Posts Tagged ‘heating and cooling’

Chicagoans Can Still Save Big on HVAC!

February 1st, 2012

The thick of winter in Chicago didn’t show up until January. For many of us the mild winter meant less use of the furnace and odds are the system really hadn’t been put to the test until the first big snowfall of this year. Now you may be faced with the need to replace that old furnace. For many this is their current predicament and they are kicking themselves for not acting sooner. The federal tax credits and rebates ran out at the end of 2011. Many homeowners have accepted the fact that they are going to have to pay full price, but wait a second! There are still substantial savings out there to be had, but you need to know where to look!

Two Ways to Save:

  • Gas Company Rebates: The local gas companies in Chicago, Nicor and People’s Gas, are still offering rebates on high efficiency furnaces and air conditioners. Replacing both units can get you up to $800 in rebates, and even if you can only afford to replace the furnace, you could still get up to $200 back on your purchase. Every penny counts and the savings could be enough to make buying that high efficiency furnace worth it.
  • Lennox Home Comfort Systems: If the furnace and air conditioner you plan to purchase are from Lennox Home Comfort Systems, you could stand to save even more! They are currently offering manufacturer rebates up to $1450! » Read more: Chicagoans Can Still Save Big on HVAC!

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Go Green, Heating, Money Saving, Value

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Did the Clean Up Crew Miss a Spot?

January 30th, 2012

Remodeling projects and repairs leave a big mess in the home especially if the repairs involve drywall. Drywall dust and debris can get all over everything and if your contractors did not take the necessary steps to prevent making a mess, you could have this stuff all over your home and the clean up won’t be easy. You may think that they cleaned everything up but a few cycles of the furnace will prove that they missed a very big spot. The duct work and the furnace are probably filled with debris from your construction project and the only way to get rid of it is to have a professional cleaning performed.

HVAC Clean Up:

  • Duct Cleaning: Every time air circulates through the home it will pick up debris from the job that was done. This along with years of dust and other debris may be lurking in your HVAC reeking havoc on the air quality in your home. A professional duct cleaning will clear out everything that is inside your ducts and collect it safely outside the home for disposal. This will leave you with much cleaner air inside the home.
  • Heating and Cooling Systems: Now that the ducts are clean lets take a look at the furnace and air conditioner. Many homeowners use cheap fiberglass filters that do little to protect the furnace from the particles that flow through the air in the home. All of that construction debris may have found its way into your heating and cooling systems and it needs to be cleared out. A dirty furnace or air conditioner cannot do its job properly or in an efficient matter. You will end up wasting money on excess energy use that could have been prevented with a simple cleaning. » Read more: Did the Clean Up Crew Miss a Spot?

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Air Purifier, Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Heating, Home Services, Maintenace

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Can You Afford to Go Green?

January 16th, 2012

When energy efficient home improvements first exploded onto the home improvement scene, many of them were excessively expensive. Yes, they offered beefy long term savings but not many homeowners could afford the initial investment that it took to have these improvements installed. Nowadays, things are different. Green improvements are more popular these days, and manufacturers are bending over backwards to give the consumer what they want. This results in the ability to go green on a budget. One of the bigger investments that you could make in your home is the replacement of the HVAC system, and most of the major HVAC manufacturers have put out energy efficient systems that nearly anyone can afford.

Get More than the Minimum!

Replacing the furnace or air conditioner with a high efficiency system could save you hundreds yearly on your energy bills, but to maximize the savings you need to upgrade to the highest efficiency unit that you can afford. In the past this meant going with the minimum efficiency requirements and right now that would mean that you would purchase an 80% efficient furnace. Just because you operate on a budget doesn’t mean you have to settle for the minimum standard. » Read more: Can You Afford to Go Green?

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Furnace, Go Green, Heating, Information, Money Saving

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Conserving Energy without Sacrificing Comfort

October 24th, 2011

More and more Americans are becoming energy conscience from both a conservation and a cost standpoint. A generation ago our grandparents would have sacrificed comfort to save a few dollars, but today’s modern family looks for better more efficient ways to keep energy usage and energy cost down. Most homeowners look for the products with the ENERGYSTAR logo when purchasing household appliances. You can find the ENERGYSTAR logo on items such as high efficiency furnaces and air conditioners also.

High Efficiency Furnace and Air Conditioners

Today’s furnace and air conditioner models conserve more energy which in turn leads to a lower cost on your energy bills. You no longer have to sacrifice comfort, and instead you can look for other ways to make your home more energy efficient. For the interior of your home, you can either buy a high efficiency furnace, or you could save a few bucks and just add attic insulation to your home. » Read more: Conserving Energy without Sacrificing Comfort

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Go Green, Heating, Home Services, Insulation

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Outdated Duct Work

October 10th, 2011

So you are purchasing a new HVAC system for your home, and you have already found the perfect furnace and air conditioner to replace your old outdated units. You have the systems installed, but once you really start using them, you don’t notice much of a difference between the way the old units worked and the way the new systems work. Sure the energy bills are a little bit lower, but did you really get the return on the investment that you were expecting? If not, the problem may not be with your new systems. The problem is probably located in the most commonly neglected portion of the HVAC system: the duct work.

Assessing the Ducts

            The duct work is more important most homeowners think. Sure, the ducts may not have any fancy gadgets, but their ability to transport air effectively is crucial to the efficiency of your heating and cooling systems. If the air they are conditioning cannot get to the target rooms effectively, you will pay more every month for wasted energy that could have been saved by simply caring for this part of the system. The first step towards getting your ducts working the best that they can is to have them inspected by a professional. A true pro can give you an honest assessment of your ducts, and if they can be salvaged, the repair job is simple. If some parts need to be replaced, it may take a bit more effort, but it is necessary to complete so you can get the most out of your new heating and cooling units. » Read more: Outdated Duct Work

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Posted in Duct Cleaning, Furnace, Go Green, Home Services, Insulation, Money Saving

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Winter A/C Installation and Summer Preparedness

April 20th, 2011

Over the past winter season, thousands of homeowners took advantage of some amazing deals that were being offered on air conditioners and furnaces. Whether you had to replace the furnace and air conditioner because of a breakdown or if you simply upgraded to take advantage of last year’s tax credits, you need to have your air conditioner looked at this spring by a professional. During the ice cold months of the year it is impossible to install an air conditioner completely, and even if you only had the furnace replaced, you still should have the air conditioner checked out.

Winter’s Chill Prevents Proper Installation

Refrigerant is the substance that allows your air conditioner to replace the hot air inside your home with cool air during the summer. This substance is pressurized in your air conditioner’s coils, and can leak out easily when disturbed by the installation of a furnace. By replacing just the furnace in your home, there is a point in the installation process where the refrigerant in the air conditioner is able to escape. » Read more: Winter A/C Installation and Summer Preparedness

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Furnace, Maintenace

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The A/C is Cooling, but the House is Still Warm!

April 18th, 2011

One thing that I have learned over my years as a service technician is that if an air conditioner is blowing out cold air but the home doesn’t seem to be cooling down, heat gain may be the source of the problem in that home. Heat gain is the amount of heat entering the home through windows, doors, poorly insulated walls and ceilings, and we cannot forget the heat gained by having kids constantly running in and out of the house. As a homeowner, there are many ways you can increase your energy efficiency by decreasing your home’s heat gain.

Keep the Heat Out!

  1. Check Insulation: During the hottest time of the day feel your walls and ceilings. Do they feel warm to the touch? If they do feel warm you have located a major source of heat gain. Having a specialist come out and check the insulation in your attic can be a true money saver. They will be able to tell you how much insulation you are lacking and help you resolve this problem. There are a variety of insulation materials and depending on the company you hire, each will have their own type that they prefer. » Read more: The A/C is Cooling, but the House is Still Warm!

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Posted in Air Conditioning, Home Repairs, Home Services, Insulation

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Air Leaks: Search, Locate, and Seal

December 21st, 2010

As the weather turns colder every day, the symptoms of air leaks in your home may begin to show. Temperature fluctuations and longer furnace run times are just a couple of the symptoms that may be costing you your comfort and extra money on your monthly energy bills. We try our bests to seal up our homes as air tight as possible, but still air can leak in from almost anywhere in the home. You may not think that a couple little air leaks are a big problem, but those leaks could be costing you more than you think. These are some common problems caused by air leaks:

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Posted in Go Green, Home Repairs, Home Services, Insulation, Money Saving

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Attic Insulation

February 5th, 2010

If you look at a weather map you will notice it’s not just Chicago, but the entire Northeast portion of the country that is being hit by harsh winter weather so far this year. Many homeowners in different regions are trying to find ways to combat the cold. Here, we are taking a look at the ways attic insulation can help your home this winter! » Read more: Attic Insulation

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Posted in Heating, Insulation

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Radon and home contaminants

January 22nd, 2010

Their are many topics of concern when it comes to indoor air quality.  The degree of impact to health of each is varied depending on personal susceptibility.  However some such as Radon gas can endanger anyone.  Here are some things you should know and do if Radon is a concern for you. » Read more: Radon and home contaminants

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Posted in Air Quality, Go Green, Money Saving, Safty

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