Hometown Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Don’t Neglect These Potential End-of-Season Heating Repair Needs

Monday, March 29th, 2021

Wintertime weather is on its way out, making way for the warmer temperatures we’re used to this time of year. However, with us still using our heaters for at least a little while longer, it’s not quite time to forget about them. But, do you know if your heater will make it through the rest of the chilly nights you need it for?

Your answer to this will heavily depend on whether or not your heater needs repairs. If your heating system is struggling a bit, or if you didn’t have maintenance done last fall, then you should really schedule repairs sooner rather than later. Otherwise, you risk a breakdown now, or even next fall when you go to turn it on again. But, how do you know for sure if your heater needs repairs? Fortunately, there are some pretty clear indicators you can watch and listen for. Read on as we uncover what they are!

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Pay Attention if Your Heater Makes Any of These Noises

Monday, March 1st, 2021
woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listen

If you have a forced-air heating system like a furnace or heat pump, then there are going to be some sounds you can expect to hear. The whir of the fan a few minutes after the system starts up is one of them, for instance. In a furnace, it takes a few minutes for the furnace’s heating elements to get hot enough to provide adequate warmth to your home. Once you hear that familiar whir and the following rush of air through your vents, you feel satisfied knowing that warmth is on its way. That is, unless these sounds are accompanied by a loud and unfamiliar sound.

No matter what the noise is, anything outside of the normal operating sounds you hear every day is abnormal and deserve a call to our pos. Whether those noises seem to be coming from your vents or from the furnace system itself, they need to be investigated by a trained professional who knows what they’re looking for.

Read on as we uncover some of the most common noises we get called about, and what they might mean for your heating system.

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Skip Furnace Maintenance? It’s Not Too Late

Monday, February 1st, 2021

We might not experience the chilly temperatures that our neighbors in the Midwest or Northeast do, but if the last couple of weeks were any indication, it does get cold relative to what we’re used to in the summer, right? As such, you need a fully functional and efficiently operating heating system to keep you warm.

Unfortunately, too many homeowners in our area take this for granted and don’t think about the upkeep necessary for their heating systems. Either that, or they think their perfectly working heater doesn’t need any kind of service. Here’s the thing, though—scheduling annual or biannual maintenance for your HVAC system prevents the majority of repair needs the system will ever need in its lifespan—up to 85% in fact!

So, if you skipped maintenance this fall, what are you waiting for? Give us a call and schedule your next tune-up. Below, we decided to dive into the “why” of this advice.

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Where Does Your Heater Rank?

Monday, January 18th, 2021
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On a scale of 1-5, how would you rank the performance of your heater—1 being “I have absolutely no complaints!” and 5 being, “Uh… my heater isn’t working…”?

Hopefully, you’re closer to 1—your heater has been behaving just fine and giving you efficient, powerful heat. But what if that’s not the case? What needs to occur to get better results?

Read on as we go over what different rankings for your heater might mean and what can be done about it.

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How to Use Your Heater Most Efficiently

Monday, January 4th, 2021
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Winter is officially here, and the temperatures are only going to get colder. Are you prepared?

Sure, we are in a climate known for its summer warmth, and it doesn’t get as bone-chillingly cold here as it does in other parts of the country, but our winter seasons are still nothing to scoff at, and you need a well-functioning heater to stay comfortable.

Having a great heating system in place is about many things—reliability, effectiveness, and efficiency. You want a heating system that won’t cost you an arm and a leg to operate.

The good news is, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your heater is working as efficiently as possible and saving you money. Read on to learn what they are!

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Why Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?

Monday, November 23rd, 2020
gas-jet-burners-igniting

Are you one of the many homeowners in our area utilizing a gas-powered heater for your home comfort in the fall and winter? If you are, then this blog post is for you!

Gas-powered heating systems, specifically furnaces, are the most common type of residential heating system used throughout the country, and for good reason. They’re powerful, effective, and when properly installed and cared for, very efficient. They produce a large amount of heat and do so at less expense than their electric heater counterparts, since natural gas costs much less.

However, while not inherently harmful, any natural gas appliance has the potential to develop safety issues. This isn’t said to alarm you—after all, today’s furnaces are built with homeowners safety in mind and have features to shut themselves off if they overheat. But something like a cracked heat exchanger, no matter how small the crack is, can lead to harmful CO exposure in your living space.

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Beware These Furnace Noises This Heating Season!

Monday, November 9th, 2020
woman-holding-hand-to-ear-to-listen

It can be easy to ignore subtle noises coming from your furnace. Or rather, tune them out. The whoosh of air through your vents, for example, can become such a natural noise in the fall and winter that you don’t even notice it anymore. You might also hear your ductwork fluctuating with the temperature changes as your furnace or heat pump cycles on.

However, what about the noises that creep up on you or seem to come out of nowhere? Is it ever okay to ignore an unusual or unexpected sound? Well, you could ignore it… but you’d probably regret doing so. Unusual noises are among the first signs that something is amiss with your furnace or heating system. Read on as we uncover some of the most common sounds that indicate a furnace in disrepair.

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What’s the Best Way to Prevent Furnace Repair Needs?

Monday, October 26th, 2020

We all want our HVAC systems to last forever, right? While this may not be the case, it is possible for you to help it last as long as possible and prevent furnace repair needs at the same time. How’s that? By scheduling maintenance!

Heating maintenance is vital for your heater’s energy efficiency, longevity, and power. There are a number of tasks involved with this maintenance, and they should only ever be conducted by a professional. Why? Because we have the training and the expertise to do your tune-up as it should be done. What exactly happens during this maintenance appointment?

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