February 17, 2022

Ways to Extend the Lifespan of Your Furnace

If you want your furnace to run efficiently and effectively for as long as possible, there is an array of tasks that you can perform. Most heaters are designed to operate for about 10 years before wear and tear on their parts make them prone to issues and unexpected breakdowns. Taking proper care of your furnace could extend its life expectancy. Scheduling Regular Furnace Maintenance An annual tune-up for your furnace can make it easy to catch any small issues before they develop into anything more serious. Technicians will examine each part of your heating system and get everything cleaned out. You can rely on them to perform an array of adjustments to optimize the overall functionality of your heater. Motors and moving parts will be lubricated to reduce wear on them, too. Replacing Air Filters Regularly It’s important to replace the air filters in your furnace as they get dirty. Thin 1- to 3-inch filters should be replaced at least every three months. Thicker filters can last for longer. Dirty air filters can reduce airflow through your home and put an increased load on your heater. This can reduce its life expectancy. Reducing Heat Loss in your Home Reducing...

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November 20, 2021

What Furnace Temperature Should I Use During the Winter?

The wrong indoor temperature can make the colder months very uncomfortable. Keeping the temperature set at one spot on the thermostat is a good way to take away the chill. It can also work to keep utility costs down. Best Winter Thermostat Setting Energy.gov states the ideal setting for winter days is 68 degrees. The company suggests reducing the setting while you’re asleep or away from the home. This reduces overall heating costs and prevents your equipment from aging too fast. Thermostat Setting for Energy Efficiency Lowering the temperature by 7-10 degrees for at least eight hours each day will reduce energy expenses. This energy-efficient approach to home heating is easy to do. Just change the temperature before leaving home for work or errands. The lower the temperature setting, the more slowly the home loses heat. Do you want help getting your thermostat running properly for a Lincoln winter? has a team of qualified technicians available to maintain your furnace and heating controls. Let us know how we can support your comfort this winter. Thermostat Recommendations for Winter Installing a programmable thermostat is a smart way to manage your heating system. Add the capability of a control app on a...

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October 25, 2018

What to Look For in A Furnace Installation Company

Keeping your home comfortable can get tricky during the colder months. Running most types of heaters during Nebraska winters requires a considerable amount of energy and an efficient system. If you continually have a cold home in the winter, you may need a new furnace. Here are three things to look for in a furnace installation company. 1. Help Your Home Feel Comfortable Do you often feel chilly inside your own home during the winter? Does your home feel cold and drafty no matter how high you turn up the thermostat? A new furnace will bring the right amount of heat into the air to make your environment feel healthy and comfortable again. The right contractors from a furnace installation company can help you with that. 2. Capable of Installing Efficient Systems Old furnaces start to lose their luster and heating power. This means that they have to work extra hard to produce the same or lower level of heat in the home. This can raise your utility bills. Over time, keeping the old unit isn’t cost-effective or good for the environment. You can see if tuning up your old furnace can keep it alive for just another season, but...

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July 24, 2018

What Causes Indoor Air Quality Problems?

Most people associate polluted air with industries and urban centers and fail to acknowledge that the air within their homes could be equally polluted. As most people spend most of their time in their residential places, it is prudent to know what causes indoor air quality problems. Dust Do you have your floor, carpet, and surfaces scrubbed spotlessly clean but you are still sneezing? Dust or other irritants could be the victims. Dust within your heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit due to irregular cleaning is a common cause of indoor air quality problem. Carpet Fumes Once a new carpet has been installed within a living space, its vinyl backing and the glue used to hold it in place produces fumes in a process known as off-gassing. This pollutes the air and may result in dizziness, nausea, headaches, and asthma aggravation. Rooms with new carpets should be well ventilated and aired for a minimum of 3 days. Smoke Whether it be from stoves, cooking places, fireplaces or cigarettes, smoke is a major cause of indoor air quality problems. Prolonged exposure to smoke may cause or aggravate respiratory conditions, while continued smoking leads to lung cancer. Homes should be well ventilated...

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April 30, 2018

How Often Should You Get AC Maintenance?

Our air conditioners are an integral part of our lifestyle. They create that conducive habitable environment for us. That is why they need a lot of care. Even if your air conditioning unit does not pose any threat or technical problems, the cooling and heating experts always advise that you should have it AC maintenance once a year. As your AC system runs, it often accumulates dirt and dust in its key areas that affect its efficiencies like the air filters and the condensing coils. When all this build up, your AC cannot function to its maximum capability since clogged filters block the normal airflow. Some filter types can be replaced while others are reusable. Cleaning or replacing a filter lowers your air conditioners’ energy consumption by 5% to 15%. Every time a technician comes to check your AC, they should: Test for leaks using a leak detector. Check the correct amount of refrigerant present. Capture instead of illegally releasing any refrigerant that needs to be evacuated. Check and seal duct leakage. Measure the airflow. Ensure the electric control sequence is perfect, the cooling and heating systems should never run simultaneously. Check the electric terminals tighten and clean connections. Inspect...

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February 9, 2018

Understanding Heat Pumps vs. Furnaces: Making the Right Choice for Your Home

Knowing the difference between a heat pump and a furnace will help you determine which is the better choice for your home. Most people are more familiar with furnaces as opposed to heat pumps. A furnace uses fuel (such as natural gas, oil, or wood) to produce energy that results in heat that is sent throughout the home. A heat pump on the other hand, uses electricity and coolant to generate heat from the air outside of the home by reversing the refrigeration cycle. Let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons of both. Pros: Furnace Longer average life-span than heat pumps More energy efficient in areas with long winters Less costly to purchase and install than a heat pump Cons: Furnace Powered by limited resources (i.e. gas and oil) Can be more costly to operate depending on the fuel the furnace uses (natural gas is less expensive than electricity in many areas, but oil is much more expensive than electricity, for example) Typically requires more maintenance over time Pros: Heat pump Doubles as an air conditioner in warmer months; only needs one system to install versus having a furnace and separate central air Can improve indoor...

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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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