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

When Is a Furnace Too Old?

Monday, December 19th, 2022
furnace-old

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.

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Are You Changing Your Furnace Filter Often Enough?

Monday, December 5th, 2022
man-carrying-air-filter

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!

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It’s Not Too Late to Schedule a Tune-Up!

Monday, November 21st, 2022
technician-working-on-furnace

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.

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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.

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Have You Scheduled This Important Heating Service Yet?

Monday, October 10th, 2022
technician-working-on-furnace

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!

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It’s Not Too Late for This Important Heating Service

Monday, February 14th, 2022
technician-working-on-a-furnace

If you’ve been consistently using your furnace since the beginning of fall when the temperatures turned downward and still haven’t had professional maintenance done, you may be thinking you’re off the hook–especially if your furnace seems to be working “just fine.”

But here’s the thing, “just fine” is not always “good enough” when it comes to a furnace–this is especially true with a gas-powered furnace. While gas-powered appliances are not inherently dangerous, they can become so if they’re not properly cared for, and your gas furnace is no exception. Read on to learn more!

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Heed These Signs You Need Furnace Repairs

Monday, January 17th, 2022
checklist-with-red-marker

No homeowner wants to discover that they are paying a lot of money to heat up their home, however not getting the comfort they expect to stay comfortable.

Maybe your heating system is running intermittently, or maybe the system never seems to stop running. These are just a couple of the potential warning signs that your furnace needs repair.

It’s important to be aware of these signs that something could be amiss. Heaters are pretty important in our area, and the sooner you address repair needs, the better off you’ll be for the coming months.

Read on as we uncover some of the top signs that you might need professional furnace repairs.

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Don’t Ignore These Heater Noises

Monday, December 20th, 2021
technician-working-on-furnace

During this time of year, there are probably some noises you welcome. Maybe carolers traveling through your neighborhood, or holiday music on your radio. There are other noises, however, that aren’t so pleasant, and definitely should never be turned out or ignored–we’re talking about strange noises coming from your heater.

Now, there is not such thing as a completely silent heating system. You will always hear it cycle on and off. Plus, if you’re using a furnace that has ductwork, you might hear a slight rattle as the ducts expand and contract with temperature fluctuations. And then of course, you’ll hear the whoosh of air coming through the vents.

You really shouldn’t hear much beyond this, though. If you notice noises that you’ve never heard before coming from your heater, no matter how subtle, it’s probably time to give us a call. Read on as we uncover what some of these noises might be.

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Heed These Signs Your Furnace Needs Help

Monday, November 8th, 2021

Sitting around worrying about your heater breaking down at any moment is not an ideal way to live, and certainly not what we want for you. Of course, if you’ve had your system professionally tuned up within the last year, and you know the signs of a heater that’s in disrepair, you don’t have to worry about this!

But, what if you don’t know the signs of a heating system in disrepair? Well, that’s alright, we’re here to help.

It first warrants mentioning that fending off heavy repair needs requires that professional tune-up we just mentioned. It doesn’t matter if you use a gas-powered or electric furnace, you need professional maintenance to keep it working as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible.

Still though, it’s good to know the signs that a furnace needs repair, because even between maintenance sessions, good ol’ wear and tear can have an impact. Read on as we uncover just a few of the most common signs of a struggling furnace, then give us a call if you notice any of them!

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