The cold, frosty winter season is here. Now is undeniably your last chance to fix up your heating equipment and make sure it’s ready to go before firing it up. In addition, you should also think about ways that you can prevent heat loss to effectively boost your home’s energy efficiency and save on energy bills. To help you, an emergency plumber and heater repair provider narrows down the best techniques below.
Read moreYour home is designed to keep you and your family safe and comfortable under any kind of weather. If you have or recently upgraded to a central air conditioner system, then you know how important it is to have it maintained regularly. This should also apply to other parts of your home, including your plumbing. But sometimes, problems suddenly occur and you may need to spend a costly amount to have it fixed as soon as possible. For instance, plumbing problems can happen and are not always predictable, even with regular maintenance. Are these problems covered by your homeowners insurance? It actually depends. Read more
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make when going on summer vacation is forgetting about their HVAC system. The air conditioner has to remain in operation in order to control the heat and humidity inside the house, even when its empty. If you fail to take these necessary precautions, your cooling equipment may underperform or break down while you’re away. Read more
The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that as of 2017, 68% of U.S. households have pets. This encompasses a variety of animals, but dogs and cats are the most common. To many, pets are practically parts of the family, often making the necessary changes to their homes in order to accommodate the needs of their furry friends. Read more
A well-maintained HVAC system usually runs quietly, so if you hear sudden and unusual noises then there might be something wrong with your system. Countryside Plumbing and Heating is the top HVAC and plumbing expert in our area, and we suggest researching typical HVAC noises so that you know what they mean. Here are four noises you need to know about:
At Countryside, we recognize that choosing the perfect HVAC system for your home can be a little daunting, especially if this is your first time shopping for heating and cooling equipment for your house. With all the different ratings and options, you may find yourself a bit confused (and exhausted) when it comes time to make a choice. That’s why we’ve put together a quick tip sheet that you can use when shopping for your new HVAC system.
Tips for Choosing the Best HVAC System for Your Home
When shopping for a new HVAC system, it can be difficult to navigate all the acronyms and features. Use the tips below to better understand your options for replacing your HVAC system and what they mean for your home comfort:
When looking at new HVAC systems, you should consider their ratings and how each impacts your home comfort:
When purchasing a new HVAC unit, you will need to consider the initial cost to purchase and install the system as well as the long-term costs. Remember, your HVAC system is a long-term investment. Factors such as utility costs, maintenance and repair needs, and the suggested lifespan of the unit will impact your overall costs. Though high efficiency HVAC systems may cost more initially, they will help you save more money over time by lowering your monthly energy costs.
Did you know that many brand new HVAC systems waste an average of 1/3 of the total energy used because they are the wrong size or were not installed properly? That’s why it’s vital that you find an experienced and qualified contractor that can provide installation as well as maintenance over time.
A good contractor will know how to calculate the right size HVAC equipment for your home to make sure that your system is efficiently heating and cooling your home year-round. They will also know how to properly install your system to get you the best efficiency over time. Do your research and make sure that you’re working with a licensed New Richmond HVAC contractor with experience installing new systems.
Get Help Finding a New HVAC System in New Richmond
Don’t let shopping for a new HVAC system get you down. Contact the experts at Countryside Plumbing and Heating today for help finding the right system to fit your home comfort needs and budget. Our specialists take the hassle out of buying a new system by guiding you through your options and helping you select the best HVAC system for you and your family. Call today: (800) 542-4243.
Now that fall is here, New Richmond homeowners are enjoying all that this wonderful season has to offer. From fun fall parties with friends to spending the holidays with family, fall is a special time of the year. Though you may not want to think about the cold winter weather that is just around the corner, fall is the best time to evaluate your home HVAC system and decide whether a replacement or upgrade is right for you. Below, we’ll talk more about why fall is the best time to replace your heating and air conditioning system.
Many people may not realize, but fall is the season for replacing your HVAC system. If you are moving into a new home or you’ve been thinking about replacing your system, here are just a few of the reasons why now is the best time to replace your home comfort system:
In addition to these benefits, you may also be able to take advantage of fall savings or factory rebates and save more money on your HVAC replacement in the fall.
If you are considering upgrading or replacing your heating and cooling unit, check out the great selection of air conditioners, furnaces, heat pumps, and more from Bryant Heating and Cooling Systems. As a factory-authorized dealer, Countryside Plumbing & Heating can help you find the ideal HVAC system for your home comfort needs and answer any questions that you may have about indoor air quality upgrade options. In addition, our team of qualified HVAC experts is also experienced at providing expert installation services.
You can check out some of the HVAC systems available from Bryant on our website or contact us today for a consultation.
Sometimes, that pesky thermostat just doesn’t work properly. Indeed, there are a number of very common problems that we as homeowners have to deal with when it comes to that all-mighty thermostat. Here, we will discuss four of the most common thermostat problems as well as provide solutions that you can implement today.
Here are some of the most common major thermostat issues and how to fix them:
Solution: This might not seem like a thermostat problem, but there is a good chance that it is. If we put the thermostat directly in the sun, then that will drastically affect how it will work. Try moving the thermostat or finding some way to block the sun, like drapery or curtains. You should also make sure that your thermostat isn’t in a room that has an open window or outside door in it. Moving the thermostat to a room that is normally closed may help with normalizing the temperature regulation.
Solution: Imagine. It’s 80 degrees in your room, and things are getting pretty uncomfortable, so you turn the temperature down to 72 degrees. The air conditioner turns on, but the room temperature only reaches 74 degrees before the air conditioner turns off. It should be 72 degrees, not 74, so something is off. Well, it may just be that your thermostat’s thermometer is a bit off. If you have an old liquid thermostat or something similar, it may just require you to pop off the thermostat lid and adjust the thermometer using a screwdriver. If you are using a digital thermostat, read your owner’s manual for how to readjust the thermostat thermometer.
Solution: Alright, so you might be a bit worried when you discover that your heating/air conditioning keeps running. Or at least it sounds like it just keeps running. Check your fan setting. If it says, “Fan On,” then the fan will run continuously. However, if you change the setting to “Fan Auto,” then the fan will only run while the air conditioning is on. This helps you run your HVAC system more efficiently and save on energy costs.
Solution: Most homeowners tend to ignore the thermostat unless they are adjusting the temperature a few degrees. The problem is that seasons do change, and eventually we need to switch from air conditioning to heating, and vice versa. It’s easy to forget that you have to set the thermostat for “Heat” or “Cool” depending on whether you want hot air or cold air. When your HVAC system is not heating or cooling your home properly, it may be as simple as setting your system to the “Heat” or “Cool” setting.
If you are having thermostat issues or your HVAC system isn’t working properly, call us today. One of our HVAC experts will help you get your system up and running quickly.
When the weather starts to change and the temperature calls for a little help to warm up your home, there are some issues to look out for when you start your heater for the first time. Many of these issues can be found in furnaces, heat pumps, and other types of heating systems and are regularly a cause of concern. As your heater may have been out of commission for more than eight months there are problems that could have arisen or become worse in that time and it is important to watch out for these signs of malfunction in your heater.
Here are some major heating issues to look out for when you are turning on your heating system for the first time before winter:
When you first turn your heater on, there is a chance that there could be a strange smell that comes from the vents. This can be normal for some heater types when you first turn them on. In other circumstances – say, a smell that is quite strong or a smell that is not dissipating – this could be a sign that your heater has an issue that has developed or worsened while it was in storage or not being used. This can be not only hazardous to the operation of your heating system but also a sign that your furnace is emitting gas which is dangerous.
Another sign that your heater is malfunctioning is that there may be some strange noises when you first turn it on in the winter or it could be a noise that develops after being run for a short period of time. It is important to pay attention to these noises and make sure that the heater is not dangerous to be using. These noises could be a ‘clanking’, ‘thudding’ or zapping sound. These noises could be caused by mechanical malfunctions or even worse electrical malfunctions. In both cases this could be quite dangerous for use within the house.
This is not something that you will notice instantly unless you are measuring the power usage of your heater at the outlet, however an appliance that draws a lot of power is a surefire sign that the appliance is malfunctioning in some way. This may not mean that the heater is directly dangerous, though it could easily become that way if left unattended or unchecked. Be sure to check your power usage after you have just started using your heater in the winter to look for any spikes in usage that are incredibly irregular.
This one seems simple and fairly straightforward but it is something to watch for in order to make sure that your heater continues to work properly and poses no danger to you or your family. If your heater is not throwing off any heat or throwing off very little heat then this could be a sign that there is a serious issue with the heater and could lead to something much worse if you continue using the heater.
If some or all of these issues have occurred when you have been using your heater it may be necessary to stop using your heater and contact us in order to make sure that the heater is safe to continue using around you and your family. It is always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to the health, safety, and home comfort for your family.
Central air is one of the best inventions for making your daily life more comfortable. Being able to keep your home warm in winter and cool in the summer has made our daily lives just that much more comfortable. However, it leaves a lot to be desired in operating efficiency and the money you spend on running it.
First, there is a single thermostat to control the temperature for the entire house. This is rather inefficient at regulating temperatures. It can be hot in some rooms of the house and cool in others, but depending on where the thermostat is located, the system will run until the air around the thermostat reaches the set temperature.
Second, there are losses incurred within the ductwork of a central air system. Despite being insulated, there will always be some temperature loss or gain within the ductwork. This inefficiency will have an impact on your wallet.
So what other choices do you have?
A multizone setup will not only save you money but it will also be more comfortable. Everyone prefers a different temperature to be comfortable. With a multizone setup, individual control of the heating and cooling of a room is easy to accomplish. A multizone setup utilizes ductless heat pumps with an individual thermostat to control each one.
Having a home setup with this HVAC system saves you money in a few ways. The first way is by allowing individual control of rooms, or even whole floors, of your home you can only heat or cool the areas that you will be using. There’s no point in keeping the guest room at 75* on a 100* day if no one is going to be using it. The multizone setup will allow you to program times and zones of operation. So during the day when you’re at work you can cut the operation to essential areas and at certain times. At night when everyone is in their rooms sleeping, you can restrict the operation to those areas and cut out the heating or cooling of unoccupied areas.
The second way in which a multizone setup will save you money is through the sheer efficiency of ductless heating and cooling. The losses incurred with ducts are eliminated and the heat pumps themselves have become extremely efficient in recent years. It’s not uncommon to have efficiency ratings of 300% or more depending on the setup.
If all this money saving and higher levels of control over the air in your home sounds good, give us a call at Countryside Plumbing & Heating today to discuss your options!
