One of the biggest misconceptions people have about heating is how to properly set the thermostat during extreme heat and cold. Since it’s winter now, we’re going to focus on how to best set the thermostat to deal with chilly weather. You might be surprised to learn the truth about how thermostats operate and how you can help save energy and give your heating system a long service life.
Bob Mims Heating & Air Conditioning Blog
Adjusting the Thermostat for Cold Weather
December 27th, 2016How to Change the Batteries in Your Thermostat
December 19th, 2016The thermostat is an essential part of your HVAC system, even though you may not think of it as having the same role as the air conditioner or the furnace. But without a working thermostat, you can’t communicate to your cooling and heating system, and it won’t be able to sense the temperature.
Boilers vs. Furnaces: Which Is Better?
December 12th, 2016When you are considering the new heating system options for a home, you have many different choices available. One of the big divides is between a furnace, which is a forced-air system, and a boiler, which is a radiant heating system. The type you choose will have a major effect on the house itself, since a furnace uses a ventilation network to distribute heat, and a boiler uses water pipes.
There’s a Burning Smell Coming from the Furnace—What’s Wrong?
December 5th, 2016As outdoor temperatures continue to fall with the first day of winter closing in (December 21), gas and electric furnaces all across the Tri-State area are going to turn on and get to work. During these early days of heating a home, you may run into a strange burning smell coming from the vents when the furnace is on. This is alarming, but it may not be an actual repair issue. We’ll look a bit further into the burning odors from furnaces and why it happens.
What to Look for in a Service Contractor
November 28th, 2016We live in a world of near-instant information. Sometimes this makes life much easier, such as when you absolutely must know how many seasons The Brady Bunch was on TV. (Answer: 5. I found that out in mere seconds.) But it can also make life more difficult, such as when you need to find an HVAC contractor in your area. You put in a few search words into a browser, and suddenly you’re looking at a long list of far too many choices. How do you pick the ideal one?
Fresh Air and Energy Saving This Winter with an Energy Recovery Ventilator
November 21st, 2016There’s a dilemma that homes face when it comes to receiving fresh air while staying warm during the winter. Modern homes are built to trap heat indoors and make them easier to keep comfortable. If cold drafts are getting into a home, it will be much harder to keep warm and the heater will have to run almost constantly.
But this heavy insulation on the house also means there’s little chance to vent out the stale, often contaminant-filled air and replace it with fresh air.
What to Check before You Call for a Heating Repair
November 13th, 2016When a heating system stops working correctly in the middle of a cold day or night, it’s a serious emergency. But it’s not a time to panic: not only do you have access to our superb heating repair professionals when you need us, but there are also some steps to take that may solve the heating problem before you need to call us. At times, the issue may actually be a simple one to resolve. Below is a list of what to do when you lose heating power from your furnace or other comfort system:
Ductless Heating and Its Tremendous Benefits
November 7th, 2016When you hear about a “ductless heating” system, you might feel a bit incredulous. Isn’t heating without ducts a kind of space heater? Or a boiler attached to radiators? Those don’t sound like ways you can effectively heat your home: a space heater isn’t powerful enough, and unless you already have pipes in place for a boiler, a boiler isn’t a viable option.
What Is a Tankless Water Heater? Should I Get One?
October 31st, 2016Forget everything you know about water heaters!
Well, it’s okay to remember most of it—the only part you really need to toss out is the idea that all water heaters use large storage tanks to operate. For decades this was the standard for water heaters—and there’s still nothing wrong with relying on storage tank water heaters—but there are new models available that don’t use water tanks at all. Tankless water heaters are already enormously popular in Europe and spreading quickly in the U.S.
How Does a Heat Pump Both Heat and Cool?
October 23rd, 2016One of the options that you have for heating your home during the winter is also an option for cooling your home during the summer. A heat pump gives you year-round comfort in a single system, replacing the more conventional pairing of an air conditioner and a furnace in a single cabinet. Although heat pumps aren’t the ideal choice for all homes, they are definitely an option to consider whenever you’re looking for a new comfort system.
