Archive for Furnace Clean
Is Cleaning and Servicing My Air Conditioner Needed Every Year In MN?
Posted by: | CommentsThis is an easy one. Yes it is!
I know that spending money in these economic times is not fun. Especially on a piece of equipment that you use maybe 3 to 4 months a year in Minnesota. However, it is the fact that we live in Minnesota that makes it even more important to have your air conditioner serviced every year.
Your air conditioner works by cooling refrigerant that circulates between a coil that sits in ductwork above your furnace and the condenser that sits outside your home. The idea is that heat is removed through this process by the big fan in the condenser and the coils in the condenser. Blockage of the fan or the coils causes a reduced air flow which does not allow the refrigerant to cool which causes the a/c to overheat and shut down or not reduce the heat in your house.
One of the ways Minnesota has an effect on your air conditioner is a result of cottonwood trees. Cottonwood trees start shedding in May or June. You probably don’t see the trees but, see cotton like floating things which make it look like it is snowing. These tend to get sucked into the outside of the a/c condenser covering the tiny coils. Leaving the coils covered will have a huge impact on the effectiveness and life cycle of your air conditioner. Even brand new air conditioners are effected by this. The condenser will be starved for air and you can actually feel how hot the air is if you put your hand above the a/c condenser.
Another way MN has an effect is the little amount of time you use your a/c. The most demanding use of the a/c is when it turns on. In Minnesota, this happens a lot. The air conditioner will come on and cool the house and then shut off many times. Unless we are in the 90′s and humid the a/c is not required to run non stop. We are just the opposite of states located on the west coast or southern part of the country. In those states the furnace behaves like our air conditioners if they have a furnace. It is very important that you have the proper refrigerant in your a/c. Proper refrigerant levels will help protect the compressor when it is turning on and does not have any fluid moving. Sort of like engine oil in your car. Proper refrigerant levels will also prevent the coil inside the house from freezing up which prevents cooling and could cause water leaking into your furnace. (This is another subject totally as to why this happens.)
The third way MN has an effect, is the air flow that is going over the coil can cover the coil with lint, dust or anything that the filter in your furnace that runs 6 or 7 months of the year doesn’t catch. Cleaning this coil will help the efficiency of your a/c by making the metal exposed to the air flow instead of being covered in a blanket of lint and dust.
So in review, YES, is the answer to Is Cleaning and Servicing My Air Conditioner Needed Every Year in MN. It is important that you have the following done every year:
- Have the condenser that is outside your house cleaned.
- Check refrigerant levels and pressures.
- Have your A coil that is in your home and sits above your furnace check or cleaned.
You will save big money if you do this every year in the spring by hiring a contractor while they are running specials. Or an even better deal is signing up for maintenance plan like our Service Partner Plan.
At Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air, we can help you decide the best solutions for your home. Give us a call or email us for more information.
Happy Cooling!!!
Looking For a Free Plumbing or Heating Service Estimate! What Is It Worth?
Posted by: | CommentsEverybody loves to get something for free. The internet constantly barrages you with offers of free IPads, TV’s and vacations. Most people will look at it and say to themselves, “Yeah right”.
More and more people are asking for free over the phone estimates for plumbing service or heating service work. Some examples of homeowner requests are.
- My furnace will not work. What will it cost to fix it?
- I have a plumbing leak somewhere and I don’t know where. How much to fix it?
- I need a new water heater, but I don’t know if I have code issues or size or if it is the right one. How much to replace it?
- I don’t know the type or size of my waste disposal, but I would like a quote over the phone.
There are some things that are obvious and are easier to diagnose and give pricing. However, there might be bigger issues causing the obvious issue. For that reason a home visit by a plumber or hvac service technician is needed. A price can then be given to correctly fix the problem and any other issues that may be occurring.
An over the phone free estimate can cost you more than paying for a licensed plumber or heating contractor to come to your home and assess and provide an up front price. The free phone estimate is not in writing and is not given with a commitment to honor the price. This is due to the contractor not knowing the situation and thus not being able to give an informed estimate. The number will usually go up once the contractor is on site or worse yet, started the job for you.
Providing an estimate at your home is an expense for a contractor. A better question than “Do you provide free estimates?” is “How can you afford to do free estimates?”. The cost has to paid somehow. Either by increasing the price when the contractor gets to your home or cutting corners to save money. Another option is even worse for the homeowner. Service will be provided and paid for, but the contractor is nowhere to be found for warranty issues since they have gone out of business.
You can count on Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air for superior service at a value locked in price. Give us a call or schedule online for your up front price for any plumbing, heating, drain cleaning, air conditioning service or replacement project you have.
Why Do I Need A Furnace Clean and Tune? Because It Will Get Cold Out There In MN.
Posted by: | CommentsThe question that gets asked this time of year is “Do I need a furnace or boiler tune and check?” The answer always is “Yes, Yes you do.” If your next question is “Why?”, I will tell you because “It gets cold out there”.
I could bore you with efficiency claims and statistic about extending the life of your furnace or boiler for so many years. These are both great reasons to have your furnace or boiler checked every year and cleaned every couple of years. However, I don’t think they are most important reasons.
The most important reasons are Safety and Comfort. If you think about it, they will both ultimately mean comfort. Please let me explain.
A tune and check for your furnace or boiler will look at a number of things like:
- Carbon Monoxide Test
- Flame Sensor Cleaning
- Heat Exchanger Check
- Gas Pressure
- Temp Heat Rise
All these items are designed to make sure your furnace works safely and effectively for the winter. This means that you will not be without heat due to mechanical or safety issues. In turn you will stay comfortable and secure in the knowledge that you do not need to worry about those cold nights ahead in Minnesota.
Now is the time to find out if your furnace or boiler has issues that may prevent it from keeping you and your family warm this winter. Finding out later may result in delays in getting your furnace back up and running and could result in higher costs. You could also be without heat for a couple of days if your service company can not get to you due to the large volume of service calls. Not something you want to do when it is 20 degrees below zero in January.
Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air is now offering a Furnace Tune and Check for $89.00. This is a savings of $40 off the normal price. You can schedule by calling us or scheduling online by clicking Clean and Tune Appt.
Register to WIN a HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE SYSTEM & WATER HEATER
Posted by: | CommentsMinneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air is offering a Free Furnace Check and the chance to win a High Efficient Furnace System and Water Heater.
Most homeowners in the winter months want to keep warm and toasty with an average temperature of 68-72 degrees set on their thermostat. However in order to keep your furnace system running tip top, homeowners should real-ize that it is vitally important to have your furnace inspected and cleaned yearly by a professional. Did you know 1 in 6 furnaces and boilers that are 15 years old or older could have a crack in the heat exchanger? A crack in your systems Heat Exchanger could be leaking dangerous Carbon Monoxide gas. The reason this occurs is the combustion gasses that burn in a Furnace or Boiler to heat the air or water is a corrosive gas mixture that over time eats away at the metal heat exchanger. So please don’t run the risk of a crack in your system. Have it inspected and cleaned yearly.
Preventive Maintenance Is A Bargain.
There is angst aplenty on Wall Street these days. However, on your own street at least, one investment always pays off. A little money spent on preventive HVAC maintenance turns into a lot of money saved. An ounce of prevention pays hefty dividends.
That is due to preventive maintenance extends the life of your HVAC equipment and preempts potential break downs by detecting then fixing emerging issues before they become expensive repairs. Regular tune ups also ensure your system runs at peak efficiency.
For analogy, consider your car. Spending $30 to change the oil saves you from spending $3000 to replace a seized engine. Regular tune ups ensure optimal function. Neglected HVAC equipment eventually requires extensive repairs, and ultimately must be replaced prematurely.
Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air has been a family owned and operated company for almost 100 years. We are confident we can not only satisfy you home comfort needs, but even better give you the peace of mind knowing your heating system or plumbing needs were service by the best in the industry. For more information contact us at 612-228-9200 or online.
2011 Brings Good and Bad News For Funace and Boiler Replacements.
Posted by: | Comments2010 concluded the $1500 tax rebate for upgrading your furnace, boiler or air conditioner to a high efficient unit. The federal tax credit ends on December 31, 2010 and you had to have your hvac equipment installed by that date. That is the bad news.
The good news is that there is a 2011 Federal Tax Credit available. While it is not as good as the one that finished in 2010, it is still money in your pocket if you were not ready to replace your furnace, air conditioner or boiler until now.
Some of the details are listed below:
- The maximum amount an eligible homeowner may receive in tax credits for residential property will be reduced from $1500 to $500.
- All furnaces and boilers, whether natural gas, propane or oil, must have an AFUE of 95 or above to be eligible for the credit.
- The credit is not 30% of the total cost of the hvac equipment including install.
- $150 Tax Credit for natural gas, propane, oil furnace or boiler with minumum 95% AFUE
- $300 Tax Credit for split system air conditioner with minimum 16 SEER / 13 EER
- $300 Tax Credit for split system heat pump or min split system 15 SEER / 12.5 EER / 8.5 HSPF
As you can see, the Federal Tax Credit is not as attractive in 2011 as it was in 2010 and 2009. However, if you are looking to replace your lower efficient furnace, boiler or air conditioner, it may help cover the extra up front cost of the replacement while you save money on your monthly energy bills.
Contact Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air if you would like to learn more about the 2011 Federal Tax Credit or high efficient furnace, boiler and air conditioner. You can reach us by phone or schedule an appointment online.
Have You Upgraded Your Furnace or Boiler to High Efficient In MN Yet?
Posted by: | CommentsBy now you have probably heard about the $1500 Federal Tax Credit for upgrading your home heating and cooling equipment to high efficient units. However, do you know that you are running out of time to take advantage of the opportunity?
December 31, 2010 is the last day that you can take advantage of the tax credit to upgrade your furnace, boiler, water heater or air conditioner from a less efficient system to a high efficient system. The combination of the tax credit and money you will save in energy costs allow the quickest payback on your investment ever.
Below is a list of equipment and minimum efficiency required to qualify for the Federal Tax Credit.
- Natural Gas Furnace - 95% AFUE
- Natural Gas Hot Water Boiler - 90% AFUE
- Gas Water Heaters - 90% Thermal Efficiency
- Central Air Conditioners - 16 SEER 13 EER
Do not wait until the last minute to contact a HVAC contractor to have an estimate done to replace your old equipment. Most licensed contractors are 2 weeks out on installs. Be concerned about anybody who is not booked out that far on installs.
Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air offers free in home estimates to help you sort through all the options and answer any questions regarding equipment or comfort needs. You can schedule online or by phone.
Busiest Day For Drain Cleaning in MN? Turkey Day!
Posted by: | Comments
Cause of Drain Cleaning Problems
Ahhh, Thanksgiving Day. Family, food, football, more food and clogged drains. Broken garbage disposals and clogged kitchen sinks have become as much of a tradition of Thanksgiving as family and food.
The busiest day for plumbing and drain cleaning companies is the day after Thanksgiving. Our phones will be ringing off the hook from home owners who have clogged up their drain with left over turkey and the fixings. TV news stations will be requesting to meet us at homes to talk about the clogged drains.
The second most calls for clogging is toilets. Large gatherings result in a larger use of the toilets in homes. The extra usage will overwhelm the facilities and waste main line.
While there isn’t too many ways to prevent the toilet from clogging other than having a toilet that does not clog, below are some tips for preventing clogged kitchen sinks.
- Garbage Disposal – Run lots of water when using the garbage disposal. Make sure you run the water a few seconds after you turn the disposal off to flush the food. Start the disposal before you put food into the disposal.
- Turkey Left Overs – Consider throwing the extra food in the garbage instead of in the sink. The less you run down your sink the less chance of a clog.
- Use Cold Water – When pouring grease down the sink, use cold water instead of hot. That way the grease will not harden half down the drain.
- Use BioClean – An organic drain maintaining product that helps keep drains clear of waste.
Everybody here at Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air hope you have a Happy Thanksgiving with the knowledge that we are here in case you need us.
Chimney Liner? Why Do I Need One For My Furnace Install in MN?
Posted by: | CommentsHave you ever been told that you need a chimney liner installed when you are having a furnace or boiler installed in your St. Paul or Minneapolis home? Have you then asked yourself, “What is that and why?”.
A chimney liner is exactly what is sounds like. It is an aluminum or flexible material pipe that gets inserted down your brick chimney. A majority of older homes that are primarily located in Minneapolis or Saint Paul proper have their water heater, boiler, or furnace exhaust venting to a brick chimney. This is not the same chimney that you have for your fireplace or that Santa Claus climbs down.
Code requirements are that any chimney that does not have a metal liner needs to have one installed anytime that the venting to chimney is altered in any manner. This usually happens when you have a new water heater, furnace, or boiler replaced. The reason for the code requirement was that fumes could enter the home through the holes created in the mortar as the mortar cracked and fell out between the bricks.
At Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air, we have seen a lot of improper installations and outright deception regarding chimney liner installs. This is due to contractors not being licensed, being lazy or trying to save money on the install. Some of the installs that we have seen are:
- Furnace venting installed to chimney and not hooked up to liner.
- Furnace venting installed to chimney and no liner.
- Liner top installed but not all the way down.
- Improper size liner installed.
- No liner installed and not caught because no permit pulled.
As I have mentioned in previous blogs, your furnace or boiler performance is only as good as the install. Having the proper size and installation of your chimney liner is critical to the long term life of your equipment. Make sure you ask about your chimney and the need to do a liner when you are looking at having your heating system replaced. Think twice about going with any HVAC contractor that does not know what you are talking about or says it is not important.
You can count on Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air to inform you of all the aspects of your furnace or boiler install and what is needed for your home. You can call us or schedule online.
Looking For A High Efficiency Boiler? Burnham Has An Alternative.
Posted by: | CommentsThe Energy Tax Credit is coming to an end on December 31, 2010. As a result a lot of home owners are looking to replace their lower efficiency boiler with a new higher efficiency boiler that will qualify for the $1500 tax credit.
For some home owners, a high efficiency boiler or furnace is not possible. That is due to the piping that needs to be done for the exhaust. Either the run is too long out the side of the home or too far to the roof. My home is an example of not being practical to replace a 80% furnace with a qualifying 92% efficient or higher furnace. The cost would be too high to make sense due to the demolition that would be necessary to run the venting.
There is good news for people who want an efficient heating system without tearing apart the house or bank account. This is a Burnham Series 3 boiler. The Burnham Series 3 boiler is a gas fired, natural draft, cast iron water boiler.
High efficiency boilers are made with an aluminum heat exchanger. The longest warranty on the heat exchanger is 12 years. The Burnham boiler has a limited lifetime warranty due to the cast iron material.
The Series 3 boiler is 84% efficient. With the optional IQ Outdoor Reset Card you can get 85% efficient which will allow you to get rebates from local utilities. I can bore you with how it works, and more then happy to do it if you call us for an appointment. However, the bottom line is that is saves you money by lower gas use and access to rebates. The bonus is that it is thousands less than a 92 to 95% boiler. This savings will be more than you will get back with the government rebate.
If you are looking for a higher efficiency option for your hot water heat home, the Burnham Series 3 boiler is a great option. Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air can help you lean about all the benefits. Click here to set up an appointment for a free in home estimate.
Time To Close The Windows Also Means Time To Check The Furnace.
Posted by: | CommentsToday we were reminded again how important it is to have your furnace checked before you close the windows for the season. 5 people were sent to the hospital when they were overcome by carbon monoxide at the apartment they live. The chimney that the heating unit was vented to was partially plugged. There also was no evidence of carbon monoxide detectors.
Carbon Monoxide is a very deadly gas that usually affects people when they are sleeping. Dirty furnaces and boilers can result in carbon monoxide spilling into the house instead of up the chimney. Blockage of the venting out of your house can also cause carbon monoxide to leak into the house.
Smoke detectors are very important in your house in case of a fire. They suggest replacing the batteries every time you change the clocks back or forward for Daylight Savings Time. This is also a great time to check your carbon monoxide detector batteries or that it is working correctly.
Before you turn on your furnace or boiler for the season you should do the following:
- Furnace or Boiler Clean and Tune – This will include a check of your system for carbon monoxide leakage. This will also help keep the heating unit working efficiently.
- Check your Carbon Monoxide Detector – These do wear out after a period of time. Check your owners manual to see when they should be replaced.
- Check Water Heater Venting – This can become clogged causing the fumes to come back into the house. We check that when we do a clean and tune on a furnace.
Multiple carbon monoxide detectors are good in your home. Placement is key to make sure they detect the fumes as soon as possible. Most cities now require them in your home.
Being in your home can feel wonderful and provide you with protection. Make sure your home is not hurting you while it is providing you comfort..
Contact Minneapolis Saint Paul Plumbing Heating Air with any questions regarding your home safety and furnace or boiler clean and tunes to keep your heating unit working properly.