FAQ

• If you have a digital thermostat, is there still information (temperature etc.) showing on the display?
• If you have a mechanical thermostat and you turn it to maximum demand, do you get any reaction from the heating or cooling system? (always remember to reset to normal settings after this exercise)
• Check that the fuse or breaker is good or on. If you do not know how to do this safely please do not attempt this
• Is the air filter clean? Occasionally clients call and say ‘oh, yes it’s clean’ neglecting to inform us they only did it a few moments ago. In some situations it takes time for a problem to reset itself if the filter was blocked and just changed
• Most often when the air filter is dirty it impedes air flow and the heating or cooling system capacity is reduced bringing complaints that ‘the system does not seem to be working as well as it was a month or two ago

Try and determine where it is coming from

• Water could be dripping from a humidifier connection
• Water could be leaking from the condensate pan of an air conditioning evaporator in your furnace or air handler
• The evaporator in the furnace could be frozen
• Some contractors' will drill a hole through the concrete floor for the condensate to drain from the evaporator coil in the furnace because a drain was not available and it co uld be backing up
• Even the condensate drain pipe could become blocked form dirt that accumulates in the evaporator drain pan in the furnace or air handler

• The following recommendations apply if you check and change your air filters every month or two
• If you been sensing a problem coming on have it checked out and ask the technician to check the whole system at the same time. Most companies have a special rate to do a complete inspection of a system. Ask about it. This rate does not usually include any repairs that might be required.
• Gas furnaces, oil furnaces and hot water boilers should be cleaned and inspected thoroughly each year.
• Gas or Oil Pool Heaters or Pool Heat Pumps every year
• Electrical furnaces every two years
• Heat Pump every two years
• Air Conditioning every two years

• Air Ducts require cleaning if…. you can’t ever remember cleaning them
• Air Ducts then only require cleaning after interior renovations!!!

Remember that once the ducts are clean, in the future, all dirt will be stopped at the return air filter or air cleaner so the supply ducts should stay in near perfect shape!
Also try to find a reputable duct cleaning service that comes with references that you can call. The market is full of not so good contractors, from the local contractor to even some of those big guys you read about. Do your homework; you work hard for your money.
A further suggestion is that if you are going to buy any filtering devices please use a registered and qualified contractor

• Gas , oil and hot water, furnaces or boilers have a 15-20 year minimum life expectancy 
• If you have any major repairs on a ten year old system you can question whether or not to consider making changes because all of the new technologies have brought greater energy efficiency in a time of high energy cost increases

This is a loaded question

Facts: 

• We live in Quebec, home of some of the cheapest electricity rates in the world
• Electrical rates are not going up as fast as oil or gas
• Electricity for the most part in Quebec is a re-newable source of energy
• Oil and gas rates are determined by world markets and Volatility
• Electrical rates are determined by a Provincial regulatory board and the request for price increases are publicly questioned and normally are bekow oil and gas rate increases 
• Profits from Electricity stay within the province and a good portion go back into Government coffers which means technically, all our pockets
• THERE is still a place and application for oil and gas but the trick is to know when and where to apply or use it. Your Heating and Cololing Contractor if he is Professional about his profession can help you the consumer to decide as to which is the best energy source for your particular needs

• Depending on whether you feel its dry or humid in your home. Most homes today have humidifiers because it is one additional technology that brings you closer to the ideal combination of temperature, clean and also air that has a certain moisture content
• Homes with water radiant heating (in floor or radiators) seem to be the homes with the least demand for humidity control
• Electrically heated homes would appear to be the homes that require more additional moisture
  Is there a lot of static in your home during the heating season. Do you get that spark when you touch another person while shuffling your feet around the house?
• Do your wood floor seams open in the winter? 
• Buy yourself a $30-$50 humidity indicating desk top meter at your local hardware store or ask your heating contractor and if the reading after a few days is less than 35% humidity it would be a good time to consult with your heating contractor for advice on whether or not you have this need for a humidifier