At the beginning of spring, Pittsburgh residents can expect chilly weather well into March and April. Soon, though, you’ll be perfectly comfortable sitting in your home even without hearing the heater running. This is what’s called the “shoulder season” when you work in the HVAC industry, an off-period when the rush of repair and installation calls come to a stop.
These services may not seem so important in the spring, but this season should be used as a time to prepare your home for the harsh weather to come. Hot, humid summers are followed by another cold winter season means you pay quite a bit for heating and cooling. But you can take the time now to prepare your home with an energy audit.
So your heater has broken down, your air conditioner needs replacement, or you’re looking for technicians to perform routine service. We know how frustrating this can be, and for many people, it’s a daunting task to take on. Finding technicians in your area that you can trust is hard enough. Will they overcharge you? Is there any way to save money on having technicians out to your home?
If you’re like most people, you typically spend time comparing your options before making a big purchase. When you want a new car, you might spend time looking into special features like reclining back seats or sunroofs or any number of safety features. When buying a new washer or dryer, you might prefer them to be stackable or to have a stainless steel finish.
When a problem comes up with a newer furnace, there are a few things you can probably pin the issue on. Unfortunately, new furnaces often run into problems because they were not properly installed. Incorrect sizing or sloppy installation lead to long-term and short-term issues within the system, likely causing an early breakdown. However, most problems with a newer furnace have to do with a smaller issue, like a small wiring issue or even a dirty filter.
The first place to look when a heating system is not working the way that it should is the thermostat. This is what most people do, anyway, but it may be a bit more confusing an endeavor than expected. Today’s programmable thermostats can have complex settings that may be difficult to understand. And you may be wondering how to tell whether your thermostat is actually at fault.
You may have been told before that your boiler is affected by boiler scale (or boiler deposits), but you’re not sure whether to take this issue seriously. Scaling in boilers is actually an incredibly common problem. High levels of minerals in the water, such as calcium and magnesium, get left behind in the boiler tank and tubes, which may lead to a reduction in heat along with a loud banging noise, in some instances.
When on the market for something like a furnace, air conditioner, or any other necessity, it may seem as though the options don’t really matter. Can one furnace really differ so much from another? Shouldn’t you just let the technician pick out your new furnace for you? We don’t think so.
Chances are that the majority of your home is powered by electricity from the local utility company, while some systems also use natural gas. If you’ve thought about using any other energy source to power your home, you’ve likely considered converting to solar power. However, this is not an option for every home, and the initial cost is likely a large deterrent.
The furnace is a durable