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ContactArchive for January, 2010
Can An Air Cleaner Improve Your Family’s Health This Winter?
During cold and flu season and throughout the year, families in the Twin Cities are exposed to viruses that circulate in the air they breathe indoors, so taking measures to prevent illness makes good sense. Getting a flu shot, eliminating germs on surfaces, washing hands, and covering your mouth and nose are all important steps to avoid getting colds and the flu. But many people are still susceptible to the viruses in the air they breathe at home.
The EPA has indicated indoor air is one of the top environmental risks to public health. And even the heartiest of Minnesotans spends approximately 90 percent of his or her time indoors at this time of year, making the risks to good health even greater.
To protect your family from the health risks associated with polluted indoor air—including allergens, asthma triggers, and many forms of the flu, including influenza A and H1N1—an electronic, central or media air cleaner can be a powerful tool.
Air cleaners, including the Trane CleanEffects electronic air cleaner, the Aprilaire central air cleaner and the Lennox Healthy Climate® 16 Media Air Cleaner, attach to your central heating and cooling system and offer a layer of protection against colds, flu, and other allergens in your home. In fact, recent research has indicated a whole-home air cleaner can remove more than 99% of influenza A, including H1N1, from a home’s filtered air.
Of course, only an air purification expert can help you determine the most efficient whole-house air cleaner to best meet your needs.
To receive the latest home heating, cooling and air purification tips and information in Minneapolis, MN, subscribe to Welter My Shelter Air Tips via email or RSS feed, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.
Helpful Hints for Troubleshooting Gas Furnace Problems
Winter is in high gear throughout the Twin Cities. The last thing Minnesota residents need is an ineffective furnace. Gas furnace problems are not only annoying, but potentially dangerous as well.
Make sure your gas furnace keeps your family warm and comfortable all winter long by following our advice below for troubleshooting gas furnace problems:
Problem: My home furnace isn’t producing enough heat.
Solution: Unfortunately, this problem is a common one, especially considering the heat necessary to stay warm in negative temperatures. It might be a matter of a dirty air filter that needs to be replaced. Or, your gas burner could be dirty or needing adjustment. In that case, contact a heating expert to adjust the burners.
Problem: My furnace isn’t producing any hot air at all.
Solution: The issue could be that the thermostat is not working properly. Troubleshooting involves ensuring the thermostat is in heat mode and is set to the right temperature. You could also try moving the dial up or down a few degrees.
Additionally, a circuit breaker might be tripped or the fuse controlling the furnace might be blown. In this case, the circuit breaker would need to be reset, or the fuse would need to be replaced.
If you have a high-efficiency furnace, birds, leaves, snow, ice, etc. might be blocking the furnace venting. Check the outside vent to make sure it is free from blockage for a couple of feet.
Problem: My furnace is noisy.
Solution: Noisy units might be one of the most irritating gas furnace problems of all. A high-pitched sound might be caused by a slipping blower belt or motor, or shaft bearings that need to be oiled.
A low-pitch sound could be the result of a dirty gas burner. If this is the case, a heating expert can adjust or clean the burner.
Problem: My home furnace comes on and off too often.
Solution: Again, this could be a result of a dirty furnace filter that needs to be replaced.
A heating furnace that comes on and off too frequently might also signal a blower motor problem. Fixing the problem could involve tightening the belt, replacing a frayed belt or oiling the blower motor lubrication ports. It might also be a result of a bad thermostat or a furnace sized too big for the home.
To help your home heating expert diagnose the problem with your furnace, before you call, check to see if there is a “peep-hole” with blinking lights on your furnace. The number of flashes can help determine the particular problem you are experiencing.
Regardless of the gas furnace problems you may be experiencing, home heating experts like Minneapolis based Welter Heating can ensure you stay warm and cozy throughout the winter.
Is Your Home’s Gas Furnace Efficient?
High home heating bills – they’re an unfortunate but common reality for Minneapolis residents each winter.
With a rise in natural gas costs playing the role of the villain, an inefficient gas furnace is a worthy collaborator, costing some homeowners as much as 40% in additional heating costs. With older furnaces, heat can be wasted through the exhaust. This makes the furnace itself warm, but leaves it unable to produce usable heat.
But just how do you know if it’s time to replace your current unit with a new, more energy-efficient gas furnace?
The efficiency of a gas furnace is measured by Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). Essentially, it measures the amount of heat delivered to your home in comparison to the amount of fuel that must be supplied to the furnace. If your gas furnace is more than 15 years old, your furnace’s AFUE may be 60-70%, meaning as much as 30-40% of every dollar you spend on fuel could be wasted.
Newer, more efficient gas furnaces can have an AFUE of as much as 95% or more. That means the gas furnace can convert as much as 95% of the fuel you’re paying for into usable heat for your home. Energy-efficient models, including Trane 95 gas furnaces, have even been show to deliver up to 96.7% efficiency.
Throughout 2010, federal tax credits of up to $1,500 are available for new energy-efficient equipment installed in existing homes, including natural gas furnaces. To take advantage, pay special attention to the SEER and AFUE rating required to qualify for the credit.
Of course, only a home heating expert can give you a definitive answer regarding whether it’s time to replace your current gas furnace, for either efficiency or safety reasons.
To receive the latest home heating tips and information in Minneapolis, MN, subscribe to Welter My Shelter Air Tips via email or RSS feed, or follow us on Twitter or Facebook.
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