ServiceMax Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

You Can Still Schedule Heating Maintenance for the Season

Monday, January 18th, 2016

And in fact, you should if you didn’t have it done in the fall. It’s always preferable to arrange to have professionals inspect, clean, and generally tune-up your home’s heating system before the winter cold arrives. But if you forgot or didn’t have time during the fall to arrange the visit, don’t decide to skip it for the year and wait until next fall! This is a vital service for your household, even at a later date, for the following reasons:

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Here’s How to Maximize Winter Heating with Your Thermostat

Monday, January 4th, 2016

The thermostat is a critical part of the HVAC system that warms your home in winter and cools it during the summer. But its importance is too often overlooked, and homeowners simply change its settings up and down according to their comfort whims. This can mean a great deal of energy going to waste, especially during the cold months when the heating system puts in an enormous amount of work. When you use some planning—along with an upgrade to newer thermostat technology—you can make your thermostat work to help you conserve energy while still providing the cozy warmth your family needs during this season.

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Watch for Snow Blocking Vents or the Heat Pumps This Winter

Tuesday, December 29th, 2015

We want you to enjoy a warm and safe winter season this year, no matter what sort of heating system you use to provide comfort for your house. If you use either a gas furnace or a heat pump as your main heating system, we have some advice for you regarding the presence of snow. Snow can create issues for either type of heater unless you take some precautions.

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Why Are Gas Furnaces More Efficient Today Than They Once Were?

Monday, December 21st, 2015

Do you have a natural gas furnace in your home that’s more than 15 or 20 years old? Then it’s probably a unit that wastes power every time it turns on. It isn’t just because the furnace is old and starting to deteriorate. It’s also because it has a lower energy efficiency rating than modern furnaces that have the benefit of superior construction and recent advances in heating technology.

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Another Furnace Safety Tip: Check the Color of the Pilot Light

Monday, December 14th, 2015

Last week we offered up a number of important tips that will help you keep your heating system working safely through the winter months. Today, we are going to focus on the natural gas furnace in particular. Gas furnaces are the most common type of home heater found in the country, and although they are not inherently dangerous as sometimes described, they do require some special maintenance care to work at their safest.

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Stay Safe with Your Home Heating This Winter!

Monday, December 7th, 2015

The cooler weather has arrived here, and the colder weather is right around the bend. You’re probably already running the heating system in your home, and it will start on its steady work routine during the next few weeks and continue running until the spring.

It’s important during the winter to make sure that your residential heating system operates as safely as possible. Safety concerns are not limited to natural gas heaters—although you do need to take some special precautions with gas-powered furnaces and boilers. Electric heaters can pose a number of risks as well if they aren’t properly cared for.

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A Way Furnace Maintenance Keeps You Safe: Cracked Heat Exchangers

Monday, November 30th, 2015

Outdoor temperatures are dropping as we cross over into December, and we hope that you’ve already arranged to have maintenance for your natural gas furnace. If you haven’t, it’s still not too late to schedule it with us and have your heating system in excellent shape for when the cold weather really strikes hard.

We’ve written before about why a professional inspection and tune-up for the heating system is something that you must have done every fall. In this post, we’ll focus on a specific safety issue with furnaces you can avoid thanks to maintenance—just one of the many reasons to make maintenance an annual tradition for home comfort!

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Are Gas Furnaces Dangerous?

Monday, November 9th, 2015

The most common type of heating system in the U.S. is the natural gas-powered furnace. This fact alone tells you a lot about the safety of gas furnaces: if they were actually “dangerous” installations, there would be far fewer of them, and electric-powered furnaces would be far more popular.

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A Matching System: Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Entire HVAC System

Monday, November 2nd, 2015

In some of our recent posts, we’ve discussed the possibility of arranging for installing a new residential heater during the fall. If you have an old furnace that no longer is living up to its former standards, then it is a wise idea to schedule a replacement before the winter arrives. That way you’ll be prepared for the cold and have a system that works at high energy efficiency.

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Furnaces vs. Boilers: What Is the Best Choice for a New Home?

Monday, October 12th, 2015

The type of heating system put into a home is often limited by the home’s construction. For example, a house that has a ventilation network of ducts in the walls and floors will benefit from having a forced-air system (such as a furnace or heat pump) that attaches to ductwork. In homes that lack ductwork, a boiler is often an excellent choice for heat distribution.

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