The professional service technician who comes to your home can also evaluate other components of your “winter system”. This includes such items as the electronic air cleaner, humidifier, thermostat, hot water tank, and even your attic insulation. In addition, the Home Services division of Four Seasons can come out to your home to make general home repairs to doors and windows just in time for the fall and winter season. As Fall approaches and the rainy weather begins Four Seasons Home Services is available to install a sump pump in your basement to help avoid flooding. Don’t get left out in the cold, call us today!!

-P.K.

Basic Components of a Gas Central Air Furnace

• Pilot light- The pilot is source of fire that your furnace uses to fire up when your thermostat calls for heat. There are two types of pilot lights: standing pilot and electronic ignition.
• Standing Pilot- This type of pilot light consists of a pilot light assembly and a thermocouple. The pilot light assembly holds a constant flame that should always be lit even when the furnace is not in use. The thermocouple is heated by the flame on the pilot assembly. The thermocouple then generates an electric current that will feed to the gas valve on your furnace. The gas valve is the part of the furnace that regulates the flow of gas into the unit.
• Electronic Ignition- This type of ignition doesn’t have a constant flame. It will only create a flame when the thermostat calls for heat. Instead of a thermocouple, this type of pilot has a flame sensor. The flame sensor will sense the flame created by the pilot and then send a signal to the gas valve to open.
• Inducer Motor- The inducer motor is a small fan-like motor, and it has two main functions. It brings air in from the outdoors to create combustion, and it removes the toxic gases created by the combustion of gas and air. At the beginning of a cycle, the inducer motor will kick on first to get air into the unit to create combustion with the gas released by the gas valve. The combustion is what creates the heat for your home. During the cycle, the inducer continues to run and filter out any of the excess gasses that are created by the furnaces combustion process. This keeps poisonous gasses like carbon monoxide from entering your breathing air.
• Burners- The burners are located in the combustion chamber where the combustion takes place. The gas mixes with the outdoor air and heat is created. The burners will usually glow red when they are hot. They then transfer the heat to the heat exchanger.
• Supply and Return Vents- These are the vents that are located in each room of your home. The supply vent pushes heat into the room. The return vent draws air into it to be taken back to the furnace to be re-heated.
• Heat Exchanger- The heat exchanger is the part of the furnace that heats the air that is blown into the home. There are two sides to the heat exchanger. One side is in contact with the combustion air and gases, and the other side is in contact with the air that circulates through the home. The heat created by the combustion air is transferred through the heat exchanger to heat the air before it is sent through your home. The heat exchanger creates a barrier between you and the harmful gases that are being vented outside by the inducer motor.
• Blower Motor- The blower motor is the big fan that sends the air through the duct work of your home and into each room that receives heat. This fan can either be used only when the furnace is cycling, or it can run all of the time if you set the fan to the “on” position on the thermostat.

There are several other parts in the furnace unit, but these are the main components that are used to heat your home. First the pilot light heats either the thermocouple or flame sensor. The thermocouple/ flame sensor will then send an electric current to the gas valve. The gas valve will open and send gas to the combustion chamber. The gas mixes with the air that is drawn in by the inducer motor, and the burners will fire up. The heat created here will be transferred through the heat exchanger. The air that is being drawn back to the furnace through the return vents will flow through the heat exchanger. As the air passes through the heat exchanger it is warmed and then transferred to the duct work that leads to the supply vents for each room in the home.

This is basically how your furnace creates heat. Now the next time you have a furnace problem, you will have a better idea of what may be wrong. Unfortunately, many of the things that can go wrong with a furnace will still require the help of a certified HVAC specialist. When this happens, Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year. Our technicians are NATE certified, and are prepared to work on every make and model. So before you panic, remember Four Seasons is always there to help you get your heat up and running once again.

Poor air flow causes your heating and cooling systems run poorly. In the summer, it is easy to simply not use the air conditioner to save a few bucks, but in the winter, turning off the furnace for long periods of time just isn’t an option. There is good news though! All it takes is a few simple checks and maybe the help of an HVAC contractor like Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning, and your furnace could be heating more efficiently than it ever has before.

For starters, you need to identify what parts of your home are affected by poor air flow. Walk around from room to room and pay attention to any temperature differences that there may be. It could be one room or even an entire floor of your home that is in need of better air flow. Once you have recognized which rooms are affected, there are a few checks you can do on your own to hopefully improve the airflow to that space:

• Check the SUPPLY and RETURN registers- These are the registers, or vents, that are located in each room. Supply vents blow hot air that came from the furnace. Return vents draw air back into the duct work to go back to the furnace. If these vents are closed or blocked, this could be a cause of poor air flow. Make sure you move any furniture that is blocking a vent, and open any vents that are closed. Also, smaller rooms need less air flow.  You could try partially closing the registers in smaller rooms to force more air towards rooms that need more air flow.
• Check the furnace filter- Many homeowners forget to check or don’t even know that they have a furnace filter that needs to be changed regularly. A dirty filter could be crippling your HVAC units from running efficiently as well as contributing to poor air flow in the home. You should replace your air filter at least every 3 months, but you should also check it every 30 days to make sure that it is clean enough to remain in use.
• Check the blower motor- The blower motor is a fan that is located inside the furnace. This fan is responsible for circulating the heated air throughout the home. If you have been running your furnace with a dirty filter or without an air filter, your blower motor is probably filthy. A build-up of dirt on your blower motor reduces air flow, and it needs to be cleaned professionally. A Four Seasons certified HVAC technician can perform this type of furnace repair without causing damage to the blower motor.
• Check the dampers- The dampers are adjustable plates that are located in certain types of duct work systems. If adjusted properly, you can limit or increase the amount or air flow received in certain parts of the home. If you are unsure of how to do this properly, have Four Seasons out to accurately adjust the dampers for you!
• Check the duct work- The duct work in your home is the transport system for the heated air that your furnace generates. It is usually looks like a rectangular or cylindrical maze of metal or fiberglass inside the ceilings, walls, and floors. Some homes have what is called flex duct work. This looks like shiny bendable tubes that are connected to the registers and furnace. If there are places in the home where the duct work is viewable, you should check it for leaks or damage. If a duct appears to have a leak or is crushed in some way, you need to have that portion of duct work removed. Air could be escaping at this point causing poor air flow. Repairing duct work should be done by a trained and reliable professional. This is the only way to know for sure that it has been installed properly.
• Have a duct cleaning performed- The constant circulation of air through the duct work causes a build-up of dust and debris. This build-up could be causing poor air circulation in the system. If you have never had the ducts cleaned before, you need to call a certified duct cleaning company to perform this service as soon as possible. Four Seasons Home Services offers a duct cleaning service performed by two of our NADCA certified service men. We use a top of the line 3 stage filter system and rotary brush to get your duct work impeccably clean. This will not only improve your air flow, it will also improve the overall quality of your indoor air. Call today for a free estimate or to learn more about what Four Seasons Home Services has to offer.

The Flex-duct Problem

Many homes are equipped with a type of duct work known as FLEX DUCT. If you have this type of duct work system in your home, there is a good possibility that you have an air flow problem. The biggest problem with this kind of duct work is that it is rarely installed properly. Many home builders or HVAC contractors will use this type of duct work because it is cheap and can be installed without excessive labor. Sheet metal and fiberglass duct work are both very inflexible and require a lot more skill to be installed in a home.

Flex ducts are made of wire, plastic, and insulation. They can fit around tight corners and bend in ways that traditional duct work materials cant. But, just because it can do these things, it doesn’t mean that it should. When flex duct is installed with bends and kinks in it, the air friction created by the air being pushed through the ducts is increased. The more air friction there is the less air flow that is received in the rooms of the home. Flex duct causes the most air friction of all the types of duct work.

Another big mistake made in the installation of flex duct is when it is left sagging in certain areas. Flex duct should be pulled taut in order to decrease the air flow friction. Also, it is very easy for flex duct to be crushed if not supported properly. If something falls on the flex duct or if something is being supported by it, air flow could be cut off to that portion of duct work completely.

If you have flex duct in your home, you should seriously consider having it replaced. The only instance where flex duct should be used is as a connector from a metal or fiberglass duct to a register. When it is used for this purpose there should be no more than 5’ of flex duct, and it needs to be stretched tight from beginning to end.

Once you have made these changes to your system, your air flow problem should have disappeared. Now the temperature in your home should be balanced from room to room, and your HVAC systems should be running more efficiently. The benefits of these changes will make your home a more comfortable place and make using the furnace less of a drain on your bank account.

• Fill up the unit with refrigerant
• Repair the leak
• Replace the unit

Hopefully you made the right choice, but unfortunately most people just fill up the unit with refrigerant, cross their fingers, and hope that it doesn’t leak out before the summer heat ends.  Why would they take this risk? The reason why is because of all three options, filling the unit with refrigerant is by far the cheapest initially. Most people do not consider the long term possibilities. If the unit is low on refrigerant that means that there is leak somewhere in the system. It is often very costly to find the leak and then repair it, but if it is not done, the unit will continue to leak.

An a/c unit that has a refrigerant leak is being overworked daily. The compressor has to work harder and harder because the unit has to run longer to get the temperature in the home down low enough to turn off. Over time, a unit that is constantly refilled will end up having other major problems. In most cases the problem will be a blown compressor. If that happens, you are better off replacing the entire unit.

Depending on the age of the unit, replacement is always recommended. Once a unit is over ten years old, it is possible that one refrigerant leak will lead to another and another. That leak is not only costing you hundreds of dollars annually to recharge, but it is also taking a toll on your unit and the environment. You could either invest hundreds of dollars in repairs or replace the unit all together.

Refrigerant and the Environment

For twenty three years now, the EPA has been taking action against ozone-depleting refrigerants. Originally there were CFC’s or chlorofluorocarbons.  The chlorine present in this compound was causing massive damage to our ozone layer, and was eventually replaced with HCFC’s or hydrochlorofluorocarbons. These are a lot better than CFC’s but they still contain harmful chlorine. Also, the production of this type of refrigerant results in the creation of another by- product that also contributes to global warming.

Chances are the air conditioning unit in your home uses an HCFC known as R-22. If your unit has a leak in it, then you are contributing to the ozone depletion. Continuing to refill a unit with this problem only increases the problem caused by this type of refrigerant. R-22 is currently being phased out, and is going to be replaced by chlorine-free R-410A. You will hear that R-410A is ridiculously expensive to run a system on if there is leak. This may have been true in the past, but as the phase out progresses, R-410A will become more popular as R-22 becomes more and more scarce. It is this scarcity that will drive up the cost of R-22. Not converting to R-410A will eventually not become an option. The EPA has begun a ban on the manufacturing of air conditioning units and heat pumps that require R-22. That ban started this year, 2010! By 2020, R-22 will no longer be produced, and by 2030, if not sooner, all of the remaining R-22 will be gone!

Take Advantage of the Tax Credit

So why should you hang onto a unit that is costing you hundreds to maintain, killing your environment, and  going to have to be replaced anyways?  You shouldn’t! It may hurt to have to invest so much money at once, but right now is the best time to buy!  If you replace your unit this year, you can still take advantage of the government tax credit that is being offered. They are offering up to $1,500 in tax credits if you replace your old inefficient and ozone killing unit with a new Energy Star qualifying air conditioner! But, you have to purchase and install the unit by December 31, 2010!

How Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning Can Help:

Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning offers a full line of Lennox brand air conditioners. Almost every unit in that line is Energy Star rated and many qualify for the government tax credit! We boast high quality, energy efficient and environmentally friendly units. Every single unit that we sell today is run on ozone friendly R-410A! Four Seasons service technicians are EPA certified, NATE certified, and certified heat exchanger experts, and they are ready to work with this new grade of refrigerant. We have prepared our company to take proper responsibility for the effect our industry has on the environment, and you can trust that we are here to help you do the same. We are here for all of Chicago so, call in and schedule a free estimate today!

The Pros

• The Circulating Pump- This is the part of the boiler that helps the water move through the system. When compared to the blower motor of a forced air furnace, the circulating pump is more efficient at moving the same amount of heat.

• High Efficiency- Boilers these days are very efficient units. Some even have an AFUE rating over 95%! An AFUE rating is a measure of how much gas that the unit actually uses to provide heat for the home compared to the total amount of gas used to run the unit. If your unit is over eighteen years old, then chances are it is an inefficient drain on your wallet and the environment. These units should be replaced as soon as possible.

• Multiple Zones- One of the benefits of owning a boiler is that it is capable of meeting the individual heating needs of each room in a home. It does this through the use of multiple zones. Zone Valves on each radiator or baseboard can each be connected to individual thermostats that allow the owner to adjust the temperature from room to room.

• Compact system- Boiler systems do not have cumbersome duct work so they take up a lot less space. For someone with limited room in their home, this could be a very important point. To go along with this, boiler systems are also less invasive units to install in a home that doesn’t have a boiler system already.

• Combine with Hot Water- Since boilers run on hot water, it is possible to hook up your hot water system to the boiler. If you have a furnace in your home, the hot water system has to be a completely separate unit. A boiler will save you space and the hassle of having multiple systems.

The Cons

• Slow to heat- Boilers do not use any type of force to spread the heat created by the water throughout a room. Therefore, it takes longer than a forced air furnace would to heat an area.

• Pipe Freezing-Boilers come with the possibility of pipe freezing. If the temperature gets low enough outside and the system is not set high enough, the pipes that carry water through the home may freeze. A frozen pipe can then burst, or a radiator may explode causing a lot of damage to the system and your home. A boiler repair of this size could cost hundreds of dollars or call for a new system all together. To prevent this, you must insulate any pipes and make sure to set the unit properly when you are away from the home during the winter months.

• A/C Installation- It is not impossible, but it is not easy. The easiest way to cool your home during the summer is with central air conditioning. Since a boiler doesn’t have duct work, this can be hard to accomplish. Many people settle with window or wall unit air conditioners to meet their cooling needs. If you are going to go through the trouble to install duct work to have central a/c in a home, you will probable convert to central heat as well.

Boiler units are not what is best for every home, but if after going through this list of pros and cons you think that you may want to consider installing a boiler unit, feel free to contact Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning for more information about their selection of Peerless boilers. Our highly trained salesmen will be able to advise you on what type of heating system would work best for the heating needs for your family .

If you purchase and install a new high efficiency furnace, boiler or water heater before May 31, 2011 you are eligible for the rebate. The amounts are up to $250 for a furnace, up to $100 for a water heater and up to $400 for a 95% AFUE boiler. Although the program is intended to go through May 2011, once the funds are depleted the program and rebates will end. Do not hesitate to apply for the rebate once you have purchased your new high efficiency furnace or boiler. Take advantage of the extra savings and the savings down the road that you will get from your new high efficiency product.

The surge in sales of energy efficient products has been helped by the willingness of the federal government to offer tax credits of up to 30% of the cost of energy efficient heating and cooling systems. Local utility companies have also joined the campaign to get consumers on board with energy saving products by adding rebate programs to offset the initial cost of purchasing new heating and air conditioning equipment.

Be a smart shopper and take advantage of the energy tax credit and rebates before the end of 2010.

How Does an Ozone Air Purifier Work?

For starters, ozone is a gas that is present in our atmosphere. It consists of three oxygen atoms. Two of those atoms make up the oxygen our bodies normally use to breathe, and the third atom makes the molecule unstable. Oxygen molecules want to consist of only two atoms, so the third atom will detach. This solitary oxygen will then bind with another organic molecule in the air and change its chemical structure. The goal of these air purifiers is for the single oxygen atom to bind with pollutants and make them harmless or odorless.

So, what’s the Big Deal?

The BIG DEAL is that ozone causes damage to humans even in small amounts. That single oxygen doesn’t only bind with molecules in the air, but also with molecules in our bodies. This type of oxygen is known as a free radical. A free radical’s ability to adjust the chemical framework of molecules causes severe harm to the human body. According to the EPA, some of the effects of ozone exposure include:

• Nausea
• Chest pain
• Headaches
• Throat irritation
• Coughing
• Shortness of breath
• Respiratory distress
• Can worsen, asthma and other pre-existing respiratory diseases

Do you want your family exposed to these health problems? I would think not. Some of these may be temporary side effects, but with prolonged exposure can become permanent heath complications.

How Manufacturers Fool You

The companies who sell these products will disguise the harmful effects with words like “good ozone.” What they are referring to when they say this is the ozone that is naturally found in the stratosphere. This is a high level of the atmosphere, and the ozone present there is what protects us from the harmful effects of UV exposure. What they don’t mention is that “bad ozone” is the ozone that is found in the lower layers of the atmosphere that we breathe in every day. If it is harmful to breathe in when its outdoors, why would you want this gas inside your home?

Manufacturers also like to distract you with the supposed benefits of ozone purification. They claim that it can kill or remove many air pollutants that are known to be found in the indoor air of homes. The EPA has discredited this claim. After several tests performed on the air in homes that were exposed to ozone, they found that at the levels allowed by public health standards, ozone does not effectively remove pollutants from the air. In fact, in certain tests it actually added to the pollutants by creating other molecules that are harmful to our bodies. It would take much more ozone than our bodies can handle to have any effect on the air quality in our homes.

The only situations where ozone air purifiers should be used are when there are no humans or animals present. Ozone has been used successfully to remove mold and other pollutants after floods or fires when used at levels that exceed the public health standard. But, if you are considering using this process to clean an area, you must make sure that no one is present in the home until the process has been completed and all ozone removed from the area.

What We Recommend

It is better to play it safe and use a non-ozone generating product. There are several safer and more effective products on the market to choose from. Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning offers a full line of Lennox whole house air purifiers and air cleaners. Not one of these products uses ozone to purify the air. Our most efficient unit uses a HEPA filtration system and boasts removal of 99.97% of particles and bio aerosols down to .3 microns. That means that any particle under 1/25,000 of an inch in diameter will be caught by this filtration system! Four Seasons understands how important your family’s health is to you, and healthy living begins with a healthy environment. So, call Four Seasons today for more information and a free estimate on any one of our air purification units!

Lets first look at the benefits:

• Furnaces heat your home quickly- A forced air furnace uses a blower to send the air through the duct work to each of the rooms in your home. The air is pushed into the room and will quickly fill the space with warm air.
• Central air conditioners are very compatible- If you have had the unfortunate opportunity to use a window air conditioner, then you understand how unreliable and troublesome they can be. If your home already has central heat, it is easy to include a central air conditioning system as well. Central air uses the existing duct work to circulate the cool air in the same way the furnace does. If you do not have preexisting duct work, it may be costly to make the conversion. But, when you compared to the alternative cooling methods it may be worth the cost involved.
• Higher efficiency- Newer furnaces are required to have an AFUE of at least 80%. Some units even reach more than 95% efficiency. Why does this matter? This percentage represents the percent of the gas being used by the unit that is actually being used to heat your home. The higher the percentage, the less gas you will have to use to get your home to the desired temperature. Units that were installed before 1992 probably have an efficiency rating around 55-65%. If you continue to use this type of unit you are throwing hundreds of dollars away as well as causing damage to the environment.
  • Variable speeds- A variable speed blower motor is often a feature included in newer model furnaces. This means that the blower on the furnace will run at different speeds based on the temperature outside. If it is cooler out it will conserve energy by running at lower speeds. It will only run on high when the weather calls for it.
  • Two Stages- A furnace that has two stages uses a high-fire setting for extreme weather conditions and a low-fire setting for mild weather conditions. This not only prolongs the life of the unit by not overworking the system, it also saves you money on your energy bills.

Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning specializes in installing Lennox central air furnaces in Chicago. They are some of the most efficient and technologically advanced systems on the market today!

Possible Problems and Solutions:

• Heat loss- This tends to be the main concern of homeowners who already have central furnace systems. If your duct system has leaks, you are losing much of the heat created by the furnace before it ever reaches the rooms in your home. You also may be losing heat in the transfer to the duct work itself through absorption into the duct-work material. To solve this problem, you should insulate the duct-work with ductwork insulation wraps. This will close any gaps and ensure that the heating or cooling is not being lost in the duct work.
• Bulky duct work- If you are considering converting your boiler system into a furnace system, the installation of duct work will be your main concern. It is often costly and invasive to work into the preexisting structures in your home.  However, if you hire a properly certified contractor like Four Seasons Heating and Air, we can lay out a plan to install a duct work system that works best for your home. This isn’t a “do it yourself” job. If the job is not done properly, a mistake could cost you hundreds in energy costs. You may also create a heat loss problem. The conversion needs to be done professionally if you want the job done right the first time.
• Contributes to allergies- Because a furnace uses hot air to warm your home, it is constantly circulating air through the ductwork. As the air is pulled through the vents, it leaves behind dust, mold, and any other airborne particles that are floating around in your home. This can lead to poor air quality which is a nightmare for anyone who has allergies. Although, a yearly duct cleaning can make this problem disappear. Four Seasons Heating and Air conditioning proudly hires only NADCA certified technicians. We use only state of the art equipment to make sure that your ducts are spotless. A Four Seasons duct cleaning will not only improve your air quality, but will also help your HVAC units run more efficiently.

So, whether you are looking to replace, upgrade, or convert, you now know the benefits that come with having central heating in your home. Yes there are problems that come with any type of unit, but if those do arise, Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning is here to help you solve the concern and to guarantee your family’s comfort.

• Clean the boiler room- A dirty or cluttered boiler room can actually damage the boiler or cause failure of parts like the boiler fan and pilot. You should sweep out the room regularly and keep any boxes or other stored items a good 3 to 4 feet away from the unit.
• Check the air pressure-Another check you should make from time to time is of the boiler pressure. A safe pressure is between 12 and 15 pounds per square inch. If the pressure is high, you can relieve it by turning the release valve. If pressure problems continue, you will need to have a certified boiler technician out to fix the problem.
• Bleed the radiators- Chances are your boiler system has not been used in the past 3 or more months, and as a result, there is probably air in the system. Each radiator or baseboard will have a bleed valve that you can open to drain the air. Once water being to come out of the valve, all of the air is out of that part of the system.
• Prevent your pipes from freezing- When the temperature drops low enough outside, there is a potential for your pipes to freeze. A boiler system carries water throughout the home and a frozen pipe in that system can cause a pipe or even a radiator to burst when the system is not in use. To decrease the chance of this happening to you, your need to insulate your pipes. Hardware stores will sell pipe insulation that you can wrap around the pipes, but you can also use plastic or even newspaper.
• Check/ Install CO detectors- Boiler systems that become cracked or damaged can leak CARBON MONOXIDE into your home. This is a gas that can kill and it is important that you have functional CO detectors in the home to prevent this tragedy from happening to you or your family.
• Get a Tune-Up- For peek efficiency and protection from unwanted repairs, it is important to have a certified HVAC company send out a service technician to clean and check the various components of your boiler. This is the final step needed to ensure that your unit will be safe, efficient, and functional this winter. The process may vary from company to company but it should include these steps:
  • Inspect flue and diverter
  • Clean interior vestibule
  • Clean pilot assembly
  • Adjust pilot
  • Check thermocouple
  • Clean burners
  • Adjust burners
  • Check hot water tank
  • Check gas valve operation
  • Test for gas leaks
  • Check thermostat contacts
  • Check heat anticipator
  • Check safety devices
  • Oil circulating pump
  • Check limit control
  • Inspect heat exchanger for leaks
  • Inspect combustion chamber
  • Check aqua stat
  • Check gauge or sight glass
  • Check expansion tank
  • Check and secure all panels
  • Check low water cut off
  • Check wiring
  • Check noise and vibration levels
  • Check for combustible materials around boiler
  • Check for combustion air
  • Make final operations test and advise improvements

This may sound like a lot of work but the benefits are well worth it. In the long run you are not only saving money because the unit runs more efficiently, but you are also saving yourself the frustration of having a broken down unit on a cold winter night.

However, it is also important to have a certified HVAC technician out to check the systems before you jump to any conclusions. Only a professional can determine the condition of the unit and deem it fit for use. If this does happen, you should then have that technician clean the units and replace any air filters. This will prevent the growth of mold and fungus inside the unit.

If you are one of the unlucky homeowners whose unit is beyond repair, you should replace it immediately. Water will cause the units to rust out sooner then normal, and would eventually have to be replaced anyways. Even if a system seems to be working well after a flood, it can fail at any time. You could either choose to replace now when the weather is warmer, or wait until the middle of a Chicago winter for the unit to conk out. The furnace or boiler is working harder in the colder months to keep the home at the desired temperature, and if it has damage, this is when it is likely to fail. The service technician you have come out will most likely notice the original cause of your problem: water damage.

Neglecting to replace the HVAC systems not only puts you in danger of being cold in the middle of a blizzard in Chicago, it also puts the lives of you and your family at stake. That is not something you should gamble with.

Most air purifiers will do a good job of removing large particulates like those mentioned previously.  The added benefit is that many air purifiers also can remove odors, gases, and bacteria also. They do this by various means including using higher MERV rated filters, UV lights and catalyst that reduce concentrations of airborne contaminants, like viruses and mold and bacteria.  Many households find that using an air purifier does clean the air in their home and that the differences are measurable, especially for those families who do suffer from allergies or exposure to allergy irritants like, smoking, pets, etc. Most hospitals and large institutions use air purifiers to help manage the air in such tightly sealed environments.

To help you choose which air purification is right for your home and to learn more about Air Purifiers consult a professional HVAC company. They can run you through the various options to fit your heating system and give you several models to choose from as well provide the installation.

Remove the Water Source

Floods are a common cause of mold growth. There are several options you have as far as repairing the causes of your flood problem.

• Check the rain gutters- leaves and debris can stop up the gutters disabling them from draining properly.
• Add extensions to the downspouts- extensions will carry the water collected in the gutters further away from the foundation to an area of less saturation.
• Check the sump pump- repair an existing one, install a new one, or install a back up sump pump to protect against failure
• Check the window wells- if they do not drain properly, install new water-tight covers
• Seal cracks in the driveway and foundation walls- caulk or cement can be used to seal these areas depending on size and depth

There are many other possible sources of leaks in your home that also need to be checked out. An old roof can often become leak ridden. You may be able to make patch repairs, but for a more permanent fix, you may want to consider replacing the roof all together. It also may be worth your while to have the plumbing checked out. Water-marks on ceiling tiles and leaky ceilings in between floors are good indicators that there is a plumbing leak. With a drop ceiling you are able to remove the tiles and check for yourself. The leak may simply be a sweating pipe. That problem is easily fixed with a little pipe insulation. If there is a bigger leak, you may need to hire a professional contractor or plumber to do the repair properly.

High humidity levels can also create a hospitable environment for mold growth. To remove this water source, simply adjust the humidity levels set on your humidifier. They should be set between 30 and 60 percent. If the air is still very moist or if you still have condensation on the windows, you may want to consider installing a dehumidifier or exhaust fan to lower the humidity levels.

Dispose of Anything that is MOLD Infected

Unfortunately, mold is a destroyer, and in its pathway of destruction you may find many of your belongings. Since mold is microscopic it can hide in the smallest of places. This can be any space from the weave of fabrics to the nooks of ceiling tiles. The objects that have these types of porous surfaces need to be disposed of completely. If this is neglected, mold will be able to survive, and all of the work you did to clean up the mold mess is in vain. Besides ceiling tiles, you should also replace mold infected furniture, insulation, drapes, drywall, and insulated ducts. Insulated ducts are a specific type of duct work that is covered in insulation. If the insulation gets wet there is no effective way to get rid of the mold. When in doubt, throw it out!

Disinfect what is Left

If you have allergies, this is not the job for you! By choosing to do the clean-up yourself, you are putting your health at risk if it is not done properly. In the process you will be exposed to a large amount of mold spores so you must wear protective clothing, rubber gloves, and a filtration mask. The HEPA mask is a good choice because it blocks out 99.97% of molds or any other particles that may be in the air. After you are properly dressed, these are the steps you should take:

• Make sure the area is properly ventilated- use an exhaust fan or place a fan in a window to expel the indoor air outside rather than into the rest of the home
• Turn off the HVAC systems because they can transfer mold spores through the ducts
• Create a solution of bleach and water (1/2 cup bleach/ gallon water)
• Scrub down any non-porous surface with the solution
• Allow area to dry naturally so that all the mold is killed off

Even with these steps, it is still very possible that mold may be present in the home. Depending on the severity of your mold infestation, you may want to consider getting help from a professional contractor. They will be able to test for mold in the home and figure out exactly what type that they are dealing with in order to kill it most effectively. You should also have a certified HVAC technician in to clean out the furnace and air conditioner before you use the systems again. The same goes for the duct work and dryer vent. Penicillium and Cladosporium are two types of mold that reek havoc on the HVAC units. If mold is still present in the HVAC system after you clean the individual rooms of the home, it will be able to circulate through the home once the systems are functioning.  Only an NADCA certified duct cleaning serviceman will have the equipment be able to clean the ducts and dryer vents properly.

A MOLD problem is not something to be ignored or to be taken lightly. You need to attack it early on if you will have any hope of saving your home and your family’s health.

Testing the Furnace

In early fall, you should begin checks on your furnace to make sure that it will work come the first cold spell of winter. These are just a few simple measures that anyone can do on their own, even if you do not know much about HVAC systems.

Replace the air filter-

It is important to swap out the air filter before the beginning of a new season. You should also get in the habit of checking it regularly (every 30-60 days) to make sure that it is not becoming clogged. A dirty air filter can cause dust and debris to back up into your system. It also prevents airflow which could even cause the unit to fail, or at the very least cost more to run because it is running less efficiently.

If you haven’t checked the filter yourself before, you may want to consult your manual for filter location or call your local HVAC company for advice on where to locate it inside the furnace. When purchasing a replacement, the easiest way to ensure that you buy the right size is to take the old filter with you to a hardware store and ask for help in finding the correct filter for your unit.

Check the thermostat-

Depending on the type of thermostat that you own, this step could be different from person to person. As a general rule, if your thermostat runs on batteries, you should replace them. It is recommended that you change them at least once a year even if they still have juice left in them. Programmable thermostats have the ability to change temperature based on the time of day, and a well programmed thermostat can save you money by running the unit less often. Now would be a good time to adjust the program to fit your winter schedule. For most people, this involves a lot more time spent indoors when compared to the summer season.

Test CO detectors-

Carbon monoxide is an odorless killer, and it can leak from your furnace without any warning and escape into the air you breathe if there is a crack in the heat exchanger. There is normally a barrier between the household air and the CO filled air created by the furnace. But, this barrier can become cracked or damaged if the unit is old or poorly maintained. To prevent the worst from happening, it is necessary for you and your family’s safety to check the CO detectors before using the furnace.

Test the furnace-

This is a very important step in the process. Many homeowners wait to test the unit until the temperature is low enough to be in dyer need of functional heat. However, many of these people find themselves huddled under blankets waiting for a service technician because the unit doesn’t work. By testing it early in the season, you decrease the risk of this happening to you when the temperatures are more severe.

Go down, or up, to where the furnace is located and make sure that the switch on the unit is in the “on” position. While you are down there, you can also check the fuses or circuit breaker. If one is blown or tripped, replace the broken fuse or flip the breaker back on. Then, switch the unit to “heat” on the thermostat and raise the temperature a few degrees. Allow the unit to run for a few hours. If there is a weird smell coming from the unit, do not immediately panic and call a technician unless it is a strong gas smell. Chances are it is the smoke, dust, and any other airborne particles that have settled inside the furnace that are being burned off from firing up the unit for the first time. The smell should go away in a few hours but may last until you have the unit professionally cleaned.

If the unit doesn’t seem to be working correctly, you still have time to have a serviceman out before it is time to use the unit everyday. If everything seems to be working properly the unit is almost ready for the heating season.

Get a Tune-up-

Many people skip this step when preparing for winter, but a furnace tune- up and cleaning is exactly what your system needs to run as efficiently as possible. Dirt is a major problem for heating units. If not taken care of, it can build up on the major components, like the burners, blower wheel, and flame sensor, and prevent them from working properly. Dirty units cost more to run, because it has to work much harder and use more fuel to keep the home at the desired temperature. By having the unit cleaned and checked, you are not only saving yourself from costly repairs but also from high energy bills. This service, however, should only be preformed by a certified HVAC technician because this is the only way to know that the job was done right. As a plus, many companies offer a guarantee that the unit will cost you less to run then it has in previous years without tune-ups.

The steps may vary from company to company, but these are some of the main parts that should be covered in a certified tune-up:

• Clean furnace or boiler
• Check chimney base
• Clean and check pilots
• Adjust pilot
• Check Thermocouple
• Clean burners
• Adjust burners
• Check fan belts
• Check amperage draw
• Check furnace filters
• Check safety devices
• Check heat anticipators
• Check thermostat contacts
• Check limit control
• Inspect combustion chamber
• Check blower wheel
• Check blower motor and lube
• Check furnace wiring
• Check for combustion air
• Check hot water tank
• Check gas valve operation
• Test for gas leaks
• Check humidifier
• Check electrical connections
• Inspect heat exchanger for leaks
• Check motors and oil if necessary
• Check any/all accessories
• Check and secure all panels
• Check thermostat and calibrate if necessary

If all has gone well, you should now have a fully functional and efficient furnace system. You can rest assured that this winter your home will be full of warmth and your wallet will be full of the extra cash you saved by being a proactive homeowner.

Many but not all heating and cooling companies offer a variety of services that add additional comfort to your home. For instance their is the sale and installation of boilers and hot water tanks. But there is also a few items such as filters, air cleaners, humidifiers, UV germicidal lights and more that can help improve the indoor air quality in your home. In addition to having cleaner air you can reduce the germs and nuisances that aggravate allergies.

More than that though some HVAC companies offer air duct cleaning and attic insulation services. Each year during the spring and fall seasons take time to take inventory of your home and see what products may make a difference for the comfort and health of your family. A qualified, professional heating and air conditioning company can have a lot to offer in terms of energy savings and better overall home comfort with products you may not have though about before.

• Check the rain gutters- leaves and debris can stop up the gutters disabling them from draining properly.
• Add extensions to the downspouts- extensions will carry the water collected in the gutters further away from the foundation to an area of less saturation.
• Check the window wells- if they do not drain properly, install new water-tight covers
• Seal cracks in the driveway and foundation walls- caulk or cement can be used to seal these areas depending on size and depth
• Check the sump pump- repair and existing one, install a new one, or install a back up sump pump to protect against failure

Finally, if your flooding problem continues then this may be the time to hire outside help. There are professional contractors out there who can waterproof your basement against seepage and flooding. Floods will keep reoccurring if you do not take the necessary steps to safeguard your home.

One of the things we often neglect is the many items in our homes which are plugged in even though we are not using them. While our AC is running all day so is our computer, DVD player and video game consoles. Maybe the blender and toaster are still plugged in from the last time you used them. Because cooling our homes in summer and heating our homes in winter account for much of our energy cost it is important for people who would like to stay within a certain budget to look for ways to save energy and thus save money on their utility bills.

Because temperatures can change drastically from year to year it can be very helpful to practice take the little steps to save energy since you can’t anticipate what those costs will be. Not everyone has an energy efficient furnace or air conditioning system in their home so the more steps you take such as using a programmable thermostat can save you greater amounts of money over time.

When it comes to choosing a heating and cooling contractor many people go with the company that first installed their furnace or air conditioning unit. When you have that past experience with a company that can be very helpful. If the company that did the installation has done a good job you are more likely to seek them out in the future or refer them to your friends and family. If you know someone who has just had a new furnace installed in the last couple of years you may want to get their opinion on whether or not you should contact that HVAC contractor.

If you call any heating or air conditioning company they should be able to point you to testimonials on their website or a consumer review site online with testimonials. Even if you see a negative review online remember that the anonymity behind customer reviews makes them harder to validate and nearly every review site gives companies the ability to work with customers to solve any issues. If you see a review keep in mind that any complaints should be relevant to tangible things such as details about service or installation and not about vague issues.

It’s great to find a heating and cooling company that will come to your home at any hour of the day any day of the week. But it is also good to know you won’t pay more for that convenience. Choose your HVAC company wisely and look for a company that is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Even though it may seem like an emergency, take the time to search out a qualified air conditioning repair company. When it comes to 24 hour emergency repair not all companies may deliver the same results.

It is estimated that in recent years the cost of air conditioner thefts has totaled nearly a billion dollars. This estimate reflects the cost of the original unit and the replacement unit as well. What makes this crime even more unfortunate is that in comparison there is very little value in the scrap contained in air conditioners, approximately $80.00 per unit.

Call your local HVAC contractor or Home Services contractor to find an security enclosure for your air conditioner.

In the not so distant future, central air conditioning and furnace systems that draw power from solar energy panels will be on the market. The ultimate benefit for homeowners is that they can reduce their reliance on electricity.  By reducing electricity consumption many home owners will see significant savings.  The cost savings can be enough 0ver several years to help cover the cost of installation of the solar panel equipment. Additionally if the installation is tied to the grid of your local electric company excess power produced by your system will  be fed back to the grid, in most cases allowing you to earn a credit from your local utility company.