Show Notes for October 24, 2009

What the Carey Bros. & Rebecca Cole are Talking About:
On this week's radio program were all the tips, tricks, and handy advice you've come to expect from On The House. Rebecca was away this week but the Carey Brothers were more than happy to fill the bill with all the stuff you need to know to get you house in tip-top shape. They gave advice on cleaning your furnace and making sure it’s prepared for winter. Plus we had news on a mobile La-Z-Boy Chair and a national power drill recycling program. There was so much more so read the show, cause On The House is always live!

Also:
FURNACE MAINTENANCE SAVES ENERGY AND MONEY

If your home isn't as toasty as you'd like this winter, perhaps a heating system tune-up is in order.

No furnace will continue to operate efficiently without regular periodic maintenance. Keeping the home's heating system clean, lubricated, properly adjusted, and replacing the filter regularly will not only result in more efficient heating, but will also extend the life of the system and save energy and expense.

Ideally, the furnace should be inspected and serviced by a professional heating contractor or qualified service technician at least once a year, preferably before each heating season begins. Many heating companies offer such a service at a reasonable price. If you do your own maintenance, a qualified professional should examine the system every three to five years.

The first step in furnace maintenance is to replace the dirty furnace filter with a clean one. The purpose of the filter on a forced-air furnace is to keep dust, soot, and other contaminants out of the air that is blown into your living area. Once the filter has been sufficiently coated with this grime, it causes the furnace blower to work harder, making it more costly to operate and shortening its life span.

Since filter size and location vary from furnace to furnace, you'll need to check the owners handbook for this type of information. If an owners handbook doesn't exist, this information usually can be found on the furnace or on an inside panel of the furnace. Some furnaces have more than one filter that will need replacement one near the blower and one at each cold air return. Buying replacement filters by the case will cut down on the unit price and will make replacement convenient.

The blower compartment of forced-air furnaces should be clean and dust-free. Use a vacuum with a dust brush attachment to remove any lint, dust, or debris that may exist. The same should be done for the fire box or burner compartment. Caution: Make sure that the furnace is turned off and has had a chance to cool completely before attempting to clean it.

There is nothing more disturbing than a furnace that sounds like an automobile skidding out of control each time the blower engages. If such is the case in your home, chances are that the fan belt needs to be replaced or tightened slightly. The fan belt should typically "give" only about 1/2 inch. In most cases moving the motor bracket will usually be all that's required.

Any other squeaks and creaks can be silenced with a little lubrication. All bearings and other moving parts should be lubricated with fine machine oil. If the furnace is oil-fired, the bearings in the pump motor should also be oiled periodically. The fuel filter in the main oil line should be replaced once a year.

Finally, the burners should be adjusted to ensure that they mix the proper amount of fuel and air for safe and efficient combustion. This is something that most utility companies will do free as a service for their customers.

More Information:
• PexSupply.com Energy Efficiency Upgrade Giveaway - One winner will receive energy saving products for the whole house – all to save you money.

• Premier Care in Bathing Bathtub/Shower Makeover - Enter to win a bathtub/shower makeover worth over $25,000. There will be two winners so hurry.

• One2flush - The leader in Water-saving dual flush conversion with flush valves to fit every toilet - standard 2 piece toilets with tank and bowl, the giant 3" flush versions and the newer 1 piece, low profile toilets.

• DowFrost RVR Antifreeze - protects water systems in recreational vehicles, boats, swimming pools, vacation homes and other potable water systems in climates where freezing temperatures can cause pipe damage.

• Grip Tite Super Socket Sets - the sockets with bite, available at SEARS.

• Lam-Hammer - a new tool that’s been developed for installing interlocking laminate flooring.

• Premier Care in Bathing - Find out more bout the best walk-in bathtub/showers available.

• PexSupply.com - Online source for all your plumbing and heating needs.

• Chef Jamie Gwen - Check out Chef Jamie’s website for great recipe ideas.

• Green Tip of the Week - A weekly series featuring easy tips to “green” your home.

• Decorative Concrete - Design ideas for concrete flooring.

• Home Depot - The retailer is offering to exchange used or broken drills for 15% off a new power drill, click the link to find a store near you.

• Man Sentenced for DUI in La-Z-Boy - From The Smoking Gun.com.

• Recall of the Week - Idea Village Recalls Wireless Light Switches Due to Fire Hazard.

If you need any more information about today's program, please contact us or post on our new Home Improvement Forum and we'll try to help you find what you need. Thanks for listening to On The House with the Carey Brothers!