Ways to Lower Your Winter Heating Bills

Winter heating bills can be a strain on your budget even though they are a necessary expense. To save money on heating your home, your furnace needs to run less frequently and more efficiently. Here are some tips that will keep your house warm at a lower price. Upgrade Your Thermostat A modern thermostat can reduce your heating bill by as much as 20%. New smart thermostats can be programmed to keep your house comfortable when people are home and cooler when it is empty. Some thermostats can even learn your heating habits over time, giving you that much more control over your costs. When the furnace is off an extra 10 minutes each day, you will have over an hour of savings every week. Seal Your Home Cracks and gaps allow cold air to creep into your home, forcing your heating system to work harder. As the heating season begins, you will want to search your home for any drafty places. Fill the leaks you find around doors or windows. Use a draft stopper at the bottom of your doors, especially those that are not used frequently. If you are able to take on a larger project, adding insulation...

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How Often Are Heating System Replacements Needed?

While you may have a good idea of when you are supposed to replace other equipment in your house, knowing when it’s time for a new heating system may be more difficult. This lack of information stems from the fact that these systems are complicated. In addition to that, they vary in quality and may have different lifespans depending on the specific unit. Usually, the manufacturer will tell you how long they will last, but that is based on their assessment and not the conditions in your house. Heating Equipment Reliability and Maintenance Regardless of the make or model, all heating systems require annual maintenance. During maintenance, all parts are checked to ensure that they are working optimally. Usually, a system that is functioning optimally will last longer than a unit that is working harder than it needs to. With annual maintenance, you can expect a quality heating system to last anywhere from 10-20 years. Handling Repair Needs Extends the Life of Your System Another factor that is likely to affect heating system durability is the usage. Some people do not repair their systems when they show signs of breaking down. For instance, as long as the house is warm,...

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Warning Signs You Need Furnace Repair

Typically, furnaces are able to last for many years and require only minimal maintenance. Nevertheless, there may come times when your furnace needs to be repaired in order for it to continue operating safely and efficiently. Below, we’ll take a look at a few warning signs to watch for that indicate your furnace needs repairs. Increased Heating Bills If you notice that your heating bill has increased by a significant amount for no explainable reason, it may be that your furnace is no longer operating efficiently and needs to be repaired or replaced. Having a furnace that drives up your heating bill is a sign that your furnace may have serious problems. Repairs may be able to fix it, but an abnormally high heating bill often indicates that your furnace needs to be replaced. Noises Coming From Your Furnace If your furnace is squeaking or making popping noises, it could be that the furnace is damaged and needs to be repaired. Pay careful attention to any unusual sounds that your furnace makes and be sure to have it checked out if it is making noises. The Furnace is Blowing Cold Air If you feel cold air coming off of your...

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How to Find the Best Furnace for My Home?

Finding the right furnace for your home can feel like a Herculean task at the best of times. Most people don’t know much about how their heating system operates, much less what they should be looking for in an ideal model! Fortunately, we are here today in order to provide you with some quality tips so that the process can be at least a little bit easier. Replacing your furnace is an important task, so you’ll want to keep on reading so that you can get the best furnace for your home. Select The Right Furnace With These Simple Tips As you no doubt know, replacing your furnace is important for a variety of different reasons. You need to find yourself the best furnace possible so that you can stay comfortable and safe during the winter without breaking your bank account. Unfortunately, you might not know where to even start. There are a few easy ways to begin hunting for your new furnace, so let’s outline them below. 1. Pay Attention To Efficiency We’ll want to start our furnace purchasing quest by looking at the different efficiency ratings of popular furnaces in our price range. The Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency...

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How to Increase Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

The HVAC system in your San Antonio home uses a considerable amount of energy to keep it comfortable. In fact, heating and cooling generally use the largest amount of electricity compared to appliances, lighting and other electrical items in homes. You can make your home more energy-efficient with some HVAC tips. Change Your Air Filter Regularly Leaving your air filter in your HVAC system for months at a time means that it gets dirty and affects airflow. This causes your HVAC system to come on more often and work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Replacing the air filter every few months or more often helps your HVAC system work more efficiently. You should check it once a month and change it if you have pets in your home since it’s likely to be covered with pet dander, along with dust and other debris. Install a New Thermostat If you still have a manual thermostat, you can make your home more energy-efficient by replacing it with a smart or programmable one. With these thermostats, you don’t have to remember to adjust the temperature settings, such as at night or before you leave the house for the day....

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What Does it Mean to be a Factory Authorized Dealer?

For many professions, it is a necessity for corporations to obtain certification from a reputable organization. This reputable organization may be a major manufacturer, environmental protection agency, or even a government agency. Certification tells consumers that the organization is compliant with national standards. Accordingly, consumers tend to expect high-quality products and services from companies with a certification. In the HVAC industry, many businesses are striving to achieve the Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer designation. Dealers with this designation are permitted to use the “Authorized Dealer” logo on their websites and advertisements. Despite how difficult it is to achieve this designation, many consumers are not aware of what it means to be a factory authorized dealer. Here is some information about what it means to be a factory authorized dealer. Who Can Get this Certification? In the United States, there are thousands of HVAC companies. However, of these companies, only five percent are factory-authorized. In order to become factory-authorized, HVAC contractors and dealers who sell HVAC equipment need to meet the strict requirements established by Bryant Corporation, which is an industry leader in cooling and heating solutions. The requirements for the factory authorized dealer designation are as follows: Professional Competence The company...

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The Different Careers in HVAC

If you are looking at career options, you can’t go wrong with HVAC. Jobs in this industry are currently in very high demand and this trend shows no signs of slowing down. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in this sector are expected to grow 15 percent between 2016-2026, a much faster than average rate. People interested in HVAC careers can consider the following options: Technician HVAC technicians do installations, troubleshooting, repairs, and inspections. As a part of their duties, HVAC techs also read and interpret blueprints for heating and cooling systems so they can perform installations and do the proper hookups to various components, such as air ducts and water lines. The tech job can encompass all aspects of HVAC installation and maintenance or workers may perform in specialized areas of HVAC. Engineer Career seekers interested in math, science, and design may find their destiny in creating and upgrading heating and cooling systems. HVAC engineers determine how systems are designed and may assist customers in finding HVAC solutions for their businesses or homes. CAD software knowledge is typically required. Pipefitter Pipefitters perform a variety of tasks in their daily routines. They work with pipes made of...

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How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

You might not think too much about the air you’re breathing inside your home, but it can seriously affect your health. Having poor air quality indoors can increase your risk of having health issues, especially if you have asthma or allergies. You can improve the indoor air quality in your San Antonio home by doing one or more of the following: Keep Humidity Under Control Having high humidity in your home can lead to mold growth, especially in dark, damp areas. Since some types of mold can cause severe health problems, it’s important to reduce the risk of mold growth. Having low humidity in your home makes the air too dry, which can cause you to have sinus problems and irritated, cracked skin. Keeping the humidity in your home at a healthy level prevents these problems from occurring. You can do this by running a humidifier or dehumidifier as needed and using exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens. Get an Air Filter An air filtration system offers a convenient way to keep the air inside your home as clean as possible on an ongoing basis. These systems help get rid of pollutants and small particles that can build up inside...

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