Warm Air Furnace – Heating System Homeowner Service Checklist
February 14, 2012
With the unusually warm winter we have been having it’s still very important to keep up with your homes heating system – because we are still in winter and it will get cold. Your heating system is like many items we take for granted every day, like our car, which we expect to start and get us to where we need to be without any issues. Well we all know that’s not always the case. One fairly simple component of your homes central heating and cooling system is your filter – something many of us, including myself neglect to check and replace as needed. It’s a fairly simple concept for anyone to grasp – if your filter is dirty your system will work much harder and less efficiently. I can’t tell you how many cases we see that a system requires extensive repair or replacement and this could have been largely avoided if the filter was changed as recommended. And it’s a very easy thing to do. We are providing a short warm air furnace service checklist that can provide useful items to check yourself to help keep your system working as long as possible.
Warm Air Furnace – Heating System Homeowner Service Checklist
• Maintain records. Have a professional service your system before winter and summer to ensure your equipment is operating efficiently and safely.
• Change your filter as required – often every other month.
• Check all flue pipes and vents for rust, water leaks and loose connections.
• Lubricate the fan motor and fan bearing with a few drops of oil twice per year. (This is only required on certain units)
• Check the belt to make sure it’s not cracked or loose. (This is only required with belt-driven fans)
• Listen to the furnace operate and follow up on any strange sounds.
• Check drain lines to make sure they are clear and draining properly.
• Look for water leaks or changes in the system.
Note: Turn off power to the unit before inspection or maintenance.
If you experience any issues or problems that you cannot correct or repair on your own call a qualified contractor to come out and service your steam heating system.
Visit johncflood.com/diy-how-to for helpful articles, videos, Podcasts and more
HVAC Mold Issues – Helpful Info and Tips
February 1, 2012
We recently serviced a clients HVAC system and when we checked the evaporator coil and this is what we saw. (see fig 1)
Now this customer has complained of feeling ill often, but did not consider the possibility the large amount of mold and mildew that had collected on the coil could be the culprit. Air crossing over a coil with this much mold and mildew will definitely carry mold and mold spores throughout your home via your air ducts and vents.
Can mold cause health problems? Absolutely.
Molds are usually not a problem indoors, unless mold spores land on a wet or damp spot and begin growing (in the case above, it’s the evaporator coil). Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants, and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). Allergic reactions to mold are common and the reactions can be immediate or delayed. Molds can also cause asthma attacks in people allergic to mold. In addition, mold exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat, and lungs of both mold-allergic and non-allergic people.
Keeping your HVAC system clean
Getting your HVAC system inspected twice a year is the ideal situation for most people. This will allow for two important things to occur:
1) This will make sure your system is running effectively and efficiently and that no issues are apparent thus ensuring your system will work when needed.
2) It will ensure your system is clean of debris and in this case, mold/mildew formations and thus avoiding any of the potential health risks associated with mold/mildew.
3) Installing an air purification system into your HVAC system (like the TopTech Air Knight) will greatly reduce, if not completely eliminate up to 99.99% of Mold, bacteria, odors, viruses, smoke and VOCs – leaving behind clean, fresh and odor free air. See the following video on the TopTech Air Knight system and how it works.
Frozen Pipes Burst: Why It Happens and How to Avoid It.
January 12, 2012
No homeowner ever wants to discover a water pipe that has burst within their home. Broken or busted pipes cause leaking water that in many cases will do significant damage to the surrounding area effecting a home and most of the plumbing within it.
The reason that many water pipes burst is due to both the weather and the tempurature. Water expands as it freezes and if this expansion occurs in a closed environment, such as a water pipe, there could be substantial pressure placed on the inner walls of the pipe material. Whether the pipes are made out of copper, iron, lead, or CPVC plastic, it does not matter. Even if a pipe is strong enough to handle the occasional stress of frozen water, the cumulative effect can weaken the structural integrity of the pipe and eventually, it will burst as the pipe thaws.
Good news for homeowners is that most pipes are protected from bursting because they are either covered with insulation or are located in places that very rarely reach the freezing tempurature of water. However, there may be sections of pipe that are often exposed to freezing tempuratures or have issues because of insulation failure. The frozen water within the pipes causes blockage, which combined with water pressure and backup, can cause weakened pipes to burst without warning.
We, as professionals here at John C. Flood, highly recommend that you keep water flowing through pipes during cold weather (leave a trickle of water flowing through home faucets during a cold weather event). Also, if you have been having issues with this already, it can prove necessary to shut off your main water supply immediately to minimize any future damage.
Upon discovery of a burst water pipe, please call As Soon As Possible to find the leak and repair the damage.
Some precautionary measures you can take are:
- Turn off outside faucets. Disconnect the hose. If you are going to be away for the winter, turn off the water from inside your house and drain the pipe.
- Never completely shut off the heat when you are away. If you are planning to leave your home for an extended period of time and you don’t drain your pipes, lower the thermostat, but never shut it off. The lack of heat can freeze the pipes in the walls and basement. Freezing bursts the pipes and, when the house warms up, the thawing water will cause flooding and significant damage.
- Patch any cracks and holes in doors, windows, and walls near pipes. When the temperature drops to near zero, a high wind blowing through a small opening can freeze a nearby pipe, even though the temperature in the room is 70°F.
- Insulate water meters, pipes, and faucets in unheated areas. Wrap pipes with pipe-insulating material, which is available at hardware stores.
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