Check Your Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Make sure your carbon monoxide detectors are working. Gas fired furnaces and boilers producing small CO levels may not trigger an alarm under typical operating conditions, but when the system is running non-stop due to extreme cold weather, a small leak can become a big hazard! Also, drifting snow can block furnace air intakes and/or exhaust compounding things.

If your CO detector alarm comes on, don't keep resetting it. Check the manual so that you know the difference between an actual alarm and a low battery power indicator. If you suspect that the alarm is actually in response to high levels of carbon monoxide, alert all persons in the house or apartment, get out immediately, and call us to check your equipment.

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Chicago Furnace Repair

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

R-22 Refrigerant Price Drops

 R-22 refrigerant, which is being phased out, has significantly dropped in price presumably due to lower sales than expected earlier in the year. If you've been holding off on repairs due to the high cost of R-22, now is the time to repair that leak and recharge your system before the inevitable price increases again next cooling season.

Of course we recommend replacing R-22 systems with new high efficiency 410a refrigerant systems whenever possible.

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Energy Dept. agrees to settle standards lawsuit

Read the article here regarding the proposed ban on 80+ furnaces.

http://www.snipsmag.com/articles/89492-energy-dept-agrees-to-settle-standards-lawsuit



Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Click here for Commercial HVAC service and repairs.

People Gas & North Shore Gas Holiday Bonus Programs

Residential Prescriptive Rebate Program

Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas Holiday Bonus Programs

The weather is getting colder, and homeowners and businesses are starting to pay more attention to their HVAC systems and how they can lower their natural gas bill as winter approaches. To help you make the decision to go high-efficiency, People’s Gas and North Shore Gas are offering a special bonus to customers who participate in their programs prior to the end of 2012. 

Residential and C and I Prescriptive Rebate Programs 

Replace your furnace or boiler by November 30, 2012 and receive double the standard rebate (attic insulation rebate excluded). For example, the standard rebate for a 95% efficient furnace is $500. With this bonus, the consumer will receive $1,000.
 
In addition, the Small Business Energy Savings Program is also offering a bonus program. 
 
Visit People’s Gas for a complete list rebates. 

Or visit North Shore gas for a complete list of rebates.


Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

New Furnace Minimum Efficiency Standard

90% AFUE furnaces set to become the Legal Minimum on May 1, 2013

 The DOE is implementing a regionalized system (vs. one rule for the entire country).  The minimum efficiency required in Illinois will be 90% AFUE.  This applies to both new construction and replacement equipment. This means that distributors are likely to start reducing their stock of 80% furnaces this winter so they are not stuck with inventory that is illegal to install. 

80% AFUE furnace with sheet metal flue pipe.

If you have a furnace that has a sheet metal flue pipe that vents into a chimney, you have a furnace that has an efficiency rating of 80% AFUE or less (the percentage of heat that makes it into the home vs. the amount wasted up the chimney). After May, you will not have the option of replacing it with a similar furnace that can be vented into a chimney or vertical metal flue. The minimum efficiency furnace available will be 90% AFUE which requires venting via 2" or 3" PVC piping directly through an outside wall or through the roof. 

There are many situations where this may not be practical such as finished basements where the furnace is not adjacent to an outside wall, or in condominiums that are not on the top floor of the building which may require running new PVC vent piping through neighbors' units above - between the furnace and the roof. 

There are also many codes and procedures for venting 90+ furnaces which may prohibit using the closest outside wall such as: minimum height off the ground, not venting within 4 feet of a window or electrical/gas meters, or venting beneath an outdoor deck, among others. There are also complications with having a water heater being the only appliance venting into an old unlined chimney. The chimney was originally sized for a lot of heat from inefficient furnaces and water heaters being dumped into them during winter. This allowed the flue gases to make it all the way out the top of the chimney. When the furnace is updated to a 90+ and no longer vented into the chimney, there will not be enough heat from the water heater flue gases to prevent them from condensing half way up the chimney causing damage to the brick and mortar, and creating potentially hazardous conditions.

Of course we always recommend replacing an old ineffeicent furnace with a 90% or higher AFUE model as the best long term option. But for a few more months you still have a choice.

 

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.

Are You Prepared For The Reduction in R-22?

 

The U.S. EPA is proposing to significantly reduce allowances to produce and/or import virgin R-22 ranging from 11 to 47% per year over the period of 2012 to 2014 for servicing existing R-22 equipment. Under this proposal, 2012 allowances would be reduced between 55 to 80 million pounds, 2013 allowances would be reduced to between 46 to 69 million pounds and 2014 allowances would be reduced to between 36 to 58 million pounds.  Click here to download the flyer.

Call Perri-Aire for fast, quality HVAC service in Chicago-land at 773-777-4888.