heating company

HVAC Companies: 5 Things You Should Know When Using The Furnace

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When you looking to keep yourself warm during the cold season, you need to properly use the furnace. Here are some of the things you should know as given by HVAC companies:

Don’t close the vents and registers

Many people have the notion that by closing the vents and registers, they will save a lot of energy, but this isn’t the case. You should note that most of the modern homes use the forced-air heating systems that have the capability of detecting and balancing the pressure levels in each room. This ensures that the furnace distributes heat evenly.

When you close the vents and registers, you disturb the balance as you trigger the furnace to work harder in order to equalize the pressure. This not only leads to an increase in the amount of energy used, it also reduces the life of the furnace.

For you to save some energy and keep the furnace in top working condition all the time, you should keep the vents and registers open all the time. This calls for you to get rid of any furniture, rugs, books, and clothes that might block the vents and registers.

Insulate the windows

Did you know that you can save a lot of energy when you insulate the windows? When you stand next to a traditional window, you will notice that it tends to feel cold during winter and warm during summer.

This is usually due to heat transfers. During the fall and winter, un-insulated windows allow a lot of heat to escape the house and cool air to enter. This forces the furnace to work harder hence consuming a lot of energy. The unit also tends to have a short life.

You should keep more of the warm air in the house by insulating the windows. You only need to install a low-emissivity film on the windows. Ensure that the film has reflective properties.

If you have a large budget, consider upgrading the traditional windows to double or even triple pane windows. When installing the windows, ensure that they are installed by an expert.

Watch the thermostat settings

You need to be cautious of how you set your thermostat. Some people have the notion that by setting the thermostat at a high temperature, they will heat the house faster. There is nothing that is further from the truth than this.

You should note that furnaces heat spaces at the same rate, regardless of the temperature that you set the thermostat. When you set the thermostat at a high setting, the only thing you will have is a warm house. You won’t heat the house faster than normal.

Many people make the mistake of cranking up their thermostat settings with the hope that their houses will warm up fast. Don’t do this. Instead, set the thermostat at your desired temperature and the house will warm up slowly until you reach your ideal temperature.

Keep the thermostat settings low at night

While it’s unwise to raise the thermostat settings with the hope of warming up the house faster, there is nothing wrong with lowering the settings especially at night. When you are in bed and covering yourself, you don’t need a lot of heat.

You should maximize your energy savings by keeping the temperature settings around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. For you to have an easy time controlling the temperature in your home, invest in a programmable thermostat.

You should note that lowering the temperature doesn’t make the furnace work harder than it should. As long as there isn’t a high demand for heat in the house, lowering the settings will save you a lot of energy in the long run.

A high-efficiency furnace isn’t the solution to everything

When many people are having issues with their furnaces, they only think about replacing them. You should note that you don’t have to always replace the furnace with a better version for you to save energy.

There are plenty of other ways to increase the efficiency of your unit:

  • Sealing the doors and windows
  • Hiring a heating service repair Falls Church professional to undertake ductwork inspections
  • Sealing any cracks that might be on the exterior and interior walls
  • Installing high-efficiency window units to prevent heat transfer.
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Heat Pump Repair And Installation Tips

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One of the prime reasons why people go for heat pumps is because you can use them to cool and heat the house. This means that when the cooling season comes around, you don’t need to invest in an air conditioner.

Do you think the heat pump is the ideal unit for your home? You should go ahead and install it in your home. For you to have a great experience with the unit, you need to do a number of things. Here are some of these things as given by heat pump repair professionals:

Always take your time when buying

When the heating season strikes, many people rush to the stores to buy the heating unit. Others go online and try their luck there. Since they are usually in a hurry, they buy the first unit they come across. Don’t do this.

While you can be lucky and find a high-quality unit, in most cases you end up with the wrong appliance. For you to have a great experience with the heat pump you should take your time and find the ideal one for your needs.

Your first stop should be online. Compare the different heat pumps that are in the market and get reviews of the different people.

In addition to taking your time to buy the right appliance, you also should take your time when hiring a professional to help with the installation. The key to buying the right unit beginning your research early enough.

Buy a ductless heat pump

Just like other heating systems, you can buy a duct or ductless heat pump. For you to have an easy time installing and maintaining your unit, you should buy a ductless heat pump. In addition to being easy to install, ductless heat pumps are also more energy efficient thus you end up saving a lot of money in the long run.

Ductless heat pumps are also quiet, reliable and provide high levels of comfort. Even if you already have the duct system in your home, you will be better off with a ductless unit.

Ensure that your house is properly sealed and insulated

Before you install the heat pump, you should take the time to ensure that your home is properly sealed and insulated. This is to reduce the amount of heat that will get lost.

Remember, when you have a home that allows a lot of heat to be lost, you not only dig a hole in your pocket, you also make the heat pump work harder than it should. What is the end result of this? The unit breaks down after just a short while and you have to replace it which is an extra cost on your part.

Even if you have already sealed and insulated your home before, ask a professional to visit your home and inspect the system. Only install the heating unit if the insulation is in proper condition.

Have a backup system in place

Heat pumps are designed to work with a backup system which is often an electric system. The role of the system is to provide you with heat during the cold days when the heat pump isn’t able to supply you with the heat you are looking for.

You should ensure that the system is in place and in good condition. During the installation, ask the contractor to help you with the setting up of the unit so that it can function optimally, efficiently, and with comfort.

Set the right temperature and forget

You must have come across information that you should change the system temperatures depending on your needs. This means that when it too cold, you raise the temperature and when it gets warmer you lower it.

While this advice works for furnaces and other units, it has been shown to put a lot of pressure on the heat pump leading to an inefficient and malfunctioning unit. For you to be on the safe side, you should set an ideal temperature and leave it there.

Take good care of your appliance

After installing the heat pump, you need to take good care of it. In addition to regularly hiring heating service repair Mclean professionals to inspect your unit, you also should clean and replace the air filters if necessary.

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Heat Pump Repair: Expert Tips On How To Maintain Your Heat Pump

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While some homeowners prefer installing furnaces to keep their houses warm, others go for heat pumps. Heat pumps come with a number of benefits. One is that they are energy efficient. Since they don’t generate heat, they spend little energy which means a small energy bill at the end of the month.

You can also use them to heat the house and in summer, you use them to keep the house cool. For you to keep the heat pumps in top shape, you should take good care of them. Here are tips on how to do it as given by heat pump repair professionals:

Pay attention to the outdoor unit

Everything begins here. You need to ensure that the outdoor unit is clean all the time. Remove all the debris from the unit. This calls for you to get rid of the debris from the condenser or compressor.

You can use your hands or use a vacuum cleaner to do it. Experts also recommend that you spray the unit with a garden hose and you will remove the dirt, debris, and grass clippings that might be there.

You might have come across information that you can use a pressure washer to clean the unit. Don’t do it as the pressure washer will bend the coil fins.

In addition to cleaning the unit, you also need to check the wiring connections and ensure that they are tight and in good condition.

Is there overgrown foliage and outdoor debris outside your unit? This can prevent your heat pump from functioning optimally; therefore, you should get rid of them. Trim plants and trees that are close to the outdoor unit.

By doing this you ensure there is optimal air distribution thus your unit functions better.

Don’t ignore the indoor unit

Paying attention to the indoor unit isn’t enough. You also need to pay attention to the indoor unit. Clean the blower wheel. Is this the first time you are coming across this term? The blower wheel is located inside the indoor unit.

To access it you need to remove the drain panel that has flaps that open and close. You should then loosen the coil vent and gently pull out the blower wheel. Carefully clean the wheel with a garden hose.

Once you are done, return the wheel into the unit. When returning the wheel, ensure that you insert back all the screws that you would have removed. Be cautious and ensure that you return all of them at their right places as failure to do so will lead to an improperly installed unit.

You also should pay attention to the thermostat. Is it properly set? If not, recalibrate it. You also should check whether its level. Remember that if its off center, it can alter with the accuracy of the internal component; therefore, ensure that its level.

Finally, check whether the thermostat is too old. Has it been developing problems lately? Is it noisy when working? If it has been having these issues, it’s time that you considered replacing it.

Swap the air filters

Just like your furnace, you need to pay attention to the air filters for your unit to continue functioning optimally. The purpose of the air filters is to allow air to flow within the system. Due to its location, the air filter tends to collect a lot of dirt which restricts air flow.

When there is restricted airflow, the heat pump can’t function optimally. At least once a month, inspect the air filters. If they are dirty, clean them. In some cases, the air filters are too dirty to the extent that you can’t clean them. In such a scenario, you have no way out other than to replace them.

When getting new units ensure that the new ones are of high quality. They also should be of the right size for your unit.

Getting new air filters not only increases the unit’s efficiency levels, it also lengthens its lifespan as it doesn’t work too hard.

Undertake regular inspections

At least once a year, hire heat pump repair service Arlington VA providers to inspect the unit and fix any issues it might be having. For ideal services, ensure the contractors are experienced and certified to work in your local area.

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