Heating Systems

Forced Air Heating In Ontario most homes are heated by forced air system powered by gas, oil or electric. Gas and oil furnaces both utilize a heat exchanger which is the heart of your heating system. Once your heat exchanger fails your furnace is typically replaced rather than repaired. Most furnace manufactures guarantee their heat exchangers for 20 years, but as with most things that time frame is constantly changing.

Inspecting the heat exchanger can be difficult. A metal frame mirror with an extension handle and a good flashlight will improve visibility in the vertical heat exchanger tubes. It will not help at depressions, baffles, and at most welds, or with horizontal heat exchangers. Basing firm conclusions on observations with a mirror is cautioned. A careful visible inspection of the 10 to 40 per cent of the heat exchanger you can see should allow you to make a reasonable determination of the condition of the heat exchanger. Most professional gas technicians will cut a small hole in plenum and use a flexible camera to inspect the heat exchanger.

Hot Water Systems Utilizing existing hot water tanks for in floor heating and forced air furnaces is becoming more popular in custom homes and smaller townhouses. In floor heating is said to provide a more level heating zone as hot air rises creating a more even level of heat in the room.

Spillage: Caused when the flow of the combustion products and air in the chimney are reversed due to reduced air pressure. Causes could be whole house fans, exhaust fans, or other combustion appliances. This is similar to a partially blocked chimney, however, it is typically not as bad and it is usually intermittent. The length of the vent pipe is critical. The longer the vent pipe is from the heater to the chimney, the more likely it is for heat to dissipate and develop condensation, which will cause corrosion and vent pipe failure. Ten feet is long; longer than 15 feet is not allowed; and the shorter the pipe is, the better it is. Long, horizontal vent pipes also cause condensation in the chimney. This may explain water coming down the chimney in many situations. Horizontal vent pipes should always slope up from the heater to the chimney. Negative slopes may cause drafting problems, which could endanger the health of the occupants.

These appliances burn fuels -- typically gas, both natural and liquefied petroleum, kerosene, oil, coal and wood. Under certain conditions, these appliances can produce deadly carbon monoxide. However, with proper installation and maintenance, they are safe to use.

Boiler Inspections

Inspect the area around the bottom of the boiler inside and out for visible leaks or previous stains. If the heater has been off for a long period of time, you may see considerable water develop when you turn the unit on. This may be condensation, and not a defect. Check the metal heater cabinet. Rusting and failure of the metal may indicate a failure of the sealing material between the boiler tubes. When the heat escapes from the boiler area and comes in contact with the cooler metal cabinet around the heater, condensation forms and eventually rusts out the cabinet. Repairs/sealing are possible, however, they tend to be temporary.

Pressure Relief Valve Inspect the pressure relief valve for seepage or corrosion, present or past. This indicates excessive pressure in the system.

Possible causes:

Failed or waterlogged expansion tank
Failed pressure relief valve
Too much water in the system; leaking water feed
Failed domestic hot water coil

Carbon Monoxide

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas produced by burning any fuel. The initial symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are similar to the flu, and include headache, fatigue, shortness of breath, nausea and dizziness. Exposure to high levels of carbon monoxide can cause death.

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