The heating season is here and it's definitely time to start thinking about your HVAC (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system. It seems like everyone I've been talking to is thinking about air duct cleaning, furnace filters, furnace tune-ups or buying a new heating and cooling system. Of course, I work in the business, but even so, people are certainly thinking about their heating system.
Now is a great time to get your air ducts cleaned and your furnace tuned-up. For as little as $189, you can have a professional air duct cleaner use a rotobrush to scrub your ducts clean. Generally speaking, air duct cleaners are trained and equipped to do more than just clean duct work. They typically do an excellent job of giving your furnace the much needed annual tune-up.
We subscribe to numerous HVAC magazines, and are constantly reminded of the importance of annual furnace tune-ups. If only we could get the word out to more homeowners about the importance of having your heating system checked out on a yearly basis.
Air Duct Cleaning - $99 or $189 - Complete!
Showing posts with label furnace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label furnace. Show all posts
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Heating and Cooling Tips from the Maryland Public Services Commission
Heating/Cooling Systems
If your home is heated or cooled by an electric heat pump, following these tips can help reduce your electric bill:
• Clean or change filters monthly; keep return air grilles and room registers clean.
• Make sure ductwork is properly sealed and insulated to prevent leakage, especially around the return. Check ductwork in attics and crawl spaces.
• Keep plants, shrubs, and other obstacles at least two feet away from the heat pump; keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice in the winter.
• Make sure your furnace has a pre-season check-up for efficiency and safety; ensure that a trained service technician checks your unit at least once every three years.
• When replacing your heating system, consider a multi-fuel furnace.
Remember—don’t turn off your heating and/or cooling system when you are not at home. Instead, turn the thermostat up or down a few degrees. Turning the system off means that is has to work twice as hard to get the rooms up to temperature; this uses more electricity. Turning back your thermostat by just a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer can help save energy. Changing the thermostat frequently can also increase your energy costs. Instead, consider buying a programmable or adaptive recovery thermostat.
Ceiling and fl oor fans spread cool and warm air throughout a room and can assist your heating or cooling system and help keep your energy bill down. However, electric space heaters should be used sparingly, as these units can increase your energy use and your electric bill.
If your home is heated or cooled by an electric heat pump, following these tips can help reduce your electric bill:
• Clean or change filters monthly; keep return air grilles and room registers clean.
• Make sure ductwork is properly sealed and insulated to prevent leakage, especially around the return. Check ductwork in attics and crawl spaces.
• Keep plants, shrubs, and other obstacles at least two feet away from the heat pump; keep the outdoor unit clear of snow and ice in the winter.
• Make sure your furnace has a pre-season check-up for efficiency and safety; ensure that a trained service technician checks your unit at least once every three years.
• When replacing your heating system, consider a multi-fuel furnace.
Remember—don’t turn off your heating and/or cooling system when you are not at home. Instead, turn the thermostat up or down a few degrees. Turning the system off means that is has to work twice as hard to get the rooms up to temperature; this uses more electricity. Turning back your thermostat by just a few degrees in the winter and up a few degrees in the summer can help save energy. Changing the thermostat frequently can also increase your energy costs. Instead, consider buying a programmable or adaptive recovery thermostat.
Ceiling and fl oor fans spread cool and warm air throughout a room and can assist your heating or cooling system and help keep your energy bill down. However, electric space heaters should be used sparingly, as these units can increase your energy use and your electric bill.
Thursday, May 24, 2007
5 easy steps in choosing the perfect furnace for your home
Deciding on a furnace for your house may well be intimidating, but it really should not be so terribly complicated. Talk over these simple steps outlining elements which you may perhaps want to investigate when buying a furnace.
1. Which One is Best, Gas or Electric?
The Gas Furnace - A Gas furnace is generally more affordable to use than an electric furnace if Gas is readily on hand. On the downside, burning fuel produces fumes. In a well maintained Gas furnace, the fumes created are enclosed in the exchanger and then exit the building via an exhaust vent.
Remember, a Gas furnace must be examined by a qualified expert at the least once a year. The specialist should explore the furnace for holes, leaks or cracks. An opening or crack in the furnace lets carbon monoxide seep into your house or place of business.
The Electric Furnace - An electric furnace has a higher operating price than a Gas furnace does. The good news is, for the reason that electric furnaces do not employ flames, it will not effect any carbon monoxide. The electric furnace is cleaner in addition to safer than a Gas furnace.
2. Furnace quality
The value of a furnace determines how long and how well it will perform. Deciding on a brand of furnace that has a past of quality as well as reliability could be less costly over time. Confer with your contractor about which style will be optimal for your demands. Most Heating and air conditioning firms offer a free estimate for the procurement and installation of a new hvac layout.
3. Furnace Efficiency Ratings
The effectiveness of Gas furnaces are attested by the AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings. The AFUE rating of a furnace records how efficiently the fuel is being expended. The AFUE is a representation of a Gas furnace's efficiency in converting fuel to energy. In certain cases, a higher AFUE rating means it will consume less fuel to heat your house or business.
Gas furnaces which have higher AFUE ratings customarily cost more than those which have lowered AFUE ratings but they may save a home owner more capital in the long run. A minimum rating of 78% was regulated by the u.s. government in 1992. A few furnaces have an efficiency rating of about 60% before 1992.
a. Mid-Efficiency Furnaces
A mid-efficiency furnace, also known as an ‘induces draft furnace’ or a ‘non-condensing furnace’. The mid-efficiency furnace simply affords the absolute minimum of 78% efficiency to approximately 80%.
b. High-Efficiency Furnaces
A high-efficiency furnace is further recognized as a ‘condensing furnace’ or a ‘sealed combustion furnace’. The high-efficiency furnace will always have an AFUE rating of as much as 96%. Some furnaces utilize a two-stage valve and an efficient variable-speed motor to increase comfort as well as effectiveness.
4. Comfort Items of Furnaces
Numerous furnaces deliver features which increase comfort and overall efficiency.
a. The components of the two-speed furnace
The furnace can function at low speed the better part of the time. It allows for a more quieter operation for a greater period of time compared to a ‘single-speed furnace’. The longer run periods allow for fewer start-up/shut-down cycles, less drafts, as well as very little temperature deviation.
The temperature fluctuation is confined to about two degrees in contrast to the four degree deviation of the single-speed units. The two-speed unit contributes more adept circulation which prevents warmer air from drifting up as well as the cooler air from settling. The two-speed unit presents a more consistent temperature in the facility.
b. The components of variable capacity furnaces
Furnaces having variable capacity provide a blend of efficiency plus gratification. The variable capacity has a motor that regulates your demands by mechanically adjusting air volume and speed. The variable capacity furnace provides the least expensive means of heating and cooling.
A fan comes with the variable capacity furnace. The fan will relieve your cost throughout summer. If the fan is used all the way through summer, the central air cooling unit increases in efficiency.
5. Noise Level of the Furnace
Unfortunately, all furnaces do not usually come with a normal rating system for sound unlike heat pumps and a/c systems. Albeit, two-speed units and variable capacity units normally operate at a low noise levels.
The two-speed and variable capacity furnaces run for longer periods plus lowered sounds than the conventional unit. Various variable capacity units have items which impede ‘creaking’ of the ducts due to expansion as well as contraction caused by varying temperature. The temperature differential is dropped along these lines so that the creaking noise is just about eliminated.
1. Which One is Best, Gas or Electric?
The Gas Furnace - A Gas furnace is generally more affordable to use than an electric furnace if Gas is readily on hand. On the downside, burning fuel produces fumes. In a well maintained Gas furnace, the fumes created are enclosed in the exchanger and then exit the building via an exhaust vent.
Remember, a Gas furnace must be examined by a qualified expert at the least once a year. The specialist should explore the furnace for holes, leaks or cracks. An opening or crack in the furnace lets carbon monoxide seep into your house or place of business.
The Electric Furnace - An electric furnace has a higher operating price than a Gas furnace does. The good news is, for the reason that electric furnaces do not employ flames, it will not effect any carbon monoxide. The electric furnace is cleaner in addition to safer than a Gas furnace.
2. Furnace quality
The value of a furnace determines how long and how well it will perform. Deciding on a brand of furnace that has a past of quality as well as reliability could be less costly over time. Confer with your contractor about which style will be optimal for your demands. Most Heating and air conditioning firms offer a free estimate for the procurement and installation of a new hvac layout.
3. Furnace Efficiency Ratings
The effectiveness of Gas furnaces are attested by the AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency ratings. The AFUE rating of a furnace records how efficiently the fuel is being expended. The AFUE is a representation of a Gas furnace's efficiency in converting fuel to energy. In certain cases, a higher AFUE rating means it will consume less fuel to heat your house or business.
Gas furnaces which have higher AFUE ratings customarily cost more than those which have lowered AFUE ratings but they may save a home owner more capital in the long run. A minimum rating of 78% was regulated by the u.s. government in 1992. A few furnaces have an efficiency rating of about 60% before 1992.
a. Mid-Efficiency Furnaces
A mid-efficiency furnace, also known as an ‘induces draft furnace’ or a ‘non-condensing furnace’. The mid-efficiency furnace simply affords the absolute minimum of 78% efficiency to approximately 80%.
b. High-Efficiency Furnaces
A high-efficiency furnace is further recognized as a ‘condensing furnace’ or a ‘sealed combustion furnace’. The high-efficiency furnace will always have an AFUE rating of as much as 96%. Some furnaces utilize a two-stage valve and an efficient variable-speed motor to increase comfort as well as effectiveness.
4. Comfort Items of Furnaces
Numerous furnaces deliver features which increase comfort and overall efficiency.
a. The components of the two-speed furnace
The furnace can function at low speed the better part of the time. It allows for a more quieter operation for a greater period of time compared to a ‘single-speed furnace’. The longer run periods allow for fewer start-up/shut-down cycles, less drafts, as well as very little temperature deviation.
The temperature fluctuation is confined to about two degrees in contrast to the four degree deviation of the single-speed units. The two-speed unit contributes more adept circulation which prevents warmer air from drifting up as well as the cooler air from settling. The two-speed unit presents a more consistent temperature in the facility.
b. The components of variable capacity furnaces
Furnaces having variable capacity provide a blend of efficiency plus gratification. The variable capacity has a motor that regulates your demands by mechanically adjusting air volume and speed. The variable capacity furnace provides the least expensive means of heating and cooling.
A fan comes with the variable capacity furnace. The fan will relieve your cost throughout summer. If the fan is used all the way through summer, the central air cooling unit increases in efficiency.
5. Noise Level of the Furnace
Unfortunately, all furnaces do not usually come with a normal rating system for sound unlike heat pumps and a/c systems. Albeit, two-speed units and variable capacity units normally operate at a low noise levels.
The two-speed and variable capacity furnaces run for longer periods plus lowered sounds than the conventional unit. Various variable capacity units have items which impede ‘creaking’ of the ducts due to expansion as well as contraction caused by varying temperature. The temperature differential is dropped along these lines so that the creaking noise is just about eliminated.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Internet Specials on Furnace, A/C and Air Duct Installation
Residential Heating and Air, also known as CleanMyFurnace.com is now offering special "internet only pricing" on new furnace and a/c installation. CleanMyFurnace.com has been installing furnaces and air conditioning HVAC systems across the entire Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area for over 15 years.
Although the website name; CleanMyFurnace.com implies furnace and air duct cleaning, they have actually been a full service HVAC company from the start. Now, CleanMyFurnace.com is offering "Internet Only Pricing" on new furnace and air conditioning installation.
Although the website name; CleanMyFurnace.com implies furnace and air duct cleaning, they have actually been a full service HVAC company from the start. Now, CleanMyFurnace.com is offering "Internet Only Pricing" on new furnace and air conditioning installation.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
