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.
Here’s How to Maximize Winter Heating with Your Thermostat
January 4th, 2016Watch for Snow Blocking Vents or the Heat Pumps This Winter
December 29th, 2015We 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.
Why Are Gas Furnaces More Efficient Today Than They Once Were?
December 21st, 2015Do 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.
Another Furnace Safety Tip: Check the Color of the Pilot Light
December 14th, 2015Last 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.
Stay Safe with Your Home Heating This Winter!
December 7th, 2015The 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.
A Way Furnace Maintenance Keeps You Safe: Cracked Heat Exchangers
November 30th, 2015Outdoor 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!
A Closer Look at How a Whole-House Humidifier Works
November 23rd, 2015Earlier in the fall, we discussed why it’s advantageous to have professionals install a whole-house dehumidifier to prepare your home for the winter. Cold weather tends to draw moisture out from the air, and furnaces can also make the air in a home uncomfortably dry. A humidifier can counteract this so you have better comfort, less need to run the heater, and a decrease in the health issues associated with low humidity.
Don’t Forget Maintenance for Your Generator This Fall
November 16th, 2015We’ve already talked a bit this season about the importance of scheduling heating maintenance in preparation for winter. You definitely don’t want to get caught without a working heater during a cold Illinois winter. But there’s another important maintenance job you should take care of this fall. A heating system won’t work without electricity (even a modern gas furnace uses some electrical power), so make certain that the whole-house generator that protects your home’s electrical system during a power outage is also ready for storm season.
Are Gas Furnaces Dangerous?
November 9th, 2015The 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.
A Matching System: Why You Should Consider Replacing Your Entire HVAC System
November 2nd, 2015In 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.