Colder weather is on the way, and homeowners are getting a reminder to make sure their properties are ready. While air conditioners may soon get a break, it is important to ensure furnaces and fireplaces are ready to handle the demand that will soon be placed upon them. The Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends having furnaces, wood-burning fireplaces and stoves and any other heating sources inspected to ensure they are in good working condition. Able Air Conditioning and Heating representatives said this is a good time to make a furnace appointment. “Right around now is the best time because companies are so slow,” Mike Zuliani, Able Air Conditioning and Heating comfort advisor, said. “A lot of companies, they’ll do that to try to draw that business, to encourage people to do it sooner rather than later.” Do-it yourself solutions Dirty air filters in a furnace can increase energy costs, but many homeowners can solve that problem on their own. Owners’ manuals and manufacturers often offer guidance on how to install new filters. However, for anyone who is unsure, contractors can also show homeowners how to do it themselves. The Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends replacing or cleaning filters each month when furnaces are regularly running. Another potential at-home solution involves checking thermostats. “Make sure you change the batteries, whether the screen on the display is working or not, because that might just be enough battery power to display the numbers that you’re seeing on the thermostat. That doesn’t mean it has enough power to tell the furnace to come on,” Zuliani said. “A very common call that we get in the winter is, ‘My furnace doesn’t come on.’ It’s a sad situation because we end up coming to the house, only to find out that you’ve paid a technician the time to come and do the diagnostic, and all he has to do is change the batteries.” A thorough inspection before the cold really sets in can make a big difference. Natural Resources Canada recommends scheduling a full heating system check-up in the fall. “When we get that first cold spell, we’re absolutely overwhelmed,” Zuliana said. “The economy today, the last thing people want to hear about is an expensive furnace repair, or the need to actually replace your furnace. So, it’s nice if you can prepare for it. It takes the pressure away, take the stress away.” Energy saving programs As people prepare to feel the pinch of higher heating costs, there are programs available that can make homes more efficient. Enbridge Gas and Save on Energy offer a Home Renovation Savings program with support from the Ontario government. Some of the improvements included in the program are air sealing, attic insulation, and smart thermostat rebates. The province also offers the Ontario Electricity Support Program that can lower electricity bills for lower-income households by providing a monthly credit directly to some bills. According to the program’s website, people with a household income of $38,000 or less after tax could be eligible for a credit of up to $51 for a three-person home. People who live in homes that are electrically heated could be eligible for a higher amount of assistance. Winterizing AC units For the most part, Zuliani said homes with outside air conditioners don’t need any particular winter prep. He recommended against using covers that fully encapsulate units. “The manufacturers actually don’t even make covers for these units. That should speak volumes,” he said. Zuliani said covering the sides of an air conditioner can cause damage by trapping moisture inside. “You’re also providing an environment for mice and rodents to have a safe haven where they’ll nest, they’ll chew on wires, and then, what inevitably ends up happening in the spring, your AC doesn’t come on and we find out mice have chewed through wires and now you’re paying money for a service call, plus the repair,” he explained. “Then there’s also a large number of people that forget their unit’s been covered, and they turn their AC on and then end up burning out their compressor, because the fan is running while it’s been covered.” Instead, he recommended using a partial cover that can block the top of the unit and prevent leaves and debris from falling inside. “My advice there would be just cover it with a wood board. If you insist on having some sort of tarp on the top, don’t cover more than a top third. Allow air to be able to blow through the actual unit itself.”
