Heating System

 
Homeowner Use and Maintenance Guidelines

Good maintenance of the furnace can save energy dollars and prolong the life of the furnace. Monthly utility charges for the operation of the heating or air conditioning system are the homeowner's responsibility. Have your heating system inspected and cleaned at least once a year by a professional service representative. Carefully read and follow the manufacturer's literature on use and maintenance. The guidelines here include general information only.

 
Adjust Vents

The registers are the primary means of regulating airflow (and therefore, temperature) in individual rooms throughout your home. Adjusting the registers rather that changing the thermostat setting may be the most efficient way to regulate room temperature. Experiment with the adjustable registers in your home to establish the best heat flow for your lifestyle. Generally, you can reduce the heat in seldom-used or interior rooms. This is an individual matter and you will need to balance the system for your own family's needs.

 
Avoid Overheating

Do not overheat your new home. Overheating can cause excessive shrinkage of framing lumber and may materially damage the home. In the beginning, use as little heat as possible and increase it gradually.

 
Blower Panel

You need to position the blower panel correctly for the furnace blower (fan) to operate. This panel compresses a button that tells the blower it is safe to operate. If this panel is not on tightly, the fan will not come on.

 
Combustion Air

Furnaces we install in basements or in closets over crawl spaces include combustion air vents.

Never cover or block the combustion air vent in any way. Outside air is needed to supply the furnace with sufficient oxygen. Blocking the combustion air vent will cause the furnace to draw air down the vent pipe and pull poisonous gases back into your home.

 
Ductwork Noise

When your metal ductwork is heated it will expand and when it cools it will contract. Some popping or pinging sounds are the natural result of ductwork heating and cooling in response to air flow as the system operates.

 
Filter

Remember to change or clean the filter monthly during the heating season (year-round if you also have air conditioning). A clogged filter can slow airflow and cause cold spots in your home. Although it takes less than one minute to change the filter, this is one of the most frequently overlooked details of normal furnace care. Buy filters in large quantity for the sake of convenience.

If you have a permanent, washable, removable filter, you need to clean this monthly. Use water only to clean the filter, tap to dry or air dry, and leave unit off for a brief period. Do not use soaps or detergents on the filter.

 
Furnished Home

The heating system was designed with a furnished home in mind. If you move in during the cooler part of the year and have not yet acquired all of your draperies and furnishings, the home may seem cooler than you would expect. For maximum comfort and energy efficiency, arrange furniture and draperies to allow unobstructed airflow from registers and to cold air returns.

 
Fuse

Some furnaces have a fuse directly above the on-off switch. This fuse is an S10, S12, or S15 fuse. It absorbs any spikes in the line such as close electrical strikes or power surges. Unlike old fuses that burn out and clearly indicate that they are blown, these fuses, similar to automobile fuses, have a spring that depresses when tripped. Unless you have examined these quite carefully before, it may be hard to determine if the fuse has blown. We suggest that you buy some extra fuses of the same size to have on hand.

 
Gas Odor

If you smell gas, call the gas company immediately.

 
Odor

A new heating system may emit an odor for a few moments when you first turn it on. An established system may emit an odor after being unused for an extended time (such as after the summer months if you do not use air conditioning). This is caused by dust that has settled in the ducts and should pass quickly.

 
On-Off Switch

The furnace has an on-off blower switch. This switch looks like a regular light switch and is located in a metal box outside the furnace. When turned off, this switch overrides all furnace commands and shuts down the blower. This is usually done only when maintenance service is being performed, although young children have been known to turn off the furnace using this switch. (If your furnace is a high-efficiency model, it does not have a pilot or an on-off switch.)

 
Pilot

Most gas/propane furnaces are equipped with an ignition device, which automatically lights the pilot. DO NOT attempt to light the pilot by hand. Consult your "Operating your furnace" literature and/or the "User's Information Manual" found on or near the furnace itself.

On models with manually lit pilots, lighting the furnace pilot involves several steps. First, remove the cover panel to expose the pilot. Then rotate the on-off pilot knob to pilot. When the knob is in this position, you can depress the red button. While depressing the red button, hold a match at the pilot. Once the pilot lights, continue to hold the red button down for 30 to 60 seconds. When you release the red button, the pilot should stay lit. If it does not, wait several minutes to allow any gas to dissipate from the furnace area and repeat the entire process. If the pilot stays lit, rotate the on-off pilot knob to the on position. Reinstall the cover panel. You can find these instructions on a sticker on the furnace and in the manufacturer's literature.

 
Registers

Heat register covers are removable and adjustable. You are responsible for adjusting the dampers in these covers to regulate the heat flow within the home. Registers in the rooms farther away from the furnace will usually need to be opened wider.

It is a good practice to occasionally vacuum both supply registers and cold air return vents to ensure that they remain free of lint and dust accumulations which interfere with the passage of air through your system, decreasing its efficiency and increasing the cost of operation.

 
Return Air Vents

For maximum comfort and efficient energy use, arrange furniture and draperies to allow unobstructed airflow from registers and to cold air returns.

 
Temperature

Depending on the style of home, temperatures can normally vary from floor to floor as much as 10 degrees or more on extremely cold days. The furnace blower will typically cycle on and off more frequently and for shorter periods during severe cold spells.

 
Thermostat

The furnace will come on automatically when the temperature at the thermostat registers below the setting you have selected. Once the furnace is on, setting the thermostat to a higher temperature will not heat the home faster. Thermostats are calibrated to within plus or minus 5 degrees.

 
Trial Run

Have a trial run early in the fall to test the furnace. (The same applies to air-conditioning in the spring.) If service is needed, it is much better to discover that before the heating season.

 
Troubleshooting

If your system should fail to operate, check the circuit breakers to be sure that they are set in the full "on" position. If necessary, re-set the breaker(s). If the breaker should trip a second time, call your serviceman at the number listed on the Service Numbers sheet you receive at orientation.

 
GOODIER BUILDERS Limited Warranty

We will install heating systems according to local building codes, as well as to engineering designs of the particular model home.

Adequacy of the system is determined by its ability to establish a temperature of 70 degrees F, as measured in the center of the room, 5 feet above the floor. In extremely cold temperatures (10 degrees below or colder), the system should be able to maintain a temperature differential of 80 degrees from the outside temperature.

 
Duct Placement

The exact placement of heat ducts may vary from those positions shown in similar floor plans.

 
Ductwork

Although the heat system is not a sealed system, the ductwork should remain attached and securely fastened. If it becomes unattached, GOODIER BUILDERS will repair as needed.

 
Furnace Sounds

Expansion or contraction of metal ductwork results in ticking or popping sounds. While eliminating all these sounds is impossible, GOODIER BUILDERS will correct oil canning. (Oil canning occurs when a large area of sheet metal like those found in air ducts makes a loud noise as it moves up and down in response to temperature changes.)

 
Manufacturer's Warranty

The system or systems are warranted for one (1) year against manufacturing and installation defects. Some components are covered for longer periods under the manufacturer's warranty. Refer to the manufacturer's literature on or near your units for specific details. If there is a malfunction with your heating or air conditioning system and the malfunction is covered by the manufacturer's warranty, the manufacturer, through the installing subcontractor, will make the required repair(s) in accordance with the terms and provisions of the manufacturer's warranty.

 
Thermostat

Thermostats are calibrated to plus or minus 5 degrees.