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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1979)
Page 4 Portland Observer Section II Thursday, J u ly » . 1979 Furnace maintenance saves fuel costs Periodic inspection and regular maintenance o f heating and cooling equipment can reduce fuel bills by as much as 10 per cent, and save the inconvenience and ex pense o f equipment breakdown. The Department o f Energy (DOE) urges homeowners to have their heating/cooling system checked every year or so, by a qualified specialist. Oil-fired systems should be checked every year; gas-fired systems should be checked every two or three years; and electric systems should be checked in accordance with manufacturer’ s specifications. To find a qualified heating/cooling repair specialist, check the yellow pages for names, then call two or three and ask for written proposals for performing routine maintenance. Check out the people you call with the Bet ter Business Bureau and other homeowners in your area. Maintenance Procedure« The Homeowner Can Perform No matter what type o f system you have, there are some steps you can take to keep it functioning smoothly. Inform ation or required maintenance procedures is covered in equipm ent manuals and maintenance booklets that come with the units. If you do not have the original manuals, check the yellow pages to obtain the names and phone numbers o f authorized brand-name equipment dealers. Very often, they can help you obtain the manual you need. Or, contact your local gas or elec tric utility or fuel oil supplier. They are usually willing to show customers basic procedures that may save them the time and expense o f making emergency calls later. Below, DOE answers some com m only-asked questions about maintenance procedures that will save you energy dollars: Q. What regular care should I give my forced-air system? A. First, clean the filters regularly. • A ll forced-air control heating and cooling systems require filters to trap dust and dirt in the air. These filters should be cleaned or replaced once every 30-60 days. Do not allow dirty filters to remain in your fur nace; they restrict the flow o f air, and therefore reduce the system’s efficiency. .. .Second, inspect, clean, and oil the blower unit. • In most heating units, a blower or fan moves air from the unit to the ducts. This blower can get dirty. To clean the blower, turn o ff all electric power to the unit. Use a toothbrush to clean the blades; a larger wire brush will be needed for the area around the fan. Finally, use the hose from your vacuum cleaner to remove all the loosened dirt from the fan unit. • Bearings in the electric motor and fan o f the blower unit should be lubricated once or twice a year. Oiling in structions are usually stamped on the motor nameplate, or included in the instruction manual. • In most units, the blower receives its power from a fan belt connected between it and the motor. Proper tension on the belt w ill help provide maximum e ffi ciency. Turn o ff the power. Then check the tension, by pressing down on the middle o f the belt. If the belt depresses by more than ‘/ j inch, it is too slack. Adjust the tension screws on the mounting frame that fasten the motor to the blower housing until you can’ t depress the belt more than !4 to '/ j inch. .. Third, clean, or inspect vents, registers and ducts regularly. • Make sure air vents and return registers are clean and unobstructed. A vacuum cleaner will do a good job o f removing lint, dust, and dirt. But grease often ac cumulates on kitchen vents and registers. To clean them, remove the grills and wash them in hot, sudsy water to dissolve the accumulated grease. • Check the ducts for air leaks when the heating or air- conditioning unit is on. Run your hand slowly over the ducts. If you feel air seeping out, there is a leak. Repair leaks by wrapping the ducts with duct tape, available at hardware and plumbing supply stores. I f ducts run through unheated spaces, wrap them with insulation. Q. Should chimneys be inspected regularly? A Yes. • If you have a gas or oil-fired system check the inside o f your chimney carefully each heating season. Repair loose bricks and motor, cracked lining, and other leaks promptly. Q. What care does the air-conditioning unit require? A Replace filters regularly, and protect the condenser unit. , . I • The outside condenser unit o f the central a ir conducting system should receive as little direct sunlight as possible since heat reduces its efficiency and wastes energy. However, if shrubbery provides shading for the unit, it should be trimmed so as not to block air flow • The condenser unit should also be cleaned regularly. If its surface is blocked by mud, leaves, dirt, or grass clippings, energy is wasted. Q. W hat can I do if the furnace stops operating.’ A Don’t panic. The problem may be simple, and one you can remedy yourself. • If your furnace burns oil, make sure the fuel tank is not empty. Check the electric switch that may control the blower or some other function of the heating unit. The switch may have been turned off. Also check the fuse j r circuit breaker that controls the furnace to see if it’s func tioning. . , .. • If your unit is gas-fired, check other gas appliances to make sure your main gas supply has not been cut off. If that doesn’t solve the problem, check the pilot light. Instructions for relighting the pilot light appear on the front o f most units. • I f these steps do not restore the furnace to operation, call your heating/cooling repair specialist or the utility company that provides service in your area. II the unit is fueled bv oil. call vour fuel oil dealer There’s cash in your castle. With a homeowner loan from The Oregon Bank, you can borrow money for college education, travel, a vacation home, or virtually any worthwhile purpose, based on e equity in your home Your equity, the difference between what you owe on your home and what it is now worth could be a lot more than you think' It may help you qualify for an Oregon Bank homeowner loan from $5,000 up to $35,000 Depending on the amount of your loan and your choice o, payment plans, you can take up to 15 years to repay A homeowner loan is entirely separate from your existing mortgage loan, and it has no effect on your present interest rate It s a simple interest loan, which means that the ,merest charges get smaller as you go along What s more, you can pay off the balance at any time, with no prepayment penalty EXAMPLES OF HOMEOWNER LOANS AND PAYMENTS Amount of the loan Amount of Monthly Payment S 5 000 Number Of Payments Period of Payments FINANCE CHARGE Tolai of Payments $110 85 60 5 Years S 1 651 00 S 6 651 00 7 500 166 27 60 5 Years 2 476 20 9 976 20 10 000 10 000 221 69 11905 60 180 5 Years 15 Years 3 301 40 11 429 00 13 301 40 21 429 00 15000 178 58 180 15 Years 17 144 40 32 144 40 20 000 238 11 180 15 Years 22 859 80 42 859 80 ANNUAL PERCENTAGE RATE : 11 85% The Oregon Bank Less tradition. More bank.
