How efficient are today’s furnaces and air conditioners?

Today’s heating and cooling systems are extremely efficient. In fact since the Department of Energy (DOE) established a minimum efficiency standard for all heating and cooling systems in 1992, manufacturers have worked to continue to increase the efficiency level in each of their new models. Take furnaces for example, those manufactured prior to 1970 have an efficiency level of about 65%. Today, furnaces are at a minimum of a 78% efficiency level.

What does the ROI on a heating and cooling system look like?

The less electricity or gas that your furnace, heat pump, or air conditioner needs, the more complex is has to be to handle that reduced intake. So while you may pay more up front for a high-efficiency unit, you will save money every month on your energy bills. The actual savings depend on weather, utility costs, home’s energy efficiency and indoor temperature preferences. The Energy Star website says that if your air conditioner is more than 12 years old, replacing it with an Energy Star qualified model could reduce your cooling costs by 30%.

Which heating and cooling system should I invest in?

The air conditioner, furnace or heat pump that you should choose depends on a set of factors that are specific to your home, lifestyle and budget.  It is important to get the opinion of an expert in the industry to help walk you through your choices. This is also the reason that Home Comfort Experts offers a free estimate on furnace and air conditioner replacement or installation.

Today’s heating and cooling systems are more efficient and high tech than ever. For more information about the heating and cooling systems Home Comfort Experts carries, or to schedule an appointment for a free estimate, check out our contact us page: homecomfortexpertsinc.com/contact-us.

Fix AC Unit Issues Before They Become Problems

Problems usually start small and get bigger over time until they reach the crisis point. A loose wire can turn into a severed connection and a seemingly dead unit. A sluggish fan can turn into a stopped fan. You get the picture. Regular maintenance lets your HVAC technician spot the trouble before your air conditioning stalls out on the hottest day of the year. It’s not a guarantee, of course; sometimes things just break. But in many cases, a maintenance call can save you from a big repair bill.

Air Conditioner Tune-Ups Help You Save Money

Even if those minor issues we mentioned above don’t cause your AC to sputter out, they can still impact your wallet with higher electricity bills each month. For instance, let’s say you have a minor refrigerant leak. If it’s small and slow, your unit will keep working. But it will have to continuously work harder to cool the air down, which means you are using more electricity and spending more money. The same applies for a dirty filter: the air has to work harder to push through the dust, so the fan has to work harder. During a maintenance call, your technician will check your system and eliminate these little nuisances before they add up to big problems.

Regular Air Conditioner Maintenance Keeps You in Warranty

Many AC units require that you demonstrate you’ve had regular air conditioner maintenance in order to honor the warranty. Missing an appointment might mean you’re stuck paying out of pocket for repairs that should be covered under warranty.

Helps Extend the Life of Your System

Proper maintenance is key to making sure your air conditioning unit lasts for years to come. Just as you regularly change the oil in your car or empty the bag on your vacuum cleaner, preventative measures keep everything running better and longer.

Are you convinced? If so, now is the perfect time to schedule your spring maintenance. Give Home Comfort Experts a call or schedule an appointment online.

• Change your furnace filter.  It is important that your filter is changed every month, unless otherwise directed by your manufacturer. This is a good habit to form because a clean furnace filter will help trap airborne allergens. This in turn helps you and your family breathe easier.
• Test and clean your air conditioner. If leaves or any other debris have fallen onto your air conditioner, it is best to remove it for your AC system’s maximum efficiency. For some extra cleanup, you can lightly spray your unit with a hose. Just be sure that it is off first! Don’t forget to test your air conditioner to know that it is working properly. There is nothing worse than finding out otherwise on the first hot day of the year.
• Check your home’s gutters. They say that April showers bring May flowers, but have you thought about the standing puddles and flooding that can come with it? Make sure that you have removed leaves and other debris from your gutters so that rainwater can properly drain. Also consider repositioning your downspouts so that water can flow away from your home rather than collecting at its foundation.
• Inspect your roof. The winter months bring with them weather that can do some damage to your home’s roof. Because of this, it is important to be on the lookout for missing or loose shingles. If you notice these problems it may be time to call a roofer.
• Bring out the garden hose. It is time to haul your garden hose back out of storage and hook it up to your home. This is an important time to ensure that the tap is still working. While you are working on the lawn, you might as well connect your sprinklers and test your irrigation system.
• Check your sump pump. If your basement is prone to flooding, the spring rains could cause some damage. To avoid a soaked basement, it is often beneficial to install a battery backup in case your main power source fails (as is common during thunderstorms).
• Schedule your spring furnace and air conditioner maintenance. Each year, your entire heating and cooling system needs two tune-ups. Do not wait until it is too late to get yours. When you schedule an air conditioning maintenance call with Home Comfort Experts, we will identify any issues in your system before they turn into big problems. Furnace and air conditioner tune-ups can also help save you money in energy costs, and who doesn’t want that?

To schedule your spring heating and cooling tune-up, give Home Comfort Experts a call or visit our website to request a service.

The Super Service Award is the highest honor given to companies by Angie’s List. It is awarded to companies who have achieved and maintained a superior service rating on Angie’s List throughout the past year. This sought-after award is received by only 5% of all of the companies rated on Angie’s List. Businesses rated on Angie’s List are graded on an A to F scale, like a school report card and members submit more than 40,000 reviews each month. These grades and reviews are available for other local members to see, as well as business information to help them make a decision to hire.

Kudzu is another review website that helps homeowners choose the service provider for their home that is the best fit for them. With over 4 million consumer reviews and detailed local service business profiles, this website is a great reference for homeowners. Being named a “Best of HVAC Contractor” is an honor we are excited to have received.

At Home Comfort Experts, we strive to provide excellent customer service to each and every client on a daily basis. It is nice to have an award that shows our prospective clients that we do not just talk great customer service, we deliver it! We hope you will consider us for your next plumbing, heating, or cooling service! Thank you again to our outstanding clients and a special thank you to Angie’s List and Kudzu.

Your Furnace & Air Conditioner’s Age is a Key Indicator

The first question that we ask you in our “Should I Repair or Replace My Air Conditioner or Furnace Quiz” is about the age of your unit. If it is between 0-10 years old it should still be working efficiently. As your furnace and air conditioner age over the ten-year mark, they begin to work slower and can begin to increase costs for your home.

Cost of Furnace and Air Conditioner Repairs within the Past Year

Another strong indicator of whether or not your furnace needs to be repaired or replaced is the cost of repairs that your system has had in the previous year. As you can imagine, the more often that something needs to be repaired the more likely it is that it will be more beneficial to be replaced. The four levels of repair cost that we consider are $100 or less, $101-$500, $501-$1,000, and over $1,000. This is especially important as the cost of R-22 refrigerant goes up, making the cost of AC repairs higher.

Specifics about Your Home’s Climate Can Tell You A Lot

The final part of our quiz requires homeowners to answer three specific questions about your home and its heating and cooling system. By answering these questions, we are able to further determine if your furnace or air conditioner is working properly in specific situations.   

For more information about furnace or air conditioner repair and replacement, give Home Comfort Experts a call. Our service technicians can help you with any questions that you may have!

Technician Seal of Safety Heating & Cooling Company

What exactly does it mean to be a Technician Seal of Safety company? It means that our technicians are drug tested, background checked, and professionally trained. As a member of this professional contractor organization, we join a group of home services businesses who care about the safety of you and your family in addition to the security and well-being of your home.

Mishawaka & Columbia City Area Homeowners Can Feel Safe With Courtesy Email  

A second security measurement the Home Comfort Experts team takes is a courtesy email prior to one of our professional heating, cooling, and plumbing technician’s arrival at your home. This email contains both a photo and a brief biography of the technician.

100% Satisfied With Home Comfort Experts 

Our goal at Home Comfort Experts is to leave you 100% satisfied in everything that we do. A large part of this satisfaction includes the safety of you and your family, which is why trust, integrity, and commitment are the cornerstones in which the Home Comfort Experts team continually operates upon. For more information about our security measurements or to schedule a service, give us a call!

Normally, come the end of January, the Mishawaka and Columbia City areas are experiencing cold and snow. However, 2013 is throwing us for a loop and with the recent humidity and rain homeowners may begin to experience a few problems. Basement flooding, mold growth, musty smells, and damage to possessions are common occurrences in weather like this. So what can you do to avert these situations? The Home Comfort Experts team of professionals put together our best tips to help you keep your basement dry and prevent moisture problems!

• Ensure your sump-pump is in good working order – have it serviced by a licensed and reputable plumber annually.
• Consider having a licensed plumber install a back-up sump pump if your basement is prone to flooding and you are in an area where power outages are frequent. There are several options, battery back-up or water-powered.
• To reduce humidity levels in your home, have a professional add a dehumidifier to your HVAC system.
• Keep your basement windows closed at all times.
• Make sure your clothes dryer is not discharging into the house.
• Install a bathroom fan.
• Look for ways to divert rainwater away from your home—extend rain gutter down-spouts away from home and make sure the grade of your yard surfaces slope away from your home.
• Make sure rain gutters are clean and unobstructed.

Use these tips to keep your home comfortable through the rain and humidity! If you are experiencing any problems be sure to give Home Comfort Experts a call. Our client care representatives are available 24 hours a day to serve you.

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.

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.

From photos of furry friends playing in the snow to houses glistening with Christmas lights to indoor decorations that create a winter wonderland to family Christmas cards, we had our hands full when deciding the top five finalists in our Best of Christmas Facebook Photo Contest.  Once we did, we turned to our Facebook fans to help us choose the winner of the $100 Visa gift card.  After five days of furious voting, we have a winner! The photo with the most fans’ votes is featured below. Congratulations, Hector!