* Source: Lennox Comfort Matters

Have you ever wondered how your furnace keeps your home comfortable during the chilly months of the year? When you understand how your furnace works, you’re in a better position to know when it needs to be serviced or replaced. Here are the answers to all of the burning questions you have about your furnace …

Facts

• A furnace works to keep a home warm in the winter and plays a critical part in the operation of an air conditioning system.
• Furnaces produce heat through the combustion of natural gas in the furnace’s burner. The heat produced from this process then passes through a heat exchanger. Air from your home’s return air ducts is blown over the heat exchanger, thus warming the air.
• The furnace’s blower then blows the warmed air into the ductwork, which carries and disperses the warmed air throughout the home.
• During warmer months, the blower inside a furnace continues to circulate return air throughout the home–only this time, the return air has been cooled by being blown over the indoor coil portion of the home’s split-system air conditioning system. The condensing coil is typically installed on top of the furnace.

Benefits

• Indoor warmth any time it is required.
• Energy efficiency -The efficiency of a furnace can be determined by its AFUE–or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. The minimum efficiency level for furnaces currently manufactured in the U.S. is 80% AFUE. A rating of “80% AFUE” means that for every dollar you spend heating your home; 80 cents are actually applied to the generation of warmth. Compared to many of the 60% AFUE furnaces in older homes, 80% AFUE furnaces are a significant improvement. However, for enhanced energy efficiency, you may wish to consider a 95+% AFUE furnace, such as Amana\’s line of 96% AFUE Furnaces.
• Cleaner air – As your HVAC system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms. Whenever the HVAC system is running, this cycle repeats continually, constantly filtering and cleaning the air in your home.
• This cleaning process improves with the installation of a variable-speed furnace. Variable-speed furnaces use variable-speed blowers, which shift between several speeds. These furnaces will run longer at a low speed, which causes them to filter the indoor air more frequently.
• And remember – because the furnace plays an important role in the operation of the air conditioner, its variable-speed blower helps maintain both a consistent indoor temperature and improved air quality year-round.
• Possible Tax Credit – As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the U.S. government has made a provision for tax credits of up to $200 for homeowners who install furnaces with an efficiency of 95% or greater between Jan. 1, 2006, and Dec. 31, 2007. Consumers should discuss these tax credits with a tax professional to see if they qualify.

• Age — Is your furnace over 10 years old? If so, you have a gas hog.
• Ventilation — Any furnace that is not vented with PVC (including a galvanized flue-vented boiler) signals that it is not 90% plus efficient.
• Intake/Exhaust System — Any furnace that is not a two-pipe intake and exhaust system (a one-pipe system) is inefficient.
• Thermostat — A home that does not have a set back programmable thermostat could be a gas hog as well.
• Cleanliness — Finally, hogs are known for being dirty. One of the most obvious signs of a gas hog is a dirty furnace and filter.

At Wyckoff’s we can show you a variety of high-efficiency heating options — one that’s right for your home, your family, and your budget. Contact us about getting gas hog out of your basement!

• Remember to open the bi-pass damper — usually located on the ductwork around your furnace and humidifier.
• Make sure your water line is open — usually a toggle lever located on the waterline going to the humidifier
• Don’t forget to clear the area around your furnace, humidifier, and the surrounding ductwork. Clean out any dust, spider webs, or condensation you find.
• And, of course, change your humidifier’s media filter.

These are just a few ideas to help keep your furnace and humidifier in tip-top condition for the colder weather ahead. If you’d like help with any of this contact Wyckoff’s now to arrange a service visit.

Your home has humidity problems and/or excessive dust.
Poorly operating or improperly sized equipment could be to blame. Leaky ductwork can also cause these problems, so having it sealed may be a solution. Monthly maintenance of your heating and cooling equipment’s filters may also help.

Your cooling system is noisy.
Your duct system could be improperly sized or there may be a problem with the indoor coil of your cooling equipment.

Your equipment needs frequent repairs and your energy bills are going up.
In addition to the rise in energy costs, the age and condition of your heating and cooling equipment may have caused it to become less efficient.

Your air conditioner or heat pump is more than 12 years old.
Consider replacing it with newer, more efficient equipment. And, remember, high efficiency levels begin with ENERGY STAR.

Your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old.
Consider replacing it with ENERGY STAR® qualified equipment. ENERGY STAR has set high efficiency guidelines for both types of heating systems.

You leave your thermostat set at one constant temperature.
You could be missing a great energy-saving opportunity. A programmable thermostat adjusts your home’s temperature at times when you’re regularly away or sleeping.

Your score on the ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick is below five.
That means you’re using more energy at home than most Americans and probably paying more than you need to on energy bills. Get personalized recommendations to improve your home and/or heating and cooling system. Find the Home Energy Yardstick at www.energystar.gov. Click on Home Energy Analysis.

Source: “A Guide to Energy-Efficient Heating and Cooling,” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

1. Maintain your heating and cooling system – The best way to keep your equipment running at peak performance is to have a licensed HVAC professional do annual tuneups. It’s also important to clean or change air filters once a month.
2. Seal air leaks – Fixing leaks around your home will help you get the full performance out of insulation. The biggest gaps are usually found in the attic and basement.
3. Seal ducts – Ducts that are damaged or blocked can leak conditioned air and reduce your system’s efficiency by as much as 20%. You can improve your duct’s performance by calling an HVAC professional.
4. Replace old equipment with ENERGY STAR® products – When purchasing heating or cooling equipment, look for the ENERGY STAR label. These products use advanced technology to help you save on energy bills and improve the comfort in your home.
5. Make sure equipment is the right size for your home – Remember that bigger isn’t necessarily better. If the heating or cooling unit is too large for your home, it will frequently cycle on and off, which wastes energy. Plus, it won’t run long enough to remove humidity from the air, which can impact the comfort and health of your home.
6. Install a programmable thermostat - An ENERGY STAR® qualified thermostat, when properly used, can save you about $100 every year in energy costs. To maximize savings, it’s important to keep the thermostat at energy-saving temperatures for long periods of time, whether it’s during the day when you’re at work or through the night.
7. Change five lights – If every household replaced five frequently used lights, or the bulbs inside them, one trillion pounds of greenhouse gases would be prevented from going into the air.

Facts:

• The typical central air conditioning system is a split system, with an outdoor air conditioning, or “compressor bearing unit” and an indoor coil, which is usually installed on top of the furnace in the home.
• Using electricity as its power source, the compressor pumps refrigerant through the system to gather heat and moisture from indoors and remove it from the home.
• Heat and moisture are removed when warm air from inside the home is blown over the cooled indoor coil. The heat in the air transfers to the coil, thereby “cooling” the air.
• The heat that has transferred to the coil is then “pumped” to the exterior of the home, while the cooled air is pumped back inside, helping to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.
• Central air conditioning can also be provided through a package unit or a heat pump.

Benefits:

• Indoor comfort during warm weather – Central air conditioning helps keep your home cool and reduces humidity levels.
• Cleaner air – As your central air conditioning system draws air out of various rooms in the house through return air ducts, the air is pulled through an air filter, which removes airborne particles such as dust and lint. Sophisticated filters may remove microscopic pollutants, as well. The filtered air is then routed to air supply ductwork that carries it back to rooms.
• Quieter operation – Because the compressor bearing unit is located outside the home, the indoor noise level from its operation is much lower than that of a free-standing air conditioning unit.

*Source: American Lung Association, 2005

1. Change filters every month
2. Check sprinklers to make sure they don’t spray on the house
3. Clean out rain gutters & storm drains
4. Clean and vacuum vents, baseboard heaters, and ducts
5. Seal air leaks in the attic, basement, and crawlspace, and weather-strip around windows and doors
6. Check your attic for proper insulation. The US Department of Energy recommends a value between R-22 and R-49
7. Keep shades or curtains drawn on the sunny isde of the house, especially during early- and mid- afternoon
8. Call the home comfort professionals at Wyckoff’s for seasonal service check-up

1. Gas fireplaces burn clean and are up to 80% efficient
2. They can be used for area heating
3. They can be thermostatically controlled to maintain desired temperature
4. Many feature remote controls — say good bye to matches and clumsy lighting procedures
5. They provide a handy secondary or back-up heating source in the event of a power outage
6. They can be directly vented outdoors causing little mess — no more ashes to clean up
7. Most of all, they create a warm and inviting environment for you and your family