It’s that time of year when static electricity starts.  The static is likely caused by something that is not quite right with your indoor air quality.

Have you been waking up in the morning with a dry throat and nose?  Every year, at this time, it seems like the entire house ends up sick due to the dry air in your home. So, what can you do about it?

Well, it just might be time for a house humidifier.

Why should you get a house humidifier?

• A humidifier will reduce the dryness caused by running a furnace.
• Humidity can reduce viruses that cause colds and trigger allergies and can help with dry skin and those annoying shocks.
• Walls and ceilings have been known to crack. Even musical instruments and electronic equipment can be affected by a dry house.
• Humidified air feels warmer at lower temperatures and can save you up to 4% on your energy bills.

Contact Emerald Heating and Cooling today at 681-0100 and learn how we can help to humidify your home.

If you haven’t already prepared your furnace for the long winter ahead, now’s the time to do so.  We just may have a white Christmas.

Your furance, like any appliance, needs maintenance. Here are some basic furnace repair tips for you and your family:

1. Clean or Replace Your Furnace Filter

This is a basic task.  Simply by changing or cleaning your filter, you can help block dust and dirt from blowing through your heating ducts.  A clean furnace filter will help your HVAC system run more efficiently because it will require less energy to circulate air through the home.

2. Schedule Seasonal Furnace Maintenance

Before the start of any heating or cooling season, you should have your system inspected and/or repaired by one of the experts at Emerald Heating and Cooling.  Preventative maintenance can prevent costly repairs and help you save on energy costs.

3. Carbon Monoxide Inspection

It is so very important that you make sure your furnace is not emitting carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless, and potentially fatal gas. Gas furnaces should be inspected for carbon monoxide leaks at least once a year AND every home should have carbon monoxide detectors.

If you are looking for more furnace maintenance tips, or if you need one of our furnace repair experts to pay you a visit, simply give us a call 681-0100

Inspect and repair all insulation.

Heat rises, which means all the warm air that keeps you comfortable eventually makes its way into the attic. A properly insulated attic could save you money over the course of a single winter season.

Keep cold air out.

If past winters have found you routinely turning up the heat, you have cracks, gaps or holes that are letting cold air in. Fixing these cracks may be expensive, but it will help with the heating season.

Keep warm air in.

You can easily keep the warm air you’re paying for in with inexpensive caulking or simply installing new outlet plates and making sure they are snug to the wall.

Inspect and moderate your home heating system.

Homeowners often fail to have their heating systems inspected, which results into higher heating bills, thanks to dirty heating ducts and old filters. Once these items are cleaned and replaced you can reap results almost immediately in energy savings.

Did you hear this story? Not long ago, an online shopping site in New Zealand had a glitch in its e-commerce system.  Delightfully surprised customers started snapping up expensive televisions, iPods and other popular electronics merely for the cost of  shipping and handling.

So, if the original price had been $1,500 and you got it for $4.95, you’d say that was a good deal, right? Absolutely! The mistake , however, was soon corrected.

As more and more people took advantage of the glitch, they spread the word to more and more people on, where else, Twitter.  That’s actually where the company itself heard about it – and pulled the site for maintenance.

People love a good deal. They love to tell their friends. But when when something sounds too good to be true…it usually is.

Turns out, the orders didn’t actually go through.  Not surprisingly, the customers were given the option to purchase at the correct price or cancel the order.

The truth is, we may not be able to tell you where you can get a plasma TV for less than the price of a cup of coffee, but we can tell you this:

Whenever you’ve got an issue with your heating and cooling, we’ll give you the best service at the best value and treat you like our best customer.  If you’ll tell your friends about us, we’ll make the same pledge to them. You have my word.

Sincerely

Marty Sheehan
Buffalo Heating Expert

So, how do you know if it’s better to purchase a new heating system or repair the one you have?

Here are a few things to consider that may offer some help:

• How often does your furnace break down? If it’s just an occasional problem, you may want to hang in there and repair it. However, if it breaks down a lot, it may be time for a new furnace.
• How old is your furnace? A new energy efficient furnace will save you money. If your furnace is more than 15 years old, it may be time to invest in a newer model.
• Do you supplement your heat by burning wood?  If you use a wood burning fireplace as a way to keep costs down, this may extend the life of your furnace.
• Are there rooms in your home that are too hot or too cold?  If so, this could be a sign that your equipment is not working properly.
• Is the air in your home too dry?  If so, you may have a humidity problem, which could be caused by an inefficient system or leaky duct work.

Still unsure whether you should buy a new furnace?  No problem.  We are here to help you.  Please call our Buffalo Heating Experts at  681-0100.  We would be happy to answer your questions.

Cut Your Gas Bill

At Emerald Heating and Cooling, a qualified heating service technician can adjust your furnace for maximum energy efficiency operation.

Extend Your Furnace’s Life

Our Buffalo Heating service technicians can perform preventive maintenance checks to help you avoid expensive repairs in the future.  Regular preventive maintenance can add years to a furnace’s life.

Your Warranty May Require It

Many manufacturers now cover their furnaces with warranties up to five years on parts and even longer on heat exchangers. Just as most car warranties require routine service, some furnace warranties now require annual preventive maintenance to help extend the life of the product.

Call Emerald Heating and Cooling today at 716-681-0100 to schedule your service check!

If  you find yourself replacing parts and calling for repairs on a regular basis, it may be time to invest in a new heating and cooling system.  Not only is it costly to keep replacing parts and pay for services, but these frequent repairs may be a sign that your furnace is not functioning efficiently.

What are some signs of a problem?

If  you suddenly begin having problems with the humidity in your home or if your heating system doesn’t seem to be heating efficiently, it may be time to purchase and updated energy-efficient heating and cooling system.

Simply put, the biggest savings you can get is from replacing your old equipment with new, more energy efficient equipment and here’s why.

Depending on the type of equipment you choose, heating and air conditioning equipment is two to three times more efficient than a couple of decades ago. What does that mean? Simply by upgrading your equipment, you reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home and at the same time, make you home more comfortable, too.

So What’s this Going to Cost Me?

Upgrading your equipment does require an investment, but it’s less than you might think. The energy savings will offset most of the monthly payments.  Depending upon the age and condition of your existing equipment, you could easily end up with more money in your pocket at the end of the month by upgrading.

You can either pay the utility or you can invest in an upgrade. We all know, the utility company will continue to want more and more money, with nothing tangible to show for it.  By upgrading your equipment, you will improve your home’s comfort and continue saving long after the equipment is paid off.

Other Than New Equipment, What Else Can I Do?

There are four basic steps to help keep your heating costs down. The main points include:

• Air filtration
• Annual Maintenance
• Humidification, and
• Upgraded equipment

If you want to find out how much you can save, call Emerald Heating and Cooling at 716-681-0100.  We will set up an appointment at your convenience and provide a complimentary analysis of your home’s comfort system.

Your home does not have to be cool and drafty this winter, no matter how cold it gets in Buffalo. Heating your home efficiently should be a priority. There are a number of steps you can take to keep your home more comfortable.

1. Start with a full-system inspection. Ask us to examine your entire heating system. We will check for furnace repair, heat pump plus ductwork, registers and insulation.

2. Use your fireplace carefully. When you’re not using the fireplace, keep the chimney damper tightly closed. Leaving the damper open is like leaving a small window open. It lets your precious heated air slip quietly up the chimney.

3. Plant more pine trees. Plant pine trees, cedar trees and other evergreens on the north and west sides of your house. Since they do not have leaves to lose in the autumn, evergreens help block cold winds all winter  long.

4. Plug those plugs. Electrical outlets on outside walls can allow cold winter air into your house. Seal them off with easy-to-install insulating kits available at most hardware and home-supply stores. Also, seal and insulate around attic doors, vents, water pipes and other openings.

5. Close the door. Keep your outside doors closed, or at least try to minimize the times the doors are opened and closed. Each time you open a door, warm air rushes out and cold air rushes in.

6. Step up to a two-stage gas furnace.  Most furnaces have one speed – full blast, even on mild days when you need just a little heat.  However, some newer furnaces use a two-state ignition system that provides just the right amount of heating output to achieve maximum comfort. They operate on a lower heating output setting most of the time, then power up to fully capacity when the weather turns really cold. The result is smoother, more even heating throughout your home.

Seasonal furnace maintenance is essential to make sure your furnace is running efficiently and safely. Furnace maintenance is essential for the safety and health of your family and the proper operation of your furnace.

You’ll save both energy and money by having Emerald Heating and Cooling perform a furnace tune up and/or heat pump system check on a regular basis.

Changing Your Filter is Key

Did you know that changing your filter is one of the key maintenance tasks you can do to keep your furnace running efficiently and prevent costly repairs.

When filters get clogged with dirt, airflow through the ducts is reduced and your air system’s performance and efficiency suffer.

Emerald Heating and Cooling are experts in heating and furnace repair service.  If you have questions about furnace repair, contact us online.