Do I need a new heating system?
Over 20: Probably.
If your furnace or boiler is over 20 years old, replacing it with a high-efficiency model is probably a good investment.
10-20 years:
Get it evaluated.
If your furnace or boiler is 10–20 years old, and you are experiencing discomfort or high utility bills, hire a qualified home performance or heating contractor to evaluate your existing system.
This evaluation will help you determine if—rather than replacement—it's more cost effective to simply improve your home's insulation and air-tightness, repair or insulate ductwork, or perform annual maintenance service on your system.
Improve fuel efficiency with add-on components
Replacement may not be the best option. Consider items such as an indirect water heater or the Beckett HeatManager to significanlty reduce your fuel usage if your system is in reasonable condition.
Other reasons to consider replacement
- Old coal burner that was previously switched over to oil or gas
- Old gas furnace without electronic ignition. If it has a pilot light, it was probably installed prior to 1992 and has an efficiency of about 65% (the least efficient systems today are 80%)
- Old gas furnace without vent dampers or an induced draft fan (which limit the flow of heated air up the chimney when the heating system is off).
Modified from The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Their website also covers cooling systems.
Try some basic heating maintenance
Do I need a new cooling system?
FIRST: Reduce your need for air conditioning
Before you consider upgrading your cooling system, reduce the need for mechanical air conditioning in the first place.
This can be done in several ways:
- Insulate and tighten your house
- Get rid of inefficient appliances – they generate a lot heat
- Consider "cool" exterior finishes
- Shade or improve windows
- Cool with air movement and ventilation – ceiling fans or house fans
SECOND: Improve efficiency with yearly maintenance
- Recharge refrigerant, correct airflow over coils, clean and insulate ductwork
Is your compressor shot?
Most compressors have an average life of 10 to 12 years. With proper maintenance, a quality model may last 20, but don't expect the kind of lifetime you get with boilers and furnaces.
Summarized from The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Their website also covers heating systems.
Try some basic AC maintenance.
Heating system maintenance
Test your heating system
Test your heating system before the heating season starts, while the weather is still warm.
Follow 3 easy testing steps
- Turn thermostat to 4-6 degrees higher than the room temperature.
- Wait 5-10 minutes to make sure you feel warm air from the registers or radiators.
- If you do not feel any warm air, turn thermostat to the original setting and contact us.
Furnace & boiler maintenance
Beat the fall rush and service your furnace or boiler every year before the heating season.
Our summer price is lower, but you receive the same factory precision and thorough cleaning. Leave the worry to us. Sign up for our planned maintenance to be sure it gets done each year.
Replace furnace filters once a month
Change your furnace filter on your hot air system every month during the heating season. We'll recycle your old filters as well. Check out how to replace furnace filters to learn how you can do it.
Air conditioning maintenance
Clean the condenser unit
Keep the outdoor condenser free of debris. Any blockage will prevent it from dissipating heat effectively, making the unit work harder, wasting energy and money.
How to check your condenser
- Turn off air conditioner.
- Go outside and look at the unit, checking for any shrubbery, leaves, grass or dirt that may be impeding the flow of air from the unit, and remove with broom or vacuum cleaner.
- Check the base pan under the unit and remove any debris that has accumulated there as well.
- Never reach inside the unit with your hand or any other object.
- If there is debris or dirt deep in the unit, call for service.
Clean or change the air filter once a month
The air filter is the most important part of your cooling system. If it becomes clogged, your system will work harder and longer to supply the same amount of cool air. A dusty filter reduces airflow. Clean or change the air filter once a month.
How to change your filter
- First check what size filter you have.
- Make sure the air conditioner is turned off before you remove the filter.
- If it is a disposable filter, install a new filter and throw the old one away.
- If it is a reusable filter, clean following manufacturer's instructions.
- If you have allergies or pets, consider installing a high-efficiency, air filtration system.
- Keeping your filters clean can cut energy consumption 5 to 15%.
Leaky pipe/fixture:
shut off the water
Close valve at fixture
Find the shut-off valve - usually behind or underneath the fixture. Turn it clockwise to shut off the water.
Close main valve coming into house
If there's no shut-off valve for the fixture, close the main valve to turn off the water supply to the entire house. This is located where the main water supply pipe enters just inside the foundation wall in the basement or crawlspace. Turn clockwise.
Know where valves are
Every family member should know the location of the shut-off valves for every fixture, as well as the main shut-off valve for the house, and how they operate.
Professional tips – shut-off valves
- If you need a wrench to close the valves, keep one specially labeled nearby.
- Label the main water shut-off valve with a brightly colored tag.
- If you don't have shut-off valves for your fixtures and appliances, consider having them installed, especially to toilets and washing machines.
- Consider having ball valves installed at the washer and main shut-off. Their ease of operation can save money, time, and convenience in an emergency situation.
Toilet leaks
Toilet seal leaks can happen when the toilet is not stable, or the seal is worn out or not installed correctly.
RECOMMENDATION: Check for water or visible stains around the base of the toilet. Does the toilet wobble? If you see water, don't delay repairs.
Water heater leaks
Hot water tanks are susceptible to leaks, even if they have liners. Water contains sediment that sinks to the bottom and rusts.
RECOMMENDATION: Inspect the flooring around your water heater for signs of leaks. A qualified technician should periodically inspect heaters installed more than five years ago. PEMCO suggests replacing your water heater if it's more than 10 years old. Water pan and safety alarms are also worth considering.
Washing machine & other hoses
Rubber hoses eventually leak. Because the laundry room is usually in a low-traffic area of the house, water damage can go undetected and be extensive.
RECOMMENDATION: Check the hoses for kinks and cracks. Replace rubber hoses every five years or have metal mesh hoses installed. Do the same for dishwasher and automatic ice cube-maker hoses.
Root-clogged sewer lines
What to look for
The drain lines are gurgling, especially when you drain your washing machine water; toilets and sinks are slower than normal to drain; the floor drain has unpleasant odors or water backing up.
Roots love pipes
Trees and shrubbery seek water anywhere they can find it during spring with the onset of foliage growth. One of the prime supplies of water is our sewer systems. Roots only need a hairline crack to gain access into your drain lines.
Once inside the drain lines, the roots can grow quickly, exerting enough force to clog, damage or destroy your pipes.
Manual removal can provide immediate relief, but is only effective on the bottom half of the sewer pipe. And just like pruning a shrub or tree, the roots will come back bigger and stronger unless treated.
RootX can help
Until recently, there were no safe biological agents that could be used to remove the tree roots on the top side of the pipe. RootX offers homeowners a solution to root problems.
When RootX is added to your sewer system it becomes a sticky foam. The foam fills the entire pipe killing and speeding the decay of the roots. RootX-continues working by preventing the regrowth of roots for up to one year. It is cost-effective and saves homeowners money on costly sewer line repairs. Annual treatment is the most effective way of keeping roots under control.
Dryer vent maintenance
Symptoms of a clogged duct
The major symptoms of a clogged vent are incomplete drying of clothes at normal temperatures, and very hot dryer temperatures.
Vent properly,
remove obstructions
Carbon monoxide can be forced back into the home if your gas clothes dryer is not properly vented. Improper venting, or obstrutions such as lint, birds' nests, rodent and bug infestations can create a fire hazard or lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
The CSIA [Chimney Safety Institute of America] recommends dryer exhaust ducts be inspected annually and maintained as necessary by a certified technician.
