Just because your aging home heating and air conditioning system is still functioning doesn’t mean your home is as comfortable as it could be. And what about your energy bills? Could they be lower?
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It might be time to think about replacing an obsolete heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system with new, more energy-efficient equipment. Before you experience a system failure, take time to do your homework, so you can make an informed decision regarding new equipment.

​Begin by inviting a certified technician to inspect and service your home’s current HVAC system. North American Technician Excellence (NATE)-certified technicians, for example, can identify existing or potential problems, take steps to repair or avoid them and, if appropriate, recommend a new system that better matches your heating and cooling needs.

​Use this time to become knowledgeable about efficiency ratings, cooling and heating capacities and other factors that affect equipment performance. It’s also a good idea to research the types and brands of systems available.

​Think about where a new system will be installed. Do you require an outdoor unit, or will you need to install the unit in a basement, attic or closet?

Taking an environmentally friendly approach to equipment purchases and installations can improve the  indoor air quality in your home and reduce your carbon footprint. Fortunately, this approach usually results in increased energy savings, too.

​Look for a unit sized for the heating and cooling demands of your home, and ensure your home has sufficient insulation and the duct work is properly sealed. Otherwise, you may lose some of the efficiency your new system offers.

Be sure to remember when you are shopping around Fire & Ice Heating & AC are certified comfort experts with York! We will get you the highest quality equipment, best warranty and the comfort you deserve for a fair price!

​With winter weather comes colder outdoor temperatures and the desire for a warm and comfortable home. Following these 10 tips will help you conserve energy, lower utility bills, increase the efficiency and longevity of your heating system and maintain comfortable temperatures in your home.

​Use drapes and blinds to reduce heat loss through windows. However, windows with direct sunlight may benefit from having the blinds up during daylight hours, as sunlight can help heat the space.

​Clogged gutters and drains can form ice dams that prevent your drainage system from working properly and lead to water seeping into your home. Be certain that dirt slopes away from your house to ensure rain or snow will drain away from the house.

A fan that runs clockwise pushes warm air downward and recirculates it through the room.

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​Appliances such as furnaces and bulbs to light your outdoor pathways or porches and save money.

Clean filters help to improve airflow and efficiency while lowering utility bills. ENERGY STAR", a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, recommends checking your filter every month, especially during heavy-use months, and if it looks dirty, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every three months.

Annual fuel utilization efficiency, or AFUE, measures the efficiency of a furnace – the percentage of energy consumed by the furnace that actually heats your house. The higher the AFUE, the more efficient the furnace and the greater the amount of heat delivered for your money.

When shopping for a high-efficiency furnace, choose one with an AFUE of 90 percent or higher. A heat pump’s heating efficiency is expressed as heating seasonal performance factor, or HSPF. As with AFUE, the higher the HSPF, the more efficient the heat pump is. Consider buying a heat pump with an HSPF of 8 or higher.

Everyone wants a furnace that’s reliable, efficient and quiet. And while performance and energy savings are frequently discussed, system noise is often an afterthought. So here’s what you need to know about making sure your furnace is as quiet as possible.  

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) is the rating used to indicate the efficiency of a furnace in converting fuel to heat. In short, the higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the furnace and the quieter it will be. AFUE ratings range between 80 percent to a maximum of 98.5 percent, so look for a higher rating. 

Single-stage, two-stage or modulating technology also impacts furnace sound levels. Single-stage gas furnaces are either on, or off. This operation has the potential for fluctuating temperature and sound in your home, as the unit turns on and off frequently.

Two-stage gas furnaces, on the other hand, offer an intermediate level of performance. Operation varies between first and second stage based on demand, resulting in fewer stops and starts and quieter operation, especially when the unit is running at the lower first stage. 

​Modulating gas furnaces typically offer the quietest operation—in the case of variable speed models, as much as 24 times less noise than conventional furnaces. Modulating gas furnaces maintain an ideal temperature by modulating heating levels in small increments. Comfort is dramatically increased as the furnace adjusts its level of operation up or down to offset the rate at which heat leaves your home.

There are several reasons why pests enter homes and commercial buildings. If you are not maintaining your HVAC system properly, they could find their way into it. This is especially a problem for those who live in rural areas or near wetlands.

The pests can be anything from small animals, bugs or both which could mean big problems for your HVAC system.
They have been known to cause:

• Damage to components by nesting and roaming habits which can lessen the resale value of the home or lead to costly repairs.
• Indoor air quality to drop due to foul odors or the use of pesticides.
• Health problems from allergens, pesticide use, dander, droppings or other pest debris

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Here are a few steps you should be taking to protect your HVAC system from pests:

Some of the most important parts of your HVAC system are the flue pipes used to expel the dangerous byproducts of combustion from the furnace. If an animal was to get in there and die it could block the pipe which would trap carbon monoxide gas in your home. This is incredibly dangerous to everyone who lives there.

There are other vents and intakes that can be compromised with less danger but almost as much trouble. Be sure to have proper vent covers on all exterior flues, exhaust vents and intakes. These will keep the bugs and animals from interfering with your HVAC system.

5 Benefits Of Seasonal HVAC System Maintenance

If you haven’t yet scheduled your seasonal HVAC maintenance you still have time. We know It is easy to put it off, especially if everything seems to be running well enough but that is a bad idea. At least if you want to have any money left over for I don’t know, food.

Things can go wrong quickly and cost you an awful lot of money that you may not have or be willing to spend. By simply having your system maintained properly you can eliminate a lot of the worry and expense down the road.

​This might be last on the list but it is certainly not least. A malfunctioning HVAC system can mean a lot more than expensive repairs, it can also mean harm or even death for your family. If that sounds dramatic it’s because it is. It’s also true.
If your furnace was to develop a crack in the heat exchanger, carbon monoxide could be released into the air of the home. This is highly poisonous gas that can kill people in their sleep.
Electric HVAC systems can short circuit which could cause a fire, which can also kill you.
Keep these HVAC maintenance points in mind and you will not only save money, you could also be saving some lives. 

The goal of having an HVAC system is to keep you comfortable in your home all year long but without proper maintenance this is simply not going to happen. Sadly, chances are good you are going to need a little help in this department as well since much of the general upkeep and many of the repairs are things most of us don’t have the expertise to do on our own.
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Think of your HVAC system like a car. Do you wait for the check engine light to come on to take it to get serviced? Probably not, yet many people don’t even remember their HVAC system is even there until it breaks down. Don’t be one of those people because it will not only cause you unnecessary stress but it can cost you big money as well.

The Lyric Features a beautiful design including:
A round, polished glass face.
Motion-sense illumination.
Simple touch-screen
Geofencing
Notifications
Perfect temperature settings

Notifications to change your filter, Notifications when the humidity is too high or when the temperature is too low in an easy-to-use app for your smart phone, profiles to adjust for the ideal temperature when you wake, go to work, come home and go to sleep and very minimal interface all make this thermostat a joy to use!

Ever wished that your thermostat would read your mind and act accordingly to what you would like? Well, Lyric uses your smartphone’s location to work out where you are. 200 miles away? Then you probably don’t need the heating on. Just round the corner, heading for home? Time to get the place warm. Its like your own personal assistant for your heating and cooling needs!

The new Lyric Round™ Thermostat is fully compatible with Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, and other ecosystems. So all your home comforts are taken care of – the simple, intuitive way. Click here to learn more

Once you’ve bought your Lyric products, your smarter home is just a few simple steps away.

1. GET THE APP
Search ‘Lyric Thermostat’ in the Apple App Store or the Google Play store to download or update the free app to your smartphone or tablet. Setup is a cinch with the guided walk through.
2. APPLE DEVICE AND iCLOUD SETTINGS 
In your Apple mobile device settings, open your iCloud settings and ensure you are logged into iCloud, your iCloud Drive is on, and your iCloud Keychain is on. In your Apple mobile device settings, open your Lyric app settings and turn on Home Data.
3. CONNECT YOUR DEVICES
Lyric products are wireless – they use your home’s Wi-Fi network. It’s easy to connect everything using the app.
4. YOUR HOME, YOUR WAY
Customizing Lyric is as simple as a tap and a swipe. Adjust preferences, decide who gets alerts, and fine-tune your home comforts to the way you live.
5. RELAX
Everything’s taken care of. Lyric gives you more control of your home – whether you’re staying in, heading out, or a thousand miles away.

​Tips for Saving Energy During the Winter and Fall Months
Fall and winter tend to be the months that people use most of their energy. They’re trying to heat their home, light up decorations, and light the home as the nights get longer. You can make energy savings with these great tips.

Unplug and Switch Off
When you’re finished using something, unplug it from the wall. Rather than leaving your TV on standby, turn it off. Not only are you protecting yourself from a fire, but you will save money instantly. Standby modes and keeping everything plugged in after use is just wasting energy!

Turn the Thermostat Down
Sure, you want a warm house but you don’t need to have the thermostat all the way up! Higher temperatures don’t make your heating work quicker and you don’t really need that extra heat. Find your comfortable temperature, we believe around 64-68 degrees is just right for the winter months. At this temperature you’ll be comfortable and save a fortune bringing it down from around 75 degrees.

​Switch to Energy Saving Bulbs
If you want to make energy savings, it’s time to look at your bulbs. The energy saving options could save you as much as a dollar per hour of use. That’s just one bulb within one hour. Chances are you use three or four bulbs at a time, depending on the layout of your home. And you will use them for at least eight hours during the winter period. You’ll save around $8 per night per bulb, which is $56 per week. It’s worth it in the end.
It’s time to save money with the above tips. Yes, you can do it and still enjoy the heating. Make a few changes to your bulb and standby use and you’ll see energy savings around the whole home.

 
Now that summer is over and the weather is turning chilly, it’s time to start thinking about keeping your family warm again. When you turn the thermostat on for the first time this season, you’ll want to hear the accompanying purr of the furnace and know that your house will soon be warm and cozy. How will you know this will be the case? Have your furnace serviced with a check and clean before the season starts by a qualified technician

Furnace manufacturers all recommend annual servicing but are they really necessary? Most definitely! Here are a few things that you should have serviced before the winter months:

• A complex cleaning of the rust and dirt that can accumulate on the burners in your furnace,
• Replacing parts that are worn out due to the wear and tear of ordinary use
• Cleaning and oiling the fan motor
• Examining the heat exchanger to make sure there are no gas leaks

What is a heat exchanger? This is the metal wall or tubing that is heated up when the burners are ignited. If this heat exchanger has a crack in it that goes unnoticed, carbon monoxide could potentially leak through the crack and blow out of the duct-work and into your home.

Neglecting your furnace will cause it to have to work harder than necessary. This will reduce efficiency or it may break down entirely. If this happens in the middle of winter the cost will be much higher for a technician to  repair.

But, who has time for an annual servicing? Between your job, taking care of your kids, cleaning your house, and everything else that we need to get done in our daily lives; it might be tempting to skip one every year or so. When you think about it, how convenient is it when you have to lose a day of work waiting for the repairman to come out? How comfortable will you be in January huddling under blankets to keep warm until the technician can get there? Believe us when we say having this one servicing appointment will save you time and aggravation in the long run.

It’s much safer to have your furnace checked once a year and sleep peacefully, knowing your home and family is safe from dangerous fumes than to take chances.

Don’t put off your annual servicing, for your own peace of mind. Call today for an appointment so a professional technician can get you taken care of and keep you from sitting in the cold!
 
-Jordan Green
HVAC Technician
Fire & Ice Heating & AC
 
 

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