This Is How Your Furnace Works

January 13, 2022

Nighttime winter temperatures in Show Low, AZ, can drop down to the low 20s, so you’ll need to turn to your home’s furnace for relief. Gas furnaces use the process of combustion to heat air, and a forced-air system distributes it throughout your house. Understanding how your furnace works can help you know when to take action if there’s a problem and makes it easier to maintain a safe and efficient heating system. Thermostat Triggers Heating Cycle The first step in how your furnace works is the triggering of a heating cycle. When your thermostat’s sensor detects that your home’s air temperature has dropped below the set point, it starts a heating cycle. Natural Gas Burns A heating cycle begins with the ignition of natural gas. The gas supply valve opens, and the pilot light ignites it. Newer furnaces with hot surface ignitors, intermittent pilots, or direct spark trigger the ignition at the same time as the start of the gas flow. Air Gets Hot The flame from the burner heats a metal piece called the heat exchanger. Fresh air enters the combustion chamber. As it moves over the heat exchanger, it absorbs the heat. Exhaust gases are pushed out...

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How to Find Your Heater’s Energy Efficiency

December 20, 2021

Heating up your home is one of the more costly tasks you’ll need to do this winter. It takes up approximately 70% of your electricity bills, especially during winter. One key factor exacerbating the situation is faulty heaters that consume higher energy rates than normal. You can get solar heaters or stick with your gas or electric heater. The question is, how efficient is it? Following are ways to tell if your heater is energy efficient. 1. The AFUE Rating The annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) determines the efficacy of a heater to convert fuel into energy. A more energy-efficient heater has a higher AFUE rating and vice versa. If you live in temperate regions, you should consider buying a heater with 80% AFUE ratings. 2. Your Subsequent Bills Your electricity bills fluctuate from time to time due to a wide range of factors. To confirm your suspicions, compare your past years’ bills with the present to track the efficacy of your system. If you notice a considerable change and a spike in your utility bills, then you should consider upgrading your heating system. 3. The Age of the Heating System Every artificial thing has a breaking point, even with...

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3 Tips for Saving Heat This Winter

November 20, 2021

As the weather gets colder over the next few months, it’s going to be tempting to have your furnace running day and night. Unfortunately, if you do, you’re not only going to put a lot of strain on the appliance, but your heating bills are going to go through the roof. Fortunately, there are a handful of ways you can stay warm this winter while also saving money and keeping your furnace in tiptop shape. 1. Seal Up Air Leaks Air leaks will usually show up around the edges of windows, garage doors, and other doorways and can be a major source of warm air escaping. This forces your furnace to compensate, resulting in more energy being burned and less effective heating. You can either do it yourself or hire professionals, but make a point to get all of these leaks sealed up before the winter arrives. 2. Lower the Thermostat If you choose the right times to do it, you can turn your thermostat down a bit and still remain warm. Consider lowering the temperature by 5 to 10 degrees when you go to sleep and during the day when the sun is shining. Open your curtains wide and...

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Frequently Asked Questions About Heat Pumps

October 19, 2021

Heat pumps can be very efficient heating systems, and they attract a lot of attention because they provide air conditioning as well. There are heat pumps that use ductwork as well as those that do not require ducts, making these units very versatile. While they offer many advantages, heat pumps may be unfamiliar to some people. Below, we have answered some common questions regarding heat pumps so that you can have a better understanding of how they work. Can a Heat Pump Heat an Entire Home? Yes. When configured properly, a heat pump can generate enough heat to warm your entire house. They work in all types of weather, so you can use them year-round. Are Heat Pumps Effective at Cooling? Yes. Heat pumps can function as air conditioners in the warmer months. They do so by using a refrigerant to absorb heat energy. The resulting cool air is moved into your home. In addition, they can dehumidify the air. This is especially useful in the summer. Should I Get a Heat Pump If I Have an Existing Heating System? It depends. Some heat pumps are intended to be used as standalone heating units, so these should not be used...

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3 Efficient Heating Systems to Consider for Your Home

September 20, 2021

Cold temperatures will soon arrive in Show Low, AZ, so it’s time to think about replacing your old, ineffective heating system with a new, energy-efficient option. An efficient home heating system lowers your monthly energy bills, reduces your carbon footprint and enhances your comfort. Here are three types of efficient heating systems to consider for your Show Low home. 1. Ductless Mini-Split A ductless mini-split is a combination heating and cooling system. Instead of relying on a bulky, complicated system of ducts throughout your home, this type of system uses multiple indoor units connected to an outdoor unit with a conduit. The indoor units can be mounted onto a perimeter wall or the ceiling. Ductless mini-splits facilitate zoned climate control, so you could just heat one part of your Show Low home at a time. These systems are at least 30% more efficient than ducted systems. 2. Dual Fuel Hybrid A dual-fuel or hybrid heating system includes a heat pump and a gas furnace. When the temperature is moderate, the heat pump provides the heating functions. It does this at temperatures of 25 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. When the temperature drops below this level, the gas furnace delivers heat. 3....

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Some Summer Cooling Myths to Keep in Mind

August 17, 2021

Keeping your home cool should be at the top of your priority list in the summer, but you also want your energy bill to go down. Unfortunately, there are some summer cooling myths floating around that might make it more difficult for you to keep your home at a comfortable temperature and save money. Watch out for these misnomers that could cost you money or make your home less comfortable. Buy the Right Size If you’re going to be buying a new air conditioner soon, you might think that buying a bigger air conditioner is a great idea because you’ll be able to cool your house down that much more quickly. Unfortunately, air conditioners don’t work quite like that. A bigger air conditioner will cool the air down more quickly, but it can’t filter out the moisture in the air nearly as quickly, so you’ll end up with a cool but moist house, which most people don’t like. Don’t Block Airflow People try to cut down on their cooling costs by shutting the doors and vents in the rooms that they’re not using, but this plan backfires. When you shut doors and vents, you also block airflow. Your HVAC system...

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Common AC Problems in Summer

July 29, 2021

With the heat of summer upon us in Show Low, AZ, using our air conditioners is common. Unfortunately, several things can go wrong with your AC during the summer months, and you will want to keep an eye out for these issues. If you see any problems, you will want to call an HVAC technician out as soon as possible. Duct Leaks The duct in your home carries the cool air and puts it out through each room. If something happens to your ductwork, like holes, you will be losing some of that cold air. This will cause your AC not to work very well, leading to wear and tear. Refrigerant Leaks If your AC has a refrigerant leak, it will not be able to cool your home effectively. A coolant leak can also damage some of the other components that reside in your AC unit. Addressing the leak and replacing the refrigerant should only be done by a licensed HVAC technician. Dirty Air Filter Your HVAC system has a filter that should be changed every month or so. If this filter becomes clogged, it will cause your air conditioner to work harder and be less efficient. In fact, you...

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How To Keep My Home Cool Without Air Conditioning?

June 6, 2021

Temperatures tend to rise during summer; however, some of us cannot afford an air conditioner. If you are thinking of alternative ways of cooling your home without an AC, we have compiled some of them here. 1. Shut Doors to Unused Rooms When at home, it’s advisable to shut the doors of the unused rooms to ensure that they do not emit their warm air to the areas that you are using. It will help you regulate the air circulation within your house without using any air conditioning. 2. Choice Low-Heat Appliances Most people have adopted the use of modern appliances to perform their household chores. These appliances mostly give off significant amounts of heat that, in turn, makes the house warm. Therefore, you should choose the most convenient appliance that will emit minimal heat. However, choosing where to place these appliances is also a thing to consider as it will help you understand how to aerate your room. 3. Plant Vines Vines grow quickly and provide a cooling shade by reducing the temperatures as they block sunlight from heating the exterior wall. This reduces the heat emitted to the room by exterior walls, thus reducing the overall heat in...

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What Size Air Conditioner Do I Need for My Home?

May 19, 2021

When choosing a new air conditioner for your home, it’s critical that you get one that’s the right size. An AC system that is too large or small for your home will cause several problems. There are many variables that go into figuring out the right size AC system. Load Calculation When you hire an HVAC company to replace your air conditioner, they will perform a “load calculation.” The software they use takes many factors into account. Some of these are where your home is, its square footage, the number of windows, the quality of insulation, and whether it’s shielded from the sun. How Are Air Conditioners Rated? Air conditioners are rated according to their cool capacity and energy efficiency. Cooling capacity is measured in tons. AC systems for homes have cooling capacities between 1.5 and 5 tons. The energy efficiency of an air conditioner is its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating. The higher the SEER, the more efficient it is. Why You Don’t Want Too Large of an Air Conditioner If your air conditioner has too much cooling capacity, it will short cycle. This means it turns on, rapidly cools your home, and then shuts off. This is...

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Are Modern Air Conditioners More Energy Efficient?

April 5, 2021

Heating and cooling your home make up a large part of your energy usage. Modern air conditioners are much more energy-efficient than ones that came out even a decade ago. There are a few things to look for when deciding which air conditioner is best suited for you. EER and SEER Ratings EER (energy efficiency rating) and SEER (seasonal energy efficiency rating) are the two measurements of how energy efficient an air conditioner is. The higher the number, the more energy-efficient it is. Old air conditioners had a SEER rating of 6 or less. Modern ones have to be at least SEER 13, but some are SEER 20 or more. If you upgrade an old air conditioner to a modern one, you can save between 20-40% on your electricity bills. in Show Low, AZ, replaces air conditioners. We’re a Lennox Premier Dealer but work with all makes and models. Energy Star You should look for an air conditioner with Energy Star certification. This certification tells you that the AC unit is more energy-efficient than similar models. Variable Speed Motors Some modern air conditioners feature variable speed motors. Older air conditioners work just as hard when it’s cooler out as when...

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