Gas Furnace Safety Tips to Follow for a Safe Home

What a tragic story breaking from Allentown, PA today! A natural gas explosion killed 5 people, damaged 47 homes and has affected dozens more.

As homeowners or small business owners we tend to give little thought to turning on the heat and going about our day in comfort. We often don't consider how important regular check-ups of our heating equipment is. Having a qualified professional inspect, clean and service your oil burners or gas furnaces is a small investment for an even greater peace of mind. The tragedy that happened in Allentown may be the result of a faulty infrastructure but poorly maintained heating equipment can pose the same risk. This is gas and/ or oil afterall.

If your home has a gas furnace that is not running at peak performance, not only is it wasting energy, but it could also be dangerous – and possibly deadly to those who live in your home. A clean, efficiently burning gas furnace produces very small amounts of carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause flu-like symptoms, disorientation, and even death. Newer gas furnaces are often equipped with automatic "shut-off" features when a problem is detected, but it's still important to have your gas furnace checked and cleaned at least once a year.

Consider these tips for safe operation of your gas furnace:

• Keep the area around your furnace clean and unobstructed.
• Install a Carbon monoxide detector.
• Do not store anything combustible, such as paint thinners and gasoline, anywhere near your furnace.
• Clean or change furnace filters regularly.
• Check the exhaust vent from the furnace, as well as the air intake.
• Get everyone out of the house quickly if you smell gas and call for help immediately.

If your heating equipment still hasn't had it's annual check-up, it's not too late. Call us for an inspection and service of your heating system. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure... 443-356-0962. Saturday appointments now available.

Call Knd Mechanical Services (443) 356-0962 for all of your Commercial and Residential heating and air conditioning needs. Serving the Greater Baltimore area and beyond.

Tis the Season of Frozen Pipes

Helping you "Prevent Frozen Pipes" in your Home

Bitter cold temperatures outdoors can bring the indoor hazard of frozen pipes. By taking a few simple precautions, you can avoid pipe freezing and possible bursts, ultimately saving you a physical and financial clean-up. Now as winter is setting in, be sure to get your home ready for cold temperatures by taking the following steps:

• Know how to shut off the Main water supply to your home. Test the valve to make sure it would work in case of an emergency.
• Insulate exposed pipes in your home's attic and crawl spaces, as those exposed pipes are the most susceptible to freezing. No matter how well your walls are insulted, pipes can freeze if the temperature dips low enough and there is no source of heat for the pipes.
• Wrap pipes in heat tape approved for their intended use, whether that is outdoor or indoor.
• Examine the entire length of pipes looking for cracks, breaks or discoloration. An eighth-inch crack in a pipe can release up to 250 gallons per day.
• Inspect spaces around the pipes for any air leaks or cracks near electrical wiring, vents and pipes. Caulk any cracks to keep the cold out and the heat in.
• Disconnect garden hoses and shut off the water leading to outside faucets. Install freeze proof covers on those faucets.
• Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to pipes under sinks and on outside walls. Also keep the door open between a heated room and unheated room to allow heat to circulate.
• Allow a trickle of water to drip overnight from faucets when temperatures are especially cold.
• If leaving your house for a long period of time, never set the thermostat lower than 55 degrees and shut off the water. Ask a friend to check on your home daily.

If the unfortunate event does happen and the pipe does freeze, never use open flame to thaw frozen pipes. Doing this may lead to the water boiling in the pipe and it may burst. If you believe the pipes have indeed froze, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve, leave the faucets turned on, and call an expert immediately.
When preparing your home's pipes for winter take caution and use the proper materials.
By doing some the above tips you can minimize the risk of freezing pipes, but if you do think you have any frozen pipes, turn off the main water valve and look to an expert to help handle that with you.

Call Knd Mechanical Services (443) 356-0962 for all of your Commercial and Residential heating and air conditioning needs. Serving the Greater Baltimore area and beyond.

Winter Weather Tips to energy savings:

Tis the season of high heating bills, the glow of a roaring fire and warm, fuzzy socks! To ease some of the burden we are all feeling, Robert S. has offered some advice.

 The cold weather season is here whether we like it or not. The majority of your energy consumption during those bitter days will be your home heating system. Trying to keep your house / family comfortable while keeping your energy bills manageable is a challenge. The struggle to keep the thermostat turned down to wearing layer on top of layers of clothing is a never ending battle. Hopefully we have listed below a few tips that might make that struggle more manageable.

 • Set your thermostat at one temperature. Set your thermostat and "forget it".    Changing the thermostat settings regularly can cause higher utility bills and also cause the unit to work harder.

• Check all your supply register dampers to make sure they are open and air is circulating from them.

• Run ceiling fans.  Ceiling Fans have a reverse mode that takes the warm air from the ceiling and pushes it down to the floor level.

• Make sure your supply and return vents are all free of obstruction so air can flow freely. Adjust your registers upstairs to 50-75% so that more hot air is sent to the downstairs registers. Heat rises.

• Make sure your filters are checked, cleaned or replaced regularly.  A dirty filter can restrict air flow and prevent proper heating. Every 90 days is recommended.

• Consider installing a humidifier to produce moisture to prevent that dry, stuffy feeling you get in the winter. Also consider purchasing an air cleaner to help ensure allergy relief

• Don't cover your outdoor unit because it can cause condensation in the unit, which could cause rust and damage the unit. 

• Following these simple tips can save you money!

Thanks to Robert for giving us some tips to staying warm and saving money during this cold Maryland winter. If your heating system has not been serviced this season- call us for a complete Winter Check-up.

Call Knd Mechanical Services (443) 356-0962 for all of you Commercial and Residential heating and air conditioning needs. Serving the Greater Baltimore area and beyond.

New Year- New Blog

Wishing everyone had a wonderful holiday season. As 2010 closed out many people bid farewell to a tough year and many more are looking forward to a much better 2011. I have heard many New Years Resolutions from friends, family and even businesses we frequent- most of them promising to make 2011 even more convenient, more enjoyable and more beneficial. Personally, I don't get into New Year's Resolutions- but from a business perspective these aren't bad. We are committed to joining the social media bandwagon and getting to know more about what is important to our customers. We are looking forward to sharing ideas for making sure your home or business establishments are conducive to meeting your needs.

Earlier today I had a quick chat with a friend that had gotten my invite to "Like" us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/KnD-Mechanical-Services/174381575909160?ref=ts). They pointed out that 'liking' an HVAC page didn't seem very exciting. I had to agree- that is like 'liking' an auto mechanic, your family doctor or the local plumber. Not exciting until you are in the midst of an emergency and need them LOL We hope that folks will decide to follow us, ask us questions, maybe learn some tips and tricks to keep their heating and air conditioning equipment running at peak performance so they can avoid the negative excitement of an emergency. But, should something happen- we want to be the ones you will call.

KnD Mechanical Services is committed to working with you to find a solution that fits your heating and air conditioning needs, your personal or business budget and your expectations. This is the season when furnaces might need serviced. A clean unit that has been maintained burns less fuel and creates less of a carbon footprint. Maybe you have been holding off making the call because you're hoping your boiler, heat pump or gas furnace will just hold out until spring but it is getting harder to hold a comfortable temperature? Are employees often complaining they are too cold or too hot- both can affect their productivity? When the weather outside is frightful… it should be warm and cozy inside.

By making sure that your heat pumps, boilers and furnaces are working for you, instead of you working for them, you:

• Will spend less in heating costs which translates into more in your pocket
  
• Ensure a comfortable, inviting environment at home for your family and friends
  
• Ensure a comfortable work environment so you can focus on your business
  
• Reduce the likelihood of an equipment failure when Mother Nature rebels
  

As the New Year begins- keep us in mind. Contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. Wishing you a wonderful New Year filled with much happiness, prosperity and wellness.

KnD Mechanical Services serving the Greater Baltimore area and beyond. (443) 356-0962 www.kndmechanical.com

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