furnace

Quick heating tips

Some of the most popular questions at this time of year is ‘how long should my furnace last?’ and ‘when should I change it?’

First off – if your heat exchanger is cracked it’s usually cheaper and better just to replace the furnace. If your HVAC provider tells you it’s cracked (get them to show you if you have doubt in your mind), it’s time to start shopping for a new one.

A furnace should last you 15 to 20 years, at that point start budgeting for a new unit. Any furnace over 30 years old is on borrowed time! Although in the past they WERE made to last longer, it’s because the heat exchangers are thicker, making them very inefficient (costing more in fuel bills). The biggest worry with a very old furnace is that some insurance companies will not cover you if you still have equipment of this age. Can you afford NOT to change your furnace?

Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!

Heating section of a roof top unit

furnace

It’s that time of year again when thoughts turn to heating and keeping warm! Here are some tips to help you get everything up and running to keep you cosy through the winter…

First and most important. If you turn your equipment on for the first time, after it has been off all summer, it sometimes doesn’t go as smoothly as you’d like! If you smell gas, get out of your building as quickly as possible. The gas smell could be caused by many things…but you need to call an expert as it is always dangerous. DON’T take chances with gas.

If you have electric there may be a smell of burning when you first switch on your equipment. This will just be dust on the coil, which should disappear fairly quickly. Don’t worry about this, unless the smell persists.

For those who are lucky enough to have a heat pump, you have enjoyed a/c all summer and now the unit will switch to heating. There should be no problems with this switch over, just check that the outside coil is clean and free of leaves.

For all your equipment, check your filters and have them cleaned or replaced as needed, and enjoy the wonderful Fall colours from your warm and toasty office or home!

Caledonia Integrated Services is an Energy Management, HVAC and Electrical company, serving Vancouver and BC area.
We actively encourage feedback, comments and questions. You can leave a message here, or look us up on Facebook and Twitter. Of course, you can always e- mail us too!