There has been some exciting news in the world of tax credits and heating and air. When the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was passed into law, it included a provision allowing a tax credit for a furnace that has a high efficiency blower motor regardless of the thermal efficiency of the gas burner section. Up until recently, the IRS was not recognizing this section of the law and was giving credit only for furnaces that were 95% efficient or greater and this limited many people’s choices, as this model was not always the best choice for everyone. They had not included this important “main air circulating fan” portion of the law failing to realize that in some parts of the country, the largest energy savings can be derived from electric savings from these special fans in 80% efficient furnaces. Now due to a recent ruling by the IRS, two more types of furnaces are now eligible to earn tax credits for the years 2009 & 2010. These are 80% efficient variable speed furnaces with two stage gas valves and 80% efficient single stage furnaces with super high efficient blowers. Both of this types of furnaces can now earn a credit by themselves and not just as a piece of a qualify system. This a great ruling coming just before the winter season when many people will be looking to replace their furnace and cannot afford to install a 95% model or can’t install one due to the type of home they own. Both of these furnaces will save hundreds of dollars a year for people and will provide much lower gas bills over an old 50% to 60% furnace.

On another note:
As we move closer to the beginning of the cooler weather, I want to alert homeowners to a safety problem that has become of epidemic proportions in the last year. Many thousands of homes have had to have their roofs replaced due to hailstorms that hit the metro area in the last couple of years and as we have been going in peoples attics to work on their heating and cooling systems we have noticed some alarming and dangerous problems that need to be brought to peoples attention before heating season arrives and they start using their furnaces. Roofing companies are inadvertently causing problems when replacing roofs by dislodging furnace flues completely and by pushing flues up against the wood decking of homes they are roofing. Most roofers do not come into the inside of the attic to check the furnace flues or chimneys when replacing roofs. We have found numerous flues knocked completely off and many more touching wood decking, which is very dangerous and a code violation. Double wall furnace flues must have 1” clearance from wood and the roofers are accidentally sliding the pipe into the wood and attaching the roof flashing in the wrong place. You can check for this problem by going into the attic with a flashlight and look for the round silver pipe coming from the either the attic furnace or up through the roof of the second floor and make sure it is not touching the decking or has been knocked completely off the furnace. If you have had your roof replaced recently and you are unsure if there is a problem, call your heating and air company to perform an inspection of your furnace flue, as there could be a situation that needs attention before heating season arrives.

As I stare at the keyboard trying to write this months article that so many people tell me they enjoy and read every issue, I am overwhelmed with a personal loss and tragedy that is causing a “writers block”. So I decided to take this opportunity to thank all our friends, customers, competitors and even strangers who have showed an outpouring of love to my family and business over the loss of my daughter, Elizabeth Ann. She passed away June 21, 2009, fathers day night. Elizabeth was very well known at Reliable as she was one of our customer service reps and spoke to many of you everyday, booking service appointments and dealing with the everyday issues that come up in this sometimes-hectic business. She is missed and our lives will never be the same without her. Hundreds of people came to the funeral home to comfort us at our time of loss and the crowd at the church was a standing room only affair as hundreds more showed up to pay their respects to Elizabeth, who would have been 21 this August. This is really the topic I want to discuss here this month. The multitude of people who showed the courage and strength to show up in person and look us in the eye and hug our necks have no idea how much they helped myself, her mother, and my son in this horrible time of loss. There were times in the past when I should have gone to show my support and love when such loss occurs in someone’s life, but I did not go fearing what to say and what to do that could help ease the pain. Now that I have been on the other side of that receiving line of mourners, I can tell you it does not matter what you say or do, but rather that you just hug and comfort someone in their time of loss and show that you care and love. I know everyone does not know what to say and that is ok. Just a simple “sorry for your loss” is all that needs to be said. A hug and a look one in the eye is also so comforting, you would not believe. A number of people had personal stories of their own loss and how they overcame it that was very comforting. The afternoon of the first viewing of my precious baby girl, I had dreaded the time I thought would be a huge painful experience, but instead this time and the next day’s viewing became a few very short hours of that first week when by heart and soul did not ache beyond belief and that was only because of all of the brave and loving people who came and shared their stories of love and of how my daughter had touched their lives. You never know how one impacts the lives of others until something like this happens. I had a people call me after the funeral and tell me they did not come to the viewing or funeral because they were “not good with funerals and they do not know what to say” at these times of loss. If at all possible, put this discomfort aside and just come and hug and show support. If you only knew how much that helped one hurting so, I think you would come. Thank you all once again for all the flowers, cards, food, support and love you have all showered on us. Dan Jape