Posted in: furnaces on Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Do you have this furnace pictured above installed in your home?

Your City Heating services all makes and models of furnaces, and as a function of doing this we are alerting consumers to potential health risks, as well as problematic furnaces that may have been installed in your home.

In this alert we are featuring Lennox high efficient furnaces built from 1996 to present day. There are a variety of model numbers, please see if your model is on our list below.

This is a reference only list; your model number may not appear:

G61mpv
G51mpv
G71mpv
G41mpv
GHR32v

These furnaces were mass-produced using inferior metals for the heat exchanger. There are two parts to this, one is the primary, which is made of regular steel, and the second made of stainless steel.

To better understand this we will take a look at the chemistry of what is left over from burning natural gas in your furnace.

When the gas is burnt in the furnace at about 1000 degrees Fahrenheit, it travels through the primary to the secondary heat exchanger and exhausted out of the furnace. In doing this heat is absorbed by passing air around the heat exchanger, thus reducing the temperature to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

What leaves the home as bi-product of this combustion process is carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, water vapour (H2O), and other trace chemicals.

The bi-product we are very concerned with is the sulphur dioxide, when this is mixed with H2O we get a chemical change in your furnace to sulphuric acid. When the furnace shuts off, the sulphuric acid in the secondary heat exchanger migrates through the primary exchanger (the steel one) and rusts it out.

This process of corrosion can happen slowly or very quickly. One way to do a simple check is to look at how many white pipes you have coming out of your furnace installation. If you have one pipe you will see corrosion and rust in about one year. If you have two pipes you will see the corrosion and rust in about five years.

*Please view the pictures below to get an idea of what this looks like on your furnace*

In other cases we see corrosion at around 9 years and the heat exchanger is detached from the welds, while high levels of carbon monoxide leak into your home. We cannot stop this process of corrosion in these faulty furnace models, you will have to get them replaced.

We believe the manufacture knows about this problem because they changed all of their product service manuals to indicate the furnaces must be installed with two white pipes after about 2008, which will definitely slow down the process.

They know about the problem and want to hide it from consumers. Most of these furnaces have a 20 year heat-exchanger warranty (lifetime if you are the original purchaser). This is a good warranty but unfortunately you will have to pay for the labor to replace the exchanger, freight, etc. The warranty is misleading in this special case due to the faulty heat exchanger.

This is in our opinion unacceptable, and here is why:

1- They will give you another defective heat exchanger (same one)
2- You have to pay about $500.00 or more for the new heat exchanger
3- You will have to do this over again in 5-10 years
4- The risk to you if the furnace exchanger leaks carbon monoxide in your home and poisons your family

History time: Carrier corporation has this same problem (slightly different but at the end of the day, same result) Check this for yourself by Googling defective heat exchangers. You will read about class action lawsuits, inferior metals, manufacture will do nothing about it.

Consumers are out millions of dollars for repairs.

At Your City Heating we are asking consumers to not purchase products from corporations that produce defective equipment, such as Lennox, Carrier, and Armstrong. They just do not deserve your business, and this has been proven time and time again over the last 2 decades.

We will be publishing more articles related to consumer alerts that you need to know about, if you would like to receive these updates please send us an email at adrian@yourcityheating.ca to be added to the consumer alert email list.

We also welcome you to contact Your City Heating if you have any immediate concerns for your family’s health and safety, or the longevity of your furnace. We are registered licensed dealers of the highest quality and longest lasting furnaces in the HVAC business, which come from the Whirlpool brand.

You can spend money now to replace your heat exchanger, and know that you will have to do it again in the future, or you can upgrade to Whirlpool brand now and enjoy an unlimited lifetime warranty.

We are not publishing this article as a sales mechanism, however being home owners ourselves, we always need to present any problems alongside a solution. Living comfortably knowing that your furnace heat exchanger is stainless steel, rust and corrosion proof. Click here to read about Whirlpool versus Lennox furnace options.

Please consider telling your friends, family, and neighbors about this potential danger in your home.

Posted in: holiday on Thursday, December 20th, 2012

At Your City Heating are very thankful for your business and the potential business of new customers.

We work hard for word of mouth leads, and to ensure that everyone we come in contact with speaks highly of our employees and organization.

This time of year is an important one for furnace repairs and replacements, as we know that at any moment a “cold snap” could set in, and your house should be prepared.

Over the Holidays, we are here to serve you, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, just give us a call at the phone number on the top of the website.

Taking time to reflect on the things that you are thankful for, with the people that you love is an important part of the Holidays as well, and we will be doing this along with the rest of Greater Vancouver.

Posted in: heat pumps on Friday, August 3rd, 2012

This family choose to upgrade their heating system and add air conditioning. They have a conventional hot water heating system, that served them well. They have been living in the house for about a year and find it comfortable for the most part but there was areas that would get hot when the sun would come out (master bedroom, family room/kitchen, sons bedroom). We went to the house and did a inspection and a estimate to add a Samsung Heat Pump system to these rooms.

We found that the areas that were hot faced west with large windows. The recommendation was to install a Samsung free joint multi Heat Pump, (neo forte model) high wall heads. This unit is 36,000 btu’s ( three heads ) two-9k one 18k. This strategically placed would make these hot spots perfect for removing heat in the summer. And in addition to the cooling the free joint multi also heats in the winter.

So in the rooms they are installed in will make it very comfortable year round, and save them money due to increased energy efficiency. The neo forte uses Smart inverter technology, ( S-inverter). This makes for a perfect temperature, when the neo forte turns on the system ramps up to maximum temperature. Once the temperature reaches the desired comfort level, the system adjusts to any changes in the room, thus providing less temperature fluctuations, which increases efficiency.

This extremely efficient neo forte s-inverter that delivers heating and cooling at a blink of an eye while saving you money is a perfect addition to any home. Contact us if you would like us to walk you through the product and how it can make your home a better place to live.

Posted in: heat pumps on Friday, August 3rd, 2012

This week some of our team members installed Samsung Neo Forte Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pumps for one of our customers. The big unit was a ducted mini-split for the whole house and the small unit was for heating and cooling for their solarium. They removed an old electric boiler that was heating their house with radiant in floor heat. They were averaging about $375.00 per month on electric bills for running the boiler in the winter. This install will cut their bills in half and give them the comfort of cooling in the summer as well. The new system is able to heat their home with outside temperatures of -15 degrees Celsius.

To learn more about Samsung Neo Forte systems read this article and if you have any questions or would like a free no obligation in home quotation, give us a call or use the chat feature at the top of our website.

Posted in: featured, heat pumps on Friday, August 3rd, 2012

The year round weather patterns here in Vancouver Canada are mostly moderate, and rarely drop below zero degrees celcius. This affords the community many alternative options to in home comfort systems that other parts of the country cannot have access to due to extreme cold conditions. One of the best comfort systems for moderate weather conditions comes from Samsung, in the form of a mini-split ductless heat pump system.

Features of the Samsung ductless mini-split heat pump systems:

- Cools your home in the summer months and heats your home in the winter months, to below 15 degrees celcius. So you know if we get a cold snap for a few days you are taken care of with one system.
- Wall mounted to blend in with any room or decor, the Vivace models are dark glass and the Neo Forte models are white.
- Built in filtration systems that kill bacteria, bugs, germs, and captures dust and air born particles of any kind (click the graphic below)
- Instead of turning off and turning back on when it is needed, the Samsung system runs 24/7 at low speeds to maximize energy efficiency.
- Nearly silent operation for peace and quiet.
- Variable air flow angles, so you can drive the air towards the roof or floor, depending on the time of year.
- Different modes for falling asleep, sleeping, waking up, and more. It’s truly customizable from a configuration standpoint.

*Download the PDF to read all of the details about the Samsung ductless mini-split heat pump systems.

If you would like a quote on this product line please give us a call, use the instant chat feature at the top of the site, or submit the contact form with your questions. We are happy to do a no obligation in home consultation and answer all of your questions while also providing you a written quote. We look forward to hearing from you!

Posted in: conference on Thursday, July 19th, 2012

Your City Heating & Cooling is pleased to announce that we will be attending the 2013 Fall West Coast Women’s Show October 19-21 at TRADEX in Abbotsford.

In attendance will be over 400 booths, 28,000 conference attendees, and many great products and services targeted for the women who call the lower mainland home.

The West Coast Women’s Show is produced by Encore Exhibitions. Our professional show team leads the industry with over 26 years of success producing and marketing leading consumer shows, exhibitions and special events.

We are proud that the West Coast Women’s Show has grown to become the largest and most successful women’s event in Western Canada- selected for Tradeshow Weeks 2007, 2008 and 2009 lists of 50 Fastest-Growing Shows in North America!

For more information please look to the Facebook and Twitter accounts for this wonderful event, and we will see you there!

Posted in: furnaces on Saturday, April 14th, 2012

If you are like most people, you may not think much about your home furnace. And, if your furnace has been well maintained, runs silently, and you never wake on a cold morning wondering if this will be the day the furnace kicks on, then likely your furnace is doing what its meant to do.

However, if your home furnace is starting to creep up there in age, and you are starting to wonder if your heating costs are higher than they could be, then now may be a great time to find out if it’s time for the old furnace to go.

Your City Heating and Cooling will be on site at this coming weekend’s Tri-City Spring Home Show (www.homeshow.com/events/events_details). While our Home Comfort Specialists are happy to talk over any and all furnace related questions, the following tips may help you feel more prepared in meeting with us!

The Top Seven Reasons for Replacing your Furnace

1) Comfort -Your home will become more comfortable. Over the last 20 years, technology has improved. With a newer more modern furnace, the heat distribution throughout your home becomes more even and you will experience a warmer home.

2) Cost – A furnance installed 15 years ago operated at 65% efficiency. Today, your updated home furnace is 95% efficient. This difference means that for every dollar you spend on heat, you are getting a return of 95 cents of heat instead of 65 cents. And who doesn’t want to save money?

3) Safety – A new furnace comes with approximately 8 safety devices. When you consider that a 15 year old furnace comes with only 2 safety features, the need for replacement becomes clear.

4) Electrical Savings – A 15 year furnace consumes approximately 650 – 900 watts of electricity. A brand new furnace has a DC drive motor that consumes approximately 45 – 90 watts of power. This difference means a savings of 4 cents/hour to run your furnace fan.

5) Humidity Control – A new furnace comes with the availability to slowly and constantly circulate the air in your home. A 15 year old furnace comes with one speed – and its noisy!

6) Warranty – Most new furnaces come with a lifetime guarantee with the heat exchanger and 10 years on the electrical components. Older furnaces? There is no warranty.

7) Peace of Mind – A new furnace means you and your family can rest comfortably in your home, knowing your updated furnace is doing exactly what it is meant to do.

Posted in: Uncategorized on Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Right now in Vancouver, not only are we 2 days away from the kick off to Spring Home Show season with the Tri-City Spring Home Show starting Friday afternoon, but our very own Vancouver Canucks started round 1 of the Western Conference Playoffs tonight! As this is being written mid-game, and with the score tied at 1-1, the playoff season already looks promising for our home team. To catch all the playoff details and highlights – www.canucks.nhl.com

And this really is a big weekend to come in Vancouver! Sunday April 15 marks the 27th annual Vancouver Sun Run. If you have never experienced the Sun Run as either a runner or a spectator, showing up on Sunday will promise to bring you a ton of excitement. With close to 50 000 runners, joggers, walkers and babes being pushed in strollers, you can’t help but be inspired listening to the crowd at Canada’s largest 10K road race.

Alas, not every one loves a crowd taking over the downtown streets of Vancouver! With road closures in effect from early Sunday morning, to early Sunday afternoon, what better way to beat the crowds than taking a quick drive around Burrard Inlet to Port Moody to take in the Tri-City Spring Home Show. While you won’t be inspired by the sweat and hard work of 50 000 runners, you will be motivated to plan your home renovation or upgrade! Be sure to come by the Your City Heating and Cooling booth with all your home heating and cooling questions.

And the best part is, with the Tri-City Spring Home Show ending at 4 pm Sunday, you’ll still have plenty of time to make it home to catch the Vancouver Canucks being hosted by the LA Kings. Go Cancuks Go!

Posted in: summer on Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

All around the lower mainland over the past few days we have enjoyed a much needed break from cooler temperatures, bringing us sun, blue skies and the promise of summer. And with this promise of warmer days to come, also comes the start of Home Show season.

Your City Heating and Cooling will be joining over a hundred other exhibitors at this coming weekend’s Tri-City Spring Home Show. Now in it’s 10th year, this free event will see thousands of people coming through its doors. If the change in seasons is inspiring thoughts of home renovations or upgrades, then the Tri-City Spring Home Show is the place to be.

Walking through the home show not only allows you to dream, plan, create and imagine all the possibilities for your home, but you will get the opportunity to meet and speak with the experts in home renovation planning. Your City Heating and Cooling will be on-site to explore all your home heating and cooling options.

If you are thinking that it may be time to replace your aging furnace, find yourself wondering whether a heat pump is the best option for you, or if the warmer temperatures are bringing thoughts of the wonders of air conditioning, then stop by our booth. We know that making the decision to renovate or upgrade your home comes with many questions. So come on by the Your City Heating and Cooling booth and one of our Home Comfort Specialists will be happy to answer any and all of your questions.

Posted in: customer reviews on Thursday, February 2nd, 2012

WOW, we are so honored and excited to be the winners of the 2011 Best of Vancouver Award for the top HVAC Contractor in Greater Vancouver, from consumer review website: Homestars.com. This is the culmination of consumer reviews for the calendar year of 2011. We work hard to please each and every customer that we earn, and we thank all of you for taking the time to rate and vote for us on Homestars.com. Last year we attended the Best of Vancouver awards, and here is the article that we wrote about it.

You can come to the awards ceremony to network with the winners from 2011, by clicking here for tickets and event information.

About Homestars

HomeStars.com is a growing online community of homeowners and home improvement companies throughout Canada and the U.S.
home renovation

HomeStars offers a free service for homeowners to find reputable renovators, repairmen and retailers by searching its database of almost 2 million companies. Homeowners write reviews based on their home improvement experiences – both good and bad. This builds a collective knowledge base that is invaluable in helping homeowners make better decisions on whom to hire.