Client data reveals lower oil costs with System 2000

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks 
FATHER AND SON TEAM — Dave Harbison, owner of Harbison Plumbing and Heating, points out the energy-saving System 2000 oil burner that provides heat and unlimited hot water on demand. Behind him in the showroom is his son Jon Harbison.
By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
    HOULTON — David Harbison said after one year, his customer surveys confirm anywhere from a 25-50 percent cut in home heating oil with the System 2000. As owner of Harbison Plumbing and Heating, he said the oil-fired heating system provides unlimited domestic hot water on demand with several energy saving components. “We’ve asked customers who have installed the System 2000 to share the number of gallons they used after one year of operation. We have a pretty good data base. Our customers have saved no less than 25 percent and as much as 50 percent on their fuel. So, that’s a considerable savings,” explained Harbison.
    The high-performance technology emerged from Energy Kinetics — a New Jersey-based company formed in 1979. The energy-efficient heating and hot water system can accommodate hot air, baseboard or radiant heating systems through a hydro-air process. Harbison, a System 2000 dealer since 1996, said his market runs from Houlton to Mars Hill, Danforth and Millinocket and it’s growing in popularity. “It’s quiet, oil-efficient and provides unlimited hot water,” Harbison added.
How it works
    “System 2000 provides heat and hot water on demand so unless anything is calling for heat or hot water, the burner or boiler does not run. That’s certainly part of the savings and there are a lot of little things that add into it. The control system is part of the energy savings and the amount of water the boiler holds. It’s what’s called a low-mass boiler — low mass-high efficiency. So we’re transferring energy quickly. We’re not heating up a 100 gallon storage tank and then sending water into the home. We’re heating it as fast as it comes back to the boiler,” he explained.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
A NEW FLUE — Part of the System 2000 installation at the Pioneer Times involved lining the chimney with a flue. Jeff McCarthy is seen bringing it into the building.
    The replacement to an existing home heating system, according to Harbison, usually takes a couple of days and sometimes only one day. “It costs a little more than conventional systems, but the payback is very quick,” he said.
    Harbison also stated that the System 2000 accounts for 90 percent of his heating replacement installations and his local advertising has sparked considerable interest. An average residential installation, he said, is somewhere around $7,500-$8,500 and is recouped in savings on home heating oil.
    Because of the size of the building with its six heating zones, Harbison installed two System 2000 boilers at the Pioneer Times because the old one was oversized for the building and wasted energy. The job also involved installing a chimney liner, insulating the attic to avoid heat loss and rerouting water and electrical pipes.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Elna Seabrooks
INSTALLATION — Jeff McCarthy, plumbing and heating technician, works on the new System 2000  heat and hot water controls in the basement at the Pioneer Times.
    Jeff McCarthy, one of Harbison’s heating/plumbing technicians, said “the old hot water pipes ran 150 feet around building before getting to the sink.” Now they are only 4 feet away providing hot water on demand. “The new high-efficiency heating system hooked into the old system with two new high-efficiency boilers. In summer, spring and fall when the heating load is light, only one boiler will run. In winter when the heating load is large, both boilers will run for hot water and heat,” explained McCarthy.
    Harbison said the System 2000 can work for anyone who wants to save on their oil bill for heat and hot water.