Double, double, toil and trouble. Gas furnace heat and boiler bubble!
Happy Halloween everyone! And may the “forced air” be with you. Who’s ready for costume parties and candy?? I know we are. Heck, even our air conditioners and gas furnaces got festive this year.
So, what’s your favorite thing about Halloween? Whether it’s costume parties, giving out candy or just hanging out at home – we want to know. Here are some things you can do to really make the most out of Halloween.
- Take the kids out trick-or-treating.
- Drive around and find the spookiest decorations.
- Visit some of your local haunted hot spots.
- Buy your own bag of candy and indulge (everyone knows calories don’t count when they’re mini size anyway)
- Watch your favorite horror movies with a bowl of popcorn and a roaring fire.
- Visit a Halloween haunt and scare yourself silly
- Carve some more pumpkins – you can never have too many.
- Do some fall baking! Parents magazine has some fun Halloween baking ideas.
- Throw a costume party with all sorts of tricks and treats.
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Your waistline isn’t the only thing that should prepare for the holidays.
Halloween candy. Thanksgiving dinner. Holiday baked goods! All of these extra calories can put an extra strain on your waistline – just as increased heating demand can put a strain on your gas furnace. While tight jeans can be a comfort nuisance, that’s nothing compared to a gas furnace outage during some of the coldest weather of the year.
So, like hitting the gym, your gas furnace needs a plan of action to make sure that damage isn’t done while temperatures drop. Here are some things you can do to decrease the strain placed on your indoor heating system.
- Schedule a clean and check appointment. Start the holiday season out on the right foot with a clean and check appointment! This can make sure your contractor catches anything that could pose a problem during the heating season.
- Change your filter. Ensure proper airflow and reduce strain by making sure your filter is clean and ready to go.
- Get your ductwork inspected. Again, this can make sure that you have correct airflow going to all parts of your house. And, you can make sure that there are no leaks – causing your gas furnace to have to run longer or shorter (depending on the location of the leak).
- Having a holiday party? Turn the thermostat down a few degrees. The natural body heat and any indoor cooking appliance can give off extra heat and lower the demand for your gas furnace.
- While we’re talking about the thermostat… make sure that it is sending the right signals to your equipment. Your thermostat should be a part of your maintenance appointment.
- What about vents? Make sure all of your vents are open. This way you assure that your gas furnace is meeting the demand it was designed to meet.
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Head-off emergency service calls by paying attention to your HVAC system during the fall
The worst thing you can do for your heating and cooling system in the fall is to forget that you have one. Yes, temperatures are milder (so maybe the need for your system is not as great), but it still has a big job to take on. As temperatures fluctuate, there actually could be a bigger strain placed on your system (if you don’t take care of your system properly).
Here are some things to keep in mind during the fall that will prevent a system breakdown.
- Temperature settings. It’s 80F one day and 60F the next. What to do?? The one thing you definitely should not do is consistently adjust the temperature setting on your non-programmable thermostat. This can raise utility bills, cause unnecessary on/off cycles, and potentially damage your unit. Set the temperature and forget about it.
- Keeping leaves and debris away from your condenser. Fall is famous (or infamous) for all of the beautiful, falling leaves. Unchecked, leaves can interfere with the performance of your air conditioner or heat pump – cutting off airflow and lowering efficiency. Make sure you rake the leaves away from your system.
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Get your home winter ready with our smart home tips for fall!
The weather’s cooling down. The leaves are changing color. And, it’s time to start thinking about hunkering down for the winter. It’ll be winter before you know it – make sure you aren’t putting off all of those fall-time chores!
Before temperatures get really chilly, there are some things you should do around your home in the fall to ensure a safe, comfortable environment. Here are a few of our smart home tips for fall.
- Plug any air leaks. Air leaks stemming from windows and doors can be a drain on your wallet and home comfort. Caulk around your windows, look for leaks in your attic and ensure your home is properly insulated.
- Rake up those leaves! Especially if they are around your condenser. If you have a heat pump, you could be using the outdoor unit well into fall and close to winter. Proper airflow is critical for maximum comfort and performance – don’t let the leaves bog your unit down.
- While we’re discussing leaves… Make sure you clean out those gutters as well.
- Ensure top notch air quality. During seasonal transitions, it is a great idea to remember to change your disposable filter or clean your permanent filter. Your filter is your best line of defense against nasty indoor particles that can negatively impact indoor air – especially when your house is closed off tightly during the winter.
- Freshen up those batteries. Your carbon monoxide detector and fire alarms are crucial for keeping your home safe. Now is a great time (before you turn on that gas furnace) to make sure these devices are running properly.
- Inspect that ductwork. Ductwork that is installed improperly, collapsed or dirty can impact home comfort and indoor air quality. Have your contractor come out and inspect that ductwork.
- And while we’re talking about contractors… Make sure you schedule fall furnace preventative maintenance. It is better to catch any issues before they can become big problems during the winter.
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Fighting fall allergies starts with your heating and air system
Want to know your first (and best) line of defense against poor indoor air quality and uncomfortable temperatures? Well, your HVAC system of course. Heat pumps, air conditioners, gas furnaces and air handlers all have components that can greatly improve the quality of your indoor air and, of course, make your home as comfortable as possible.
If you’re an allergy sufferer, your HVAC system is particularly important. Intense allergies can really put a damper on some of the nicest weather of the year – spring and fall. Here are ways in which your heating and air conditioning system can really help your indoor air quality.
- Air filters. All of the air that makes it into your home goes through a filter. A dirty filter is not going to be able to filter our those harmful particles as effectively as a clean one. So, make sure you are regularly changing your filter, or (if you have a permanent filter) you are taking it outside to clean it.
- Clean ducts. After your treated air goes through the filter, it enters your ducts. It’s important that your ducts are clean so that harmful particles don’t piggy back and make it into your home. Schedule a duct cleaning appointment with a contractor so that this does not happen.
- A properly maintained unit… can filter and condition your air more effectively. Schedule furnace preventative maintenance in the fall to make sure it is in tip top shape.
- Indoor air quality products. You can also enhance air filtration power by adding indoor air quality systems like air cleaners. This can get even the tiniest particles out of your indoor air and helps you breathe easier.
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Beat fall allergies one closed window at a time
The days are a little bit shorter. The nights are a little bit colder. And those heating and air conditioning systems don’t have to work as hard to keep your home at the right temperature. Fall is definitely in full swing, and we’re loving every minute of it. BUT, although it can be tempting to open up the windows and let in those cool fall breezes (particularly after a brutally hot summer), you may want to stop and think about indoor air quality.
Not only is fall infamous for its cooler temperatures, but it is also (like spring) a prime time for allergies. This can put a real damper on the nicer weather and start to the holiday season. Luckily, we have some tips that you can keep in mind as we go through fall.
- Keep the windows…closed! It’s a good idea to air out
your home every once in a while to prevent stuffiness. But, you don’t want to overdo it. Open windows and doors let allergens right into your home without being treated by your HVAC system. Instead of opening windows, consider turning your thermostat to the ON fan position for a while. - Change your furnace filter. While we’re discussing your HVAC system, it’s important that you keep your furnace filter fresh. It’s your first line of defense against allergens.
- Get your ducts cleaned. Lots of gross things can be lurking in your ductwork. Have your contractor come out and clean your ductwork and get rid of all those creepy crawlies.
- Keep your home clean. Dust and allergens can accumulate on the surface of your home. If you regularly dust and keep things shiny, they are less likely to aggravate your health.
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Tips for buying a gas furnace
Don’t let buying a new gas furnace become a terrifying prospect! Yes, a new heating system can set you back some dough, but with our tips you can make sure that your investment is worthwhile. Plus, if you play your cards right, your new gas furnace can pay for itself in efficient performance (when compared to that old, scary, energy-guzzling model).
Buying a new HVAC system doesn’t have to be your worst nightmare. Turn it into a positive experience by doing the following things:
- Do your research. This applies to picking the right system AND finding the right contractor. In fact, finding the right contractor is arguably the most important part of the purchasing process.
- Invest in efficiency. Whether it’s a new heat pump, air conditioner, gas furnace or air handler – it’s important that you buy the most efficient system you can afford. Yeah, it’ll cost you a little more out-of-pocket, BUT you’ll be smiling when utility bills come at the end of the month.
- Speaking of contractor search… Read online reviews and get recommendations from your friends, family and neighbors. It’s hard to run from a negative reputation with past clients.
- Check to see if your new system qualifies for a tax credit or rebate. This can help you justify some of the overhead costs of replacing your old system with something new.
- Enhance home comfort. Programmable thermostats, zoning system and variable-speed blowers can help you maximize the comfort levels in your home. With a programmable thermostat you can program your HVAC equipment to work around your schedule. With a zoning system you can divide your home up into zones. Each zone has its own separate thermostat. That way, when you don’t need heating in one zone, but do need it in another, you won’t be wasting energy dollars heating a room that doesn’t need it. Also, variable-speed blowers can give you consistent comfort throughout the day, even out temperatures and more.
- Registration. Maytag HVAC, for example, offers an extremely long parts warranty – 12 years! BUT, you must make sure that your equipment is registered to enjoy full warranty protection. So, whether it’s your contractor’s job or your job, you need to make sure this gets done.
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The perks of upgrading to a new furnace
Besides getting rid of that ghastly, energy-guzzling nightmare in your basement, there can be many perks of ditching that old gas furnace and going with a new one – particularly if your old furnace is over 20 years old. From efficiency potential to home comfort features – a brand-new gas furnace has many perks that weren’t around even 10 years ago.
Here are some big benefits of buying a new gas furnace.
- Efficiency boost. Here’s the big benefit – a boost in efficiency. The more energy efficient your gas furnace, the less money you will spend on heating during the winter. In some cases, this can more than recoup the costs of purchasing a brand-new system.
- Comfort upgrade. Systems now contain features that help stabilize comfort throughout your entire home (like variable-speed operation and zoning systems). Have cold spots? It’s probably not a ghost, just uneven comfort. You can remedy this through a zoning system, variable-speed operation or different heating stages.
- Catch any kinks. This is also a good time to examine your whole-home heating and cooling system to make sure that everything is working properly. Make sure that when your contractor is giving you an estimate for a new system, they check out the duct work as well.
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Have you considered a heat pump?
So, we’ve already explored the idea that heat pumps and air conditioners are really not all that different. When it comes down to basic engineering, there are only a few differences between the two units. However, having a heat pump can dramatically reduce utility bills and ramp up home comfort in some areas.
As a refresher, this is how a heat pump works. When in cooling mode, the heat pump transfers heat from your indoor air and releases it into your outdoor air. In heating mode, the heat pump does the opposite. It transfers heat from the outside air and releases it into your indoor air. This is a bare bones explanation, but you get the idea.
So…how is this more efficient? It gets REALLLY cold where I live and I don’t think the heat pump can cut it.
You may think it’s harder for a heat pump to extract heat from the outdoor air when temperatures are low, but they actually can be quite efficient down to a certain point (think 20F). When temperatures drop below this, you will have to resort to some sort of backup heat that actually CREATES heat – like a gas furnace or electric heat strips. Heat transfer is typically more energy efficient than heat creation. That’s why you can save more money (particularly if natural gas prices are high in your area or if you don’t need as much heating power). Heck, in some areas of the country, you may even be able to substitute your old gas furnace/air conditioner setup for a single heat pump – just ask your contractor for a recommendation.
But, what if it doesn’t heat my home quickly enough? Will I still get the old comfort levels I had before?
Worried about comfort? Although it may take a teensy bit longer for your home to reach temperature at the start, this shouldn’t be a problem. Your home will enjoy steadier, consistent comfort levels (especially if your heat pump is variable speed or operates in multiple stages). This is unlike the hot blasts of air that can sometimes be typical of a gas furnace. As long as you are not constantly adjusting your thermostat, you should have nothing to worry about.
Have any more questions about heat pumps? Let us know in the comments.
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What you should know when you replace an air conditioner with a heat pump
Have you decided to take the plunge and replace your air conditioner with a newer model? That’s a great first step. Just make sure that before you settle on a new unit, you consider all of your options. There’s more than just the air conditioner to consider. Did you know that a heat pump can be a great alternative to an air conditioner?
There’s not much that will go into switching from one system to the other – at least not any more than it would be staying with an air conditioner. The first thing to realize is that a heat pump is essentially an air conditioner, but it can also heat your home with electricity. It’s nearly the exact same process. The difference is that a heat pump can reverse the flow of refrigerant to provide warm as well as cool air. Neat, right?
You will even have the same settings on your thermostat as the traditional air conditioner/gas furnace setup. The difference is that you won’t need to use backup heating methods (like electric heat strips or your gas furnace as often). Only when your heat pump can no longer extract enough heat from the outdoor air, it will resort to supplemental backup heat. This can be great for many homeowners.
Here are some other things you should do to maximize the efficiency of your new heat pump.
- Set the thermostat to 68F in the heating season and 78F during the cooling season. Don’t mess with this temperature too much. This can lead to discomfort and higher energy bills.
- Have a contractor come out to clean and inspect your HVAC system twice a year to ensure proper performance – once before the cooling season and once before the heating season.
- Always invest in the most efficient heat pump you can afford. Although it may be more expensive up front, you won’t regret it when you see your utility bills.
- Make sure that proper airflow is ensured around the outdoor unit. This means keeping any leaves or debris away from your heat pump during the fall. Improper airflow can decrease efficiency and, potentially, harm your unit.
- Make sure you are regularly changing your furnace filter. The same principles as the last tip apply – a dirty filter can lead to decreased airflow. You also cannot ensure that your air is as fresh as possible.