Simple maintenance can pay big dividends for comfort, efficiency and safety.
When it comes to furnaces (we’ll focus on natural gas), an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. To help you avert the hassle of your furnace dying or simply not putting out enough heat– just when you need it most.

Maintenance

Maintenance can keep you safe and save you money and hassles. Would you let your car go a year without a tune-up or oil change? By maintaining your heating system annually, Eric Kjelshus Energy experts can pinpoint potential problems before they become a costly, inconvenient emergency repair or worse, a safety hazard.

Because a well maintained system runs more efficiently, you can be sure to get peak performance from your equipment to help save on your monthly utility bills.

In addition, if you or a family member suffer from asthma or allergies, regular furnace maintenance including air filter replacement is recommended to reduce aggravating dust particles, bacteria and plant spores in your home.

Listed below are some of the key services that should be performed for proper furnace maintenance:

• Monitor exhaust gases before and after for safe and efficient carbon monoxide level
• Check for hazardous debris in the chimney and flue
• Check air filters and re-install
• Check operation of thermostat
• Check gas pilot and clean as required
• Check motor and blower
• Clean by hand brush and vacuum the heat exchanger, inspect for safety
• Clean burners and set for proper operation
• Check gas piping to furnace for leaks
• Make all necessary gas and air adjustments then check results by digital combustion analyzer
• Check furnace cycle

Your furnace should be checked and maintained by professionals. Furnace maintenance by Eric Kjelshus Energy includes the most comprehensive safety check-up and cleaning in the KC Metro Area.

You need the peace of mind that your furnace will be checked and cleaned by experts in natural gas equipment servicing. All of our Service Technicians are fully certified and receive extensive ongoing training.

During the service call, our Service Technician will be pleased to answer any questions you may have about your heating system and will advise you about proper filter maintenance.

Air conditioners lose capacity with use. The coils become plugged, filters get dirty, belts slip and often there is a refrigerant leak. While comfort is lost, energy costs soar. A 20% increase in operating cost is not uncommon. You may not recognize this problem until comfort is lost and, by then, the extra dollars are gone. With oversized air conditioning equipment, the recognition time is longer and dollar losses are greater.

The solution to the problem is — get a complete tune-up.

Here is what a complete tune-up accomplished with one system when the outside temperatures (ODT) were in the range of 80-85 degrees F.

Capacity Restored
The capacity was restored 18% with a complete tune-up. A partial tune-up restored capacity only 5%.

Energy Use Down
Cleaning the condensing unit not only restored capacity 5%, it reduced actual energy consumption 10%. The additional restored capacity from cleaning the blower did not further reduce energy use.

Energy Efficiency Up
A complete tune-up outperformed a partial tune-up. The partial cleanup resulted in only 54% of the total increase in efficiency. For the same running time, the partial tune-up reduced the utility bill by 14% and the complete tune-up reduced it by 24%.

Longer Compressor Life
The compressor in the air conditioner described may have a shortened life. Some authorities say that the hot gas temperatures should be below 200 degrees F for extended life. A complete tune-up reduced the temperature from 208 to 195 degrees F.

Check Thermostats
Often thermostats are influenced by heat sources other than room temperature. When thermostats are located near table lamps in houses , or receive direct sunlight during a portion of the day, air conditioners run longer than normal. Of course this increases energy use as well as erratic comfort cycles.

You can shorten running time by raising the temperature setting on the thermostat. For example, the air conditioner ran 15% less when the thermostat was adjusted from 75 degrees to 77 degrees. Your influence on the thermostat can reduce energy bills significantly.

Tune-ups Save
Tune-ups are profitable. In most cases, they should be performed at least every year, some even more often. Remember, without tune-ups, a 3-ton air conditioner may perform like a 2 1/2-ton unit while you are paying the operating cost of a 3 1/2-ton unit. That’s not profitable, nor energy efficient.

Tune-up Check List
Here are some of the items that should be checked in a complete tune-up:

1. Air flow through outside condenser coil
   • clean coils
   • straighten coil fins
   • remove obstruction to air flow (bushes, boxes)
2. Air flow through inside evaporator coil
   • change filters regularly
   • clean coils
   • clean blower wheel
   • stop duct leaks
3. Check refrigerant charge after cleanup
4. Check control system for proper performance

Use Qualified Service
Qualified service personnel should conduct the tune-up. You change the filters.
Whether your air conditioner is in your home, office or business, air-conditioning tune-ups are profitable.

1. Test your Indoor Air Quality

If your family is sensitive to mold, you may conduct tests for mold only; or you can do a comprehensive test with a complete breakdown of your air makeup, helping you decide where problem areas lie. These tests are relatively inexpensive and readily available, and are a great starting point for improving the air quality in your home, giving you an idea of which areas to tackle first. After employing these 12 strategies, test the indoor air quality again to confirm whether or not you have removed dangerous elements from your breathing air.

2. Make your home smoke-free

Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), often known as “second hand smoke,” is very harmful and can lead to serious health problems such as chronic sinusitis and lung cancer in adults and lower respiratory tract infections in children. Taking smoking outside reduces concentrations of toxic chemicals and carcinogens found in ETS and is an important factor in improving indoor air quality in the home or office.

3. Improving ventilation improves indoor air quality

Ventiliation is easily improved by leaving doors between rooms open as well as opening windows whenever possible. Exhaust fans should be used in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms to vent moisture and chemicals directed outdoors. Quiet, energy-efficient fans can be used for these applications.

4. Control household humidity levels

Keeping low humidity levels is important in controlling the growth of toxic mold and other biological contaminants. This can be done by eliminating water leaks and sources of standing water. Also use your air conditioner, and install dehumidifiers in problem areas such as basements. Keep the dehumidifier clean and free from mold, as they can become sources of pollution if contaminated. If you live in a high humidity part of the country, home mold testing is recommended to ensure clean air.

5. Have your HVAC system cleaned

Much more important than cleaning your duct work is having your HVAC system cleaned. Your A/C drip pan could be holding water and growing mold which will then be blown directly into your air ducts and out through the vents. The blowers for your HVAC may not have been cleaned in years, and could have built up dirt and dust and could also be harboring dust mites and toxic molds. Lastly, the condenser coils may have rust and corrosion buildup, which is not only harmful to air quality, but also decreases your HVAC system’s efficiency, increasing energy costs. A thorough furnace and A/C system cleaning varies greatly in price from company to company, but this can improve your HVAC system’s cooling and heating efficiency and save you money in the long run. Supervise the work to make sure all critical components of the HVAC system are cleaned — once they are placed back in the system, they are out of sight.

6. Prevent Carbon Monoxide poisoning

Any fuel-burning household appliance (gas stoves, hot water heaters, clothes dryers, etc.) can potentially release harmful chemicals as byproducts of combustion. All such appliances should be inspected by a qualified technician once a year. You should also monitor the indoor air quality of your home by installing Carbon Monoxide detectors, especially near bedrooms.

7. Clean and Vacuum Regularly

Airborne dust particles, microscopic insect droppings, and mold spores cause allergic reactions and asthma outbreaks. Cleaning regularly can help control indoor air quality. Vacuum rugs and carpets at least once a week. Consider a vacuum equipped with an allergen reducer or HEPA filter, which prevents reintroducing allergens and fine particles back into the air. Wipe down or dust any hard surfaces regularly, and clean up mold near sinks, water pipes, or bathtubs immediately to prevent releasing allergenic or toxic spores into the air.

8. Control Dust Mites

To combat the growth of dust mites, a common cause of indoor allergy symptoms, bedding should always be washed in hot water (at least 130° F). You might consider using allergen-free cases on your mattresses and pillows. Your children’s blankets and stuffed toys can harbor dust mites as well; wash them regularly in hot water to keep your children safe from allergies and asthma triggers.

9. Put a High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter in your air handling system

Using a HEPA Filter with help keep particles out of the air and off of the ductwork of your heating and cooling systems. Filters should be replaced with regularity, every 1-2 months depending on how much the system is running. Proper use and maintenance will help improve indoor air quality and increase time between necessary Air Duct Cleanings.

10. Exhaust Gas Appliances

Make sure gas stoves are fitted with a hood fan that exhausts directly outside. Using a hood fan and/or an open window while cooking will help improve indoor air quality, and prevent Carbon Monoxide contamination.

11. Be aware of toxic chemicals found in household cleaning products and pesticides

Household cleaning products & pesticides should be used only according to manufacturers’ directions. Keep your house well ventilated while using. In order to help preserve your home’s indoor air quality, store harmful chemicals and volatile compounds (paints, solvents, cleaners and pesticides) away from occupied spaces and air ventilation intakes. If you have aggravated sensitivity to certain chemicals, consider a home air cleaner with gas-phase filtration to keep chemical concentrations from reaching irritating levels.

12. Purchase a home air purifier

Running an air purifier in your home will help keep indoor pollutants at low levels. Used in conjunction with the HEPA filter you’ve added to your heating and cooling system (Step 9), a home air cleaner using HEPA filter technology, ionic air purification, activated carbon, or a hybrid of these technologies can keep the air in your home clean and healthy.

To most people’s surprise, airborne dirt and household lint cause the most problems with your system. Even if you change your filters every 30 days, 90% of the airborne particles go through your throwaway air filter. These particles will collect on your blower motor, blower wheel, and indoor coil. Air cleaners help but particles still get through.

Your outdoor coils get dust, pollen, and grass clippings. These particles will become an insulator and have a huge effect on the operation of your system.

It is recommended that a Heating and Air Condition system, be thoroughly cleaned twice a year to be sure that the system is operating to its full efficiency rating.

It takes special coil cleaners to remove all the particles and bacteria that collect on the parts of the system.

The air temperature leaving your register should not be less than 85 degrees. Even though the air temperature coming out of the register is 85 degrees your body temperature is 98.6. The 85-degree air will feel cool.

The problem is not the air temperature but the location and type of register being used. Sometimes a deflector or changing the type of register being used can increase your comfort level.

Remember this: 85-degree air will keep your home comfortable. The answer to being comfortable (even though your heat pump air is cooler) is not to feel it blowing out of the register. When the outside temperature is above 45 degrees, the air from your register should be in the high 90 degrees range.

If you have a fiberglass throwaway filter, you should change it every 30 days. The filter helps keep your duct system, motors, and coils cleaner longer.

Here’s a great tip for remembering to change the filter:

When you get your monthly electric bill… change the air filter. If you do not change your filter, your electric bill may increase. The same is true if you own an electrostatic or electronic air cleaner. They should be washed every 30 days to remain efficient.

There is no certain temperature that will meet everyone’s comfort level. The system is designed to maintain 70 degrees inside when the outside temperature is 10 degrees in the winter. It is also designed to maintain 75 degrees when it is 95 degrees outside. The whole point in having a system in your home is for you to be comfortable; therefore, set the thermostat on whatever setting it takes to reach your comfort level.