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4 symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger| richton park, flossmoor

Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

four seasons has worked very hard to inform our customers of the dangers associated with having a heater or boiler with a cracked heat exchanger operating in the house. property owners who have their heating system maintained around the clock by four seasons receive a heat exchanger inspection along with their annual preparation, but what if there is a crack between visits from your craftsperson? as a proactive property owner, you need to be able to recognize the symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger in order to protect your family. there are 4 main symptoms that any property owner can review for periodically during the heating season:

  1. abnormal flame: as the heater gets older, it becomes more and more likely that it will suffer a crack at the heat exchanger. from time to time, you may want to review the flame on the heater or boiler. a correct flame should burn understood, steady, and blue. if the flame in your heater “dances” or” jumps,” you may have a problem. also if the flame is yellow or orange in color, cracks in the heat exchanger are also suspected.
  2. soot buildup: soot buildup results from improper combustion, and this could be the result of a cracked heat exchanger. if this problem is suspected, you will notice black buildup on the internal components of the heater or boiler or on or near the crack in the heat exchanger.
  3. formidable carbon monoxide levels: it is critical that every house has a functional carbon monoxide detector installed close to the ground on every level of the house. if this detector goes off, call the fire department immediately to find the source of your carbon monoxide crack. the heater or boiler is often the source because carbon monoxide is a byproduct of the combustion of natural gas. if the heater or boiler is cracking carbon monoxide, it is usually due to a crack in the heat exchanger.
  4. cracks/ rust on metal: if the heater or boiler has been exposed to water or has developed rust or cracks in any of the metal components, you may want to have a expert inspection of the heat exchanger performed by one of the servicemen at four seasons. we train our technicians to correctly search for a detect cracks, cracks, or rust on the heat exchanger, and if a major problem is suspected, they will be able to explain the correct mode of rebuild. sometimes the problem can be repaired, but when the heat exchanger cracks, it is often best to replace the unit all together.

if you find any of these symptoms present on your unit, call four seasons as soon as possible! we will help you determine whether or not there is a major problem. if you act fast, the symptom may be repaired before a crack ever appears. keep your family safe, and keep your heater running. call four seasons today!

4 symptoms of a cracked heat exchanger| richton park, flossmoor is a post from: heating and cooling heater rebuild

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soot solutions| homewood, cicero, burr ridge

Saturday, March 5th, 2011

black dust coating various surfaces in your house, formidable levels of carbon monoxide, and a heater that just doesn’t seem to be providing enough heat are all symptoms of a heating system that is in serious need of maintenance. however, if your unit is in this bad of shape, you may have waited too long already. soot buildup on your heater filter and on the internal components of the system will choke the flames that are trying to generate heat for your house and in many cases, destroy the heater beyond rebuild.

where does the soot come from?

if your heating system has been diagnosed as “clogged with soot,” you may be wondering where all of that destructive black power came from. well there are several different conditions that can cause this problem, but when large amounts of soot are present in a heater or boiler, it is usually the result of a combustion problem. when combustion occurs, carbon dioxide is created, but when the combustion process is interrupted or not fully completed, carbon deposits, or soot, begin to build up inside the heater. when the problem goes unchecked, soot build up can begin to deposit on surfaces in the house and the heater will eventually stop working all together.

this problem is usually due to lack of correct maintenance, and a preferred relationship with a certified heating, ventalation, and air conditioning craftsperson can ensure that your unit never goes without necessary care. some of the basics of heating system maintenance include:

  • monthly filter clearing or replacement
  • cyclical maintenance checks- fall heater check-up and spring a/c clearing
  • channel clearing- if you house has experiences flooding or cracks of any kind, the channel application is a preferred place for mould to hide

four seasons heating and air conditioning can help you manage your heater or boiler’s maintenance around your schedule. we are available 24 hours a day to take your calls and handle your emergencies, and we also offer flexible scheduling for our around the clock clearing services on both the heater and the cooling system. you may worry that these are services that you simply cannot afford, but four seasons has made each of these services budget friendly, and we even offer discount coupons that are available both online and in many local papers. caring for your heating system is easy when you trust four seasons.

what if it is too late?

soot accumulation is just one of the main issues that result from lack of maintenance, and it can cause other major problems to the heater that may require replacement of the heating system. cracks in the heat exchanger as well as rust buildup often couple the soot problem. these issues regularly result in another combustion device entering the air in the house. that combustion device is carbon monoxide. carbon monoxide poisoning can be deadly, and when you consider that prevention of this problem is so affordable, you would be crazy not to take the necessary steps to protect your family from these dangers. cracks in the heat exchanger are a death sentence for your heater or boiler, and replacement is your only option when you receive this diagnosis.

if your unit has already been deemed unfit for use, replacing it with a new formidable efficiency unit is your chance to start fresh and take care of your new system correctly. when you purchase your unit from four seasons, we will get you on a maintenance program that will make remembering to care for the heater easier than ever before. so whether you just need a clearing or if you are looking to replace, four seasons is waiting for your call today!

soot solutions| homewood, cicero, burr ridge is a post from: heating and cooling heater rebuild

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protect yourself from heater rebuild scams

Friday, March 4th, 2011

successful scam artists are some of the best actors in town. they are equipped with the props and costumes that a legitimate buisness would have, and their performance is very convincing. thousands of property owners fall victim to their act, and end up handing over hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for services that are illegitimate. the heater rebuild industry has its fair share of fraudsters just like any other, but when property owners know how to protect themselves from their scams, they lose their ability turn a profit. that is why we should all take note of these 3 standard heater rebuild scams before we have our furnaces serviced this cold seasons season.

  • scam #1: demanding upfront payment- a standard scam that many illegitimate contractors will use involves convincing the property owner to pay in full for services before they are performed. the serviceman may tell you that he needs a certain amount of money right when he walks in the door, and then after tinkering around with the heater, demand payment for repairs before actually fixing anything. once payment is received, the serviceman will pretend that they have to order a part or come back later to finish the application. after the serviceman leaves, he is never heard from again.

many property owners fall for this scam because it seems to make sense when you do not know any higher quality. an unsuspecting property owner may assume that the craftsperson needs payment before he orders the part because he needs your money to pay for the part initially.

a legitimate buisness may ask for a down payment on the part, but that is only done to protect the buisness from losing money if you suddenly decide you no longer want the part. warehouses often charge restocking fees when part orders are canceled. if a serviceman is asking for full payment before delivering services, you should ask him to leave your house immediately.

  • scam #2: diagnosing several failed components- when a heater breaks, there is usually one, maybe two, problems wrong with the system. not six or seven! some scam artists will try to convince you that the heater has thousands and thousands of dollars worth of damage, but in reality it doesn’t. the scammer is just trying to get as much money out of you as possible or trying to convince you that you are in need of a new heater.

what you should do in this situation is tell the serviceman that you would like to get a second opinion before you make a decision on repairs. it may cost you another service fee to have a different buisness out, but it could end up saving you the hundreds of dollars that you would have spent on unnecessary repairs.

  • scam #3: non-existent heat exchanger crack- a cracked heat exchanger is usually a death sentence for a heater. the heat exchanger is the barrier between noxious combustion gases like carbon monoxide and the air that circulates through the house. when the integrity this part becomes compromised by a crack, the costly heat exchanger must be replaced or the entire unit will be swapped out. when a scam artist says a heat exchanger is cracked, they know it is almost a guaranteed sale. they take advantage of the fact that no person in their right mind would operate a unit that could be cracking carbon monoxide into the house.

the serviceman may show you prerecorded video of a cracked heat exchanger, and tell you that it is a recording from your heater. he may even just try to get you to take his word for it that there is indeed a crack, but what you should do is get a second opinion. find another buisness that comes highly recommended and have them take a look. you may have to suffer a little while longer without heat, but if the crack doesn’t exist it will be well worth it!

keep an eye out for these fraudulent tactics, and you will be higher quality protected from scams this cold seasons season. always remember that if something sounds fishy, it probably is, and when in doubt always get a second opinion. stay warm this cold seasons, and keep your money where is belongs: in your pocket!

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don’t be a victim of heater rebuild fraud!

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

this cold seasons season, just like every other, will see thousands of furnaces and boilers that are not functioning correctly. many of us know little to nothing about how these units operate, so we will call a expert in to get the heat back up and running. but, be careful who you call! scam artists seem to have a sixth sense for detecting property owners who know nothing about their heating system, and they take advantage of these people to the full extent.  four seasons wants you to know what to look for in a heater rebuild scam so that you can tell the difference between the bad guys who want to steal your money and the preferred guys who want to help you restore house comfort.

standard heater rebuild scams

  • cracked heat exchanger: if you ever have a craftsperson tell you that the heat exchanger on your heater is cracked, do not jump the gun and hand over a review for the cost of a new system. stop, take a breath, and reconsider. the heat exchanger cracking is very serious because of the potential for a carbon monoxide crack, but you should get a second opinion before signing a contract. if the exchanger is really cracked, replacement of the system is recommended. here at four seasons, we perform second opinions on heat exchangers and we guarantee that if there is a crack, our technicians will be able to find it!
  • payment in full upfront: you should never pay in full upfront for a service. if a craftsperson is asking you to pay for a rebuild, in full, before it is completed, you should have another buisness come perform the services. when you pay upfront for a service and then allow the craftsperson to leave to “order parts,” you are accepting the chance that he will never return to actually perform the service. he will most likely take your money and run. putting a down payment on a service is one thing, but paying in full prior to service is defiantly not a preferred idea.
  • several broken parts: if you take preferred care of your heater and have a breakdown, you should expect that the serviceman will find one maybe two problems with the system. not five or six! when furnaces break down there is often one major cause to the problem, but scam artists like to see as many repairs as possible in one service. their goal is to either get the hundreds of dollars for the multiple repairs or make you think that you need a new unit. if you find yourself in this situation, get a second opinion. sometimes poorly cared for furnaces do need major repairs, but it is higher quality to get a second opinion before you hand over your hard earned money.

remember these fraudulent tactics the next time your heater breaks down, and put four seasons to the test! our name has stood for honesty and integrity since we began 40 years ago, and we guarantee all of our application 100%! don’t take a chance with your comfort or your cash this cold seasons, and call four seasons heating and air conditioning.

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top 8 reasons to replace that old heater | maywood and frankfort

Saturday, February 12th, 2011

  1. cracked heat exchanger

    2. if you have been told by a serviceman that the heat exchanger on your heater is cracked or severely rusted, you should replace the entire heater. a cracked heat exchanger can lead to a deadly carbon monoxide crack. also, when the heat exchanger is in this condition there is a preferred chance the rest of the unit isn’t in that great of shape either. replacing the entire unit will save more money in the long run.

    (more…)

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