Q: We plan to sell our home, and want it to appear as fresh and neat to potential buyers as possible. Would it be okay to give the furnace a fresh coat of paint? If so, what type of paint would be best?
A: We recommend leaving the furnace in its original color whenever possible, for a number of reasons. One of our biggest concerns is the danger connected with spray paints in aerosol cans. Aerosol propellants are flammable, and dangerous to use near a pilot light flame. Overspray from aerosols can often harm sensitive internal components. Brush painting is practical, but it always leaves unattractive brush strokes behind. It's also important that the information panel on the furnace not be painted over, so future service people know how to fix the furnace. Most of all, a potential buyer may wonder why the furnace is painted. is it covering up a defect?

Q: When you leave a home for a winter vacation, how low can you safely turn your thermostat down to conserve energy?

A: We wouldn't suggest setting it lower than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, even though this temperature is well above the 32 degree freezing point of water. When it is extremely cold, there can be a difference wider than 10 degrees or more between the air in your home and the temperature right next to your exterior walls, where your water pipes often run. If you want to be safe, turn the temp down to 60 degrees and open the cabinets beneath your sinks, taking out the contents to keep a regular flow of warm air flowing past the pipes.

from Comfort News, V.8, No.16 .© Air Comfort Systems, Inc.

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