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Energy Efficient Upgrade
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Measuring Humidity In Your Home
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Heat Duct Cleaning
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Assessing the Comfort and Safety of Mechanical Systems
The heating,
ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are a vital part of every home.
These mechanical systems help control the indoor conditions you need for
comfort, health and safety. How these mechanical systems interact with other
appliances is critical in keeping your home’s indoor environment healthy and
safe.
Common Situations
Equipment that
is not sized or operating properly is less effective, may use more energy, have
higher operating costs and compromise the health and safety of all occupants.
There are many
reasons that may prompt you to assess the comfort and safety of your HVAC
equipment:
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age and noise — old
equipment may not provide adequate heat and air exchange. A deteriorating or
improperly installed system can be noisy.
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| Smells
— wood smoke
or combustion gas smells may indicate chimney problems or dangerous spillage
from fuel burning equipment. Inadequate air exchange may cause stale air or
lingering smells.
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| Comfort
— there may be
cold spots, excessive dust, humidity problems or stale air that makes the
house noticeably uncomfortable.
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| Other
renovation work — this
can be an opportune time to modernize the heating system in the house and to
install a proper ventilation system where one does not exist. It is
important that mechanical systems do not change the balance between the air
pressure inside the house and the air pressure outside. Lower air pressure
inside the house can lead to problems of combustion spillage from furnaces,
hot water heaters or fireplaces. Many modern kitchens incorporate very
powerful exhaust fans that can cause major pressure differences.
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Healthy Housing
Renovating is an
ideal time to make your house healthier for you, the community and the
environment. When assessing your renovation project, be sure to consider the
five essentials of Healthy
Housing.
House as a System
A house is much
more than just four walls and a roof — it’s an interactive system made up of
many components including the basic structure, heating, ventilating and air
conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the external environment and the occupants. Each
component influences the performance of the entire system. A renovation provides
an opportunity to improve how your house performs.
The comfort and
safety of HVAC systems very much depends on how the equipment is integrated into
the house. Exhaust fans must not compromise the venting of combustion
appliances. Additional fans may require special provisions for make-up air.
Structural changes made as part of renovations may improve draft proofing and
insulation, resulting in increased occupant comfort and house durability.
However, these changes may alter the venting of combustion appliances and the
supply of fresh air for occupants.
Avoid Surprises
Knowing the
properties and operating characteristics of your heating and ventilation system
will help you to decide the changes you may want to consider. Here are some of
the likely situations that people encounter. However, every situation is unique
and you may need to hire a qualified professional to do a thorough
investigation, find the problems and suggest the best solutions.
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Smells
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| Is
there a wood smoke smell from the fireplace in the house? Are there
combustion smells?
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| Investigate
the source of the smells and take action to correct the problem.
Regularly noticing smells from combustion gases and wood smoke from
the fireplace or other combustion appliances in the house suggests
that the flue is not functioning properly. It may also be the result
of pressure imbalances in the house that can be solved by flue
maintenance, properly balancing the heating system and adding make-up
air.
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| Combustion
by-products are toxic and in the worst cases can cause death.
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| Does
smoke come into the house from the chimney? Are there fuel smells in
the furnace area?
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| Get
the chimney inspected and cleaned by a qualified tradesperson.
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| Blocked
and dirty flues are a fire hazard. If flues are blocked entirely, then
combustion gases will spill into the house, which can have serious
health impacts and can cause death.
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| Are
there any fuel-burning appliances in the house? Are there any smoke or
gas detectors?
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| Install
a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide (CO) detector to alert you to
any combustion gas spillage that may be occurring.
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| Combustion
gas spillage is a major safety risk that can have serious health
impacts at high concentrations. Carbon monoxide is toxic and can cause
death.
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| Are
there heating ducts or pipes that run through unheated space such as
an unheated crawl space or in the attic area?
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| Air-seal
and insulate the ducts or water pipes to reduce heat loss in unheated
spaces. Consider relocating the ducts.
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| Heat
will continue to be lost through uninsulated ducts or pipes.
Condensation can form in the ducts, which can cause moisture problems
and be a breeding ground for mold. Ducts can also carry dust, mold
spores and other contaminants that can be drawn into the house.
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Rewards
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properly operating HVAC system not only maintains comfortable indoor
conditions, but also ensures a healthier home environment for you and
your family.
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| Your
new mechanical systems will have lower operating costs, increased
safety and give you peace of mind.
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Skills to Do the Job
Basic
mechanical systems maintenance, including filter replacement and motor
oiling as identified in manufacturers’ manuals, is a job you can do.
However, qualified HVAC contractors must do any adjustments or equipment
upgrades that are needed.
Your local
energy utilities and heating industry associations can give you
information and refer you to competent tradespeople. Heating systems
distributors in your area can also give you references to the local
associations and tradespeople.
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Use the Mechanical Systems Safety and Comfort
Assessment Worksheet to record the present condition, any problems with your
mechanical system and preliminary costing.
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Mechanical
Systems Safety and Comfort Assessment Worksheet
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Type of Heating System
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Year Installed
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Last Time Service Performed (There should be a service person's
sticker on the unit.)
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Last Filter Change
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Oil or Woodburning Stoves or Fireplaces?
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Last time the chimney was cleaned?
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Can smoke be smelled in the house?
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Comfort
Issues
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Present
Condition / Problems
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Cost
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·
noise
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·
dust
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·
uneven heat distribution (cold spots in the house)
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lingering smells
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·
fuel smells
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·
too humid in winter
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too dry in winter
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too hot in winter
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Other
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Costing Your Project
Cost of
maintenance and system upgrades will depend on the work that needs to be done.
Simple housekeeping work that you can do will cost nothing other than any needed
replacement oil or filters.
When reviewing
bids from contractors for equipment replacement or modifications, make sure that
the quotations you are comparing are for similar work, including the same or
truly equivalent equipment.
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