It’s easy to feel ready for the summer, especially after a long, cold winter and dreary, rainy spring.
But although you might be ready for the start of summer, that doesn’t mean your central air conditioner is as well. Your air conditioning unit might be running fine now, but is it prepared to tackle the height of summer when you’ll be running the AC non-stop?
The last thing any homeowner in Bucks County wants to deal with during a heatwave is a failing central air conditioning unit , which is why it’s important to take steps now to maintain your system.
We all want the peace of mind that comes with knowing that
we won’t have to pay too much to repair fairly new products.
But not all warranties are the same. Some offer more than
others, which is why it pays to do some research before you buy. In this blog
post, we’ll look at what to expect from a good HVAC warranty.
When you bought your home, you knew the right questions to ask: How much space is there? Is this a quiet neighborhood? What are the schools like?
But when it comes to buying new air conditioners, homeowners often aren’t sure what to ask HVAC companies. If you’re searching for a new AC unit, be sure you pose these questions:
As most local heating and cooling companies can tell you, March is a notoriously fickle month.
Some years we get 31 days of early spring, other years
winter throws its big blow-out.
It’s a very changeable month, hence the old saying “If March
comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb.” It’s a pretty
straightforward concept: it’s winter when the month begins and spring when it
ends.
But what about years when March goes from lion to lamb and
back in the space of a few weeks or even a few days? It’s a fact of life for
heating and cooling companies: these temperature swings can put a strain on
your system.
In this week’s blog post, we’ll look for ways to keep your
home comfortable during cool summers and warm winters without having to put too
much strain on your HVAC system.
When it’s warm during the winter
We tend not to complain too much when we get an unseasonably warm winter day. Still, you might think it’s too early in the year to have your air conditioner running.
If that’s the case, you can keep things comfortable during warmer winters by:
Opening windows – This will create a cooling cross breeze and help your home feel less stuffy after several months without much fresh air.
Cooking outdoors – Get a jump start on grilling season. You’ll be able to enjoy a delicious meal while not having to worry about your stove or oven adding warmth to your home.
Switching bedding – Thick blankets and flannel sheets are indispensable on frigid winter nights but might not be practical during a warmer-than-usual spring. Swap them out for the type of bedding you’d use in summer: cotton or other breathable fabrics.
Use your bathroom fan – Removing steam from your bathroom after a shower will help things feel cooler.
When it’s cool in the summer
Pennsylvania summers can be brutal, with day after day of
nearly triple-digit weather. But sometimes we get summers that feel more like
fall.
Instead of turning on your heat on cool summer nights, you can keep things warm by:
Use your curtains and blinds – Make sure you have your curtains and/or blinds open during the day to allow the sun to warm your home. When the sun sets, close your blinds/curtains to prevent heat loss through your windows.
Dress for the weather – You might want to dig out some warm weather clothes early. A fuzzy sweater can make a big difference on cool summer nights.
Keep out drafts – If you have a fireplace, close the flue. Use weather-stripping at your windows to prevent drafts.
Use your humidifier – Humid air feels warmer than dry air. But don’t go overboard. Too much humidity can create mold. Turning off your bathroom fan will also help the air feel warmer and more humid after a shower.
Do some cooking – From soup to coffee to oatmeal, warming food on the stove – and then enjoying what you’ve prepared – will make you and your home feel warmer.
How do temperature swings affect my HVAC system?
Fluctuating temperatures impact your heating and cooling
system decrease its overall efficiency. With temperatures changing – and then
changing back – your system is working harder than necessary and constantly
using energy.
Has your heating system been working harder than usual
lately? It might be time to start researching local heating and cooling
companies to have your system examined.
No matter the weather outside, the team at All Seasons Comfort Control can make things feel comfortable indoors. Contact us today to schedule maintenance.
Some things are tough to part with. The car we used to teach
our kids to drive. Our favorite piece of cookware. Our lucky t-shirt.
Then there’s our HVAC system. It’s not that we love it, exactly, but it’s a large and complex part of the home. Replacing it might seem impractical or even impossible.
Living in a home with too much humidity can be unpleasant.
Everything feels swampy and you find yourself dealing with mold and mildew.
But your home needs some humidity for things to be
hospitable. When the air gets too dry, you’re faced with issues ranging from
chapped lips to damaged wood furniture.
Ideally, the humidity level in your home should be anywhere
between 30 to 50 percent, with an optimal level right in the middle of that
range, 45 percent.
February brings us Valentine’s Day, a chance for people to
show their loved ones that they’re loved.
But what about your HVAC system? When was the last time you
showed it some love? We’d be hard-pressed to argue that your heating system is
a member of the family, but it is an important part of your home. When you give
it the care and maintenance
it needs, it will take care of you.
Writing a heating and cooling blog can be tricky around this
time of year.
All it takes is an unseasonably warm winter – or for that
matter, an unusually mild summer – to make topics like “How
to Keep Your Home from Feeling Cold” seem a little misguided.
Our country loves the Superbowl, so much so that we use this
unofficial holiday to pit other things against each other, from beers to
chicken wings to puppies.
We’re not immune to this trend either. Consider this blog post the Superbowl of home heating, where we put oil heat up against gas.
Both types of heat offer pluses and minuses, so it’s
important to review your furnace installation options before you make your
pick.
Oil heat
Oil heat has typically been much more costly than gas heat,
with annual heating bills in the range of $2,000-$2,500.
We should note, however, that the U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA) expects home heating costs to drop a bit this winter due
to warmer overall temperatures. On average, natural gas and electric bills will
decline by one percent, while home heating oil costs could drop by four
percent.
Heating oil tends to cost more because much of it comes from
overseas, making its prices subject to a host of international market
influences.
However, oil remains a reliable fuel source – especially for customers in colder climates – because it offers more heat per BTU than other fuels.
It’s also a convenient heating source for people in remote areas.
You may not be able to tap into a gas line, but as long as your property has
room for an oil storage tank, you’ll have heat.
Just keep in mind that oil furnaces will need more
maintenance than their gas counterparts due to dirt/soot accumulation. Plan to
spend a few hundred dollars each year getting your chimney cleaned and your
filters replaced.
Gas heat
Gas furnaces may cost more in terms of installation, but
fuel prices tend to be lower and more steady than oil prices, because most
natural gas comes from North America.
Gas is a far more common form of home heating in America, with about half of all households using it (compared to oil, which accounts for less than 10 percent).
You won’t need much maintenance with gas furnaces, and
because they connect to a gas line, you won’t need to have a storage tank on
your property.
Gas furnaces offer better heating efficiency than their oil counterparts and run quieter and cleaner. However, your home must be in an area where gas is available.
With a gas furnace, you can attach a permanent generator to
your home that’s connected to your natural gas line. If your power goes out,
you’ll be able to operate your generator and run your appliances without having
to worry about fuel shortages.
Efficiency ratings
If you’re looking for a new furnace installation, pay
attention to its AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating, which indicates
how efficient the furnace is compared to other models. The higher the score,
the greater the efficiency.
Most oil furnaces have an AFUE rating between 80 and 90
percent, while gas furnaces carry a rating between 89 and 98 percent.
If you’re looking for a new furnace installation and want to
make the switch from oil to natural gas, All Seasons Comfort Control can help.
Our heating repair and service team is ready to help keep
your home warm and comfortable this winter with our complete selection of
American Standard heaters, the country’s number one brand.
Our corner of Pennsylvania welcomed the new year with a
stretch of unseasonably warm weather. At one point in early January,
temperatures got into the high 60s.
But our luck can’t hold forever. Cold weather and winter
storms will eventually return. And with those conditions comes the risk of
property damage.
In this week’s blog post, we’ll look at some ways you can protect your home – and your heating and cooling system – this winter.\
In light of the recent developments involving COVID-19 (Coronavirus), All Seasons Comfort Control is taking a number of precautions regarding the health and safety of our employees, customers, and community.
You can now take advantage of our alternative, NO CONTACT, outdoor-only AC inspections to ensure your AC maintenance is complete prior to the summer season without having to allow a service technician in your home. Please contact us for details.
