I found this article on www.everythinghvac.blogspot.com and I thought it would be good to share with you. They author, Tony Bassett is a 15 year old HVAC technician. The article is about the different brands about Furnaces on the market. ENJOY!
Hello Readers,
My name is Tony Bassett I have been in the Hvac Industry for over 15 yrs. I have done everything from residential installs, services and sales. In my recent studies of all different brands and after working on them I have found Trane and American Standard in my opinion to be the top most reliable brands there are out there on the market today. Some of the other brands are ok, but beware of the ones that preach " way to good to be true" warranties. The expected life span of a furnace is typically 12-15 yrs, and a air conditioning system about 12-18 yrs. So the point that I am trying to get to is a 10yr parts and labor warranty is the most common as far as being the most logical.
The most important part of any type of equipment you choose is the installation. Find an HVAC company that offers extensive training to there installers and service technicians, this key.
When Looking for a heating or air conditioning system only get three bids. Research the top three brands and get bids on those. If you are getting bids on equipment and one is substantially lower in price then the other two it is usually equipment that make a difference. If you are leaning towards the lower price company you may want to do extensive research on the brand and the company before making a decision. Otherwise save your money until you can get the system you can afford or want, you'll be happy you did.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Furnace & Gas Fireplace Safety Tips
Now that the weather is starting to look more like winter it is time to run a routine inspection of your gas fireplace and furnace to make sure you have your heating appliances working properly. Regular furnace repairs is common as you do not use it year round and whenever dealing with gas you want to make sure it is working properly.
CSA International, a leading provider of product testing and certification services, offers the following safety tips to help prepare your gas fireplace and furnace for the fall and winter seasons:
General gas appliance tips:
• Installation, maintenance and repair of gas appliances should only be done by a qualified professional service person.
• Gas appliances should be inspected before use and checked annually by a qualified professional service person.
• Due to high temperatures, do not store or use combustible materials, like chemicals, paint, rags, clothing, draperies, paper, cleaning products, gasoline or flammable vapours and liquids in the vicinity of your gas appliances.
• Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and lethal gas that can occur any time there is incomplete combustion or poor venting. Any home that contains fuel burning appliances, such as a fireplace or furnace should have a CSA International-certified carbon monoxide alarm installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the owner’s manual, or use the care guide for maintenance and use of your gas fireplace or furnace.
• Control compartments, burners and circulating air passageways of the fireplace and furnace should be kept clean.
• If purchasing a new gas heating appliance, be sure to look for a certification mark, such as the CSA Flame certification mark to ensure it has been tested to the applicable standards for safety and performance.
Gas furnace maintenance:
• Keep vents, space heaters and baseboards clear of furniture, rugs and drapes to allow free air movement.
• Have a qualified Denver HVAC company perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system.
• Ensure there is free air flow around your furnace and there are no storage items obstructing air flow.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating season.
Gas fireplace maintenance:
• Children should be carefully supervised, and adults should be alerted to the hazards of high surface temperatures and should stay away to avoid burns or the possibility of clothing catching on fire.
• Do not clean your fireplace if it is operational or still hot.
• Be alert for unusual odours or odd-colored flames, which are often a sign that the fireplace is not operating properly. In such cases, contact your dealer or licensed technician for servicing. Contact the gas company or emergency services if you smell gas when the unit is off.
·• Gas fireplaces with glass doors should not be operated if the glass is cracked or broken.
• Any safety screen or guard removed for servicing a fireplace must be replaced before operating the appliance.
• If the pilot light or flame goes out, wait five minutes or longer (see the manufacturer's instructions) before attempting to relight the fireplace. This allows time to clear the fireplace of gas and is particularly important with direct-vent models.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners, and always refer to manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning glass components of your fireplace.
I always tell families to try their furnace before they need to heat their home to make sure it is running properly. You do not want to wait till it is 32 degrees outside and your house is cold and you need to heat your home to see if your furnace is working. It often takes a few hours for Denver furnace repairs to happen so do not wait till you absolutely need to use your furnace to test it out.
More HVAC Articles: Fixing Thermostat Problems | Heating Your Home w/ Solar Energy
CSA International, a leading provider of product testing and certification services, offers the following safety tips to help prepare your gas fireplace and furnace for the fall and winter seasons:
General gas appliance tips:
• Installation, maintenance and repair of gas appliances should only be done by a qualified professional service person.
• Gas appliances should be inspected before use and checked annually by a qualified professional service person.
• Due to high temperatures, do not store or use combustible materials, like chemicals, paint, rags, clothing, draperies, paper, cleaning products, gasoline or flammable vapours and liquids in the vicinity of your gas appliances.
• Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless and lethal gas that can occur any time there is incomplete combustion or poor venting. Any home that contains fuel burning appliances, such as a fireplace or furnace should have a CSA International-certified carbon monoxide alarm installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions in the owner’s manual, or use the care guide for maintenance and use of your gas fireplace or furnace.
• Control compartments, burners and circulating air passageways of the fireplace and furnace should be kept clean.
• If purchasing a new gas heating appliance, be sure to look for a certification mark, such as the CSA Flame certification mark to ensure it has been tested to the applicable standards for safety and performance.
Gas furnace maintenance:
• Keep vents, space heaters and baseboards clear of furniture, rugs and drapes to allow free air movement.
• Have a qualified Denver HVAC company perform a yearly maintenance check of your furnace and venting system.
• Ensure there is free air flow around your furnace and there are no storage items obstructing air flow.
• Clean or replace your furnace filter frequently during the heating season.
Gas fireplace maintenance:
• Children should be carefully supervised, and adults should be alerted to the hazards of high surface temperatures and should stay away to avoid burns or the possibility of clothing catching on fire.
• Do not clean your fireplace if it is operational or still hot.
• Be alert for unusual odours or odd-colored flames, which are often a sign that the fireplace is not operating properly. In such cases, contact your dealer or licensed technician for servicing. Contact the gas company or emergency services if you smell gas when the unit is off.
·• Gas fireplaces with glass doors should not be operated if the glass is cracked or broken.
• Any safety screen or guard removed for servicing a fireplace must be replaced before operating the appliance.
• If the pilot light or flame goes out, wait five minutes or longer (see the manufacturer's instructions) before attempting to relight the fireplace. This allows time to clear the fireplace of gas and is particularly important with direct-vent models.
• Do not use abrasive cleaners, and always refer to manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning glass components of your fireplace.
I always tell families to try their furnace before they need to heat their home to make sure it is running properly. You do not want to wait till it is 32 degrees outside and your house is cold and you need to heat your home to see if your furnace is working. It often takes a few hours for Denver furnace repairs to happen so do not wait till you absolutely need to use your furnace to test it out.
More HVAC Articles: Fixing Thermostat Problems | Heating Your Home w/ Solar Energy
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