Heating season is right around the corner. Is your furnace ready for another cold winter? If it is working, do you know how efficient it is? Is your furnace clean and functioning properly? Or maybe more importantly, is your furnace operating safely? These are all questions that can be answered by scheduling an inspection by your local HVAC service company.

Does your furnace look like the furnace pictured above? If so, you might want to have it inspected soon. this furnace above had a defective heat exchanger and the gas valve control was leaking gas into the home. It was also operating inefficiently and wasting gas. It was time to replace the furnace.

During the month of September and October, most furnace manufacturers offer rebates in the range of $100-$400 for certain high efficiency model furnaces. By November, most rebates are no longer available. So, if you have been thinking of replacing your furnace, the sooner the better.

If you are not considering a furnace replacement at this time, it is still a good idea to set up an appointment to have a service tech inspect your furnace to insure that it is clean, and operating efficiently and safely. If the furnace is operating safely but has dirt and maintenance issues, then cleaning your furnace can save on gas and electric usage by the furnace over the season, not to mention that you will more than likely extend the lifespan of various components such as motors, capacitors, ignitors, and integrated controls as well as the furnace itself. An annual furnace inspection will likely pay for itself in lower utility bills and fewer breakdowns.

What does a typical furnace inspection include? A furnace inspection includes checking the cleanliness of the filter, blower wheel, and indoor coil (if accessible or necessary), and inspecting ductwork for adequacy. If any of these things are an issue, it can cause the furnace to run warmer than designed due to a reduction in airflow. These are things the service tech can discover and discuss options with you. Also, the service tech will inspect the burners, heat exchanger, and flue for proper combustion and venting. An issue with combustion or venting can cause the furnace to operate inefficiently and could also be a potential safety issue which the technician can address for you. The technician will also check motor amp draws, safety controls, and your thermostat to be sure everything is functioning properly.

Here is the new furnace that replaced the one above. It is more efficient, has warranties, and this model also has a special blower motor called a "variable speed" motor. This motor delivers airflow a lot better than the old belt drive motor ever did. The customer noticed this right away and was pleasantly surprised by this.

You may also sign up for an annual maintenance agreement. This includes the furnace inspection as well as several cleanings. The annual furnace maintenenance program can give you peace of mind about your furnace. It's never too late to sign up!

If you do not remember the last time you had your furnace inspected, then this blog is for you! It can not be stressed enough how important regular maintenenance is for your furnace.

Do not wait until the cold weather hits and your furnace goes down to call. You may have to go without heat for a day or two until your furnace can be replaced and the rebates will be gone by then as well.

So call today to schedule your furnace inspection before the cold weather rolls in!

Our phone number is 614-837-5062.

Thank you, and I hope this info was useful to you.

Jim Harless

Minutemen Heating and Cooling.

Is your gas furnace old?  Is your gas bill high?  Does your furnace break down frequently?  If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it may be worth it to consider a new high efficiency gas furnace.  An old furnace will generally be less effcient due to age, dirt, and corrosion.  Which may lead to a higher than necessary gas utility bill.  Let's explore some of the ways that a new furnace can save you money.

Federal energy tax credits are one way to lower the initial cost of a new furnace.  The current energy tax credits are set to expire December 31st, 2013.  So time is just about up to take advantage of the energy tax credits.  A new gas furnace with an A.F.U.E. (annual fuel utilization efficiency) of 95% or higher qualifies for a $150.00 tax credit.  If you purchase a furnace with a variable speed blower motor ( a.k.a. an advanced main circulatory fan) then you can qualify for an additional $50.00 tax credit.  In addition, if you purchase a new air conditioner ( SEER 16 or higher) or a new heat pump ( SEER 15 or higher), then you can qualify for an additional $300.00 energy tax credit.  For example, let's say you purchase a 96.7% efficient 2-stage variable speed gas furnace and 16 SEER air conditioner, you would qualify for a $ 500.00 energy tax credit.  Remember, these energy tax credits are set to expire in a few weeks, so time is critical.

To learn more about the federal energy tax credits, click here :                  http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index  

Certain utility providers also have rebate programs available to help offset the cost of high efficiency HVAC equipment.  AEP has a program that offers a $50.00 rebate for a programmable thermostat (with heat pumps), $150.00 for new indoors unit with a variable speed blower, $100.00 for air conditioner SEER 14.5 or higher, $350.00 for a heat pump of SEER 14.5 or higher (both ac and heat pump would need to replace a unit that was 13 SEER or less to qualify), and a complete system bonus of $150.00.  The maximum rebate would be around $700.00 for a complete new system.

To learn more about AEP rebates, click here :        http://dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=OH97F

One of the biggest ways to save money with a new furnace is the efficiency savings over the life of the furnace.  I have a good real life example of this.  10 years ago, I replaced my mother's furnace for her.  Her old furnace was 30 years old, over-sized, and dirty.  I replaced it with a standard 80% A.F.U.E. gas furnace that was right-sized.  I did not use a high efficiency model furnace (90%+) because her house is small (only about 750 sq feet).  I replaced the furnace the first week of December that season.  The following spring (about mid-April), my step-father called to inform me that their gas utility provider had lowered their monthly budget  by $40.00.  Since, they are on the budget program, that means they saved $480.00 a year and $4,800.00 over the last 10 years (not counting utility increases over that time which would make their savings even higher).  The furnace cost a lot less than $4,800.00 which means they not only have totally recouped their inital cost of installing the furnace, but they are saving big money now.  The other upside to this story is that furnace has another 10 to 20 years of life left in it.  It doesn't take much to see the benefits of replacing an old inefficient furnace.

energystar.gov has a tool on their site that allows you to calculate your savings of one model furnace over another.  Click here :    http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=FU

And then, underneath "furnace resources" on the right side of the page, click on "savings calculator".

One final thing, Minutemen Heating and Cooling is offering a $100.00 discount towards a new furnace installation (no other discounts apply) or $200.00 discount towards the installation a new complete system (both furnace and ac).  This offer expires with the energy tax credits on December 31, 2013.  Just mention that you read this blog to qualify for the discount. 

I hope this has been informative.  Call Minutemen Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate to install a new HVAC system in your home.  You can reach us at Phone 614-837-5062.

Thanks!

Jim Harless

Here we go!  November is here and the cold weather is settling in.  If you have not had your furnace tuned up for the heating season, it's not too late. 

Regular annual maintenance on your furnace can prevent breakdowns and costly furnace repairs, insure that your furnace is operating safely and efficiently, and also prolong the life of your furnace.  Knowing that your furnace is operating safely and efficiently provides peace of mind as well. 

If you choose not to maintain your furnace annually, these are some of the things that you could be missing.  A compromised furnace heat exchanger or flue.  By compromised I mean :  dirty, blocked, or cracked.  This can lead to a dangerous build up of carbon monoxide in your home.  Dirty blower wheels, evaporator coils, and filters can restrict airflow and cause your furnace or heating system to work harder and run longer than normal to heat your home this season.  This will show up in higher utility costs (i.e. inefficiency) and also lead to premature failure of the following components :  heat exchanger, blower motor, blower capacitor, and high temperature limit safety control.  Dirty burners and burner safety controls can lead to inefficient or incomplete combustion.  In addition to inefficiency, this can also lead to nuisance burner lockouts which leave you without heat until an HVAC technician cleans the burners for you.  Other things which can be preventative in nature include :  measuring capacitor capacitance, ignitor ohms, motor amperages, and inspecting wiring to insure it is in good shape.  All these things can help to prevent furnace breakdown and repairs.  It is easy to see that having annual maintenance performed on your furnace is well worth the cost of the service call to have your furnace inspected. 

Another to consider is the age of your furnace.  If your furnace is 20+ years old, it may be worthwhile getting a free estimate for a new high efficiency model furnace that can save you on your utility bills.

If you live in the central Ohio area and would like to schedule an appointment for a furnace maintenance tune-up, or to set up a free estimate for a new furnace call us at :

Phone 614-837-5062

Thanks,

Jim Harless

Hello everyone, I hope 2013 is starting out well for you!  I have some good news.  The Energy Tax Credits for installing high efficiency heating and cooling equipment that expired Dec 31, 2011 are back!  And, they are retro-active to Jan 1, 2012.  So, if you installed a new high efficiency heating and cooling system in 2012, then you may qualify for a tax credit this year.  

A gas furnace with an annual fuel utilization efficiency of 95% or higher can qualify for a credit of $150.00.  If your indoor unit has an advanced circulatory fan (a.k.a. a variable speed motor) you can qualify for an additional $50.00.  And, if your outdoor unit is 16 SEER or higher (15 SEER for heat pumps) then you may qualify for a $300.00 tax credit.

Go here for more info :

http://www.hvacdist.com/current-tax.asp

And here :

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=tax_credits.tx_index

Jim Harless

The Dept. of Energy Rescinds Regional Standards for Residential Gas Furnaces.  A few months ago I talked about the Direct Final Rule from DOE that would require HVAC contractors in 30 northern states to install condensing gas furnaces with efficiencies at or above 90% A.F.U.E.  80% A.F.U.E. non-condensing gas furnaces would no longer be permitted to be installed.  Recently, the D.O.E. has decided to rescind that rule for the time being.  They are looking at a more reasonable revision for next year.  So, 80% A.F.U.E. non-condensing gas furnaces will still be availabe as an option for the remainder of this year.

The blog where I discussed this rule originally is titled "Furnace Efficieny".

You can find out more about this change here

https://www.acca.org/archives/news-and-media/news-room/press-releases/8232

Jim Harless

Minutemen Heating & Cooling, Inc.

Phone 614-837-5062

With new efficiency rules going into effect next year for gas furnaces, this is a good time to discuss furnace efficiency and how those rules will impact homeowners.

First, let's look at the differences between standard efficiency gas furnaces and high efficiency gas furnaces.

Standard efficiency gas furnaces are generally rated at or near 80% A.F.U.E. which stands for "Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency". This means that 80% of the heat produced through combustion is used to heat your home while the remaining 20% is lost with the combustion products through the flue. The "flue" is the vent that escorts the combustion products out of your home. Those combustion products include steam (water), carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and various other gases. The flues for the standard efficiency gas furnaces are typically one of two types. They are "Mason" or "B-Vent". Mason flues are brick or masonry block chimneys that vent the combustion products to the roof. B-Vent flues are double-walled metal pipe that also vent the combustion products to the roof. Both "Mason" and "B-Vent" flues may be "common vented". Which means they provide venting for more than one gas appliance. Typically, you will find a furnace and water heater "common vented". 

High efficiency gas furnaces, also known as "Condensing Furnaces", generally fall between 90% and 97% A.F.U.E.  For example, if your furnace is rated at 95% A.F.U.E., then 95% of heat produced through the combustion process is used for heating your home, while only 5% is lost through the flue.  High efficiency condensing gas furnaces differ from the standard efficiency models in several ways.  The primary difference is the manner in which they are vented.  Since the heat lost through the flue of a high efficiency condensing furnace is a lot less than the heat lost through the flue on a standard efficiency furnace, the steam is much cooler on the high efficiency condensing furnaces.  So much cooler that the steam condenses into liquid water.  This is a big problem for venting into masonry or b-vent flues.  The solution is to vent the flue gases through water-tight, sealed pvc piping.  This requires a dedicated pvc flue and does not allow for a "common vent" option.  The pvc exhaust and intake (when necessary) are usually sidewall vented as shown in the picture above.  The high efficiency gas furnaces also require a condensate drain to remove the water produced by the furnace. 

 Now that we have an understanding of some of the differences between standard efficiency gas furnaces and high efficiency condensing gas furnaces, let's look at the new "Direct Final Rule" enacted by the U.S. Dept. of Energy that will be taking effect May 1, 2013.

This "Direct Final Rule" is known formally as "Residential Furnaces and Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Direct Final Rule" can be found here :

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/appliance_standards/residential/residential_furnaces_cac_hp_direct_final_rule.html

 Also, you can find info on this site to bring awareness to the end consumer :

http://www.appliance-standards.org/product/furnaces

The most important impact of this rule that will affect residents of the state of Ohio and other northern states is the requirement that the minimum efficiency for new furnaces will be 90% or higher.  This means that the standard 80% efficiency furnaces will no longer be allowed to be installed after May 1, 2013. 

When I first heard of this rule, a problem immediately came to mind.  Some residences do not have an exterior wall near the furnace to pipe the sidewall vent required for the high efficiency condensing gas furnaces.  In particular, multi-family dwellings such as apartments, townhomes, and condos typically have a centrally located utility room with no access to an exterior wall for the sidewall vent.  I see this creating an additional expense to the homeowner in addition to the normally higher cost of installing a high efficiency condensing gas furnace.  The piping will need to be installed thru living rooms, kitchens, etc... and then soffitted to enclose the piping from view.  Other alternatives would involve replacing an existing standard efficiency gas furnace with an electric furnace and/or heat pump.  Personally, I would not consider that an improvement, just a way around the sidewall venting issue.  I am hoping that an ammendment to rule will be coming in the future, but I'm not holding my breath.  I'm all for conserving our energy, but feasibility must be considered.  I would think that excluding multi-family dwellings from the rule would go a long way in helping alleviate the problems that will arise from this rule.  Also, maybe a provision for certain single family homes without a good option for the sidewall venting as well.  And, then only for retrofit installations.  New builds can plan the high efficiency model furnaces into the contruction.

 There is more I could say, but I think this will suffice.

If you have an older standard efficiency furnace and have no access to an exterior wall, then now may a good time to consider installing a new standard efficiency model while there is still time left.  The last day to install a standard efficiency furnace is April 30, 2013.

In light of everything mentioned here you would think I don't like high efficiency furnaces, but not so.  I always look the high efficiency option first for my customers and give them all the of the pros and cons to allow them to make an informed and educated decision for themselves.  Usually, the only downside to the high efficiency models is the higher cost.

If you live in the central ohio area, you can call us for a free estimate to replace your existing furnace at 614-837-5062.

-Jim Harless III