Energy Efficiency Tips

October 20, 2018

What if you could save the environment and money at the same time? Most of us would love to do that, which is where energy efficient tips come in. Today Butler Heating & Air Conditioning presents three energy efficient tips for homeowners in Dayton, OH. Reduce all of the costs of powering your home by going more efficient with actions you can take today. Use a Programmable Thermostat All too often we see homeowners who have a programmable thermostat installed but they never use it. What a shame because this is one of the best ways to make your house energy efficient. Start by programming your thermostat when you are at work or away for a length of time. For winter months, set the thermostat for the heating system lower. In the summer and on warm days raise the temperature on your air conditioning. According to the US Department of Energy, this will cut your energy costs by 10 percent. Schedule Professional HVAC Maintenance When is the last time you had HVAC maintenance conducted? Typically, homeowners wait until their heating and air conditioning system is broken before they call for service. However, by getting routine maintenance for your HVAC system,...

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Does Your AC Company Care About The Environment?

March 20, 2018

Not all heating and air conditioning companies have a focus on the environment. If you care about our environment and it matters to you about the products and services an AC Company provides, you need to ask questions related to “Going Green.” When going green with your heating and air conditioning unit you not only enhance your environment but you save tons of money in the future. Dayton, Ohio is the home for seasoned and experienced Butler Heating & Air Conditioning Company is servicing Miami Valley, Greater Dayton, Ohio, and over 30 surrounding counties. Area residents and business owners are fortunate to have Butler Heating & Air Conditioning Company working for you in Dayton and helping to enhance and protect your environment. The services offered by Butler Heating & Air Conditioning provide residents and business owners a full range of services. This company is an HVAC contractor who consistently searches for up-to-date innovative and affordable solutions for your heating and cooling needs. Butler Heating & Cooling hire the most skilled and trained furnace and air conditioning technicians available. These technicians can tear out existing heating and air conditioning systems, install new environmentally friendly methods that decrease your energy costs, repair...

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How Do Pets Affect Indoor Air Quality in Springboro?

October 26, 2017

It has been estimated that more than 70 percent of all households in the United States have a dog or a cat. While owning a pet can provide a wide range of health advantages, unfortunately, animals can also adversely have an effect on your home’s indoor air quality. A pet can introduce airborne irritants into your home and trigger allergy symptoms, even if your family isn’t allergic to your pet. Fall is the air, temperatures are changing and soon Springboro, OH AC units will be turned off and they will start preparing to turn on their furnace, both of which can be affected by pet dander. If you are a pet owner, it’s important to know that not only can your furry family member’s fur have an effect on the indoor air quality, but on the entire air conditioning and heating system, so here are a few tips on how to improve the air quality in your home. What Exactly is Pet Dander? First, it’s important to note that while pet dander and pet hair can generally create similar problems, they are not the same thing. Pet dander is microscopic flakes of skin that are produced by dogs, cats, and...

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Keep Your Dayton Home Energy Efficient

August 16, 2017

Boosting your home’s energy efficiency overall is one of the best ways to save on cooling costs over the Ohio summer. We’re here to help you make sure that is doable, and to make sure you stay cool and comfortable in your home on the hottest summer days. Try the following:   · Having your air conditioner maintained on a regular basis. Professional maintenance will ensure the system is working at its peak performance and is as efficient as possible. For service for air conditioning Miami Valley locals trust, contact Butler Heating & AC.   · Insulate your home. Make sure your attic, walls, and floors have the recommended R-value for your area. Install low-E windows and fiberglass doors, and make sure windows have sufficient caulking around them and doors have quality weatherstripping around them for a good seal.   · Plant big, shady trees to block the sun from sides of your home that get hit with the most heat. Plant deciduous trees so that in the winter, they lose their leaves and let the sunlight through to warm your home.   · Try to avoid generating any additional heat in your home. Don’t keep all of the lights...

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Why Fall is an Important Season for HVAC

November 5, 2016

Is your current HVAC unit old or unreliable? Have you been putting off necessary repairs on your heating system? There is no better time than now to schedule a service visit with an HVAC technician from Butler Heating and Air Conditioning. Fall is an important season for your HVAC system because your air conditioner has worked hard all summer and is about to work hard again to keep your home comfortable during the winter. To avoid any surprise breakdowns when you need your heater most, homeowners should have their HVAC unit inspected and repaired while the weather is more mild in the fall. Fall HVAC Checklist Here are some things that homeowners should do in the fall to ensure that their home comfort system will last through next fall: Schedule your annual HVAC system tune-up with a technician to ensure that your system is clean and running smoothly. Turn on your heater to make sure it’s working properly, and call an HVAC tech if you notice any issues such as loud noises or burning smells. Make an appointment for necessary repairs as soon as possible to avoid wasting energy or causing further damage to your system. If you have been...

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How to Diagnose HVAC Problems

October 19, 2016

If you’re having an issue with your heating or cooling system, there are some things you as a homeowner can do before deciding whether to call in a professional. Check the Breakers The first step is to check the power. Locate the fuse box and examine the breakers. Look to see if any of them are flipped in a different direction than the rest. Both the furnace and air-conditioning unit should have independent breakers that are (hopefully) labeled. If the breakers look normal, flip the switch for whichever unit is not working properly. Wait about 10 seconds before turning it back on. If you’ve got fuses instead, switch off the main power to the box and replace any blown or burnt fuses. Check the Thermostat If that does not solve the problem, check the power to the thermostat. Most models receive power from your home’s electricity, but some rely on batteries. Switch the batteries if you can. If there is still no power, it may be the cause of the issue. It Could Be the Filters It’s also important to check the filters. If they’re clogged, broken, or incorrectly sized, they could restrict airflow. This puts extra stress on the...

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Is Your Heating System Winter-Ready?

September 26, 2016

You cannot overlook your heating system during winter because it’s the system you rely upon to keep your family warm and safe. During this time of the year, a breakdown in your HVAC system is not only inconveniencing but can cause serious discomfort and health problems for your family. Unfortunately, there are a number of things that can go haywire with a central heating system, particularly during freezing temps, when it is needed the most. The good thing is that there are several maintenance checks you can do to ensure the heating system keeps running smoothly throughout winter. How to Test HVAC System for Winter No one wants to get left out in the cold. Here are a few steps that you can take to test your heating system for winter: Check whether your pipes are insulated. Water pipes running through your home may or may not be insulated. Non-insulated pipes are more likely to burst when they freeze than those that are insulated. Having your pipes covered with foam pipe insulation safeguards them from the issues caused by cold weather. A bursted pipe can easily ruin your boiler. The boiler also struggles to work if the pipe is moist....

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Home Improvement Projects that Require a Pro

June 20, 2016

Home improvement projects are a great way to increase the value, functionality, and appearance of the home. Many of them are DIY-friendly and can be carried out by the homeowner without any issues. However, there are some projects that need a professional to do, not only for safety reasons, but for potential legal ones as well. What are some Professional-Only Home Improvement Projects? Whenever you’re going to be cutting into the walls, roof, or removing parts of them it’s always a good idea to know what is inside them and if they’re load bearing. Knocking out an interior wall is a project that requires a professional. First they will need to determine if the wall can even be removed or not. If it is a load-bearing wall, then there’s no way it is going to be knocked down no matter how much you want an open floor plan. Installing a skylight is another project that is professional-only. Cutting into the roof is not something that should be done by just anyone. There can be all sorts of infrastructure running through the area of the roof you want the skylight installed in. If you happen to cut into an electrical line,...

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Understanding The Ratings For Furnace Efficiency

April 21, 2016

If you’re in need of a new furnace, one factor to take into account when weighing options is the Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of each unit. That rating explains how much heat the furnace will produce, in comparison to the amount of energy it requires to produce that heat. Understanding the AFUE rating If a furnace is rated at 85 percent AFUE, that means that 85 percent actually becomes heat, while 15 percent of the energy used is lost. It’s important to know that the AFUE rating does not include the potential heat loss that can happen through ductwork, because ductwork in homes varies. Ductwork can lose up to 35 percent of their heating efficiency. How to figure approximate AFUE ratings on older equipment While the Federal Trade Commission requires manufacturers to include AFUE ratings on all new furnace systems, older systems may not have a rating or it may be difficult to find that information on older units. Low-efficiency furnaces can be identified by the use of a continuous pilot light. Typically, these units are between 56 and 70 percent efficient. Older models that use a fan to control airflow and have an electronic ignition fall between...

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Do Programmable Thermostats Really Benefit Me?

March 23, 2016

If you’re still using a manual thermostat, you may be wondering whether it’s time to switch to a programmable variety. Programmable thermostats have a number of features and benefits that can help you save money on your utility bills and also experience increased comfort at home. Preset Solutions for Heating and Cooling A programmable thermostat allows you to set your heating and cooling for a specific temperature instead of having to manually change the setting. To shave money of your utility bill, have a “setback” period for at least eight hours each day. If you set your thermostat back just one degree for eight hours, you can shave 1 percent from your heating and cooling bill. Each additional setback back will save 1 percent more. Many people have their thermostats set to decrease by 10 degrees at night or at work, which lowers their expenses. Increased Comfort The ability to program your thermostat means you can set it to begin heating or cooling your home before you get there, or before you wake up in the morning. With this convenience, you don’t have to wait uncomfortably for your home to reach the ideal temperature. It’ll also save you money, as...

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