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NOVEMBER 2015 HOMES PLUS 7 15 BRIGHTER CONCEPTS BrighterConceptsLtd.com 414-332-8865 steve@brighterconceptsltd.com 246937001 "Quality Conscious, Customer Focused ... Every Job, Every Day" 7945 Harwood Ave. Wauwatosa,WI 53213 office@milestoneplumbinginc.com www.milestoneplumbinginc.com Office: 414.988.4565 MP#998631 246915001 246915003 246915002 246915004 For All of Your Home Needs For All of Your Home Needs By James Dulley Dear Jim: It is going to be heating season fairly soon. I have my furnace serviced every two years for efficiency. Is there any do-it-yourself maintenance I can do each fall to keep it running properly? — Norm T. Dear Norm: There are some things you can do yourself to keep your furnace run- ning at peak efficiency. This will result in year-round savings because the furnace blower/duct system is also used by the cen- tral air conditioner. Even if you decide to do some of the maintenance yourself, don't skip the regu- lar professional checkups. Many serious problems with a furnace do not present any noticeable symptoms so only a professional can detect them. Some not only increase your utility bills, but can be dangerous. Check how much energy your house uses from year to year. Compare the actual usage of gas, oil, electricity, etc., not just the bills. Also, factor in the variation in severity of the weather from year to year. Energy usage for lighting, water heating and appli- ances does not vary much year to year. Always check the safety items first for your annual maintenance check. Drip some soapy water on gas and propane line fit- tings. Look for bubbles that indicate a leak. If you find a leak of any type, leave IMME- DIATELY and call your gas company. You will generally see and smell a fuel oil leak. Visually inspect the electric wire insula- tion leading to the furnace, but do not touch it. If you see any bad spots, switch off the circuit breaker first before checking them more carefully. Make sure to get all the cir- cuit breakers because an electric furnace uses 240-volt current. With the electric power switched off, unscrew and remove the side cover to gain access to the blower. A clean blower moves room air more efficiently and it helps keep the heat exchanger surfaces clean. They also transfer heat (and cooling during sum- mer) when they are clean. Use a vacuum cleaner brush attachment to clean any dust deposits off the blower. Wipe any surfaces with a damp rag to pick up more dirt. Some older systems have bearing oil cups on the motor. Put a drop of oil in each cup. This is a good time to change or clean the central furnace filter. It is important to tighten the screws when you replace the side cover. Also check all the other screws for tightness. If they are loose, air can leak in through gaps instead of flowing through the heat exchanger. This can reduce efficiency. With a heat pump, also check the screws on the outdoor unit. Ductwork is often very leaky and the heated air never gets to the rooms. Turn up the thermostat so the furnace starts. Hold your hand near each duct joint to find leaky spots. Clean the dust off the duct and wrap those spots with black Gorilla tape. Check the accuracy of the thermostat by temporarily taping a bulb-type thermome- ter next to it on the wall. You may be keep- ing your house several degrees warmer than you thought you were and this increases your utility bills. (Send inquiries to James Dulley, The Freeman, 6906 Royalgreen Drive, Cincin- nati, OH 45244 or visit www.dulley.com.) It's safety first when inspecting home furnace

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