FAQ’s and important information

If you are heating with electricity or oil, it is most definitely worth the cost to make the switch. In most cases the cost of switching over would see a net savings in 2-4 years depending on your heating needs. If you are using propane, the saving aren’t quite as dramatic, but if the gas piping is sized large enough and the existing propane equipment can be modified to run on natural gas at a minimal cost, often only a few hundred dollars.

Natural gas and propane furnaces are safe when installed correctly to manufacturers specifications and in compliance with Ontario gas code by a licensed gas technician. There are multiple fail safe mechanisms in place to make sure your furnace won’t run in an unsafe condition. A furnace that is set up properly with proper gas pressures, as measured with a manometer, will be safe to run. Proper installation and setup is critical for this. A poorly burning furnace may create Carbon Monoxide, but the unit would need to be burning very poorly and have a failure of the venting system at the same time to see issues inside the home.

*It is important to understand that in Ontario the law requires a Carbon Monoxide detector in any home with a fuel burning appliance. All buildings with a natural gas, propane, wood or wood pellet stove appliance is required to have Carbon Monoxide detectors installed. It is recommended that C0 detectors be placed on the level of the home where the appliance is located, along with any floor that has sleeping accommodations.

This is a complicated question with no clear answer. We feel that most brands are comparable in manufacture quality. More important than the name on the cabinet is the quality of the installation and the warranty. Installation mistakes cause upwards of 70% of equipment failures and call backs. If the venting has incorrect slope, or the furnace is running hot, the lifespan of the unit can be impacted. Are parts easily available and covered under warranty? These are all concerns you should bring up with anyone looking to sell you a furnace.

Warranties can vary. Manufacturers will sometime offer an extended warranty on a promotional basis, but generally our furnaces, if registered with the company carry a 10 year parts and a life time heat exchanger warranty. If the unit isn’t registered, the warranty defaults to 5 years on parts and 20 years prorated on the heat exchanger. There are two questions we are asked when we warranty a part. Was the unit installed properly and was the unit maintained properly? Both are vital to help your furnace live it’s longest, most reliable life.

Any damage to a heat exchanger is a significant problem. Cracks, heavy rusting, failing crimp rings or fluid leaking from the secondary heat exchanger must be addressed. There are two solutions. The heat exchanger must be replaced or the entire furnace must be replaced. Ontario code insists that a heat exchanger cannot be repaired by any method. A heat exchanger can easily cost upwards of $1000, plus installation time which is normally 3-5 hours. If the unit is old and out of warranty, it makes sense to replace the entire unit. If you unit is newer and the heat exchanger is covered under warranty, it makes sense to repair.

Change or clean the filters on any unit that has one. This is by far the most important maintenance requirement, hands down. Almost every furnace, air conditioner or HRV will have a filter that should be changed or cleaned regularly. We recommend changing filters every 2 months. Very similar to changing the oil in your car, this is the easiest maintenance a homeowner can do. Using a garden hose to rinse the outside air conditioner coil is also an easy step a homeowner can do to keep your system running in top shape.

Increasingly, manufacturers require that units be inspected by a professional on an annual basis. While it’s not something we insist on, it is something we encourage to help prevent a minor concern from becoming a larger issue, especially on furnaces over 5 years old.

The tankless will also offer an endless supply of hot water, but you will notice it on your gas bill if your consumption increases. Another benefit of a tankless water heater is space saving, as they can be mounted on the wall, rather than being set on the floor as a traditional tank unit. However the downside of tankless units is that they are a bit pricier than tank models and often require an annual service as they have many more moving parts vs a traditional tank. We’re happy to discuss your needs to figure out which type of hot water heater is right for you.

An HRV or a Heat Recovery Ventilation system, is an appliance that removes “stale” air from the house and replaces it with “fresh” air from outside. The benefits of an HRV depend on the amount of insulation and weather proofing in your home along with your indoor and outdoor quality. An HRV can help to circulate air during heating season. In fall, winter and spring, run your HRV a little more if you see condensation gathering on your windows throughout the house. Run it less if you are feeling dry with static electricity shocks or chapped lips being the most common symptoms of dry air. Typically an HRV won’t be used during summer as it brings in hot, humid air.

The only type of equipment that must be serviced annually are natural draft boilers over 100,000BTU. These units burn and vent in a manner that is statistically more likely to cause issues regarding Carbon Monoxide. This can be serious and it is essential that you have your units serviced.

Generally, for any other equipment, if it was installed according to the manufacturers required standard and the filters are cleaned or changed regularly, a unit could be inspected every couple of years. Older units should be serviced annually if possible. We’ve seen numerous occasions where a simple service with a light cleaning would have resolved a minor issue. Instead, neglect has led to repairs costing hundreds of dollars and sometimes over $1000. If you’ve got a natural gas or propane furnace we can make sure it’s in tip top shape for the heating season. We’re happy to check over your HRV, fireplace, water heater or air conditioner while we’re at it!

While dust and pet hair are the most common concerns, we find a wide variety of prizes in the ductwork, including marbles, action figures, plastic bags, mice, bats and even a kitten. His name is Charlie and once we got him out of the ductwork, he was just fine.