What’s that noise?
Boom! Clank! Creak! Is your furnace making funny noises? There are a few noises associated with operation that are completely normal, but there are others that can be the first indication that something is seriously wrong with your HVAC system.
If you hear one of the following noises, turn off your equipment immediately and get in touch with your local heating and cooling contractor.
Loud clicking. This can be very problematic. It can indicate that your ignition system has failed. Your unit should automatically shut off, but monitor the situation to make sure.
Squealing. This can mean that a component in your unit, like your blower, is loose or malfunctioning.
Metal rubbing metal. This may indicate that a component has come loose and is scraping against another component!
Rattling. This can alert you to loose ductwork or another loose component in your furnace (depending on where the noise is coming from).
Pops and bangs. If it is coming from your ductwork, this may be normal. Temperature changes in your ductwork can cause it to expand and contract, resulting in the popping noises. However, if it is coming from your furnace, this can indicate a failed or dirty component.
Scratching or buzzing. No one wants to think that there may be things lurking in their ductwork. But, if you hear scratching or buzzing, it could mean that an animal or insect has made their home in your air distribution system.
Remember, these noises can mean that there is a MAJOR problem with your heating system. If the sound you hear persists, turn off your equipment and give your local professional a call. DIY maintenance and repairs are NEVER encouraged. DIY solutions can create major problems that affect system performance. Not to mention, it can be dangerous.
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Properly operating your heating equipment during the winter.
There’s nothing better than walking into a warm home on a cold winter day, especially if you get to cozy up in front of a warm fireplace. Your furnace is so important during the colder months – if it’s not working, no one is happy.
Whether it is a gas furnace, radiator or fireplace, you want to make sure that you follow proper safety precautions when heating your home. According to the United States Fire Administration, heating is the SECOND leading cause of house fires (cooking takes first place). Here are some tips to keep you, your home and your family safe during the heating season.
Create a 3-feet safety circle around any heat source. Make sure you keep anything that may burn out of this circle and make it a “kid-free zone.” This may be a no-brainer for something like a fireplace, but equipment, such as space heaters, can get just as hot and cause serious burns.
NEVER use your oven to heat your home.
Make sure you always turn portable heating equipment off when you leave a room or go to sleep at night.
If you have a portable space heater that runs on fuel, make sure you always use the correct fuel.
Make sure you have a safety screen in front of your fireplace and be sure to check your smoke alarms at least once a month.
You should have a contractor come out to clean and inspect your furnace yearly – preferably in the fall. Winter may be in full swing now, but it is never too late to make sure your equipment is running efficiently and safely. While you’re at it, make sure you have someone come and clean out your chimney as well.
If you want to schedule a furnace inspection with a local contractor, remember it’s never too late. You may even want to pencil in a reminder for next fall. Not only can a clean and check during the fall ensure your gas furnace is running safely, but it can also make sure your equipment is running efficiently – saving you money during the peak heating season.
Do you do all of these safety checks during the winter? What else would you add to this list?
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Do you know how to safely operate your space heater?
Are you using an electric space heater to compensate for cold spots in your home? Cold spots can be a drag for comfort. You invested in a quality heating system, you shouldn’t HAVE to deal with uneven temperatures.
Uneven temperatures can be caused by a lot of things. They could be due to duct placement, drafty windows and doors, number of windows, where the room is located,etc. This is when a space heater may come into play. These can be great TEMPORARY solutions, but you also have to exercise caution. Space heaters can consume a lot of energy, and they can become a danger to your home if left unattended.
While a space heater can be a good temporary fix, there are more permanent, safer solutions that you should look into. If you are using a space heater as a temporary solution, here are some things to keep in mind.
- Make sure you have a least three feet of clearance around the unit.
- Never leave it unattended.
- Keep it out of the reach of children and pets – it gets hot!
- Invest in a newer model that includes safety features.
- Do not leave flammable materials around the heater.
- Plug it directly into the wall.
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How clean is your indoor air?
Here’s a scary thought…the quality of our indoor air is often lower than the air quality outside. Every day our home is bombarded with all sorts of things that can lower indoor air quality: dust, dirt, allergens, chemicals in cleaners, etc. AND our houses may be filled with materials that can trap those undesirable particles in our home, like carpet.
There are things you can do to really improve air quality. you can use natural cleaners, avoid air fresheners, vacuum regularly and invest in quality HVAC products.
But, there are also things you may not realize can improve indoor air quality – like house plants. Here are some plants that can spruce up your home AND improve your air quality. Just please make sure, if you have puppies or kitties, to check the pet friendliness of the plant you choose. Improved indoor air quality is no good if it harms our furry friends.
- Aloe Vera
- Ficus
- Garden Mum
- Spider Plant
- Gebera Daisy
- Dracaena
- Snake Plant
- Peace Lily
- Bamboo Palm
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Do you know what to do after you buy a new furnace?
You’ve done your research, contacted a contractor and had a new furnace installed…do you know what to do next? Like other home improvement projects, there are some additional steps you should take after you have a furnace installed. Heating equipment is expensive; you want to make sure you are protecting your investment.
Here are some things that you should look into after you buy a gas furnace.
Ask about your warranty. Is it your responsibility to register it, or does your contractor take care of that? Many homeowners don’t realize that their warranty has to be registered in order to get complete coverage. If you have a Maytag unit, start here.
See if you qualify for local rebates. This can help cut some of those upfront costs. Local rebates can vary from city to city, state to state and country to country. DSIRE is a good place to start searching for local rebates if you are in the United States.
See if you quality for a manufacturer rebate. Oftentimes, manufacturers will offer rebates on high-efficiency equipment. Make sure you check out the manufacturer’s website to see if there are any current rebates or promotions.
Check to see if you qualify for tax credits. If you’ve invested in a high-efficiency furnace, you may qualify for a United States federal tax credit. The ENERGY STAR website has a complete breakdown of the 2014, 2015 and 2016 tax credits.
Sign up for a maintenance agreement with your local contractor. You may not know this, but routine maintenance is often a condition of your warranty. Luckily, many contractors offer ongoing maintenance agreements. This way you won’t forget to schedule an appointment for your furnace when the fall rolls around.
Store your paperwork in a safe place. There is a lot of paperwork that comes with buying a new furnace – warranty information, product information, maintenance agreements, etc. Make sure you keep them in a safe place so you can reference them later.
Remember, your local contractor can also guide you through this process. Follow these steps and your furnace will be protected now and for many years to come.
Think back to the last time you bought a furnace. Did you make sure to do all of these things?
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Are you planning on going on vacation this winter?
Trips are definitely fun! But, before you get in the car and head to your destination, you need to make sure your heating and air conditioning equipment is programmed appropriately. After all, you want to make sure that you aren’t wasting money heating an empty home.
You might think that the most obvious solution is to turn off your heating and cooling equipment. But, this can pose some serious problems, particularly during the winter. Problems such as:
- Burst water pipes
- No air circulation
- No indoor allergens and air pollutant control
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Are you looking for some simple ways to improve efficiency and comfort?
Make sure you start by improving the airflow of your heating and cooling equipment. Obstructed airflow can signal the death of efficiency and system performance. It makes your equipment work harder to heat or cool your home, putting a strain on critical components, reducing lifespan, raising bills and hindering home comfort.
Improving airflow is not a hard thing to do. The trickiest part is remembering to do all of the things on this list. Here are our suggestions for improving airflow.
Keep registers and vents open at all times. Do you think it’s important to close registers and vents in rooms that don’t necessarily need heating and cooling power? Don’t! Your equipment is designed to heat or cool a certain amount of space. Closing vents and registers alters this load.
Have a contractor come and clean your equipment. You may be able to get away with using a hose to get some debris off of your outdoor equipment. However, you should always have a contractor come out to clean your indoor equipment. A not for outdoor equipment: NEVER use a power washer! This can damage components of your unit, your coil in particular.
Regularly change your furnace filter. Not changing your furnace filter often enough can kill airflow, especially if you have pets. A dirty filter decreases indoor air quality and may affect the health of your family. Make sure you are changing your furnace filter once a season, at the VERY minimum. Under certain conditions, it may be prudent to change your furnace filter once a month.
Have a contractor come out and inspect your ductwork. Once a year, you should have a contractor come out and inspect your ductwork to look for any collapses or blockages. This can not only improve airflow, but indoor air quality as well. Plus, it is a good place to look for any problems that you may not be able to see, like rodents or mold.
Always plant two feet away from your outdoor equipment. This is something you’ll want to keep in mind during the spring planting season! It’s important that you give you outdoor air conditioner or heat pump proper clearance. Plants can invade your unit, affect performance and damage equipment.
Of course, the bets way to improve efficiency and performance is upgrading to a new high-efficiency unit. Make sure you get in touch with a local heating and cooling contractor if you want a new system or are looking to improve airflow.
What do you do to improve airflow?
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Need to replace your heating equipment? Look into your heat pump options.
Don’t let where you live stop you from looking into all of your heating options. Efficient heat pumps can more than meet your comfort demands year round – whether you live in the North or the South.
However, there are still some things that you should take into consideration. Your situation is going to be unique when compared to another homeowner’s situation. Here are some questions you should be asking yourself if you are considering a heat pump and not a gas furnace.
– Is gas more expensive than electricity in your area?
– Do you want fuel flexibility?
– Do you find yourself using emergency electric-powered heating methods (space heaters, heat strips, etc.)?
– Do you live in an area with mild/cold springs and falls?
– Does the weather around you fluctuate frequently?
If you answered “yes” to these questions, a heat pump may be the right option for your home. Remember, heat pumps are preferable to other electric heating methods because they operate through the principles of heat transfer and not heat creation – a more cost-effective method of electric heat. Ultimately, you should seek out a recommendation from your local heating and air conditioning contractor.
Do you operate with a heat pump only?
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Are you concerned about a smell coming through your ductwork?
Your furnace is critical for comfort during the colder months. And, it’s important that you are aware of the things that could indicate a problem – like certain smells. While many smells may be harmless, there are a few that can indicate a problem that needs immediate attention. It’s important to know when to take action or monitor a situation to make sure it doesn’t persist.
Here are some common smells, what they may indicate and what your next step should be if you smell them coming through your ductwork.
Smoke. Even if smoke isn’t coming from your furnace, you should still leave the house and get help.
Natural Gas. Natural gas does not actually have a smell, but a sulfuric odor is added so you can tell if there’s a leak. If you smell natural gas, get everyone out of the house and call the gas company or 911. Do not fiddle with any electrical equipment and make sure to wait until you are out of the house to call for help. A spark could ignite the gas.
Moldy. This could be a sign that you need to change one of the filters in your equipment. If you have access to the filter, go ahead and change it. If the smell continues, call a contractor so they can diagnose the problem.
Burning Dust. This is the smell that is often associated with first kicking on your gas furnace for the season. As long as it does not last very long, it is not a cause for concern. Like the moldy smell, make sure you call a contractor if it does not go away.
Electrical Burning Smell or Melting Rubber/Plastic. This could be a potential fire hazard and indicate a malfunctioning component of your equipment. The first step you should take is to check your registers (something may have fallen in a register). If you cannot find anything, make sure you call a local heating and cooling contractor for next steps and diagnosis.
The best way to to make sure that none of these problems occur during the heating season is to schedule preventative maintenance in the fall. If you forget, make sure you pencil in a reminder next year.
Have you ever experienced any of these smells? How did you handle it?
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Do you have any goals related to your home comfort for 2017?
Next time you hear from us it will be 2017! Do you have any home heating resolutions for the New Year? I know, I know… it’s not your typical “eat healthy” or “go to the gym” goals that we hear flying around at the beginning of each year. But, having some home heating goals can actually free up some money in your pocket and help you achieve those other, more personal goals.
So, what are you hoping to accomplish in 2017? Here are a couple of things we recommend.
- Replace an old furnace with a newer model.
- Make sure to schedule preventative maintenance.
- Keep equipment free from debris that could restrict airflow.
- Change the furnace filter at least once a month.
- Make sure all registers are open to allow proper airflow and circulation.
- Reduce energy consumption by lowering the temperature the thermostat is set at by a few degrees
- Upgrade to a programmable or Wi-Fi enabled thermostat for improved comfort control.
- Invest in energy-efficient windows to avoid heat loss.
- Add insulation to the attic to prevent heat loss.
- Schedule a duct cleaning with a local contractor to make sure the family has the freshest air possible.