Home Comfort & Safety

Carbon Monoxide is the #1 cause of poisonings in the U.S., yet less than 5% of all CO Poisonings are reported. The safe and efficient operation of your heating equipment and other combustion appliances cannot be determined without testing using a calibrated combustion analyzer. Carbon monoxide, even in small quantities, can cause serious health problems, particularly in children and the elderly. CO exposure can cause nausea, severe headache, shortness of breath, chest pain, blurred vision, and dizziness. Millions of unsuspecting homeowners are exposed to low levels of CO and are completely unaware.

Unfortunately, standard carbon monoxide alarms don’t go off until your family has been exposed to 70 ppm (parts per million) for over 3 and a half hours. Most international limits for unsafe levels, including OSHA and the World Health Organization’s guidelines are between at 15-35 ppm.

Andy Lewis recommends and installs carbon monoxide detectors that have the following features:

• Continuous Scan™ mode lets you know monitor is checking for CO constantly 
• Digital display shows CO levels of 5ppm or higher Low Alarm – 15 ppm – audible & visual every 8 seconds 
• High Alarm – 35 ppm – audible & visual every 4 seconds 
• Crisis Alarm – 70+ ppm – audible & visual every 2 seconds

Carbon monoxide can come from additional sources in your home besides your heating equipment, and they should also be checked. These sources include your Water Heater, Gas Range, Gas Logs, Space Heater, Boiler, and even an attached garage.

HVAC systems can produce water year-round. Make sure your drains get a proper cleaning every year to prevent water drainage backups.

Each fall when you turn your heating system on for the first time, you may experience a burning smell. If the smell goes away within a few minutes, then do not be alarmed – this is normal. However, if the smell continues, then turn your heat off, and call Andy Lewis Heating and Air immediately to diagnose the problem.

To avoid unnecessary HVAC repair and to help prevent emergency repairs, schedule regular maintenance for your system. Your furnace should have a tune-up in the fall, and your air conditioner should have a tune-up in the spring. It is best to schedule maintenance before the heating or cooling season begins so that your system will be ready to run smoothly the first time you turn it on. Our Preventative Maintenance Plan is an affordable way to prevent repairs and keep your heat and air working efficiently. An efficient system will save you money by reducing your energy costs.

Electronics produce heat and can cause your system to run more or less, depending on the season.

The beginning of fall is a perfect time to check or replace the batteries in your smoke & C/O detectors.

Have your condenser coils cleaned every year to maximize efficiency.

During the cooler months, leave your blinds and shades open to allow solar heat to warm up your home for free. In addition, if you leave your blinds and shades closed during the warmer months, it helps prevent solar heat from warming up your home, which then causes your A/C to run more frequently.

Keeping your thermostat at the same temperature will maximize your efficiency. It cost much less to maintain a temperature than it is to cool down a house significantly in the peak of the day.

You should check your filters monthly to see if they need to be replaced. When filters are dirty and have excessive build-up of dust and dirt, it can obstruct air flow, making your HVAC system work harder to draw in air, overheat, or quit working all together.