Monthly Archives: December 2016

2 Easy Steps to Carbon Monoxide Safety

Heating

Carbon Monoxide Warning Sign

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 150 people in the United States died in 2015 from accidental, non-fire related carbon monoxide poisoning. Many of these deaths are due to faulty consumer products. As the winter months approach, make sure your family is safe. There are two main ways you can ensure carbon monoxide will not harm your family. The team at Getzschman Heating and Air Conditioning breaks it down for you here.

Step One: Install a Carbon Monoxide Detector

To ensure safety, it’s very important to install a carbon monoxide detector. CO detectors monitor carbon monoxide levels in between furnace tune-ups. These will alert you if any carbon monoxide leaks into your living space  due to a cracked heat exchanger, for example. Because homes are more airtight than they were in the past, a carbon monoxide leak could spell disaster for you and your family. Even very low levels can cause headaches, nausea, and other symptoms.  

Step Two: Get an Annual Furnace Tune-up

A yearly professional furnace tune-up is the best line of defense against carbon monoxide poisoning. One of our professional technicians will check every part of your furnace to make sure it’s in good working condition and safe to use. They will not only detect any CO leaks, but they will also fix minor issues that could cost you in heating bills during the winter.

Related Read: Furnace Troubleshooting Tips

Other Sources of Carbon Monoxide in Your Home

While it is the most common, your furnace is not the only source of carbon monoxide in your home, which is why it’s so important to install a carbon monoxide detector even if you have regular furnace tune-ups. Here are some other items that can release deadly carbon monoxide gas into your home:

  • Furnaces
  • Boilers
  • Gas Stoves/Ovens
  • Fireplaces (gas and wood burning)
  • Water Heaters
  • Dryers
  • Wood Stoves
  • Generators
  • Running Vehicles

With a carbon monoxide detector, you’ll never worry about the deadly gas again. An alarm will sound if there are dangerous levels of carbon monoxide in your home, alerting you to the problem before you experience symptoms or dangerous living conditions. Rest easy knowing that you and your loved ones won’t experience pain or loss from this silent killer.

Related Read: 5 Common Winter Heating Problems

If you haven’t had your furnace tuned up this year, don’t wait! Give the team of experts at Getzschman Heating and Air Conditioning a call at (402) 554-1110 or contact us online to schedule a tune-up today!

 

Maximize Your Programmable Thermostat Savings in 5 Easy Steps

Energy Tips

Programmable Thermostat Picture

Did you know that you can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling costs by utilizing a programmable thermostat? At Getzschman Heating and Air Conditioning, we like to help our customers save as much money as possible on heating and cooling costs, so we’re breaking down the details on how to save with your programmable thermostat.

5 Easy Programmable Thermostat Tips:

  1. Examine Schedules – think of everyone’s schedule in the household and find blocks of time that you can turn back the temperature without impacting comfort.
  1. Identify Times for Programming – For example, if your family is away for work and school from 8 am to 3 pm, you can lower your thermostat settings during that time. To achieve the optimal level of savings, the U.S. Department of Energy suggests that you turn your thermostat back 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for at least eight hours a day. Bedtime provides another ideal opportunity to lower the settings for better sleeping conditions.

Related Read: High Efficiency Furnace Shopping Tips for Homeowners

  1. Allow Time to Return to Normal Temperatures – Set your thermostat to return to your normal temperatures ahead of your return time. This gives your system time to warm or cool your home to your comfort level by the time you return. Using the example above, you may want to set your return time to 2:30 pm so your home is comfortable when you arrive after 3 pm.
  1. Consider Days of the Week – Is your scheduled time away from your home during weekdays only? Do you follow a different schedule on the weekends? Most programmable thermostats allow for six different settings so you can program different schedules throughout the week.
  1. Program Your Device – Now that you have mapped out your schedule, you are ready to do the one-time programming on your unit. Simply follow the prompts for choosing the day of the week and the temperature you want to set for your family.

Related Read: Seal and Insulate Your Ducts for a More Comfortable Furnace Season

We are here to help you save money without sacrificing comfort. Please contact us online or call us at (402) 554-1110 if you have any questions.