There was a time when owners of older homes had very limited options for heating and cooling. If the home lacked ductwork, they either faced a huge construction project or got by with portable units such as window air conditioners and baseboard heaters. Installing ductwork is an extremely messy, expensive and invasive project. Older homes […]
Keeping the ductwork clean will result in a cleaner, better-smelling and more comfortable home. The duct system connects the furnace and air conditioner to supply and return vents located in the different rooms of the home. This network of pipes is responsible for carrying air back to the heating/cooling system for conditioning and then delivering […]
An excess of humidity is rarely overlooked. That clammy, sticky feeling makes us feel overheated and lethargic. Insufficient humidity is just as problematic yet often ignored. In areas of the country with long, severely cold winters, the air becomes especially dry. It then pulls moisture out of everything it touches. There are concerns with hardwood […]
For heating, cooling and related temperature control services, a trained professional is essential to a positive outcome. Installation of a furnace, boiler, air conditioner or heat pump requires exact sizing and protocols for the system to operate to peak capacity, efficiency and reliability. The inspection, testing, tuning and cleaning involved with annual maintenance needs to […]
Because the maximum amount of heated air isn’t arriving at the various rooms of the house, it’s more difficult for the heating system to meet the demands of the thermostat Most makes and models of natural gas furnaces tend to be very reliable. The average service life falls somewhere between fifteen and twenty years. However, […]
In the majority of the country, both heating and cooling are required to achieve a comfortable home. For the average household, the cost of temperature control adds up to approximately fifty percent of the annual energy costs. In recent years, developments in engineering and technology have significantly improved the efficiency of air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, […]
Over the last few years, there have been considerable advances in the engineering of air conditioners. At one time, whole-home cooling systems created a significant energy draw that was hard on the budget. They used freon refrigerant that negatively impacted the environment. Modern air conditioners achieve up to a 26 SEER and have been converted […]
The Environmental Protection Agency considers geothermal heating and cooling as the most environmentally responsible choice for indoor temperature control. These sophisticated systems utilize the free and renewable energy supplied by the sun. No matter the change of seasons or severity of the weather, the earth remains at a fairly constant temperature all year round. A […]
The heating and cooling system is one of the largest investments in the average home. Taking proper care of the equipment so that it operates reliably and lasts as long as possible is important. There are many bad habits that can affect the performance and longevity of the system. One of the most common causes […]
My local area is often referred to as “the snow belt.” We are located in the northeastern area of the country, near the Canadian border and along the edge of one of the Great Lakes. Our winters tend to be especially long and extremely cold. It’s not usual to see temperatures down to negative twenty […]