HVAC Blog

For the modern customer, HVAC energy efficiency is a top concern and popular point of conversation. In honor of Earth Month, I've outlined the top five energy-saving tips that you can reference when your customers ask about improving their home energy efficiency. Replace filters often  - Hands down the best thing you can do to improve your energy efficiency is to replace your air filters often. The more debris that's in the filter, the less air can circulate through the HVAC system, making it work harder. The harder your HVAC unit works, the more energy it uses. Set a schedule  - Constantly adjusting your thermostat uses a lot of energy.  Set your thermostat to a comfortable temperature that reflects your schedule so that your unit isn't cooling an empty house or working overtime when you're away. Air sealing  - A quick, inexpensive air-sealing fix can mean big savings on utilities. Blocking outside air from coming in not only helps keep allergies and other irritan

The Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) will continue to offer the existing Heating and Cooling incentives  until  June 30, 2017 . New eligible equipment and incentives are expected to be introduced by  July 1, 2017 .  The Rebate Program will include: $250 incentive  when you have an existing furnace replaced with the purchase and installation of an eligible high-efficiency furnace equipped with a n  Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM).  – will be eligible until  Dec. 31, 2017 $250 incentive  when you install or replace your existing central air conditioner (CAC)  s ystem or install a new CAC  s ystem that is purchased and installed of an ENERGY STAR qualified CAC system with a minimum 14.5 SEER and 12 EER (confirmed by AHRI reference number).   – only eligible until  June 30, 2017 $400 incentive  when you install or replace your existing central air conditioner (CAC) replaced with the purchase and installation of an ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioni

Enbridge Gas Residential Rebates and Incentive Programs Our energy efficiency programs can give you a head start on reducing energy costs in your home. Smart Thermostats Program - Home Comfort. Automatic Savings. One of the easiest ways to save on your energy costs is by installing a smart thermostat. It uses sensors and Wi-Fi technology to maximize your home comfort and energy savings. That’s why Enbridge Gas Distribution is proud to introduce our new Smart Thermostats Program. Participants who reside within the Enbridge Gas Program Delivery Area and who purchase and install a qualifying Smart Thermostat before December 31, 2017 are eligible to receive a $100 incentive. If you are an Enbridge Gas customer, the incentive will be paid as a bill credit on your Enbridge Gas account. If you heat your home with oil or propane, the incentive will be paid in the form of a cheque. Visit  smartthermostats.ca  for full program details. Home Energy Conservation Program - Use Less.

Set the temperature to 20º C during the day and 17 º C at night. Better yet, use a programmable thermostat. Seal cracks and drafts around windows, doors and electrical sockets with caulking or weather stripping. Replace or clean your furnace filter every three months. Dirty filters restrict airflow, forcing furnaces to work harder and use more natural gas. Let the sunshine in keep your curtains and blinds open during the day so the sun can naturally warm up your home.

Tips To Prevent Back Pain When Shoveling Snow   That sharp pain you feel putting away the dishes on high shelf might be traced to lifting a shovel above your shoulder after this month's snow. Snow shoveling can gift you with pain that keeps on giving, and sometimes won't go away for weeks, or even months. Repeatedly raising the arm when shoveling snow and specially by lifting that snow-filled shovel above the level of your shoulder can lead to several common back injuries. Here are some tips from Ontario chiropractors to help ensure a pain-free winter: Don't let the snow pile up: If the weather report calls for several days of snow. frequent shoveling will allow you to move smaller amounts of snow at once. It's far less strenuous in the long run.  Pick the right shovel: Use lightweight pusher-type shovel. If you are using a metal shovel, spray it with Teflon first, so snow won't stick to it. Push, don't throw: Always push the snow to the side rathe

What are the value added benefits to customers with the new EL195E furnace? 1.         Lennox customers will save more money every time their HVAC system is operating.   The difference between the ML195 PSC motor and the EL195E ECM X13 motor is that the ECM motor is much more efficient. Why? Because it uses a brushless Direct Current (DC) motor, similar to the ECM motor if   you’re already familiar with in a variable speed furnace. The ECM X13 motor is almost as energy efficient as a variable speed motor. What are the cost savings? Annual operating costs can be 25% 61% lower per year, based on usage EL195 PSC Motor: Cooling mode:  552 watts Continuous fan mode:  515 watts EL195E ECM X13 Motor: Cooling mode:   413 watts Continuous fan mode:   200 watts Savings: 139 watts 315 watts 25

If you are replacing your rental water heater and you choose to change rental providers, you are protected from arbitrary exit fees and penalties under the Ontario Consumer Protection Act. If your old supplier tells you that you may be subject to a “buy-out” of the old tank or a “tank return fee” or an “account closure fee” or any other charge, you need to be aware of the following: Under the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, a provider of any rental agreement which does not provide for a fixed term, and does not provide sufficient disclosure information so that you know upfront the maximum amount payable by you over the entire term of the agreement, the interest portion, the interest rate and the purchase option, can only charge you the following amounts to exit a contract: The periodic rental payments due on or before the day the lease is terminated that have not already paid The expenses incurred by your old provider for the removal of the old tank The penalties, if any, impose

About Carrier Brand Formerly, the  Carrier Corporation, now a brand of United Technologies Corporation. UTC recently purchased ICP (International Comfort Products) which is the manufacturer of heating and cooling brands like : Keeprite,  Tempstar, Heil,  Comfortmaker,  Arcoaire. Carrier, Otis, and United Technologies Fire and Security were combined into one subsidiary of UTC in September 2013. Prior to the consolidation, Carrier as a corporation was a manufacturer and distributor of heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, as well as a commercial refrigeration and food service equipment industry. Wikipedia.org Carrier High Efficiency Gas Furnace Heat Exchanger Issues One the most common issues found in Carrier high efficiency gas furnaces is corrosion or blockage is their secondary heat exchangers in approximately 5 to 10 years after the original installation date or in other words premature secondary heat exchanger failure. This problem happens due to cor

Myth #1: There is no selection . Facts: There are light-emitting diodes, better known as LEDs, for every need, including many household appliances, indoor flood lighting, decorative bulbs (chandeliers) and outdoor fixtures.  LED bulbs can also be as small as 2 mm, making them ideal for fitting into hard to reach and compact ares. Myth #2: They produce bright blue and blasting light. Fact: Colour temperature describes the visual warmth or coolness of a light source.  LED lights are available in a wide range from a bright light or a mellow glow making them suitable for any room.  LEDs also offer dimming and color changing abilities.  Whether you want to create a natural  atmosphere in the kitchen or elegant, ambient lighting in your dining room. Myth #3: They are too expensive! Fact:  LEDs have an incredibly long life, with each bulb lasting approx 25,000 hours or approx 25 years of use), compared to a life span of an incandescent light bulb, which is approx. 1000 hrs.  Based o

Central whole home humidifiers are an essential part of central heating and cooling systems in North America. Central heating systems make the indoor air very dry especially during cold winter months when temperatures plunge to minus double digits. All central humidifiers need fresh water to operate. Large By-Pass Central Humidifiers like Lennox HCWB-17 Humidifier or Aprilaire 600 Humidifier and Power Humidifiers like Lennox HCWP3-18 Humidifier have water pads which MUST be replaced annually. Some homeowners mistakenly wash their old humidifier water pads with CLR (Calcium Lime Rust) or Vinegar in order to re-use the old water pad. However, washing your existing water pad will remove all  of the water absorbing material on the it, preventing the humidifier from working properly. This could also cause some serious health effects by bacterial growth, and could cause damage to your heating and cooling equipment.   Steam Humidifiers have Canisters or Cylinders which must be replaced a

Following are few tips and tricks to operate your natural gas fireplace safely: NEVER leave your natural gas fireplace unattended when operational Keep children away from natural gas fireplace. Children can be severely injured. Read and follow manufacturer instruction carefully when trying to turn on natural gas fireplace for the first time. Operational instructions are located under the fireplaces gas valve. Never try to light your natural gas fireplace with BBQ lighter or matches. If your natural gas fireplace fails to turn on call your local Heating Contractor for assistance. If you happen to smell natural gas in the vicinity of the fireplace, turn off the quick "Shut Off Valve" to the fireplace and call Enbridge ®   Gas Distribution or your local Heating Contractor. For Fireplace Repair Click Here

Enbridge Gas distribution provides up to $2000 incentives when you complete at least 2 upgrades in your home. For the full list of available communities and requirements CLICK HERE

"Energy Efficiency".You hear this word everywhere these days. Following video explains the importance of conserving energy.  

In attempting to conserve energy and reduce our heating costs, we can sometimes make our homes too air tight. In fact, for a house to be healthy, it needs to “breathe”. It needs to expel moisture and other gases from inside and take in a constant supply of fresh air from outside. When a fuel-burning appliance in your home does not get enough fresh air and fails to completely burn its fuel, carbon monoxide is produced.If ventilation is damaged or blocked, or if you have a powerful kitchen fan, bathroom fan or open hearth fireplace, then carbon monoxide can be drawn back inside the house. Exhaust fans can compound the problem Be mindful that the air you exhaust from your home has to be replaced. Powerful exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens or open hearth wood- burning fireplaces can actually create a negative pressure inside your home, resulting in a back draft which will draw exhaust fumes from your furnace, hot water heater or other appliances back into the house. How can yo

Every year, children are burned from contact with the glass barrier at the front of a gas fireplace. Statistics show that contact burns – injuries sustained when a part of the body touches a hot object – are the second leading cause of burns in children. Children have been burned when they have fallen towards the gas fireplace and have pushed up against the hot glass for balance. Serious third- degree burns are the result. Others have touched the glass only for a moment out of curiosity. It takes just two seconds to be seriously burned. Many children have been burned while parents are in the room. Children are not only at risk for burns when the gas fireplace is in use but before and after use too. The glass barrier can heat up to more than 200°C in about six minutes during use. It takes an average of 45 minutes for the fireplace to cool to a safe temperature  after a fire has been extinguished. Some children have even been burned when the fireplace is not in use, by the heat from th

To keep  your home  safe from CO hazards, follow these four steps: 1. Be aware of the hazard. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an invisible, odorless and poisonous gas produced by common household appliances such  as your furnace, fireplace, gas stove, propane heater, kerosene lantern or any other fuel-burning equipment. 2. Eliminate CO at the source. Get your home’s fuel-burning appliances and equipment inspected by a certified technician who works for a TSSA- registered heating contractor. To  ensure a technician is registered, visit the Find a Contractor section of COSafety.ca 3. Install certified CO alarms. They will warn you of rising  CO levels, giving you time to take potentially life-saving action. For proper installation locations, follow manufacturer’s instructions or ask your local fire department. 4. Know the symptoms of CO  poisoning. They are similar to the  flu – nausea, headache, burning eyes, confusion and drowsiness – except there is no fever. If they appear, immediat

An air conditioner loses about 5% of its original efficiency for each year without regular maintenance. Contact a dealer today to ensure you’re A/C unit is running at top performance this summer.

Trane said June 24 it is recalling more than 100,000 Trane XB300 and American Standard Silver SI air conditioning systems because the ground screws used in some units do not have the two threads required to provide sufficient grounding. This recall involves 37 models of Trane XB300 and American Standard brand Silver SI split system outdoor cooling units. The units are gray and have a black grated front. Check model numbers on the Trane website. Consumers should immediately turn off the cooling unit via the main breaker switch and check the model information. Consumers with recalled air conditioning systems should contact Trane or their installer or service dealer for instructions on scheduling a free inspection and repair. Trane toll-free at (888) 731-7561 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. CT Sunday, or online at www.trane.com/residential and click on "XB300 Product Recall."