Most of us have probably fired up the furnace or boiler by now. Some of yours may not have worked and you called in a servicer. They may have suggested that it is time for a new furnace. I’ll give you my professional suggestions and opinions a little later. For those of you with a unit still working, here are some tips that you can use to save money and increase reliability.
Safety first! Turn off the power to the unit before opening any panel or inspecting an air filter.
Depending on the type of air filter you have, it will probably need service. Many people have either electronic air cleaners or high efficiency pleated filters. Popular brands in the area are the Aprilaire SpaceGuard, Trion Air Bear and Honeywell cartridge filters. Some last a full year, but I like to keep my air going through fresh filters so consider changing them twice a year. Avoid replacing the factory brand with an aftermarket type. Seldom are they equal to the quality of filtering of the original.
If you have the one-inch thick filters, unless a technician has adjusted the airflow for them, avoid using the pleated filter or washable electrostatic filters. They greatly restrict the airflow and can damage the heat exchanger! Use the loosely woven fiberglass type.
If you have an electronic type air cleaner, follow their instructions for cleaning and if washed, let stand outside of the furnace until they are DRY. Don’t forget to clean any thin prefilters that it may have. This is often overlooked.
Start the season with a new water panel or media for your humidifier. Make sure the water is turned on to it and any damper is set from summer to winter. Winter humidity is usually set around 35% but you may desire more or less.
When inspecting or changing any air filter, have your vacuum cleaner handy to suck up dust that has fallen off or built up in the area. You don’t want this to get sucked into the furnace. This is a good time to look for any water leaks from your air conditioner, humidifier or from the furnace if you have a 90% efficient type of furnace.
Water leaks can quickly damage electrical components and. If you see water, call a technician to investigate and repair. Make sure that vent piping is secure and appears in good condition. If you have a 90% furnace vented with white plastic pipe, see that the pipes are not obstructed where they exit the house. These furnaces will have a drain hose for the condensate. See that it is in position and not bumped aside of the drain. If it once was clear vinyl but is now discolored, consider having a technician replace it and clean out the trap inside the furnace. They will gunk up and clog.
Furnaces made since the early 1980’s are mostly power vented to attain higher efficiency. With this efficiency comes complexity. For that reason I recommend that your have a dealer for that particular brand of furnace (or boiler) check it out each fall. Other brand technicians often are not aware of service issues or procedures that may be in place for your brand and model. However, to be fair to all technicians, they can call the distributor for that brand and ask about issues and bulletins.
If you are considering a new furnace, I recommend that you buy a furnace that comes with what is known as a “variable” blower. This is even more important if you are considering a high efficiency air filter, heat recovery ventilator or ultraviolet sanitizer. They cost less to operate, are quieter than standard motors and are more precise in their air delivery amount. Buy a 90% or higher efficient model. Your new furnace will be around for 15 years or much more and the price of gas can only rise.
If you are going to replace the air conditioner along with it, consider making it a “Heat Pump”. If the cost of gas rises faster than electricity, a heat pump can save you money. It requires a crystal ball to be sure, but the trend is for the price of gas to rise faster than electricity. Also, the trend may be for warmer winters. The more the temperature is in the 30’s or more, the more a heat pump can effectively heat your house.
These are general tips for the majority of heating units found in Waukesha. There are however, many homes with specialized systems using hot water heat and unique heating units. Special systems require special attention. Have them checked by the company that installed them.
If you do have a breakdown of your heating unit, please turn on the lights around the house and let the technician know if you don’t have good identification near the street. Most have cell phones and can call you if they can’t find your home, but not all. And please be patient. I was a technician for many years. The days get long and the toolbox heavy. But getting your furnace or boiler functioning again makes both of us happy.
