A few years ago, my wife and I were doing some last-minute packing for our honeymoon trip to Hawaii. It was the first 40-degree fall night in Milwaukee that year and we decided to turn on our furnace for the season. To our unfortunate surprise, the only air coming from the unit was cold air.
Not knowing how cold the next several days would be, we had no choice but to pay overtime rates to have our furnace fixed that night. With the flurry of activity that year with our wedding, the purchase of our new home, work and life's demands in general, we had completely overlooked the need to have the furnace cleaned and serviced prior to that night.
Now as outside temperatures continue to drop, here are a few tips for preparing your home for the upcoming heating season -- tips that will help you keep safety and comfort priority one.
For all homeowners, whether they have a new or old furnace, it is recommended to have the home's heating unit cleaned and inspected by a certified heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) professional. An excellent source for finding a qualified technician is the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) Web site at natex.org. The leading certification program for technicians in the HVAC industry, NATE certification is the only test supported by the entire industry. Additionally, more and more state and local governments are requiring NATE certification as part of the licensing process.
One Milwaukee-based company listed on the NATE site is Burkhardt Heating, Air Conditioning and Duct Cleaning. Burkhardt's president, Doug Erdmann, offered some insights into what technicians look for in a furnace during an annual inspection.
"More than just a cleaning, our NATE certified technicians check the furnace heat exchanger for signs of cracks, rust or corrosion. The inspection should also include checking the gas consumption levels, gas pressure levels at the unit and the blower fan cycle. All of these conditions indicate the safety and functional life of the furnace."
A damaged heat exchanger can allow dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to leak into the living space of a home, presenting a health risk for all the occupants.
Regarding the importance of training and ethics when it comes to furnace inspections, Erdmann emphasized, "It's important to note that furnace warranties can be void if certain types of inspections are not done properly. Constant training and testing, like the one designated with the NATE certification is a good sign the individual knows what they are doing." As for ethics, "many homeowners forgo the recommended annual furnace inspection out of concern that a HVAC company is just trying to sell new furnaces. We have been called multiple times as a second opinion in such cases and often times find minor repairs are needed rather than an entire furnace replacement."
Beyond the need for a furnace to work on demand when the temperatures drop, safety inspections include checking for carbon monoxide leaks into the home. It's important to note that carbon monoxide come from multiple sources inside the home, at times contributing to unhealthy levels inside the building. Knowing is half the battle, so the most reasonable solution is to have a fully functioning carbon monoxide tester inside the home. Unfortunately, not all carbon monoxide alarms operate with the same level of dependability.
Mick Morgan from the Carbon Monoxide Safety Association (COSA) warns, "Not all carbon monoxide testers are the same. Often the inexpensive alarms do not have the level of accuracy required to protect all people." COSA recommends homeowners use "CO Experts Model 2004. It has an accuracy that is not available in the UL 2034 Listed CO Alarm Detectors that utilize other sensor technology besides electrochemical or infrared science." For more detailed information on carbon monoxide dangers in the home, go to COSA's web site at www.cosafety.org.
Homeowners on average should expect to pay $85-$100 per annual furnace inspection.
Keep everyone in your home warm and safe this heating season. And remember, an improperly working furnace can create conditions that prove to be unhealthy and, at times, deadly. Get your furnace inspected by a qualified technician, install a dependable carbon monoxide alarm and sleep easier this winter.
Not knowing how cold the next several days would be, we had no choice but to pay overtime rates to have our furnace fixed that night. With the flurry of activity that year with our wedding, the purchase of our new home, work and life's demands in general, we had completely overlooked the need to have the furnace cleaned and serviced prior to that night.
Now as outside temperatures continue to drop, here are a few tips for preparing your home for the upcoming heating season -- tips that will help you keep safety and comfort priority one.
For all homeowners, whether they have a new or old furnace, it is recommended to have the home's heating unit cleaned and inspected by a certified heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) professional. An excellent source for finding a qualified technician is the North American Technician Excellence (NATE) Web site at natex.org. The leading certification program for technicians in the HVAC industry, NATE certification is the only test supported by the entire industry. Additionally, more and more state and local governments are requiring NATE certification as part of the licensing process.
One Milwaukee-based company listed on the NATE site is Burkhardt Heating, Air Conditioning and Duct Cleaning. Burkhardt's president, Doug Erdmann, offered some insights into what technicians look for in a furnace during an annual inspection.
"More than just a cleaning, our NATE certified technicians check the furnace heat exchanger for signs of cracks, rust or corrosion. The inspection should also include checking the gas consumption levels, gas pressure levels at the unit and the blower fan cycle. All of these conditions indicate the safety and functional life of the furnace."
A damaged heat exchanger can allow dangerous levels of carbon monoxide to leak into the living space of a home, presenting a health risk for all the occupants.
Regarding the importance of training and ethics when it comes to furnace inspections, Erdmann emphasized, "It's important to note that furnace warranties can be void if certain types of inspections are not done properly. Constant training and testing, like the one designated with the NATE certification is a good sign the individual knows what they are doing." As for ethics, "many homeowners forgo the recommended annual furnace inspection out of concern that a HVAC company is just trying to sell new furnaces. We have been called multiple times as a second opinion in such cases and often times find minor repairs are needed rather than an entire furnace replacement."
Beyond the need for a furnace to work on demand when the temperatures drop, safety inspections include checking for carbon monoxide leaks into the home. It's important to note that carbon monoxide come from multiple sources inside the home, at times contributing to unhealthy levels inside the building. Knowing is half the battle, so the most reasonable solution is to have a fully functioning carbon monoxide tester inside the home. Unfortunately, not all carbon monoxide alarms operate with the same level of dependability.
Mick Morgan from the Carbon Monoxide Safety Association (COSA) warns, "Not all carbon monoxide testers are the same. Often the inexpensive alarms do not have the level of accuracy required to protect all people." COSA recommends homeowners use "CO Experts Model 2004. It has an accuracy that is not available in the UL 2034 Listed CO Alarm Detectors that utilize other sensor technology besides electrochemical or infrared science." For more detailed information on carbon monoxide dangers in the home, go to COSA's web site at www.cosafety.org.
Homeowners on average should expect to pay $85-$100 per annual furnace inspection.
Keep everyone in your home warm and safe this heating season. And remember, an improperly working furnace can create conditions that prove to be unhealthy and, at times, deadly. Get your furnace inspected by a qualified technician, install a dependable carbon monoxide alarm and sleep easier this winter.
