For more information contact Terasen Gas at www.terasen.com

Contact Homeworks for furnace repair and maintenance at
 or phone 1-877-658-7878

• Change or clean filters at least once every three months and keep the fan compartment door tightly closed.

• Have your furnace serviced regularly. A properly maintained furnace ensures that it is working safely and at peak efficiency.

• Shut off the pilot light during summer months. If you’re not comfortable re-lighting your pilot light, have your heating contractor re-light it at the time of your regular furnace maintenance.

• If your appliance has a fan belt, inspect it for cracks or signs of wear (and replace if necessary) at the same time you change the filters.

NOTE: When inspecting or changing filters or fan belts, be sure to shut

off the electricity at the appliance switch and circuit breaker panel first.

• Keep vents and air returns clear of obstructions such as furniture, lint, dust or pet hair.

• Check the chimney and appliance vent system at least once a year to ensure that the pipe is connected securely, that there are no signs of corrosion or damage, and that nothing has fallen into the base of the chimney or into the flue.

• Keep the area around the appliance clear. Do not store items against the appliance. Do not store flammable items in the furnace/boiler room.

Buying a new heating system? Before you start shopping, ask for a free copy of our The Heart of Your Home brochure or view it on the BC Gas site at www.bcgas.com (under your home)..

• If you enclose your appliance, do so with assistance from a licensed gas contractor to ensure the appliance will operate safely and reliably.

• If you’re ready to buy a new gas furnace, make sure you buy the right size furnace for your home. Your heating contractor can do a heat loss calculation to properly match the furnace to your home.

• Choose a high-efficiency, or condensing furnace over 90% efficiency.

• Practice temperature setback. Turn your thermostat down from 21°C (70°F) to 20°C (68°F) during the day and to 17°C (63°F) at night to save as much as 15% of your energy bill.

• A programmable thermostat will make setting temperatures back easy. It allows you to automatically save energy at night and when you’re away from home. Try getting comfortable by putting on a sweater or slippers, instead of turning up the thermostat.

TIP: Be sure to position any thermostat where it is not affected by heat and draft sources (direct sunlight, hot-air ducts, appliances, stairwell and outside doors).

Changes in the way houses are built and renovated have made most contemporary homes incompatible with conventional wood-burning fireplaces. Most notably, the increased insulation and improved airtightness of todays homes run counter to the large amounts of air required by conventional wood fireplaces. Such fireplaces are also extremely inefficient (many actually increase heat loss from the home) and produce high levels of harmful emissions which pollute outdoor air and can have a dangerous effect on indoor air quality.

One of the most important things you can do to maintain your forced air furnace and keep it running smoothly and efficiently is change your air filters on a regular basis. Once a month is about right, and you will prolong the life of your heater and improve the quality of your indoor air as a result.

As you put in the new filter, make sure to have the arrows pointing in the direction of the air flow. Just remember the air flows into the return duct from out in the room. This one is a disposable filter, but you may have a washable one made of steel mesh.

At the start of each heating season, open the blower compartment of your heater and make a visual inspection. Gently scrape the dust and grime off the blades with a screwdriver or putty knife.

If you have a gas furnace, a professional tuning and cleaning every two years is a good idea. Electric furnaces should also be professionally inspected every two years. For oil furnaces, it's a good idea to schedule a tuning every year.

Most modern blower motors are sealed and self-lubricating. But if you have an older system, the motor may have an oil reservoir. If so, you should fill it at the start of the heating season.