Finding HVAC Testimonials and Referrals
One of the things you most often hear when it comes to choosing any company to do work in your home is to seek a testimonial or referral. Sometimes that is easier said then done. Where do you go to get a testimonial? Will a company provide references? What about online review sites?
When it comes to choosing a heating and cooling contractor many people go with the company that first installed their furnace or air conditioning unit. When you have that past experience with a company that can be very helpful. If the company that did the installation has done a good job you are more likely to seek them out in the future or refer them to your friends and family. If you know someone who has just had a new furnace installed in the last couple of years you may want to get their opinion on whether or not you should contact that HVAC contractor.
If you call any heating or air conditioning company they should be able to point you to testimonials on their website or a consumer review site online with testimonials. Even if you see a negative review online remember that the anonymity behind customer reviews makes them harder to validate and nearly every review site gives companies the ability to work with customers to solve any issues. If you see a review keep in mind that any complaints should be relevant to tangible things such as details about service or installation and not about vague issues.
sunny day savings
as the credit card bills roll in from the gift giving season, many of us are scraping together funds to make ends meet, and saving coin on the heating bill would be a great way to do so. you have probably heard many heating, ventalation, and cooling experts talk about turning back the thermostat to save coin while you are away from the house or sleeping, but what about the millions of people who spend most of their time at house? well, we are here to tell you that these people can save coin on their heating bills too, all they have to do is use the sun!
sunlight for heating
although the weather outside may be several degrees below freezing, we all have noticed how standing in the sun is noticeably warmer than standing in the shade. the sun’s ability to heat our planet can be put to good use inside your house. if your windows remain covered for most of the day, you are keeping out a source of heat that is free to everyone on this planet. simply open the blinds, drapes, and window coverings on sunny days this winter, and you will be able to set back the thermostat few degrees without sacrificing your enjoyable environment. but, do make sure that you close the coverings once the sun has set to prevent cold drafts from disturbing your enjoyable environment.
sunlight for lighting
another way the sun can help you save coin involves the use of power during the day. many of us like to read the morning paper or cuddle up with a good book, but we loose power using artificial luminous on days when the sun is burning bright. consider rearranging the furniture in your house to take advantage of the sun’s luminous on a bright day. keep as many lights off as possible during the daylight hours, and you are sure to see big savings on your next energy bill.
gloomy day savings
for days that aren’t as bright and beautiful, you can still save coin! throw on a warm sweatshirt and thick pair of socks and you will still be able to turn back the dial without being cold. an alternative to using sunlight would be to use only lights and lamps equipped with led or cfl bulbs. these bulbs use much less power than the old incandescent standard, and will allow you to rake in the savings even on the gloomiest of days.
you may not be able to control the cost of power and gas, but you can decrease your home’s dependence upon these energy sources by using the sun as your free heating and lighting
24 hour furance also recommends this great site: Central Air Repair Contractors
tax credits through 2011
for the past two years, thousands of property owners collected big bucks back from the government by purchasing high efficiency energy star qualified products and making other house upgrades that boosted energy efficiency. however, when the tax credits ended on january 1st 2011, many more property owners missed out on a truly amazing deal. unfortunately, the grand tax return that was offered is no longer available, but the good latest information is that the government has extended the credits, but at a lower level!
services from your local correction technician that qualify for the tax credits
- heating and cooling system setup: your local correction technician offers several heating system and air conditioners that qualify for this tax credit, but the savings don’t end there. these heating and cooling appliances are extremely energy effective and will save you coin every month. the unmatched enjoyable environment and quality of lennox house enjoyable environment systems can be yours this annually if you call your local correction technician now!
- loft insulation services: insulating your loft will help your cooling system and heating run even more efficiently because the cold and warm air that they create will not be able to escape your house as easily as it did without a nice think layer of insulation in the loft. with the affordable services and expert insulation from your local correction technician, you will be saving big in no time at all.
- window replacement: your local correction technician home service technician services offers expert setup of high quality windows to replace any old, obsolete, or leaky windows that you may have in your house. this service is also covered by the new tax credits, but don’t wait to save!
make your local correction technician your go to house correction and heating, ventalation, and cooling correction technician in the the greater metropolitan region area, and you can still take advantage of the tax credits. don’t let another annually go by without having any upgrades made, and contact your local correction technician today!
24 hour furance also recommends this great site: Chicato Heating Cooling
HVAC in the News
In a world where most HVAC providers are small mom and pop shops, how do these guys get so much publicity? I’ve linked to them in the past because they have a good informative web site. However it blows my mind when I see their company show up in US Business review! Here are some exerts that I found interesting from the article on Four Seasons.
Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning’s name makes sense not only because the HVAC provider works year-round…
Kind of cheesy, however this seemed more interesting and to the point.
“By the time I was about 22, I had about 15 guys working for me,” Musial says. Eventually his father retired, leaving Musial in charge by himself but armed with the knowledge and teachings handed down to him. “I’m glad I was able to have all those years of training with my dad because it really taught me the right way to do things,” Musial says.
Also of interest…
The company’s devotion to quality has earned it numerous awards, including the Super Service Award from Angieslist.com for the past five years. Four Seasons also has received the Dave Lennox Circle of Excellence Award from Lennox, making it one of only 25 out of 7,000 dealers nationwide to receive that honor. The company also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, the highest rating possible. Musial says the company’s stellar reputation is even more impressive when one takes into account the sheer number of customers the company services in a given year. He adds that unlike some other service providers, Four Seasons’ growth has not made the company sluggish or less responsive to customers.
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Attic Heat Loss
You may have seen houses where the gutters are full of ice and large icicle formations. This can be a major cause of damage and a symptom of heating related problems in the attic. Read More
Home Star Rebates Look Promising
On June 7, 2010 The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Home Star Energy Act. The purpose of the bill is to not only help job growth but also to reduce our consumption of energy. The rebates if passed by Congress would give consumers significant money back on purchases of air conditioners, furnaces boilers and more.
The eligible products would have to be energy efficient and provide significant energy savings. The Home Star program has been compared to the “Cash for Clunkers” program in which consumers would replace existing air conditioners, furnaces and boilers for more energy efficient models. The rebates would go directly to the homeowner to offset the purchase price. In addition to the bonus that the rebates provide consumers should also benefit from long-term savings related to reduced energy bills every month.
For more information visit the Four Seasons Heating & Air Conditioning website and the Four Seasons news blog.
Proper Installation of Heating and Cooling System
Replacing your old heating and cooling system with new, energy-efficient central heating and air conditioning system is a great start. But to make sure that you get the best performance, the new equipment must be properly installed. This is no gimmick, an improper installed system can reduce system efficiency by up to 30 percent, costing you more on your utility bills and possibly shortening the equipment’s life.
This article is not intended to scare you, just help you learn more so you can make sure your getting the most for your money!
3 Important Things to Look for with Your New Installation
Proper Sizing of Equipment
Installing the right size equipment for the home is essential to getting the best performance and comfort. Many homeowners believe that bigger the better when buying new heating and cooling equipment. In reality, a system that is too large will not keep your home comfortable.
With over sized system there is a tenancy to frequently turn on and then off. This rapid cycling is also known as Short Cycling. This rapid cycling of the system is from the machine over shooting the adjustments in temperature for your home which leads to decreases in efficiency of the system.
Incorrect sizing can also put stress on system components and shorten the equipment’s life as they are exposed to more frequent rapid changes in temperature.
To ensure proper sizing your contractor should measure your house and perform a Load Calculation to determine the proper size. If the contractor does not measure your home and perform a load calculation, then I would not have this contractor install or service your heating and cooling equipment
Proper Refrigerant Charge
A properly charged system will operate more efficiently and help prolong the life of the heating and cooling system. To ensure the system has the correct amount of refrigerant a contractor must test and confirm that the system is properly charged. If the system is not properly charged the contractor should make the appropriate adjustment by adding or removing refrigerant.
Optimizing Air Flow
If air flow in your heating and cooling system is too high or too low, you may confront problems and higher utility bills very similar to the rapid cycling issue already discussed. A contractor should test air flow and make any needed adjustments for optimal performance. This can be done by slowing down the blower itself, or by putting dampeners on vents through out your home.
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cracked heat exchanger clues
you have heard the warnings about heat exchanger crevises, and maybe you have taken extra good care of the heating system in an effort to prevent these leaks. but, would you even be able to recognize the symptoms of a leak in the first place? if not, you are in luck, because they are rather easy to detect:
- soot accumulation: black soot will begin to build up on the heat exchanger and on other components inside the heating when there is a problem with set on fire. a crack in the heat exchanger is a very common cause of this soot accumulation, and if you notice this in your heating unit you should contact an heating, ventalation, and cooling serviceman immediately to solve the problem.
- abnormal flame: the flame inside your heating should be burning bright blue and steady. if the flame jumps around the burners or is orange or red in color, you may have a cracked heat exchanger. this problem could be caused by a number of things in the heating, but no matter the cause the system needs to be inspected skilled.
- carbon monoxide (co) detection: every house should have carbon monoxide (co) monitors implemented close to the ground on every floor of the house and within 10 feet of every sleeping region. if these monitors begin to beep, evacuate the house and call the fire department. when the heating is the source of the leak, it is often due to a crack in the heat exchanger.
- rust accumulation: if the heating is very old or if it was exposed to water, rust may begin to build up on the metal parts of the system. the heat exchanger is also metal, and since rust is so fragile, it could lead to a crack in the heat exchanger. a skilled technician will be able to determine for sure whether or not your rust problem has caused an issue with the heat exchanger.
if your unit is showing these symptoms, have your local heating, ventalation, and cooling correction technician have a look. crevises in the heat exchanger are very dangerous, and in this case, it is much better to be safe than sorry. become a proactive property owner and review your heating or boiler today!
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5 benefits of a routine repair agreement
if you have ever had your heating or cooling system cleaned by a skilled, you have probably been offered a routine repair agreement at least once. most of us probably politely turned down the service without thinking twice, but if you take a closer look, signing a routine repair agreement could be what is best for you and your heating, ventalation, and cooling system. these are the top 5 benefits of signing a routine repair agreement:
- reminders: have you ever noticed how the years seem to fly by? have you ever missed a maintenance of or two? if so, routine repair plans often include reminders about your yearly routine repair. the business that you purchased the agreement from will either call or mail you a reminder to time line your yearly maintenance of on your heating or cooling system.
- save coin: we often turn down these offers because they require paying more now and saving later, but if you are going to have your systems cleaned every season, why not pay ahead of time? if you do the math, we bet that you will find that you save coin over paying for the maintenance of services individually, and these programs often come with added benefits that reduce the cost of repairs.
- vip services: many decent heating, ventalation, and cooling buisnesses will bend over backwards to convenience the home owners that are members of their routine repair programs. what that means for you is more convenient scheduling, and maybe even shorter wait times when you have a heating or cooling emergency.
- extended warranty coverage: if your heating or cooling system is no longer covered by the manufacturer’s warranty you could get stuck paying big bucks in the event that one of your systems has a part failure. routine repair programs often include “warranty-like” coverage that will get you a discount on parts and labor costs.
- peace of mind: when you have a routine repair agreement with a skilled and honest heating, ventalation, and cooling business, you will have someone to lean on in an emergency. you will no longer have to search around in the middle of the night for someone to resolve your heating system because you will already have someone to turn to.
24 hour furance also recommends this great site: Central Air Repair Contractors
get your humidity in balance with your hvac
as this winter comes to a close, ask yourself a question. have you noticed any new squeaks in your difficult wood floors? if the answer is yes, you most likely have a humidity imbalance in your houtilize . you may say that you don’t even notice the squeaks in your floors, but let this hitch to continue and selling your houtilize may become very difficult. taking actions nowadays to prevent further damage is easy and affordable. not taking action will leave you with a costly repair on your hands once the hitch gets out of hand.
keeping humidity in balance isn’t easy
keeping humidity and temperature in balance is not as easy as you may think. the warmther dries out the air in the houtilize during the winter, and sometimes the cooling system cannot keep up with high humidity that occurs during the summer. your hvac system requirements a bit assist. when the air is leted to dry out, the wood in your floors also dry out and shrink. the excess moisture in the summer will cautilize the wood to swell and over the years the wood will become brittle and warped. keeping the humidity between 35 and 55 % and the temperature in the houtilize between 60 and 80 degrees will prevent this from occur ing.
backup for your hvac system
a whole houtilize humidifier and dehumidifier are needed to achieve this. they will keep the houtilize in balance while your warmther and cooling system take care of controlling the temperature. in the end your floors are sheltered and you avoid the cost of squeak repair down the line.
