1. Undersized ducting. The number one source of heat loss and loss of efficiency is the ducting system. It is also the single most commonly overlooked and under performed part of the heating and air conditioning system. IF someone is giving you an estimate to replace or upgrade your heating system the duct work is probably the first place they should look. Here in Southern California we can easily heat a 2000 square foot home with 50,000 btu's of heat. It is most commonly heated with an 80 or 100,000 btu furnace. The reason for the over heating is because the tonnage drive of the motor. This is the size of furnace that is required to cool the home. If your furnace is operating, yet not heating the home, the problem is almost always in the ducting. Some of the recent changes in ducting are:

A. Ducting connections now require a mechanical fastener. Duct tape no longer will be the adhesive. Contractor that cut corners usually leave this off of the work because of the time and expense that it takes to install the connections to code.

B. The duct tape must be UL181B approved. It is always labeled and easy to see. This duct tape is more expensive and more difficult to work with than the duct tape that you find in hardware stores. It also seals better and is not subject to ultra violet radiation. Sunlight (yes-even in the attic through vents) destroys duct tape. The heat from the furnace will dry out duct tape and soon it will blow off flooding your attic with heat that you are paying for. make sure that your contractor uses the correct UL181B approved tape along with a mechanical fastening system. The normal mechanical fasteners look like giant zip ties.

C. Flex ducting must be pulled tight! Tight means tight. When a corrugated flex duct is not pulled taught it has a tendency to obstruct the flow of air through it. It causes turbulence and decreases efficiency of the heating system. This can be substantial.

D. The ducting must be sized correctly. The single most common installation short cut is to install undersized ducting. the smaller ducting is cheaper to install and is substantially easier and faster to install.

2. Failure to change the vent out through the roof. The older cement asbestos venting systems cannot be used for the newer more efficient furnaces. The vent pipes tend to condensate moisture and this moisture drips down onto the furnace destroying everything it touches. The moisture is very acidic. The newer venting cannot be interlaced through the middle of the older cement asbestos. The reason this cannot be done is that the cement asbestos does not allow the metal vent piping to cool down. the metal venting overheats and breaks down very rapidly. After a few years the vent collapses in upon itself and can cause a fire hazard and carbon monoxide poisoning situation.

3. Failure to install the correct size electrical connector. All furnaces require a minimum 12 gauge cord to plug in unless:

    A. The furnace circuit has a 15 amp disconnect.

    B. The furnace is hard wired in Metal Clad Wiring.

The cities of Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, and most of Los Angeles County require hard wiring furnaces. The National Electric Code requires hard wiring furnaces. Many cities have adopted this rule, but not all. All Hard wired furnaces require a minimum 12 awg wire.

4. Failure to install a Set Back Thermostat. Title 24 of the California Energy Code requires that all furnaces installed in California be installed with a controlling system that automatically turns the furnace on and off according to time,  7 days a week. The thermostat does not need to be digital. These thermostats are considerably better and more costly than a standard run of the mill thermostat.

5. Failure to obtain a city, county or state permit. Every single furnace install requires a permit. If your contractor is shying away or fails to inform you of a permit that is required---STAY AWAY FROM THAT CONTRACTOR. There is only one reason why a contractor wants to not purchase a permit. That is because they are cutting corners at your expense, perhaps your safety as well. The permit process is for your benefit, not your contractors. The inspector is your advocate. they will make sure that the contractor is performing the job correctly.

Unfortunately the scams relating to the selling and installing of air conditioning systems are far more common and are more difficult for the homeowner to catch. I will relate most of them here.

1. Robbing you of efficiency.

I had a lady call me the other day and scream at me for one of my employees attempting to install a water heater her for what amounted to our standard industry book price. She told me the following:

She was able to purchase the 50 gallon water heater for $99 and it was installed perfectly for $129.00

I informed her that 50 gallon water heaters were selling wholesale 20 years ago for more than $99. I also let her know that I could not see any licensed plumber installing any water heater for $129. Her response was:

You are trying to rip me off. Your costs are too high.

I asked her what the name of the company was that installed the water heater? Her response:

I don't remember, but they were good.

I asked her to get the receipt and let me know the name of the company. Her response:

They didn't leave me a receipt.

I asked her "Did they purchase the required permit"? Her response:

No. They said they put in these water heaters all the time and no permit is required.

I asked her "Did they install earthquake straps"? Her response:

No.

I asked her "Did they they install a new gas flex (her estimate from us stated that the gas flex was soft aluminum and these do not meet earthquake code)"? Her response:

NO, they said it didn't need to be replaced.

I asked her if they piped the temperature pressure relief line tot he outside of the foundation as was indicated in our estimate, this is a code requirement. Her response:

No, the drain line goes to the floor just at it always has.

I asked her if they left the installation instructions and the warranty paperwork. Her response:

What installation instructions? what warranty paperwork?

I let her know that she was most likely the victim of fraud. The water heater was not installed to code and was dangerous. She was informed to get a city permit and have the inspector come to the house and inspect the furnace. The water heater most likely was stolen from the employer of technician that installed it. this would support the "below cost" installation and materials as well as the lack of paperwork. I informed her that the manufacturer of the water heater will still honor the warranty of the heater provided that the heater was installed in the manner prescribed in the installation instructions. Hers was not. The inspector will make sure that the heater is installed correctly thus preserving her warranty.

Water heaters installed improperly kill people every year as well as cause countless millions in property damage. Please use licensed contractors and use common sense.

1. Always require your contractor to purchase a permit. The inspector is there to protect you, not the contractor.

2. Always require the installation instructions and warranty information for each and every plumbing device that you have installed. they come with the product. Why throw them away?

3. Always get a signed and clearly written contract before allowing the contractor to perform any work.

4. Never pay up front. licensed contractors in California cannot accept more than 10% of the contract amount up front up to a maximum of $1000.00. If your contractor needs the money up front they are not financially fit to be your contractor. Think about it. If the contractor is so desperate for money that they cannot come up the funds to do the job, then what happens if something goes wrong? Who will pay to complete the job.

5. Ask questions. If something does not sound correct, demand an answer. The contractor should know enough to answer all of your job related questions with incredible ease. They should have been performing this type of work for many years. They should know what they are doing.