Tag Archives: Boilers

Furnace

Are Furnace Inspections Really Necessary?

cincinnati northern kentucky hvac tune up before winter

If you find yourself asking this question, the answer is a big YES, you do need regular maintenance by a certified HVAC expert!

The benefits of getting regular maintenance include that you will extend the life of your system, you will save energy, you will keep your family as safe as possible and can you can reduce other health related-risks.

Recall that part of what a furnace inspection does is make sure you have no carbon monoxide leaks. Because carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, it’s hard for homeowners to know or detect that these may exist in the home. These leaks lead to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches, but they can also lead to death.

Approximately 500 people die each year, and 15,000 people are taken to emergency rooms due to carbon monoxide exposure—even though this could have bee preventable in most cases. (Source.)

Also, many HVAC systems also require regular maintenance in order for the warranty to be valid. Despite how manufacturer’s insist that maintenance is necessary for our HVAC system, as much as 3 out of 4 service calls in the fall and winter months because of no heat were related to a lack of system maintenance, according to Angie’s List. That means that as much as 75 percent of those no-heat calls potentially could have been avoided with regular maintenance by qualified professionals.

HVAC Maintenance Program by Greater Comfort

Not only are you keeping your family safe and saving money when we make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible, we will check and record the following:

  • Check evaporator fan motor amp draws
  • Verify proper manifold gas pressure
  • Check induced draft motor amp draw
  • Verify all safety’s
  • Clean flame rod (if applicable)
  • Check heat exchanger
  • Inspect flue and fresh air make–up
  • Inspect contractors
  • Electric resistance heating elements
  • Disconnects & wiring
  • Tightening all electrical connections
  • Verify proper thermostat operation & program

So Do I Really Need To Call my HVAC?

Again, if you want to make a small investment for the life of your HVAC system and to help ensure you don’t have an emergency situation when the cold temperatures hit, the right thing to do is to set up your maintenance with a qualified and trusted HVAC expert.

When you go to call your HVAC to get your tune-up, be sure that what you are getting is a comprehensive maintenance program. In other words, do a bit of research before you buy or agree to a contract/service visit. What you don’t want is to only receive service for one or a few items on the list you see above. Also be sure that you are contacting a qualified, trained technician.

In the end, it really isn’t just about safety—although that should be a compelling reason, too—but it is about preventative maintenance.

Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati and Southeastern Indiana Residents Turn to Greater Comfort

If you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy Heating & Air Conditioning Company, check out our exceptional reviews here, and give Greater Comfort a call today.

Source/Reference

  • http://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-often-should-you-have-furnace-inspection.htm
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HVAC

The Ultimate Fall Maintenance Checklist

HVAC maintenance northern kentucky

Maintaining your heating and cooling system will help you combat unwanted costs and avoidable system failures. Of course calling for your fall tune-up is a vital step, where we come and check the gas or oil connections, your gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger, and much more, to make sure you stay comfortable year-round.

Change Your Filters

When your furnace is forced to “work harder” to pull the air through, the more it will cost you, so be sure to replace your furnace filters on a monthly basis (or as your qualified HVAC professional tells you to do, depending on the climate where you live and your system).

Check the Fireplace

Have a professional check your chimney, clean when needed, and make sure the fireplace is working as it should.

Take a Look at Your Furnace!

Make sure nothing is near the furnace that shouldn’t be, such as something that could be flammable. Give the furnace a dust if it looks like it needs one!

Ask us About Sealing & Insulating

With winter around the corner, ask us about our recommendatinos for how you can insulate and seal air leaks. Whether those air leaks be in the attic, basement, a crawlspace, or around your windows and doors, you will notice the difference with these spaces taken care of.

Check That Your Carbon Monoxide Detector is Working

When you go to change out your air filter, just add one more thing to your list—checking the CO Detector. Yes, your furnace inspection is important to make sure your heat exchanger is not leaking, and a CO Detector is not meant to replace a tune-up, but this is a safety precaution to consider.

Regular System Checkups

You knew this had to be on the list! Regular maintenance is what you must do to make sure your furnace will run optimally, and when you need it most. This will save you money due to reduced energy requirements, keep you comfortable, and keep your intake pipe clear.

Look Outside the Home

Depending in your system, you may need to look at the exhaust and intake pipes that are on the exterior part of your home. Ask us for more information, but you want to make sure the  area around these pipes are clean from debris.

When You Have a Programmable Thermostat…Use it!

Being able to control your energy means you can better control your bill each month, as well as have a better sense of the demands you are putting on your system over time. Ask us if you have more questions about how to find comfort using a programmable thermostat. During your tune-up, we will ensure your thermostat is working as it should.

Consider Your Shades

Do you close your curtains or shades during the night? Give it a try and then you can open them back up during the day.

Need more reasons to take care of your home this Fall as you prepare for winter?  Here’s just a few reasons:

  • You can work to reduce allergy-causing pollutants
  • Ensure you don’t have carbon monoxide or gas leaks
  • Ensure you don’t have any disconnected or leaky fuel lines or connections
  • Ensuring your air flow is what it should be

Do your best to prevent any surprises. Call Greater Comfort to schedule a visit at your convenience 859-491-4915.

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Heating

Emergency Heating Repair In Hebron Kentucky

emergency heating repair in Hebron KentuckyGreater Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning is available to help keep you warm this winter. If you need emergency heating repair in Hebron Kentucky or the surrounding area, we are the company you can depend on.

Knowledgeable Repair Specialists

Our heating repair specialists are factory trained and dealer authorized to work on every major brand of heating system. We can get yours up and running quickly when you need it. Whether your system is not producing enough heat for your home or you notice an increase in the cost to operate your system, we can fix the problem. We work on most makes and models of heaters,broilers, furnaces, heat pumps and geothermal systems.

Emergency Heating Repairs in Hebron Kentucky

We offer 24-hour emergency heating repairs in Hebron Kentucky and all of the Northern Kentucky area. No matter what time of the day or the night, one of our highly trained service technicians is available to come to your home and help resolve any issue you may be experiencing with your HVAC system. You can depend on quality service and repairs when you call Greater Comfort. We have found that people usually experience heater problems requiring repairs during the most inconvenient times. It may be one of the coldest nights or while you have company over or your expecting a crowd. We also realize that your heater runs all day and night and so we are just a phone call away when your system is having trouble and you need help.

Advantage of Choosing Greater Comfort

Greater Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning has a good reputation. You can find out for yourself why many people consider Greater Comfort their only HVAC company and the company they would call in an emergency. Greater Comfort is one of the oldest heating and cooling companies in the Northern Kentucky area. We have been providing HVAC service to the tri-state area for over 60 years and we are dedicated to offering you the best customer service and expert care around. When you need the help of an HVAC company during an emergency, you can depend on the quality of service you receive at Greater Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning. We also offer routine maintenance on your heating and cooling system to ensure you don’t need repairs as often. Call today and let Greater Comfort Heating and Air Conditioning take care of your Hebron Kentucky Emergency heating repairs.

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Heating

Ways to Tell Your Boiler Is Leaking

Leaking is one of the few problems that boilers encounter during their long lifetimes. Because boilers have fewer moving parts than most heating systems, such as furnaces and heat pumps, they do not wear down as fast and consequently need less repair work done. Leaking, however, can occur, and when you find it happening with your boiler, don’t delay calling for professionals to repair it.

For service on boilers in Alexandria, KY, Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. ® is one of your best resources. We started business in 1988, and we are always committed to providing the best repair and maintenance services possible.

How can you tell you’ve got a leaky boiler? Here are some signs:

  • Water on the floor near the boiler tank: The most obvious sign is discovering water around the boiler. Unless there is another possible source (such as water entering the basement after a hard rain), then the boiler is the likely cause.
  • Rust and corrosion on the tank: Sometimes the water leaking from a boiler will quickly evaporate because of its heat, making it hard to notice. But the increase in moisture can cause corrosion to develop along the tank—and the moment you see any corrosion or rust along a boiler, you need to call for repairs right away. Corrosion will spread, and if left alone, it will eventually eat away at the metal of the tank and you will need to replace the whole tank.
  • The boiler is constantly running: If one of the hot water lines from the boiler starts to leak or even breaks, the boiler will try to compensate for the heat loss by running continually to replace it. Hot water lines tend to break more often because they expand from heat, and they are the main reason for a boiler that runs all the time. Regardless of what is causing the boiler to run this way, it needs repairs.

A leaking boiler is at risk of breaking down entirely and causing water damage to your home. If you see or suspect a leak, call heating professionals immediately to remedy the trouble.

At Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. ®, we offer competitive rates and highly-trained technicians who know boilers from the inside of their tanks all the way to their baseboard heaters and thermostats. For problems with boilers in Alexandria, KY, we are the company to call—and you can reach us any time of the day or night.

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Heating

Why Is My Boiler Leaking Water?

Boilers have a few major advantages in the world of home heating: inexpensive and fast installation, quiet operation, high energy efficiency, and long lifespans. One of the reasons they last so long is that boilers contain few moving parts, so unlike furnaces or heat pumps, they won’t need frequent repairs due to wear and tear.

However, boilers do experience one repair issue that comes up more often than others: water leaks. In any system that uses water circulation to work, leaks are a possibility that must be addressed as soon as they occur. Modern boilers suffer few leaking troubles because of their sturdy manufacture, but leaks can still happen—especially if the boiler was improperly installed or doesn’t receive regular maintenance.

If you notice leaks in your boiler, call up Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.® for help. We perform all types of heating repair in Hebron, KY, and we can patch those leaks for you and find out what’s causing them.

Here are some reasons your boiler might develop leaks:

Corrosion: Rust and corrosion is the super villain of any device where water meets metal. If your boiler starts to develop corrosion inside its tank or along its pipes and around its valves, the metal will weaken and water can start to leak out. Repairs can sometimes remove small corroded patches or replace the corroded parts, but if the problem spreads too far you may need to have the tank replaced.

High pressure: A boiler should maintain steady water pressure (an expansion tank helps with this task), but a buildup of limescale and calcite along the pipes or inside the tank will drive the pressure higher and trigger leaks in numerous places. If the pressure release valve becomes blocked, it will also cause a pressure spike. You’ll need professionals to seal the leaks and remedy the increase of pressure to prevent further problems.

Poor initial installation: If you inherited a boiler with your house, it may have gotten a shoddy or amateur installation. The usual trouble we see from poor installation is leaking because of bad soldering along the copper pipe fittings. You may not need a complete reinstallation—experts can often perform repairs that will get the boiler into proper shape—but this is sometimes the best option.

When leaking begins, you need to act fast to stop it. Not only do leaks often warn about other problems in the boiler, but even the smallest water drip can cause structural damage to your home and encourage the growth of mold and mildew. Protect your boiler and your home’s comfort with professional heating repair in Hebron, KY from Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.® We’re on call 24 hours a day!

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Heating

Newport, KY Heating Tip: Pros and Cons of Furnaces, Boilers, and Heat Pumps

Are you thinking of installing a new heating system in your Newport, KY home? While there are a lot of options out there for furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps, you’ll want to make sure you get the right one for your particular home and needs.

Here are the pros and cons to the different types of heating systems.

Furnaces

While most modern furnaces are efficient because of multi-stage motors and other energy-saving features, the most important factor is the output. An oversized furnace will produce BTUs that may be too much for your home, and the ductwork may not be designed to handle a high-output furnace.  Gas furnaces are highly efficient, but you have more flexibility in terms of space with an electric furnace installation since there’s no need for a ventilation system.

Boilers

If you need a boiler replacement, it’s important to keep in mind that there are different types, namely three: conventional, condensing, and combination boilers. Conventional boilers need a lot of space for installation because of the water storage tank. Condensing boilers are more efficient because of better design and more efficient heat exchanger. Combination boilers are also highly efficient, and they can heat your water efficiently as well, which reduces your overall utility bill.

Heat Pumps

If you are considering installing a heat pump, it’s important to understand how that traditional heat pumps work as a forced air system, and ductless mini split heat pumps heat with individual units. All heat pumps provide both heating and cooling for your home. However, air source heat pumps may not be as efficient in colder areas. You can install a dual fuel system that includes a gas furnace backup heater in these cases. Your heating contractor will know which one is right for your home.

Call the Newport, KY heating experts at Greater Comfort if you have further questions.

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Heating

Newport, KY Heating FAQ: How Do Boilers Distribute Heat?

One of the frequently asked boiler questions we get from our Newport, KY area customers is about the different ways these heating systems distribute heat. Greater Comfort has put together a basic boiler operation list to demonstrate how hot water boilers distribute heat.

The most common type of boiler is a hot water boiler. With a hot water boiler, water is heated and then distributed throughout your home via pipes. You can have either traditional radiators or baseboard radiators which release the heat into your rooms. A pump is used to circulate the hot water through the pipes. The water in the boiler itself can be heated by oil or gas. Since this is not a forced air system, there are no need for air ducts. Boilers are a very effective way to heat your home.

Today, you can buy a high efficiency boiler for your home that can heat it more efficiently than ever before. Older boilers have AFUE ratings of only 55-65 percent, versus the Energy Star rated boilers you can buy today with AFUE ratings of at least 85 percent. That means that much more of the heat produced by your boiler is used to heat your home, which can save you a lot of money on your utility bills. High efficiency boilers also usually have controls that can help reduce the amount of heat lost in your pipes. Some can also serve as an indirect water heater.

Call the Newport, KY boiler experts at Greater Comfort if you have further questions about installing a boiler system in your home.

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