ServiceMax Blog: Posts Tagged ‘gas furnaces’

Common Misunderstandings About Gas Furnaces

Monday, December 31st, 2018

furnace-burners-smallThe gas furnace is the heating system found in more homes across the country than any other. In areas with harsh winters, a gas furnace has the power to overcome the coldest days without running up the enormous bills an electric furnace would. And a gas furnace can deliver warmth faster than electric heating systems.

But despite their popularity, gas furnaces have a large number of myths and misunderstandings surrounding them. We’d like to shine a spotlight on a few of these and tell you the truth. That way you’ll get the most out of your home’s gas furnace.

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High-Efficiency Furnaces—Are They Worth It?

Monday, September 24th, 2018

man-putting-money-in-piggy-bankFall is here: time for homeowners to evaluate their readiness for cold weather. For many, this means replacing an old gas furnace.

If you are one of the homeowners hunting for a new heating system to help you through another winter in Chicagoland, then we need to discuss high-efficiency furnaces. You’ve probably already given some thought to going high-efficiency, but aren’t sure if it’s worth the additional cost to upgrade. We’ll shed some light on the question of whether a high-efficiency gas furnace is worth it. When you’re ready, call us to arrange for furnace installation in Winnetka, IL or elsewhere in Chicagoland, and we can help you make the best unit choice and have it put in place.

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Are There Any Furnace Repairs I Can Do Myself?

Monday, January 29th, 2018

hand-holding-wrenchA faulty or broken furnace is an emergency during a Chicago winter. No matter how well-insulated the home, no matter how many layers of clothes people pile on, there’s no way to deal with the bitter cold invading the house—except to have the furnace fixed as soon as possible.

How to do this? Call on professionals for heating repair in Oak Park, IL or elsewhere in Chicagoland. Our team of trained comfort experts can get any type of furnace back in shape. If necessary, they’ll replace the furnace with a new one. You can trust us for honesty and quality work every time.

But wait a second … we know what you’re thinking. You want to know if you can tinker with the furnace and fix the trouble yourself. It sounds like a much less expensive option, and you have confidence in your DIY skills. (You did put in that new tile floor yourself, after all!) Can you do any furnace repairs on your own?

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Never Delay with Gas Furnace Repairs

Monday, January 1st, 2018

basemetn-gas-furnaceThe natural gas furnace is the backbone of winter heating in the U.S. Here in Chicago, it’s one of the best ways to heat a home through another tough winter: not only does a gas furnace provide a high level of heat output and work fast at delivering it, it also saves money compared to electric models because natural gas doesn’t cost as much as electricity.

There is a concern with gas furnaces, however, and it’s one you’ve probably already considered. Any natural gas-powered appliance is at risk of creating safety hazards because of the leak of toxic fumes and combustion concerns. We don’t want you to feel panicked by your gas furnace, since modern heaters are built with numerous safety features. If you have your gas furnace maintained each year by professionals and put carbon monoxide detectors around the house, you’ll be in good shape as far as safety goes.

One more important way to stay safe with your gas furnace: never procrastinate about calling for repairs if the furnace shows signs something is wrong with it. You can always call on us for heater repair in Niles, IL or elsewhere in Chicagoland, and we’ll come to your assistance any time of the day or night.

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The Danger of a Furnace with a Cracked Heat Exchanger

Monday, November 20th, 2017

gas-burners-in-furnaceWhat type of heating system do you use to warm up your house during a tough Chicagoland winter? If your home is like the majority, the answer is a natural gas furnace. Gas furnaces are the most common type of residential heating system across the country, especially in locations with cold winters. Gas furnaces not only produce a large amount of heat, they do so at less expense than electric furnaces because natural gas costs less than electricity per unit.

However, any natural gas appliance has the potential to develop safety hazards. We don’t want to alarm you, as a well-maintained gas furnace will rarely encounter dangers, and current furnace models are built with safety in mind and have special features to prevent the escape of carbon monoxide or a rise in combustion hazards.

There is one gas furnace problem we want to draw your attention to, because it’s the most common reason for a furnace allowing toxic gasses into a home: the cracked heat exchanger.

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Furnaces Are More Efficient Than Ever: Here’s Why

Thursday, February 2nd, 2017

furnace-burner-flamesHeating technology doesn’t stand still. It is constantly advancing, and that’s why modern gas furnaces are more energy efficient than the furnaces of 30, 20, or even 10 years in the past. But simply saying that “technology got better” isn’t really saying that much. What exactly makes the new furnace so efficient?

And New Furnaces Are Indeed Much More Efficient

Before we get into why furnaces are more efficient, let’s look at exactly how much more efficient they are today than in the past.

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My Furnace Keeps Tripping My Circuit Breaker

Tuesday, January 10th, 2017

The last thing you want to happen on a cold winter day is to turn on the furnace to heat your home, only to have the furnace immediately stop working. When this happens, we recommend that you check on the electrical panel to your home to see if a circuit breaker has been tripped. If one has, reset the breaker and try the furnace again. If the furnace turns on, but then immediately trips the circuit breaker again, there’s a problem that needs to be addressed.

(Yes, a gas furnace can trip a circuit breaker. Natural gas furnaces do rely on a number of electrical components, such as the blower motor fan and the electronic ignition system. This isn’t just an electric furnace problem.)

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3 Furnace Warning Signs as Cold Weather Starts

Monday, November 7th, 2016

‘Tis November, and that means the winter is just looking over the edge of the calendar. The colder weather is already starting as temperatures routinely drop down into the 50s. Much worse is coming, of course, but this is a time when you can expect to start running your gas furnace on a regular basis. And it’s also a time to pay close attention to how it runs. If there are any minor issues with it during the early season, you want to have them repaired before the extreme cold hits and HVAC technicians have crammed schedule. Early repairs will also help stop an emergency when the furnace stops working altogether on a freezing cold day.

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Tips to Keep Safe with a Gas Furnace This Winter

Monday, October 31st, 2016

Do you have a natural gas furnace to provide your home with warmth over the winters? Chances are good that you do, since gas furnaces are the most common type of residential heater in the country—and their powerful heating ability makes them especially popular in in places like Chicago that experience harsh winters.

Although a gas furnace is a great way to heat your house, it can present a number of safety hazards without proper care. These aren’t difficult or arduous steps, but they can make a big difference for your home:

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