Chimney
Ridge
Hot Water Tanks
All units are equipped with an electric water heater. Below is a little bit of information about how they work, good installation practices, and how to purchase one.
Picture this. It’s Christmas time and you come home from another Christmas dinner. It is –40 C outside and all you want to do is have a nice hot shower to warm up. You open the door walk up stairs and find your whole second level has about an inch of water. Your water tank has blown and there is water EVERYWHERE. It is Christmas time which means if you call a plumber you are going to be charged a small fortune to have it replaced. You can’t wait otherwise you can’t wash dishes, have a shower, wash certain laundry. Not to mention, how long has the water been spilling out of the tank?
Has it caused damage to another unit, you wouldn’t even know until you knock on your neighbour’s door to find out. If there is damage, HOW MUCH IS THAT GOING TO COST?! This is just one scenario that could happen. It is awful and costly!!
In the recent past, this complex has seen its fair share of innocent unit owners being affected. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, here is some information about hot water tanks that you can use to prevent problems and to help you ask the right questions when you hire a plumber.
How an Electric Hot Water Tank Works:
All units have electric hot water tanks. As per the MB Hydro website Electric hot water tanks are as follows:
Electric storage water heaters use electric heating elements that are located in the storage tank. All water heaters lose heat through the shell of the tank. New electric water heaters come with increased insulation levels around the shell of the tank that help reduce heat loss. (To the right is an image for you review).
Furnaces
When colder temperatures arrive your furnace must be ready to work. Below are tips on how an electric furnace works, trouble shooting tips and maintenance.
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It is important to note this condo complex is not equipped for gas furnaces. The only option is Electric. Additional information can be found at Manitoba Hydro's website.
Installation:
It is highly recommended to have your water tank in a metal tub welded on top of a 3 foot stand. The tub collects leaking water and directs it to the plumbing drain. This is to help prevent damage to the surrounding floor and potentially other units. One important fact to note is to ensure your plumber installs spacers underneath the water tank so any leaking water can flow easily to the drain in the tub. In the situation described above, there were no spacers put under the tank so the water pooled and had no where to go, but to spill on to the floor.
If you require more information please contact the Property Manager by clicking here.
Make sure to ask your plumber about different features of the hot water tank. Newer hot water tanks have vacation modes, which help save money.
The life span of a water tank is approximately 8 years. Replacing your tank around that time is a diligent move to prevent damage to your unit and reduce the inconvenience. The Manitoba Hydro's Website has an abundance of information including water saving tips, how to choose the right contractor, etc.
Paying For a New Heater:
Running approximately $1000.00. Here are three ways you can purchase a new hot water tank.
1) Pay lump sum total of the water heater. This is not always viable .
2) Financing through the MB Hydro. Please visit Manitoba Hydro's Website
3) Rent & Relax: Some plumbing companies have a program where you can rent your next water heater for a standard fee every month. Most programs include a new water tank, the installation, and parts and servicing. This alleviates the stress of having to pay for unexpected maintenance work.
What Plumber should I hire?
If you need help finding a reputable plumber, contact the Property Manager.
How your Electric Furnace Works
There has been little change in how an electric furnace functions over the past few decades. The furnaces are very efficient. They can be equipped with accessories such as humidifiers or electronic air cleaners. Some unit owners have the original furnace still installed and are working very well.
There are three main parts to figuring out how a furnace works: thermostat, electric coils (aka heating element), and fan.
Heating begins with setting the thermostat to a designated temperature. When the thermostat senses the room air temperature is not at the designated setting it will send an electrical message to the furnace. The furnace holds the fan and the heating element. This electrical message will tell the heating elements to warm up and at the same time it will tell the fan to turn on. The fan blows air across the heating element to warm up the air and send the warmed air through your ducts to the room.
The heating element and the fan have a special relationship. The fan will work without the heating element on. If the heating elements starts and the fan fails to start, the temperature in the element will rise quickly. A temperature sensitive switch will interrupt the electrical circuit to prevent damage to equipment or possible fire. You should call a qualified service person.
Below are some problems that can occur and trouble shooting tips.
Problems that can Occur
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No air is coming out of the vent.
Check the thermostat. See if you turned it off or the fan is not set to 'AUTO' or set to 'COOL'. Make sure all your settings are correct before anything else.
If everything is set correctly at the thermostat then maybe the fan motor is not working properly. Check the air filter and replace if needed. Sometimes if the filter is clogged the fan motor can be over worked and automatically shut down. It may take an hour for the motor to cool down before it can restart.
2. There is air but no HEAT or the air is not as hot as you thought it would be.
Check your thermostat. Have you hit a button to change the electrical message to your furnace? Is it set to 'COOL'? Or is the temperature in the room the same as the temperature you have selected. All furnaces are meant to maintain a consistent temperature. Make sure all your settings are correct before anything else. It seems ridiculous to repeat this, but it happens.
However, the heating element in your furnace may not be working properly. It is best to have a qualified service person check it out. Heating elements and the controls can not be repaired but can be replaced. This is a much cheaper option than replacing the entire unit.
Anytime you are unsure about your furnace's operation it is best to call a certified contractor.
Maintenance
Please ensure to have your furnace and ducts cleaned regularly. A small amount of dust build up can reduce your furnace's efficiency greatly. It will also help with improved air quality; reducing allergens, dust, pet allergens, etc. The more efficient your furnace is the more money you save. Make sure to change your filters on a regular bases. Approximately every 2-3 months. Watch for sales at your local hardware store and stock up for an entire year.
If you live in an upper unit, it is difficult to maintain satisfactory heat levels on both floors. You may notice the top floor (third floor) is much warmer than your main floor. To combat this partly try closing a couple of your supply vents on the top floor to help push more air to your main floor. Also keep any floor vents exposed with a lot of open area around them. The more you limit the space around the vent the less circulation of heat in the room.
Filter choices
The main purpose of a furnace filter is to trap contaminents such as dust, hair and other gunk from being recirculated. Below is some information to help you choose what type of filter to buy.
Filter Rating System
Most filters are rated by the MERV rating system. MERV stands for Minimum Energy Rating Value. This system grades each filter on how many particles it can remove from the air. The higher the rating the more particles it will remove.
GOOD TO NOTE: Higher rated filters allow less air to flow through; meaning your furnace has to work VERY HARD to circulate the air into the occupied space. This can possibly shorten the life of your furnace.
It is not always best to go with a higher rated filter!
Most furnaces have a max MERV rating they can handle. Please check your manual or manufacturer's website to find out your furnaces max MERV rating.
Some home improvement centers have their own rating system on products they sell. These rating systems are similar to the MERV scale. It is always best to confirm what rating converts to the MERV scale before using it in your furnace.
To maintain your air conditioning systems efficiency and correct water drainage the equipment should be serviced annually by a qualified service person.