Frequently Asked Questions About Heating

What is a Heat Pump?

Heat pumps are a great solution for your home comfort system because they work to provide both heating and cooling.  Heat pumps have SEER ratings like air conditioners and Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF) ratings for measuring heating efficiency. Higher SEER and HSPF ratings mean greater energy savings. Heat pumps are a very efficient alternative to electric heat. A heat pump works the same as an air conditioner in the summer, but it runs in reverse in the winter to heat your home. The system will be matched with a backup heating source, most often electric heat for those extremely cold days of winter.

What if I smell gas?

Propane (LP) gas:  You have this type if your gas comes from a tank located outside close to your house.  Propane is stored as a liquid under pressure in tanks and cylinders. In most residential applications, propane is used as a vapor. When liquid propane changes into a gas vapor, it expands in volume. This means that even a small leak of liquid propane can result in a much larger quantity of propane vapor, which can be especially dangerous in a confined space. A chemical odorant has been added to propane to give it a distinct smell. Learn to identify this odor. Propane gas is heavier than air, so it will sink to the floor and spread.  To check for the presence of propane, carefully smell all over a room, especially in low spots.

If you smell propane (LP) gas:

Exit your home immediately. Propane gas can ignite easily.  Do not light a match, start an engine, use a cell phone, or do anything that may create a spark. From a safe area, contact your propane supplier and call 911. If you are able, shut the propane gas supply off at the tank. Stay away from your home until you've been told that it is safe to return. Natural gas:  You have this type if you have a gas meter and pay a natural gas supplier or utility.  A chemical odorant has been added to natural gas to give it a distinct smell. Learn to identify this odor.

If you smell natural gas:

Exit your home immediately. Do not light a match, start an engine, use a cell phone, or do anything that may create a spark. From a safe area, contact your gas company or call 911. If you are able, turn the gas off at the meter. Stay away from your home until you've been told that it is safe to return.

Can carbon monoxide build up in my home?

Yes. Each year, carbon monoxide kills more than 200 Americans and sends nearly 5,000 more to emergency rooms for treatment, reports the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Where does it come from? When carbon-based fuels such as gas, oil, kerosene or wood burn, they produce gases. When fuel combustion or burning isn't complete, carbon monoxide enters the air. The CPSC advises that carbon monoxide detectors are the only way to alert yourself to the presence of toxic gas in your home. If you wake in the night with a headache -- and especially if another member of the family complains of a headache or is difficult to arouse -- get out of the house fast and seek medical help. We recommend carbon monoxide detectors be installed in your home!