Hot water heaters are some of the overlooked home appliances in North American dwellings. It is something normally overlooked until something fails. It is generally on a cold wintertime day that you turn on the shower longer than usual and discover a lack of hot water. That’s when we start to panic looking for the nearest local boiler service company to deal with the dilemma.

How To Prolong The Lifetime of a Tankless Hot Water

Most hot water heaters last about 10 years, after which you can expect to replace it before long. A substitution tank could be purchased at your nearby home improvement shop when the time is right if that’s what you want. The duration of these heaters can be extended either with an insulating jacket or by making certain the calcium debris in the tank are kept at a minimum. A sensible homeowner will follow one or both suggestions to postpone the inescapable boiler repair bills.

While you may recognize the need of replacing a tank that has seen better days, you could possibly wonder why exactly that is a necessary step well before the unit reaching its typical life span limit.

Replacing The Water Heater Saves Money

The major advantage of installing a new hot water tank is the cost savings on your home heating costs. New water heaters improve all the time and you can expect a brand new one to be way more efficient than the older one. You will discover a couple of things to consider together with your new purchase if you need to take full advantage of your savings which is how much use it will be exposed to.

An well informed heating specialist can help you work out the size and capacity of a new hot water tank determined by the number of individuals in your family. After all, more people in the house means added hot water usage.

Different Kinds of Hot Water Tanks

Commonly, they are grouped into two kinds – natural gas and electric. Gas water heaters are frequently more expensive to purchase and the electric ones are usually roughly the same value at first, but frequently slightly less to get. A lot of people opt for the standard water heater tank, but tankless hot water heaters are likewise gaining recognition, so you might want to take a look at the latter sort of hot water heater.

No matter which kind you opt for, gas powered or electric, you’ll be able to choose the on-demand water heater version. Or perhaps for those who prefer to go green you may take a look at solar water heaters, that greatly diminish the harmful by-products released by other heating models. There is one catch, though – solar heating systems can be awkward to setup, so make certain you employ the right contractor for the work.

Regardless of what type you select for a new hot water tank, it’s best to look closely at hiring the services of a heating company for the job. A hot water tank replacement requires specialized know-how and an understanding of local codes for ventilation and generally safe functioning. Should you be unfamiliar in that type of work then don’t joepardise your budget or your loved ones wellbeing with a hap-hazard attempt at any such work..

Cleaning the heating vents or as many people like to call them… ducts, enhances the quality of air in the home. Dirty vents; keep the occupants in a home at a constant danger of contracting respiratory complications.

Therefore, furnace ducts or furnace vents should always stay clean so that the homeowner can protect himself and the other occupants from the following health hazards.

Health Hazards in Dirty Heating Ducts

To begin with, dirty ducts pollute the air inside the home. Once there is air pollution, the occupants are at risk of contracting numerous illnesses. Unbelievably, 50 percent of all diseases come from polluted air inside the house. Add that to the fact that about 60 to 90 percent of people spend most of their time in the house while with the windows and doors closed for the better part of the day, and you see how, unclean heating vents can easily lead to health problems. Dirty vent ducts also expose people to allergies due to the constant exposure to fungi and other pathogens. Therefore, this explains why many people suffer from respiratory illnesses.

Actually, seniors in a residential home with dirty ducts increases their chances of contracting Asthma, which means that such people would remain safer outdoors rather than indoors. Apart from seniors, children breathe faster, inhale more air in very breath they take, and they spend a lot of time close to the ground heightening their chances of catching illnesses associated with untidy ducts. Fortunately, homeowners can avoid such problems and illnesses by cleaning the ducts to keep the air fresh after every five years, the maximum time required before you call a duct cleaning company. The best way to remedy dust build-up is to hire a heating or furnace repair company who can also clean the vents.

Central Heating Vents

Fundamentally, this system is usually placed in one specific part of the house to supply warmth to all the other rooms inside the house or office. To provide the heat, the central system uses furnace vents. The heat ducts play a major role by providing the entire house with warm and clean air especially during cold seasons thereby giving the homeowner a better alternative as compared to heating the home using logs, coal and other fuels. However, to ensure that the warmth produced does not pose any threat to the health of the occupants; homeowners must clean the vents regularly.

Another area to consider when getting this type of service done is the dryer vent for your laundry machine. With constant use the dryer accumulates lint that can easily catch fire thus you should consider regular dryer vent cleaning. In fact, of all the elements in this kind of system, a plugged dryer stands out as a fire hazard.

Conclusion

Duct cleaning for central heating vents helps in keeping the house safe from health and fire hazard. Homeowners who cannot find time for cleaning can hire a professional cleaner. Overall, a residential home with clean furnace ducts offers a safe environment to the occupants in all seasons. Therefore, ensure that you clean your system regularly.

For most of us who live where winters get cold, there is no other option but to have a well functioning comfort system in our homes. Nevertheless, it can get expensive having a Vancouver plumber or heating technician come to the house to effect repairs. Everyone should be able to do some simple repairs, but not everyone knows how. Here are a few simple tips about furnace repair that can save the budget.

Regular Maintenance of Your Heating  System

Just like most of us have regular maintenance performed on our vehicles, maintenance is also important on a central heating system. There are many things that homeowners can do, but there is nothing wrong with signing a maintenance contract with a local professional furnace service. For many, boiler service once a year is sufficient, but don’t let it go beyond two years.

Increase Energy Efficiency

If you have not already done so, take some time now to increase energy efficiency of radiant heat being used. When heat is being lost through cracks around windows and doors, money is being wasted in higher energy bills. It is not difficult to caulk around these cracks and keep the home warm and toasty when the weather outside is cold. Ask local plumbers for advice about other tips to keep the cost of heating your home as low as possible.

Do-It-Yourself

Sometimes, the only thing wrong with forced air furnace is that the pilot light has gone out. It is easy enough to check to see if this has happened, and just as easy to follow the instructions on the furnace to re-light it. Thermostats that operate on battery power may just need replacement batteries to keep them working properly. Then again, a check of the circuit breaker or fuse box may turn up the culprit.

Central Heating Help

When all else fails, one should never be embarrassed to call in reinforcements. Professional furnace cleaning technicians are always there to help. If all the basics have been checked and problems still exist, boiler service from trained plumbers may be the only thing left to do. Unless you are absolutely sure you know how to do repairs, it is worth spending a little on furnace repair rather than risking doing further damage to the system.

Time to Update

There comes a time when all heating systems must be replaced. After years of giving good service, it can cost more than the unit is worth to continue repairing it. When this time comes, the only sensible thing to do is update it to a newer version with a new furnace installation. Besides, newer units are more energy efficient and the savings will help pay for the unit with lower energy bills. They also require fewer costly repairs which spells even more savings.

Living in cold climates should not mean anyone has to be uncomfortable in their home. By maintaining the heating system in good condition, this will never happen. Homeowners can affect many repairs on their own, but it never hurts to have the phone number of a good North Vancouver plumber handy just in case.

Getting your hands dirty on a furnace repairs task is something most of us would be happy to hand over to a professional. That said, it is a good idea to get the basics of how to repair a furnace yourself in case of emergencies. With winter approaching fast, you have to ensure that the heating system in the entire house is in order. If it suddenly gives out in the middle of a stormy or chilly night, getting a mechanic right away might be difficult. Some basic furnace repair skills would come in handy in such situations.

A look at Some Basic DIY Furnace Repair Tips:

DIY furnace repair tips – #1 – Check the motor – The first thing to do is to check the motor and see if it working properly or not. It may need oiling or the belt may need adjustments. Either way motor malfunctioning will lead to fan not working and thereby low or zero transmission of heat or air. This is true for electric as well as gas furnaces. Periodic maintenance will ensure that your motor is in working condition and can be repaired in emergencies. In more serious cases, it will have to be replaced but for that you need a professional contractor.

DIY furnace repair tips – #2 – Check the pump or air control – If you feel that your furnace is not generating the adequate amount of heat then check the pump as well as the air control mechanism. Make sure that the pump is regularly oiled and checked for performance. Problems in this area will lead to low heat generation and lack of hot air transfer inside the house. Defective parts also mean that you end up using more energy than required and later pay for serious damages.

DIY furnace repair tips – #3 – Check the air filter or gas burner – A blocked gas burner or a dirty air filter are chief causes of low heat generation from the furnace. Regular checking and maintenance is required to ensure proper machine function as well as avert any kind of disasters. Simply cleaning the air filter from time to time will do the trick. Make sure the gas burner is clean and well-adjusted so that the furnace is always in proper working condition. In case of emergencies these simple tricks will see you through the night before professional help arrive.

DIY furnace repair tips – #4 – Clean the furnace – A clean furnace is much safer than a dirty one will last much longer. Just because the furnace is tucked away in the basement or a closet somewhere out of sight, doesn’t mean you can let it collect dust. One of the worst enemies of a gas fired furnace is dust. It’s a simple matter of taking your vacuum to the furnace and clearing it of dust and cobwebs. Do the furnaces cleaning job once a year in the warm months when the unit is turned off and it will repay you with a longer healthier life.

Apart from the blower motor, air filter, and the pump the other things that you need to check are the thermostat and the fan control system. Of course, not everything can be easily repaired by amateurs but the basic knowledge will at least hold fort till you get the whole thing fixed or taken care of.

Furnace maintenance is very important to avert disasters like fire, to prevent health problems from suffocating or stale air. Most housing laws also demand that you get your furnace checked periodically by state certified inspectors so that these situations do not arise. In case there is a problem and the old furnace is on its last legs then you should consider hiring someone for furnace installation to replace your furnace.

Most housing laws also demand that you get your furnace checked periodically by state certified inspectors so that these situations do not arise. In case there is a problem you can hire a Furnace Repair Toronto contractor to repair or replace your furnace.

Looking for some quick tips on how to keep your gas furnace in tip-top shape this winter? This furnace tune up guide will answer all of your questions, including how to turn on a furnace, how to change a furnace filter, how to test a furnace’s airflow, what to do if a furnace doesn’t ignite, and much more.

A) How to Turn On Your Gas Furnace

It sounds easy, but believe it or not, many people don’t know how to turn their furnace on or off. Here’s a simple, step-by-step breakdown:

• Find the breaker for your furnace. It’s part of the electrical panel, which is usually located in your basement, utility room or garage. The breaker should be clearly labeled with a gas furnace sticker. Turn the breaker to the “On” position.
• Locate and turn on the furnace switch. It is typically somewhere near the bottom of your basement stairs – sometimes in the ceiling, sometimes in the furnace room itself, and usually at eye level or slightly higher.
• Set your thermostat. Check that the furnace is on and then make sure that the selector switch is set to “Heat”. Finally, adjust your set point temperature, and that’s it – your furnace is turned and ready to heat your home!

B) How to Check and Change Your Furnace Filter

Proper maintenance of your furnace filter can help optimize airflow from your furnace, which will keep it running efficiently and economically during the coldest months of the year. To prevent burnout of your furnace parts, we recommend inspecting your filter monthly and changing it every three to six months. Here’s how it’s done:

• Begin by carefully opening the furnace’s external rack or panel door.
• Remove the furnace filter by sliding it out. Take a look at the filter to see if there’s any darkness or discoloration.
• If you can’t see through the filter, it’s definitely time for a new one. Slide the new filter into the furnace, making sure that it is installed in the direction of the airflow. And that’s it – you’re done!

C) How to Test Your Furnace’s Airflow

If a room in your house is too cold during the winer, it might be because your furnace isn’t supplying enough warm air through the registers in that particular room. There’s a simple way to test the airflow from your furnace registers to make sure they are working properly — the garbage bag airflow test.

The test is a quick way to estimate airflow by determining how long it takes to fill a common plastic garbage bag. While it is not a precise measurement, it is better than no measurement at all and will give you a good ideas as to whether you need to call a technician to look at your ductwork.

To do the garbage bag airflow test:

• Tape the mouth of the garbage bag to a coat hanger or piece of cardboard to keep it open.
• Crush the bag flat and place it over the register or exhaust hood.
• Count the number of seconds it takes for the bag to fully inflate.

If the inflation time is:

• 2 seconds = 37 L/s (75 cfm)
• 4 seconds = 20 L/s (40 cfm)
• 10 seconds = 10 L/s (20 cfm)

If the measured airflow is less than 10 L/s, the furnace is delivering only a small amount of heat to a room and needs to be further inspected to determine why the heat is not going through.

The garbage bag airflow test is also useful if you have changed your heating or cooling systems or have made major renovations to your house.

D) If Your Gas Furnace Fails to Ignite

If you can hear that your furnace is on and the fan is running, but all you’re getting is cold air, you likely have ignition failure. Try resetting your furnace by turning the switch to off for at least ten seconds, then, turning it on again. If that doesn’t do the trick, give your HVAC contractor a call.

E) Furnace Troubleshooting Checklist

Think your gas furnace has quit? You could save yourself the cost of a no-heat service call by checking the following:

Is the furnace switch in the on position? It may have been turned off by mistake.

• Is the thermostat properly set to the “heat” position and the temperature set to your normal heat setting?
• Is the furnace venting blocked by snow or ice? If so, try to remove the blockage.
• Are the programmable thermostat batteries fresh?
• Is the circuit breaker in the electric panel in the proper position?
• Is the furnace door properly closed?
• Has the filter been changed recently? If you’ve checked everything on the list and your furnace still isn’t working, give your local HVAC contractor a call, and they’ll get your furnace back up and running as soon as possible.

F) How to Properly Remove Vent Blockages

If you become aware of a furnace problem that might involve the exterior vent, do a quick inspection and see if any snow, ice or some common household item might be blocking the vent. If so, before removing the obstruction, head inside first and turn the off the power to your furnace. Now, you can safely clear away whatever is blocking your exterior vent. Once you’re done, turn your furnace back on using either the breaker or the switch.

A lack of airflow through the furnace’s interior vents could mean your furnace fan motor has seized. If this has happened, don’t try to fix the problem yourself – contact the expert furnace repair technicians at your local HVAC contractor.

G) How to Stop Air Leaks and Prevent Heat Loss

Air leaks account for a significant amount of a home’s heat loss in winter – resulting in increased heating costs as your furnace constantly tries to replace the warm air that has escaped from your home. Fixing these leaks will save you money on your heating bills.

To stop leaks around windows and doors:

• Remove the trims carefully.
• Fill large cracks or gaps with foam backer rod, oakum, or expanding polyurethane foam.
• Replace the trims and caulk along the edges.

To stop leaks along baseboards:

• Caulk along the seams without removing the baseboard.
• Remove the baseboard and caulk between the wall and the floor.

To stop leaks around electrical outlets on outside walls:

• Turn off power to the outlet and remove the outlet cover.\Install a foam insulating pad.
• Replace the outlet cover turn the power back on to the outlet.

To stop leaks in an unfinished basement:

• Caulk under the basement sill plate and around the joists with a rubber-based caulking or acoustical sealant.
• Caulk any gaps where ducts enter a wall or ceiling.
• Insulate ducts with preformed wraps or duct-taped insulation batts.

To stop leaks in your attic:

• Seal any cracks.
• Weather strip your attic door and close it tightly.

H) If a Gas Smell is Detected

In the unlikely event that you smell something like a rotten egg smell, you could have a gas leak. Don’t turn on any electrical switches and open all of your windows. Then, go to a neighbor’s house and contact your HVAC contractor or your local gas provider immediately.

If you find all of this a little overwhelming then you can do what thousands of other homeowners do which is call a local plumber. You can easily find a reputable furnace tune up contractor by doing a little research on the reviews you find online.