Should I be worried about Carbon Monoxide

Yes! If your home has any gas burning (natural or propane) appliances you have the potential of producing deadly carbon monoxide. Carbon Monoxide is an invisible, odorless tasteless gas that causes headaches, fatigue and nausea and unfortunately all too often death. The fact that you have gas appliances is not a reason for panic, just some common sense safe operating strategies.

1. Install Carbon Monoxide Detectors in all living areas. Typically one on each floor (more if the home is large) and in the attic if your furnace or water heaters are located in the attic. Carbon Monoxide is a gas that is about the same weight as air therefore it does not rise or fall but moves around with the air movement.
2. Water heaters and furnaces exhaust combustion gases thru a flue pipe. Nesting by birds, critters and insects can obstruct these pipes. Make sure they are clear of any debris that may have collected over spring and summer.
3. Your furnace has a heat exchanger that separates the combustion air and gas from the air circulating in your home. These heat exchangers are metal and tend to crack over time allowing the combustion gases (carbon monoxide) to mix with the air you breathe. A professional inspection with our high resolution infrared camera will detect cracks and potential leaks. We also use electronic Carbon Monoxide detection equipment that measures the deadly gas in parts per million. We recommend a professional safety inspection each fall before the heating season starts.

Don't fret just follow these common sense guidelines and live worry free in a safe and healthy home.

My home is all electric, what do I do for winter?

Well you don't have to worry about Carbon Monoxide as long as you don't leave your car running in an attached garage. Your heating system however could use a little preseason attention. If you are not heating with gas then you most likely have a heat pump or all electric heat.

1. Your outdoor unit for your heat pump will operate throughout the winter to heat your home. It needs to move air through the coil the same as it does in the summer. Make sure that all shrubs are trimmed back at least two feet from the unit and clean all dirt and debris off the coil with a low pressure water hose.
2. Change your filters. You should be changing you 1 inch disposable filters every 30 days. The better you system can breathe the more efficient the operation.
3. Have your system tuned by a professional. Your heat pump has back up electric heat that works during defrost of the outdoor unit as well as heats your home when temps are below freezing and the heat pump is ineffective. Our tune up checks out the outdoor unit, the refrigerant charge, compressor operation, limit and safety mechanisms and on the indoor unit we'll inspect and adjust air distribution and your emergency back up heat. All to ensure safe and efficient operation.

 
WOW! You have a HYBRID

Not a hybrid car, a Hybrid heating and cooling system. If you are fortunate enough own a Hybrid heating and cooling system it is time to start paying attention to gas and electric prices so you can manage your system's efficiency. You'll want to use the most cost effective fuel at the time which means comparing gas and electric rates. Converting gas prices to electric takes a bit of calculating so I have listed a web site that has a simple calculator for comparing operating costs of your gas furnace to your heat pump. You'll need to know the cost per Mcf of gas, cost per Kwh, efficiency of your furnace (probably 80%) and the efficiency of your heat pump which is the COP or coefficient of performance. If you purchased your Hybrid from us and would like to know your COP, call 940-323-1051 and ask for me, Ron.

http://ces.ca.uky.edu/energy/calculators.htm