By Jim Ellia on Jan 15, 2014 in Heating, Residential |

Cleveland has had some awfully cold days this winter and it’s easy to see how drafty doors, windows and chimneys flood your home with cold air. A lot of heat and energy is lost to a drafty house and this will result in overall higher heating bills. But spending some time preparing your home can help you save a lot of money for the rest of winter. Here are some tips on how to find and fix drafts in your home. Locate the drafty areas – Walk around your house. If you’ve noticed that a room is much colder than the rest of your house, then take a close look at the windows and doors. Check the entire area around your windows and doors and see if you can find where the draft is coming from. If you have having trouble locating drafty areas, try walking around your home with a lit candle. If the flame flickers or goes out then you’ve found a draft. Windows – Windows are the most common place where drafts can occur. If you don’t want to spend the money to replace the windows, then easy fixes like hanging heavy curtains or installing weather strips will help reduce the drafts. Doors – Heat can be lost through the door frame or from the space under the door. To solve this issue, install a door sweep at the bottom of your door. Chimneys – If you don’t want cold air to come down the chimney, be sure to install doors on your fireplace and cover when not in use. These are all small and inexpensive ways to weatherize your home. Taking the time to find and fix drafts in your home is a sure way to lower your heating bills and increase your comfort. If you have any questions about finding and fixing drafts in your home, give us a call at...

By Jim Ellia on Dec 4, 2013 in Furnaces, Heating |

Furnaces are usually something we don’t think about replacing. When your furnace works well it’s easy to forget about and enjoy the comfort it creates for you home. In fact, a furnace will typically last for around 10-12 years with routine professional maintenance. But there comes a time when your furnace is just about to reach the end of its life and it’s time to start thinking about replacing it. Here are some signs to look for when it’s time to replace your furnace: 1.  How old is your furnace? Before anything else, find out the age of your furnace. If your furnace is 15-20 years old you should begin shopping for a new one. That last thing you want is to be stuck with no heat in a Cleveland winter. Shopping in an emergency situation can make you rush your purchase and not make the best decision. 2.  Are your gas and electricity bills higher than usual? Furnaces lose their efficiency as they age and this will produce higher utility bills. If you haven’t properly maintained your furnace or if your furnace has lost its efficiency, then it may run longer than it used to for the same amount of heat. 3.  How often are you repairing your furnace? If you need to perform frequent repairs on your furnace then it’s time to consider purchasing a new one. Costly repairs will add up and your money could be better spent on new furnace that will last you another decade. 4.  Do you hear strange noises coming from your furnace? Noises such as banging, rattling or popping can be heard when a furnace is reaching the end of its life. You should also contact your heating and cooling professional to examine your furnace if this is happening. 5.  Is your thermostat working properly? Is one part of your house too hot and another too cold? If you find yourself constantly adjusting your thermostat then your furnace may have lost its ability to properly distribute heat in your home. Scheduling and performing routine maintenance on your furnace will help extend its life but nothing lasts forever. Instead of having to pay for higher heating bills and expensive repair parts consider...

By Jim Ellia on Oct 10, 2013 in Cleveland, Furnaces, Heating |

Waking up to a broken furnace is miserable.  And having to call numerous heating and cooling companies can add to your stress.  That’s because most ‘no heat’ calls (broken furnace calls) occur in the dead of winter when many homeowners are experiencing the same issues.  So how do you hire the right furnace repair company to handle your specific needs?  It helps to do some research ahead of time.  If you know your furnace is starting to age, have a reputable HVAC company’s phone number on hand.  You can be prepared by asking your contractor these questions. Are you licensed, bonded and insured? This is an important question to ask to ensure the company you hire is honest, trustworthy and has financial backup. How long have you been in business? If you want your furnace repaired properly, it’s best to hire a professional.  Look for companies that have been in business for at least 10 years. Have you worked in my neighborhood before?  If the contractor has done work there, it’s likely they understand the situation they are walking into.  They probably have a sense of how old the homes are and what issues they might face. How quickly can you respond in an emergency? The answer you get might depend on a number of factors.  If there’s a major blizzard, or you’re experiencing the ninth day of sub 15 degree temperatures, then you will likely need to be patient. Remember that there a lot of fly-by-night contractors out there who are looking to make a quick buck.  It’s also a good idea to look for industry affiliations from organizations like the Air Conditioning Contractors of America.  You want to keep your house and your family safe.  Be sure to ask good questions before hiring a heating and cooling contractor to come into your home. Give us a call at 216.663.6462 if you have any questions about hiring the right HVAC...

By Jim Ellia on Sep 18, 2013 in Cleveland, Geothermal, Heating, Radiant Heating |

Are you looking for a more energy efficient way to heat your home this winter? Consider choosing a radiant heating or geothermal heating as an alternative heating option for your home. Radiant Heating Radiant heating, or floor heating, provides warmth in the home from underneath floors, inside walls and sometimes above ceilings.  Radiant heat is very different from the typical forced air in that it warms surfaces instead of blowing hot air out of vents. There are a few different types of radiant heating to choose from.  Hydronic systems spread water through plastic or metal tubing.  Electric systems use coils in tubing that are heated to the required temperature.  Air radiant systems force heated air through pipes under flooring. Radiant Heating is much more energy efficient than traditional forced-air heating, saving the planet as well as your energy bill by up to 20 percent.  Radiant systems also require much less cleaning, repairs, and maintenance. Geothermal Heating It’s easy to tap into the earth to provide heating in the winter and cooling in the summer.  That’s because the earth maintains a fairly constant temperature of 54 degrees about 10 feet below the surface of the ground. Tapping into the earth’s heat involves digging a hole to contain a loop of pipes.  This series of pipes is then filled with a heat absorbing fluid (often water and antifreeze) that constantly runs through the pipes.  In the winter, heat from the ground is absorbed into the pipes and pushed upward where it can be distributed throughout the house using what’s called a geothermal heat pump (GHP.)  During the summer months, the process is reversed.  Heat from the home is absorbed and transferred to the ground. It’s estimated that homeowners can save up to 70% off their heating and cooling costs compared to traditional heating systems.  Geothermal systems do not use oil or gas, and are 100% non-polluting to run. To learn more about if any of these systems are the right heating and cooling option for you, give us a call...

By Jim Ellia on Sep 4, 2013 in Cleveland, Furnaces, Heating |

Football season has arrived and that means fall is in the air.  When you’re not cheering on your favorite team at the stadium you’ll want a comfortable setting for when you are home.  If you are looking for extra warmth this season without the extra cost, consider some of these energy saving tips. Replace your furnace filter – The first step you should take to maximize your energy efficiency is to replace your furnace filter. By replacing your furnace filter you will allow for better heat circulation and air quality. Each furnace is different, so refer to the owner’s guide to determine how often you need to change the filter on your model. Open your shades – If it’s sunny during the day, open your shades and let the sun help heat your home.  This will be particularly helpful for windows that face the south.  At night, take the opposite approach.  Close the shades to keep the heat in your home. Use your ceiling fan – Did you know that you can reverse the direction of your ceiling fan?  By operating the ceiling fan at low speed in the clockwise direction, you’ll produce a gentle updraft.  This will force warm air near the ceiling closer to the floor and help to thoroughly warm the room. Install a programmable thermostat – Install a programmable thermostat to help regulate the temperature when you’re asleep or at work.  Lowering the temperature when you’re not at home is an easy way to save on energy costs this winter. If you have questions or need help with any of the energy efficiency tips above, give us a call at...

By Jim Ellia on Aug 20, 2013 in Cleveland, Furnaces, Heating, Service Agreements |

If you are a homeowner in Cleveland, you probably have an air conditioning system. But you definitely have a furnace (or a boiler) to beat the cold during the winter. A forced-air furnace system can provide your home many years of trouble-free service if maintained properly. A furnace can last up to 15 years (maybe even longer) with proper maintenance. But they won’t last that long if you install it and then forget about it. What is a service agreement? Basic furnace maintenance involves changing the filter according to the manufacturer specifications. This will go a long way in extending the life of your furnace and avoiding expensive maintenance calls. Beyond that, we strongly recommend service agreements. What is a service agreement? It means that a professional technician will service your equipment once year. They will check for any issues that may arise due to regular equipment use. What will the technician looks for? A technician will evaluate many things, but checking the heat exchanger is important because leaks can develop over time. A crack that turns into a leak could fill your home with dangerous, life-threatening carbon monoxide. And this isn’t just true for old furnaces. Even new heat exchangers can still crack over time. So as you can see, regular maintenance of your furnace can never be neglected. Having a furnace service agreement is a smart and practical option. All HVAC systems need routine maintenance. Regular maintenance is critical in extending the life of your unit. This is what is commonly called “preventive maintenance”. Moreover, the regular maintenance on your HVAC systems will also save you money because it will ensure that your unit is running efficiently. What’s surprising is that a lot of people choose to ignore the importance of having a furnace service agreement simply because they think these agreements are costly and worthless. In reality, the cost of a furnace service agreement can actually be substantially less than the cost of one emergency service call when something goes wrong. So if you think about it, a furnace service agreement will eventually work out for the best for you. Have more questions about furnace service agreements? Leave a question below or call us at...