Tuesday 20 November 2012

Have Your Heating System Properly Serviced

When you live in a city with bitterly cold winters, it is essential to have your heating system properly serviced. Ideally this servicing and repairing should be done in late summer or early autumn, according to experts. Most experts recommend that your heating and air conditioning systems be checked for motor oil, changing of filter, right mixture of air and gas, leakages and other issues every couple of months. Failing that, you have to get your furnace serviced and repaired well in time for winter. Changing the filter more frequently, like once every two months can help, especially if you have pets as pet dander and hair can clog your furnace filter.
It is better to keep your furnace clean, as a dirty filter affects the performance of your heating system up to 50%. And it can also lead to more carbon monoxide production. As your furnace gets older, it can develop cracks and this might even lead to carbon monoxide leaking and affecting you and your family. So, get your furnace serviced and repaired before the onset of winter. Otherwise you might be placed in a queue along with other callers and have to wait your turn, which can be quite a long wait and quite difficult, especially in winter.
The kind of repairing you need on your heating system will depend on the type of furnace you have in your home like conventional or high efficiency condensing furnace. Both use similar technology for ignition and combustion; the difference in the high efficiency condensing furnace is the extraction process, which is in the range of 90% AFUE and above. Due to the complex heat extraction process and the technology involved in exhausting the combustion gas, there could be many areas which might need to be checked when you are repairing your gas heating furnace. Your high efficiency furnace needs to be checked for clogging more frequently than a conventional one, as the condensate drain can get clogged easily. Vent obstruction is another common complaint with a direct vent two pipe condensing furnace.
There are plenty of private contractors who contract for maintenance and servicing or repairing your heating system, who charge you according to the job and not hourly rates. So shop around and get the best contractor for fixing your furnace after checking for customer feedback and references. The heating contractor can maintain and fix any make and model as he will have all the tools and necessary spares available. If you contract out for all the heating and cooling systems together, you get the added benefit of getting priority service for all your systems repair as soon as you call them.
Such qualified contractors can also advise you about the proper maintenance of your heating and cooling systems and how frequently they might need their filters replaced, oil changed, or need a check up for other problems, etc. This guarantees you problem free heating and cooling system throughout the year. You can trust your service contractor to give you the correct diagnosis in case of any problems and an idea of how best to fix it, along with a quote. Whatever the problem with your heating system, your heating contractor will tell you a reasonable quote and how soon it will be operational again. If the system is beyond repair, you can trust your contractor to be honest with you. He will explain the extent of the problem and suggest a viable and cost-effective alternate for you to consider.
At Heating Ontario, we have acquired more than a decade's worth of experience in servicing, repairing and maintaining furnaces and air conditioners. We are one of the top companies for heating systems and air conditioners here in Ontario. So, think of us when you think of furnace repairs!!

Sunday 4 March 2012

Will Duct Cleaning Solve the Problem of Uneven Heating in My Home?

It's a problem many homeowners in larger homes face: uneven heating of their homes. Unfortunately, many older homes are poorly insulated and predisposed to having hot and cold spots. But, newer homes with vented heating systems can produce uneven results for a variety of reasons. The most common, however, is the dirt and debris that builds up in the ducts and vents.

Today's modern heating systems are designed to evenly distribute heat throughout a home. When warm air travels through vents, we expect it to warm our home equally in all parts. Sometimes, places like basements or second-floor rooms do not get their share of heat because ducts and vents can become blocked for various reasons. Dirt and debris can accumulate in basement vents because of things like dryer lint, exterior dirt and pollen, and possibly small animals getting into the ductwork. When that happens, the flow of air is obstructed and restricted, causing parts of your home to not heat evenly. The higher up you go in a home, the same thing can happen if the vents or ducts have obstructions in them that prevent the air from reaching the top floor of the home.

In order to determine what is causing your home to heat unevenly, the first thing you should do is consult a heating contractor in Toronto. A heating contractor will come to your home and inspect your system to make sure you don't have bigger issues, such as a problem with your furnace that needs attention. If your furnace is relatively new and in good repair, the problem could be solved as easily as having your ducts cleaned. But, it's very important to ensure that there isn't anything else impeding the flow of warm air throughout your home.

Duct cleaning is a fast, easy and cost-effective way to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and save money on your energy costs. When your ducts are free of dirt, debris and other obstructions, your home heats and cools more evenly, and your family breathes cleaner air. If you haven't had duct cleaning performed in a while, it could very well solve your uneven heating dilemma and improve your level of comfort.