Proper Furnace Burner / Heat Exchanger Operation

This video shows the proper operation of the burners in a high efficiency furnace. You can see the flames being drawn directly into each of the heat exchanger's tubes. During the past decade, there have been several service bulletins from some of the major manufacturers regarding failed heat exchangers on the high efficiency furnaces.

When the heat exchanger fails, 'flame disturbance' will be visible. What you will see ranges from the burner flames being slightly off-centre from the heat exchanger tubes, to as drastic as the flames being blown backwards out of the tubes.

If you notice these signs, have a furnace service company inspect the unit as soon as possible. If the heat exchanger has failed, the required furnace repair will be the replacement of the heat exchanger. If your furnace is still under warranty, some or all of the cost will be covered by the manufacturer. You may still have some or most of the cost covered even if your furnace is out of the warranty period if the manufacturer has released some type of replacement advisory to the factory authorized warranty centre. Be aware that a non-qualified service firm may not be able to perform the needed repairs at the reduced cost.

The Best Ways To Remain Energy Efficient While Air Conditioning Your Home

You rely on your air conditioner or heat pump to keep your home cool during the summer and any other times the temperatures spike. Your air conditioner is part of HVAC system and one of the most expensive units to replace in your home. In the summer months, how often your air conditioning runs is directly reflected in your home energy bills. However, you can lower those bills with a few simple tips.

A clean indoor a/c coil

Change Your Air Filter Often



No matter the time of the year, changing your air filter will help lower your energy bills. As your central air conditioner draws warm air from the house into the HVAC system to cool it, it brings in all the dirt and debris in the air. Your air filter traps that dirt and keeps it from clogging up your system's indoor cooling coil. Once the filter is full, dirt and debris can get past the filter into your air conditioner. This will force your air conditioner to work harder and drive up your energy bill.

A clogged indoor a/c coil

Replace Your Thermostat With A Programmable Model

It is easy to set your thermostat at a certain temperature and forget about it for the rest of the summer. It is great having a cool house when you go to bed and wake up. Of course, arriving home after a long day at work and hot ride home in rush hour traffic to find your home nice and cool is a wonderful thing. However, your home does not need to be air conditioned all day. With a programmable thermostat, your house will be cool when you arrive home without running all day. It is a great way to lower your summer energy bills.

Regular Maintenance

Having a professional technician come to your home and check your system ahead of the summer cooling is essential to keeping your air conditioning bills under control. They will clean out the system of any debris and recommend any necessary repairs. A professional technician will calibrate your thermostat and check your vents for any leaks. When your air conditioner is working efficiently, your energy bills will be as low as possible while running the system.

It only takes a little preplanning and a few simple steps to keep your energy use down while running your air conditioner. At Complete Heating and Air Conditioning Services , we can help you with a new thermostat, scheduled maintenance or answer any questions you might have about energy efficiency. Contact us today.

The Top Three Benefits of Tankless Water Heaters

One of the biggest reasons that homeowners choose tankless water heaters is the convenience of having an unlimited supply of hot water available whenever they need it. If you are researching your water heating options, consider the following three benefits of going tankless.


An Average Lifespan of Two Decades

Whereas the typical water heater lasts approximately 12 years before requiring replacement, tankless water heaters typically last for 20 years. If you plan to stay in your home indefinitely, the tankless option is a good investment. It is also a good selling point if you ever decide to move. Potential homebuyers like to know that they won't face replacement expenses anytime soon.

Tankless Water Heaters Require Less Space

Compared to a typical water heater, a tankless unit is typically one-half to one-third of the size. This is an important benefit when you have limited space in your home. However, it is critical to ensure that your unit has the correct heating capacity prior to installation. The professionals at Complete Heating and Air Conditioning Services always make calculations before making a specific recommendation.

Long-Term Savings

There are more upfront costs associated with installing a tankless water heater, but most people find the long-term energy savings to be worth the investment. You save money because the tankless water heater operates on an as-needed basis by providing hot water on demand. That means you don't waste energy heating water that is sitting idly in a tank.

Navien Tankless Water Heater annual savings comparison

Energy Efficient Navien Tankless Water Heaters with Remote Control

Navien tankless water heaters have up to a 98 percent energy efficiency rating, which is the highest in the industry. Remote control access allows you to control the temperature of your tankless water heater in one-degree increments. It also provides you with error feedback and the ability to diagnose problems. This allows you to correct issues quickly so you can enjoy uninterrupted comfort and energy savings.

Three Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency This Winter

Ready or not, another winter season is soon to be upon us. The start of the cold weather season often means higher utility bills for several months. However, it doesn't have to be that way. The following steps can help you improve your home's energy efficiency and decrease the cost of keeping your family warm.

Schedule a Heating System Tune-Up

Regardless of the type of equipment you use to heat your home, make it a habit to schedule a preventive maintenance appointment in the early fall. This ensures that your heating equipment can keep up with the demands your family places on it all winter long. You may be able to save up to 20 percent on your heating bill by catching minor problems early and making sure your furnace filter is always clean. For long-term energy efficiency, consider replacing heating units that are more than 20 years old.

Stop Air Drafts

There are numerous ways for cold air drafts to get inside of your home. Some of these include:

• Electrical outlets
• Mail slots
• Extra space beneath doors and windows
• Wall-mounted air conditioners
• Caulk holes
• Foundational seals

One of our professional service technician's can assist you in locating and fixing air leaks in your home.

Check Your Level of Insulation

Up to 30 percent of a home's heat can be lost due to improper insulation. Northern climates should have a minimum of 30.5 to 41 centimeters of insulation in the attic and walls. This is equal to 12 to 16 inches in the U.S. and an R-40 insulation rating in Canada. Upgrading your level of insulation should result in an immediate improvement in comfort level as well as lower utility bills.

Free Estimates for New Furnace Installations

Our team of energy experts is available to help you improve the efficiency of your home. You can learn more by scheduling your free in-home estimate today.

Simple Tips for Energy Efficient Home Heating and Cooling

Whether it's summer or winter, spring or fall, home heating and cooling is crucial to staying comfortable in every season. However, with climate change and energy bills on the rise, how can you do this while minimizing the effects of both? It's easier than you may think. Just follow these simple tips and you'll be well on your way to a fuller wallet and a happier planet.

Remember to change your air filter 

At most, check on it once a month, especially during the hottest and coldest times of the year. If it looks dirty, it's best to change it. At the very least, heating and cooling systems run best when their air filter is changed at least every three months. Not changing the filter makes your system work harder than it has to to keep you comfortable, which can also shorten the life of your system, and waste considerable amounts of energy in the process. So, while it may be inconvenient to change the filter, think of what you'll be saving on energy and maintenance costs in the process.

Seal your accessible ducts 
Air ducts can waste substantial amounts of energy, especially in low-usage months. Sealing or insulating these ducts can greatly improve the efficiency of your home heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent!

Sealing ducts is actually a rather quick and easy process. First, target ducts in easy-to-access spaces like attics and basements and use a duct sealant or metal-backed taping to close the seams. Once that's done, carefully wrap these ducts with insulation. In doing so, they won't overheat during the summer or get too cold in the wintertime.

Use a programmable thermostat

This is especially useful if you're away from home often for work, school, or travel. A programmable thermostat lets you control when the heat or air conditioning is needed even when you're out of the house, and they often have pre-programmed settings to streamline the process. Not only does this save you time, it saves you energy--and money otherwise spent on needlessly inflated energy bills.

Don't let rising energy costs get you down--with just a couple of simple tips and a few minutes' spare time, you'll be saving considerably on energy costs while keeping your home comfortable year-round.

Interesting site by York

We just came across this new site from York.

York is a brand we carry alongside of Lennox, and we have found York products to be of excellent quality and reliabilty. They are very cost effective as well.

If you're considering a variety of brands for your next project, it's definitely worth checking out the York lineup of residential and commercial heat pumps, furnaces, air conditioners and RTUs.

Hot water heating with a heat pump - Hybrid System

This is a video of the next generation of water heaters; the hybrid design of using standard electric and heat pump technology. During low demands, only the heat pump is on (the section on top of the water heater), during higher demand periods, the electric heating elements also turn on to the assist the heat pump.

The small, white electrical port that can be seen on the heat pump section is a data port that communicates with your utility company so the unit consumes less electricity during perios of higher electrical cost.

The vent seen on top of the unit is the exhaust port. Once the heat pump has extracted the heat from the ambient air and into the water, the cold air is exhausted back out. Cool  exhaust air can be vented into the home during summer months - a small amount of free air conditioning!