W.C. Butler Heating and Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Heed these Signs You Need Furnace Repair

Monday, November 20th, 2023

cold-person-wearing-parka-with-hood-inside-home-drinking-hot-beverage

There is only one way to stay ahead of a furnace breakdown and that is paying attention to signs that something is wrong and scheduling service sooner rather than later. Efficient repairs are important to save money, extend the lifespan of your furnace, and maintain optimal performance. A properly repaired furnace consumes less energy and helps keep utility costs in check. When you suspect that something is going wrong with your furnace, you should address the potential problem right away. Furnace issues often require professional repair rather than DIY fixes due to potential hazards.

Ignoring the signs of furnace problems can mean that you are scheduling an emergency appointment for furnace repair in Salem, VA. Delaying repairs can also lead to more costly fixes in the future, as minor issues may escalate into major problems. Homeowners benefit from upfront pricing for furnace repairs to understand the full scope of work needed. You can keep reading to learn more about some of the signs that can indicate furnace issues. Then, give our team a call to schedule your service appointment and get your furnace back to its best.

What Are the Warning Signs You Need Furnace Repair?

Unusual noises like booming, screeching, or persistent clicking
Bad odors that linger beyond startup, such as burning or gas smells
Reduced heat output or rooms not reaching the desired temperature
Abnormal heating cycles like short cycling or running too long

If you notice any of these issues, it’s time to call for furnace repair.

Tags: Heater Repair, Salem
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The Link Between Heating Repairs and Maintenance

Monday, November 6th, 2023

There is an interesting link between heating maintenance and heating repairs. Prioritizing heater maintenance annually is the best way to prevent major repair needs including heater breakdowns. Skipping out on heater maintenance means that you’re more likely to need heating repair in Roanoke, VA.

No matter which heating service you need to schedule, our team is here to help. If you’ve never scheduled heating maintenance, now is a great time to begin. During our in-home inspection, we can talk to you about tips for optimizing your heater all season long. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of heating maintenance and why the service is so crucial for your heater.

Tags: Heater Repair, Roanoke
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Should I Repair Or Replace My Furnace?

Monday, September 25th, 2023

If your furnace is up there in age or has been showing signs of problems, you may be wondering if it’s time to invest in a replacement heater. There are many cases when repairing your heater makes sense. But there are other times when problems are bad enough and expensive enough to require a complete replacement.

When Should You Repair vs Replace Your Furnace?

Repair when issues are minor, such as a loose belt or small part failure
Replace if your furnace is older than 10-15 years
Replace when repair cost is very high or involves major components
Repair while under manufacturer’s warranty
Replace when continued repairs only provide temporary relief

If you see repair estimates nearing the cost of a new unit, it often makes sense to invest in replacement instead of repeated fixes.

Whether you need a replacement or furnace repair in Roanoke, VA, our team is here to help. We are dedicated to our customers and always strive to ensure their satisfaction with every service we provide. Correct repairs restore warmth and comfort to your entire household, ensuring everyone stays safe and cozy. You can keep reading to learn more about how to know when your furnace needs to be replaced. Of course, if you ever have questions, you’re always welcome to give our team a call for guidance. We can offer an assessment of your heater and let you know what our recommendation is and why, emphasizing the importance of correct repairs for reliable operation.

When we assess your system, we provide expert furnace repair for Roanoke homes, ensuring your heating system is restored to optimal performance.

Tags: Heating System Replacement, Roanoke
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How to Tell You Need to Replace Your Old Boiler

Monday, February 27th, 2023

New boiler replacement unit installed in a utility room with connected piping.

We’ve got good news about your home’s boiler! If you take good care of it, scheduling annual maintenance and prompt repairs as necessary, you can expect your boiler to outlast most other heating systems. Where gas furnaces and heat pumps usually last for about 15 years, boilers can last for over 20 and may even reach 30 years of effective service. This is one of the reasons people still invest in boilers for home heating: they provide an excellent return on investment.

But no boiler can last forever, and it’s better for you to recognize early signs that your home’s boiler is reaching the end of its lifespan. You don’t want to get trapped with a dead boiler in the middle of the winter, nor do you want to spend extra money to keep a boiler going when it should’ve gone to the recycling yard years earlier.

We’ll help you with our expert knowledge about boiler and water heater replacement in Rocky Mount, VA to detect the indications you need to replace your boiler.

When Should You Replace an Old Boiler?

You should consider replacing your boiler if you notice any of the following warning signs:

The unit is 20 years old or more
Frequent leaks from pipes or the boiler itself
Rust or corrosion on the system components
Uneven heating or cold spots in your home
A steady increase in energy bills

These issues indicate your boiler is likely inefficient or at risk of failure, making replacement the smarter long-term choice.

Tags: Boiler Replacement, Heating System Replacement, Rocky Mount
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Is Your Heating System Not Warming Up Your Whole House?

Monday, January 30th, 2023

The point of having a central heating system is to deliver heat to the entire home (or at least the living spaces). When you turn on your furnace or heat pump during a cold winter day, you expect to have heated air flow evenly to all the rooms. There may be some temperature differences from place to place, but there should be a general “comfort consensus.”

However, you might be dealing with a heating system that isn’t living up to expectations. The center of the house feels warm enough, but other areas have cold spots or perhaps aren’t getting warm at all. What’s happening? Do you need to call us for heater repair in Roanoke, VA?

Tags: Heating System Repair, Heating System Replacement, Roanoke
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When Is a Furnace Too Old?

Monday, December 19th, 2022

It would be wonderful if you only had to purchase one furnace for your home (probably the furnace that came with it) and never had to worry about it again. It would work flawlessly for your family each winter season, providing you with warmth, comfort, and safety, and you’d never have to have it replaced.

This is a fantasy, of course. Any powerful mechanical system can run into malfunctions, and no heating system can run forever. But it’s easy to fall into thinking that your heating system is just going to run year after year—and then one day, it doesn’t, and you’re stuck trying to get it replaced.

The way to avoid this situation is to take stock of your furnace and know when to start considering a replacement. We’ll address the question of when a furnace is “too old” below.

When Is It Time to Replace Your Furnace?

A natural gas furnace typically lasts around 15 years, and an electric furnace about 20 years
If the system has lacked regular maintenance, it may fail earlier
When repair estimates × furnace age exceed a threshold (e.g. 5,000), replacement is often more cost‑effective
Older furnaces become inefficient, unreliable, and risk developing safety issues like a cracked heat exchanger

If your furnace is approaching or past these benchmarks, planning for replacement is wiser than continuing repairs.

Tags: Furnaces, Heating System Maintenance, Heating System Repair, Heating System Replacement, Moneta
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Are You Changing Your Furnace Filter Often Enough?

Monday, December 5th, 2022

There is a plethora of advice we can offer to help your heating system perform better and be more energy-efficient each fall and winter. We also have plenty of heating systems to choose from and expert services to make sure your heating system stays in great condition throughout the years. But if there’s any piece of wisdom we can share that could help you take control over the efficacy and efficiency of your furnace it’s this–change its air filter!

Yes, this is a small maintenance task that homeowners can (and should) do on their own on a regular basis. The air filter isn’t there to protect your indoor air quality, but the furnace itself. Read on to learn more!

Tags: Furnace Service, Roanoke
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It’s Not Too Late to Schedule a Tune-Up!

Monday, November 21st, 2022

If there is any heating service we would say is most important, after professional installation that is, it would be routine professional heating maintenance. Sure, it’s a little late to schedule this service… but unless your heater has completely broken down beyond repair, it’s never too late.

In fact, it’s more important that you are consistent with this service than it is what time of year you have it done. Maintenance allows our technicians to fully inspect, clean, and adjust components of your heating system so it performs as powerfully and efficiently as it should. Plus, it saves you money! Read on as we uncover some of the top reasons you should call us today to schedule your heating maintenance session if you skipped one this fall.

Tags: Heater Maintenance, Heater Repair, Roanoke
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How to Improve Your Furnace Efficiency

Monday, November 7th, 2022

woman-wearing-parka-and-drinking-out-of-mug-inside-home

Did you have heating maintenance done this past fall? If you did, great! Your heater is probably in good shape and ready to make it through the rest of the winter weather we have this season. At least, this is the case if you followed up on repair needs that were recommended at the time. Maintenance is also vital to keeping the efficiency of your heater up. Actually, each year you skip maintenance, your heater can lose about 5% of its efficiency.

Maintenance is not the only way to boost heating efficiency! It’s definitely the first step, and a very important step at that. But there are other things you can do that are affordable and even free, that help improves efficiency and therefore save money. Read on as we uncover a few tips on how to do this.

Tags: Botetourt, Furnace Services, Heating Services
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Have You Scheduled This Important Heating Service Yet?

Monday, October 10th, 2022

Fall is officially upon us, and along with some rain, we’re slowly but surely seeing our nights (and days) become chillier. How’s your fall planning going? Now is a great time to assess whether or not your home is actually ready for the change of seasons. A huge part of this is scheduling your heating maintenance tune-up.

We’ll dive into this further below, but heating maintenance helps your heater work reliably–it allows us to comprehensively clean, inspect, and adjust the components that need it, so that your heater works as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. Ultimately, this helps you save money. Read on to learn how!

Tags: Heater Maintenance, Roanoke
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