Heat Pump or Furnace: Which One Fits Your Home?

January 10, 2022

When it’s time to purchase a new heating system for your home, you have a few different options. You could go with a furnace that burns propane or fuel, or you could go with one that uses electricity to generate heat. Alternatively, you could go with a heat pump, which absorbs heat from outside and transfers it into your house. Each type of heater has its own advantages, and you’ll want to find the one that’s just right for your household. Heat Pumps Save Money Because heat pumps don’t actually have to generate heat, they need far less energy to operate than furnaces do. Heat pumps use pressurized refrigerant coils to absorb heat, and they also have the ability to reverse this process and provide cool air instead. This means that when you have a heat pump, you don’t need to purchase a separate air conditioner. On average, heat pumps are also slightly less expensive to have installed than gas-powered or electric furnaces. Furnaces Are Better in Cold Weather Gas-powered furnaces generate heat via a constant combustion process, and electric furnaces warm your home by blowing air over a hot element. These processes are the same for the furnace regardless...

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Is My Furnace Up to Code?

December 20, 2021

Homeowners are often finding new and exciting ways to remodel their homes to better fit their family’s many needs. When considering a large remodel like changing out a furnace, it’s helpful to check out local codes and regulations that determine what’s allowed inside a commercial or residential home. Is My Furnace Up to Code? Homes are built with experienced technicians and laborers who work within the current code regulations. Homeowners can look through official city regulations themselves when starting a remodel, but the codes are often hundreds of pages long and can be confusing to anyone not trained and experienced in the field. Old homes may fall out of compliance, but they’re grandfathered into the system and don’t have to constantly be updated unless the homeowner is planning to sell. A great resource for those looking to get an idea about the current code regulations that are used in their area is to check the Uniform Mechanical Code. Many cities base their regulations on this frequently updated authority. The best way to be safe and follow local regulations when removing or installing a furnace is to rely on an experienced and certified technician. Professionals can safely install new heating and...

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How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Weather

November 18, 2021

We all know that during the winter it can get freezing cold outdoors. This means that it’s in the fall when you should prepare your home for cold weather. There are several areas to address so your home stays comfortable. Clean the Gutters Gutters accumulate a lot of leaves and debris during the fall. You should scoop everything out of your gutters as otherwise water damage can occur to your home. It may be the case that you should hire a professional to do this for you. Turn Off Exterior Faucets Water in pipes can freeze during the winter. This can cause pipes to burst. Disconnect all of your garden hoses and drain water out of the pipes through the faucet. Complete this job by turning off the shutoff valve. Get Your Heater Tuned Up Hire an HVAC company to tune up your heater. They’ll make sure it’s clean and operating well. This will also save money on your winter energy bills because they’ll help it achieve maximum efficiency. in Dayton, OH, has a heater tune-up service. Our NATE-certified technicians are thorough and conscientious, and they can service all makes and models. Caulk Around Doors and Windows Seal any gaps...

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What’s the Best Temperature for Sleeping?

October 13, 2021

Getting a good night’s rest every night is critical to your health and well-being. Sleep medicine physicians recommend setting up your bedroom with optimal sleep hygiene. One of the main parts of sleep hygiene is the temperature of your bedroom. Use these tips to find your ideal sleeping temperature so that you can get the quantity and quality of sleep your body needs. Start Lower Than You Think During the day, you’re more active. Your body’s metabolism is faster than it is at night. The metabolism and your movement make you feel warm and alert. Conversely, your body’s metabolism slows in the evening. Your internal temperature drops by about a degree, which helps trigger sleepiness. You’ll sleep better at a lower air temperature. Set your thermostat between 64 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit at night. Make Small Adjustments After trying a temperature between 64 and 67-degrees Fahrenheit for a few nights, make small adjustments to find the best temperature. If you’re still too warm at 67 degrees, set the thermostat just one degree lower. If you have a sleep partner who prefers a different temperature, you may have to negotiate or make adjustments with blankets. Consider Ventilation If you lower the...

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4 Simple Steps to Reignite Your Furnace DIY Style

September 17, 2021

Sometimes the pilot light on gas furnaces will go out. When that happens, you will need to restart it yourself. Here is how to do so safely in 4 easy steps. Step 1. Find the Instructions All furnaces have the instructions for the pilot light somewhere near the controls. Bring a flashlight, and be sure to read the whole thing several times before trying to turn on the furnace. If your instructions have faded, the manufacturer may have them online. You can then place a copy in a safe area to consult. Step 2. Turn Off the Gas Inside most furnaces, you will find a switch or dial. This switch is typically labeled with ‘on,’ ‘off,’ and ‘pilot.’ You will want this set to off. This is to give the gas time to dissipate before you try to light it again. You need to wait at least 5 minutes. Take this time to find the reset button. This will let you light the pilot light. Step 3. Relight After 5 minutes, turn the pilot light switch to the ‘pilot’ setting. Then, hold down the reset button while you bring a lit match to the area. This should relight it. Keep...

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How to Know Which AC System Is Best for You

August 2, 2021

Just as there are many types of living environments, there are many different kinds of AC systems designed to meet specific requirements. Here are some of the most common AC systems and a short discussion to help you determine which type would be the wisest choice for your home. Central AC Unit A central AC system operates from a big compressor outside your home, pumping air through ducts and out through vents into every room. Since it’s reliable and works exceptionally well, this type of AC is quite popular. However, a central AC unit isn’t necessarily right for everyone. If you own an older home, for example, refitting your property to have the necessary components installed can be a waste of time and money. In newer homes, installation is a much smoother process. Window AC Sometimes, the classic window AC is simply the way to go. It’s the perfect option when your budget is low, and you don’t have the means to make changes to your living space. If your home is relatively small, a window AC is often all you need to get the job done. Best of all, installation is a breeze. Ductless AC System One of the...

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Different Thermostat Settings and What They Mean

July 26, 2021

How your HVAC system works essentially depends on your thermostat settings. The thermostat usually tells your system whether to warm or cool your house. In addition, your thermostat will deactivate the system to attain the desired temperature levels. Understanding the right settings for a certain season will help you save on energy bills while making it so you can enjoy a refreshing homestay. Here are some of the thermostat modes and what they mean. Auto Setting When you set your thermostat to operate on auto mode, you can adjust the working of the compressor and fans. Once your home attains the desired temperature, the system will automatically stop. However, the fans adjust to run for a while to maintain the set temperature levels then stop. This helps you save some money since running the fans will consume less energy. On Mode Your air conditioning system is set to operate continuously to achieve the desired temperature levels in this setting. However, your fans will continue running as the compressor turns off. The fans will help you keep the conditioned air in circulation. This mode consumes considerable energy, though, as the fans run continuously 24/7. Eco Mode Modern HVAC systems have this...

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How To Keep My Home Cool Without Air Conditioning?

June 21, 2021

If your house doesn’t have an air conditioner, there are steps you can take to cool it down in the summer. Some things you can do are free, while others will require you to spend some money. Use Ceiling Fans A ceiling fan will make the room it’s in feel about 4 degrees cooler. Make sure you set it to rotate counter-clockwise, as that will push the air straight down. Close Blinds and Curtains Sunlight shining through windows can dramatically increase the temperature in your home. Close blinds and curtains during the day to prevent this from happening. Turn on Kitchen and Bathroom Fans The fans in your kitchen and bathroom can pull hot air out of your house and expel it outside. If your kitchen doesn’t have a fan, you can install one if you’re handy with tools. Vent Your Attic Attics can get unbearably hot in the summer. You should have a roof-mounted fan to pull air out of your attic. This will help reduce the temperature in your entire house, not just in your attic. Use Box Fans in Windows You can use box fans in windows to cool your home. Point the fans toward the outside...

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How Many Watts Does an Air Conditioner Use?

May 15, 2021

Determining how many watts an air conditioner uses per hour can be very helpful if you want to estimate what it will cost to operate it. This is also important if you want to have a backup generator. If you intend to employ your generator to run your air conditioner, you’ll need to know how many watts the AC uses. This measurement will vary depending on the efficiency, age and size of the unit. General Watt Usages Different sizes of AC units obviously have different wattages. Here is a general list of watt usage per hour: Central AC: 3500 watts Central AC with fan only: 750 watts Mid-sized portable AC unit: 2900 watts Large portable AC: up to 4100 watts Small window AC: 500 watts Medium window AC: 900 watts Large window AC: 1440 watts Factors That Determine Actual Power Consumption The actual amount of energy used depends on a number of factors. How often your air conditioner cycles on will affect the power usage and how much you pay. In cooler climates, your air conditioner may only turn on for 15 minutes every hour. A hotter climate will demand a greater power consumption. The efficiency of your unit will...

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Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

April 5, 2021

The average home has bad indoor air quality, according to the EPA. With people spending so much time in their homes because of the pandemic, they’re more exposed than ever to pollutants. There are thankfully many ways to improve the air quality in your home. Clean Your Floors You should vacuum carpets and mop floors at least once a week. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to ensure what is sucked up doesn’t get blown out in the exhaust. Vacuum high traffic areas several times to remove as much as possible. Control Humidity Mold and dust mites thrive in moisture. You should keep humidity between 30-50% in your home to control these air pollutants. Depending on where you live, you need either a humidifier or dehumidifier. Other ways to reduce humidity include not over-watering plants and fixing any leaky plumbing. in Dayton, OH, can help improve your indoor air quality. We install Carrier bypass humidifiers, which use your furnace blower to bring moisture into your home. This can introduce up to 18 gallons of water vapor per day to your home. Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is an odorless, tasteless gas that is produced by burning fossil fuels. It is...

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