While we are trained to install heat pumps, we do not offer products we do not believe are practical. In our climate, a heat pump is not sufficient without a backup furnace. While the heat pump can also be used for air conditioning, we believe that the higher cost of the heat pump versus an air conditioner will not likely be recovered in fuel savings, therefore, we will not push heat pumps. We believe your money is better spent in a more efficient furnace.

After doing research, we have chosen not to sell pellet stoves because we believe our customers will be disappointed with the results. According to Consumer Reports, the tested savings is minimal over an efficient furnace. Since most pellet stoves must use proprietary pellets as fuel, once the market is saturated in pellet stoves, the consumer will be at the mercy of the pellet market, which can raise rates as it chooses.

Equipment needs to fit your house. We find some existing furnaces and air conditioners to be either too large or too small for the homes they are currently in. When equipment is too small, it must run too long to meet temperature needs and may burn out parts. If equipment is too large, it may heat up or cool off the house so fast that it cycles on and off too frequently and also may wear out parts more quickly. Also, since we offer many options, we cannot adequately present all your options and it is not possible to be sure which will fit in your space over the phone.

Equipment manufacturers typically require annual professional tune-ups on your furnace and air conditioner to keep your warranties valid. We have seen bugs get into wiring that has caused shorts in the equipment. Ice falling or stones shot through a lawn mower can cause air conditioner refrigerant leaks or other damage. We have seen bees build hives, birds build nests, and leaves packed in furnace flues. The possibilities of what can cause equipment failures are endless. Improperly running equipment can cause overheating and premature failure of parts. Particularly dangerous are problems that cause cracked heat exchangers. If there is a crack in the heat exchanger, the gas is pumped through the duct system rather than out the flue. This causes many deaths worldwide each year. With our extremely low cost Planned Service Program, you have no reason to avoid your maintenace any longer.

How often your filter needs changing depends on how dirty it gets. A dirty filter causes reduced air flow through the furnace, making the motor work harder. Filters can get so plugged that little air goes through the furnace, the furnace has to run heavily and may not be able to heat the house because not enough warm air is getting through the ductwork. A furnace starved for air can overheat and burn out the parts. Check your filter at least monthly. Change when dirty. Pet hair is the biggest culprit in clogging filters frequently.

Some of the highest efficiency furnaces have variable speed fans and multi-stage gas valves that operate differently than single speed, single stage furnaces. To keep house temperatures as even as possible, the best furnaces run the fan constantly or almost constantly, ramping up and down slowly as more or less heat or cooling is needed. Rather than the huge burst of warm air and then none that a single speed furnace fan motor delivers, the heat is more even. Even though a variable speed fan runs more of the time, it typically runs at a much lower speed causing less noise, more even temperatures, and actually can save in electricity due to the low wattage of the low fan speed. A multi-stage gas valve will use less gas when outside temperatures are warmer. Since they deliver less heat than that large burst of full heat of a single stage furnace, the furnace may come on more frequently, but burn less gas and cause the house temperature to be more even and comfortable.

Are your ducts dirty? If your furnace filter gets dirty frequently, that may be a good sign that your ducts are dirty. You may want to have your ducts cleaned and sanitized if you have breathing problems. However, beware of the $49 duct cleaning. We have had many homeowners call us in to clean their ducts shortly after having them cleaned by a cheap duct cleaning service. We always call homeowners to check on their satisfaction after every duct cleaning we do. Since the equipment we use allows homeowners to hear the debris going through the cleaning tubes, they are usually amazed to see how much dirt comes out and how clean the ducts are afterwards. Our duct cleaning typically runs $319 for up to 15 vents (covering most houses) and $15 for each additional vent. Watch our Specials section for discounts.

Water vapor in the air condenses on cooler surfaces when the temperature reaches the dew point. When it is colder outside, the glass, which transfers heat and cold quite well, gets cold faster than the insulated walls. Water vapor in the air condenses on this cold surface. If you have a humidifier, you may have it turned up too high. If you have a tight house that has a lot of insulation and few air leaks, your air might not only be holding too much moisture, but it may also be holding dangerous toxic gasses. In less insulated houses, the houses "breathe", allowing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other fumes (from cleaning solutions and newly manufactured products, etc.) to escape and fresh air to be drawn in. If your house is tight, you may want to consider an HRV:Heat Recovery Ventilator. See Our Indoor Air Quality page under the Products tab for more information.

Yes. See our options under Indoor Air Quality under the Products tab.

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