Planning Ahead for Your Next Furnace

Posted by & filed under furnace, furnace maintenance .

Hope you’ll take this thought with the optimism with which it is presented: “Nothing lasts forever.” There are lots of reasons why that’s a good thing. For example, do you really want to be placing your mobile calls on a phone the size of a man’s shoe (some seemed that large)? Do you want to be using a dial-up modem (if you know what that is) to check your email?

That’s what the march of time does. As technology improves, older stuff gets further and further behind. Outdated. Inefficient. Breaks down too often. Costs more to keep up than it does to replace.

We’ve all been there. And some of you may be in just that place with your home heating. So how do you know if you’re really there now? Well, when it’s time to replace your furnace, there are some signs you can look for. In particular:

Increasing Age/More Frequent Repairs – That speaks to the first point: nothing lasts forever. If you have a furnace 10 to 15 years or older, you’re facing a situation where you will need an increasing number of repairs. You’ll see this especially in the last two years of furnace life. Plus, as older models continue to age, their replacement parts will be harder to find – meaning, repair delays are another sign.

Higher Energy Bills – A furnace in its declining years will lose its efficiency, and you’ll see that in higher energy bills. In addition, since technology improves over time, the efficiency of these new systems is the best that’s ever been. So you’ll find you’re operating a piece of equipment that is far less energy efficient than the very high-efficiency models now available.

Inconsistent Comfort – Are some rooms too hot or too cold? Are you often adjusting the thermostat? The inability to stay comfortable is a sign that your furnace isn’t able to distribute air properly.

Strange Noises – Actually, this is a universal sign for almost any appliance or piece of equipment. If something doesn’t sound right, there’s probably a reason. Banging, popping and squealing noises, or a blower that turns on and off too frequently, are not the soothing, comforting background music for a cozy evening at home. Get it checked out.

As you keep your eye on frequency of repairs, cost of repairs, cost of energy bills and lack of consistent comfort, let us give you a big-picture look at your home’s energy use to help you in your decision.

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Taking the Measure of Things

Posted by & filed under furnace, heating system, hvac, preventative maintenance, routine maintenance .

When you take a test, do you get testy? It’s funny how those words are so similar – and probably not a coincidence. If you’ve got school-age kids around, you might notice that they get testy when it’s exam time, or you might get testy when it’s time to see the grades!

Ultimately, testing is about measuring – and not just about measuring what has been learned in educational environments. For example, you’ve surely heard on your radio or television the break for the Emergency Broadcast System that begins, “This is a test.” Systems get tested to make sure they’ll be ready to do what they need to do when the time comes.

By the same token, you can think of a tune-up as a preseason test of your heating system. There’s a lot that needs to be measured and checked to ensure good performance during those heavy use days. To learn more about what typically takes place, contact us today!

“Wait and See” doesn’t really work…

Posted by & filed under heating system .

Many people get stuck in a limbo of sorts; they are not sure if their furnace just needs a tune-up, some minor repairs or needs to be replaced all together. They are so worried about paying too much or being talked into buying something they don’t really need, they do nothing at all and go with a “wait and see” approach.

This is the perfect time of year to take control of your heating system to ensure you will have nothing to be concerned about (at least, inside your home) when the really cold weather strikes.

Don’t Whine… Prevent!

Waiting until your furnace dies or is on the brink of death leaves you with nothing but problems. Not only does it leave you, your home and your family freezing until a new furnace can be installed, it also leaves you paying full price for a new furnace so there are no up-front savings. If you purchase a new furnace before the “busy season,” there all kinds of deals to be had.

The first thing you should do is have a heating comfort and energy analysis done on your system. Find out how old it is, what condition it is in, how much energy it consumes while producing heat and what likely repairs or problems will pop up this year. This analysis will give you the answers to questions you did not even know you had.

The additional bonus of having a new system is the money you save on energy cost each month. Saving money on utilities is never a bad thing. Contact Robin Aire Heating & Cooling, Inc. today!

The Importance of Your Annual Tune Up

Posted by & filed under hvac maintenance .

If, as heating and air professionals, we could persuade homeowners to avoid one major outcome, it would be this: take care of your home comfort system equipment so that you don’t have to replace it earlier than necessary.

Heating and cooling systems are sizeable investments for any size home, and they have a direct impact on roughly half of your energy bills each year. The measures homeowners take to preserve the life of their equipment can enable it to last years longer – helping you to prevent a costly expenditure before the recommended time.

In addition, routine preventive maintenance also maintains your system’s energy efficiency, helping you to hold down monthly energy bills. Keeping your system running at peak efficiency is critical to conserving energy use. Routine maintenance also allows a professional technician to discover the occurrence of indoor air quality problems that can prove very harmful to your family – especially carbon monoxide leaks.

And there’s another valid reason homeowners are wise to schedule preventive maintenance. Some will say it’s “not needed” because their system is “under warranty.” However, if a manufacturer determines that neglect of maintenance was the cause of the problem and contributed to the equipment’s failure, the warranty may not cover the repair. This makes sense when you consider that auto manufacturers expect their vehicle owners to routinely change the oil in order to keep their warranties in force.

Given the benefits of preventive maintenance, some still learn the lesson the hard way, however. And here’s why many people choose to ignore free advice that can end up costing them a great deal more: human nature.

Most of us react to problems instead of proactively prevent them. At our shop, we see this evidence in untimely repair calls that reveal a simple truth: preventive maintenance could have kept the system running problem-free.

If you’d like to avoid the mistake of “wait and see,” we’ll be happy to take care of your preventive maintenance. Schedule your tune-up today.

Maintenance Tips

Posted by & filed under hvac maintenance .

Keeping your heating and cooling systems in good working order means your utility bills will be lower, your home will be more comfortable, and you’ll need to call for repairs less often.

Maintenance Scheduling

Schedule a maintenance service call before the heating season starts. If there are any problems with your system, it’s better to find out before it’s freezing outside! Do the same for your cooling system before sweltering season begins. Our maintenance customers always receive priority service during peak heating and cooling seasons.

Filters

Replace your heating and cooling air filters every month that they’re in use. Operating your system with old, dirty filters means energy is wasted and your system may even be damaged. While you’re at it, check and clean the filters in your home’s air cleaners and humidifiers.

System Checks

If you have a forced air heating system check your furnace’s blower compartment and blower coils. Vacuum them if you see dirt and dust there. You should also check fan belt tension, and lubricate fan and motor bearings.

  • If you have a steam system, check the shut-off valve for leaks.
  • Bleed hot water system radiators at least once a year.
  • Don’t keep clutter near your furnace. It’s a fire hazard, and may keep your system from operating efficiently.
  • To make sure you’re getting the most out of your heating system, keep the heating registers and vents throughout the house free of dust, dirt, and pet hair by vacuuming them at least once a year.
  • Listen for odd sounds when your heating or cooling system kicks in. If you hear anything unusual, get in touch with your service professional so you can head off problems before they become serious.
  • In winter months, set your ceiling fan at its slowest speed and reverse it in order to gently push warm air down from the ceiling without generating a breeze.

To learn more about what routine maintenance your system needs, contact Robin Aire today!