There is nothing worse than coming home to, or waking up to, a frigid house. There’s no doubt that some furnaces in the northern Indiana and southwest Michigan area will fail this winter. How do you make sure yours isn’t one of them? Surprisingly, changing your filter and making sure your furnace is clean are the best ways to keep your furnace running smoothly. In fact, industry statistics show that over 80% of all furnace service calls are related to dirt.
Dirty Furnace Filters Cause Problems
There’s a reason heating and cooling professionals recommend changing your furnace filter once a month – IT GETS DIRTY! And when a filter gets dirty, it can cause a variety of problems.
* When the filter becomes clogged, it restricts airflow and forces the air handler to work harder which can cause it to overheat and shut down for safety.
* But worse than that, when your filter gets completely coated with dirt, it allows some dirt to pass through. This dirt can coat the furnace blower wheel and motor. This too can cause the motor to overheat resulting in furnace failure.
* If your ignitor is dirty, it can short out.
* Also, if your furnace cycles on and off too much, it can cause your safety switch to kick in and shut your furnace down to keep it from overheating. Dirty evaporator coils cause the same thing to happen.
Dirty Furnaces Are Less Efficient Costing You More in Utility Bills
Dirty systems also have to work harder and the harder it has to work, the more prone it will be to failure. Not only that, but the less efficient it is, the more energy it uses and the more you pay in utility bills. If you check your system and find that it’s dirty or if it has been more than a year since you had a tune-up or a professional check your system, you’re probably losing money and risking a breakdown. Call Home Comfort Experts for a furnace inspection and cleaning. It will save you money on utility bills and possibly an emergency call in the middle of the night. And remember, change that furnace filter once a month.
Is your home full of over-dry air that helps breed viruses, makes skin itchy, and creates static electricity? If you have not changed the filter in your home’s humidifier or if your home does not have a humidifier, these symptoms may be filling your home! The Humidifier Specialists at Home Comfort Experts put together their top five reasons your home needs a humidifier installed this winter to avoid complications like these.
1. Humidified Air Makes for Healthier Living Conditions
Humidifiers help homes maintain a moisture level that makes for a healthier living condition. Without a humidifier your home could become over-dry, which creates an environment that allows viruses to thrive and sore throats, coughs, and colds to develop. Sore throats cultivate as you breathe in dry air all day and night, leaving your throat irritated. Additionally, when the tissues in your nose and throat are dry, they cannot function properly and end up passing germs into your lungs. Colds and coughs are a result of this.
2. Installing a Humidifier Can Help Home Furnishings & Wood Floors Last Longer
In addition to unhealthy living conditions, dry air also brings damage to your home furnishing and interior. Without moisture in the air, your furniture, hardwood flooring, and molding will develop cracks. These costly cracks can be avoided with the installation of a whole house humidifier and your home’s furniture, flooring, and molding will last even longer.
3. Dry Skin & Chapped Lips Are a Result of Dry Air
As the air in your home dries out, so do your lips and skin. In fact, non-humidified air is often the cause of bloody noses and itchy eyes. To avoid these uncomfortable symptoms, try to keep your indoor humidity level between 30% and 50%. This is the ideal level of moisture and can be maintained with a humidifier.
4. Humidifiers Help Lower Monthly Bills
With the installation of a humidifier, your home’s air actually feels warmer. This means that you will be able to lower your thermostat by several degrees and in turn will be able to save money on your utility bills.
5. Static Electricity Decreases With the Installation of a Humidifier
Static electricity occurs when there is an excess of electric charge that is trapped on the surface of an object. It increases in homes without humidifiers because the dry air creates a good insulator for the static electricity.
There you have it, the top five reasons your home needs a humidifier installed this winter! Give Home Comfort Experts a call today to schedule a humidifier repair, replacement, or installation at (574) 255-4600 for our Mishawaka location or (260) 490-5100 for our Columbia City location.