Keeping Warm In Winter
Here are a few simple tips that can save you dollars.
# Set your thermostat as low as is comfortable. Keep the temperature fairly constant, as frequent changes will utilize more energy by causing unnecessary cycling on and off. Setting back the temperature at night, however, is recommended. Note: A Programmable Thermostat is an easy answer to controlling temperature settings inside your home.
# Clean or replace furnace filters once a month or as often as needed.
# Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters and radiators as needed. Make sure they are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
# Keep draperies and shades on south-facing windows open during the heating season to allow sunlight to enter your home, close them at night to reduce the chill you may feel from cold windows.
# Use kitchen, bath and other ventilating fans wisely. Turn these fans off as soon as they are no longer needed. In about 1 hour, these fans can pull out a house-full of warmed or cooled air. They can also pull dangerous furnace combustion gasses into the house in some situations.
# Make sure you have a good seal around windows, doors, electrical outlets and other places that can be a source for an air leak.
# On the outside of your home, use a high-quality caulk to seal around all windows and doors where the frames meet exterior siding or brick.
# Inside your home, use weather stripping and gaskets to seal around the moving parts of windows and doors and around electrical outlets.
h2. Twelve Point Winter Service Checks:
When you call Schaafsma for a service check on your furnace, you can be assured that the technician who comes to your home will check your complete system. The following is a 12-point checklist he will use to complete his analysis and service.
# Heat Exchanger - Your heat exchanger develops cracks with age. Cracks increase the risk of serious illness from toxic fumes being emitted into your home.
# Burners - Dirty burners cause poor combustion ... meaning you're paying for useful heat that escapes up the chimney.
# Safety Controls - Safety controls not operating properly can cause dangerous conditions.
# Thermocouple or Flame Sensor - The thermocouple is a safety device that causes the furnace to shut down. Weak thermocouples will be replaced. For furnaces without a thermocouple, the flame sensor will be checked and adjusted.
# Pilot - Weak or dirty pilots can easily be extinguished, causing your furnace to shut down on safety controls. Your pilot will be cleaned and adjusted if necessary.
# Fan & Limit - If a fan switch is not adjusted properly, short cycling can waste energy and cause personal discomfort. The fan and limit will be checked and adjusted if necessary.
# Thermostat - A defective or improperly-calibrated thermostat affects comfort and operating costs. The thermostat is checked and calibrated as required.
# Air Filters - Dirty filters will restrict air flow and increase operating costs. Air filters will be replaced at the customer's discretion.
# Blowers -Bearings-Lubrication - Clean blowers and scheduled lubrication will ensure longer equipment life and energy savings. Lubrication on a schedule is a necessity.
# Blowers & Belts - Proper air flow is important for comfort and effective operating costs. Blowers and belts will be checked and adjusted or replaced if necessary. Blowers & Belts - Proper air flow is important for comfort and effective operating costs. Blowers and belts will be checked and adjusted or replaced if necessary.>
# Flue Pipe - Flue pipe corrosion or leaks can be very dangerous. The flue pipe will be completely inspected.
# Secure Panels - Loose panels increase operating costs and cause a dangerous operating condition. All panels are checked to be certain they are completely secure.
This 12-point list should be conducted every year to ensure your furnace is running properly and at its most efficient level. Why? Easy. Doing so will increase your comfort, lower your operating costs, lengthen the life of your equipment and ensure you and your family's safety.
|
|
