Dominion Hopes Offers Furnace Saftey and Gas Conservation Tips
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on October 21, 2016 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Dominion Hope reminds customers that an annual furnace inspection by a qualified, reputable heating contractor can ensure that they receive maximum winter heating safety, comfort and efficiency.
Besides helping customers receive maximum value for their heating dollars, an annual appliance inspection can prevent any potential carbon monoxide problems. Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors provide a second line of defense, but they should not be used as a substitute for an annual furnace inspection. Combined with an annual inspection, however, a single CO detector, placed in the sleeping area of a home, offers additional peace of mind.
In addition to an annual inspection, customers should change furnace filters according to the manufacturer's instructions, to receive the best possible value for their heating dollars.
While checking a furnace, the contractor should make a visual inspection of all vents, heat exchangers and motors. A thorough inspection should include:
· Lubricating the blower bearings and blower motor as recommended by the manufacturer;
· Visually inspecting all vents, the heat exchanger and filters;
· Checking the pilot light if the furnace has one;
· Higher efficient furnaces, without pilot lights, require the flame sensor to be cleaned and checked;
· Cleaning the main burners;
- Clearing the furnace area of any dust or combustible materials;
- Cleaning dust from the blower compartment;
- Testing the thermostat to ensure the heating system works as it should;
- Checking the safety components on the heating equipment, such as limit controls and pilot safety and pressure switches;
- Checking the flue to ensure it is clean and open. Any fuel that does not burn completely can create harmful levels of carbon monoxide. The gas can collect in a home if a fuel-burning appliance is not working or venting properly;
- Don’t forget to check other gas appliances such as water heaters, gas logs, vent-free heaters, ranges and clothes dryers.
Conservation Tips
Natural gas delivers the greatest value for your home energy dollar. To help make natural gas an even greater energy value, Dominion offers these low cost, no cost conservation tips:
- Caulk and weather strip windows and add door sweeps beneath doors.
- Close off unused rooms. There’s no reason to heat these areas.
· Install storm windows and doors; they can reduce heat loss in these areas by 50 percent.
- Turn down the hot water tank’s thermostat to medium.
- Reduce cooking time and energy by covering pots, pans and casserole dishes.
- Don’t peek. Every time the oven door opens, consumers pay a penalty of 25 degrees from lost heat.
- If the gas flame on a cook top is visible on the sides of the pan, lower the setting to conserve fuel.
- Always dry full loads of clothes to make the best use of appliances and energy dollars.
· Clear the lint screen on dryers after each load for the quickest drying.
- Keep a kitchen timer in the bathroom, and cut shower times to three minutes.
- Switch to lower water temperatures for clothes washing and rinse in cold water.
For more tips, go to www.dom.comand enter “tips” in the search box.
