Ask a technician to demonstrate simple maintenance services to keep your furnace running efficiently. An example would be to change 1-inch furnace filters monthly and 4-inch filters quarterly.
Twin Cities Consumers' Checkbook (www.checkbook.org) recommends the following companies for quality work and reasonable prices: Boehm Heating (St. Paul, 651-644-1410), Heating & Cooling Two (Maple Grove, 763-428-3677) and Golden Valley Heating (Crystal, 763-535-2000). Furnace tune-ups usually cost $90 to $110.
Try these filters instead Q Is there a cheaper or an easier substitute for the Space Guard 2200/2250 accordion-style furnace filters? They're expensive (about $40) and a hassle to install.
A There is a cheaper solution and an easier one, but not both. To make installation easier, ask a heating contractor who sells the Space Guard filters for a $25 upgrade kit that uses a slide-in filter (also $40). It's available only through furnace contractors. If you want to stick with the accordion-style, try the Best Air version at Menards for about $25 ($20 on sale).
Annual coupon book out The 2011 Blue Sky Guide, renamed Chinook Book ($20), is on sale at Twin Cities retailers, www.chinookbook.net or by calling 612-455-8380. The book has an additional six pages this year for more coupons and more maps of stores, including northern and western suburbs. Besides coupons for businesses that sell green products, there also are many coupons for restaurants, including Lucia's to Go, Modern Cafe, Red Stag, Sapor, Craftsman, Birchwood, Blackbird and Broders. Get free shipping by phone or the website in October. The books are available at co-ops, Lunds, Byerly's, Kowalski's and Whole Foods.
