Richardson TX Heating Company tips to help you get ready for winter

Richardson TX Heating Company owner Steve Lauten, President of Total Air and Heat Co., offers some tips to help you get ready for Winter.

What you need to know about your heating system:

Many homeowners do not realize the importance of checking their heating system on a yearly basis.  Like many things in your home, the heating system is typically ignored until it breaks.  Lack of maintenance is costing you money from higher utility bills, shortening equipment life, and can be a serious safety issue.  Natural gas prices are projected to increase by 30% this year.  Electric rates will likely rise as Natural Gas prices increase.  Most Utility companies use Natural Gas to generate electricity.  If your heating and air conditioning system is over 10 years of age, you may want to consider calling your contractor for a free Energy Audit.  In many cases the cost of a new system is offset by lower utility bills.  We highly recommend a professional inspect your system for safety and proper operation on a yearly basis.  Numerous studies have been performed by Colleges and the Utility Industry.  All reached the same conclusion.  Having your system professionally cleaned and checked on a yearly basis will save you more in reduced energy bills than the cost of having the maintenance performed.  In addition the life of your equipment is extended, and the reliability is increased.

Listed below are some tips about maintaining your existing system and information about new systems.  I have listed the recommended maintenance based on system type.

All maintenance should always be performed with the power turned off at the unit.  Some electric heat systems have more than 1 circuit.  Be sure to turn all circuits off to your unit before doing any maintenance.  You should always follow the safety instructions that came with your furnace.  Most furnaces have instructions on the outside of the furnace, or located in the burner compartment.  Please be careful, and if in doubt call a professional.

Natural Gas/Propane Furnaces:

The location of your filter depends on the type of furnace you have.  Most furnaces that have an internal filter will require you to remove the panel in front of the furnace blower.  Typically furnaces have 1 door in front of the blower, and 1 in front of the burners.  The door in front of the blower should be solid with no louvers on it.  Remove the door and access the filter.  After replacing the filter be sure it goes back into place properly.  Most present day furnaces have a door interlock switch.  If you do not replace the door properly the furnace will not run.  Some horizontal furnaces which are designed for attics only have 1 access door, that being the 1 in front of the blower.  Many newer systems have a filter box located under the furnace or at the end of the furnace.  This allows you to replace the filter without removing any panels on the furnace.  Be absolutely certain to not mix the access panel for the blower with the access panel for the burners.  With some older style furnaces this is possible.  If this happens serious damage will occur to your furnace.  Carbon monoxide can enter your home, and the furnace could catch on fire.
Standard 1” Filters should be replaced every 1-2 months.  I recommend you consider upgrading to a pleated filter.  Several types are available at most Home Improvement/Hardware stores.  These filters last about 3 months and  catch much smaller particles.  To test how good your filter is, take a salt shaker, and sprinkle salt on the filter.  If any salt falls through the filter, you need a better filter.  The salt represents dust particles that are too small for your filter to catch. Any dust your filter does not catch, passes into your furnace and duct work.  Other filter options include a 4” pleated filter which typically only needs to be changed 1 time per year, electronic air cleaners which require cleaning every 2-3 months and stand alone HEPA filter systems which can provide Hospital Operating Room quality air.  Recently we have started offering carbon filters in 1” and 4” sizes.  The advantage of the carbon filters is they catch the same amount of dust as pleated filters, plus absorb odors.  Call us for details about filters.  We would be happy to mail you free literature.
Remove the burner cover.  Most newer style furnaces have a access door with louvers that provides combustion air to the burners.  Some horizontal furnaces have a burner cover instead of a door with louvers.  We want you to check your burner area for rust and corrosion.  Depending on the type of furnace you have, rust and corrosion can fall on the burners and prevent proper operation.  If you see rust and corrosion, I recommend a professional check the furnace for a cracked heat exchanger.  All the rust and corrosion you see is from the heat exchanger.  It is possible for your heat exchanger to form cracks or holes in it.  If this occurs, it is possible for Carbon Monoxide to enter your home.  It is also possible for the flames from the burners to leak outside the burner area and cause a fire.  It is very important to make sure no combustible items are stored on or near your furnace.  If you decide to clean your burners yourself, be sure to turn the gas off to your furnace.  You should have a manual shut off located on the gas line to your furnace.
After making sure your burners are clean, you will need to light your pilot.  Most furnaces manufactured after 1992 do not have a manual pilot.  Some have spark ignition, and the most recent furnaces have hot surface ignition which does use a pilot light.  This is a great reason to upgrade your furnace, no pilot to worry about and much more energy efficient.  Your furnace should have directions on the outside of the furnace telling you how to light your pilot light. Many consumers have trouble figuring out where the pilot light is, and where to put the match to light the pilot. The best way to understand the way to light a pilot is to follow the copper colored thermocouple which runs to the actual pilot assembly.  Most gas valves are silver colored and has your gas pipe directly attached to it.  Leaving the gas valve is a large pipe, (typically black) which runs to your burners.  The gas valve also has a small copper colored tube running to the pilot light.  If your pilot is not already on, find the knob on the gas valve (typically red) and see which position is it in.  On the gas valve their should be markings which says Off, Pilot, and On.