Heating
Q: What should I do if my heating system doesn’t work?
Q: How is a furnace different from a boiler?
Q: What is a "cracked" furnace?
Q: At what temperature should I set my thermostat?
Q: Should I install a programmable thermostat?
Q: What should I do if my heating system doesn’t work?
A. Before you call us to for a service appointment, go through the troubleshooting list below to be sure a service call is needed. It could save you the cost and inconvenience of an unnecessary service visit, and it will ensure our technicians are working where they are needed most.
• Are both the red emergency switch at the top of the stairs and the switch on the side of the unit ON?
• Is the thermostat set above room temperature?
• Check your oil tank to make sure it contains oil.
• Press the reset button on the burner relay—but no more than once.
• If the burner does not run at all, check for a blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker.
• If at this point you still don’t get heat, call Bottini immediately.
back to top
Q: How does a furnace work?
A: Heat is generated by burning gas, oil or propane inside the furnace. Hot gases (byproducts of fuel combustion) pass through metal tubing called a heat exchanger and then out of your home through a vent pipe. A blower or fan then moves air in your home's duct system over the outside of the heat exchanger, which warms the air. The warm air is then circulated through your home.
back to top
Q: How is a furnace different from a boiler?
A: While the heating principle is the same, a boiler heats water instead of air. The heated water is circulated by pump through a system of baseboards in the home. Some boilers are designed to create steam, which is piped to radiators throughout the home .
back to top
Q: What is a "cracked" furnace?
A: The heat exchanger is the main component of a furnace. If it has a crack or a rust hole, combustion fumes (including carbon monoxide) can escape to the air in your home. This is a potentially deadly situation and must be addressed right away. Usually it requires replacement of the old furnace with a new one. If you suspect there might be a crack in your furnace's heat exchanger or a carbon monoxide problem with your furnace, turn the system off immediately and call us for service.
back to top
Q: On mild winter days my furnace runs in short blasts and my home alternates between being too hot and too cold. How can I fix this?
A: A two-speed or variable-speed system is a good solution. Two-speed furnaces can run on their lower speed up to 90% of the time. This means they operate more quietly and run for longer periods of time than single-speed furnaces. Longer operating periods mean fewer on/off cycles and smaller temperature swings. Plus, when a system's fan runs for longer periods, it prevents air "stratification" -- warm air rising to the ceiling and cold air settling on the floor. You get more consistent, even heat throughout your home.
Variable-capacity furnaces provide the ultimate combination of comfort, efficiency and performance. In addition to the benefits of two-speed furnaces, they offer "smart" motors that adjust the volume and speed of air to provide the most efficient heating or cooling for your home, no matter how mild or cold the weather. They offer added electrical efficiency as well, because smart fan motors use less electricity than traditional motors. They operate so efficiently that they actually increase the efficiency rating of your heating system.
back to top
Q: I hear a lot of talk about “high-efficiency” heating systems. How is a heating system’s efficiency determined?
A: When we tune up your heating system, we do a combustion efficiency test that tells us how well your burner is converting oil into heat. But even if your burner has a good combustion efficiency “score,” it doesn't necessarily mean the heating system is efficient. Burner efficiency is just one part of a system's total efficiency.
The other part is Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE), which is determined according to guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy. AFUE indicates system efficiency over an entire heating season, which makes it a better measure of efficiency than combustion efficiency alone.
If your system has a low AFUE, replacing just your burner isn't a good idea, especially if your equipment is old. For a system that's as efficient as possible, you should replace your whole system.
back to top
Q: At what temperature should I set my thermostat?
A: Different people feel comfortable at different temperatures. Pay less attention to the numbers on the thermostat display (or the position of the temperature indicator on a nondigital display) and more to how comfortable the room feels to you. When you feel
comfortable, check the setting. That's the right temperature for you.
back to top
Q: Should I install a programmable thermostat?
A: Absolutely! Programmable thermostats are especially useful for people who are away from home at regular intervals. They allow for customized comfort settings around-the-clock, and they can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 33%!
back to top
Q: I’m on a fixed income and am finding it harder every year to cope with the high cost of heating my home. Is there a way I can lower my fuel bills?
A: Many of our customers are having problems with making ends meet with today’s high fuel bills. We recommend signing up for our EZ Pay program, which spreads out your fuel bills over 11 months, cutting winter fuel bills by 50% or even more. Additional help may be obtained from HEAP and other Energy Assistance Programs.
back to top