Is Your Furnace Ready For Winter?

 

With the onset of fall temperatures comes beautiful weather here in Washington. And while we are all enjoying the crisp autumn breezes and Mother Nature’s color show, we know that the colder temperatures of winter will soon be upon us.

Getting your home ready for winter starts with ensuring your heating system is ready to keep your family toasty and warm no matter what comes your way. Here are several tips to prepare your heating system for the cold months ahead.

• Air Filters – This is something that should be part of your ongoing home maintenance routine, but is especially important during the winter when your furnace gets the most use. Your air filter should be checked monthly to ensure that it is clean (you may find that your filter needs to be replaced on a monthly basis as well). If you have a flat filter, consider upgrading to a pleated HEPA filter or even and electrostatic filter. These help keep your furnace more energy efficient and can reduce allergens as well.
• Air ducts – Your air vents and ducts are the perfect hiding spot for dust. Once your furnace turns on, it can blow around your home, causing increased illness and allergies, and making your furnace less efficient. Use the extension hose on your vacuum to remove as much dust as possible.
• Inspect belts – Take some time to inspect the blower belt on your furnace and insure there are no cracks or signs of significant wear. If damage is evident, the belt should be replaced. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, consider calling in an expert to give your furnace a thorough check up.
• Program your thermostat – If you have a programmable thermostat, set the day and nighttime temperatures lower when you are asleep or away from home. If you do not have this technology, consider replacing your current thermostat with a high efficiency programmable model.
• Inspect the exterior of your home – Check exterior flue vents for nests and other obstructions so that you have proper airflow in an out of your home.

If you are unsure if your furnace is ready for the winter months, give the experts at Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning a call. We have been helping residents of Spokane, Washington and the surrounding area with their heating and cooling needs for over 20 years.

Is Your Furnace Ready For Winter?

 

With the onset of fall temperatures comes beautiful weather here in Washington. And while we are all enjoying the crisp autumn breezes and Mother Nature’s color show, we know that the colder temperatures of winter will soon be upon us.

Getting your home ready for winter starts with ensuring your heating system is ready to keep your family toasty and warm no matter what comes your way. Here are several tips to prepare your heating system for the cold months ahead.

• Air Filters – This is something that should be part of your ongoing home maintenance routine, but is especially important during the winter when your furnace gets the most use. Your air filter should be checked monthly to ensure that it is clean (you may find that your filter needs to be replaced on a monthly basis as well). If you have a flat filter, consider upgrading to a pleated HEPA filter or even and electrostatic filter. These help keep your furnace more energy efficient and can reduce allergens as well.
• Air ducts – Your air vents and ducts are the perfect hiding spot for dust. Once your furnace turns on, it can blow around your home, causing increased illness and allergies, and making your furnace less efficient. Use the extension hose on your vacuum to remove as much dust as possible.
• Inspect belts – Take some time to inspect the blower belt on your furnace and insure there are no cracks or signs of significant wear. If damage is evident, the belt should be replaced. If you do not feel comfortable doing this, consider calling in an expert to give your furnace a thorough check up.
• Program your thermostat – If you have a programmable thermostat, set the day and nighttime temperatures lower when you are asleep or away from home. If you do not have this technology, consider replacing your current thermostat with a high efficiency programmable model.
• Inspect the exterior of your home – Check exterior flue vents for nests and other obstructions so that you have proper airflow in an out of your home.

If you are unsure if your furnace is ready for the winter months, give the experts at Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning a call. We have been helping residents of Spokane, Washington and the surrounding area with their heating and cooling needs for over 20 years.

Why You Should Care About Indoor Air

We learned about it in school, we hear about it on the news: pollution. Most of the time, the topic is outdoor air pollution, like greenhouse gas emissions and big-city smog. But did you know that in most cases, indoor air is two to five times more polluted than outdoor air? Our quest to conserve energy indoors by sealing up every nook and cranny in our homes and office restricts fresh airflow, causing pollutants to become trapped indoors. Poor air quality where you spend the majority of your time can have serious complications. It can lead to headaches, fatigue, allergies, and worse.

Indoor pollution is a problem in all types of homes, regardless of size, inhabitants, or location. Common indoor pollutants are:

• Combustion sources: gas, oil, kerosene, fireplaces, tobacco smoke
• Building materials: insulation, carpet, cabinetry, and other pressed wood products
• Chemical products: cleaning products, personal care products, glues & pastes
• Outdoor sources: radon, pesticides, pollen, outdoor air pollution
• Other: pet dander, dust mites, mold, viruses

So what can you do? Ideally you’ll want to keep pollutants out in the first place. Have your HVAC system checked out by a licensed contractor to ensure it’s in good working condition. At Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning, we are experts in air quality. We can look at your current HVAC system and/or install a new HVAC system that ensures optimum indoor air quality. We offer installation and service of air filtration systems, which is a great way to improve air quality in your home or office. Since you and your family spend about 90% of your time indoors, be sure you’re in the purest, safest environment possible.

Call Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning at 509-536-0186 to see what we can do to improve your indoor air quality!