TLC For Your Furnace - Avoiding Premature Failure of Heat Exchangers

Ever notice how your car seems to run better right after an oil change, especially if you wash and wax it? Well, it's the same for your furnace... don't laugh, I'm serious!

The main component of heating units, both forced air and hot water, is the heat exchanger. This component takes the heat produced by burning fuel and transfers it to the water or air for distribution throughout the house. In a hot water system this component is usually concealed from view, and in a forced air unit only 10 to 25% (sometimes it's completely hidden) of this component is typically visible without disassembly.

Cut-away view of a modern forced-air gas furnaceModern forced-air gas furnace:

1. Solid-state furnace control (Fan assembly visible at lower rear)

2. Draft inducer (fan-forced exhaust)

3. Igniter and flame sensor

4. Gas valve and manifold

5. Gas burners

6. Heat exchanger(s)

7. Air filters

(Configuration will vary between models)

What usually makes heat exchangers inoperative is developing a hole or a crack that allows the hot water to escape, or exhaust from the combustion fuel to escape into the interior air of the home. Constant heating and cooling from years of use will eventually cause a heat exchanger to crack, however some last longer than others. Under ideal conditions, many survive well beyond their predicted life spans.

It seems regular cleaning and maintenance play a factor in life expectancy, as does the environment surrounding the unit. Damp environments tend to assist the build-up of rust on the heat exchanger, shortening its life, while dry, clean environments tend to increase the life span of most furnaces.

Reduced airflow...

Dirty air filters and fan blades, dirty ductwork and obstructed air vents can all contribute to wear on fan motors, reduced efficiency and even premature failure of heat exchangers. Fuel-fired forced-air furnaces are prone to overheating due to obstructions to airflow. Modern furnaces are designed to shut down if temperatures become dangerously high... however, moderately elevated internal temperatures caused by dirt, dust and debris may not be high enough to switch off a furnace, while remaining high enough to cause metal fatigue over extended periods of time.

An annual internal inspection by a licensed burner mechanic or gas fitter, including cleaning and testing for exhaust leaks, should cost between $50 and $100. Considering the implications, I'd say that's a real bargain! Why not have your furnace inspected, and treat yourself to some peace of mind? For those of you with gas furnaces or wood stoves, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector ($30-$45) is an inexpensive means of protection against the possibility of exhaust leaks, between inspections.

Gil Strachan is a professional home inspector, representing Electrospec Home Inspection Services in east-central Ontario, Canada since 1994. Visit http://www.allaroundthehouse.com to learn more about home inspections.

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Is a Duct Cleaners Furnace Cleaning the Same as What the Heating Companies Do?

The following article applies to Air Duct Cleaning companies located in the province of Ontario, Canada but may also apply in your area, We suggest you check with your local authorities.

The cleaning that an Air Duct Cleaner can do on your furnace consists of cleaning any accessible components of the furnace that the air moves across, However, these same components must be cleaned while in place and under no circumstances are they to be removed or altered in any way.

Duct Cleaning companies are equipped with many unique proprietary tools that afford them the ability to clean the furnace's conveyance components while they remain in place.

I always make it a point to tell our customers that what we do on their furnace is no substitute for what a licensed Heating and Air conditioning Technician (HVAC Technician) will do on their furnace when it comes to doing an inspection and cleaning.

The law is very clear as to exactly what a Duct Cleaner is aloud to do on the furnace.

Duct cleaners are absolutely prohibited from doing anything in the combustion zone of your furnace, the combustion zone is the area that houses the Burners, Pilot light, Gas valves, Electrical components etc.

Any Duct cleaning technician that is messing around in that area of the furnace without proper certification is in serious violation of the law and will not be covered by their insurance company should anything go wrong.

We all too often hear from customers that tell us that SO & SO Duct Cleaning Company says that they will inspect the furnace as part of their Duct Cleaning.

If a Duct Cleaning company ever makes such a claim to you...I suggest that you stay far away from them, in fact they should be reported to the proper authorities.

The only exception would be if the Duct Cleaning company has a licensed Heating Ventilation and Air conditioning (HVAC) technician on staff who is doing the actual inspection or if they are bringing in a separate company that is HVAC Certified, in which case you would be wise to ask for proof of their qualifications.

Pat Johnson - President of Enviro-Pure Air Care Air Duct and Ventilation Cleaning

Pat has many years experience in the Duct Cleaning Industry and has written numerous articles about Duct Cleaning practices.

Better Health With Ultraviolet Germicidal Protection Air Purifiers During Furnace Season

 

With heating season approaching it's always good to change the air filters and have the furnace cleaned. It's also time to think about your home's health. An unhealthy home can make you sick, and with windows and doors closed all winter it's a good idea to consider adding an air duct mount germicidal protection system. These air purifiers sterilize air and destroy bacteria, viruses, and mold. Very popular with allergy sufferers they are also a gread addition to any home for health reasons. UV is known to destroy many airborne pathogens. Those with allergies or asthma should consider germicidal air purifier protection. Newer homes are built air tight for increased efficiency, but that means the home cannot breathe and air becomes stagnant. If you have a new home you need a UV air purifier, and duct mounted units clean the entire house, not just a room.

Everyone faces many risks, including various pollutants and toxins in their daily environment. Most of us know that outdoor air pollutants such as smog or car exhaust are toxic, but many of us do not realize how dangerous the air inside buildings can be to our health. The EPA states that the air even in the largest and most industrialized cities is less toxic than air found in typical homes. Many people do not know that indoor air pollutants can be two to five times higher than outdoor air pollution and can sometimes be 100 times higher.

Various micro-organisms such as bacteria, viruses, mold, and fungi often become airborne and this is a common cause of illness or allergy. With the threat of biological warfare, the eradication of airborne pathogens becomes even more important.

Ultraviolet germicidal lamps provide a much more powerful and concentrated effect of ultraviolet energy that can be found naturally. Such lamps sanitize air that is passed directly in their path to destroy pathogens that come in contact with the UV rays. Musty, moldy type odors can be eradicated, along with tuberculosis, cold and flu viruses, and other airborne diseases. These air purification systems are particularly beneficial to those suffering from allergies (common allergens are molds, mildew, and fungi). These microbes are destroyed, improving health and breathing conditions.

A popular and low cost source for furnace mounted air duct UV germicidal protection air purifiers is CaluTech. Chosen by the United Nations, US Army, and even Nasa employees to sterilize the air. CaluTech is a registered medical device manufacturer recorded with the FDA.

Furnace Humidifiers - What Are the Benefits

One of the most common health issues that plague our society is dehydration. Most of the tissue in the body is composed of water. If it loses the water, the tissue dries up. It's elasticity goes, and with it function declines. Besides dry skin, the symptoms of dehydration include chronic joint and muscle pain, raspy throat, sore eyes and lack of mental concentration.

There are two ways to combat dehydration, and both are essential; drink a lot of water, and maintain the relative humidity in the home and office at comfortable levels with the use of a furnace humidifier.

How does humidity AFFECT our health?

Conditioning the amount of moisture in the air with a furnace humidifier is necessary for your family's health. Dry air in your home can make your throat feel dry, and cause or aggravate respiratory ailments.

Inadequate humidification during cold weather is one of the major causes of respiratory infections. The heating seasons causes people to begin having repeated attacks of winter colds. Winter is blamed for these problems, but the actual cause is dryness, which develops in the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes. Relative humidity also has a significant effect on controlling the occurrence of airborne infections.

The one thing we can do about alleviating some of the discomfort of colds, dry noses and dehydrated skin is to install a humdifier in the home, where we spend most of our time. Actually, for many, dry air is an air-quality issue. Dry air promotes the growth of some bacteria, viruses and respiratory irritants that in sensitive individuals cause conditions worse than dry skin. Adequate moisture enables the body's immune system to defend better against indoor respiratory pollutants and irritants.

How will a furnace humidifier affect your comfort?

Humidity in the home will affect your comfort. Since the air in your home is always trying to reach its saturation point, it will absorb water wherever it's found, that means it is stealing moisture from the bodies of you and your children, your pets, your furniture and even your house plants. By giving up moisture to the air, your skin, throat and nasal passages dry out and crack leading to various physical discomfort. That's why many doctors recommend furnace humidifiers for allergy and asthma sufferers.

How does humidity AFFECT my house?

Virtually everything in your home made from wood contains some moisture. As dry air sucks that moisture out, the wood shrinks and cracks. Hardwood floors separate at the seams, furniture shrinks and cracks, and doors warp and no longer fit their frames as the moisture is drawn off.

Also, perhaps the most annoying effect of dry indoor air is static shock. How many times have you shuffled across the carpet, only to be rudely surprised by the crackle of static as you reach for the light switch! It's no fun when it happens to you, and even less so when you reach out and "zap" a loved one. With the capacity to hold a static charge up to 20,000 volts, your body can also wreak havoc on home computers and other sensitive electronic devices. By maintaining indoor relative humidity at 35 percent or higher with the use of a humidifier, static shocks are greatly reduced.

Are there any other BENEFITS to installimg a furnace humidifier in the home?

Yes! Proper relative humidity helps you save energy costs. Warm, humid summer air feels hotter than it actually is because of the moisture it contains. That same principle applies to your home in the winter. By keeping the relative humidity inside your home at an ideal level, you can turn your thermostat down a few degrees and still feel comfortable. Dialing down your thermostat just three degrees can reduce your heating bill by as much as 5%.

Pat Johnson - President of Enviro-Pure Air Care Duct Cleaning and Furnace Humidifier installations, located in Ottawa

Visit their humdifier page at: Furnace Humidifiers Ottawa

Pat has many years experience in the Duct Cleaning Industry and has written numerous articles about Duct Cleaning and the importance of proper humidity levels.

Choosing a Furnace Humidifier

While everyone longs for a white winter, the problems associated with dry winter air can be unpleasant. Low humidity can dry out our skin, our mucous membranes, and our nasal passages. It can also cause undue drying of the wooden structures of our home. What’s more, our well-intentioned efforts to heat our cold, wintry space often make the problem even worse by removing any moisture remaining in the air. This causes nosebleeds, cough, sore throat, and more.

A humidifier can help alleviate many of the problems associated with dry air. Humidifiers work by sending moisture into circulation in the air, raising the humidity level. Tabletop humidifiers are good choices for humidifying a small space, such as a nursery or bedroom. Console humidifiers are larger and are effective for humidifying multiple rooms or small apartments. For humidifying large spaces or a whole house, however, it is much more cost-effective to use a whole house humidifier. These generally attach to either the air-conditioning or heating system and circulate moisture throughout the entire home.

Furnace humidifiers, as the name suggests, are connected to the furnace system. It is installed in the ducts and works with your home’s heating and cooling system to humidify your entire house. A furnace humidifier uses your home’s water system.

With prices starting around $100, furnace humidifiers are initially more expensive than the other models. However, they are more energy efficient and cost less to operate over the long haul. Annual maintenance costs, including filter changes, run from $2 to $30.

When purchasing a furnace humidifier, look for a model than has a humidistat. This will allow you to set the desired humidity lever. When that level is reached, the humidifier will shut off. This feature is important as it helps avoid the problem of over-humidifying.

As with other types of humidifiers, your furnace humidifier will need to be cleaned and disinfected according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Failure to follow the instructions can lead to the growth of mold and bacteria. These would then be sent circulating through your home.

Humidifiers Info provides detailed information on house, furnace, cigar, and ultrasonic humidifiers, as well as humidifier filters and product reviews. Humidifiers Info is the sister site of Dehumidifiers Web