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Fall Heater Best Practices for 2021

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It’s probably been about six months since you’ve thought about your home’s heater, but with autumn setting in, now is the time to make sure your furnace is in proper working order. Checking and maintaining your furnace can ensure that it works well when you need it the most.

Some heater maintenance tricks might seem obvious to you, while others might be things you haven’t considered. This article will cover some fall heater tips that you can use to make your heater run efficiently this fall and winter.

Replace your filters

For your furnace filters to adequately do their job, they must be clean. You should be changing your HVAC filters every one to three months or as directed by the manufacturer. Changing your furnace filter can not only prolong your heater’s lifespan, but it can also ensure that your family is breathing in clean air as well.

Clean your vents

Before the leaves begin to fall, you should go around to your home’s vents and make sure they’re unobstructed. Once you’ve done that, you can remove the grate or register from the vents and use a vacuum on them to remove any dirt, dust or debris. This should not only improve your air quality but make your furnace run more efficiently too.

Test your thermostat

If you have an older thermostat, it might not be as accurate as you’d like it to be. You might have been able to get through the summer with an imprecise thermostat, but the winter could be a whole other story.

Check your thermostat, and test it to see if it’s correctly monitoring and adjusting the temperature in your home. A properly-working thermostat is key to a furnace’s efficiency, and if yours isn’t working anymore, you can invest in a newer, better model.

Install a carbon monoxide detector

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and tasteless gas that is toxic to human beings. It prevents your blood from carrying oxygen sufficiently and can lead to serious injury and even death.

Several electrical appliances, like stoves, furnaces and generators, can generate carbon monoxide and leak them into your home, but with a carbon monoxide detector, you’re alerted to the gas’s presence and can get out of your living space before it’s too late. Be sure to place your carbon monoxide detector at least 15 feet from any HVAC ducts, as putting it any closer could result in false alarms.

Schedule an inspection

While there are steps you can take yourself to make sure your heater is working before the frost sets in, there’s no substitute for an expert. Getting a tune-up for your furnace is a must for any homeowner, as professionals can catch small problems before they become larger ones. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) even recommends that you have your furnace inspected every year, and right before winter is an ideal time.

Call for your heater’s tune-up today

Hopefully, these fall heater tips and heater maintenance tricks can prove useful to you in some way, but if you want the expertise of a professional, call us at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We have over 15 years of experience in the HVAC industry, and we’re available 24/7 for HVAC repairs whenever you need assistance.

What Will HVAC Look Like in the Future?

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Unless you work in the HVAC industry, you probably don’t think much about the future of HVAC—but the new innovations that are emerging will be exciting for everyone. Whether you want to save money on your energy bills, reduce your carbon footprint or both, these new technologies are sure to make an impact.

Here are some of the most interesting HVAC developments to watch:

If you’re looking for the latest innovations in HVAC technology, we can help. Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling is dedicated to bringing you the future of HVAC—or simply ensuring that your existing system runs well. Reach out to us today to get started with a maintenance appointment!

Is My AC Broken, or Do I Need to Replace My Filter?

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It’s hot and muggy outside—so it’s just about the worst time for your air conditioner to break down. Why is this happening? It was working fine yesterday. Is your AC really broken, or do you just need to replace your filter?

Air conditioners require regular maintenance, including a filter change every 30 to 90 days. If you’ve been slacking off on your filter changes, that might be the reason your AC isn’t performing appropriately. Here are some things to troubleshoot before you call your local HVAC company for help:

Why do I need to replace my AC air filter?

Once you’ve troubleshooted your air conditioner problems, you might forget to change your filter again—but that would be a big mistake. When you fail to replace your filter regularly, it can cause problems. Poor air quality, inefficiency (and the resulting high electricity bills), uneven cooling and malfunctions are all possible.

Your air conditioner might also start “short cycling,” which is when it kicks on and off repeatedly throughout the day. This is supposed to happen—at least on a limited basis—but when your filter is dirty, it can happen every few minutes. Change the filter and see if the problem is solved. If not, call your HVAC contractor for assistance.

When you need AC help, reach out to Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. We’d be glad to take a look at your AC and make sure it’s doing its job correctly!

The Real Use for Ceiling Fans

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Summer is here, and that means you may be retreating indoors to enjoy the comfort of central air. But the downside to every HVAC system is that the air inside the home is likely to become stuffy and stale.

Did you know that there’s a simple way to improve air quality inside the home? The fact is that ceiling fans improve air circulation, which can help you breathe better and get better sleep.

Using ceiling fans for air circulation

Many people believe that ceiling fans are designed to cool down a room. They can have that effect, but their true purpose is to improve air circulation in whichever room they’re used in. This creates the illusion that the room is actually a few degrees cooler.

Ceiling fans work by creating a breeze that removes moisture from your skin—it’s that artificial breeze that creates a cooling sensation. Hot air and heat have nowhere to go once they reach the ceiling, so running ceiling fans counterclockwise during the summer can help with heat management.

Then in the winter, you can reverse the blades to mix and distribute the cold air at the bottom of the room with the hot air that rises to the top of the room. Consequently, you can save money on your cooling costs in the summer and on your heating costs in the winter by using ceiling fans.

Other fans

Ceiling fans improve air circulation, which can have health benefits and save energy. But let’s say you don’t have ceiling fans installed in your home—you can still reap the benefits of air circulation through the use of other fans. Here are some of the most common:

Do you want to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter? At Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling, we provide a full range of heating and cooling services to meet any need your home’s energy-efficient system may have, from furnace maintenance to AC repair. Our dedicated team has the experience and know-how to get the job done right. Give us a call today to learn more about our services and get a free quote!

At What Temperature Should I Set My Thermostat During the Summer?

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Summer is in full swing, and you probably have your air conditioner running at all hours. But many people wonder: What’s the perfect summer thermostat setting?

Read on to find out our leading tips on keeping your home cool and comfortable while saving money on energy bills.

Stay close to the outdoor temperature

When the temperatures soar outside, you may have the urge to crank the AC even higher. But you shouldn’t need a sweatshirt to be comfortable in your home.

The U.S. Department of Energy recommends that homeowners leave the AC at 78 degrees when you’re at home during the summer. The closer the indoor temperature is to the outdoor temperature means less energy is necessary to keep your home cool, which in turn leads to lower energy expenses.

When you go away

Everyone loves to take trips during the summer, whether it’s to visit family or to go to the beach. But at what temperature should you leave the thermostat when you’re out of town? While you might think that you can turn off the system entirely, it’s not a smart idea. This can affect pets and plants living in your home, along with causing other issues. But you can leave the temperature higher than you normally would—up to 83 degrees—which can save you money on your energy bill.

How to adjust the AC unit temperature

It’s important to remember that adjusting the temperature on the AC unit does not affect the temperature of the air being pumped into your home. Instead, it changes the duration of time that the AC unit runs, with cooler temperatures requiring more time.

So don’t set the temperature on the AC very low in the hopes that your home will cool down faster, as this will not work and could cause unnecessary strain on the unit. That said, it’s perfectly fine to make adjustments throughout the day based on your comfort.

Setting the thermostat at night

Most people prefer to keep the AC higher at night, as it creates more comfortable conditions for sleeping. Experts say that bedrooms should be between 60 and 67 degrees for sleeping.

However, that’s likely quite a jump from where the thermostat is set during the day. First, lower it by a couple of degrees from where you usually keep it during the day, and see how that works. You can also use ceiling fans, dehumidifiers and temperature-regulating pillows and mattresses to help stay cool at night.

Now it’s time to get that perfect summer thermostat setting. The next time you need help with air conditioning or heating, turn to the expert pros at Ashley Brothers Heating & Cooling. Our dedicated team has been providing residential and commercial services since 1999.

We specialize in the installation of new equipment, heating and cooling repair and furnace cleaning. We also offer emergency services, meaning we’re available to help you 24 hours a day! Give us a call right now to find out how we can help you.