Are You Prepared for Fall-Winter?

By Mike Ryan

With the fall and winter seasons rapidly approaching, we should all look at the safety of our home heating system and be sure to get it checked out by a qualified contractor before the seasons begin. A lot of folks turn their furnaces on long before winter when the mornings and evenings start getting a little nippy, so right now is a good time to have your furnace cleaned and inspected.

A routine furnace clean and check consists of an examination of the heat exchanger, cleaning of the burners, checking all flue pipes for rust or holes, making sure there is a gas shut-off on the outside of the furnace, cycling the furnace at the thermostat and checking to make sure there is proper draft of gas fumes. Also included are several other procedures that may be unique to your particular furnace.

The primary reason for a clean and check of your furnace is your family’s safety. Secondary is energy savings. A reasonable price for this service can range from anywhere from $49 to $99 by a reputable contractor.

A furnace that has not been properly maintained or a flue pipe with rust or holes can prove to be deadly. All gas furnaces produce carbon monoxide, which is removed from the house through some type of vent pipe. Carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and if for any reason it is being discharged into a living area through a cracked heat exchanger or malfunctioning flue pipe, it may cause flu like systems, disorientation or even death. Having your furnace cleaned and checked once a year can prevent such problems. It’s important to note that furnaces 10 years or older are more susceptible to the problems mentioned above.

One thing a homeowner can do themselves is to make sure their furnace/AC filter is changed or cleaned every four months. The filter removes airborne particles that might damage the fan and/or the heating coil - not to mention the fact that particle buildup can also decrease the efficiency of your furnace/AC because it has to work harder to pull air through the intake.

Additional Safety Tips

It never hurts to be reminded of the basic safety tips regarding the heating system of your home. For instance, if you ever smell gas, call the gas company immediately. Keep the area around your furnace clean and free of combustible materials. Make sure there’s an accessible gas shut-off outside the furnace. Keep all materials at least 6 inches away from all flue pipes (furnaces, water heaters and wood-burning stoves). Make sure all supply and return registers are not being restricted in any way. Never store paint, gasoline or paint thinners near a furnace or hot water heater. Never use your cooking stove for heating purposes. It’s always a good thing to check your owner’s manual for additional safety information about your furnace.

Energy Savings

If you own an older furnace and are looking at a major repair, you may want to take into consideration the energy savings and government tax credits (up to $1500) that purchasing a new high-efficiency gas furnace or adding insulation to your home could provide. Other ways to save energy include: Changing your furnace filters regularly; Installing a programmable thermostat; Lowering the temperature in your home; Taking advantage of any solar heat by opening curtains and blinds during the day and checking all weather stripping around windows and doors to make sure they do not leak.

As I mentioned earlier, safety should be your primary concern and energy conservation second. Be safe and make sure to have your furnace inspected before you fire it up for the fall-winter seasons.

Mike Ryan is the owner of Rhymes Heating and Cooling, which has two locations - one at 9701 Gravois Rd. in St. Louis (63123) – (314) 638-8181, and another at 15229-A, Manchester Rd. in Ballwin, MO (63011) – (636) 391-1200. Mike started in the HVAC field in 1972 growing up in the family business which was started by his grandfather, John L. Ryan, in 1926. In 1993, Mike started his own company and has four sons currently working in the business at this time. For more information about Rhymes Heating and Cooling visit their website at www.rhymesheating.com.