blinking red; frequent cleaning lowers costs. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Here's another great tip from BobVila.com. If the age-old question, what s that smell? has got you stumped, here s how to clear the air. First, know that household odors serve a purpose they are there to tell you that something is leaking, broken or needs to be cleaned or thrown out. Masking them with other scents or ignoring them won t make them go away and could actually be hazardous to your health. Try to localize the odor, troubleshoot possible causes and, if necessary, call a professional to rectify the problem before it gets worse. Once you ve taken care of the cause, there are some effective ways to clear up residual odors without using toxic chemicals. New citrus-based and bio-degrading air deodorizers will naturally digest odor-causing substances in trash cans and bathrooms and are easier on the lungs. To prevent household odors or deal with chronic ones, check for leaks under sinks and water-using appliances and have a plumber inspect your plumbing system to be sure it s properly vented and sealed. Change the filters in your air cleaner and furnace on a schedule and keep vent fans in the kitchen and bathrooms in working order. If you regularly have water in your basement or your crawlspace has an unlined dirt floor, you should consult a basement professional for moisture mitigation solutions to keep the mold and mildew at bay. Find out more at BobVila.com: The ultimate home improvement web site! BobVila.com 2008

Here s another great tip from BobVila.com. Making your home more airtight with new windows, insulation or a finished basement can actually hurt your energy efficiency if you don t also ventilate properly. Until very recently, homes were built to breathe. Insulation was seldom used, windows were single-pane and drafts were just part of life. Home heating systems had no problem finding oxygen for combustion, attics were naturally ventilated and fresh outdoor air always found its way in somehow. Today, in the age of double-paned windows, whole-house insulation and vapor barriers, we re also seeing moisture problems that lead to mold problems and poor indoor air quality. It only makes sense that if you seal the house and don t circulate the air, the humidity and gases that once flowed freely in and out are now trapped inside. And they wreak havoc on the home s structure, not to mention its inhabitants. Consult your HVAC contractor to see if your home needs mechanical ventilation. A fan can provide outdoor combustion air for your furnace. Good combustion helps it operate more cleanly and efficiently and keeps it from depressurizing your house. An air-to-air heat exchanger brings fresh air into circulation in your heating and air conditioning ducts. It preconditions the air before sending it in, so you re not decreasing your system s efficiency with cold air. Find out more at BobVila.com: the ultimate home improvement web site! 2008 BobVila.com

One of the home improvement projects for the Melrose home was to repair the chimney. The chimneys for the furnace and the fireplace were both in need of repair. The furnace chimney flue needed to be relined to meet code. A flexible stainless-steel liner will protect the home from fire danger or carbon monoxide poisoning. Jack Frederick of Frederick Gerraghty reviews some of the technology that went into the fireplace. The pipe used in this project had a double wall which protects the heat of the natural draft needed to properly vent chimneys. Three-foot, twist-lock lengths of pipe were assembled on site and dropped down from the top of the chimney. The fireplace chimney needed urgent attention both inside and out, so a new gas fireplace insert could go in the hearth opening. There was a lot of damage to the brick at the top of the chimney. The bricks were removed and replaced by Tim Martinson of Upside Down Chimney Sweeps. Some of the bricks were very loose and were removed and re-mortered.

Bob recaps the work done so far in the basement remodeling project in Melrose, Massachusetts, converting an old cluttered basement into a playroom for the homeowners' two children. A perimeter drain was dug and a triple pump installed in the basement to prevent any moisture problems. A vapor barier was also put in place over the foundation walls to channel water into the drainage ditch. A waterproof coating was applied to the concrete floor as well. Old plumbing fixtures were updated and the oil tank, heating ducts, and kitchen drain were all moved to make way for the playroom. The water tank was replaced with an on-demand hot water system that is more efficient. A Trane furnace and air filtering system were installed to maintain air quality in the home, which should help combat colds, allergies, and other illnesses. The old windows were also replaced with Energy Star-rated windows.

Jack Murdock from RMI and Craig Ryans from Vermont Castings of Mississauga, Ontario, demonstrate how simple it is to have gas appliances and heat in a rural location. With a 500 gallon underground or exterior tank, enough fuel is stored on site for most common uses and requires just a few fill ups a year. The stove being installed, a Vermont Castings product, uses a direct vent technology that draws no interior air to aid in combustion. The unit pulls air in from outside through a cylinder pipe and releases exhausts outside as a typical furnace would. Gas appliances and heat function during power failures, although electric fans that circulate the heat will not work without an auxillary power supply. The fireplace installed in the Modular Mountain Retreat project home will provide 30,000 BTUs of heat. A realistic ceramic grate burner and ceramic logs enhance the fireplace�s look.

Bob visits with Mark Lundquist of Burnham Hydronics to check out the boiler for the hot-water heating system being installed in the Mashpee, Massachusetts, affordable homes. This Burnham Spirit model is a medium efficiency, easy-to-maintain, sealed-combustion unit. Since it is sealed combustion, it pulls the air it needs directly from the outdoors and vents to the exterior without the use of a chimney or flue. This enables a homeowner to close off the space surrounding the boiler without worrying about available combustion air for the furnace. This model uses standard parts, so any repairs will be fast and easy. The boiler is made of cast iron and has a 25 to 40 year life expectancy. It operates at 84 percent efficiency, so the homeowner will use energy dollars wisely. Charlie Delvecchio of Cape Plumbing breaks out the cost of the boiler to about $1,500 and the baseboard tubing for another $6,000, for a total cost of $7,500 for installation of the home heating system. The domestic hot-water tank is linked to the heating system as hot water from the boiler passes through a coil in the insulated hot-water tank, warming the household water through energy exchange. If the water is maintained at the proper temperature just from this passive exchange, the boiler will never be called upon to heat water for faucets and showers.