Welcome to the Flame Furnace Blog

A furnace is a furnace, right?  The answer to that is no.  It may surprise you to know that a heating and cooling unit must be properly sized to fit your home!  The good news?  Most of the time you do not have to figure out these calculations yourself.  Companies such as Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical have trained Comfort Consultants who know exactly how to figure out what kind of unit you need for your home!

You may be wondering exactly why this is so important.  The “healthiness” and efficiency of your furnace or air conditioner depend upon it!  A unit that is too small cannot supply enough air to fill your home, and so it has to work extra hard which reduces its efficiency and it also causes the unit to wear more quickly.  A furnace/air conditioner that’s too large may not seem like it has any cons but if it is too big, it will cycle on and off a lot due to the fact that it has so much power it does not need to be constantly running, but cycling on and off often will also wear it down.  Also, too big units can be noisy.

Therefore, when in doubt when looking into a new furnace or air conditioner-feel free to ask your Comfort Consultant about its size, because size does matter!  Contact Flame with any questions and check out what Energy Star has to say on this matter!

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When trudging through the snow that is still sticking to the ground, it may seem a little early to begin thinking about air conditioning.  However, there is a light at the end of this Winter tunnel (it is already March!)  If you think you will be in the market for a new air conditioner this Summer-now is the time to start thinking about it!

Why?  As far as heating and cooling goes, March is a slow season due to neither hot nor freezing temperatures (and Michigan’s unpredictability) therefore you have much more freedom with time when it comes to meetings with comfort consultants and installation times-you can pick a very very convenient time for you!

Also, when buying news shoes for a big event like a trip or marathon, it is best to have them before the big day to make sure they fit and that you like them.  It will be less stressful for you to have your air conditioner before the “big day” meaning that day in June when the temperature hits 90!

Therefore-if you are considering getting a new air conditioner for Summer 2010, call and set up an appointment now-it can’t hurt! Contact Flame for any questions or to set up an appointment!

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Energy energy everywhere?  Maybe not as of recently…but there are some way to save energy!  Here are some tips from DTE:

• Purchase a Programmable Thermostat-this thermostat will automatically turn down the heat in your home when you do not need it (for example-during the day when everyone in the house is at work or school).
• Make sure your furnace is sized correctly- If the furnace is too small, it will not heat your home that well therefore you may turn it up really high & if it is too big-you may be spending more money buying and using it than necessary
• High Efficiency Furnaces-Though high efficiency furnaces are more expensive to purchase than others, they will end up saving you both money and energy in the long run!
• Turn down your thermostat-If you do not want to purchase a programmable thermostat, just turning down the temperature will also be effective.  According to DTE-every degree below 72 degrees brings down your heating bill by 3%!
• Make sure vents are not blocked-though your heating vents may clash with your decor, it is important to keep them clear and uncovered.  Otherwise the heat will not be able to flow as easily throughout your home which will make your furnace have to work even harder!

Check out DTE’s website for more tips!

Contact Flame with any questions!  They will be able to help you out with many of these ideas and items such as programmable thermostats and high efficiency furnaces!

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When you decide to purchase a new furnace or air conditioner and have it installed-you need a permit from the city you live in!  This can be a hassle, but do not worry-Flame will take care of it for you!  Therefore, when getting a new unit installed-all you have to worry about is answering the door when it comes! (Another reason to choose Flame!)

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Though it seemed as if Spring was coming, this latest snow storm reminds us that Winter is still here.  That means that heating your home, heating bills, and worrying about heat loss are still concerns.  One fairly simple way to minimize these burdens is to put in insulation in your attic.

In general terms, insulating your attic basically means putting a “blanket” on the inside of your attic walls to help keep the cold air out, and the warm air in.  Even if you already have insulation, you still may want to check to see if you have enough. How?  Look at your attic at the floor joists.  These should be completely covered,  if they are not-you probably want more!

Attic Insulation can be “DIY” but if you do not have the time, or are worried you may not do the best job-don’t fret!  Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical offers a BSI certified technician to do this task for you.  This technician will make sure that your attic is properly insulated and will help save you the most money possible through insulation.  Contact Flame with any questions.

Check out this Energy Star site for more info!

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“Lights, Camera, Action!”  Well…just lights.  Lighting is a good way to save on money and with the help of Flame and Clor Lighting Group you can do just that!  Flame can help you to install and set up energy efficient lighting systems throughout your home, that help both the planet and your wallet.  Think about it!

If you are worried about the cost of doing this to your home-remember that there will be savings, and also-that you can do some of this stuff for yourself.  You can purchase energy efficiency light bulbs at stores such as Walmart for only about $20/bulb.  The important thing is that you take action anyway you can in order to save yourself money and also energy.  It’s a bright idea!

Contact Flame for more information!

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Sometimes when you are in a hurry you run out of the house without turning out the lights.  This doesn’t seem like too big of a deal until it happens daily…and then your electric bill comes.  However, there is a way to get to work (or something else) on time and still save energy/money, (and no the solution is not just to wake up earlier or start getting ready earlier).  There are sensored lights that can sense when you enter and leave a room and turn on and off accordingly.

Flame Heating Cooling and Electrical’s expert electricians can install these in your home and they are great for many reasons:

• Saves you energy and therefore money-because you will not have to worry about lights staying on unnecessarily in your home
• Perfect for rooms where the light switch is not near the entrance-you won’t have to walk across the room in the dark!
• These lights are also GREAT for businesses, especially bathrooms-where people are constantly walking in and out of and probably do not even think to turn off the lights.

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This weekend at MGM Grand Detroit, WWJ Radio Station will be hosting a radiothon to support THAW (The Heat and Warmth Fund).  THAW helps to provide emergency heat/utility assistance to families who cannot afford it.  This is the 7th time that WWJ has held this “Winter Survival Radiothon” and it will be from 5 a.m. February 5, until 12 p.m. on February 6.

Flame Heating, Cooling and Electrical is proud to be a sponsor of this wonderful cause.  Many of us take heat for granted, especially in the Winter and so it is important to remember those who do not always have it.  If you can, I strongly encourage you to donate to this fund, but prayers and support for those in need are also equally important.  Check out the WWJ Website for more information about the Radiothon.

TO DONATE DURING THE RADIOTHON CALL:   1-888-579-4950

If you are interested in Flame’s participation in this Radiothon and its work with THAW (or if you are interested in anything else dealing with heating and cooling) Contact Flame

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Let’s face it, some of us are just heating and cooling ignoramuses.  This is not a bad thing, some people are just more knowledgeable in other areas.  Anyways, if you are like I once was-you probably do not really know much about the process that goes into heating your home, which means you are also probably unaware to alternatives to regular furnaces.  Well, here are some to think about and their pros and cons:

• Boiler:  Boilers use water that is heated in order to warm your home.  Typically they do not dry out your home as much as a normal furnace.  Boilers use aluminum fins and copper pipes in order to heat your home, but they do not take up as much room as the ductwork needed for a furnace.  Last but not least, it is considered to be more economical than a forced air furnace and it does not bring as many allergens.
• Radiant Heat:  In general terms, radiant heat is simply heat under your floors or in your walls that heats your home.  In this way, especially if the heat comes from the floor-the heat is being transferred to the person instead of to the air.  Radiant Heat is great for additions so you do not have to worry about extending ductwork from your furnace.  Radiant heat can also be used in driveways and sidewalks (so you do not have to shovel).
• Geothermal Heating:  Geothermal systems are initially more expensive than a regular furnace.  However, they are incredibly energy efficient so you earn back the money you spent.  These systems use the hot or cool temperatures from the ground to heat or cool your home.  Geothermal Systems are one of the “Greenest” ways you can go when heating your home!

Hopefully these short descriptions helped you to learn a little more about the technology and items that can be used to keep you toasty during the Winter!  Contact Flame for any questions!

Check out these Blogs:  Why Should You Consider a Boiler? or Radiant Heat

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With this cold weather out there, having a working furnace is imperative.  It could sure be a chilly problem if  it stopped working.  Before calling professionals, like Flame-check some of these things out on your own first:

• Reset the Furnace (the re-set switch looks like a light switch on your furnace, turn it “off” for about 20 seconds and then back on)
• Check your electrical panel for blown fuses

These are simple things, but just a small problem like a blown fuse or switch flipped the wrong way could turn your home into the Ice Hotel.  If after checking the reset switch and the breakers, your furnace still does not work-call Flame.  (also, even if it does turn back on after re-setting the reset switch, you should still call Flame to see if there is a larger problem of the furnace shutting off to begin with).

Any Questions?  Contact Flame and Stay Warm!

Also Check out Some other Flame FAQ’s

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