Do you know how your home furnace works?

The piece of equipment that provides the greatest amount of comfort in your home is one many people know little about, so let’s learn about your home furnace.

Entering into your warm and cozy home in the midst of a winter storm is one of life’s greatest feelings and can only be made possible with the use of your home furnace. So why is this piece of equipment often overlooked and forgotten? Many homeowners don’t realize the important role it plays in their household until it breaks down. Let’s take a look inside the piece of equipment at the core of your home’s comfort and see how it works and what you can do to ensure that your home furnace stays in tip-top shape.

What makes up a home furnace?

When looking for a new home furnace there are quite a few types to choose from, there are single-stage furnaces, two-stage furnaces, modulating furnaces, oil & gas furnaces, but despite their differences, their inner components are relatively the same. The inside of your home furnace contains a heat exchanger, heat pump, air filter, burners, blower, and flue. Looking at all of its inner components you can see that a lot of work goes into creating the perfectly comfortable environment for your home. But what do all of these individual components do? Let’s find out.

Heat exchanger: The heat exchanger is where heat is added to the cool air. This heated air is blown straight into your home’s air ducts and is distributed throughout the home. It is one of the most important parts of the furnace system.

Heat pump: The heat pump is what makes your home furnace system energy efficient and saves you money on your monthly utility bills. In the summer season, the heat pump gets rid of the heat in the air of your home and redirects it outdoors. In the winter time, it does the opposite by compacting the heat of the outside air and adding that heat into the air inside your home. A heat pump can reduce your monthly heating bill by as much as 30%.

Air filter: This home furnace component is the reason why the air in your home stays clean and free of pollutants and allergens.

Burners: The burners are a set of tubes where gas is burned. This is done with the use of a sensor and a gas valve which controls the flames and regulates whether the gas should be on or off.

Blower: The blower is in charge of redirecting cool air from the return ducts into the heat exchanger where it is heated. The heated air is then redirected again into the ducts.

Flue: The furnace’s flue is what removes any toxic remains, such as carbon monoxide, that are created during combustion.

How your home furnace does its job

The furnace’s process starts outside of your home where the cool air enters the system through the venting. The air first goes through the air filter to get rid of any airborne debris, pollutants, and allergens. The filtered air is redirected by the blower fans into the burner where it is heated and distributed throughout your home through the ductwork. Then the process starts all over until the air in your home reaches the desired temperature that was set on your thermostat.

Home furnace maintenance

If not maintained properly, the lifetime of your furnace can be decreased substantially, which is why it’s important to take great care of this essential piece of equipment. You can maintain your home furnace by:

• Cleaning the air filter. Air filters often get clogged up with debris from the outside air, so cleaning them is a very necessary process. Furnace air filters should be changed regularly to keep your furnace working efficiently
• If you are noticing problems with your home’s heating check to see if the burners are working correctly
• Lubricate all of the furnace’s moving parts to allow them to operate smoothly
• Take great notice of any corrosion on your furnace unit. Corrosion on your furnace is not a good sign and may lead to future furnace problems.

If you are having any problems with your furnace which are outside of your knowledge and can’t be fixed by simple maintenance, calling a professional HVAC contractor is the next step. Professional HVAC contractors are trained to be able to find the source of any furnace problem and provide you with the best solution.

Get A Quote

 

If you are currently experiencing furnace problems and are looking for a home furnace replacement or have any questions about your other HVAC needs, don’t hesitate to contact DeMark Home Ontario to find the answers. We provide quick and efficient furnace service and replacement performed by our highly experienced and trained technicians. We offer furnace rent to own, financing, and purchasing programs to give our customers a home heating solution which fits their budget and their needs. If you want to learn more, give us a call at 647-847-2998 or fill out our online request form and we will be happy to assist you with your request.

Easy Rentals...

get total piece of mind with our High Efficiency Furnace and Air Conditioner Rental Program.

The post Do you know how your home furnace works? appeared first on DeMark Home Ontario Furnaces, A/C, Water Heaters.

Water Heater or Tankless

How to Reduce House Humidity

High humidity levels don’t just feel uncomfortable, they’re also downright dangerous which is why reducing house humidity levels is important in preventing against many health complications.

The summertime can make you feel hot, sticky, and sweaty, sometimes even in the confinement of your own home. But it is possible to enjoy the time you spend in your home without feeling hot and sticky by improving your home’s air circulation and reducing house humidity. By following the tips listed below you should notice a great improvement to the level of comfort in your home.

Purchasing a dehumidifier

A dehumidifier does just what its name suggest, it reduces the level of humidity in your home and creates a more comfortable and cool environment. With a dehumidifier you can turn up the temperature on your thermostat and not sacrifice your comfort while also saving money on your monthly utility bills. Dehumidifiers range from small sizes meant for use in a single room to whole home dehumidifiers.

Use a charcoal briquette as a dehumidifier alternative

It might sound odd at first, but it actually works great!

Charcoal is a great absorber of humidity and a few bricks of charcoal placed around the house will suck the moisture right out of the air. The charcoal briquettes should be able to get the job done for three months until they need to be replaced with a new batch.

Proper ventilation

Steam can create a great deal of humidity, so when doing things like showering or cooking it’s important to not forget about proper ventilation to reduce your house humidity level. This can be achieved by opening the window while showering, turning on the fan, or by simply taking less time in the shower.

When cooking it’s equally important to turn on the fan or to cover any open pots to prevent condensation from forming.

You will find that by having fans in areas of high humidity you will create for a far more comfortable environment and avoid developing mold in your home.

Proper insulation

Your attic, basement, pipes, and windows all give easy access for moisture to enter your home if it is not properly and sufficiently insulated. Having these areas of your home properly insulated will reduce your monthly utility bill and your house humidity.

Windows can be insulated with the use of plastic wrap and cracks in any walls can be filled with caulking. Your walls can also be waterproofed with the use of products such as Xypex which can be applied to the wall like pain and provide waterproof protection.

You should also fix any leaking pipes and cover exposed pipes with insulation to prevent condensation from forming.

Check your air conditioner

A great way to decrease humidity in your home is to simultaneously raise the temperature on your air conditioner and turn on the fan. The temperature will rise as the humidity level lowers.

Maintaining your air conditioner’s drip pans and drain lines will also reduce house humidity. Keep these parts clear of any water build up and check up on them regularly.

Doing laundry efficiently

Washing and drying your clothes often results in a spike in house humidity levels. You can keep your home’s humidity level to a minimum by only using the washer and dryer when you have a full load of clothes. You can also avoid the use of a dryer machine by drying your clothes outdoors or indoors in a well ventilated area with a dehumidifier.

Move your house plants

In the process of photosynthesis, plants release moisture into the air. Having many plants in your home makes for higher humidity levels as well. Moving some or all of your house plants outdoors or watering them only when it’s necessary will reduce your house humidity.

Clean up any wet surfaces

Whether you’re washing dishes, taking a shower, or brushing your teeth, it’s inevitable that water will sometimes end up on the counter or floor, that’s okay as long as you clean up after yourself. The puddles that are left behind after using the sink or shower will result in moldy and rotten surfaces which can cause serious health hazards. Keep a cloth or sponge nearby to clean up these wet surfaces to keep your home safe and mold free.

Clean your gutters

Indoor water leaks are often caused by unclean gutters. Cleaning your gutters is an important step in achieving a lower house humidity.

You should also ensure that your downspout is directed away from your home and extends at least five feet.

Get A Quote

 

If you have any further questions regarding house humidity or any of your other HVAC needs, don’t hesitate to contact DeMark Home Ontario today to get the answers. If you’ve tried using the steps listed above to reduce your house humidity and the problem has not been solved, the problem might be your air conditioner unit. The features of your air conditioner which reduce humidity may be damaged or broken.

If you’re looking for a new air conditioner, we provide quick and efficient furnace service and replacement performed by our highly experienced and trained technicians. Give us a call at 647-847-2998 or fill out online request form and we will be happy to assist you with your request.

Easy Rentals...

get total piece of mind with our High Efficiency Furnace and Air Conditioner Rental Program.

The post How to Reduce House Humidity appeared first on DeMark Home Ontario Furnaces, A/C, Water Heaters.

How To Reduce Furnace Repair And Heating Cost

As the winter season approaches it’s important to know how you can reduce your home’s heating cost this season without sacrificing your warmth and comfort.

The start of the fall season is the perfect time to get your home ready for the cold weather that’s just around the corner. This means changing the furnace air filters and scheduling that much needed furnace system repair. You would be surprised at what a difference a furnace system repair can make on the air quality and general comfort of your home, as well as doing your pockets a favour by reducing your monthly heating cost.

It shouldn’t be a surprise that your heating bills go up during the winter season, after all you’ll be spending more time inside while your home’s heating system is working all throughout the day to maintain your comfort. If you’re worried about overstressing your heating system and the possibility of overworking it to the point of a necessary emergency repair, there are a number of things that you can do to maintain your furnace’s efficiency and lower the chance of needing an emergency repair. Not to mention that keeping your heating system in check on a regular basis will not only save you money by removing the need for an emergency repair but it will also preserve the condition of your heating system and thus reduce your heating cost.

Replacing the furnace air filters

It is certainly not an uncommon occurrence that the heating problems experienced by many are a result of the severely clogged and dirty air filter that they have been either avoiding or forgetting to replace. These air filters become clogged over time as airborne dust, grime, and dirt cling onto its surface. To have your heating system running at its optimal efficiency, it is absolutely necessary that you regularly change the furnace air filter.

The process of replacing this small, but extremely important piece of equipment is very simple and can be done by just about anyone. The only thing to look out for is making sure that you’re replacing the air filter with one that is meant for your heating system. After completing this simple task you should see some positive changes to the airflow in your home and you can have the peace of mind knowing that you’re reducing your heating cost and removing the need for expensive repairs.

Keep your home at a consistent temperature

Reducing the amount of times you change your home’s temperature can greatly improve the performance of your heating system equipment. Constantly adjusting the temperature of your home can cause your furnace to overwork itself which will lead to some problems later down the line.

If you want to preserve your heating equipment and reduce your heating cost, you should instead choose a fixed temperature for your home at which you find yourself comfortable and keep that temperature consistent to not overwork your furnace.

Blower area maintenance

The furnace blower, similarly to the air filter, also gets clogged up with dirt, dust, and grime. When changing the furnace air filter make sure to take a look at the blower area as well and clean it of any buildup. This buildup makes it difficult for the furnace to circulate air throughout the home and makes the system work harder than it needs to in order to heat your home. Cleaning the blower area will greatly reduce the risk of a furnace breakdown.

Have a professional HVAC technician inspect your heating system

Professional HVAC technicians are trained to find the source of any heating problem that you may be experiencing and providing you with the best possible solution. Scheduling a furnace inspection from a professional HVAC technician can put an end to any heating problems you may be having at the moment and even avoid any future problems. The job of the HVAC technician is to ensure that all of the heating system’s hardware is in good shape and to fix or replace any components which aren’t. A professional furnace inspection will guarantee that your family stays warm and cozy all winter long in the comfort of your home and also avoids the expenses of a preventable furnace replacement.

Get A Quote

 

If you have any further questions about reducing heating cost or any of your other HVAC needs, don’t hesitate to contact DeMark Home Ontario to find the answers. We provide quick and efficient furnace service and replacement performed by our highly experienced and trained technicians. Give us a call at 647-847-2998 or fill out online request form and we will be happy to assist you with your request.

Easy Rentals...

get total piece of mind with our High Efficiency Furnace and Air Conditioner Rental Program.

The post How To Reduce Furnace Repair And Heating Cost appeared first on DeMark Home Ontario Furnaces, A/C, Water Heaters.