Should Your New Heater Have a Humidifier?

One of the rules we all grew up with was that electricity and water don't mix; even if we never learned more than that, that primary safety rule governs how we use and store appliances. But sometimes there's no separating the two: both good coffee and good air quality break the rule. It's becoming more and more common to combine a heater in Tyngsboro MA with a humidifier.

Is it safe to have the two right next to each other?

New furnace models are being made available with furnace humidifiers. Because the two separate devices are built together, they're safe to run. Modern furnaces are undergoing a lot of changes, such as changing from standing pilot lights to electric ignition and the addition of several safeties cut-offs and sensor, and using an in-built humidifier can make the air much more pleasant.
But if your central heating system isn't built to accommodate a humidifier, give the two a bit of space. Humidifiers don't soak the surrounding air with moisture or create areas of standing water, but they can develop leaks. If you only recently considered adding a humidifier to your home's air system, start with a room unit. You can adjust it to different levels, see if it increases the comfort level, and then decide if you want a larger unit or to go room by room.

Why do people use humidifiers in winter?

Winter air is relatively dry, especially if you have severe winters. Heating that already dry air will make it even more parched, and that can worsen winter illnesses, skin conditions, or respiratory conditions. Dry air is also more expensive to heat: because it doesn't have moisture to help hold the heated temperature, you have to replenish the energy more frequently.

If you need a heating service contact New England Cooling Towers, Inc for more information or to schedule an appointment.

3 Smells That Indicate Your Furnace is Malfunctioning

Your furnace can emit all sorts of smells. While some are less serious, others can indicate a major problem. To help you distinguish between a not so significant issue and an urgent malfunction, we've listed 3 odors you shouldn't ignore when it comes to your furnace.

Burning Dust

Most homeowners, at one time or another, have noticed a burning dust smell coming from their furnace. This is especially common when the heat is turned on for the first time. The dirt and dust that has gathered inside the furnace, as it sat unused, is being burned away. While this is normal for a short period, it shouldn't continue after your furnace's initial start-up. However, if the smell does not go away, you may need to change the air filter. Replacing the filter on a regular basis helps maintain a healthy furnace. If you have installed a new air filter, and the smell is still present, you are likely dealing with a more serious issue. Calling a heating repair specialist to inspect your system is the next best step.

An Electrical or Metallic Smell

When components in your furnace are overheating they will produce a distinctive electrical or metallic smell. Unfortunately, the odor can indicate a number of malfunctions, such as, a burned-out motor or frayed wiring. If you get a whiff of either of these smells while your furnace is on, stop what you are doing and immediately shut it off. Continuing to run your system may be dangerous. Once the furnace is no longer operating, contact a HVAC professional to inspect and repair your furnace.

A Sulfur or Rotten Egg Smell

To help people easily detect a leak, a harmless sulfur containing chemical called mercaptan is added to gas. The chemical causes gas to smell like rotten eggs. If your furnace is on and your home is suddenly filled with this unpleasant odor, a gas leak is most likely the source. Immediately gather your family and exit your house. Once everyone is out of your home, you should call for emergency assistance. After the gas to your home has been turned off, call a HVAC technician to come locate and repair the leak.

Furnace malfunctions are bound to happen, however, you can ensure they happen less frequently by having your system serviced at the start of the heating season. If you would like to schedule an annual furnace inspection, please contact New England Cooling Towers today to take a look at your appliance.

How to Keep Your Family Safe and Your Furnace Well Maintained During the Heating Season

We often take our furnaces for granted. They provide our homes with heat and ensure our families warmth during cold winter days and nights. Unfortunately, not properly maintaining your furnace can lead to unsafe conditions. If you haven't paid much attention to your furnace lately, we suggest reading the safety tips below.

• Keep the area around your furnace clutter free. Stacked boxes or other flammable materials are best kept as far away from your furnace as possible. Storing objects, especially easily combustible items, near your furnace is a huge fire risk. Keeping the area clear is the only way to guarantee you are not creating a fire hazard in your home.
•  Only trust a professional to install your new furnace. Although DIY projects are in right now, there are still many home endeavors you should not try yourself and installing a new furnace is definitely on that list. Hiring a professional who understands every intricate part of your new heating system is essential to a safe and proper installation.
• Install and maintain your carbon monoxide detectors. Known as the invisible killer, carbon monoxide is an odorless and colorless poisonous gas. Undetected leaks in your home, due to a faulty furnace, can have devastating consequences on your family. Installing detectors throughout your house is the only way to know if a leak has occurred. We recommend having a detector installed near your furnace and on every floor of your home. It is also crucial to replace the batteries in your carbon monoxide detectors every year, and be sure to test them once a month to confirm they are working properly.
• Schedule an annual furnace inspection. An inspection performed by a HVAC technician at the start of the heating season can alert you to big and small issues with your furnace. While there are numerous benefits to having your furnace inspected, the safety of your family is by far the most important.

Ignoring unusual smells and strange noises coming from you furnace is never a safe or smart decision. If you are experiencing either situation or you simply want to schedule a yearly furnace inspection, please contact New England Cooling Towers, Inc today to make an appointment.

Maximizing Your Furnace's Fuel Efficiency with an Automatic Vent Damper

In a time when energy prices seem to be increasingly rising, it is natural to be worried about the costs associated with operating your furnace. Fortunately, there are numerous things you can do to help keep your fuel costs down. One useful strategy is to have a heating contractor add what is known as an automatic vent damper installed in your flue. To learn more about how this component can boost your heating efficiency, read on.

Automatic Vent Damper 

The purpose of an automatic vent damper is to prevent heat from escaping your exhaust flue. This allows the heat exchanger inside of your furnace to extract a greater amount of thermal energy, which then passes on to the rooms of your home. This helps to reduce the number of times your furnace has to turn on--and thus the amount of gas it consumes in heating your home.

A Closer Look 

An automatic vent damper does not close off your flue all the time, however. If it did, poisonous exhaust gases would build up to dangerous levels inside of your furnace. Instead, an automatic vent damper is designed to only close the flue when the furnace’s burners have shut down. At all times when the furnace is running, it must remain open; in fact, a special electrical switch prevents the furnace from starting up unless the automatic vent damper is in its open position.

The moment your furnace’s burners shut down, however, the automatic vent damper closes. This helps to keep the residual heat trapped inside of the furnace for a greater period of time, thus maximizing the amount that can be passed on to your home.

We encourage you to call New England Cooling Towers, Inc with any questions or service needs you may have.

Reasons to Hire a Professional Air Conditioning Contractor

Plenty of individuals are interested in being able to handle almost all household repairs themselves these days. However, it is in one’s best interest to hire an air conditioning contractor if they suspect that something is wrong with their air conditioning system. Below are three reasons you should call a professional for your air conditioning needs.

1. People might end up damaging their air conditioning systems if they try to work on them independently.
 
Air conditioning systems are very intricate. The condenser coils of air conditioning systems are fragile enough that they will eventually degrade if they aren't cleaned often enough. These are not the sort of components that people should be handling without the right amount of experience.

2. Many independent individuals who are not professional HVAC specialists will not have the equipment that they need in order to repair everything effectively.

Some of the best HVAC equipment is very expensive. People should not assume that the equipment they have around the house will be sufficient for the task at hand. You won't always be able to find adequate substitutions for the tools that professionals use. The tools will need to be HVAC tools in order to get the job done well, and an air conditioning contractor will already have them.

3. Professionals may be able to detect additional problems at the right time.

There are plenty of home repair enthusiasts who might be able to diagnose specific problems. However, they still might not know air conditioning systems well enough to be able to identify problems that are in the early stages of development. Professional HVAC specialists will do this as a matter of course.

We encourage you to give New England Cooling Towers, Inc. a call with any air conditioning needs.

Air Conditioning Tips: How to Reduce Your Energy Bill This Summer

Saving money on your energy bill this summer doesn't mean your home has to become a sauna. With temperatures quickly rising, you shouldn't have to sacrifice your family's comfort. However, if your monthly budget is already stretched thin and you're dreading the start of the cooling season, take a deep breath and implement the money saving tips provided below.

Keep the Sun Out
Although you may think it sounds too simple to be effective, closing your window blinds or drapes to block out the sun can lower the temperature in your home. Your blinds and drapes can also insulate your windows, which will stop the cool air your air conditioner produces from escaping your home.

Furniture Placement
If your couch is sitting on top of an air conditioning vent, the obstruction is going to cost you some money at the end of the day. A blocked vent is unable to properly circulate air, which leads to ineffective cooling. Before you turn on your system for the summer, go from to room to ensure no furniture is hindering your air conditioner's air flow. If you do find a covered vent, simply rearrange the furniture in the room to optimize your system's cooling ability.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
When you're not at home your thermostat should be set at least 4 to 6 degrees higher than when you are in the house. While you could manually make the adjustment before heading out for the day, it's easy to forget, and while that may not seem like a big deal, continuously doing so will definitely send your energy bill soaring. Installing a programmable thermostat allows you to preset temperatures, which guarantees you won't waste energy or money when your house is empty.

Have Your Air Conditioner Tuned-Up
Properly maintaining your air conditioner is key to you saving money on your energy bill each month. If your system is dirty or malfunctioning, you aren't only throwing money away, but you're also at risk of your A/C breaking down. Unfortunately, major repairs are expensive. However, you can avoid them by hiring a professional to tune-up your system once a year.

Questions? Call New England Cooling Towers today at (978) 649-6001.