Archive for the ‘maintenance’ Category
Tuesday, May 21st, 2013
Are you one of the many people who have had to replace their hot water tank multiple times over a relatively short period of time? There are thousands of homeowners all over Chicago land that find themselves throwing away money on a new hot water tank every five years, and many of them have no idea why. The problem is corrosion. The inside of your hot water tank corrodes because of the particles and minerals that are in your water supply, but Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning can help.
How Does the Tank Corrode?
Over time, these particles eat away at the inside of the tank, and the process is accelerated by the high temperatures created by the tank to heat the water for your home. However, water tank manufacturers have tried to counter this process by installing an “anode” in the tank. This device is used to attract the particles to it rather than to the metal in the tank. This part of the system can only protect the tank for so long before it needs to be replace, and if you are not having the system properly maintained, it will eventually fall victim to the disastrous effects of corrosion. (more…)
Tags: corrosion, energy efficiency, Four Seasons, Hometown, hot water tank, La Grange, maintenance, minerals, replacement, Richton Park, save money
Posted in Heating, Hot Water Heater, Informational, maintenance, Savings | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 15th, 2013
With the recent fire related tragedies that have occurred in Chicago, we felt that now was a good time to remind the residents of this great city about fire prevention when using their heating systems. Space heaters, stoves, fireplaces, and central heating systems all have the potential to cause house fires, and these heating systems have consistently ranked among the top causes of house fires. However, heating fires are not something that you ever have to experience in your home!
Frugal Heating this Winter
Every winter, thousands of homes rely on systems other than the central furnace or boiler to heat their homes, and unfortunately, many do so without taking the necessary precautions. When using a fireplace, space heater, or stove, you should keep these tips in mind:
- Fireplace: Using the fireplace to heat the home won’t necessarily save you money when compared to using the furnace or boiler. But if you are going to use the fireplace at all, do not use to get the fire going, don’t leave the fire unattended, and always close the fire screen when the fire is lit. Also, if you have a wood burning fireplace, never burn garbage, newspaper, or plastic in the fireplace. (more…)
Tags: Boiler, Bridgeview, Chicago, fire prevention, fireplace, Four Seasons, Furnace, heating systems, house fires, IL, maintenance, Oak Park, space heater, stove
Posted in Boiler, Furnace, Heating, Informational, maintenance, Safety | No Comments »
Tuesday, May 14th, 2013
Having good indoor air quality is important. I think we can all agree on that, but what type of system we use to achieve good indoor air quality is we some of us may differ in opinion. When it comes to purchasing an air purifier for your home, you will have many decisions to make, but one of the first choices you will have to make is whether you want a whole house air purification system or a portable air purifier. Although portable units do have some advantages, here at Four Seasons we believe that whole house systems are your best choice when you want to clean the air in your entire home.
The BIG Problem with Portable Systems
If you or someone living in your home has allergies or asthma, the air purifier is crucial to their comfort. The biggest problem that exists with portable units is that they can only cover a small area of space. Unless you buy multiple systems and place them in every room of the home, you could be limiting the areas in the home where people with this problem can be comfortable. (more…)
Tags: air purifier, Air Quality, Chicago, Four Seasons, Glen Ellyn, Healthy Climate, Homer Glen, IL, Lennox, portable, whole house
Posted in Air filtration, Air Quality, Health, maintenance | No Comments »
Thursday, May 9th, 2013
Four Seasons has worked very hard to inform our customers of the dangers associated with having a furnace or boiler with a cracked heat exchanger operating in the home. Homeowners who have their heating system maintained yearly by Four Seasons receive a heat exchanger inspection along with their annual tune-up, but what if there is a crack between visits from your technician? As a proactive homeowner, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger in order to protect your family. There are 4 main symptoms that any homeowner can check for periodically during the heating season:
- Abnormal Flame: As the furnace gets older, it becomes more and more likely that it will suffer a leak at the heat exchanger. From time to time, you may want to inspect the flame on the furnace or boiler. A proper flame should burn clean, steady, and blue. If the flame in your furnace “dances” or” jumps,” you may have a problem. Also if the flame is yellow or orange in color, cracks in the heat exchanger are also suspected. (more…)
Tags: Boiler, Carbon Monoxide, Chicago, CO detectors, crack, flame, Flossmoor, Four Seasons, Furnace, heat exchanger, IL, leak, Richton Park
Posted in Air Quality, Heating, maintenance, Safety | No Comments »
