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.

Springtime and Indoor Allergens

Almost everyone is happy when spring comes around, but there is one unfortunate drawback to the warmer weather... allergies. Seasonal allergies affect as many as 50 million Americans, making springtime a less pleasant time of year than it really should be. Although, there's not much you can do about seasonal outdoor allergens like pollen in the air; there are solutions for indoor air pollution - an arguably bigger problem for allergy sufferers.

Since indoor air pollution levels are two to five times higher than outdoor air pollution levels and we spend a good deal of our time indoors, the air quality we breathe indoors should be of the utmost importance. Regular maintenance of your HVAC system can improve indoor air quality and reduce allergens throughout the home.

• Replace filters. Use high-quality filters or permanent HEPA filters, which remove more than 90% of microscopic particles, drastically reducing indoor allergens. For replaceable filters, consider changing them every three months. For permanent HEPA filters, clean them or have them cleaned regularly.
• Keep your HVAC unit clean. Check your outdoor AC unit and indoor unit to make sure they are free of dust and debris. If you r unit is left dusty or dirty, that debris will be sucked into the HVAC system and circulated throughout your home. Keeping your units clean will reduce allergens. 
• Check for mold. Mold is one of the most dangerous indoor pollutants that can be in your home. You should be checking your air ducts, drip pan and drain, evaporator coils, and air handler every few weeks to make sure there is no mold growth. Mold spores cause allergies and in some cases if left unchecked, they cause serious illness and even death.
• Dust regularly. When dusting your home, you should dust your air registers and return vents first. If your registers and vents are dusty, then they will circulate dust to the rest of your home. And cleaning them with a damp cloth instead of a feather-duster will pick up the dust rather than just redistributing it elsewhere.
• Schedule HVAC maintenance. Spring is a great time to schedule an HVAC maintenance appointment. Regular professional maintenance is important to keep your system healthy and free of dust and blockage.

If you're due for new filters or maintenance on your HVAC system, choose Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning LLC! We know the importance of indoor air quality for you and your family. We also recommend the Air Scrubber Plus purification system for your home. Air Scrubber Plus offers the only environmental technology that is proven to actually reduce contaminants in the air and surfaces of the home. The difference in air quality is noticeable; the air is fresher and the surfaces are cleaner, with an up to 99% reduction in contaminants on surfaces like kitchen sinks, keyboards, and doorknobs. Dust, allergens, mildew and odor-causing bacteria are proven to be significantly reduced from the indoor environment with Air Scrubber Plus, which is available through Blue Flame Heating & Air Conditioning LLC! With our help, allergy sufferers will be able to breathe easier this spring.