Furnace Pilot Light Adjustments

Lighting the Pilot Light

It is always important to read the furnace instruction manual before attempting to light the pilot burner. The basic procedure for lighting a pilot can be done in these four steps:

1. Turn the room themostat to its lowest setting to ensure it wont go on
2. Shut off the main gas supply to the main burner and the pilot burner
3. Allow at least 5 minutes to go by so the unburned gas can vent
4. Light the pilot burner in accordance with the furnace instructions

Venting the unburned gas is the most important step here.  This is especially true for LP gas because it is heavier than air and will not vent upward on its own. Every precaution should be taken to make sure the appliance is properly venting the unburned gas. Appliance and pilot burner instruction are very detailed for their lighting process of their equipment.  The development of various types of combination gas controls has simplified the lighting procedure and increased the safety factor.

Troubleshooting Your Radiator

If your radiator or steam heating system is not functioning properly (not producing enough heat) it may not be an actual problem with your radiator.  It also does not mean you have to replace it, you may just need a repair.  Check the room thermostat and the automatic fuel burning equipment (gas burner, oil burner or coal stoker) to determine if they are malfunctioning first.  Once you find out they are working properly, the problem is probably dealing directly with your radiator.

Hot water or steam enters a radiator at an inlet in the bottom and must rise against the pressure of the air contained in the radiator. A radiator is equipped with an automatic or manual air valve at the top to allow the air to escape and allow the water to steam.  In radiators equipped with automatic air valves, the rising water or steam usually has enough force to push the air in the radiator out though this valve.  The valve will automatically close once a thermostatic control is in contact with the steam or water. If a radiator with an automatic valve is not working, it could be clogged.  To check if the valve is clogged, close the shutoff valve at the bottom of the radiator and unscrew the air valve. If air begins to rush out, open the radiator shutoff valve to see if it will heat up.  If the heat increases it indicates that the air valve is clogged.  If this is the case, remove the air valve and boil it in a solution of water and baking soda for 25 minutes.  Once cleaned out, your radiator will work properly.

Signs Your Ductwork Needs Repair

HVAC ductwork issues can go unnoticed for some time before an unpleasant and sometimes costly discovery. The efficiency of this air delivery system directly influences the performance of a home's furnace, air conditioner or heat pump.

A home's HVAC may be losing as much as thirty percent of its conditioned air as a result of faulty or leaky ducts. The HVAC system is made up of lengthy branching duct pipes that flow through the Denver heating and air conditioning technician however, if you are a handy, do-it-yourselfer you can use this list of common problems to help diagnose problems with your HVAC system.

home behind walls, floors, ceilings, basements and crawlspace. Most of the HVAC system is hidden from sight making it hard at times to visually inspect or bring awareness to the condition of the duct system. Even when ductwork is installed by a skilled technician, connections and damage can occur over time as the HVAC system is put to work. For most ductwork system problems, it is best to hire a reputable HVAC company.

• Damaged ducts- There are a variety of factors that can lead to damaged ducts including poor installation methods, connections breaking loose and human interference. No matter how it happens, if air is leaking from your duct system your HVAC appliances will be over worked and your energy bills will rise. Reconnecting and sealing any ducts will fix these problems; however, if your ducts are seriously damages, they may need to be replaced with new ducts. 
• Uninsulated ductwork- When part of the ductwork system travels through areas that do not have cooled or heated air, like a garage or attic, cold air moving through the ducts will succumb to the hotter attic air surrounding the duct pipes, a process called conduction.During winter months, hot air can cool off because of similar issues. These issues are easily corrected by insulating your ductwork system.
• Inefficient duct returns- An efficient HVAC ductwork system relies on a balanced supply of air entering the home as well as a healthy amount of return air that is returned back to the HVAC appliances. The air moving back in the ductwork is especially prone to leaks. Proper inspection of the HVAC system will help to ID where the HVAC system is failing. Equal amounts of return air must be present to support the supply of air ducts. Ever one ton of Denver air conditioning capacity needs to be supported by cubic feet per minute of air volume in both the supply and return systems. 
  

Homeowners who notice hot or cold spots or restricted air flow in their home should contact a HVAC professional for a consultation. The HVAC technician will perform a comprehensive assessment of the ductwork system and HVAC appliances. They will also give you recommendations to improve the efficiency of the HVAC system.