Furnace

Protecting Your Home During Severe Winter Weather

It’s the end of January, and with that comes cold, bitter weather here in the Rochester MN area. Higher energy costs, burst or frozen pipes, ice dams, chimney fires and power outages are just some of the hazards and inconveniences that winter can bring.

Home Inspector From Rochester MN Shares Ways To Save On Your Energy Bills

Each year, your average household can spend up to $2200 on energy costs. Our economy today is certainly challenging, and homeowners are looking for ways to stretch their monthly utility and household expenses.

Rochester MN Home Inspector Shares Tips On Keeping Your Family And Home Fire Safe

Home fires are dangerous and devastating. Each year fires cost nearly 347 billion in the United States. Costs can include medical treatment, property loss and damage, fire department costs, and lawsuits, just to name a few.

Home Inspection Detects Hazardous Gas

On a recent home inspection near Rochester MN, I came across what appeared to be a blocked chimney flue. Both the furnace and water heater were functioning properly with nice blue flames. I was however getting back draft Carbon Monoxide exhaust from both appliances.

Home Inspector Asks, Is Your Air Conditioner Ready For Summer?

Just like any of the other systems in our homes, our air conditioners need periodic maintenance to keep them running smoothly. We want the air conditioner to work when we need it right?

Rochester MN Home Inspector Discloses How to Cut Costs Efficiently, and Green up Your Home

It can be a challenge to keep your home cool and comfortable while keeping your energy bills in control, especially with the arrival of warmer weather. There are a few steps you can take now that will make your home more environmentally friendly while saving money and natural resources.

Blocked Furnace Venting Found During Home Inspection

The recent heavy snowfall and drifting brings one more thing that Rochester and Southeastern MN homeowners need to keep an eye on. Home owners with High Efficiency, direct vent furnaces and water heaters need to check to see that the venting has not been drifted over with snow or blocked.

Furnace Improvements Not Recommended By Home Inspector

Canned beans supporting oil burner found a home inspection

Canned beans supporting oil burner found a home inspection

The only can of green beans we have in the house… And they are way past the expiration date. I guess we'll have to run to the store. This home inspector thinks it would have been better for the home owner to have the furnace professionaly repaired by a qualified repairman.

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Unearth Dirty Furnace Filter

As a home inspector, I take the time to discuss the furnace filter with the new home owner during the walkthrough at their home inspection. It is crucial that you change your furnace filter regularly to help keep the air clean in your home.

Home Inspectors Recommend Regular HVAC Cleaning

It’s getting cold and you are starting to close up the house for the season. Contaminants that are in your furnace, home, and duct work will circulate through out your home all winter long. Your HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning) system can collect molds, fungi, dust, bacteria’s, pollens, and other allergens, that can cause irritation to some or all who live in your home. Believe it or not, the air in your home can be 2-5 times more polluted that the outdoor air according to the EPA.

Checking The Furnace Filter During Home Inspections

Replacing your furnaces air filter at regular intervals is the first step in keeping your furnace running properly. The furnace filter's main purpose is to keep soot, dust, pollens and other particle contaminants out of the air in your home. Clogged and dirty air filters result in your furnace blower having to work harder. This makes your furnace more costly to operate and will shorten its lifespan.

Rochester MN Home Inspectors Recommend Maintaining Your Furnace

There's not a furnace out there that can, or will continue to operate efficiently without periodic maintenance. It's important to keep your home's heating system clean, lubricated, and properly adjusted. Replacing the filter regularly will extended life of your heating system and will help the furnace to heat efficiently. In addition, you will save energy and expense.

Rochester MN Home Inspector Recommends Heating System Tune Up

The winter heating season is upon us here in RochesterMN area. When doing a home inspection and analyzing the heating system, I try to determine is a home's forced air heating system's age. If it is an older unit I suggest you have a professional heating contractor service it every year.

Rochester MN Home Inspector Recommends Regular Furnace Filter Maintenence

How often should you change the filter on the furnace? Whenever it's dirty. And although it sounds a little silly, some of better filters get dirty more quickly and need to be changed more often.