Is Your Furnace Leaking Water? We'll Explain

Air filter wet? Water leaking as your furnace is running? There can be a few reasons why this is happening. 

If you have a high efficiency furnace, here's the most common reason:

CONDENSATION LEAK

A high efficiency furnace has 2 heat exchangers that results in producing more heat. This allows the furnace to extract heat from the gases for a longer period of time. 

This causes the combustion gases to cool and then condense.

The condensation that is produced should exit out your home through a drain. If you notice that water is pooling around the furnace then there is a problem preventing it from draining correctly.

If this is the case, contact your local HVAC expert.  Your high efficiency furnace could have breaks in the condensation line, clogged condensation tubing or drain. 

Have a standard-efficiency furnace?

This has a metal exhaust pipe — and should not have condensation. 

If it does, it could mean that the flue pipe was incorrectly sized. That could allow the hot exhaust to cool down and condense in the pipe, then drain back to the furnace and leak out.

Note: You’ll know if you have a high-efficiency furnace if:

1. The yellow energy guide tag says your furnace’s efficiency is 90% or higher AFUE.

2. The vent/flue pipe is white PVC as opposed to metal.

The Best Programmable Thermostat for YOU

Which Programmable Thermostat is Best for Me?

In general, every programmable thermostat comes with four pre-programmed settings and maintains those settings within two degrees. Many qualified models also come with additional features, such as:

• Digital, backlit displays
• Touch pad screen programming
• Voice and/or phone programming
• Hold/Vacation features
• Indicators which tell you when it’s time to change air filters
• Indicators that signal malfunctioning of heating/cooling systems
• Adaptive Recovery/ Smart Recovery features — control features that senses the amount of time it will take to reach the next set-point temperature, and reach desired temperatures by the set time

How Do You Choose the Right One for You?

To decide which model is best for you, think about your schedule and how often you are away from home for regular periods of time — work, school, other activities — and then decide which of the three different models best fits your schedule: the 7-day, 5+2-day, or the 5-1-1-day.

7-day models are best if your daily schedule tends to change, say, if children are at home earlier on some days. They give you the most flexibility, and let you set different programs for different days — usually with four possible temperature periods per day.

5+2-day models use the same schedule every weekday, and another for weekends.

5-1-1 models are best if you tend to keep one schedule Monday through Friday and another schedule on Saturdays and Sundays.

Programmable Thermostats are Important for Us All

While programmable thermostats of the past were complex and frustrating to use, today’s models are user-friendly, easy-to-read and simple to program. Some thermostat models, such as Sensi, even create customized home climate programs based upon your comfort habits. Don’t put off installing a programmable thermostat, whether you opt for a do-it-yourself or professionally installed model. use prevents energy waste—and could help you save up to 30 percent on annual utilities.

Simple Steps to Energy Savings with Programmable Thermostats

Achieve significant energy and money savings that are possible through the proper use of your programmable thermostat. Learn how to:

• Have your thermostat properly installed - Here's what you need to know about proper and safe installation of your programmable thermostat, as well as when you should call a certified HVAC contractor to handle the installation for you.
• Properly set and use your thermostat - Follow these guidelines to achieve savings.
• Save with your manual thermostat - If you choose to keep your manual thermostat, here are recommendations to help you save, too.

Check out the Programmable Thermostat Calculator 

For more information about HVAC performance, efficiency and safety, visit the ENERGY STAR™ website or CALL 519-903-6038 to schedule a home climate or indoor air quality consultation.

Your Furnace Explained: Part 2

By understanding some of the furnace basics, it can help keep some of that hard earned money in your wallet.

In Part 2 of Furnaces Explained, I'm going to talk about AFUE and BTUs. Though these two words might contort your face into the 'huh' look but these two words are important for every homeowner to know (and can help save $$$).

WHAT IS AFUE?
AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. 
This measures how efficiently your furnace can utilize it's fuel.
It is a ratio of useful energy output to energy input that is expressed in %. 

For example, a 80% AFUE for a gas furnace means it outputs 80 BTUs* of useful heating for every 100 BTUs of natural gas input (where the rest may be wasted heat in the exhaust).

*BTUs will be explained next, don't worry.

The more efficient your furnace, the more heat you will get per unit of fuel.

Believe the self pronounced "HVAC Expert" when I say, AFUE Matters!

SIZE & EFFICIENCY, WHY IT MATTERS

(The BTUs thing)

BTU is a unit of measurement for energy. One BTU is equal to the amount of energy used to raise the temperature of one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.

A gas furnace has an input rating that is expressed in BTU per hour (which represents the size of the unit).

Common sizes are 40000, 60000, 80000, 100000, and 120000 btu/hr. 

It is extremely important that your unit is the proper size for your home.

The size you choose not only influences the initial cost but everything from maintenance and monthly fuel costs to the comfort level and temperature in your home. In this situation, bigger isn't always better.

Click Here to use the BTU Calculator

Your Furnace Explained: Part 1

Furnace, heat, efficient, $$$, expensive, reliable, safe, green, AFUE, protection, energy, BTUs.

A new homeowner to someone who has lived in their house for 20 years to a person that isn't old enough to spell the word 'furnace', we all know heat is a necessity. It's second nature that when we are cold, we need to be warm.  It's so habitual that truly knowing about your furnace and what it entails is overlooked.

A furnace is designed to add heat to your home. 

(we all know that...I hope)

okay, that was a joke. When I said simple, I didn't mean that simple.

 Read on.

HOW A GAS FURNACE WORKS