It is never fun at all to suffer a slow-lingering death and other fates are often quick. In the case of the home, there’s no faster fate than to die of asphyxiation by carbon monoxide (CO), a tasteless gas generated through the burning of fuels such as wood or petroleum. Studies have shown that at least 500 Americans die from CO poisoning every year.

There are situations when the CO comes from a gas-powered furnace that has been improperly set up. So how you stave off the danger of becoming another CO-poisoning statistic?

The symptoms of a CO-poisoning include headache, fatigue, nausea, and rapid loss of consciousness. One sign of a potential CO poisoning is when you regain your full breathing after you safely creep out of the house then the symptoms kick in once you get back inside. Take note of some warning signs in the house structure include moisture buildup inside windows, loose soot from the chimney, and possible blockages inside the chimney itself.

To prevent the danger of a CO poisoning, especially during times of cold weather, you must have a preferred contractor inspect the entire HVAC system, plus any fuel burning appliances. The contractor should also check the ductwork and the flues for leaks and blockages.

Even when you have an effective HVAC system in play at home, it is prudent to keep on your toes for signs of CO poisoning. Proper action can save your life.

There are but a few things more precious to a family in the dead of winter as sufficient heating. However, neglecting the maintenance needs of your efficient furnace in Salt Lake City just might cause it to fail right when you need it the most. To keep this from happening, you should check that the components are still in good working condition. Here are some tips on checking one such part: the ignitor. What It Is An ignitor is the main component that begins the heat-generating aspect of your furnace. Generally, there are two types: the older pilot light system, and the more advanced electric hot surface ignitors. The former uses a continuous connection to the gas in the furnace, whereas the latter makes use of an electrical generator and filament.

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The end of the year coincides not only with two of the country’s biggest holidays but its coldest season as well. As the day grows shorter and snow falls on the land, people are once again firing up their furnaces to keep their homes and loved ones warm. Like any machine though, a furnace works best when it’s properly maintained, so make sure to check on it every now and then.

Professional Checkup

Furnaces spend most of the year dormant in your basement, and in the intervening months, it gathers dust that can clog its various parts. Once a year, have your furnace professionally serviced by a heating company to make sure it’s in tip-top shape for winter. The contractor can also spot and repair problems so you won’t have to brave winter with a broken furnace.

Change the Filter

Having a warm house in winter does come with a price, as electric bills often surge due to heating costs. If your furnace’s filter is dirty, it has to work extra hard and this will further increase your energy bill. Replace your filters at least once a month to help your furnace operate more efficiently and save you money.

Clear Away Flammables

Your furnace is a major heat source but your basement is also a place to dump flammable knick-knacks like old clothes or magazines. Clear away these items to prevent house fires from happening.

Furnaces are extremely important in American society, especially in cities that are located far from the Equator. Furnaces provide the much-needed warmth people need to survive chilly conditions.

Necessity is the mother of invention and the need for more heat brought about different kinds of furnaces that can be seen almost anywhere. Different furnaces tend to complement different kinds of homes, as they have different ways of burning and distributing heat to a space.

Single stage furnace

A single stage furnace is straightforward: either on or off. It is the least expensive of the known furnace systems, but there is no way for anyone to moderate the release of heat, as it can't be regulated to release a certain amount of heat.

Dual stage furnace

The dual stage furnace is similar to the single stage, only that it has three settings: off, low, and high. It is also quieter than the single stage variety. Due to the additional option, however, dual stage furnaces are a little costlier.

Modulating furnace

Furnaces of this type have electronic controls that allow for very meticulous temperature control close to the thermostat setting. Modulating gas furnaces are the costliest type of furnace systems but are extremely energy efficient.

Efficiency is the name of the game, and folks will want to make sure that their heaters are working optimally so that energy won't get wasted. A little preventative repair can save them hundreds of dollars on their energy bills, so even the smallest of flaws shouldn't be missed. Contractors such as ESCO can be called upon to inspect and fix a furnace in Salt Lake City to bring it back to maximum efficiency. As time passes, the efficiency of furnaces tends to dip, leading to a loss of heating power. Naturally, this means that the device will need to expend more energy to keep up with heating demands, hurting a homeowner's budget. It might be tempting to completely replace an old furnace, but in some cases a simple repair can restore the efficiency of an older model.

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Whether you're installing a new furnace or replacing one before the winter months, there are various things that you need to consider to get the most out of what you'll be paying for. First is the type of furnace to select.

There are various types of furnaces available on the market. The most common differences among these products are in their fuel type and size. When it comes to fuel types, you first have to find out which ones have sources that are accessible to you. For example, you might find it hard to get natural gas, so electric or oil-powered furnaces might be suitable for your home. You could also look into energy efficiency ratings to get an idea of fuel costs.

Then, when choosing the size of your furnace, consider the amount of space it would be heating. Larger furnaces are usually stronger, so if you live in a small house, a smaller unit might do the job.

Although installing a furnace can seem like an easy task, it is something that is best left to the experienced professional. Furnaces need direct connections to power sources, and whether you choose one powered by oil, gas, or electricity, its installation needs to be handled cautiously.

Furnaces are built to last long, but even so, they would also require some maintenance. Though it is a task you can do yourself, repair would also be best left to professionals.

As any handyman would tell you, proper maintenance is still the best way to prevent mechanical problems in your furnace. What constitutes “proper maintenance” is an entirely different story, however, because some people tend to neglect simple things like cleaning and lubricating. Others may be wise enough to remember these two tasks, yet they might also not have the proper know-how.

In any case, furnace cleaning is a rather meticulous undertaking. Simply dusting off the filters and ports won’t be enough to remove all the grime and germs that the furnace has accumulated throughout the course of its service life. The device needs to be disassembled so that each component can be cleaned, especially the blower assembly which accumulates the greatest amount of dirt and grime.

Meanwhile, quite a lot of Utah residents also have to clean their furnaces because of inversion pollution during winter. Some areas like Salt Lake City get literally blanketed by air pollutants during bouts of cold weather, which results in an even greater density of particulates that need to be removed from furnaces.

Furnace motors also need to be lubricated annually to keep them in good condition. Non-detergent motor oil is commonly used, although people should avoid using all-purpose oil that isn’t optimized for furnace components. Depending on the manufacturer, some furnaces may be permanently lubricated and sealed, thus making regular lubrication unnecessary.

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There are so many cost-saving strategies that a homeowner can employ to be able to make his or her heating system work more efficiently. Having insulation in one's home does not only help in saving energy and money when using the heating system, it also helps the air conditioning system keep the desired room temperature during the summer months.

If you are looking into having your home insulated, contact a reliable contractor who can give you an estimate for free. Not all homes require the same amount of insulation. Even similar homes in terms of size may need different quantities of the material due to a difference in local weather patterns.

Proper maintenance of one's HVAC system is also a great way to save on utility bills. To avoid the hassles of an equipment breakdown, ensure that your home's heating system has undergone maintenance before the winter months arrive.

To ensure that warm or cool air is maintained within rooms and the home itself, areas where air can escape, such as windows and doors, should be sealed around their frames. Wall and window-mounted air conditioners, as well as other inclusions in walls such as electric sockets, switch plates, and pet doors should be routinely checked if they are caulked or weather-stripped properly.