slide 1: More About
Plumbing and
Heating and
Furnace
slide 2: Synopsis
1. Searching for the Best Plumbing and Heating Services
2. How to Maintain Your Heating and Cooling System
3. Types of Heating and Cooling Systems
4. How to Know When You Need Furnace Repairs or
Replacement
5. Which Furnace Repairs Are Right for You
6. Do You Need a Furnace Inspection
7. Tips for Furnace Maintenance
8. Helpful Furnace Inspection Tips
slide 3: Searching for the Best Plumbing
and Heating Services
When it comes to plumbing it’s best for a professional plumber to
evaluate your current system to see exactly which changes need
to be made. You may need to have a new pipe installed or
repaired or there may be a specific appliance like the bathtub or
toilet that needs to be fixed. Your hot water heater’s function can
also affect the way your plumbing system works so ask the
plumber to check this as well to see if there are leakage or
malfunctions that need to be fixed right away to avoid any further
damage. It’s best to have your hot water heater checked a
month or two before the cold season begins in your area so that
you and your family will be comfortable during the winter.
Cleaning your sewer and drainage systems is another very
important part of plumbing. If wastes is not properly being flushed
through the piping in your home this could cause buildup that
could lead to leakages and damages in your home and even
problems with your lawn and the plants and trees that you’re
growing in the front or back yard. There are also times when your
entire sewer system needs to be replaced so that moisture and
waste collection goes through a proper system so that your
property won’t be ruined.
slide 4: How to Maintain Your
Heating and Cooling System
There are a few tools you’ll need to get the job done including a
flashlight pliers screwdrivers wrenches and a hammer you may
even need washcloths and a vacuum cleaner to clean up any
debris. If you’re taking care of the maintenance yourself duct
tape or refractory cement may be necessary. You can get most of
the materials you need at a home improvement store.
If your heating and cooling system isn’t working well there’s
usually a problem with either the distribution system thermostat or
heat/cold source. If the air conditioner or furnace isn’t running
your nit may have lost power. There’s also a chance that fuel may
not be getting to the unit or the fuel may not be lighting if it’s oil or
gas. If the furnace turns on or the air conditioner comes on but the
air doesn’t reach all areas of your home your distribution system or
blower needs attention. If the thermostat doesn’t work your unit
could turn on and off without warning. Observe the way your
heating and cooling system is performing so that you can properly
assess the problem.
slide 5: How to Maintain Your
Heating and Cooling System
Be sure that your unit is getting enough power so you can rule this
issue out if it’s not the problem. Search the unit for fuses that are
blown or circuit breakers that are positioned at the entrance
panel. There are some furnaces that have a separate power
entrance near the principle entrance panel or you may find a
fuse on the unit. If you see a reset button wait about half an hour
so the motor can cool off completely then press the reset button.
If your unit doesn’t start wait another half hour then press the reset
button again. You may have to do this one more time but if you
have to reset any more than this it’s probably time to call a
professional.
Check your thermostat to make sure it’s set properly. If you need
the air to be warmer raise the temperature by five degrees for
the air conditioner lower the temperature by five degrees. This
could prompt your heating and cooling system to function more
efficiently. If your unit is a gas unit make sure the supply is turned
on and check the pilot light to make sure it’s lit. If the unit is an oil
unit there should be enough oil to keep the heating system
working well.
slide 6: Types of Heating and
Cooling Systems
These days mot air conditioning systems are central cooling systems.
This involves supply and return ducts to move air from the unit to the
inside of a home or residential building. Supply ducts are utilized to
pour cold air into a room or home and the return ducts collect the
air that is in the room. This process is repeated until the room reaches
the desired temperature. There are generally two types of cooking
system: packaged units or split systems.
Split systems are on the outside of a home or building or on the roof
where the condenser and compressor are. The heat pump and
evaporator is often positioned on the inside of the building.
Packaging central cooling systems are the systems in which the
evaporator compressor and condenser are installed together and
all positioned on the building’s exterior. In the fall and winter the
systems use electric heat with electric coals. The air that is collected
and heated or cooled travels down the ducts and ends up in the
home or building. The benefits of a central air conditioning system
include efficiency and less noise. These systems are also easy to
manage.
You should also know about VRF and VRV air conditioning systems.
VRF stands for variable refrigerator flow and VRV is variable
refrigerant volume. For the most part these cooling systems are
found in large commercial buildings like hotels hospitals and office
spaces. This type of system can cool large areas easily and are
energy-efficient.
slide 7: How to Know When You Need
Furnace Repairs or Replacement
One of the first things you’ll need to consider when it comes to
furnace repairs is the age of the furnace. Getting a furnace
repaired or replaced could cost anywhere between 2500 and
5500 so before you get a totally new furnace there are a few
things you’ll need to keep in mind. As a general rule of thumb if
your furnace is 12 years or older it may be time to seriously
consider replacing it. When a furnace reaches this age it is often
not as efficient and could make your home unsafe.
You also need to evaluate your furnace so you can see if you it’s
using too much energy. This can not only make your utility bills
higher but older furnaces are often oversized which means that
the furnace often comes on and turns off more than it should.
When you upgrade to a furnace that is more suitable for your
home in terms of size. A more modern furnace can also make the
temperature in your home more comfortable and will save you on
utility bills. Furnaces have an AFUE number and the higher this
number is the more efficient the unit is so you should have your
furnace evaluated to see how it is rated on the AFUE scale the
government requires that your furnace’s AFUE number be 80 or
higher. The correct size of furnace for your home will depend on
the square footage of your house and you’ll also need to
consider the climate in your area.
slide 8: Which Furnace Repairs Are
Right for You
To make sure that you don’t have to pay too much for furnace
repairs have your furnace maintained on a regular basis. The
furnace should be looked at once a year and thoroughly
inspected by an HVAC contractor. This will allow you to see any
breakdowns or issues in the furnace before they get so severe that
you have to spend thousands of dollars to get a new furnace. In
addition to purchasing a furnace you’ll also have to hire
contractors to install the furnace for you and make sure it’s
compatible with your heating system.
Keep your furnace working well by cleaning the filters. When the
filters are filled with dirt and debris your furnace has to work
harder to supply your home with heat. Dirty filters also make it
harder for heat to evenly circulate through the home. In many
cases if you simply get a new filter you can delay getting the
furnace replaced and can keep your heating unit working well for
a few months to a few more years.
Check the furnace for normal wear and tear which happens after
you’ve been using the furnace for a few years. Fixing a small
component of the furnace or properly repositioning it can make a
huge difference in the way it functions. Ask your HVAC technician
to check the pilot or ignition of the water heater as well since this
has to be working well in order for the unit to function well.
slide 9: Do You Need a Furnace
Inspection
When you have your furnace inspected you’ll know if there are
openings in the unit that could leak carbon monoxide. It’s hard to
detect this gas because carbon monoxide has no odor or color.
When the gas has accumulated in your home it can cause
dizziness nausea severe headaches and even death in extreme
cases. About 15000 people end up in the emergency room every
year due to being exposed to carbon monoxide and about 500
people lose their lives annually after inhaling too much of the gas.
Of course you’ll also need to consider how much a furnace
inspection will cost. If you call an HVAC company in your area and
only want them to do an inspection you may have to pay a
transportation fee and a service fee. If you find that you need to
have work done after the inspection you can ask that the
inspection amount be deducted from the total cost of your bill. In
most cases if you’re only getting an inspection you can pay up to
85.
slide 10: Tips for Furnace
Maintenance
Any time your furnace is not working well there are usually three
components that are causing the problem: your heat or cold
source your thermostat or the air distribution system. If your heat
isn’t coming on the problem is at the source this could also be a
sign that there’s no power for the furnace to run properly. There’s
also a chance a chance the fuel is not getting to the unit. If your
furnace runs on oil or gas it’s possible that the furnace may not be
lighting. If the furnace turns on but you don’t feel any warm air
your blower or distribution system is probably not working well. A
thermostat of faulty control may also keep your heating system
from turning on or this could make the furnace turn on and off
over and over without your control.
If you find that a fuse has blown or the circuit is tripping over and
over when you turn the furnace on you have an issue with your
electrical system. If this is the case don’t try to fix the furnace on
your own. Call a professional who is experienced with repairing
HVAC units.
If you have a furnace that runs on gas and you start to smell gas in
your house don’t attempt to shut off the gas and don’t operate
any of the lights on the furnace. Get out of the house right away
and make sure you leave the doors open. Call your gas company
immediately and report a gas leak and don’t go back into your
home until the leak has been repaired.
slide 11: Helpful Furnace Inspection
Tips
According to HVAC professionals using a programmable
thermostat is a great way to conserve energy. This can save you
about 10 on your energy bills so if you turn it down to seven or
eight degrees lower than the regular temperature. The U.S.
Department of Energy also recommends that you keep the
thermostat at 68 degrees for about eight hours out of the day
even if those eight hours are during the night. If your furnace is
properly maintained and you keep the thermostat low you can
end up saving up to 30 on your energy bill.
It’s also important to note that new furnaces need to be
maintained as well this rule doesn’t just apply to a furnace you’ve
had for a few years. Most people think that when they get a new
furnace or heating system maintenance is not necessary. If there’s
a warranty claim on your furnace unit the manufacture can ask
you for service records to make sure the warranty should be
honoured if you make a claim. This helps to ensure that you will be
protected if something goes wrong with your furnace.
slide 12: The End
For more details please visit:
http://smile-hvac.ca/services/