Author: mh-wordpress

Many homeowners are used to receiving higher bills in the wintertime due to the costs of home heating. Trust us when we tell you that while we understand that heating your home can be expensive, there are ways to save on your home heat this winter by looking into a few factors that could be causing your bill to be higher than it needs to be!

Here are a few suggestions of what to check within your home to see if any of these factors could be the reason your bill is high:

• Insulation: poor insulation can be a big factor when it comes to why your heating bill is higher than it needs to be. It certainly makes sense; if the heat that is being pumped into your home is not being retained within your indoor space, the heating system has to work harder and harder to produce enough heat to get to the temperature that you’ve set. 

One of the clues that your insulation is a problem is a lack of warmth within your home even when you’ve set the thermostat to a warm temperature. This is a sign that your insulation is not sufficient. If you think this could be your problem, you need to have your insulation inspected. This will help you to understand what condition it’s in and what you may need to do to fix it.

• Ductwork Leaks: this is a common issue for homes that have a forced-air heating system. If there are leaks in the ductwork, you have the same issue as above; the hot air is getting wasted by leaking out instead of being forced (as it should) into the rooms in your home that you would like to heat. 

You can check on this by listening, feeling, and seeing if you can determine that a leak exists in your ductwork. If there is a leak, it’s time to call a professional! This is not a time for a DIY home project. Ductwork leaks can be difficult to get to and require professional expertise to fix. 

• Furnace: all furnaces have a certain lifespan. Most last about 25 years. When you have an older furnace, you should consider replacing it. As furnaces age, they can lose their efficiency. While the cost to purchase a furnace is not cheap, a well-working furnace can actually save you money in the long run because it will be working at full strength as opposed to one that could be working at about 80% if it’s dated.

This is also a job for a professional. By making sure you keep up with routine maintenance, you can ensure that all of the parts are working properly, there are no carbon monoxide leaks and no rust or dirt is forming in unwanted places.

When it comes to home heating, you can trust Clay’s Climate Control to guide you in the right direction this winter! We’ll be happy to help you figure out how you can save on your heating bill. Give us a call today at 609-916-1106!

All home heating systems get their heat from either a furnace or a residential boiler. If you have an older boiler, chances are it is not as efficient as a furnace. Knowing if your boiler should be replaced or what type of condition it’s in is not common knowledge to homeowners. We’ve put together everything you need to know about your boiler below so that you can make sure you’re prepared for cold weather this winter.

How Do You Know What Condition Your Boiler Is In?

There are a few signs you can look for to know what type of condition your residential boiler is in.

No Heat: if you’re not feeling any heat, but your thermostat seems to be working ok, check to see if the pilot light on your boiler is on. That is all you are checking! Once you see it on, make sure to call a professional to continue digging into the issue. This is no work for amateurs!

Leakage: Leaking or dripping around your boiler can be a simple or complex problem to fix. Again, you want to call a professional to take a look as there could be an issue with the pressure or an internal issue with one of the parts that may need to be replaced.

Low Pressure: If your system continually shuts off or you’re not feeling a lot of heat, it could be a low-pressure issue. Take a look at the pressure gauge. Anything below 1 means that you have a low-pressure issue.

Unusual Noise: If your system starts to make loud noises, there could be a couple of things happening here. The first is just that some air could have gotten caught in there and the problem will fix itself. The other issue could be “kettling” which is a buildup on the heat exchanger that causes the water to overheat and restricts flow. This can cause these kettle-like noises that alert you to this problem. 

Once you know what condition your boiler is in, you will know if it needs to be replaced. If you do decide to replace your boiler, make sure you consider the following:

Things To Consider When Choosing A Boiler Replacement:

Boilers are common in the Northeast. They produce steam or hot water that gets distributed throughout the home. You can choose between a condensing or non-condensing boiler. Condensing boilers are extremely energy efficient because they can provide a great deal of heat while operating at a lower temperature. Non-condensing boilers operate at a much higher temperature – so much so that the heat often gets vented outside.

Another consideration to take into account is whether to get a sealed-combustion or non-sealed combustion unit. You always want to go for the sealed combustion unit! Sealed combustion units would be our choice because it brings outside air into the burner and then sends exhaust air outside!  

If you are in the market for a new home heating system this winter, we’ve got you covered!  As the #1 Nationwide Residential HVAC Contractor of the Year, you can rely on Clay’s Climate Control. Our professional, nationally certified technicians are here to answer the call!  Contact us to schedule an appointment today!

Have you heard about our 3C Club Maintenance Plan? This plan was created to offer our superior services at a discount to our most loyal customers. We offer easy online booking and a convenient customer experience. 

If you live in the Northeast, you may be aware that snow can affect your heater. It’s common during snowstorms for heaters to need repair due to loss of heat. This is something that we’re pretty sure you would like to avoid if possible. No one likes to be without heat during a snowstorm!

Snow removal is key during and after a storm. Snow can cause the following issues for your heater if not removed:

Blocks the air intake: If the air intake is blocked, it can cause the unit to shut down.
Blocks the exhaust: Just as much as HVAC units need to be able to take in air to function, they also need to expel air as well. Snow and ice can cause the exhaust to be blocked, thus causing the unit to shut down.
Corrosion can occur: Snow that melts or heavy rain can cause problems for gas furnaces or boilers because they have materials that can be damaged due to water.
Damaged fans/fins: Most fans/fins are made from aluminum, which can easily be damaged by the weight of snow or ice. A loud noise when your heater is on can indicate that this damage took place.

Winter HVAC Tips:

Based on the information that we shared above, it’s important to keep the unit clear of snow. Immediately after a snowstorm, part of your snow removal plan for your home should include clearing your HVAC unit. Make sure that all snow is removed and if there is ice, we suggest pouring hot water over it to melt the ice.

Here are some basic tips to keep your heating system working this winter:

Place System Above Ground: When your heating system is being installed, make sure that it is placed 6-10 inches above the surface so that it is above the highest likely amount of snow that will fall. The height will help ensure that it doesn’t get surrounded by snow that will block the air intake and exhaust features. It should also be placed about 18 inches away from the home so that it can get proper airflow and avoid any drifts that can occur from snow accumulation.

Remove Debris: Regularly check your gutters to make sure that unwanted debris is not falling on to the unit. If there is debris on the unit, make sure you clear it so that the unit can function properly.

Change Filter Regularly: In order for the system to function as it should, air needs to be able to flow with ease. Dirty filters can restrict this flow, thus making your system work harder and sometimes can cause it to malfunction altogether.

We hope these winter HVAC tips were helpful to you as you prepare for the weather conditions that may be in our near future! If you have any additional questions or need assistance with your heating system from one of our certified technicians, give us a call at 609-916-1106.

Have you heard about our 3C Club Maintenance Plan? This plan was created to offer our superior services at a discount to our most loyal customers. We offer easy online booking and a convenient customer experience.

Taking care of your home’s heating and cooling system is a necessary job for all homeowners. It’s that time of year again to get ready for the colder winter months around your house! One of the most important aspects of your home to prepare for is your home heating system. Those that do this yearly understand the significant benefits of making sure that your home heating system is ready for those frigid days ahead.

We’ve gathered some of our top tips for preparing your home heating system for the winter ahead:

 

• Furnace Cleanings Go a Long Way!

 

One of the keys to a furnace working well is to get annual HVAC maintenance. This maintenance service includes changing the filter on your furnace, which is integral to the system performing most efficiently. If a filter is not clean, the system has to work harder to pump that warm air into your home. Furnace filters should be changed out regularly – monthly during the winter.

 

• Turn Off Your Home Cooling System – You Only Need The Heat For Now

 

Believe it or not, it is recommended that you turn off your central air conditioning system for the wintertime. The reason that you want to manually shut it off is that some systems automatically turn back on if there is a warmer day, which can cause water that it generates to freeze when the temperature drops again. To avoid this, make sure you turn the system off for the winter and add a mesh AC cover to your condenser unit outside to protect it from harsh winter weather. 

 

• Furnace Area Cleanliness 

 

Keeping the area around the furnace and boiler clean is also a fire prevention tactic! Equally as important is making sure that the areas around your air ducts and vents are cleared so that your warm air can flow through easily. Keep in mind that you don’t want your home heating system to have to work harder than it should have to. 

 

• Show Your Hot Water Tank Some TLC

 

A great way to get your hot water tank ready to work this winter is to flush it out to remove any sediment that may have built up over the summer months. Also, it’s a good idea to check the pressure relief valve to make sure it’s working as it should before you need to rely on it! 

 

• Leak Patrol!

 

Our final tip is to check for leaks. The last thing that you want to have happened is to have leaks in your air ducts preventing the warm air from getting to where you want it to go.  You can check them by looking for any holes, leaks, or loose joints around the ductwork. If you find any, this can be easily fixed by a ductwork repair company. 

Do you feel like your home heating system is ready for the cold winter months ahead? We’ve got you covered!  As the #1 Nationwide Residential HVAC Contractor of the Year, you can rely on Clay’s Climate Control to keep your family warm this winter. Our professional, nationally certified technicians are here to answer the call!  Contact us to schedule an appointment today!

Have you heard about our 3C Club Maintenance Plan? This plan was created to offer our superior services at a discount to our most loyal customers. We offer easy online booking and a convenient customer experience.