Are you looking for other ways to heat your home rather than a furnace? Maybe your furnace is out temporarily, and you are looking for cheaper alternatives. Continue reading to find out how you can keep your house warm until you repair your furnace.
Alternative Ways To Heat Your Home
There are many alternative heating devices that you can use to keep your home warm.
Use a Wood Stove
Wood stoves are a great way to heat your home. They are affordable and great when trying to reduce energy costs. Wood stoves require chimney piping and a firebox if you don’t already have them. But they are still worth investing in because you can still reduce your energy bills during the winter. Make sure you have enough space to accommodate a wood stove before buying one.
Portable Heater
Portable heaters are another good option to use temporarily until you get your furnace repaired. Portable heaters can be moved with you from one room to another. Some of them are also available with wheels. Warm air can easily circulate through your home with the assistance of a portable heater.
Space Heater
If your furnace breaks down, look no further than a space heater. They will provide just the right amount of heat to keep you and your family warm. There are various types of space heaters on the market today. You can purchase a fan-forced, electric radiant, infrared quartz tube, or even one with a built-in humidifier. It is totally your choice. When using a space heater, you must always make sure that you keep it within a three-foot distance between any other furniture or combustible items to reduce your risk of a fire. Furthermore, you will need to use an outlet within three feet of your space heater.
Fireplace
Everyone doesn’t have a fireplace, but if you do, they are perfect for keeping you warm if your furnace breaks down. If you already have firewood stacked away, make use of it. Avoid using wood treated with insecticides or chemicals since it can be toxic when inhaled. Also, be sure you know how to properly operate your fireplace to prevent damage.
Temporary Heating Device
If you need heat immediately and cannot wait until your furnace is fixed, the best option is to purchase a temporary heating device. They are widely available and can be used to keep your house warm. However, the only downside is that they are not as affordable as many other options listed above. Either way, people still find them worth investing in since they can supply you with immediate heat.
Whether you’re trying to help the environment or save some money on your heating bills, an energy efficient furnace can be an investment that pays off environmentally and financially. There are many misconceptions about what energy-efficient heating sources mean and what different percentages in this industry mean. In this article, we’ll discuss the meaning of energy efficiency and how that relates to heating furnaces.
What does energy efficient mean?
Energy efficiency essentially means that a furnace or other appliance uses resources as efficiently as possible. For refrigerators, this might mean that the appliance uses electricity as efficiently as possible. For air conditioners, it might mean that they use coolant and electricity as efficiently as possible. When it comes to furnaces, energy efficiency refers to having a high degree of AFUE compared to other furnaces.
Energy efficiency essentially means that a furnace produces a higher percentage of annual fuel utilization efficiency (also known as AFUE) than a standard furnace. This leads to using a lower amount of fuel than a furnace that is less efficient in energy. Furnaces that use more fuel cost more money to run all winter long. Additionally, they have a larger impact on the environment since they use up limited resources at a faster and greater rate than energy-efficient furnaces.
A regular furnace typically produces about 80% AFUE. A furnace with higher energy efficiency would provide roughly 90%-95% of AFUE comparatively. While it might seem at face value that a furnace with 80% AFUE is automatically less efficient than one with 90% AFUE, there are other factors to consider beyond AFUE when determining energy efficiency.
The processes that different furnaces use range from vacuuming in air from the area around the furnace called open combustion to sealed combustion. Sealed combustion entails obtaining air from outside through a specific PVC pipe.
What should homeowners consider when upgrading to an energy-efficient furnace?
For many homeowners, cost is the largest determining factor in choosing a new appliance. While we all want to help the environment, some of us have less wiggle room in our budgets to do so. When one is replacing a furnace that has 80% AFUE in an area that is vented or small, it can be financially burdensome. After all, you are converting to an appliance that not only needs to be installed on its own but also needs pipes installed to allow for air to come into the unit. This increases the overall cost.
Another major factor that homeowners should consider when upgrading their furnaces for energy efficiency is potential safety risks. Open combustion can create problems related to safety in sealed spaces without proper ventilation. Between the expense of converting to a 95% furnace in a small space and the hazard to your well-being that an 80% furnace poses in the same kind of environment, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons for yourself. It’s a call only you can make.
Believe it or not, there’s more in your house ductwork than cold and hot air. There’s also debris like pollen, dander, and dust, all of which stem from daily chores like cleaning and cooking. Dirty air ducts can pose health risks to the occupants of your property. From acute illnesses like asthma and allergies to chronic diseases like lung cancer, dirty ducts have many potentially harmful effects. So, do air ducts need to be cleaned? Here are nine reasons why you should clean your air ducts.
1. Proper Oxygenation
An efficient HVAC system filters out harmful particulates in your home or building. Fresh air canimprove your body’s oxygenation leading to optimal functioning of your major organs and preventing respiratory conditions like asthma and allergies.
2. Minimized Sinus, Skin, or Eye Irritants
Spores, dust, fungus, and pollens that might irritate can accumulate in your HVAC system over time. If you suffer from constant inflammation, you might have to contact a qualified HVAC technician to inspect your air ducts.
3. Maintains a Cleaner Environment
Dust particles accumulate in the ductwork, especially when you turn off your HVAC system. Once you turn on the system, the particles recirculate in the house and settle on your floor furniture, bedding, etc. You’ll need to dust the surfaces to keep your home hygienic and clean. Check the ducts if you suspect your house is becoming unusually dusty. Cleaning the ductwork will help prevent pollutants from entering your house and keep your home clean and hygienic.
4. Odor Reduction
Dirty air ducts can collect odorous molecules causing smelly air to circulate throughout your house or building. Cleaning the ducts can help clear away any odorous molecules resulting in a fresh-smelling interior space.
5. Fewer HVAC Repairs
Routine cleanups and inspections can help you identify any developing or potential issues that might worsen. This allows you to fix the problem promptly, ensuring it doesn’t deteriorate. Therefore, it’s doubtful that you might experience major HVAC-related repairs if you regularly clean your air ducts.
6. Energy Savings
Cleaned air ducts help reduce blockages in the ducts. This leads to less obstructed airflow, which means that your HVAC unit won’t have to put extra effort into heating or cooling your home, as it would’ve been the case with dirty air ducts. Therefore, your unit will consume less power when functioning on clean ducts. Lower power consumption results to lower electricity bills.
7. Thermoregulation
Poor air control can cause illnesses like hyperthermia and hypothermia. All these conditions can trigger your equilibrium and even shut down your vital body organs. Clean your air ducts to ensure that your HVAC unit functions properly for optimal air control.
8. Mildew and Mold Prevention
Moisture from your HVAC unit can collect inside the air ducts and create an ideal condition for fostering harmful microorganisms like mold and mildew. If left unsolved, these fungi might make a home inside your ducts and even spread into other parts of your house through the circulating air. A professional duct cleanup will ensure that your ducts don’t become a breeding ground for mildew and mold.
9. Fight Infestation
The warm vents of your house might seem like a cozy, comfy gateway for pests looking for a warm, quiet, and dark place to settle down. Rodents and insects are unsanitary fit for you and your family. They might spread diseases, and their droppings can cause allergies or respiratory problems. Keeping your ductwork clean will discourage pests from residing in your house and even eliminate pests that have already made themselves comfortable.
So, how often should I have my air ducts cleaned? We recommend cleaning your ducts every 3 to 5 years. However, the frequency can change based on factors like mold and a noticeable amount of dust in your ducts.
Don’t DIY; Seek Professional Air Duct Cleaning Services
Air ducts are an integral part of any HVAC unit. Therefore, you must ensure that they’re cleaned and maintained regularly. Trust Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling to provide the finest air duct cleaning services. Our experts have years of experience serving this industry, so we are the best choice for air duct cleaning. Get in touch with us today to help restore your air quality!
Air conditioning units normally produce a mild level of sound. However, strange sounds can indicate the need for repairs. The following are eight sounds your AC system might make and what they mean.
1. Bubbling
Bubbling is one of the sounds an AC unit makes when a problem exists in the drainage pipes. A pipe may have a crack, hole, or other imperfection that allows air and water to get through. To find the problem, you will need to take your AC unit apart to expose the crack or hole. Contacting a certified specialist is best if you need draining line work.
2. Hissing
Your HVAC system might hiss in protest if you use a filter that isn’t compatible. You might also hear hissing if your air duct is leaking. You can change the air filter yourself if you can find the right part and gain access to where you place it. The ductwork may not be that easy to do by yourself and should probably be handled by a professional.
3. Clicking
Hearing some clicking sounds from your AC unit is entirely normal. However, continuous clicking might mean your thermostat is going bad. A skilled specialist most effectively handles this complex procedure.
4. Humming
Humming noises usually occur when electrical problems exist. Thus, you might hear your unit hum if you have a defective relay switch. Your thermostat can also be faulty, and replacing it isn’t a very easy task. An expert may be much more suitable to do the job than you.
5. Rattling
Rattling noises can be major or minor. They can happen when sticks and other objects fall into the system. However, they can also occur if you have a defective part or loose fasteners.
6. Buzzing
Buzzing can come from several components, but the fan is the most common culprit. This sound can also occur if you have dirty condenser coils or loose parts. You can inspect the AC unit and search for visual signs or contact a professional to inspect it for you.
7. Banging
A banging noise is never a good sign, and it usually means your compressor is on its way out. In some cases, it can mean that certain parts have come loose. If this is the issue, you will most likely need someone to replace the compressor. In the worst-case situation, you might need to replace your whole unit. This result is likely if your system is more than 15 years old.
8. Screeching
Blower fan motors are notorious for making screeching sounds. Bad bearings in the fan motor can also create this sound.
You now know most of the sounds that can come from your HVAC system. Staying on the right schedule with your maintenance can prevent some of these issues from occurring. Having someone check your system periodically will expose minor problems when they arise, and you’ll be able to fix them more speedily.
Get in touch with a trustworthy group of HVAC specialists if your AC is making a hissing noise, and you can ensure that your unit makes fewer strange sounds moving forward.
Your HVAC system has been designed to work well for many years. However, it’s crucial that you do the appropriate maintenance to keep it in its best condition. The following symptoms indicate that you need to have someone look at your system:
You Notice Unnatural Smells
Bad smells can have a number of causes, but you can be certain that something is wrong with your HVAC system when they hit your nose. You could have a dirty filter, a burnt wire, or even worse, a rodent’s carcass could be stuck in the unit. Fortunately, a professional HVAC technician can come to your home, find the problem, and remedy it for you.
Your AC Unit Makes Strange Sounds
Strange noises are also tell-tale signs your system has an issue. If you hear hissing sounds, it could mean that your system is leaking refrigerant. The hissing noise is likely coming from a puncture in the closed mechanism. Broken compressors and loose belts can cause loud banging noises, and rattling noises are more likely to come from bad blower fans and motors.
You don’t need to become a profound expert on AC system sounds. You can reach out to a trustworthy specialist and have that person come to your home and inspect your unit. The repair person will let you know what the issue is and propose a solution you can accept or reject.
Your Home Never Gets Cold or Warm Enough
Your AC system may not be cooling because of a refrigerant leak caused by a vulnerability. If your HVAC system isn’t warming for you, the problem could be related to a thermostat issue, a clogged filter, or a heat pump defect. It’s time to contact a professional when you stop getting the comfortable temperature you deserve.
Your Energy Bills Are Much Higher
Higher energy bills usually indicate that a component of your HVAC system is working very hard, causing it to burn through more energy than usual. It’s time to contact an outside provider to look at your system when your bills no longer seem to add up.
When to Schedule Maintenance for My Furnace?
Furnace maintenance is most effective when someone does it in the fall. Typically, you should have someone come out to your home once every year to check for issues and perform regular maintenance tasks. That way, you can be fully certain that your unit will be ready to handle the aggressive seasons.
When to Schedule Maintenance for My AC?
AC maintenance should be done annually as well. However, it’s most beneficial to have someone come to inspect and maintain it in the spring. The idea is to beat the season by getting your unit ready before the undesirable weather begins.
Keep up with the periodic maintenance of your HVAC system, and you can avoid unexpected breakdowns and malfunctions. Take your time and find an established company to do the maintenance you need on your unit, and don’t hesitate to schedule a service visit if you notice any strange issues.
