Preventative Maintenance

Just like your car, your home comfort system needs routine maintenance to keep it running at its best. Without regular servicing, heating and cooling systems waste energy and are more likely to break down. But with the proper attention, they can keep you comfortable year-round.

Below are some basics of how Climate Works keeps your system running efficiently. Our thorough yearly inspections make sure your indoor climate works for you. Contact us today to learn more.

Heating Equipment

Heat pumps and oil-fired furnaces and boilers need a yearly professional tune-up. Gas-fired equipment burns cleaner; it should be serviced every other year.

Step 1
A yearly inspection will uncover possible leaks, soot, rust, rot, corroded electrical contacts, and frayed wires. In furnace (forced-air) and boiler (hot-water) systems, the inspection should also cover the chimney, ductwork or pipes, dampers or valves, blower or pump, registers or radiators, the fuel line and the gas meter or oil tank, as well as every part of the furnace or boiler itself.

Step 2
Next, the system is run through several full heating cycles to ensure proper operation, including plenty of combustion air and chimney draft. If draft issues are suspected, a closer inspection is performed to determine sufficient draft and also test the air for carbon monoxide.

Step 3
Finally, it's time for the down and dirty task of cleaning the burners and heat exchanger to remove soot and other gunk that can impede smooth operation. For the burner, efficiency hinges on proper adjustment. ensuring the flame is the right size and color, adjusting the flow of gas, or changing the fuel filter in an oil-fired system. A check of the heat pump includes an inspection of the compressor, fan, indoor and outdoor coils, and refrigerant lines. Indoor and outdoor coils are inspected and cleaned as required. The refrigerant pressures are checked to ensure optimum levels and early identification of potential leaks. If a leak is suspected, the system is checked with electronic detectors. To learn more about our comprehensive maintenance solutions, Contact Climate Works today.

Blowers

Tuning up the distribution side of a forced-air system starts with the blower. The axle lubricate (as required), blades cleaned, and blower motor checked to insure the unit isn't being overloaded. If the system has a fan belt, it is precisely adjusted. Accessible joints in the duct system are checked for excessive leaks. Any ducts that run outside the heated space should be insulated. On an older hot-water system, the expansion tank should be drained, the circulating pump cleaned and lubricated, and air bled out of the radiators. New hot water systems have permanently lubricated motors and diaphragm expansion tanks which required less maintenance.

Thermostats

While thermostats rarely fail outright, they can degrade over time as mechanical parts stick or lose their calibration. Older units will send faulty signals if they've been knocked out of level or have dirty switches. Modern electronic thermostats, sealed at the factory to keep out dust and grime, rarely need adjusting. However, whether your thermostat is old or young, Proper operation is critical to your home comfort as well as efficiency of the systems. Contact us today to learn more about thermostat solutions.

Humidifiers

Humidity is an critical part of maintaining your homes indoor air quality. A neglected humidifier can breed mildew and bacteria, not to mention add too much moisture to a house. A common mistake with humidifiers is leaving them on after the heating season ends. Don't forget to shut the water valve, and drain the unit. A unit with a water reservoir should be drained and cleaned regularly with white vinegar, a mix of one part chlorine bleach to eight parts water, or muriatic acid. . Newer flow through-type humidifiers are easier to maintain and are not prone to creating the negative air quality issues above. Steam-type humidifiers also require regular cleaning to remove mineral deposits. Climate Works can offer the best solutions to to ensure a healthy system. Contact us to learn more about humidifier solutions.

Filters

Duct Cleaning

Healthy Climate® UVC Germicidal Lights

Lennox UV Germicidal Light Overview

Lennox UV Germicidal Light Brochure

No Ozone Brochure

• Powerful ultraviolet energy helps eliminate biological contaminants like mold and bacteria

• Improves air quality and protects heating and cooling equipment

• Offers installation flexibility with added safety features and simplified maintenance

• Reduce your family's exposure to potentially harmful airborne pollutants

• UL listed

• No ozone emissions— a known lung irritant

• 5-Year Limited Warranty on covered components

Healthy Climate® UV Germicidal Lights

Lennox UV Germicidal Light Overview

Lennox UV Germicidal Light Brochure

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Lennox Indoor Air Quality Products

• Powerful ultraviolet energy helps eliminate biological contaminants like mold and bacteria

• Improves air quality and protects equipment by sterilizing surfaces

• Reduces concentrations of airborne bio-aerosols by 50%* within as little as 45 minutes**

• Dual-lamp or single-lamp option

• Available in 2,000 microwatts (UV-2000) or 1,496 microwatts (UV-1000)

• UL listed

• No ozone emissions— a known lung irritant

• 5-Year Limited Warranty on covered components

Kill Mold and mildew on Surfaces Like Air Conditioning Coils:

UVC Lights Kill Mold and Mildew on Surfaces

Unlike UV Air Purifiers, UV-C Lights are Designed to Kill Biological Contaminants on Surfaces, Before They can Become Air Bourne

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Sanuvox UV-C Surface Cleaners

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Sanuvox UV Air Purifiers

- Quattro Biowall UV Air Purification System

Inspired by the overwhelming success of the Commercial UV Bio-Wall, the QUATTRO is designed as a Light Commercial / Residential In-Duct UV Air Purifier.

The QUATTRO can treat the entire duct at one time, destroying up to 99.9% of the biological and chemical contaminants in the air-stream.

See More On The Quattro BioWall »

Capture Indoor Air Contaminants so They Don't Settle Again:

High Efficiency Filters Capture Particles to Prevent Further System Contamination

HEPA Filters Capture up to 99.97% of Particles at Sizes down to 0.3 Microns.

More About:
Lennox HEPA System

Vanee HEPA Systems

Inline Filters Capture Air Bourne Contaminants:

LennoxHC16 -MERV 16 Healthy Climate Filters

Captures up to 95% of all Particles as small as 0.3 Microns

More About The
Lennox High Efficiency Air Filters

See The Lennox PureAir System

Exploring the Basics of Indoor Air Quality:

Dust - Respirable Particles

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Dust and airborne particulates can be irritating to the upper respiratory system and will adversely affect individuals with existing allergies, asthma, and respiratory diseases. Long term exposure to dust and airborne particulate may also pose a risk for people who currently do not experience respiratory symptoms.

Recognize sources of pollution in your home

Air-borne pollutants are either biological (mould, dust mites, pollen, animal dander) or originate from other sources (gases or chemical particles released by furnishings, carpets, construction materials, unvented appliances, renovation activities including dust from lead paint, poorly-maintained heating systems, humidifiers and dehumidifiers).

It is Important to Consider the Effects of Different Size Particles on Your Health

• PARTICLES are usually measured in microns: (1 micron=1 millionth of a meter or 1/25,000th inch). The human body has defenses which can protect against particles larger than 10 microns, however particles smaller than 10 microns can enter breathing passages and penetrate deep into the lungs.
• PM10 - respirable particles having an aerodynamic diameter <= 10 microns. Particles < 5 microns can penetrate into the lower respiratory tract.
• PM2.5 -particles with an aerodynamic diameter <=2.5 microns. PM2.5 particles settle slowly (several hours to several days) - particles can cover hundreds of miles. Particles penetrate deep into lungs.

Types of particles include:

• Dust: Organic and Mineral
• Bioaerosols: Pollen, Mold, Bacteria, Dust Mite and Roach fecal matter and body parts, Animal Dander and Dried Urine.
• Smoke: Cooking, Tobacco, Welding

What you should know about House Dust

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House Dust is a broad terms for an ever-changing and ever-present substance

House Dust is the result of the natural decomposition of the things we have in our homes along with dust that infiltrates from the outside. Wherever it comes from, it is a prime symptom of poor indoor Air Quality and causes a lot of symptoms for the allergic person.

What is in house dust?
The composition of house duct has changed over time and varies from house to house. Generally, you might find textile fibers, decomposing insect parts, pet dander, human and animal hair, food leftovers, pollen grains, mold spores, bacteria, skin flakes, insulation, sand, and the ever present dust mite and its fecal material.

What increases the amount of dust in a house?
Carpets, draperies, ruffled items, knickknacks, books, magazines, pets, upholstered furniture, animals and pillows, and fireplaces are some things that may increase dust levels. Infrequent cleaning or cleaning with a vacuum cleaner without a high efficiency filtering device, high traffic levels, location of the house, type of yard, and their condition of the central air system all contribute to the amount of dust in your home. For example, if you are in a new neighborhood where there is a lot of construction and the yards are not sodden with grass, you will have more dust in your home.

So How can I Protect My Indoor Air Quality?

The Solution to Healthy Indoor Air Quality is a multi-pronged approach.

Live Healthy this Winter with a Clean HVAC System

Mould Issues?

EPA: A Brief Guide to Mould & Moisture, and Your Home

Ventilate to Reduce Concentrations of Indoor Air Contaminants:

HRV - Heat Recovery Ventilator;

Reduces Concentrations of Indoor Air Pollutants, by Providing Fresh Air Exchange While Recovering up to 95% of the Heat Energy.

More about:
Lennox Air Exchangers

Vanee Ventilation Vanee Air Exchangers

Maintain high indoor air quality without excessive additional energy costs.

An HRV consists of two separate air-handling systems – one collects and exhausts stale indoor air; the other draws in fresh outdoor air and distributes it throughout the home.

Remove Indoor Air Contaminants Before They Become Airborne Again:

NADCA: Duct Cleaning To A Higher Standard

Provides a Clean Start, by removing Contaminants in your System that can become Air Bourne.

With More NADCA Certified Duct Cleaners on staff than ANY other Company in Ottawa and Eastern Ontario
You can be sure the job is done right with Climate Works, your one stop for HVAC and Indoor Air Quality solutions.- NO Job is too Big or Small.

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Residential & Commercial Duct Cleaning