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.

It's that time of the year again. Cold weather is moving in and furnaces are turning on.  Have you had your furnace inspected within the last year? If not, you could doing yourself a serious disservice. Your furnace may be running inefficiently and using more gas and/or electric than necessary, or there could be hidden problems waiting to show up when the temperatures really drop, or you could even be at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. We will examine the benefits of having routine inspections and maintenance performed on your furnace.

The picture above is a picture of a heat exchanger for a gas furnace.  As you can see, it is not in good shape. We replaced this furnace 3 months ago in August. We were originally called out to repair the air conditioner and inspect the furnace. The air conditioner was 30 years old and had a defective outdoor condensing coil which was non-repairable and required replacement. But the furnace was in worse condition. The heat exchanger was completely rusted through as you can see. This is one of the worst defective heat exchangers that I have seen in a long time. I asked the tenant if she had noticed being drowsy and/or having headaches during the past winter. She indicated that she had. She was lucky. Carbon monoxide is a silent killer. If this single picture alone isn't motivation to have your furnace inspected annually, then I don't know what is.  In addition to safety issues like this, having your furnace inspected annually can prevent failure, increase efficiency, and prolong longevity of your furnace.

 Maintenance issues that can cause decreased efficiency and increased likelihood of breakdown include : dirty heat exchanger, dirty burners, dirty flame sensor, dirty filter, dirty blower wheel, dirty condensate trap, and dirty indoor ac coil. These things can be checked during the inspection to insure that they are not a potential problem. Also, igniters can be checked for proper resistance and capacitors for proper capacitance. theses two things are common issues that can be easily addressed during the inspection. Motors can be checked for proper amperages, and air temperture measured to insure proper operating range. Carbon monoxide tests can be performed to insure that the furnace is not producing elevated amounts and that none of it is entering your conditioned house air. Other things that may be checked include combustion efficiency, manifold gas pressure, gas leak testing, and draft pressure. There are many things that can be inspected that can insure that you furnace is operating efficiently and safely not to mention preventative measures that can prolong the furnace longevity and reduce the likelihood of furnace repairs or premature furnace replacement.

So what's holding you back? Now that you can see the benefits of having your furnace inspected annually, call to schedule your appointment today. Don't wait for a breakdown to occur or for carbon monoxide to sicken you. now is the time.

-Jim Harless

Minutemen Heating and Cooling, Inc.

614-837-5062

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

It's that time of year.  Temperatures are dropping and you crank up the heat only to find that it's not working.  Your furnace is old and inefficient.  And the last time that it ran, it was  noisy.  You decide that it is time to replace your furnace.  So now what? 

First of all, you need to find a HVAC contractor that is licensed, bonded and insured.  Using a non-licensed individual to assess your hvac needs and to replace your existing furnace is a recipe for disaster.  You really do not want a person who is non-licensed and without insurance/bonds installing a gas appliance in your home.  A good place to start looking for a licensed professional to replace your furnace is your friends and family.  If any of your friends and family have had a furnace replacement recently, they may be able to recommend a contractor for you.  If you have no luck with your friends and family, then you can also get referrals from the "BBB" and "Angie's List."  The "Better Business Bureau" and "Angie's List" can also grade the contractors for you.  Other factors to consider would be "how long has the contractor been in business?", and "does the contractor use sub-contractors or his/her own employees?"  There is no guarantee that a contractor who has been in business for 20+ years that uses his/her own employees will do a better job for you, but the chances are better that that will be the case.  Also, is the contractor a small family run operation?  If so, the installers (if part of the family) will have a vested interest in doing a quality job.  One last criteria which is also important is the brand of equipment that the contractor uses.  Most contractors that have high grades on referal services such as the "Better Business Bureau" and "Angie's List" usually use quality equipment as well.  But, it helps to ask which brand that they prefer to use and then check out the brand using a consumer product grading service such as "Consumer Reports." 

Now that you have found a quality contractor, it is time to have them come to your home to assess your HVAC needs and recommend the right furnace replacement for your home.  Sometimes, just replacing your furnace with a similiar model is all you need.  But, you should discuss all of your HVAC concerns with your contractor.  He/she may be able to help with more than just the replacement of your furnace and/or ac.  You may want to consider a 2-stage furnace with a variable speed fan motor for increased comfort and efficiency.  You may also want to install a humidifer to help with low humidity levels during the winter months.  You may want to install a high efficiency air cleaner to help remove dirt and allergens from the air and to help keep your new system clean through it's lifetime.  You may want to install an insulated return drop to cut down on fan motor noise.  You may need to modify your existing duct system as well to improve air flow through out your home.  These are things to address when you are replacing your furnace and/or ac. 

In summary, find a HVAC contractor that grades out well from your referral source.  Use friends, family, BBB, and Angie's List as referrals.  A contractor that has been in business for only a short time may do great work, but length of time in business is worth considering.  Also, a small family business with a member of the family doing the work is more likely to give you a tight high quality installation over a sub-contractor for a large business.  And remember, in addition to just replacing your furnace, you may want to address efficiency, air quality, humidity control, and noise issues as well.

I hope this information helps you with your furnace replacement process.

Thanks for your time.

Sincerely,

Jim Harless

Minutemen Heating & Cooling, Inc.

614-837-5062

Do it yourself ac repair is a bad idea.  The same goes for furnace repair, maybe even more so due to the fact that you are dealing with combustible gases and possible carbon monoxide issues.  Sorry to start with my conclusion, but I feel strongly about this.  I can't remember how many times over the last 17 years I have been called in to correct a problem that was created by someone trying to "do-it-yourself".  Or maybe they called a non-licensed person (moonlighter) to fix their ac in an effort to try and save a few bucks.  In the end, they end up paying more by having a licensed professional do it right.  I will give some examples of this. 

When I was green behind the ears (about 1 or 2 years experience), I went on a service call.  When I arrived, I found nearly all of the furnace wiring disconnected and hanging out of the furnace.  The homeowner had tried to repair the furnace himself without success.  The furnace schematics (wiring diagram) was faded and illegible.  So, I had to start from scratch and figure out how to rewire the furnace.  And, there were quite a few wires too.  It looked like a spaghetti mess lol.  I spent about 2 hours rewiring the furnace before I could even begin to diagnose the original problem.  Once I had the furnace wiring back in place, it only took a few minutes to diagnose and correct the problem.  The homeowner paid more than he would have paid if he had called in the first place instead of trying to fix it himself.

A common DIY ac repair is the thermostat.  I will admit that people have more DIY success with thermostats than other HVAC related repairs.  That said, I have gone on quite a few service calls where someone has replaced their thermostat but still had a problem.  In some cases, people assume that the cause of the ac or furnace malfunction is the thermostat when in actuality it is the furnace or ac itself.  Which means they wasted money replacing a thermostat that did not need to be replaced.  In other cases, the homeowner incorrectly installed the thermostat and created a new problem that did not exist before.  Namely, shorting out the transformer or fuse on the furnace.  And, sometimes the new thermostat itself is damaged by the incorrect wiring.  Which ends up costing more in the long run to correct.

In the summer of 2011, I went on an ac repair call.  The homeowner had paid a handyman (moonlighter) to repair his ac about a month earlier.  The moonlighter replaced the outdoor fan motor which had failed again.  During the diagnosis, I found that the motor he used was not an O.E.M. motor, but an aftermarket motor.  In some cases, an aftermarket motor can work, as long as it matches the specs of the O.E.M. motor.  O.E.M. stands for "Original Equipment Manufacturer" specifications.  But, the motor that the moonlighter installed did not match O.E.M. specs.  The capacitor size was different (not an insurmountable issue), the rotation did not match the existing fan blade (which required a new fan blade), and the biggest issue was that the O.E.M. specifications require a motor enclosure that is "totally closed", but this enclosure was "open".  The picture above is from this service call.  You can see the open enclosure.  Also, he clamped and taped the capacitor to the side of the motor instead of installing the capacitor in the control box where it belongs.  Long story short, I had to replace the motor, the dual-run capacitor, and the fan blade all with O.E.M. parts to repair this.  The home owner paid more for my repair because replacing the fan blade is usually not necessary for this type of repair plus whatever he paid the handyman to repair it the first time.

Another example illustrates the necessity of having a competent professional service your furnace and/or ac.  Several years ago, I went on a furnace repair call for a tenant property.  The landlord had a "maintenance" guy try to fix it before calling us.  I found that the furnace "flame roll-out safety" had been by-passed.  Right now, all HVAC professionals reading this are gasping!  You never, ever by-pass safety controls.  They serve a vital role.....SAFETY!  A furnace running with a by-passed "flame roll-out safety" poses a fire hazzard.  When safety controls fail, it is usually when they are detecting the condition that they are designed to prevent.  Which is the worst time to by-pass the safety control.  It is critical in this situation to get at the root cause unlying the problem.   In this case, the furnace had a defective heat exchanger causing the flame roll-out condition. 

I have many more examples, plus some I'm sure I have forgotten, but I think the point has been made.  Always hire a licensed, bonded, and insured professional to service your furnace and/or ac.  It can save you time, money, headaches, and maybe your life!

Thanks,

Jim Harless

Why furnace maintenance is important!  Proper maintenance of your gas furnace can insure that your furnace is operating safely and efficiently.  Scheduling an annual preventative furnace maintenance inspection can also reduce the likelihood of costly breakdowns and repairs.

"Out of sight, out of mind."  "The squeaky wheel gets oiled."  These cliches come to mind when I think about the level of consideration most people give their furnace.  I have been in the HVAC trade for over 16 years now, and I know that before then, I never even thought about my heating and cooling equipment until there was a problem.  As long as it's doing it's job and not squeaking or making weird noises, it doesn't even come to mind.  But we will see why having annual preventative maintenance performed on your furnace is important. 

Taking good care of your furnace is not only good for your pocketbook, it's good for your health as well.  One of the primary concerns when performing a furnace maintenance check on your gas furnace is inspecting the condition of the furnace heat exchanger.  A crack or hole in the furnace heat exchanger can allow combustion products such as carbon monoxide to enter your home.  Carbon monoxide can cause drowsiness, headaches, and in some cases death.  I highly recommend that you have carbon monoxide detectors in your home.

For more info on carbon monoxide safety click here

http://www.safetyathome.com/home-safety/home-safety-articles/test-your-carbon-monoxide-iq-and-protect-your-loved-ones/

 The heat exchanger can be inspected in several ways.  Visual inspection with a mirror or videoscope is one way.  Also, a trained technician can tell by observing the burner operation.  Abnormal burner operation such as "flame deflection" or "flame roll-out" can be an indication that there is a crack or hole in the furnace heat exchanger.  Carbon monoxide tests can be performed on the flue gas to determine how much carbon monoxide is being produced and also on the house air stream to see if any is leaking into your home.  These are only some of the ways a technician can determine if your furnace heat exchanger is defective.  

Another potential source of carbon monoxide can be from a blocked flue.  A flue without a cap can allow birds or other animals access to the flue.  If they get in the flue, they can create a blockage that can prevent the combustion products produced by your gas furnace and/or water heater from venting properly from your home.  Also, most newer homes have a fresh air intake that replaces air lost from your home.  Appliances such as gas furnaces, gas water heaters, dryers, bath and kitchen exhaust fans all rob your home of indoor air and create a negative pressure inside which can interfere with the operation of your appliance.  Most furnaces have draft safeties and pressure sensors to prevent your furnace from operating if the flue is blocked or if the air pressure in your home is less than the outdoor air pressure. These fresh air intakes usually have a screen that filters the outdoor air that is brought back into the home.  If these screens get dirty, they can prohibit the airflow. 

A few years back, I had a customer who had an older furnace without draft safety controls.  They also had a fresh air intake to balance air pressure in their home.  Their carbon monoxide detectors were going off, so they gave us a call.  We found the flue was back-venting at the dilution air hood on the furnace creating the carbon monoxide problem.  We found the flue to be clear of blockages.  It turned out that the only problem was a clogged screen on the fresh air intake.  Once we cleaned the screen, the flue began venting properly.  Thankfully, they had carbon monoxide detectors in their home.  As you can see, there is more than one way a furnace can create a carbon monoxide problem.  One thing to take note of, all newer furnaces have draft safeties and flame-roll-out safeties that can shut your furnace down if these type of problems arise.  Also, just last year, we removed close to a dozen dead birds from a flue.  That furnace was over 20 years old, but had a draft safety which shut down the furnace due to the blockage created by the birds.  The furnace was vented into a masonry flue which did not have a flue cap.  I have a picture of the birds, but out of respect for anyone who might be eating while reading this, I decided against posting it ;)

The furnace safety controls should be checked to insure that they are operating properly.  Most furnaces have the following safety controls :  flame rectifying sensor, flame roll-out sensors, high temperature limit switch, and draft pressure and temperature sensors.

Next, we will look at furnace efficiency.  Things that can have a negative impact on the combustion efficiency of your furnace include improper gas manifold pressure, insufficient combustion air, too much combustion air, burners out of alignment, dirty burners, and a dirty manifold.  Also, a combustion analysis of the flue gas can be performed to determine if you are getting the proper efficiency from your furnace. 

Airflow can also affect the efficiency of your furnace.  Things that can affect airflow include the furnace filter, blower wheel, evaporator coil, and duct system.  In addition to visual inspection of these components, a temperature rise across the heat exchanger to determine if the furnace is operating in the correct temperature range can be an indicator of proper airflow.  If the filter, blower wheel, or evaporator coil are dirty, a higher than normal temperature rise can be expected.  If the cause of the high temperature rise is not addressed it can lead to big problems in the near future such as :  heat exchanger failure, blower motor failure, and/or high temp limit failure. 

So far we have discussed the importance of inspecting the furnace heat exchanger, burners, flue, safety controls, and airflow components.  There are some other important things to check that can be preventative in nature.  These include :  ignitor ohms, capacitor capacitance, inducer amperage, and blower amperage readings.  Measurements outside of manufacturer's specifications may indicate that now is a good time to address a potential issue.   

I could go on, but I think it is fairly obvious at this point that having annual furnace maintenance can prevent breakdowns, improve efficiency, and insure that your furnace is operating safely.

If you would like to schedule a furnace maintenance inspection, you can call us at 614-837-5062.

I hope this blog has been informative.

Thanks,

Jim Harless III

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

It's that time of year!  Temperatures outside are dropping.  You set your thermostat to "heat" expecting your furnace to do it's job.  Only to discover hours later that the temperature in your home is dropping too.  Now what?  Well, before you call Minutemen Heating & Cooling, Inc. to assist you with this crisis, there are a couple of things you can do that may resolve the problem.  By the way, the furnace pictured here is beyond furnace repair and ready for recycling!

Safety first!  If you notice a strong odor of gas throughout your home, get everyone out.  Then, call your local fire department and your local gas service provider.  They are experts in dealing with gas leaks.  If you notice only a slight odor of gas and only near the furnace, then call us, we can help.

First of all, check the furnace air filter.  Replace or clean the filter if it is dirty. 

If your furnace is doing nothing at all, then try the following.  Check furnace breaker switch.  If it is tripped, reset it and try the heat again.  If it trips again immediately, do not try resetting it again as you could cause more damage to the furnace.  Call us to help you.  Also, even if it is not tripped, try turning it off and back on again.  Another thing, look for a switch that looks like a common light switch near the furnace.  This switch may not seem to affect any lights.  On occasion, I have gone on a service call and found that this switch had been unknowingly turned off .  It is a power switch specifically for the furnace.  Easy fix for me and a "doh!" moment for the homeowner.  Similarly, the furnace doors must be in place properly as well.  There is a safety shut off power switch that is engaged when the doors are in place.  Next, check to see if your pilot is out.  Some furnaces more than 15 years old will have a standing pilot.  This is the type of pilot that is always lit.  Only standing pilots can be re-lit.    Your furnace should have instructions on how to light the pilot.  If it does not, then you should not attempt to light it yourself.  Newer furnaces have electronic ignition systems which are self lighting and should not be lit manually.  If you still have no heat, then a furnace repair will be necessary.  

If your furnace is running, but not heating, then try the following.  Cycle the power to the furnace off and back on again.  Most furnaces have a diagnostic lock-out feature.  Cycling the power to the furnace resets this and the furnace will attempt another heating cycle.  If it still fails to heat, then call us at phone 614-837-5062 to schedule an appointment to repair your furnace.

If you have a heat pump system, and you have no heat, then you most likely have a problem with the indoor unit.  A problem with the outdoor unit may go undiscovered for some time because the indoor unit will usually switch into auxilliary heat mode when the outdoor unit fails to provide heat.  This problem will usually show up in a higher than normal electric bill (if your indoor unit is electric heat).  If this happens, check the outdoor unit.  If it is not running (give 5 minutes for delay timers), then check the breaker to the outdoor unit.  It will be a different breaker than the breaker for the furnace.  If it is tripped, reset the breaker.  If it trips again, do not reset it.  You can create a larger problem if you keep resetting it over and over again.  For example, a customer called us for a service call after repeatingly resetting his breaker.  Upon arrival, we found that a high voltage wire leading to the compressor had shifted up against a hot refrigerant line.  Over time the wire melted through and shorted against the copper refrigerant line creating a short that tripped the heat pump breaker.  Now, the initial short would have been unlikely to damage the refrigerant line.  But, the repeated resetting of the breaker burnt a hole through the copper and released all the freon from his system.  Had he called after resetting the breaker once or twice, the repair would have been a simple wire replacement.  But, in this case, we had to repair the refrigerant line and re-charge the freon as well which was definitely more costly.  Another thing to watch for with heat pumps is excessive frost build up on the outdoor unit.  By excessive, I mean 1-2 inches or more.  A light coating of frost can be normal.  The most likely causes for this excessive build up of frost is a defective defrost control or a low freon charge.  In which case, you will need to call us to set up a service call to repair your furnace or heat pump.

I hope this discussion on furnace repair has been informative and helpful.

If your furnace is still not working properly, call Minutemen Heating & Cooling, Inc. at 614-837-5062 to schedule an appointment for a service call to get your furnace repaired so that it will operate safely and efficiently  Also, we are available for after hours emergencies as well. 

-Jim Harless III