Checking furnace now avoids chills later

Posted on September 11, 2011 by admin

Fall is the time to get your home ready for the coming winter that can be the most gruelling season for your home. Inspecting on a regular basis and following good maintenance practices are the best ways to protect your investment.

A regular schedule of seasonal maintenance can put a stop to the most common and costly problems, before they occur. If necessary, use a camera to take pictures of anything you might want to share with an expert for advice or to monitor or remind you of a situation later. Most home maintenance activities are seasonal. The following is a check list of some of the key items that should be reviewed each fall:

Have furnace or heating system serviced by a qualified service company every two years for a gas furnace, and every year for an oil furnace.
Open furnace humidifier damper on units with central air conditioning and clean humidifier.
Lubricate circulating pump on hot water heating system.
Bleed air from hot water radiators.
Examine the forced air furnace fan belt for wear, looseness or noise; clean fan blades of any dirt buildup (after disconnecting the electricity to the motor first).
Check and clean or replace furnace air filters each month during the heating season. Filters for ventilation systems, such as a heat recovery ventilator, should be checked every two months.
Vacuum electric baseboard heaters to remove dust.
Remove grilles on forced air systems and vacuum inside the ducts.
If the heat recovery ventilator has been shut off for the summer, clean the filters and the core, and pour water down the condensate drain to test it.
Clean portable humidifier, if one is used.
Have well water tested for quality. It is recommended that you test for bacteria every six months.
Check sump pump and line to ensure proper operation, and to ascertain that there are no line obstructions or visible leaks.
Replace window screens with storm windows.
Remove screens from the inside of casement windows to allow air from the heating system to keep condensation off window glass.
Ensure all doors to the outside shut tightly, and check other doors for ease of use. Renew door weather stripping if required.
If there is a door between your house and garage, check the adjustment of the self-closing device to ensure it closes the door completely.
Ensure windows and skylights close tightly.
Cover outside of air conditioning units.

While most maintenance is seasonal there are some things you should do year round:

Make sure all air vents are clear of snow and debris.
Check and clean range hood filters on a monthly basis.
Test the ground fault circuit interrupter(s) monthly by pushing the test button, which should then cause the reset button to pop up.
If you have children, equip electrical outlets with safety plugs.
Regularly check the house for safety hazards such as lifting or buckling carpet, etc.

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Furnasman

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New state law requires CO detectors in homes

Posted on July 10, 2011 by admin

Unlike smoke, which announces its presence with choking black clouds, carbon monoxide seeps in unseen.

Colorless, odorless carbon monoxide gas causes an average of 480 deaths nationally each year, along with more than 20,000 emergency room visits.

On July 1, California’s new Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Prevention Act went into effect, requiring owners of all single-family homes in the state with a fossil-fuel source, such as a gas furnace, or with an attached garage, to put carbon monoxide alarms in their residences.

Owners of multifamily dwellings that aren’t brand new, such as apartment buildings, have until Jan. 1, 2013, to install the detectors.

Previous laws required only newly constructed homes to have the alarms.

Local fire agencies are encouraging residents to comply with the law, and community members have already been heading out to purchase the detectors.

Besides being required by law, installing carbon monoxide detectors is a smart safety move, according to firefighters.

“It’s great to have them. Now it’s law. You have to have them,” said Emiliano Enriquez, fire prevention officer with the Santa Maria Fire Department.

Julie Phillips, a manager at Home Depot in Santa Maria, said sales of carbon monoxide detectors have shot up in last month or so. Contractors have been buying the alarms in bulk to install in properties, she added.

A large banner in the store informs customers of the new law.

Carbon monoxide detectors typically cost between $20 and $40.

Sources of carbon monoxide include heaters, fireplaces, furnaces, cooking devices or other appliances that use coal, wood, petroleum products or other fuels that emit carbon monoxide as a by-product of combustion, according to information provided by Cal Fire.

Capt. David Sadecki with the Santa Barbara County Fire Department said the dangerous gas can cause health problems when appliances don’t burn fuel properly, especially in an area that isn’t properly ventilated.

If the flame in a natural gas-burning device appears yellow or orange instead of blue, Sadecki said, the gas is not being burned efficiently and the appliance should be checked by the gas company.

Experts recommend that carbon monoxide detectors be placed on every floor of a home and in each sleeping space, according to Sadecki.

He said that unlike smoke alarms, which are placed on the ceiling to detect rising smoke, carbon monoxide detectors can be put on a wall or a table in addition to the ceiling because carbon monoxide is about the same weight as air.

Locally, carbon monoxide-involved problems are rare, Sadecki said.

“We haven’t really had a lot of CO (carbon monoxide) related injuries,” he added.

However, the hazards are real.

“It’s a leading cause of accidental poisoning of adults in the United States,” Sadecki said.

Although firefighters are not going door to door ensuring carbon monoxide alarms have been installed, county firefighters inspect all newly built properties to check for carbon monoxide detectors, he said.

Enriguez, with the Santa Maria Fire Department, likewise said a warrant must be obtained to search someone’s home, and city firefighters will not be actively enforcing the new law.

“We have a tough enough time just trying to get people to put smoke detectors in homes,” he said.

The Santa Maria Fire Department will make an effort to inform people of the recently enacted law, he said, as it responds to calls and goes about its business.

http://www.santamariatimes.com/

Furnasman

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Search is on for Valley’s oldest working furnace

Posted on February 19, 2011 by admin

Torry and Sons Plumbing and Heating is searching for the Oldest Furnace in the Comox Valley that is still operating. And if you have a near “antique” furnace that is close to its end of life but still huffing away, Torry and Sons invites you to submit your furnace for review in the “Oldest Furnace Hunt” and you could be in the running for a free replacement. Yup, you read that right…. A free furnace and complimentary installation!

As part of their 30 Year Anniversary celebrations this year, Torry and Sons is searching for the oldest Oil, Electric or Gas furnace they can find in the Comox Valley and offering to replace it free of charge to one lucky family. The old relic chugging away in your crawlspace is likely expensive to run, potentially unsafe and could be emitting harmful emissions into your home and into the atmosphere.

So Torry’s will relieve one lucky homeowner of their old chugger and supply and install a brand new furnace that will reduce carbon emissions and remedy costly heating bills.

A Torry and Sons heating expert will review entries, verify the age and choose the oldest model they can find. The winner of the contest and the recipient of a brand new heating system will be announced at the Comox Valley Home Show at the Sports Centre on Sunday, April 10th, 2011.

If you think you have “the” antique of all furnaces, get in contact with Torry and Sons with your old furnace information before March 31st, 2011. An entry form can be downloaded from our website and emailed.

Alternatively, entries may be mailed in or drop by our office to fill out an entry form. You are also invited to include a picture of your old beauty along with your entry.

Send submissions to: courtenay@torryandsons.com

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Furnasman

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Home Notes: Check furnace for safety’s sake

Posted on February 19, 2011 by admin

Dominion East Ohio and most heating contractors recommend yearly inspections and maintenance, particularly with newer furnaces. They’re more sensitive than older models and are designed to shut down when certain problems arise so the furnace won’t be damaged.
Down Under Index

The nonprofit American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, however, says servicing every other year is sufficient for natural-gas furnaces. (It recommends servicing every year for oil-fired systems and every two or three years for heat pumps.)

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Don’t wait longer than two years between gas furnace inspections, however. A technician can spot and correct problems that cause your furnace to run less efficiently or wear out faster, both of which will cost you money. He or she can also discover combustion and venting problems that can lead to the production of carbon monoxide, which can cost you your life

On The Shelf: Swap your lawn for edible plants

Consider the front lawn. We mow it. We feed it. We spend time and money on it. And what do we get back?

Not much, Ivette Soler argues.

Soler, a garden designer and writer, advocates trading swaths of grass for front-yard food gardens that feed both our bodies and our aesthetic sensibilities. She teaches readers how to do it in “The Edible Front Yard: The Mow-Less, Grow-More Plan for a Beautiful, Bountiful Garden.”

Soler isn’t talking about planting a typical vegetable garden in front of your house. Instead, she aims for a pleasing landscape that combines both ornamental and edible plants and enhances the home’s appearance and value.

She suggests plants that will look good throughout the season, teaches the principles of garden design and leads readers through the process of removing a lawn and installing and maintaining the garden.

“The Edible Front Yard” is published by Timber Press and sells for $19.95 in softcover.

What’s New: Projector puts stars in your eyes

BlissLights let you create an illusion of starlight in your home or yard.

BlissLights are projectors that create either moving or static pinpoints of laser light in a room or an outdoor space. All you have to do is plug in the projector and point it where you want the stars to appear.

The light is safe enough even for use in children’s bedrooms, the company says.

http://www.journaltimes.com/

Furnasman

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Gas Furnace Maintenance Procedures to Prevent Carbon Monoxide Leaks

Posted on December 29, 2010 by admin

An improperly maintained gas furnace is one of the major causes of carbon monoxide leaks. As furnaces get older, they discharge more of this toxic gas, mainly due to the reduced effectiveness of the gas burners and the development of holes and fractures on the furnace, adjoining ventilation shafts and plumbing. Since carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, these holes can remain undiscovered and become the cause of serious health hazards.

This is the primary reason for doing gas furnace maintenance regularly. Dust and soot must me removed and the moving parts checked at least once every year as per BBB recommendation, to assure they are in proper mechanical condition.

Carbon dioxide is a noxious gas produced as a waste product of unfinished incineration of natural gas and other petroleum based products. Large amount of leak can be fatal and small leaks that remain undetected for a longtime can cause flu like symptoms like headache, dizziness and shortness of breath.

Always include the motor and the blower in the clean up work when calling for the services of a technician. Motors can overheat when the cooling vents are clogged with debris. Dirt can also block the free passage of air when the blower fans are dirty. This can cause damage to the gas furnace or cause the release of deadly carbon monoxide fumes.

The BBB also suggest plumbing reviews and scheduled repair work and lubrication of the motor after cleaning the gas furnace. These repairs and maintenance jobs are recommended to be entrusted on the hands of licensed HVAC professionals to avoid scams and other public complaints. Motors can either be with or without oil port. Motors without oil port have sealed bearings that are suitably lubricated at the manufacturing plant. They are considered to be maintenance free and must be substituted with new ones by a technician when they begin to play up. Motors with lubricating ports must be oiled at least once a year at the average. Overfilling the lubrication ports with too much oil can harm the motor however, and is the major basis why this work is best left to the experts.

One of the most important components of any gas furnace is the air filter and in no case should the gas furnace be operated without the air filter. Fiberglass and cardboard type air filters are disposable and are simply replaced with fresh ones when they become grimy. Plastic filters are reusable. They are washed in a cleaning solution, air dried and reinstalled. Later model electronic type filters are cleaned according to the instructions of the manufacturer.

The gas burners must also be cleaned checked corrosion. The entire venting system and heat exchanger passages along with the pilot and pilot assembly must also be included in the maintenance process to check for cracks in the gas furnace and leaks in the gas pipes.

In Bridgeville, customers are advised to deal only with licensed plumbing contractors to avoid scams and other complaints.

Read more at Gillece scam and the possibility of CO colorless odorless toxic exhaust in your castle.

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Furnasman

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When Do You Call A Gas Furnace Service To Get Your Furnace Fixed?

Posted on December 24, 2010 by admin

Do you have any clue about when it is smart to contact a gas furnace service to help you fix your home’s furnace? Most people don’t take time to think about this until they need to, but it is smart for everyone to understand when it is a good idea to call in the professionals for help.

There are many instances that will require the help of a professional. Sometimes you may be able to get the furnace fixed on your own if it is a simple problem, but not every time.

The following are the instances that will require you to make a call for a furnace service to come help you.

One: Your furnace has stopped producing heat – This problem can be caused by a closed control valve, faulty thermostat, tripped circuit, blown fuse or a pilot light that isn’t working.

Some of these problems may be easily fixed by you, but it is smart to call in a professional. The reason is because you are dealing with a gas furnace and if you don’t have experience with this, then trying to fix it can be dangerous.

The professionals know how to check each of these things to help them locate what the problem is being caused by so it can be easily repaired.

Two: Insufficient heat from the furnace – The causes for this problem are: the blower being occluded, blower belt being loose, burner is dirty or the filter is dirty.

These problems can occur at the same time, which can cause insufficient heat. You want to check the filter to make sure that is not the problem, but for the others, be smart and let the professionals handle it, unless you have experience with gas furnaces.

Three: Furnace keeps going on and off – If you are experiencing a furnace that keeps switching on and off before heating your home to the desired temperature, then this may be a good time to call a furnace service.

This problem can be caused by a clogged blower, overly dry motor or a filter that is dirty. Again, since you are dealing with a gas furnace, it is safer for you and your family to let the professionals handle it.

Four: Pilot light will not come on – You can check this at the bottom of the furnace, but don’t try and relight it until you know what is causing the problem. This can be caused by a pilot opening that is clogged, insufficient gas flow from an improperly set gas valve or even a damaged thermocouple.

Gas furnaces can be dangerous for anyone that doesn’t have experience with them. For any of the above situations, you need to be smart and call a gas furnace service for help. This is the safest way to ensure your furnace is working correctly.

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Furnasman

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Avoid Furnace Repair: Brand Guide

Posted on December 1, 2010 by admin

One of the ways to save on possible furnace repair cost is to make sure that you buy a unit that is of high quality and in excellent condition. Your furnace will be used constantly and it will perform efficiently and function well if it is manufactured with the highest standards.

If you are in the selection process now, you can ask the heating and air conditioning companies in your area for suggestions, but in this article, we will give you some of the brands that you can check out.

American Standard

They are one of the top picks of contractors in the industry. Their furnace heating units are not prone to too much repair concerns. Moreover, they have affordable models with quality as their highest priority. An example is the Freedom 95 Comfort-R. It gives off maximum heat for minimum fuel usage. 80% or more of the fuel you pay for is converted into heat so it is a cost-effective comfort for your home.

Trane

This major brand has been in the business for many years and has already established a good reputation for their products and customer services. One of their furnace models is the XC95m. It has a 95% AFUE rating. It has a variable speed-fan motor that adjusts speeds to provide a consistent flow of warm and comfortable air. The system comes with an advanced air filtration that removes dust, debris and other particles for a cleaner and healthier air.

Carrier

They are the leader when it comes to heating and air conditioning innovation. The Infinity ICS Modulating Gas Furnace, in particular, is the quietest furnace ever made. Its combustion system is sealed, has pilot-free PowerHeat ignition, and has up to 3.5 times tighter temperature control. It is also equipped with Comfort Heat Technology and Ideal Humidity System. It even gives 10 years limited warranty for parts when properly registered.

York

They are the oldest brand when it comes to furnace manufacturing, and with those years to their name, the company has become a leader in the industry. Their furnaces are built for dependability, economy, and comfort. The Affinity 9.C model receives the highest AFUE rating at 98%. Its EnergyGuide rating exceeds that of government standards, which means that the unit is more efficient and will considerably reduce your energy costs.

However, even the best of brands can deteriorate over time. In this case, you would really need the expertise of qualified service professionals, such as the Atlanta furnace repair experts, to ensure that the problem of your furnace will be addressed accordingly. You certainly wouldn’t want to see your furnace investment go down the drain by insisting on fixing the problem on your own to save money when in fact you don’t have any idea how you will accomplish the task. Therefore, make sure to enlist the help of certified, licensed and experienced heating and air repair technicians.

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Furnasman

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Mazda 3 Edmonton

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How to Choose the best Furnace?

Posted on April 3, 2010 by admin

Choosing the suitable furnace for your home is not hard like what others believe. However, it is important to know basic information about the kinds and purposes of furnaces that is well known today.

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