Tuesday, December 13th, 2011
Homeowners across Chicagoland are looking for quick and easy ways to save money on their heating bills this winter. Many have invested money in new systems, improved insulation, and other energy efficient home improvements, but others want to save money without having to spend money. We honestly can’t blame them, but it is extremely important to know what you are doing before you make a change that could damage your furnace or your home. One such change involves closing off registers or vents in rooms that are not used very frequently.
Restricting Furnace Air Flow
When you close off registers to certain rooms in the home you can run into a few problems. The main problem is caused when you close off too many registers in the home, and this can happen inadvertently as well. If you close more than 30% of the registers, you could start chocking the furnace. Your furnace needs a certain amount of airflow to run properly, and when you close off registers, you deny the furnace some airflow. A bed, dresser, or other piece of furniture placed too close to a register or over one could also lead to airflow problems in your furnace. This could lead to premature part failure and overheating of the system. In the end you would pay more on your energy bills because the furnace would have to work harder to heat the remaining rooms in the home. (more…)
Tags: air flow, Bridgeview, Burbank, burst pipes, Chicago, closed registers, cost, energy bills, Four Seasons, frozen pipes, Furnace, furnace cleaning, furnace maintenance, furnace tune up, IL, plumbing, registers, save money, vents, Worth
Posted in Air Quality, Furnace, Heating, Management, Savings, Tips and Suggestions | Comments Off
Tuesday, September 28th, 2010
The EPA, which is usually very slow and reluctant to recommend any services, except the ones which have been proven to be viable and beneficial, recommends inspecting and servicing fuel-burning furnaces before each heating season (www.epa.gov) to be sure that you are protected from carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide can enter your home or facility any time you have a defect in your heat exchanger. A heat exchanger is the largest part of the furnace, usually made of aluminum or stainless steel, through which the poisonous carbon monoxide-containing exhaust fumes leave the furnace and are vented to the outside of your home. Heat exchangers, over time and/or as a result of a manufacturer’s defect, can have or develop penetrating scratches and holes. The result of these defects is simple: some of the carbon monoxide that was on its way out of the home will leak through these apertures and into your home or facility. (more…)
Tags: Furnace, Furnace Inspection, furnace tune up, heat exchanger, Heating, HVAC, service technician
Posted in Consumer protection, Furnace, Furnace Repair, Heating, Informational, Safety | 3 Comments »
Tuesday, September 21st, 2010
That all too familiar chill is in the air, and unfortunately it signifies the end of summer and the beginning of a long winter. September is rapidly coming to a close, and now is the perfect time to prepare your furnace for the season ahead. Many Chicagoans wait till the very last minute to turn the furnace on, and as a result, find themselves without heat during one of Chicago’s bitter cold nights. Luckily for them, Four Seasons is available 24 hours a day 365 days a year to help in these heating emergencies, but wouldn’t it be nice if you could avoid this inconvenience? Well, you can! By having Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning perform a tune-up on your furnace yearly, you can prevent unnecessary break downs and extend the life of your furnace. (more…)
Tags: 24 hour, Chicago, Crestwood, Four Seasons, furnace repair, furnace tune up, heating services, Orland Park, Plainfield
Posted in Air Quality, Furnace, Furnace Repair, Health, Heating, Informational, Safety, furnace filtration, maintenance | 2 Comments »
Friday, September 3rd, 2010
Most people may not be aware of the crucial function the heat exchanger play in the operation of the furnace. The primary function of the heat exchanger is to move warm air through the duct system while also venting the toxic gases outside the home. Over time the heat exchanger may become cracked or even fail. When this happens the ability of the heat exchanger to vent gases is decreased and can even result in the gases being circulated into the duct work and throughout your home.
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Tags: Furnace, furnace tune up, heat exchanger, HVAC, Inspection
Posted in Air Quality, Furnace, Health, Heating, Informational, Safety, maintenance | 1 Comment »
