Will Closing Vents Upstairs Save Me Money?

May 16, 2022

Your upstairs rooms are unoccupied, so you want to close the vents that supply them with cool air. However, this is not as good of an idea as it sounds. Rather than saving you money by minimizing AC usage, this practice will cause a great deal of problems and cost you more money and headaches in the long run. Your AC and Ducts Are Sized for Your Home Remember that your central air conditioner and your ductwork have been specifically chosen based on the square footage of the living space they’re cooling. Assuming that your AC is a single-speed unit, its cooling capacity will be compromised if you close off one or more vents. The air that should enter those rooms that are closed off will turn back; some of it will enter the other rooms, but a lot of it will escape through cracks and holes in the ductwork. Meanwhile, the return vents in those rooms you closed off are still open and will suck air from its surroundings. This can mean sucking air through windows and doors, which can result in hot and cold spots all throughout your home. Closing Vents Forces the AC to Work Harder Sucking...

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How to Install a Smart Thermostat.

April 11, 2022

Buying a smart thermostat is a great way to save money and efficiently heat and cool your home. Before buying one, make sure it’s compatible with your heating and cooling system. You can follow these steps to ensure that it’s properly installed. Turn Your HVAC System Off The first thing to do is go to your breaker panel and turn off your entire HVAC system. This will prevent shorting electrical components while you’re moving wires around. Check your HVAC system’s thermostat to make sure it doesn’t turn on. Remove the Faceplate Remove the thermostat’s faceplate. It should just pop off, but you may need to remove a screw. Label the wires with stickers before moving to the next step. Remove the Backplate You can remove the wires from the backplate by either unscrewing them or pressing small tabs to release them. Use a screwdriver to remove the backplate from the wall. Add a C-Wire If your existing thermostat doesn’t have a C-wire, one will need to be added for the smart thermostat. The smart thermostat may come with this wire, or you’ll need to buy one. If you’re uncomfortable performing this task, hire an HVAC company to do it for...

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Furnace or Space Heater: Which to Use When You’re Cold

March 15, 2022

When the temperature drops in Las Cruces, NM, you’ll want to find the best heat source to help keep your home comfortable. Of course, comfort can look quite different from house to house. Two main heating options that people often choose are space heaters and furnaces. One question we get a lot at is whether it’s better to use a furnace or a space heater when you’re trying to stay comfortable. Here are a few variables that go into that choice. Size of Space One major consideration when choosing between different heating options is the size of the space you plan to heat. For a smaller space, such as a single bedroom, a space heater makes a great option. On the other hand, if you’re planning to heat an entire house, a furnace is much more effective because it can provide even heating to every room in your home at the same time. Length of Use Something else that encourages you to consider is how long you need to heat the space you’re considering. It can be dangerous to use a space heater overnight when you can’t keep an eye on it. That’s because space heaters can, on rare occasions,...

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Understanding the Benefits of Smart Thermostats

February 16, 2022

Smart thermostats are a great option for minimizing your energy bills while maximizing the comfort of your home. These units are operated through Wi-Fi and can be adjusted from wherever you are via an app. They have the ability to learn your habits so that they can adjust the temperature automatically as you come and go throughout your day. Keeping Your Home Comfortable Smart thermostats are highly programmable. You can set them to reduce your heating or air conditioning when you aren’t in the home. They can also be set to lower the temperature at night so that you can sleep better. When the thermostat knows that you’re about to come home from work, it’ll turn on your heater and air conditioner early so that your home is at the right temperature when you arrive. Improved Home Energy Efficiency With a smart thermostat, you won’t have to worry about turning your heater or air conditioner on and off when you leave the house. By allowing the thermostat to ramp the temperature of your home, it can optimize the energy efficiency of your heating and cooling system. This can reduce the load on a heater or air conditioner and extend its...

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Should I Get a Heat Pump or Furnace?

January 10, 2022

As a homeowner, you want your home to be comfortable throughout the winter. When deciding how to heat your home, it often comes down to whether you should buy a heat pump or furnace. What’s the difference between the two? What Is a Furnace? Furnaces use a fuel to produce hot air. The fuel is commonly natural gas. There’s a burner that burns the gas, a heat exchanger to transfer the heat, and a blower that distributes it throughout your home. Furnace Positives A furnace will heat your home more quickly than a heat pump. As they’re only used when it’s cold outside, they have longer lifespans than heat pumps. While they need annual maintenance, furnaces don’t need as much maintenance as a heat pump. Furnace Negatives Furnaces are more costly to operate than a heat pump. They also generate carbon monoxide, which could leak into your home if the furnace isn’t properly installed. What Is a Heat Pump? Heat pumps don’t use a fuel to produce heat. Instead, they use electricity to transfer heat between a cool space and a warm one. Unlike a furnace, a heat pump can cool your home in the winter. Heat Pump Positives Heat...

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Why Does My Furnace Have Rust

December 14, 2021

3 Causes of Rusting in Your Furnace It is essential to understand the importance of preventing rust in your furnace. Sometimes, people don’t think about it until they start noticing brown or yellowish stains on their home’s furnace. Rust can build up over time and cause problems like clogs, corrosion, and eventual equipment failure. Thankfully, there are ways you can take care of this problem before it becomes too severe. The following are the main causes of rusting in your furnace. 1. Leaking Air Conditioner Air conditioner leaks will typically cause rust in your HVAC system. If you notice that there’s water dripping from the unit itself or around any pipes, this could be how it all starts. It will ultimately lead to rust buildup and other issues with your furnace if left unattended long enough. The easiest way to prevent problems with your AC leaking is to make sure everything is properly maintained regularly. Also, consider checking for signs of damage to insulation over time due to naturally occurring wear and tear, which can cause further complications down the road without proper maintenance. 2. High Humidity In addition to how you operate your furnace, humidity levels in the air...

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Why Is There Water Under My Furnace?

November 20, 2021

If you see a puddle of water under your furnace, there are a number of reasons this can occur. It sometimes happens for a minor reason, while other times it’s a big problem. Condensation Leak A condensation leak is one of the most common reasons for water to pool under a furnace. High-efficiency furnaces produce condensation, which is supposed to be carried out of your home through pipes. If the pipe becomes clogged, water will back up and spill out of the furnace. You should have a technician clear the obstruction. Clogged Filter This is another common reason for this problem. If the air filter becomes clogged, there won’t be enough airflow through the furnace. The coil can become frozen, and water will come out of the furnace. Change the air filter every few months. Leaky Drain Pan Water collects in a drain pan in a furnace. If the drain pan is rusty or has a hole in it, water will leak out. A technician can replace the drain pan for you. in Las Cruces, NM, repairs furnaces. We can handle any size job, no matter how small or large. A Plumbing Leak Water pooling under your furnace may not...

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Fire Prevention Week – How to Safely Operate a Space Heater

October 13, 2021

Space heaters in homes start thousands of fires every year. While they’re much safer than they once were, they still have a heating element that can cause a fire. Here are a few ways to use them safely. Place Your Space Heater on the Floor You should always place a space heater on the floor. It should never be placed on a table, chair, workbench, or other furniture. While it is tempting to have it pointed at your body and head, if it falls, it can spark a fire. Safety Features to Look For Most modern space heaters have tip-over protection, so they’ll automatically shut off if they’re knocked over. Look for one with overheat protection, which causes it to turn off if its interior gets too hot. Another good safety feature is cool-touch housing, which prevents burns from touching its exterior. Keep It Away From Water Electricity and water should never mix. Never place a space heater in a bathroom, kitchen, or other areas where it can get wet. 3-Foot Rule The rule of thumb for space heaters is to keep them three feet away from walls and anything that is flammable. Examples of things to keep a space...

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Choosing an Efficient Heating System for Your Home

September 16, 2021

Winter nights in Las Cruces, NM are downright chilly. You’ll need an effective heating system to stay comfortable. Whether you choose a furnace, heat pump, or a combination of these, here are some tips on selecting the most efficient heating system for your home. Furnace Features Today’s furnaces have up to a 98% annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. This means that 98% of the energy used by the furnace is converted into heat for your home. Look for a furnace with a variable-speed motor and an intermittent pilot. The intermittent pilot doesn’t constantly burn gas, so it reduces energy use. Heat Pump Options There are also many energy-efficient heat pumps to consider for your Las Cruces home. Look for an Energy Star-rated heat pump. These models use 30% less energy compared to other models with the same capacity. Heat pumps with variable-speed compressors are a wise choice. They operate at about 30% of their capacity most of the time. To keep your home comfortable, their cycles are longer but fewer in number. Energy Recovery Ventilators Heat and energy recovery ventilators are also a good choice for efficient home heating systems. These devices pair with your furnace. They capture the...

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Is My Air Conditioner Running Properly?

August 2, 2021

Coming home to a nice air-conditioned house is the best during the hot summer months. However, if you do not properly maintain your AC unit and keep an eye out for issues, it may not be running properly. Your cooling system has to work very hard during the summertime. If something happens to it, it may not run efficiently, and you could see your utility bills go up. There are several ways that you can ensure that your air conditioner is running properly. Check the Air Temperature One of the ways you can check to see if your AC unit is efficient is to go to the supply register with a thermometer. Turn that thermometer on, and then leave it there for at least five minutes. After five minutes, check the air temperature. It should be around 15 degrees cooler than the air in your home. If it is warmer, this is a sign that your AC unit may not be very efficient. Check Your Outdoor Unit You will periodically want to check your outdoor unit. You should see the fan blowing quickly and hear a faint noise. If the fan blades are moving slow or not moving at all...

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