January 25, 2018

Why Does an AFUE Rating Matter?

It’s always important to make sure that you are making the most informed decision when you are shopping for any new appliance. Purchasing a new heater or having an old one replaced is no exception. You’ll want to keep in mind the energy efficiency of any potential heating system because it greatly affects how well the heater is going to work for your home. One of the easiest ways of determining the energy efficiency level of a furnace is looking at its AFUE rating. What Is AFUE Rating? AFUE is a short name for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, a particular rating that’s usually attached to heating systems. This rating measures how well a boiler or furnace turns the energy it uses to heat. For instance, if a heating system has an AFUE rating of 90 percent, it can only convert 90 percent of the energy it uses to heat, and the 10 percent that remains is wasted. How Is AFUE Rating Determined? The AFUE rating doesn’t have much to do with the system’s overall power level – keep that in mind. It can only measure how well the heater utilizes the energy/fuel it expands. AFUE ratings are expressed in percentages as you can see in the example given above. The figure represents the exact...

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December 7, 2017

How Do Heat Pumps Work in the Winter?

Heat pumps are the popular decision when choosing how to warm your home. Winter is cruel, and heat pumps work. With both efficiency of the equipment and an energy saver that keeps more money in your pocket. Warming Winter During the summer, a pump takes the heat from the inside of your home and replaces it with colder air. Think of the reverse. A heat pump takes the bitterly cold air outside and warms it to blast through your ventilation system. The pump can even pull from 20 degrees or lower and warms your home when you need it the most. People who live in an ever-changing climate sometimes use both heat pumps and a variety of furnace systems. The heating hybrid system ensures you will never have to rely on one to work. You will have a back-up if you are in need of heat pump maintenance, repair, or replacement installation. Doable Defrost Heat pumps have the pro of the ability to defrost when the elements force it to freeze over. If the outside air freezes your pump over, the defrost will quick on. Do not worry. The process does not take long, and it will be acting normally, soon. If your defrost kicks...

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November 14, 2017

How Often Do I Need to Change a Furnace Filter?

Updated: February 2024 Have you ever wondered how often should you change your furnace filters? Changing your furnace filter on a regular basis helps to improve the indoor air quality in your home. Filters can be filled with dust and other contaminants making them unable to trap new particles. If you don’t change your filter, the air impurities are left to circulate in your home, and you will be breathing them in. Furthermore, the motor of a dirty furnace filter runs more, and it becomes less energy efficient. Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, or MERVs, report a filter’s ability to capture larger particles between 0.3 and 10 microns. The basic recommendation for furnace filters replacement is every 3-4 months for MERV 8, every 6 months MERV 10 and 11 and every year for MERV 16. There are other several factors to consider when determining when to change your home air filter. Here are some key guidelines that can help you determine how often to change your furnace filters. What type of Filter do you have? The type of filter you have installed in your home is a major influence of how often you need to change it. Various filter types are different in make, form, and thickness....

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October 9, 2017

Insulating Your Attic

How to Insulate Your Attic When you’re ready to try your hand at DIY projects, start with insulating your attic. It can be a chore, but not impossible. This three-step guide will help you successfully insulate your attic and reap the benefits. Three Steps Choose the right insulation Lay fiberglass rolls Create barriers Choosing the Right Insulation The two types of insulation are loose fill and batt, however, batt is the easiest to use for DIY attic insulation. Loose fill insulation can be used, but it will be more difficult to use for insulation than batt. Laying Fiberglass Rolls The tops of joists should be covered to ensure heat and air do not escape or enter the attic. When you’re laying fiberglass rolls, look for insulation between rafters. If you have them, you’ll want to install the second layer of fiberglass perpendicular to the first fiberglass layer you laid, making sure the second layer has no vapor retardant and unfaced. Create Your Barriers Creating barriers is difficult to do without the help of wire mesh or sheet metal. These items will help you create strong, sturdy barriers around items, including vents and fixtures. Before you begin your insulation project, check the fixture...

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August 18, 2017

Benefits of a New AC Unit

If your air conditioner is more than 10 -15 years old, it’s likely time for a new system. The thought of installing a brand new air conditioner may be stressful – however, it’s best to keep in mind that a newer, more efficient model can cost less than a few major repairs on an old system. Also, you will likely see a reduction in utility bills with a new install as more modern air conditioning systems are a lot more efficient than older models. Newer systems mean newer technologies, including energy efficiency improvements and eco-friendly capabilities. Take a look at these benefits of choosing an AC replacement: Fewer repairs If your older AC system needs routine repairs to keep it going, your unit is not performing at optimal efficiency. A newer model generally needs fewer repairs and today’s air conditioning systems are known to be more reliable than ever. Money savings Air conditioners are assigned a “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio,” or SEER. The higher the SEER, the more efficient the AC unit is. All air conditioners must have a SEER rating of 13 or higher, and when we say higher numbers equals higher efficiency, we mean that the unit will...

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July 19, 2017

How to Choose an AC Company

We’re all looking for the best deal when it comes to air conditioning whether it be in AC installation, AC repair or AC maintenance. In Lincoln, there are various of options for air conditioning companies. Many of those options, though, are real stinkers. They won’t provide you with the great service and quality products that a truly top tier air conditioning company like Wellmann Heating & Air will. But what’s there to look for in a good air conditioning company? The sheer amount of things to think about when choosing a company can be overwhelming, but here are a few pieces of information to consider when looking for AC Waverly: One thing to examine is whether or not their staff is well versed in product knowledge. You want to know exactly what type of products you’re getting when you buy an AC unit or furnace, so you’re going to need a company with an understanding of their inventory. Here at Wellmann, we train all our staff to know our air conditioning units and furnaces like the back of their hands so that when you have a question, we have the answer. You should consider an AC company’s customer service. A company that...

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June 21, 2017

Why Do AC Units Freeze Up?

Here’s the situation: you’re enjoying your AC unit. Your Lincoln home is comfortable and everything is right in the world. Then, suddenly, you find that your air conditioning unit is malfunctioning and what once was a pleasant home environment is now an uncomfortable hell-scape. It’s happened— your AC unit has frozen over. When something like this happens, it’s easy to get frustrated and wonder where the problem lies. At Wellmann Heating & Air, we want to make sure you not only get great AC repair but also know the facts about why your AC unit has frozen over. Once you know where the problem is coming from, it becomes easier to fix. One reason AC units can freeze up is due to refrigerant issues. Refrigerant is a substance that helps to cool your air conditioning unit to make sure it doesn’t overheat. However, in some cases, too much refrigerant can cause a drop in temperature for your AC unit. The best solution is to call Wellmann Heating & Air and schedule an appointment to check the refrigerant levels in your AC unit. Keeping up with regular maintenance can make sure that you don’t end up with too much or too...

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May 14, 2017

Are AC Tune Ups Worth It?

Lots of people in Lincoln ask us if it’s worth it to get a tune up of their HVAC system. Here at Wellmann Heating & Air we think the answer is a definite “yes”! We don’t say that only because we hope you’ll ask us to perform that tune up for you. We think it’s smart for a couple of reasons, which you may not have even considered. You definitely don’t want to service your unit yourself. Even if you’re handy with a hammer and have a good flashlight, you don’t to tackle a job like this on your own. An HVAC unit has a lot of moving parts – some of which are high voltage – and unless you know for certain what you’re doing (like the trained technicians at Wellmann Heating & Air, it’s not worth the risk of damaging your unit (or even worse) to save a couple of bucks. And on that note, an AC tune up from Wellmann Heating & Air is not that expensive – it’s probably a lot less than you might think, a small price to pay for the peace of mind you’ll get knowing you HVAC unit is up for the...

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April 6, 2017

5 Summer Prep Tips for AC

It seems like we just got done with spring cleaning, but our scorching summer and fall months are descending upon us! How do you prepare? For most homes and business in Lincoln, air conditioning uses more electricity than any other use. There are ways to reduce this load before sweltering months kick into full gear. Here are some easy some summer preparation practices to help reduce your usage and electric bills: Should You Close Unused Vents? Experts offer different opinions on the efficiency of closing vents and doors to unused rooms. In quite a few cases, this will decrease your air conditioning unit’s efficiency. Please double-check for any rooms with thermostats in them. You might not want to close them off. You can contact a technician at Wellmann Heating & Air and they can advise you about closing off any parts of the house for the summer. Keep the Heat Off Your Thermostat Check to see that computers, televisions, lamps and other household devices that generate heat are not too close to your thermostat. If so, this can inadvertently drive up your temperature reading, causing the AC unit to kick off and on repeatedly all day and night to keep...

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March 28, 2017

Why Every Homeowner Should Be Aligned With Trusted Services

Having a functional and efficient heating and cooling system is essential for keeping your home in a habitable state. This is especially true in Nebraska. During certain times of the year, it can be nearly impossible to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment without some sure method for promoting ambient temperatures indoors. That's why all local homeowners should be aligned with the services for heating repair in Lincoln NE.

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