Category: Furnace

America's Preferred Home Warranty, Furnace Filters, Home Maintenance, Contractor Advice

Contractor Cornerstones: Filters & Finances

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

America's Preferred Home Warranty, Furnace Filters, Home Maintenance, Contractor AdviceGetting ready to switch out your furnace filter for the year? It might be time to consider what kinds of filters you could replace it with.

According to Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning President Todd Desy, the primary difference between one filter or another is how efficiently it will remove particles from your indoor air.

“They rate from 1-inch throwaways that just protect the furnace itself (the blower), on up to higher efficiency air cleaners that will actually filter and improve the air quality in your home,” Todd said.

While the minimum filter is cheaper up front, it only truly blocks larger debris (like pet fur or hair) from your HVAC system, allowing smaller particles of dust, mold spores, and other potentially harmful bits to pass through.

Switching from the basic filter to a higher efficiency filter also keeps your furnace cleaner, increasing its lifespan and saving you money in the long run. Though it’s important to ensure you’re not using a filter that’s too strongly woven (which can make your furnace work harder to bring air through). Check out this detailed list with Everything You Need to Know About Furnace Filters.*

Regardless of which efficiency level you choose, make sure to select the correct size and shape of filter to fit well in your particular furnace. “The minimum would be a basic mechanical air cleaner that has to be replaced once a year,” Todd said.

*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with HVAC.com in any capacity.

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Home Warranty, Home Warranties, APHW, Home Maintenance, Furnace Filters

Contractor Cornerstones: Replace Your Furnace Filter

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Home Warranty, Home Warranties, APHW, Home Maintenance, Furnace FiltersHey there! So, we want you to have useful information about maintaining your home systems and appliances, but we also want that information to be fresh! So we’ve started interviewing the experts: The contractors you hire, know, and trust!

To that end, I am pleased to introduce our “Contractor Cornerstones” series, with information straight from the horse’s mouth (so to speak).

Expert Advice

This week we spoke with Service Manager Andy Miller of Jackson, Michigan’s Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc., asking what he thought was the most important thing homeowners should be doing at this time of year.

“Changing the furnace filter is number one,” Andy said. “A blocked filter restricts the airflow to the furnace, which can cause it to be far less efficient or even lead to malfunctions. It can drastically affect your electric bill, and if it gets too bad, it can overheat your furnace, leading to a service call.”

Save Money, Change Your Filter

Those service calls typically amount to more than $100, according to Andy, so changing your filter can help save you money as well. Here is a quick rundown of the steps Andy suggested for replacing your furnace filter:

  • Turn the power off to the furnace.
  • You should see the filter on the return side of your furnace (1 inch or 4 inches thick). There may be a door, or sometimes there’s just a slot in the top of the ductwork.
  • Pull out the filter and put in a new one of the same size. The arrow on the filter should point toward the furnace.
  • Restore power, and you’re good to go!

Don’t Forget the Vents!

Andy also strongly recommended clearing snow and any other blockages away from the vents on the outside walls of your home. “The snow blocks your intake, which prevents the furnace from coming on,” he said. “That’s another easily preventable $100+ service call.”

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Humidifier Maintenance

Getting Zapped in Winter? Maintain Your Humidifier Now

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Humidifier MaintenanceEvery winter in the Midwest, I’m utterly shocked—by static electricity. While this clues me in to go look at my furnace humidifier, you can avoid these sparking revelations with a little upkeep before, during, and after heating season—especially in the Spring. Your semi-glowing pets will thank you.

Your furnace-mounted humidifier maintains your home’s humidity at a comfortable level. There are two common styles of humidifier: Reservoir and Flow-through.

  • The reservoir style has a tank with standing water. A sponge-like pad moves through it and circles up into the furnace heat. While this is a less expensive option, bacteria can build up in the water and it will require more frequent cleanings.
  • A flow-through humidifier has a constant drip of water to supply the humidity in the air. This more expensive option prevents the bacteria build-up and requires less maintenance.

As with any appliance, normal use will cause wear and tear over time. Cleaning and maintaining your humidifier are the best ways to ensure it will last and be effective for as long as possible. Check out these tips* to help you get the most out of yours!

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*America’s Preferred Home Warranty is not affiliated with and has not collaborated with Mr. Hardware in any capacity.

Furnace Maintenance for New Homeowners

Need-to-Know Furnace Maintenance for New Homeowners

Posted on | by Clive Gillett

Furnace Maintenance for New Homeowners

Turn up the heat! Well, check your furnace first—but then turn up the heat!

When outside temperatures start to drop, it’s important to ensure you’re covering the basics of furnace maintenance. This will help you in a number of ways, including extending the life of your furnace—that is one expensive system to replace!

Have You Got That ‘Filter’ Feelin’?

Imagine wearing a cotton surgical mask. Much like that mask is filtering your breath as you exhale, the filter in your furnace is there to prevent dust and debris from being pulled into your furnace (and back into the air you’re breathing). That debris builds up over time, making your furnace work harder to pull air through it, which increases your electric bill and wears down the system itself. Changing the filters every other month, maybe even monthly if you have pets or children, allows the air to flow easily and helps keep your machine running smoothly.

Cleaning & Professional Inspections

Think of it this way: The less dust there is on your furnace, the less there is to clog your filter. Dusting the outside of your furnace is a must on a fairly regular basis (at least once every few months). In a lot of cases, this can be done with a can of compressed air or a damp cloth. That said, hire a professional HVAC contractor to conduct a tune up (and clean inside your furnace) in the spring and fall. A professional inspection can make a big difference, as licensed contractors are much more likely to catch an issue before it becomes a real (and more expensive) problem.

Look & Listen

The color of your pilot light indicates whether it’s burning at the correct ratio. Check on it occasionally to verify it’s burning at a steady blue. Any other color could be dangerous (an excess of carbon monoxide, for example), and you may want to consider hiring a licensed contractor to inspect it. Listen to your furnace as well. You are around it the most, and you know what sounds it typically makes. If it makes sounds you’re not used to, give that licensed contractor a call.

Another way to maximize your furnace’s efficiency is to clean your main living area vents from time to time. Take off and clean the covers, and vacuum inside the vents. Remember, any dust in there is dust you’re regularly breathing in.

Happy heating season! Check out our blog at https://aphw.com/blog/ for more household tips and tricks!