Thermodynamics-filter. I own a large metal desk that I keep pushed up against my window. Underneath my desk top (clearance of a few inches) is my furnace. Whenever I turn the furnace on, the desk top heats up very quickly. I do not want to move my desk if at all possible. (great view). Could I make a heat shield for the underside?
posted by Damn That Television on Nov 12, 2009 - 13 answers

Its that time of the year again, when I get the furnace cleaned, install a new filter, clean the humidifier ( and install a new humidifier pad), and start it all up. In the last few years, I've seen something called the "Swordfish" advertised. Its an ultraviolet light that is connected to the furnace ductwork and kill bacteria as well as mold that passes by the light. I've read some reviews about it and it sounds as though it does work. However I'm still a little skeptical. Does anybody have one or have any thoughts on it?
posted by Taurid on Nov 6, 2009 - 7 answers

I have a 20-year-old furnace. [more inside]
posted by Nonce on Oct 20, 2009 - 15 answers

My Westinghouse gas furnace has been disconnected because it wouldn't shut off the gas when the pilot light was out. The fault apparently lies in the part pictured. Is there any hope of getting a replacement? Inquiries about town have been unsuccessful so far. [more inside]
posted by alexei on Oct 10, 2009 - 11 answers

Can I get the Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency if I am buying the house right now, and the current homeowner is replacing the furnace for me? [more inside]
posted by dpollitt on Sep 1, 2009 - 4 answers

Replacing the AC and furnace -- is now the time to buy? Tell me what you know about rebates! [more inside]
posted by amanda on Jul 28, 2009 - 10 answers

Choosing a supplier for oil heating in north-of-Boston; first time homeowner, and first acquaintance with oil furnace. Lots of companies sent us fliers when we bought the house, but what are the criteria for choosing one of them? [more inside]
posted by aimedwander on Jul 24, 2009 - 6 answers

Our current central air conditioner uses 20x25x2 filters, which seem to be an odd size (after searching the aisles for a bit, I asked at the local big box hardware store and the ever-so-helpful worker there implied that I was insane & there was no such thing). Anyway, I've searched online a bit & some places do indeed sell them, but I was wondering -- would it be ridiculous to just stack two 20x25x1 filters together to save myself the trouble of special ordering the correct size?
posted by zempf on Jul 6, 2009 - 5 answers

Is genuine best in with the Aprilaire Whole-Home Air Cleaner?I am having trouble sussing out what is best for our situation. I might just have a general air flow issue. [more inside]
posted by stormygrey on Jun 21, 2009 - 2 answers

Are there any good low-capital alternatives to electric Cadet heaters for warming and cooling my house? [more inside]
posted by msalt on Apr 29, 2009 - 2 answers

What are the pros and cons of trying to switch heating systems from a traditional furnace to a waste oil heater that burns used gasoline engine oil, particularly for an automobile repair garage? [more inside]
posted by franklen on Feb 27, 2009 - 10 answers

Furnace out. Part not available for 2 weeks +. Weather's chilly. What would you do? [more inside]
posted by ecorrocio on Feb 19, 2009 - 18 answers

Replacing the old mercury thermostat in our old house with a programmable one for an oil furnace. The old one is a two wire hook up, one red/white and the other black. What would be the correct configuration to the new thermostat? Black to R, Red/White to W? I've searched high and low for the answer.
posted by Heatwole on Jan 15, 2009 - 16 answers

Furnace repair filter: Can any Mefites recommend someone for furnace repair in Vancouver? [more inside]
posted by Cosine on Jan 13, 2009 - 3 answers

[Asking for a friend:] What can I do about the stinky, wasteful oil furnace in my apartment? I'm worried about my health, and I'm not sure that the landlord cares. [more inside]
posted by TurkishGolds on Dec 22, 2008 - 4 answers

Should we replace our furnace and AC and go with this company's maintenance agreement/guarantee? [more inside]
posted by SallyHitMeOntheHead on Dec 16, 2008 - 7 answers

I've tried two different generators, but still can't get my oil burning furnace to power up. Detail inside post [more inside]
posted by inthe80s on Dec 13, 2008 - 7 answers

My best friend buys her first furnace. She is in Canada. Are there any ways, beside of online consumer reviews, to find out what furnace is the best value-for-money for her house? And if you ever used Armstrong Gas Furnace (it was recommended by one of the contractors) what is your personal experience? Will Armstong really last for 10 years? Thanks! [more inside]
posted by ivanka on Nov 29, 2008 - 10 answers

How big a wood stove should I get? [more inside]
posted by geos on Sep 17, 2008 - 6 answers

Where can I buy wholesale furnace filters direct from China or from the manufacturers? [more inside]
posted by Hellafiles on Aug 26, 2008 - 2 answers

When is a heat pump worth it? [warning: a bit long] [more inside]
posted by Shepherd on Aug 15, 2008 - 19 answers

High-efficiency gas furnace installed where previously there was mid-efficiency. So it vents straight out the wall while the old furnace used the chimney. The vent is right next to the sandbox. How bad is this? [more inside]
posted by winston on Apr 26, 2008 - 5 answers

Which approach really burns more heating oil - keeping the house at a constant medium temperature (say, 64 degrees) or keeping it very low most of the time (58-60) but bringing it up to a higher temperature (say, 66 degrees) once or twice a day? [more inside]
posted by anastasiav on Apr 4, 2008 - 11 answers

(Oil Heat) - Getting a new oil burner / furnace. (1) How much should it cost, including installation, for a new oil furnace that's at least pretty good/efficient? (We've gotten one estimate, so far, for $10,000 (!) $11,000 for antifreeze pipe system.) What's the cost for the equipment vs cost of labor? (2) The $10K was for a System 2000. Is the System 2000 really that good? Anyone have one? How much did it cost? How much did it reduce your heating bills? [more inside]
posted by coffeefilter on Apr 2, 2008 - 6 answers

Ice has destroyed my oil furnace chimney. Will it kill me? [more inside]
posted by Shepherd on Mar 9, 2008 - 8 answers

Help! It's cold and my furnace is broken. Since it doesn't have RAM, a PCI slot or a motherboard, I am clueless. Are there any manageable troubleshooting activities I might try on my own before I become a meat popsicle? [more inside]
posted by kbanas on Nov 28, 2007 - 25 answers

I need to have annual maintenance done on my furnace. Can any Toronto-area MeFites recommend a company or person for this job? Also, what kind of price range can I expect? Send contact information to the email address in my profile if you do not wish to make it public. Thanks.
posted by orange swan on Sep 17, 2007 - 5 answers

We have oil heat, but as you might expect in the middle of summer's dog days, we are not using it. So why do I periodically get a very strong smell of oil? This seems to have just begun in the last few days - at least I didn't notice it before. I checked the basement oil tank, no visible leaks and there is no strong smell down there. There have been no recent deliveries of oil that would explain this. Thanks for any help.
posted by mmf on Aug 7, 2007 - 5 answers

Does my home really need a new boiler? How do I choose one? Where should I buy it? How much should I pay? [more inside]
posted by wordwhiz on Jul 30, 2007 - 3 answers

My A/C is making my furnace drool. A lot. [more inside]
posted by mrmcsurly on Jul 19, 2007 - 8 answers

I'm looking for suggestions as to what I can do to keep the boiler & furnace in my house inaccessible to our cats, without closing up the actual room they are in. The boiler has some fluffy insulation around it that I can completely imagine my cats having a ball with. They are not bright. [more inside]
posted by tastybrains on Jun 1, 2007 - 10 answers

mr. kerning accidentally dropped an aleve tablet in the floor vent of our gas furnace. he's worried that it will burn and release toxic fumes that will kill us in our sleep. is there anything to be worried about? [more inside]
posted by kerning on Apr 22, 2007 - 14 answers

Is there any where I can buy a furnace in the DC area and pick it up today? It needs to be all electric, and not a heat pump. [more inside]
posted by juggler on Dec 21, 2006 - 9 answers

My wife changed the filter on our gas furnace yesterday, and now it doesn't work. I pulled off the front cover and on the upper right is a small black pressure switch of sorts. I originally thought it was supposed to be held shut by the cover, but that is not the case, as they don't match up. [more inside]
posted by mecran01 on Dec 2, 2006 - 19 answers

I just moved into a house that I bought, and the heater makes this 700 square-foot house nice and toasty, but the timing seems off. First something comes on, it makes a humming, sounds like a motor, but no air is coming out yet....that goes on for a minute or two, then the igniter clicks on and glows for about a minute, then flames come on for 3-5 minutes, then the fan comes on and blows heat up throughout the house. Inspector said... [more inside]
posted by Salvatorparadise on Nov 11, 2006 - 9 answers

My husband and I are in the market for a new oil furnace. Help us make sure we get the right one. [more inside]
posted by SheIsMighty on Nov 8, 2006 - 4 answers

I have an old furnace in my home that I can't get working. Now that summer is over, I'd like to run the heater again, but the burners won't ignite. I've just replaced the thermocouple and that didn't seem to help. It seems it will cost ~$100 to just get a diagnosis. If I could narrow down what was wrong, I might be able to fix it myself. Any ideas? I can post photos if that will help.
posted by shaneflyer on Oct 18, 2006 - 10 answers

What can we do to get more air from the air conditioning (and the heat in the winter) to the back of the house? [more inside]
posted by winston on Jul 29, 2006 - 17 answers

I'm having three HVAC contractors come to my house tomorrow to give me estimates for replacing my gas furnace. What should I look for to identify a "reputable" contractor, and what questions should I ask? [more inside]
posted by gwenzel on Jul 17, 2006 - 10 answers

What kind of water heating system do I have? And can I install a timer on it? [more inside]
posted by schoolgirl report on Jul 4, 2006 - 3 answers

Tomorrow I sign a lease for a huge old house built in the 1800's, and I am worried about how much oil will be required to heat the place. How can this be predicted without appropriate historical data? [more inside]
posted by brundlefly on May 14, 2006 - 10 answers

We're considering swapping out our existing oil-burning furnace/hot water heater for a furnace that burns ... something else. I'm interested in hearing suggestions/anecdotes about what the 'something else' should be. [more inside]
posted by anastasiav on Jul 8, 2005 - 13 answers

What can you tell me about getting a new, gas wall heater/furnace?

The old heater (gas floor furnace), which is original to the house (1940's) has gone kaput. Apparently they don't even make replacement parts for floor furnaces anymore, we don't want to install forced air/heating, so a wall heater it will be. I just don't want to get ripped off in the process. Any advice on approximately what it should cost for installation? Do we have to pull a permit for this? Also, your experience with regard to brands. I am willing to pay for a good quality product, I just don't want to pay twice the going rate for labor. We're in L. A., if that colors your answer. Thanks.
posted by vignettist on Dec 27, 2004 - 2 answers

Electric Furnace Help My parents' furnace began acting funny tonight. (More Inside...) [more inside]
posted by mds35 on Dec 2, 2004 - 5 answers

Heating question. I have a new home. It has a forced air furnace. I generally keep the thermostat set at 69 degrees. My roommate keeps bumping it to 72. Will this make a dramatic increase in the cost of the heating bill? [more inside]
posted by benjh on Nov 30, 2004 - 23 answers

Should I replace my dying oil furnace with oil or gas? A year ago gas would have been a no-brainer, but now gas supplies are increasingly constrained, while locally-produced biodiesel supplies are starting to come online. [more inside]
posted by alms on Sep 27, 2004 - 1 answer

HomeImprovementFilter: It's time to replace our aging oil-fired furnace (so old it's a converted coal furnace) in a great old house with radiators. Now we need to decide, do we stick with oil or switch to natural gas. After getting estimates, the price is pretty much a wash (including cutting up and removing the oil tank if we go with gas), so I'm trying to figure the pros and cons of both. The other wrinkle is that the new oil system would have a coil-heating system for hot water, rather than the traditional hot-water tank. Either way, the system should pay for itself in less than 10 years, as the service guy yesterday said our current system is running at 61% efficiency.

So. Any strongly-held feelings out there on oil vs. gas?
posted by baltimore on Jun 25, 2004 - 15 answers

A question about heating a household: Do you expend more energy maintaining a constant temperature in a house, or does it cost more letting the thermostat become lower and heating the house to a normal temperature when it is necessary?

I have a thermometer that adjusts the temperature up or down depending on the time of the day. When I'm at work and it is winter, I set the temperature lower then when I am at home. Have I wasted my money on this thermometer? When I let the temperature slide, the furnace could run for 15 minutes to 'catch up' for the heat lost throughout the day. [more inside]
posted by sleslie on Apr 8, 2004 - 9 answers