Should You Get a Furnace or a Heat Pump?

February 10, 2023

If it’s time to invest in a new heating system for your home, you have many options. Some of the most common ones that you may run into are a furnace and a heat pump. Understanding the differences between the two can help you to determine which one will be the best option for your home. How Do They Function? One of the first differences that you’ll want to know between a furnace and a heat pump is how each one of them functions. A furnace will utilize an independent fuel source to create combustion to heat your home. This could be propane, natural gas, or heating oil. When it comes to a heat pump, its operation is much different. A heat pump is simply a heat transfer system. It will transfer heat that it finds in the air outside to the inside of your home. Since a heat pump is not actually creating heat but rather transporting it, it uses much less energy than a furnace. This means that your operating cost will be much cheaper. Auxiliary Heating Mode The climate that you regularly experience in the wintertime is going to play a big role in how energy efficient...

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What are the Different Furnace Types?

January 16, 2023

Having a residential heating system to keep your family and your home warm throughout the cold winter season is a must. The most popular type of heating system used throughout the country is currently the furnace. There are a few different types that you should be aware of when determining which one is best for your house. It Depends on the Fuel Type All furnaces are categorized based on the type of fuel they utilize to create heat for your home. There are four main types of fuel that furnaces can operate on. These include natural gas, oil, propane, and electricity. Depending on which fuel you choose, you’ll need to purchase a furnace that utilizes that particular fuel type. Efficiency and Fuel Price Determining the right furnace for your home all starts with knowing which fuels are readily available in your area. For example, if you don’t have natural gas, then it doesn’t make much sense to invest in a natural gas furnace. Conversely, if you have both heating oil and natural gas readily available in your area, then you’ll want to consider both their individual fuel price and the upfront cost of the furnace. When it comes to furnace...

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Should I Be Concerned About My Furnace’s Oil Smell?

December 20, 2022

Plenty of homes in the Show Low area rely on oil-powered furnaces for heat during the cold months for a variety of reasons. One unique issue that may come about with an oil furnace, though, is an oil smell presenting itself in your home. This isn’t a common occurrence, but it’s one that warrants a look by a qualified heating technician. Here’s everything you need to know about why your home could smell like oil when your furnace turns on and what to do about it. Why Does My House Smell Like Oil? When your furnace operates, it shouldn’t produce any type of odor in your home. If it does, something’s wrong. When you smell oil in your home, it’s typically for one of the following reasons: You’ve just had your fuel tank refilled You’re using your furnace for the first time in months A clogged furnace air filter A damaged furnace burner A damaged furnace heat exchanger Your furnace’s exhaust system isn’t functioning as it should Most of the time, any oil smell you notice when your furnace comes on will go away fairly quickly. If that’s what you’re noticing, you’re likely experiencing a transient issue like the first...

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Do Solar Panels Work in the Winter?

November 17, 2022

Many people believe that warm, sunny days are the only time solar panels are effective. While they perform at peak levels when exposed to direct sunlight, they can still work very well during the winter. Performance in Cold Weather Although it may seem odd, cold weather can actually help with the production of energy that solar panels give off. Since solar panels operate like many other electronic devices, they typically function better in cooler temperatures rather than warmer ones. Colder months can also be a great time to install solar panels since the demand for them is at its lowest and they tend to be less expensive. Impact of Snowfall on Solar Panels Cold weather won’t have an impact on your solar panel’s performance, but snow can affect the overall level of energy produced by them. Even if you live in an area where snowfall is common in the winter, that doesn’t mean that solar panels are not a good option for you. The overall impact will be dependent on how much snow accumulates on top of your panels. Light dustings won’t cause much of a disturbance, but heavier snow can decrease production levels. The good news is that solar...

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5 Amazing Benefits of Getting a Fall HVAC Tune-up

October 20, 2022

Even though the weather tends to be favorable in autumn, scheduling a fall HVAC tune-up is still important. A professional tune-up will result in energy efficiency and many other perks. The following are the benefits of scheduling an HVAC tune-up this fall. 1. Increase Your HVAC Lifespan An HVAC system that does not undergo regular maintenance won’t last for long. Scheduling seasonal check-ups for your unit, including fall tune-ups, can significantly increase its longevity. Technicians will identify issues and make necessary repairs to your HVAC to ensure optimal operation. 2. High Energy Efficiency Many things can affect the efficiency of your unit. Dust, dirt, and other debris can clog various parts and impact performance. Broken components can also result in high energy use. Professional technicians will clean your unit and repair any issues to increase efficiency. 3. Better Air Quality Getting a fall HVAC tune-up will likely improve the air quality in your building. Professionals will service your unit to remove dirt and replace older components that might compromise your air quality. A well-functioning HVAC will act to lower humidity and filter dust, making your air cleaner. 4. Lower Costs A fall HVAC tune-up can save you money! Increased efficiency...

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Can You Install AC in a Home With No Ducts?

September 19, 2022

If you own an older home, you may think you can’t have AC when there aren’t any ducts. Installing ducts for a conventional air conditioner may involve tearing your whole home apart, which is of course very expensive and time-consuming. You can have AC, though, by having a mini-splits system installed. What Are Mini-Splits? Mini-splits are a cooling solution that doesn’t need ducts. The two parts of a mini-split are an outside unit and an indoor air handler. You can even have multiple indoor air handlers connected to an outside unit. Instead of ducts, mini-splits deliver cool air by directly moving hot air out of your home and expelling it outside. There’s a conduit between the outdoor unit and the indoor air handler that contains a refrigerant line, power cable and other necessary parts. Energy Efficient Mini-splits are very efficient. They only work as hard as they need to as they have compressors that speed up and slow down. They only work as hard as needed, which saves you money. When your home has ductwork, you lose up to 30% of the cool air in them in unconditioned areas such as your attic. Since mini-splits don’t use ducts, they entirely...

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How to Safely Clean Your AC Unit

August 10, 2022

A clean AC unit operates more efficiently and isn’t as susceptible to surprise breakdowns. Yet, how do you clean the unit safely without damaging its vital components? Many people ask whether it’s safe to power wash their AC unit. The answer is 100% no. You should never power wash your AC, but there are ways to safely clean the unit. Here are some tips for cleaning the indoor air handler and the outside condenser. How to Clean the Inside AC Unit Over time, the inside AC unit accumulates dust and other debris, making it necessary to give it a thorough cleaning. Periodically, you want to wipe down the interior unit’s exterior to remove dust. Also, stay on top of regular filter changes to keep dirt to a minimum. Aside from wiping down the unit’s exterior, there are interior parts that need cleaning as well. However, it’s recommended that only qualified service professionals handle this type of cleaning. When you schedule professional AC cleaning services, you can expect the technician to open up the unit and clean the following: Conditioner drain if it’s clogged Drain pane Evaporator coils How to Clean the Outside AC Unit The AC’s condenser is located outside...

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Reasons Your AC Is Causing Humidity in Your House

July 18, 2022

Excess humidity can make your home more uncomfortable, especially during summer. That’s why you use air conditioners to cool your home and assist in controlling indoor humidity levels. However, sometimes your AC can make your home humid when it’s ineffective or requires repairs. Here are some possible reasons if you wonder why your house is humid even when the air conditioner is running. AC Is Too Old Like other equipment, an air conditioner also undergoes wear and tear as it ages. Thus, the system is unable to eliminate indoor humidity properly. It often occurs when you postpone or fail to maintain your AC regularly. If your house feels muggy, hire an expert to inspect your air conditioner and recommend a replacement if the system is too old. The Wrong Settings Using incorrect thermostat settings can cause AC humidity issues. Running the fan setting doesn’t always eliminate excess moisture in your home. Instead, it might make the levels worse. The fan can blow moisture your air conditioner removes back into the house, making your home humid. High Outdoor Humidity Levels It might be more difficult for your AC to control indoor humidity levels when the outdoor environment has exceptionally high humidity....

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How Long Before You Should Replace Your HVAC System?

June 17, 2022

Replacing your heater or AC isn’t something you want to think about, but the time will come sooner or later. It’s good to know, then, just how long the average HVAC system lasts. It all depends on the factors below. The Sort of HVAC System You Own HVAC units come in all shapes and sizes. Central ACs and heat pumps, which heat or cool a home through a system of ducts, can last a good 15 to 20 years, but the ductless kind, called mini-splits, can last about a decade longer, though they only heat or cool a single room. Among furnaces, life expectancy varies based on the fuel that’s used: oil furnaces last 10 to 15 years, but gas and electric furnaces can run for five years longer on average. The Quality and Frequency of Maintenance Maintenance keeps your HVAC system from incurring premature wear and tear, which is, after all, the top culprit behind a shortened lifespan. Make sure you’re getting a tune-up every spring for your AC unit and every autumn for the heater portion. If you neglect it, your system will break down frequently, not deliver the comfort you want, and raise your monthly bill. Doing...

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How Long Should You Leave Your AC Running?

May 20, 2022

It is important to familiarize yourself with cycling your air conditioner to avoid fluctuating room temperatures that would be uncomfortable. For optimal performance, it is crucial to know how to let your AC run in a cycle. Your AC should ideally run for fifteen to twenty minutes; however, some factors could affect the unit’s runtime. Factors That Affect Your Air Conditioning Unit The outside temperature is the first factor to consider. The hotter the area you live in, the longer your air conditioner will need to run to cool your room. For example, those living in hot areas like Nevada might experience temperatures that could go higher than 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Long cycles in such areas should not alarm you as it is completely normal due to the circumstances. The air conditioner’s size should also be taken into consideration. Most people overlook the size of AC they are getting in comparison with the room it is meant to be in. The size could vary the runtime of the AC unit, depending how big or small it is. If the AC is oversized, the unit will have a short runtime of about ten minutes. This is not enough time to get...

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