Posts Tagged ‘Caesarea’

3 Signs That Your Uxbridge Home’s Gas Fireplace Needs Repair

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Gas fireplaces are a great way to heat your home in Uxbridge. But like all things, they eventually need repair. Sometimes it’s pretty obvious that your gas fireplace isn’t working right. If you’re not getting enough heat or if your gas fireplace is making strange sounds it can be an indication that something is wrong. But there are some other, less conspicuous problems that you might not be aware of. We thought it would be helpful for our customers in Uxbridge if we put together some of these issues.

Problem Lighting Pilot Light

Occasionally, the pilot light for your gas fireplace may go out. This isn’t normally a huge issue. But if you start to have problems relighting it, it might indicate that something is wrong. This is usually because the gas supply has run out. But if you have a natural gas line from the street, this would be impossible. In this case, it could be the thermocouple which would need to be replaced by a professional Uxbridge heating technician.

Gas Smell

This can sometimes be the result of a pilot light that has gone out. But if your pilot light is lit and you still smell gas, it’s time to call your utility company immediately. You should also quickly shut off the gas line to your fireplace and also shut off any stoves or furnaces that could create a spark. Obviously, you should also turn off the gas fireplace as well.

Soot

Vented gas fireplaces are supposed to produce soot. But they are designed to properly vent harmful combustion fumes like carbon monoxide. However, unvented gas fireplaces, as their name implies, don’t do that. Unvented gas fireplaces, while they still produce combustion fumes, burn cleanly enough that they don’t need to vent. But if your unvented gas fireplace starts to produce soot, this can be a problem. This could mean that the logs in your fireplace aren’t assembled correctly. It could mean that the damper isn’t drafted or that the flue is blocked. You should definitely consult with a professional heating technician if this is an issue with your gas fireplace.

If you have any questions about your gas fireplace in your home in Uxbridge, contact the experts at Advantage Airtech. We would be more than happy to help you out. Give us a call today!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

Save on Heating Costs in Your High-Rise Condo in Pickering

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Increasing energy efficiency for a condo owner can be a challenging task. When you own a home you have free reign over what you do to improve it. When you own a condo in Pickering, though, you cannot simply decide what to change about the entire building just because it seems like your individual condominium is not as energy efficient as it should be. There are some more small scale steps that you can take in your condo, though, that can make a big impact on raising your energy efficiency and lowering your heating bills. Follow these tips from Advantage Airtech to heat your condo more efficiently.

One of the simplest ways in which you can improve heating efficiency is to make use of solar energy in your condo this winter. No, you may not be able to install solar panels on your roof. However, you can open your blinds and drapes. Let the sunlight spill into your condo, enjoy the light and make use of the solar heat gain that can cut down on your heating bills.

Another of the easiest steps you can take is simply lower the thermostat a little bit. No one is going to suggest you live in an icebox, but it is tempting to come home and jack the heat up, only to turn it back down after a while because you realize that you are overheating. Maintaining a consistent, comfortable temperature on the lower end of the scale uses much less energy and does so more efficiently than cranking the heat up at random intervals.

Shrink wrapping your windows is a great, cheap way to improve energy efficiency as well. Don’t let the heat that you pay for slip through the gaps in your window frames. A little bit of time and effort on your part to shrink wrap your windows can make a big difference in heating efficiency. Plus, it’s really easy.

Using the programmable settings on your thermostat can also help boost energy efficiency. If you know that you are going to be out of the condo for a while, set the temperature lower than you would if you were home, and shortly before you return have it come back up to a comfortable level. This allows you to reduce how much you heat an empty condo while preventing the need to heat it up again quickly when you get home.

Follow these simple tips to improve the energy efficiency in your Pickering condo. If you have any other heating concerns, call the pros at Advantage Airtech. We  offer complete HVAC services to high-rise condos in Pickering and the surrounding area!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

Bowmanville Heating Advice: Dangers of Not Changing Your Furnace Filter on Time

Monday, March 26th, 2012

Of the many ways to heat a home in Bowmanville, forced air systems are the simplest in function and the easiest to maintain.  They are so simple, in fact, it is easy to forget they need attention at all, but there are dangers to not changing your furnace filter on time that have a real and painful cost in efficiency and dollars.  Even health risks arise when filters have been neglected too long.

Contracting with a company like  Advantage Airtech ensures consistent maintenance and oversight to allow home owners the comfort and relaxation you deserve in your own home.

Back to Basics

Usually in the basement or a central location, a furnace heats air to a temperature set by the thermostat.  Over the years, technological improvements have enabled furnaces to be much smaller and fit into closets instead of the large and gangly monsters of old that could fill an entire basement.

By a fan in the furnace, the warm air is circulated through filters into a system of ducts to be distributed to grates in the wall or registers on the floor.  A second grate and duct system returns cooler air back to the furnace to be reheated.

Water can be added at the furnace to humidify the air and filters are able to remove some of the dust that typically floats invisibly throughout a home.

The Dangers of Not Changing the Filter

When the system is properly maintained, it is clean, efficient and produces comforting heat on demand at the touch of the thermostat or consistently throughout the day and night.

The furnace filter is designed to remove dust from air as it passes through your furnace. The longer your furnace filter is in place the dirtier it becomes. The increase of particles caught in the filter creates resistance to air flow through the filter and reduces efficiency.

To make up for the loss of flow through a dirty filter, the heat exchanger, usually a gas or oil fired flame, must work harder to produce the same amount of heat to the space.  This becomes costly financially and causes undo wear and stress on the equipment, requiring a partial or full replacement much sooner.

Additionally, operating above ideal designed conditions, cracks in the chamber may appear from the over load which can allow carbon monoxide, a toxic gas, to be released into the duct work.  This gas in large quantities in the home can cause headaches, nausea, and in extreme circumstances, even death.

Regular Maintenance

To avoid problems and excessive strain, remember to change the filters at the beginning of each new heating season.  An annual maintenance, check-up and thorough cleaning by a qualified company like  Advantage Airtech ensures a safe and comfortable season of warmth with no need to worry about the dangers of not changing filters in your Bowmanville furnace.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

Durham Region Furnace Installation Question: What Is an Electronic Ignition?

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

Gas furnaces are very complex pieces of equipment in to have in your Durham Region home. Modern ones in particular are designed to use as little gas as possible, and to recapture as much of the heat generated from burning that gas as can be done safely. One of the many safety and energy-efficient advances in furnace technology in the least twenty years is the electronic ignition.

The Purpose of Electronic Ignition

In older furnaces and boilers, a pilot light would stay lit continuously whenever the heating system needed to be available. That meant continuously burning gas throughout the fall, winter and spring months for those times when heat was needed. It was inefficient and unsafe, especially in older devices that didn’t have safety valves.

Today, furnaces are built with electronic ignitions – small devices that only ignite the gas supply when the thermostat is on. there are two types of electronic ignition used in boilers and furnaces today.

  • Intermittent Pilot – An intermittent pilot is unique in that it releases a spark through an electronic component to the gas pilot, lighting the gas burners.
  • Hot Surface Ignition – Hot surface ignition uses an electronic filament (like a lightbulb) to heat up and ignite the burners when the thermostat calls for heat.

Both devices are designed to use a very small amount of electricity and reduce the amount of gas needed for continuous operation of your furnace.

Safety Benefits of an Electronic Ignition

While gas efficiency was a big part of the transition from pilot lights to electronic ignition, safety was an equally big component. Whereas before, the pilot light was continuously lit, meaning gas was continuously flowing into the furnace, today’s furnaces are essentially off when not in use. This means less of a chance that gas will flow unburned or that the pilot will get dirty or burn too soft, releasing carbon monoxide.

If your furnace or boiler still uses a traditional pilot light, consider having it upgraded to electronic ignition, not just to save gas but to keep your Durham Region home and family safer. If you have any questions about upgrading your current furnace, give Advantage Airtech a call today!

Tags: , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

What to Do if My Furnace Isn’t Producing Enough Heat: A Question from Utica

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

If your Utica home is cold, many blame the furnace for not bringing up the warm temperatures or they blame the thermostat for not working right.

It may very well be a thermostat issue – often caused by the location of the thermostat – that is causing the problem. However, sometimes root cause is found in the furnace or ventilation system.

Your indoor environment may be contributing to a seemingly slow-moving furnace. Your furnace may be working too hard to keep up with the heat demand because of an excessive build-up of dirt or debris on the filter or around the moving parts, such as the motor or fan belt. The most obvious thing to do is to keep the airflow unobstructed and keep all working parts clean.

First of all, you should regularly check your furnace filters and if they are dirty, replace them or clean them. Disposable furnace filters are relatively inexpensive and come in a variety of sizes and media ratings (ratings determine what size media is used and its ability to trap certain sized particulate). You can buy these individually or in bulk from a number of different resources. It is a good idea to replace the filters every three-six months.

Mesh filters can be removed, cleaned and reinserted. Like replaceable filters, mesh filters should be checked on a regular basis and then cleaned at least every three months.

You can remove the access panels to your furnace and inspect the components for any build-up of dust, dirt, or debris. Using a vacuum with an extension hose usually is all it takes to clean up the area.

Other reasons for poor heating performance include dirty or blocked ductwork. The harder your furnace has to work to push air through the ventilation system, the longer it takes to bring the heat up. Make your furnace work less and keep vents clear and ductwork clean.

Finally, the reason your furnace isn’t producing enough heat may not be the fault of your furnace at all – you may have a leaky house. But that’s a whole different story.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

Warning Signs of a Broken Furnace: Some Pointers from Solina

Monday, November 21st, 2011

How do you know when your furnace is “on the fritz?” There are warning signs of a broken furnace and some are recognizable – but not all. A broken furnace not only deprives your Solina home of heat and comfort, it also can be deadly, too.

Let’s look at some of the warning signs.

Each year, hundreds of people die and many more are injured from the most common household poison: carbon monoxide. This colorless and odorless poisonous gas comes from several sources and the furnace is the most common source of all; more precisely a broken or malfunctioning furnace. Carbon monoxide is a result of incomplete combustion of a fossil fuel, which is when a fuel does not burn correctly or completely. In a furnace, carbon monoxide gas comes from a poorly operating burner or a cracked heat exchanger. A properly tuned and maintained furnace greatly reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Since carbon monoxide gas is colorless and odorless, it can go undetected. It can make people sleepy and create flu-like symptoms. Sometimes a person may fall asleep and never wake up. But there are warning signs. Drowsiness, vomiting, or flu-like symptoms are a warning sign. Regularly scheduled maintenance of your furnace by a qualified heating and cooling professional and installation of carbon monoxide detectors can reduce the risk of falling ill to carbon monoxide gas.

Another warning sign is a higher energy bill. Sometimes you can’t detect a problem right away because, like carbon monoxide, there may be no obvious signs. Higher utility bills can be a sure sign of a furnace that is working too hard and running more than usual. This may be a result of clogged or dirty air vents, or dirty filters. If your monthly bills are higher than those of the previous year, it may not just be because gas prices are higher.

There are other warning signs of a broken furnace, too. The most obvious is the failure of your furnace to bring your home up to the desired thermostat settings or to maintain an even temperature. Cold or uncomfortable houses are sure signs of a broken furnace. The furnace may cycle on or off, causing an uneven or inconsistent flow of heated air. This can be because of a poor blower or a clogged furnace filter. If you don’t feel any moving heated air or detect any unusual odors or smells coming from your heating vents, that’s a sure sign of a broken or malfunctioning furnace.

A broken or cracked gas line can emit odors and can cause a furnace to malfunction, too.

Don’t take a chance of losing heat and comfort this winter. At the first possible warning sign, call your local heating professional for a heating system tune-up.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

How to Calibrate Your Thermostat: A Guide from Columbus

Wednesday, November 2nd, 2011

Have you ever set the thermostat in your Columbus home to a desired temperature and “hoped for the best?” Maybe it’s because the temperature setting you expected this finely tuned instrument to maintain just isn’t right. You may see 70 degrees on the thermostat but the home feels more like 65 degrees. In fact, if you used a hand-held thermostat, you might get real proof that your thermostat is not working like it should.

There are reasons for a malfunctioning thermostat and solutions to correct them, namely calibration. First, let’s look at some reasons why a thermostat can be out of kilter.

The first thing to note is that thermostats are very sensitive instruments and change to the slightest changes in temperature. An incorrectly installed thermostat or one that is accidentally bumped or jarred can malfunction. It may wind up out of level, causing it to operate incorrectly. Possibly the most common problem affecting accuracy is a build-up of dirt, which can affect the calibration of the thermostat. Other problems may be caused by loose wiring.

Here are some steps you can take to check your thermostat for accuracy and recommended actions.

  1. Use a standard glass thermometer to check the room temperature. You should mount it on the wall nearby your thermostat and use some padding to keep it from actually coming in contact with the wall, which could affect the readings.
  2. Wait 15-30 minutes for the thermometer to adjust to the temperature and enable it to give the most accurate reading. Once the time has elapsed, compare its temperature reading to that on your thermostat.
  3. If there is more than a one degree variation, your thermostat may be dirty. Remove its faceplate and examine it. If there is dirt or dust inside, blow it out. If you can reach the contact points, you can clean them with a new dollar bill (and speaking of dollars, a clean and accurate thermostat will make your furnace run more efficiently and save you money on your utility bill).
  4. Some thermostats use a mercury vial which can indicate if the thermostat is level or not. If it is not level, a simple adjustment using a screwdriver may do the trick. In the worst case, you may have to remove the thermostat and drill a new hole to reinstall the mounting screw in a different location.
  5. Now that you have made these corrections, check both thermostats to see if the temperatures match. If they don’t, try steps 3 and 4 again. If that still doesn’t work, your problem may be more than just a dirty, lopsided thermostat. You may need to replace the thermostat – or even look at the heating system in its entirety. It could be time to call a professional heating contractor to check out your entire system.

Today’s thermostats have few working components but are very sensitive, advanced instruments. It takes little to throw off a thermostat but luckily, it takes little effort to correct the resulting problems.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

Why Fall Maintenance is Important for Your Heating System: A Tip From Caesarea

Friday, October 14th, 2011

When it comes to heating equipment maintenance and repairs for your Caesarea home, it does not pay to procrastinate. The longer you put off the maintenance, the higher the probability that your heating system will break down or your heating and cooling contractor will be unable to make an emergency repair when you need it. That’s why fall is the best time of the year to have maintenance and repair procedures performed.

Consider this: when do most people call a heating and cooling contractor? The answer: when they need a repair. The call could come in the middle of the night when a furnace stops working or during a family party on a weekend – both times when it is hard to find someone to do the repair work. Has this happened to you? If so, there are ways you could have prevented this from happening – and could have saved from cold nights and embarrassing situations with house guests.

You can avoid this aggravation and extra expense by scheduling fall maintenance for your heating system. Fall is often the “slow season” for heating and cooling professionals and many schedule their routine service and maintenance appointments during this time. Contractors expect to be busy during the peak winter months and prefer to spread out the workload as evenly as possible.

During fall maintenance, your heating equipment will be switched on and inspected. That may sound routine but by running your heating system early, you may be spared the expense of repairing your system when it fails to operate or run smoothly during the cold months. If there is a problem, it is better to fix it ahead of time.

There is no guarantee that a furnace that is tuned up in the fall will last throughout the winter without needing service. But a little preventive maintenance ahead of time will save a lot of heartache – and dollars – when a real emergency comes up.

Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off

Why the SEER Is Important When Choosing an Air Conditioner? A Question From Hampton

Friday, August 12th, 2011

There are many things to take into account when you are trying to pick out a new air conditioning system in Hampton. You want one that will be powerful enough to cool the required space but not so big that it turns your home into a walk in freezer. With so many models and types on the market, it can be difficult to figure out what details you need to pay attention to and what you can ignore.

The seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) that each air conditioner comes with is not something you should ever disregard, however. This number is a reflection of the overall energy efficiency of the unit and it can have a huge impact on the amount you pay to keep running your air conditioner every month. The higher the SEER of a product, the more energy efficient it is and the lower your monthly bills will be.

Of course, air conditioners with a higher SEER also generally come with a higher price tag, so you will have to weigh the amount of your potential savings against the difference in price of units with different SEERs.

To calculate this, you will need to know exactly how much more energy efficient one model is compared to the others. For instance, when you know that an air conditioner with a SEER of 11 is 7% more efficient than one with a SEER of 10, you are in a better position to evaluate the potential savings.

You will still need to translate this into dollars, of course, because the amount you save with a 7% boost in efficiency will depend largely on how much you typically pay already. If you are only paying around $320 a year with a SEER 10 air conditioner, upgrading to a SEER 11 will only save you about $30. However, if your annual cooling bills are closer to $1000, you will easily save close to $150 with this small upgrade.

SEER numbers go much higher than 10 and 11 too. In fact, the highest you will probably get is a 19.5 SEER, but that will more than cut your cooling bills in half if you are starting with a SEER 10. Still, the actual amount that you will save depends on how much you were paying to begin with, but if your cooling bills are already very high, it may be worth it to invest in an expensive but very high efficiency system.

For more information about which air conditioner would work best in your home, contact your local air conditioning professional.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off

Variety of Ways to Cool Your Home Naturally

Monday, July 25th, 2011

It is normal these days to simply switch on the air conditioning when the temperature begins to rise outside. But this can get expensive quickly, so it is a good idea to look into some alternative cooling methods as well. Fortunately, there are actually some great ways to help keep your home cool without touching that air conditioning at all. You will probably still want to have it around for extreme circumstances, but the less you need to use it, the more you will save in the long run.

Using fans, ceiling fans in particular, can certainly help to keep you cool on many moderate summer days. But they are far from the only options available. In fact, the design and composition of your house itself will have a lot to do with how easy it is to keep it cool all summer long.

One of the main reasons that your house gets so hot inside during the summer is that sunlight heats the air inside when it hits the walls, roof and windows. Closing your blinds will help to keep some of this out, but there will still be plenty of heat from the sun working to increase the indoor temperature.

What you really want to do to keep your house from heating up because of sunlight is to actively reflect the sun’s rays away from your home. You can do this by having light colored roofing and exterior paint or siding put on. While the dark colors typically used for this type of work absorb the vast majority of the sunlight that hits them, lighter colors will reflect it away.

This works well for the walls, but on your roof it can be a bit more difficult to stop the absorption of heat from the sun because of the nature of typical roofing materials. What you can do, however, is add a reflective coating like white latex on the roof. This will dramatically reduce the amount of heat that is able to come into your home in this way.

Also, natural shade can do a lot to keep sunlight from getting to your home to begin with. Planting trees close enough to your home that they will block out the sun but far enough away that they have room to grow will eventually help to keep your home much cooler without any extra work whatsoever.

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Air Conditioning | Comments Off