How Expensive Are Air Duct Leaks? You could be wasting 20% of the cost to heat or cool your home! That’s what an air duct leak can do to your power bill, according to Energy Star. Are Air Duct Leaks Costing You Money? Where Do Duct Leaks Usually Occur? Can Duct Tape Fix a Leak?… Read more »
HVAC
Asbestos and Your HVAC System: Everything You Need to Know
The thought of asbestos in your HVAC system is a frightening one. Do you wonder if you might be at risk? If your home was built before 2004, it’s likely that it has at least some products containing asbestos. Asbestos is a white, fibrous mineral that was used regularly in many products — from cement… Read more »
How Do I know When to Replace My HVAC System?
Let’s suppose your HVAC system is working okay, but not great. Or perhaps it’s getting old and you’re wondering how much life it has left in it. Maybe you’d like reduce your monthly utility bills with a more energy-efficient system. If any of those scenarios sound familiar to you, then you may be wondering, “How… Read more »
How Do I Stop My Auxiliary Heat from Coming On?
As the leaves begin to turn and the holidays draw near, the colder weather sneaks into our homes. No one likes crawling out of bed only to be welcomed by frigid indoor temperatures. Now that we’re using heat more often, sometimes the auxiliary heat kicks in, and we ask ourselves, “How do I stop my… Read more »
Noticing a Bad Smell When Turning on the Heat in Your House? Here’s What to Do
Winter’s quickly approaching, and you’ve decided to turn on the heater for the first time this season, when suddenly … eww, what’s that smell? Yep, welcome to the club. Many homeowners deal with the very same issue. If you have noticed a bad smell when turning on the heat in your house, it’s not necessarily… Read more »
An Energy Recovery Ventilator (ERV) Keeps Your Home’s Air Fresh
Today’s homes boast tight construction designed to keep indoor temperatures where you want them, with nowhere for cooled or heated air to escape. But tight construction has hidden costs: health risks from indoor contaminants, moisture that can damage your belongings, and odors that just won’t go away. For all their drawbacks, drafty old homes have… Read more »
Comparing Air Cleaners and Air Purifiers: Which Is the Winner for You?
If Superman and Spiderman got into a fight, who would win? It’s an interesting question, but there’s no right answer, of course, because each is a force for good with different superpowers. The same can be said when comparing air cleaners to air purifiers. Purifiers target toxic particles including viruses and bacteria in the air… Read more »
8 Easy Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Winter
Your lips are chapped, and your skin is dry. It’s annoying, for sure, but the less noticeable results of poor indoor air quality in winter can be much more severe. With closed windows and doors, we are exposed to more allergens, asthma can worsen, the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning is higher, and so are… Read more »
5 Strange Sounds that Signal Trouble with Your HVAC
Bump! Bang! Buzz … “Well, that can’t be good,” you think. Slowly you approach your heating unit to listen closely, hoping it’s nothing too serious. Here we will walk you through five strange sounds your HVAC unit could make this winter, what they might mean and when to call a licensed HVAC professional. What does it… Read more »
The Best Indoor HVAC Thermostat Settings for Winter
Some like it hot; some like it cold. That can mean disagreements over the optimal temperature for your HVAC thermostat settings in winter. Fitch Services has some tips on where to set your thermostat to keep harmony in your home and your heating bills down. There are various reasons for preferring a particular HVAC winter… Read more »