Most people rely on a heating system to keep their home toasty during the wintertime. Unfortunately, heating systems don’t last forever, and sometimes they even fail when you least expect it. Here are 4 signs that your heater may be failing this winter:

1.Your heater is old.

Furnaces have a lifespan of about 15 to 20 years. If your furnace is getting up there in age, then it may be time to replace it. Furnaces tend to require the most amount of repairs during the final two to three years of their lives. So, if you’ve been calling your HVAC repair person a lot over the past couple of years, you may want to see if a system replacement would end up benefiting you (and your wallet!) in the long run.

If you’ve had your furnace for less than 15 years, be sure to have maintenance performed on your system as recommended, or at least once per year. Having routine maintenance performed on newer units can help extend the life of your heating system by ensuring that your unit is running properly. Also, HVAC technicians are trained to catch any small issues before they turn into larger complications.

2. Your furnace is creating cold air.

If your heating system is producing cold air rather than warm air, it may be a sign that your heater is failing. There are several causes as to why your furnace may be acting more like an AC unit. It could be that the furnace’s blower motor is malfunctioning, which means that your furnace unit simply doesn’t have enough momentum from its motor to reach all the vents in your home. This could account for “cold spots”.

Occasionally, a furnace may not produce any warm air at all, and this is more likely caused by a faulty pilot light or heat exchanger. Whatever may be the cause of your heater producing cooler air, you’ll want to get the expert advice of an HVAC technician. An HVAC pro can help you determine whether or not you’ll need a repair or a system replacement.

3. You are experiencing increased energy bills.

Sometimes an increase in your heating bills can be a telltale sign that your heater is failing. Furnaces are designed to keep your home at a constant temperature (that you set on your thermostat). So, if your furnace is struggling to keep your home at a steady temperature, it may be working harder than it should be. If you’re noticing that your energy bills are higher than they were in previous years, you may want to give an HVAC professional a call. They’ll be able to assess whether or not your furnace simply needs a tune-up, or something more significant, to get your home’s heating system back in working order.

4. Your heater has started to make strange noises.

It’s no secret that most furnaces and heating units are a bit noisy, but if you notice any strange or unfamiliar sounds coming from your system, call in a pro. Odd noises can indicate that something has gone awry with your system: perhaps a part has loosened or failed. It’s best to play it safe and call in a professional so that you’ll get expert advice on whether or not that peculiar noise is something you should be concerned about.

Are you experiencing any of these signs of heater failure? If so, contact us today to get your heating system back up and running in time for the holidays.

4 Signs That Your Heater Might be Failing this Winter
jbenbrook

Summer is winding down, and soon people across the country will begin cranking up the heat. Every year around this time, people ask: How can I save on heating costs?

How to Save on Heating Costs

Here are a few simple but effective methods you may want to consider:

1) Plug holes in exterior walls:
Often times, pipe and cables entering your home will leave gaps around them that have been improperly filled. These gaps will allow air to flow in and out of the house, raising your heating costs. This can be fixed by filling in these gaps expanding foam.

2) Get a new thermostat:
A good way to save on heating costs during the colder months is by upgrading to a programmable thermostat. These thermostats can be set to lower the temperature when nobody is home, and to begin raising it before anyone gets home. This way, your home is always warm when you’re there, but you aren’t wasting money by running the heater when you’re gone. This strategy can also be utilized when you’re asleep.

3) Utilize Mother Nature:
Most people don’t think of this, but a good option for saving on heating costs is to utilize the sun’s heat. If you keep your windows open and allow sunlight to come into your house, you can run your heater less often and still keep your home warm.
4) Get new windows:
If you live in an older home with outdated windows, it is highly likely that a lot of heat is escaping through them. By upgrading to more energy-efficient windows, you will be able to keep heat trapped inside your house and save a lot of money on heating costs.
5) Get glass doors for your fireplace:
If your home has a chimney, a lot of heat is probably escaping your home through it. In order to rectify this and save a lot of money, install fitted glass doors in front of your fireplace and keep them closed whenever the fireplace is not in use.
6) Bundle up:
This suggestion is simple, yet effective. During the colder months, instead of running your heater all day, you can simply bundle up in warm winter clothes. When you’re lounging around the house, cover up with warm blankets! In order to make this easier for you and everyone in your home, keep blankets and coats stashed around the house so there is always one close by!
7) Don’t heat unused rooms:
If there are rooms in your home nobody ever uses, you can save a bunch on heating costs by sealing off the vents in those rooms and increasing energy efficiency throughout the rest of the house.
8) Invest in better insulation:
If you’re worried about heat escaping your home, you can buy inexpensive insulation from any local hardware store and cover up any areas you’re worried heat may be escaping from.
9) Buy a humidifier:
Have you ever been to the Deep South in the summer time? If you have, then you understand this suggestion. Humid air traps more heat, and increasing the humidity in your home will make your home feel a lot warmer for a much lower price!
For more information on energy-saving HVAC options, contact us today.

Don’t Go Broke Like Last Year: Save on Heating Costs the Easy Way
jbenbrook

Variables in Furnace Installation Costs

If your furnace is between 15-20 years old it’s getting close to the time that it needs to be replaced and you will want to seriously consider having that done instead of waiting for it to simply stop functioning. The first and one of the largest variables in costs that you will encounter when shopping for a new furnace is what type of furnace you would be installing.

There are several types of furnace, electric, gas, oil, and heat pump, and all have their advantages and disadvantages. Costs between the units can vary a little but all will generally fall within the same price range. 2,000-5,000 dollars per unit is pretty common. For a model with a high efficiency rating you should expect about a 1,000-2,000 dollar premium on top of the base price.

The area that you can rack up a lot costs in is whether or not you can use the existing ductwork that you have. The costs for replacing ductwork with new, compatible ductwork, can run anywhere from 11,000-20,000 dollars! Clearly, if you can use existing ductwork, do so. Keep in mind that you might not be able to if your home was constructed during the heyday of asbestos use.

Installation of a new furnace will take between one and two days, depending on what needs to be done, which will affect the labor costs. When getting a quote on everything, be sure to ask about building permits and any disposal fees. Many jurisdictions will require you to have a building permit in order to install a new furnace. You also don’t want to be left with a yard full of debris left over from the installation.

A few ways to save money is by looking for any discounts your state or county offers on units with certain efficiency ratings, choosing a less expensive brand, and by utilizing existing ductwork if possible.

Follow the Woodacre Fuel & HVAC blog for all your HVAC information needs.

Cost Considerations for Furnace Installations
HVAC Specialist

With rising fuel prices, it is important to keep home heating costs low. Whether your heating system uses natural gas, propane, heating oil or electricity, winter season may consume a huge percentage of your income. Your system must be energy efficient to keep energy bills low. The following tips may help you reduce home heating costs:

Reset Your Thermostat

Turn down your heater’s thermostat setting to a range of 68-70 degrees when you are at home. To reduce your energy costs by 5%, reduce the setting to about 56 degrees or lower when you are asleep or away from home. Be sure to consider your comfort and health when doing the adjustment. To save up to 20%, turn off the heater when you leave home for a long period of time. Consider reducing the heat pump’s temperature by 2 degrees to avoid unnecessary back heat.

Replace Furnace Filters

Your furnace filters needs replacement at least every month or as directed by the manufacturer. Furnace filters accumulate dirt, which prevents smooth air flow thereby increasing energy consumption. Although cleaning is possible, the costs of doing it is considerably expensive. When you replace the filter, be sure to also service the furnace by lubricating, cleaning and performing the necessary adjustments. This will reduce your heating costs by 5%.

Seal up Leaks

You want to keep warm air in your home during winter. Any cold air from outside will cause energy inefficiencies. As a result, your heating systems may have to work extra hard to maintain optimal temperatures. Plug all air leaks found around ducts, windows, doors, conduits, ceiling, bathroom and kitchen sinks. You can do this using silicone or any other 100% crack-free caulking paste. This will save you up to 5% in reduced energy costs.

Service Your Heating System

Be sure to hire a certified air conditioning contractor to service your heater. Ideally, this should be done annually, preferably before the winter season begins. Entering into a servicing contract is the best option as it is considerably cheaper and more convenient. Before signing a contract, you should make sure the contractor is certified by the North American Technical Excellence (NATE).

Act right now and follow us for more articles that keep your HVAC system running efficiently and saving you money in the long run.

How To Reduce Home Heating Costs This Winter
HVAC Specialist

Addressing the damages to your home caused by significant ice and snow this winter is a painstaking process.  Identifying all the areas of damage is critical to your insurance claim. In addition to the obvious, remember to have your outside air conditioning condenser and refrigerant lines checked. Impact from heavy ice and snow, as well as drifting snow has damaged many outside condensers and heat pumps.  It is important to have a skilled HVAC technician examine your system before starting it up this spring.  Call Woodacre today to schedule your appointment.  If physical damage is obvious, we can make a site visit right away to have your unit replaced.  Otherwise, we recommend you schedule the appointment for when the weather warms and the system can be properly run and tested.

Perhaps you experienced ice dams and roof damage which caused water leakage into your attic or basement, thereby damaging your Furnaces, Air Handlers or Boilers.  Make a positive move from this unfortunate damage; take advantage of energy saving rebates and operational savings for years to come by upgrading your heating and/or cooling equipment.  Depending upon the quality/efficiency of the existing equipment, a rule of thumb is that a heating or cooling system 12 years or older will be 10-30% less efficient than high efficiency equipment available today!  The older your equipment, the greater your savings.  As we have all seen our monthly electric and gas bills skyrocket, despite our frugal use of the thermostat, NOW IS THE TIME to REPLACE YOUR HEATING & COOLING SYSTEMS!  Perhaps a replacement will at least stabilize your monthly utility bills, despite the significantly higher utility rates.

Call Woodacre today for a Free Estimate to replace your heating and/or cooling system.

Another reason to upgrade your existing air conditioning system is the fact that R-22 Refrigerant production is increasingly limited in production due to governmental regulation.  R-22 will be phased out completely in the near future.  The cost of R-22 needed for an old system is expensive as the regulation  to replace R-22 with more environmentally friendly R-210A (Puron) is completely phased in.   Adding cooling to your home, or upgrading the existing system to R-410A (Puron) greatly enhances the re-sale value of your home, while providing you with cost efficient comfort during the Spring filled with pollen and the hot and humid Summer days.  Make an investment for the health and comfort of your family today.  Call Woodacre for a Free Estimate to replace or install central air conditioning in your home.

Ice and Snow Damage to HVAC Systems

I think it is pertinent that we LISTEN, rather than SELL what we have in stock!

This is about addressing the customers’ needs, real and perceived, not making a sale. An educated customer is a satisfied customer! We listen to what you are thinking.  As you articulate your needs, we listen carefully to what you have to say. All details are important:

• What rooms are warm or cold?
• Where are you really comfortable in your home and how much time do you spend there?
• How different areas of the home are utilized by your family?
• Is there a space which you would like to “reclaim” as living space; be it a sunroom, basement or over garage area?
• Whether you have children and/or older family members living at your home
• Whether there are family health issues to be considered for Indoor Air Quality
• What type of energy saving measures have you addressed in the last few years?
• What your energy bills have been over the past year
• What is really important to you: efficiency, the environment, cost, or a balance of all?
• What your budget looks like for the project you are looking at
• Whether you would like financing as an option
• What brands of equipment you are interested in
• Whether you are a new home owner, just getting to know your home; or planning to put your home on the market in the next few months or years

All of these considerations are important to providing you with the heating, cooling and indoor air quality products which will be a satisfying investment for comfort and efficiency throughout the seasons.  Give us the chance to listen to your needs.  Contact us today to let us help find the perfect heating or cooling solution for you.

Let Woodacre Listen to Your Needs

Despite the fact that energy prices are climbing, you can still save money. If you make a few adjustments, you can save money and energy. Below are some tips for controlling home comfort costs:

Use Programmable Thermostats

One of the most cost-effective things you can do to save money on your energy bill is to install a programmable thermostat. These thermostats will automatically reduce and decrease the temperature at certain times. Programmable thermostats are also fairly easy to install.

Weatherproof Windows

You can prevent air from leaving your home by keeping the windows insulated. There are a variety of materials you can use to insulate your door, including self-adhesive foam, felt and vinyl. You should consider replacing your windows if they have deteriorated greatly. Do not use metal-frame windows because they have a tendency to conduct cold air in your house.

Weatherproof Doors

The doors in your home lose twice as much energy as the windows. Frequent openings, harder to seal thresholds and their large surface area are some of the reasons doors often lose energy. The good news is they can be weather-stripped and sealed just like windows.

Keep Your House Cool

Metal and white cement roofs are the best choices for keeping your home cool during the summer months. You can also help keep your house cool by using attic fans or whole house fans. Additionally, shade trees and awnings help keep your house cool. You may not have to rely on your air conditioner as much if you make those changes.

Strengthen And Maintain Your Garage Doors

Garage doors can create even more problems than regular doors. Warped wooden garage doors and flimsy metal garage doors can cause your home to lose heat at an alarming rate. Fiberglass models and better-insulated, heavier wood require quality components that are well-maintained.

Change The Furnace Filter

Your furnace filter needs to be changed at least once every few months. Changing the furnace filter not only helps you save money on your energy bill, but it also helps your furnace last longer. Dirty filters cause your furnace to work much harder.

Call us for additional energy saving solutions.

If Energy Prices Continue To Escalate, What Would Be Most Effective In Controlling Home Comfort Costs?
HVAC Specialist

If you use a boiler for heating your home, chances are you have wondered how you can keep your home cool in the summer. In fact, many people ask their HVAC professionals whether or not it is even possible to have air conditioning installed. One of the problems these homeowners face is that the boiler heating system in their home means there are no ducts to carry cool air from a traditional central air conditioning system. Fortunately, it is still possible to cool your home.

One very common method of bringing air conditioning comfort to a home with a boiler heating system is to simply install a ductless mini split cooling system. The ductless mini split system utilizes a condenser which is situated outdoors as well as an indoor air handler which can be installed in a wall for added convenience. This system is generally designed to cool specific zones, so keeping your entire home air conditioned is generally not possible. However, it is possible to install a single condenser unit to bring cool air to several indoor air handlers. This way you can have air conditioning in the rooms where you spend most of your time.

Another system that provides cooling relief is the attic air system. The attic air conditioning system has a condenser located outdoors with an indoor air handler installed in the attic. Ductwork must be installed in order to carry the conditioned air to various locations in your home. This cooling system will typically be able to effectively cool your entire home.

Similar to the traditional attic air conditioning system, a High Velocity system also makes use of an outdoor condenser as well as an air handler that is installed in your attic. However, instead of having to run traditional rigid ductwork, smaller tubes are used to carry cool air to different points in your home. One of the advantages with this type of cooling system is that it uses the smaller tubes to deliver cool air, so there is no need to worry about interfering with design elements of your home.

Call us for all of your air conditioning and heating system needs.

If I Have A Boiler Is It Possible To Add Air Conditioning?
HVAC Specialist

If you are like most homeowners, you probably don’t know much about your furnace; other than it works hard to keep your home at comfortable temperatures. However, being aware of some signs that something is wrong with your furnace or HVAC system can help you nip a costly breakdown in the bud. In fact, there are many furnace warning signs that homeowners can be aware of to know when to take action and call a trusted HVAC repair service.

Warning Sign #1: Odors and Noises
If you have lived in your home for even a few weeks, you know what its normal noises and smells are. One of the first signs that something isn’t right with your furnace can be noises and smells that weren’t there before. Sometimes these odors and sounds can indicate something simple is going on, such as an obstructed airflow. Other times they may mean that your furnace is need of repair or replacement.

Warning Sign #2: An Aging Furnace
If your furnace is on the older side, it is always wise to monitor it closely. Furnaces that are more than 10 years old can often times experience more problems than their younger furnace counterparts. Keep in mind that some furnaces can last 20 or more years. However, as they age, more watching is required.

Warning Sign #3: Broken Thermostat
If you have noticed that your furnace clicks on and off often, or that even when you turn it up high, your house never fully seems to get warm, it could be the thermostat. In fact, a broken thermostat is one of the most common problems with an HVAC system.

Furnace Warning Sign #4: Yellow Flame
When looking at your furnace, you should notice that the ignition flame is a pure and clean blue. It should also be constant and stable. If, however, you notice that this flame is yellow or orange, it could be a sign of dirt in the burner. This is a very serious warning sign and means that your furnace is not creating the appropriate mixture of oxygen and gas.

If you are worried that your furnace is headed for a breakdown, call your local HVAC Contractors for heating system and furnace inspection and service.

Signs Your Furnace May Be In Trouble
HVAC Specialist

Have you wondered whether you have a boiler or furnace in your home?
Homeowners often ponder this question, trying to understand the how and why of their comfort indoors, whether they are too cold or too hot, but always too distant from their comfort zone!

Boilers are what the industry calls “wet heat”. This is basically a big boiling pot which produces hot water or steam which flows throughout the home by a system of pipes, pumps and controls. Heat is generated by gas, oil or electric which then warms the radiators, baseboards, radiant piping or hydro-air coil. A boiler installed in the 1990’s may still be running, but the efficiency and savings which may be gained through replacement is significant. Technology, as it relates to combustion and temperature control, improves as fast as high-tech tablets and smart phones!

Furnaces are what the industry calls “dry heat”. Furnaces are basically a big metal box which contains hot air which is blown through the home via a myriad of metal duct work. Heat is generated by gas, oil or electric which is then propelled by a blower through a series of dampers, registers and returns to each room or area of the home. Technology here is also changing at the same rate as our computers and phones.

There are distinct advantages to the boiler versus furnace choice, as well as a variety of reasons which compels choosing one over the other, based upon the particular application. Some people find boilers produce a more comfortable heat, as the heat dissipating into the room is more constant, given the fact that the metal mass of the radiator, baseboard or radiant piping holds the heat longer. Some people find furnaces more favorable when they wish to have heat and cool from the same ductwork. (Although hydro-air utilizes both principles of wet and dry heat.) The down-side here is that heat rises and cold air drops, so there is a trade off of performance.

Both boilers and furnaces can be zoned, although retrofitting systems to a home can be limited due to accessibility. Zoning is integral to efficient performance of a system. The ability to provide an ideal temperature in the most utilized space of the home, while keeping the temperature lower in less occupied and/or sleeping spaces is optimal for enjoying savings throughout the year. Whether you are upgrading to a high-efficiency system, planning to add and/or renovate part of your home, or eager to save on your heating (and cooling) expenses, call Woodacre HVAC today to discuss innovative ways to improve the comfort and health of your home.

Wet Heat vs Dry Heat