The warm weather is moving in, and although we can’t rule out a few more surprises in our local weather, we’re almost at the point where heating systems in homes will shut down for the season.
Once you no longer have need of your home’s furnace, heat pump, or boiler for the foreseeable future, it’s good to assess its performance over the last winter and ask the big question: How many more years does this system have left in it? If you have reason to suspect that it may not make it through the next winter, now is one of the best times to arrange for a professional to replace it. Spring is a less busy period for HVAC technicians, and you’ll have plenty of time to think over your options and make the best choice.
Concerns about the safety of natural gas furnaces are common. We often have customers ask us if it’s really safe to have a natural gas furnace in their home.
The end of the heating season is often a rough one. March and April can throw some of the coldest days of the year at us, and you can expect to see higher utility bills until the spring thaw finally sets in for keeps. But you’re probably paying too much for your heating—there are many small mistakes or tasks you may forget that will raise energy use and your bills.
Your heating system is working just fine, for the most part. When you set the temperature on the thermostat, the furnace turns on and heat comes out of the vents. What more could you ask for? And why would you feel the need to schedule service for a furnace that is, for the most part, running smoothly?
Most people associate a filter with one important thing: air quality. Filters keep dust from blowing around the home. More importantly to many people, it picks up allergens like pollen and pet dander, and may even stop the circulation of some germs that could make you ill.
When you hear the furnace power on, do you know exactly what goes on to bring that heat to you? You likely know the basics: that heat is generated by an ignition system and that a fan then blows heated air into your home.
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems are a modern innovation, so we rarely think of the safety risks sometimes associated with them. Today’s heating systems are safer than ever before, but there are still injuries and even deaths associated with them each year. Caring for your heating system, along with knowing the risks, can help you avoid them.
The heater has just started up again, and you’ve got a problem. There seems to be a smell coming directly from the vents. This can be a scary situation. Of course, if you have any cause to believe it’s a gas leak, you should turn off the system ASAP. Otherwise, the urgency of the issue can range quite a bit.