This has been an exceptionally cold winter season setting record low temperatures and taxing almost everyone's furnace, heat pump or water heater. This is particularly true in northern regions of the U.S. such as Pennsylvania. Sub-freezing temperatures can also have a disastrous effect on water pipes and water heaters, especially if the temperature is consistently freezing or below for a moderate length of time.
As the temperature of the water drops due to harsh freezing ground conditions, the water heater needs to work harder to heat the new incoming water. Should the water source be from a well, this can also introduce dirt and heavy minerals into the water heater, thereby greatly shortening the water heaters life span. Many home owners in northern states may not have an electric or gas water heater. Some may have a furnace, often referred to as a boiler depending upon the method of transferring heat throughout the home.
Older furnaces are not as efficient as newer equipment. One simple way to determine this is if the utility bills have slowly crept higher and higher over the past few years for the same quantity of fuel. If the home owner has not kept receipts of fuel or electric bills from years past to compare, a call to the electric company or fuel supplier may be able to give the home owner a monthly summary of past energy usage. A little basic math will probably be required to determine if the actual cost has increased.
Should the temperature inside the house become colder despite adjusting the thermostat, it may mean the furnace is failing. Because many homes use a furnace for supplying heat and hot water, should the hot water from the tap seem cooler than usual, a broken furnace may indeed be the culprit. Even though at its heart, a boiler is a simple machine, there is nothing simple about replacing one.
If the home owner decides to troubleshoot themselves, the thermostat will be the cheapest place to start. Replacing the thermostat with a newer digital thermostat will be a plus, whether the old one was faulty or not. Thermostats are not universal. A particular model which works on a single stage heat pump will not work for a furnace or boiler. The wiring diagrams can also be flawed due to a variety of possible configurations a home may have.
Although it may add to the cost, there is no substitute for a qualified service technician or company. If the heating equipment has failed, there probably will not be the luxury of time for shopping around for just the perfect solution. Safety and comfort need to be the priority. With the current economic status quo, some HVAC companies may extend payment plans to their customers. Whether this is the case or not, always exercise diligence when looking for a reputable company. Ask the neighbors for recommendations. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways of advertising, especially in smaller communities.
As the temperature of the water drops due to harsh freezing ground conditions, the water heater needs to work harder to heat the new incoming water. Should the water source be from a well, this can also introduce dirt and heavy minerals into the water heater, thereby greatly shortening the water heaters life span. Many home owners in northern states may not have an electric or gas water heater. Some may have a furnace, often referred to as a boiler depending upon the method of transferring heat throughout the home.
Older furnaces are not as efficient as newer equipment. One simple way to determine this is if the utility bills have slowly crept higher and higher over the past few years for the same quantity of fuel. If the home owner has not kept receipts of fuel or electric bills from years past to compare, a call to the electric company or fuel supplier may be able to give the home owner a monthly summary of past energy usage. A little basic math will probably be required to determine if the actual cost has increased.
Should the temperature inside the house become colder despite adjusting the thermostat, it may mean the furnace is failing. Because many homes use a furnace for supplying heat and hot water, should the hot water from the tap seem cooler than usual, a broken furnace may indeed be the culprit. Even though at its heart, a boiler is a simple machine, there is nothing simple about replacing one.
If the home owner decides to troubleshoot themselves, the thermostat will be the cheapest place to start. Replacing the thermostat with a newer digital thermostat will be a plus, whether the old one was faulty or not. Thermostats are not universal. A particular model which works on a single stage heat pump will not work for a furnace or boiler. The wiring diagrams can also be flawed due to a variety of possible configurations a home may have.
Although it may add to the cost, there is no substitute for a qualified service technician or company. If the heating equipment has failed, there probably will not be the luxury of time for shopping around for just the perfect solution. Safety and comfort need to be the priority. With the current economic status quo, some HVAC companies may extend payment plans to their customers. Whether this is the case or not, always exercise diligence when looking for a reputable company. Ask the neighbors for recommendations. Word of mouth is still one of the best ways of advertising, especially in smaller communities.
Learn more about furnaces, boilers and water heaters by visiting Comfort Zone Heating & Cooling of Lewisberry, PA. Article independently authored by Dan Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Comfort Zone Heating & Cooling. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog. |
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