AEM Blog - Archive

Do you know what to look for in your furnace to make sure it is safe? Carbon monoxide  (CO) is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and initially non-irritating gas which makes it difficult to detect. The most common symptoms include feeling lightheaded, confusion, headache, and nausea.  It is believed that long term - low dose exposure to carbon monoxide can contribute to depression, memory loss and a central nervous system damage. It is especially harmful to unborn children.    Learn More Here. There are several potential issues that can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning in r...

You wake up in the morning and realize the house is colder than it should be. You feel the air coming from your vents and it is cold. A quick check of the thermostat confirms your observation, the temperature in your home is dropping. Your stomach tightens and you exhale deeply as you realize your day is getting out to a horrible start. You put your mind to work and start looking for a fast, easy and cost effective fix to the problem.  Trouble Shoot the Issue Start by protecting your family's safety. Check to see if you smell gas. Go to the furnace room, if you detect a sulfuric or "rotte...

Why Do I Need a Whole Home Humidifier? You may be thinking to yourself that you like dry air because it is more comfortable than the hot humid air of summer. It can be a relief after a long hot summer, but the excessively dry air of Fall and Winter is just as uncomfortable. it just isn't humid.  When dry air invades your home you may start to notice that . . . Your skin dries out. Your Lips chap. You and your clothing become victim to static electricity. You get chilled more easily. You may even experience an increase in the frequency and severity of nose bleeds. Humidifiers Keep You Comf...

September 22nd Marked the First Day of Fall The steady hum of the Cicadas high in the trees are fading quickly.  We may still have a few warm days ahead, but the cooler weather is creeping in as Fall takes hold. Our teams of technicians are ready for the transition, how about you and your home? Heating System Checklist With a little preparation you can have your furnace ready for the coldest weather Mother Nature can throw our way. Furnace tune-up   As with any mechanical system, regular maintenance for your furnace will help it last longer. A well maintained system will also operate...

Fighting the bone chilling cold. No matter how cold it gets outside, we all want to be warm and cozy inside our homes. Our ancestors had to rely on fireplaces and wood burning stoves for winter warmth. Fortunately we have some very sophisticated heating systems that are far superior. Unfortunately there are also more things that can go wrong, leaving us feeling the cold. Four common winter heating issues exposed. Sudden Loss of Heat: While the loss of heat may be sudden, it may take a short while for you to notice the change in temperature. There are several issues that may cause a sudden loss...

Shut the oven door, get out from under your pile of blankets and close the window.   Who hasn't been guilty of utilizing a few "creative" solutions to control the temperature of their home. Solutions such as these can be awkward, dangerous, and actually cost more in the long run. Heating by opening the oven door or turning on stove top burners. This option is a fire hazard and can dramatically increase your electric bill. Using a hair dryer to temporarily warm your hands or feet. Just plain silly. Opening a window to cool down rooms that are too hot. Wastes heat energy. Electric...

Reduced Airflow Can Kill a Furnace or Air Conditioner. What is the single most beneficial thing you can do to extend the life of your furnace and help prevent costly repairs? It is simply to change your air filter on a regular basis between your seasonal tune-ups . The reason is pretty straight forward. If your filters are plugged the furnace has to work extra hard to circulate air through the system. That translates into shorter equipment life and more frequent repairs. How Frequently Must I Change My Filter? There are several factors that come into play that determine how long a filter will ...

A Furnace Failure Could Harm You and Your Family According to the Department of Health, twenty-two people died of accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in Minnesota in 2014.  The number has been steadily increasing since 2010. Setting aside the mortality rate of Carbon Monoxide poisoning, many more people suffer illness as a result of non-lethal levels of Carbon Monoxide. Such cases are usually preventable with annual furnace checkups combined with the use of carbon monoxide detectors. Imagine preventing something as tragic as this by having a simple annual inspection done to your furnace ...