Carbon Monoxide (CO) is the #1 cause of poisonings in the U.S. Yet less than 5% of all CO poisonings are reported! The safe and efficient operation of your heating equipment and other combustion appliances cannot be determined without testing using a calibrated combustion analyzer. Because the technology, instruments, and training to do this testing correctly has only been available for a few years, odds are it’s never been done. Your service technician should be certified to properly test and diagnose potential CO exposure.

It’s About Your Health and Safety

Carbon monoxide, even in small quantities, can cause serious health problems, particularly in children and the elderly. Millions of unsuspecting homeowners are exposed to low levels of CO and don’t even know it. Unfortunately U.L.-Listed CO alarms don’t go off until your family has been exposed to 70 ppm (parts per million) for over 3-1/2 hours! Most international limits for unsafe levels, including OSHA and the World Health Organization’s guidelines, are between at 15-35 ppm. Carbon monoxide can come from additional sources in your home besides the heating equipment, and those sources should also be checked. They include your Water Heater, Gas Range, Gas Logs, Space Heater, and Boiler — even an attached garage.

Even New Equipment Needs to Be Tested

Anytime equipment is installed, it’s being exposed to conditions in which it hasn’t been tested to perform. Venting systems, combustion air, duct systems, additional appliances in the building, building pressure etc., can all affect its operation. Besides that, after leaving the factory, it’s likely your equipment has been loaded and unloaded on trucks and transported several times. Vibration and shock can cause components to shift and move. The only way to truly know if your new equipment is operating safely and efficiently is to test it once it’s been installed.

Better Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Professionals Don’t Guess

They measure. If CO testing is part of the HVAC professional’s normal protocols, he or she will advise you of this prior to servicing or installing equipment. Odds are when the tech walks into you house he’ll be carrying some type of CO monitor to immediately check if unsafe CO levels are present. When working on the equipment, the tech will likely drill a hole in the flue of the appliance, and insert the probe of an electronic combustion analyzer to check actual burner performance. Additional performance testing might require holes to be drilled into the ductwork as well. Once finished testing, he or she should provide documentation and review the results with you.

What Should I Expect From My Heating Professional?

As a consumer you should expect your HVAC professional to be trained in current technology that makes sure you’re heating system is safe, comfortable, and efficient. These are probably things you may expect are mandatory, but unfortunately they’re not.  .

The HVAC professional should be trained to measure the safety and efficiency of all your combustion equipment, even appliances that he or she doesn’t normally sell or service. Thorough testing can also verify that your equipment is operating at peak efficiency and provide the lowest operating costs. Finally, he or she should provide you with documentation that explains what has been  found and what corrections have been or need to be performed. He or she should also provide you with material to better educate you about carbon monoxide sources and health effects.

Fall is here and it is time to get your furnace ready for the upcoming winter season. Performing your pre-season maintenance can save you money and the hassle of mid-winter repairs.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Replace your air filter– Many people allow months and maybe even years to go by before changing the air filter in the furnace. Failing to do so can cause inadequate air flow, and it may even cause the furnace to fail by preventing the unit from firing up when you call for heat.
2. Check the thermostat-A lot of the times your thermostat may trick you into thinking that there is a problem with the system. If the differential is improperly set, your unit may not be hitting the temperature that you want it to. Also, if your thermostat runs on batteries, now would be a good time to change them.  Smart thermostats are also a great idea to keep in mind for this winter. This type of thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature of your home right from your smartphone and will even learn your schedule! This way you save energy during the hours when no one is home or when everyone is asleep.
3. Test the Carbon Monoxide Detectors– It is an imperative investment to make in your safety to replace or install CO detectors in your home. They alert you when the levels of carbon monoxide in your home are dangerously high. This is especially important in the winter because furnaces are one of the main causes of high levels of CO in the home. It is odorless and will not be detected without these alarms present.
4. Schedule a tune-up– A tune-up is a cleaning and efficiency check for the unit. Only a certified HVAC technician can perform this procedure correctly, but if completed, it can save you money on your energy bills because the furnace will be running more efficiently. Most furnace manufacturers also require annual maintenance to maintain your warranty.

Schedule your $69 Furnace Tuneup today and protect against breakdowns all winter long! We service all makes and models of oil, gas, and electric furnaces and never charge extra for nights, weekends or holidays. Schedule today and avoid the rush!

The average furnace lifespan can vary between 15-20 years. If you have an old inefficient unit and been holding off on replacement, it may be costing you more money in the long run. Today we’ll take a look at 7 of the most common reasons to replace your furnace.

1. Age of Your Furnace: The average gas powered forced air furnace will last between 15 and 20 years if the owner has taken proper care of the unit. If your furnace is within that age range or if it is older, be a proactive homeowner and replace the furnace before it breaks down at an untimely time this winter.
2. Cracked Heat Exchanger: Many people are confused when they are told that the furnace must be replaced when the heat exchanger is found to have a crack in it.  A cracked or rusted out heat exchangers is a known cause of carbon monoxide leaks in the home. Running a unit with this problem could have severe consequences.
3. High Energy Bills: One thing every homeowner can expect this winter is a rise in the cost of gas to heat your home. If you are running an old inefficient unit, that could mean a big increase in your energy bills as well. Lessen the blow by replacing that old unit with a new high efficiency furnace. You could save around 30% on your heating bills this winter!
4. Go Green: Taking care of our planet is everyone’s responsibility. If you are running a unit that is only 65% efficient of less, your home is wasting tons of energy every year. Reduce your carbon footprint and do your part to help the environment by installing a new high efficiency furnace in your home today!
5. High Repair Costs: If the unit that you currently have is in disrepair, the repair costs to the unit may not be worth it. Why invest hundreds of dollars in repair now when that old unit may not last much longer anyways?
6. Flooded Basement: Thousands of homes experiences flooding this past summer, and as a result, the furnace may have undergone some water damage. If this happened to you, don’t put off replacing the unit any longer! Attempting to run a water damaged furnace can lead to unexpected system failure, carbon monoxide leaks, and electrical fires.
7. Unpredictable Heating: If that old furnace isn’t evenly heating the home, a new high efficiency unit may solve all of your problems! The new technology on the market today increases comfort and reliability of your heating system. Don’t be left out in the cold this winter!

Our full line of Lennox furnaces are designed to deliver reliable and economical warmth and have efficiency ratings from 80% all the way up to 98% AFUE. Contact us today for a free estimate on a new furnace and be on your way to a warm and comfortable winter.

These days, it seems like everyone is talking about energy efficiency. Light bulbs, washers, dryers, and HVAC systems are often at the center of the discussion. Everyone is looking to save money and do their part to be eco-friendly as well. This winter, you may even be looking to swap out that old furnace for a new high efficiency model. Our SLP98V Furnace is the most efficient and the quietest furnace you will find of the market today.

What makes the SLP98V so special?

The SLP98V has several features that enable it to boast such high efficiency and quiet operation. For starters, this furnace has an AFUE rating of 98.2%! That means that almost 100% of the gas used to run this furnace is used to generate heat. Older models have much lower ratings. If your current furnace was purchased before 1992 then there is a good chance that it is less than 75% efficient. That means that you are currently throwing away hundreds of dollars a year when you could be saving up to $800 a year with the Lennox SLP98V.

This furnace is able to achieve such a high rating because of its variable speed blower motor and its SureLight igniter. The variable speed blower motor is self-calibrating. This means that it is able to automatically adjust to meet your needs. For example, if the temperature outside is more mild, the motor will adjust to a lower setting to conserve energy while still allowing the heating needs to be met in the home. This type of blower also allows for quiet operation because it is not always running on high. The igniter is a type of electronic ignition that only lights when the furnace calls for heat. Older models use a standing pilot that requires a constant stream of gas to stay lit 24/7. By only lighting when you need heat, this pilot is a major contributor to the energy efficiency of this furnace.

Many homes put up with a noisy furnace because they think that that is there only option. However, it doesn’t have to sound like there is a helicopter landing in your basement every time the furnace kicks on. With the SLP98V you also get extremely quiet operation. Lennox has engineered new technology that makes their furnaces 50% quieter than your average unit. With the help of the variable speed blower motor and a fully insulated cabinet, furnace like the SLP98V achieve virtually silent operation even at higher speeds.

How does this technology affect me?
Besides saving you loads of money every year on your energy bills, the technology in the Lennox SLP98V furnace is used to increase your personal home comfort. Quiet operation allows you to enjoy near silence throughout your home. The variable speed blower also uses Precise Comfort Technology. This technology helps your furnace have more than just a high and low setting. It adjusts the fan speed in increments as small at 1%. What this means to you is that when you set the thermostat at a certain temperature, the furnace will automatically adjust to meet that temperature by changing heat and airflow capacity. That translates into precise temperatures and comfort in your home all winter long.

We offer a variety of high-efficiency furnaces to choose from and offer free in-home estimates from our factory trained and licensed comfort specialists. Contact us today to be on your way to saving money on your energy bills!

Furnaces are very safe machines, but under the right circumstances and with the right malfunctions, they can be dangerous machines. That should be no surprise. They ignite combustible gasses to create heat and fire to warm your homes. If this sophisticated system is damaged, or otherwise faulty, the consequences can be more extreme than a chilly evening.

Primarily, the largest danger and most serious malfunction is a crack in the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is a metal shield in the furnace that is directly warmed by the combusting gasses and fire in the burner of the furnace. The purpose of the part is to allow only the heat to transfer to the air in your vents while keeping any exhaust and fumes out of your indoor air. A crack in this heat exchanger allows such dangerous gasses as carbon monoxide to leak through into your ductwork.

Reasons Your Heat Exchanger Could Crack

A heat exchanger should last 15-20 years, but, there are a few factors that could lead to a premature crack!

• Improper Air Flow: Clogged and dirty air filters or blocked vents could cause the furnace to work harder that it was designed. Extrapolate a harder workload over years, and a premature crack in the heat exchanger will not be far off.
• Malfunctioning Burners: A malfunction in your burner left unfixed and unattended could be causing your furnace to burn hotter than it should! This increase in heat will be sure to create a crack.
• Excessive Condensation: A furnace left out of use for some time can acquire condensation. This condensation then accumulates in the heat exchanger, causes it to rust, and creates a crack.

Your Best Defense — Annual Furnace Tune-ups!

While most heat exchangers will last throughout the entire lifespan of the furnace without problem, the consequences of an undiscovered crack are seriousness enough to remain vigilant. The best way to monitor your furnace and identify a problem in your heat exchanger is through annual maintenance. Schedule your Tuneup, and let our technicians inspect every aspect of your furnace.

Schedule your $69 Furnace Tuneup Today!

In the past, many homeowners would close off vents in various rooms of the home in order to direct all of the heat to one area and to save money. Nowadays, many people are still doing this, but does this practice still save money? If you use a forced air furnace in your home, you may be making some very serious mistakes when it comes to the supply and return registers that your furnace uses.

1. Only Closing off the Supply Register– A supply register is the exactly what the name suggests. It supplies heat to the rooms in your home. The return register is the vent that pulls air in and sends it back to the furnace. When closing off registers in the home, a common mistake made is when the homeowner only closes the supply register to the room and leaves the return register uncovered. In today’s modern well-insulated homes, this causes that room to have negative pressure. What will happen is the furnace will suck cold air into the return vent from any cracks that make exist. Most commonly these are found around windows, wall joints, and outlets. All of the added cold air in the system causes the furnace to run for longer periods of time. So instead of saving energy, you waste energy and money.
2. Closing Registers without Sealing Duct work: Gaps and leaks in duct work systems cause energy waste even in a home with all of the registers open, but when you close a register, the problem becomes much worse. When you close off a vent to a certain room or floor in the home, there is added pressure inside the duct work. The air that flows through the duct work is now moving with more force than it was with the vents open. When this fast moving air encounters a leak, it escapes in large quantities causing heat loss and decreased air flow to the rooms in the home.
3. Closing more than 60% of Registers: Your furnace was installed to heat the entire home. When you close more than 60% of the registers, the furnace won’t be able to get enough air for proper combustion and it won’t have enough space to distribute all of the heat that it is creating. When this happens, the furnace will overheat or operate on the high limit switch. In no time at all you could cause damage to the furnace that will cost hundreds to repair and drastically shorten the lifespan of the unit.
4. Furniture Blocking Registers: Do you have an airflow problem in your home? Before you start closing registers in an attempt to force more air into the rooms that need increase airflow, check the furniture placement. Many homeowners don’t realize that their airflow problems are caused by a couch, a chair, or even a curtain that is blocking the register from distributing air properly. Adjust the furniture in the home so that the registers have more than enough room to circulate air in the room.

There are several factors that need to be taken into account before you ever close off a room. If you don’t consult a professional first, you could end up wasting more money on your energy bills and cause major damage to the heating unit.  If you are looking to save money, the technician may be able to find you a few places around the home where you can make changes without putting the furnace or your wallet in jeopardy.

This winter, just like every winter before, thousands of furnaces will fail and need to be replaced. The problem is that every year, thousands of those furnaces are improperly sized for the homes that they are installed in. Furnaces are not one size fits all and calculating square footage is not enough to determine the proper size needed. Replacing a furnace is a big investment for any family to undertake, and the last thing you should want is for that new system to be the wrong size for your home. The consequences of doing so include:

• High Energy Bills: When a unit is oversized it cycles on and off more frequently. Firing up a furnace more than necessary wastes a lot of energy and will drive up the heating bills. When a unit is undersized, it won’t be able to keep up with the temperature demand. This causes the unit to run for long periods of time without shutting off. Long run times will also waste energy and lead to high energy bills.
• Decreased Comfort: Another consequence of an oversized furnace cycling too frequently is decreased comfort. Areas of the home that are further away from the thermostat will not heat up evenly because they are only exposed to short bursts of heat. This change in temperature from room to room is known as a temperature swing. For undersized units, they may not ever be able to meet the heating requirements you set on the thermostat.
• Poor Humidity Levels: Humidity levels are directly affected by the cycle of the furnace. If the furnace cycles too long or too short, humidity levels will be off which leads to further discomfort.
• Premature System Failure: Both oversized and undersized units will have a shorter lifespan than a unit that is properly sized for the home. Wear and tear on the unit is increased because of frequent start ups and shut downs, and damage is also caused when a system runs for longer periods of time than should be necessary.

Sizing the Furnace Properly

Most people need the help of a professional contractor in order to find the right size system for their home. The contractor will do a load calculation on your home, as well as consider several other factors before choosing the system that will work best for you and your family’s heating needs. Some of the points that they consider include:

• Square footage of home
• Climate that the home is located in
• Insulation in various areas of the home including the attic
• Type of windows, age and condition
• Sunlight exposure
• Heights of ceilings in the home
• Number of rooms occupied on a regular basis

These are just a few of the many checks that a real expert will check. If you find that your contractor is willing to quote you over the phone, you should consider using another company. These measurements cannot be performed over the phone and neglecting to take all of these into consideration could land you with an improperly sized heating system this winter.  We offer free in home estimates on all new furnaces. Our Comfort Specialist will carefully assess your home to ensure you have the right size furnace!