Fairview Tx Air Conditioning Company answers heating system questions.
Fairview Tx Air Conditioning Company owner Steve Lauten of Total Air and Heat gives answers to some frequently asked questions about furnaces and heating systems.
Q: How often does my furnace need a check-up?
A: All manufacturers recommend annual maintenance by a trained service technician. On a gas furnace, this helps ensure safe and efficient operation. If you have an oil furnace, yearly tune-ups are a must due to the dirty fuel and a more sensitive burn cycle. A modern oil furnace that is not maintained can drop efficiency 
from 80% to 50-60% in just two years. Clogged fuel filters can lead to fuel pump failure. A dirty burner can cause soot buildup in the heat exchanger and chimney, requiring an expensive chimney cleaning. An annual tune-up can keep your oil furnace at peak efficiency and help avoid these costly problems.
Q: Can a propane furnace be converted for use with natural gas?
A: Yes. Most furnaces are shipped for use with natural gas and are field-converted to propane by the installers. The natural gas components are typically stored in the furnace in case natural gas is available in the future. If the required parts are missing, they can be ordered. The cost for conversion is generally $200-$300.
Q: What is carbon monoxide?
A: Carbon monoxide is an odorless poison gas produced in small amounts by any gas or propane appliance. CO (Carbon monOxide) produced by a furnace is removed from the house by the chimney. CO from a gas cook stove is normally produced in small quantities and should not cause a safety issue. CO becomes a problem when an appliance malfunctions. A bird could get stuck in a chimney and within minutes a furnace or water heater could fill a house with CO. Any house with gas or propane appliances should have a CO detector. We have personally seen cases were a furnace malfunctioned and the CO detector awoke the family and saved lives. Carbon monoxide detectors are inexpensive and can be purchased at any home store. They’re just as important as smoke detectors!
Q: How do I light the pilot on my furnace?
A: The method for re-lighting a pilot varies from one furnace to another and instructions should be printed on the furnace door. Occasionally a pilot light can be blown out by a strong down draft. However, a blown pilot is usually caused by a dirty pilot burner or a bad thermocouple. For safety reasons, these repairs should be completed by a technician. Modern furnaces do not have standing pilots, and attempting to manually light a furnace can be very dangerous. Newer furnaces have either an automatic spark to relight the pilot, or an electronic ignition system (hot surface ignitor), and cannot be manually lit.
Fairview Tx Air Conditioning Company, Total Air and Heat, is owned by Steve Lauten, the second generation owner. Founded in 1957 by Steve’s dad, Fred Lauten, Total Air and Heat is proud to have received some of the highest awards for quality and service that are offered in the Industry. Among those awards are the Readers Choice Awards from the Collin County Newspaper, the Trane Pacesetter Award in 2002, and designation as a Trane Comfort Specialist.
Steve is a member of the Advisory Council for the Air Conditioning Contractors of America. The ACCA is a non-profit industry organization led by the contractors to improve quality and services among members of the industry. The ACCA has a rich history of being overseen by strong leaders who have kept the organization moving ahead and worked to create a vibrant contracting industry.
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