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Cozy Newsletter
Cozy Newsletter
CorcoranHeating.com 24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
Moutut\ Awterurss:
Fuu Puurkiu Ftctoics:
Iuroettut s Uuiour Dttrs:
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month ----->
Apple Jack Month
Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Computer Learning Month
Cookie Month
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
International Drum Month
Lupus Awareness Month
National Diabetes Month
National Pizza Month
National Vegetarian Month
National Popcorn Popping Month
Sarcastic Month
Seafood Month
Pumpkins are indigenous to the Western
Hemisphere, and were unknown in Europe
before the time of Columbus
Morton, Illinois is the self proclaimed pump-
kin capitol of the world
90 to 95% of all processed pumpkins are
produced in Illinois
1
st
- World Vegetarian Day
4
th
- National Golf Day
5
th
- World Teachers Day /
Do Something Nice Day
8
th
- Emergency Nurses Day
9
th
- Fire Prevention Day
Leif Erikson Day
13
th
- Columbus Day
16
th
- Bosses Day
18
th
- Sweetest Day
25
th
- Make a Diference Day
26
th
- Mother-In-Law Day
27
th
- Navy Day
30
th
- National Candy Corn Day
31
st
- Carve a Pumpkin Day - Frankenstein
Friday - Halloween
Its Fall...Just Step Outside...
Get your homes and buildings pre-
pared for another lovely Chicago
winter.
I dont blame you for wanting to hold on to the
thought of warm weather for as long as you
can. However, I will be the bearer of bad news
and tell you its time to get winterized before
we run out of nice weather altogether. Lets be
honest. Te longer you have to prepare to get
things done, the less likely that will happen. If
you, like a lot of us, have waited this long, it
proves the theory.
We have laid out some of the most cost
efective ways to winterize shy of costly and
problematic upfront suggestions such as re-in-
sulating your whole house. Instead well focus
on realistic and important things to do.
Number 1 Locate and close all gaps between
the inside and outside. Tats really simple
enough. Te basic premise is to fnd areas
where hot air can escape, cold air can get in, or
potential moisture problems can occur. Te
frst place to check is for gaps around doors
and windows. Afer that, look for gaps in
attics, garages and crawl spaces. As the cold
weather approaches, your local hardware store
will be stocking the essential caulk, weather
stripping, insulation and other patches you
may need to remedy the common problems
home and building owners want to correct. It
not only helps your bottom line, but can keep
you safe.
Number 2 - Wrap up and store all hoses. If
possible, drain unnecessary water lines con-
nected to the outside. Not true in all cases, but
some buildings and home drains are designed
with water lines that run through attics, crawl
spaces, garages, and other non-insulated areas.
Tis is especially true if there is an irrigation
system. Tose lines should be drained.
Number 3 Ensure your sump pump(s) and
ejectors are in good working order, and have a
power back-up. As we transition into winter
we will be experiencing not only rain but peri-
ods of snow and melting. With this comes the
potential for sump pumps putting in the extra
hours to keep up. A properly operating system
goes a long way to having a dry basement; not
only during the wet fall but the long winter as
well. Do you have a back up battery for your
pump or a backup generator for your building?
Test these as well. Big snows, winds and rain
are an electrical grids worst nightmare. Be
prepared.
Number 4 - Te threat of fre and carbon
monoxide are year round, but the colder
months always add new elements and dangers.
As we close up structures and utilize more and
more indoor appliances such as ranges, ovens,
furnaces and freplaces, we put ourselves at
greater risk of problems.
Change the batteries in your smoke and car-
bon monoxide detectors, and if your devices
are more than fve (5) years old replace
them. Tis is such basic advice, but so ofen
ignored! Do your research if replacements
are necessary. You want products which sense
low levels. For example, be aware that some
of the newest models, such as the NEST, have
design issues the manufacturer is working
on. You also need to know that the law now
requires smoke and especially carbon monox-
ide monitors to emit warnings at low levels of
detected emissions. For more information, we
recommend http://corcoranheating.com/test-
ing/carbon-monoxide/.
Number 5 I know this is easy for me to say
since this is my livelihood, but you should real-
ly have all fuel burning and heating appliances
(i.e. furnaces, boilers, RTUs, etc.) checked out
at the beginning of each season. I wouldnt tell
you that it if I didnt truly believe it was im-
portant not from just a savings stand-point,
but a safety one as well. It is so important
that the next article is devoted to exactly what
needs to be checked during maintenance, and
reveals the secrets that not all of the other guys
will let you in on.
http://infographiclist.com/
y
Day
ay
Day
Murphy
INGREDIENTS:
12 ounces - semisweet chocolate, melted
12 ounces - white chocolate, melted
3 tablespoons each:
- pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
- orange and yellow mini M&Ms
- orange and yellow nonpareils
DIRECTIONS:
1. Line a large baking sheet with parchment.
Pour melted semisweet chocolate onto
parchment and spread into a 9x12 inch rect-
angle about 1/4 inch thick; refrigerate until
hardened, about 20 minutes.
2. Pour melted white chocolate onto the
semisweet layer and quickly spread evenly.
Immediately sprinkle surface with pepitas,
mini M&Ms and nonpareils. Chill and break
into pieces.
24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
info@CorcoranHeating.com 2
How to solve:
To solve a Sudoku, you only need logic
and patience. No math is required. Simply
make sure that each 3x3 square region
has a number between 1-9 with only one
occurrence of each number. Each column
and row of the large grid may only have
one instance of 1-9.
This round of contest coupons are already
fying out the door! Everyone who sends us
their raving fan testimonial or refers us to
friends and family are already being entered
into the next drawing. To enter, simply refer
us to a friend/relative/neighbor. Be sure that
anyone you pass along to us communicates
that YOU were involved in the referral. For
further assurance of your entry, send us
a note with the name of the referred. You
can also enter the drawing by submitting a
testimonial of how happy you are with our
work. Either way, it takes only a few minutes
to enter. You can just drop us a line at: info@
corcoranheating.com. One ticket is given for
each testimonial or referral; ten tickets for every
raving fan video. You determine your odds of
winning, as there is no limit to entry tickets -
plus - every referral nets YOU a gift as well!
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S UDOK U BRE AK
CONTEST CORNER
Hey everyone! Its Franklin here with
my turn to entertain everyone this month. I
cannot tell you how much fun I have this time of
year except for one minor detail: the ITCHING!
Oh man, does this ragweed and mold wreak havoc
on my paws! Sometimes it makes me feel like I
am possessed, and causes me to fall into a licking
frenzy at times. But thanks to the effort my
parents make keeping the indoor air quality
good and giving me the proper vitamins and extra
medicine when I need it, I should survive with
no lasting problems. I just need to get through
what I consider the real tragedy of the situa-
tion, which is that it makes being outdoors just a
little less enjoyable.
Check out the photo below which was
taken at a recent trip to the dog park. Jack saw
Dad using his lacrosse stick to throw me the ball
and he wanted to try his hand at it. We wont tell
him his tosses werent quite the same because we
sure do applaud his effort and enthusiasm.
Before I head out for some more fun
I wanted to remind everyone that it is National
Adopt a Shelter Dog Month. As many of you know,
Murphy came to us by way of a shelter rescue. We
couldnt be happier he is part of our family, so ev-
eryone in our household celebrates this October
designation. Maybe you are unable to adopt, but
if your hearts or wallets are open, can volunteer
time, food, or money to one of the local animal
rescue or adoption facilities in your area. - Frank
COOKING CORNER:
Halloween Bark
W L
9
th
@ Stars 7:30pm
11
th
vs Sabres 7:30pm
15
th
vs Flames 7:00pm
18
th
vs Predators 7:30pm
21
st
vs Flyers 7:30pm
23
rd
@ Predators 7:00pm
25
th
@ Blues 7:00pm
26
th
vs Senators 6:00pm
28
th
vs Ducks 7:30pm
30
th
@ Senators 6:30pm
Total:
W L
5
th
@ Panthers 12:00pm
12
th
@ Falcons 3:25pm
19
th
vs Dolphins 7:00pm
26
th
@ Patriots 7:30pm
Total:
W L
6
th
vs Wizards 7:00pm
7
th
@ Pistons 6:30pm
11
th
@ Bucks 7:30pm
13
th
vs Nuggets 7:00pm
16
th
vs Hawks 7:00pm
19
th
vs Hornets 7:00pm
20
th
@ Cavaliers 6:00pm
24
th
vs Timberwolves 7:00pm*
29
th
@ Knicks 7:00pm
30
th
vs Cavaliers 7:00pm
*@ Scottrade Center - St. Louis, MO.
Total:
A D0GS W0RLD
Tota
Tot
24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
CorcoranHeating.com 3
Te sad reality? Not all contractors are the
same, nor do they perform the same tasks
during the maintenance or whatever title
theyve chosen to market their services under.
Here are secrets for success weve learned from
some of the brightest minds in our indus-
try those who have centuries of combined
knowledge coupled with hands- on experience
in the feld.
Te frst secret is that the
combustion (fre) being made
inside heating equipment,
whether a furnace, boiler,
water heater, RTU, make-
up air unit, etc. needs to be
tested. Its easy to perform,
and done on all heating
maintenance and all heating
service calls we go on, but it
is only properly performed by
an estimated 1% to 5% of the
entire heating industry across
the entire country. Corcoran
Heating and Air Condition-
ing is among those in the
small percentage of compa-
nies doing it right. When
we heard about the proper testing methods
and how essential they were, we were outraged
that they are not mandated on any level. What
needs to change: there ought to be regulations,
and they ought to be enforced.
Let us explain how proper combustion testing
works, and how important it is. To simplify we
will examine it from a furnace standpoint, but
the same principles apply across the board to
all fuel burning appliances.
Te test begins by drilling a 3/8 sized hole
into the fue pipe to create a space for a meter
probe to read the exhaust performance. Do
not fear, though, as this hole is plugged and
taped back up and will not create a problem for
you or the equipment. Te furnace is turned
on and heat is cranked up to take our readings.
With a probe inserted into the small hole, our
technician can look for several diferent things,
most importantly being the fue temperature,
oxygen, and carbon monoxide levels. Te
readings he/she gets of the probe tell how
ef ciently the fre inside the unit is operating.
Additionally, it also tells the tech if there are
any safety concerns inside the heat exchanger.
Why do we look at these numbers, or care
about them in the frst place?
Te fact of the matter is that furnaces are test-
ed when they are produced in ideal factory en-
vironments where the duct systems as well as
gas fow are perfect. Once a furnace is placed
on site the environmental and installation
parameters afect how well the fre will burn
there. Tanks to our training and calibrated
instruments we can test under
real working conditions and
adjust for best operation.
OK. We have drilled the hole,
turned on the unit, and taken
the frst readings. Te next
step is to increase or decrease
the gas being allowed through
the gas valve in order to get
optimal fring rates. It takes
the right balance of gas pres-
sure and airfow to produce
an optimal fame. Te fame
may not be perfect but it is
dialed in and adapted to be
the best possible for the envi-
ronment where installed. We
could merely crank the gas
up and down and peg the unit, but we need to
make sure it is SAFE. We are also looking for
a safe carbon monoxide rate and shoot for as
close to 6% oxygen in the fue gas as possible.
With a dialed in system we know for a fact that
you will save on natural gas usage and get an
ef cient heat transfer.
You may be thinking this sounds easy enough,
and assume this was included in maintenance
from company XYZ. Have you asked them?
Have they ever brought it up? Probably not.
Without this key piece of information, every-
thing is just a guess. Sure, you could save a few
extra bucks by having your blower cleaned, fl-
ter changed and burner vacuumed by someone
but there is no real dollar amount attached
to that, nor is there any reassurance that your
system is safe. Te only way of knowing is
through proper testing. Ask what the fnd-
ings of the combustion analysis were, request
a reading on the meter in print out form and
review the total system performance.
Te second secret to good maintenance this
season is to have your ductwork or radiant pip-
ings blood pressure taken. Your doctor does
it every time you see him whether during a
complete exam or even for an aching foot. We
know a heaters pressure is as crucial to your
heating components, and also needs examina-
tion at our every service call. Without doing
that, parts can prematurely fail, comfort can be
compromised, and your hard earned money
could be wasted.
So how do we test your systems blood pres-
sure?
Simple. We make those same 3/8 holes in
your duct stem. Again, without harming your
equipment, we take our readings. Using cal-
ibrated Veloci Calcs and Magnahelics we can
see the pressure in your system and gauge what
changes can be made to lower or improve it.
Ensuring this helps dial in the best combustion
similar to the tests weve reported on earlier in
this article.
In most cases, the furnace will have higher
than acceptable blood pressure (much like the
people in this country, Im guessing). And just
like your M.D. we will see what changes need
to be made to improve your numbers. Most
cases require a relatively easy solution such as
increasing the amount of return air going into
the equipment. Tat lowers static pressure
and improves overall performance. No long
term or expensive pills will be necessary. A
quickand painless annual monitor of pressure,
however, is perscribed.
Tis isnt rocket science and neednt put clients
at the mercy of their contractor. Te secret of
distinguishing mediocre HVAC service and
great service is out and freely given away to
use as you wish. Tey are not passed on in an
efort to frighten you (although it should. A
little). Ive done the training and know who
listens and takes heed and who stays in the
dark. I see how the numbers of HVAC CERTI-
FIED contractors has remained static.
Insisting on these two simple tests (com-
bustion and pressure) makes the diference
between an average tune up and one which
will ensure the safe and ef cient performance
by your equipment all season long.
I have attached some links below to our newly
updated website where you can fnd out exactly
what is included in our performance mainte-
nance agreements, as well as the importance of
carbon monoxide testing and the latest prod-
ucts for keeping you safe this winter.
http://corcoranheating.com/testing/car-
bon-monoxide/
http://corcoranheating.com/services/mainte-
nance-programs/
http://corcoranheating.com/emergency-re-
sponse/
Te Only Two Secrets You Need To Know About
Quality Maintenance Tis Winter
Tom performing a Combustion
Analysis on a furnace during a
performance maintence visit
,, '' .'
Cozy Newsletter
Cozy Newsletter
CorcoranHeating.com 24/7 Emergency Service: (847) 397-5888
Toms Two Cents
PG.1
Time To Winterize
Unique Holidays & Monthly Awareness
PG. 2
Sports Corner
Dogs World - Note From Franklin
Sudoku Break
Contest Corner
Cooking Corner: Halloween Bark
Random Humor: Overprotective Treats
PG. 3
The Two Secrets to Winter Maintenance
PG. 4
Toms Two Cents
Whoever said, If it aint broke, dont x
it probably never heard of prevenuve
maintenance.
As the leaves start falling and the days
grow shorter, the weather around here will
eventually get colder. Some of you will turn
the selector switch from cool or o to
heat and cross your ngers. No worries,
right? Your furnace seems to be working.
Then one day you go past it, or hear strange
noises coming from it during the middle of
the night and you realize you havent had
your system serviced for awhile. You recall
that just recently, an unfortunate homeowner
in our area turned up the heat, went to bed,
and his house exploded. And youre aware
that about eighty thousand cases of carbon
monoxide poisonings are reported every year.
Small numbers, newsworthy incidents,
and probably youll be all right, but who
needs that kind of crap hanging over their
head? Maybe its ume to have someone take
a peek under the hood, give the ures a kick,
and give your heaung system a good tune-up.
If you are a current maintenance agreement
customer, relax; weve got your back. If
you dont do regular maintenance or are
uninterestedplease reconsider!
Seriously. At the least, change your
furnace lter and get a low level carbon
monoxide detector. You can get a $25.00
discount* on our website for a service call
or purchase of a CO2 detector if you give
us some feedback on the newly designed
website, or on your experiences with our
company.
*Discount not valid toward maintenance
or diagnosuc charges.
When we moved into our house in 1989
we had a few power outages early on so I
purchased a back-up generator. For twenty
ve years it did a good job. When the
electricity failed I would turn o the main
breaker in the basement, plug in the home
made heavy duty extension cord, start up the
car and jump start the natural gas generator.
Lately, however, it started burning a liule oil
and once a day took a liule siesta. Id give it
a shot and a liule jump. Life was good again.
But neither the neighborhood trees nor I art
gem ng any younger, and Mother Nature likes
to test both Commonwealth Edisons wires
and us common folk.
Unfortunately for my wife, and for those
of you that know me well, I keep in preuy
good shape, so, like a cockroach, Ill probably
live forever. And considering that power
outages arent convenient - and that just a
few weeks ago a good storm put me through
seventy two hours of the old generator and
its inconvenience - and the whole oil thing
which became my mad as hell and not
going to do it anymore moment together
with considering that I love my wife, running
water, and other powered conveniences- and
condent some celesual power dictates I
wont be home when the next outage occurs,
I nally did it! I installed a whole house
generator. Ill keep the old generator around
to use on a jobsite or help out a neighbor
or employee. (I only hoard the good stu.
Honest.) Check us out. Corcoran Heaung and
Air Condiuoning could install a whole house
generator for you, too. Go Bears! Go Hawks!
Go Bulls!
In This Issue:
2137 Hammond Dr.,
Schaumburg, IL 60173
info@corcoranheating.com
CorcoranHeating.com
(847) 397-5888
Best, Tom