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rty k heat up your heating systems by kathy scott are you ready for cozy evenings around your fire place when you turn the dial to heat on your ther mostat do you soon feel the warmth now is the time of year to make sure youll be warm and cozy by inspecting and repairing your home heating systems to prepare complex heating systems for the winter it is best for the safety of everyone in your household to call a professional to obtain information about pro fessional service providers call your energy company they often have programs that are tailormade for this kind of project you can also call the better business bureau for names and licensing qualifications of serv ice providers if you call a specific heating service company be sure to inquire about liability and work ers compensation insurance you may also want to check the history of the company any professional organizations that the company is affiliated with and see if there are any complaints from previous cus tomers when someone comes to check your heating system of if you do it yourself the following tips may help you determine what action should be taken to ensure the safety and warmth of your family when preparing an oil furnace for winter first check for air leaks then check and clean the filter sys tem the combustion air blower and burner motor should be in good condition examine the firing system the burner nozzle and igniting electrodes and adjust the draft regulator found on the stack the pipe leading from the furnace to the chimney clean the chimney base and inspect the safety switches if you are using a service provider ask the inspector to per form instrument tests as well as visual tests the inspector should gauge the smoke density and the car bon dioxide content as well as the temperature of the exhaust in the stack one last thing to do is to make sure the oil storage tank and the line to the house are in good shape there are numerous steps to take in preparing a gas furnace for winter again it might be worthwhile to call a professional if you are unsure as to the prop er steps to take the inside of the furnace should be vacuumed and the burners cleaned and adjusted check the pilot light and the ignition system the flame controls should be in working order make sure the thermocouple the safety device is also working properly look at the pressure regulator and the valves and plumbing going to the furnace take a look at the draft hood and the base of the chimney excluding the smoke density test the instrument tests are basically the same for this type of furnace in addition to the furnace itself annual inspections should include the proper checking and maintenance of the distribution system or pipes that distribute heat to the rooms in your home the blower as well as the motor should be clean and lubricated make sure the heat exchanger inside the furnace is also clean adjust the drive belt and change the return air filter the filter should be changed monthly throughout the heating season if you have a hot water heating system that sends heat to a radiator or convector check the air pressure inside the expansion tank lubricate the circulating pump if you have one and check the pressure and tem perature highlimit control the pressure relief valve and all other valves if you have a steam system check the boiler pool tables 3550 off olhausen floor models seaway pools 27 heritage rd markham 2948030 gauges that show the water level and pressure of the steam also examine the low water cutoff valve and all other safety valves clean the boiler systems and check for rust if you have a fireplace or- woodstove heating sys tem call a chimney sweep have them look for cracked masonry the controls especially the damper in the stovepipe or base of the chimney should be checked as well as the stovepipe or chimney itself a little preparation now will keep you cozy in the coming winter months it will also save you the extra cost of an emergency call in the winter save s 800 on complete system 0 down 100 financing available oac heatino air conditioning 9054714222 custom made m100r weather call today for your free in hbjrie estiinate tne home show with a difference october 25 26 27 markham fair grounds wwwmarkhamhommhowconi werfuj 3 stage heavy duty motor n for homes up to 8000 sq ft permanent selfcleaning filter 136 inches of suction lli metal construction muffler for quiet operation si crush proof hose with and 3 function d electric powerhead b wand system and saver wand ifrpr tool large hose istery brush crevice rse hair dusting brush for parts for all makes markham vac is the place