Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating Installation’ Category

Is Hydronic Heating Right for Your New Home?

Monday, May 16th, 2016

Summer may be well on its way, but as any Tacoma resident knows, the heating season never truly ends. We definitely experience some chilly nights even after the warmest of days. On that point, it’s important to always be on the lookout for heating systems and be aware of what options are available for your home.

In fact, if you are constructing a new home in the area, hydronic heating could be a great choice for you. Also commonly referred to as radiant heating, hydronic heating uses tubing to run a hot liquid either beneath your flooring, along baseboard heaters, or through radiators to heat your home.  While the concept of hydronic heating is not new, it’s become a very popular heating choice in recent years.

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Heating Q/A: Can Your Heating System Warn You of a CO Leak?

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

Carbon monoxide is a serious health risk, even in Tacoma. It is an odorless gas that is produced as a natural byproduct of combustion. So, any time something burns, carbon monoxide (CO) is released into the air.

As long as heating installation is properly ventilated, the carbon monoxide cannot build up in the air to a dangerous level of concentration. For example, if you are around a campfire or charcoal that is burning outside, you are generally safe.

In the home, the danger arises when combustion is not properly ventilated and this toxic gas is allowed to seep into our living spaces. If you use any gas, fuel or wood burning appliances in your home, you are at risk for exposure to carbon monoxide. To help mitigate that risk, it is important to know some warning signs. Your heating system gives off some warnings that can tip you off to danger, so be on the lookout for these three signals:

  1. Carbon monoxide detector goes off. Some heating systems these days have built-in carbon monoxide detectors, which can provide an extra measure of safety. Whether you have one of these systems or not, your home should still be equipped with a CO detector. If it begins sounding the alarm, get everyone out of the house immediately.
  1. A fume vent is leaking. Fuel-burning furnaces have vents to move combustion gases out of the house safely. If you notice this vent is leaking on your heating system, CO may be seeping into your house. Shut down the furnace, open windows for ventilation and have the fume vent repaired immediately.
  1. Smoke backing up from the fireplace. If you have a fireplace and you notice smoke in the room while using it, stop using it immediately. Your chimney may be blocked or leaking, preventing the smoke from rising and venting properly, which means CO can e getting into your house. Do not use the fireplace again until you have had the chimney inspected.

Please take care and note this is just a simple guide. There are other risks and warnings of carbon monoxide. If you have any suspicion that there is CO in your home, immediately call Sound Heating to look into the situation.

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