This page contains heating, air conditioning & ventilation news and helpful hints.
Check out our HVAC section for a list of all the products we sell & service.
We have after hours emergency no heat service from October 1 to April 1 each year. We decided to limit our 24 hour emergency service for economic reasons and do apologize for ANY inconvenience this may cause any of our customers. It was just cost prohibitive to keep a guy on call year round. We will also be changing our after hours emergency cell number from 715-299-6494 to 715-299-5931 once we starting taking calls again October 1. We will send out letters of this updated number in September! Call 715-299-5931 for all of your after hours emergency no heat needs!
What's a MERV? The measure of a filter's effectiveness is the Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV). Most filters are labeled with a MERV rating number, which measures a filter's ability to trap particles ranging in size from 3 to 10 microns. Residential filters commonly have MERV ratings of 1-12. The higher the MERV rating, the more efficient the filter is, and the more particles it can filter. MERV is an industry standard rating so it can be used to compare filters made by different companies. Below is an explanation of what a few of the MERV rating numbers mean:
* A MERV rating of 6 means the filter is 35-50 percent minimally efficient at capturing the measured particles.
* A MERV rating of 8 means the filter is 70-85 percent minimally efficient at capturing the measured particles.
* A MERV rating of 11 means the filter is 85-95 percent minimally efficient at capturing the measured particles.
The information was taken from the free online manual Indoor Air Quality and Mold Remediation Service Techniques - A Desktop Reference and Training Guide for IAW and Mold Remediation, by Robert P. Scaringe.
HVAC helpful hints:
Servicing your heating system: Did you know that not having your furnace serviced for maintenance every year will void your furnace warranty. Extended service contracts DO NOT cover regular annual maintenance of your heating and cooling systems. If you have not kept up with your regular maintenance and your furnace has, for example, a 10 year plenum warranty, it will be null and void due to lack of proper maintenance. Don't believe us; read your owners manual under warranty or call or write to your furnace manufacturer. Give us a call to set up your annual maintenance on your HVAC system and help protect one of your homes MOST valued assets.
Furnace Filer changes a must! Have you changed your furnace filter? Depending on the type of filtration system you have in your home, you should change your furnace filters monthly. Don't forget to do this during the cooling season as well. Your cooling system uses your furnace blower to circulate the cool air throughout your home. Not changing your furnace filter regularly will end up costing you more money in the long run with such things as new motors, plugged furnace and more.
Furnace Reset: If you have to keep hitting the reset button on your furnace, call your local HVAC company immediately for service. This is a built in safety feature on your furnace for a reason. Your heating equipment is in need of maintenance, and this is your furnaces way of telling you and keeping you safe. Call for service.
Central air condition tips: Don't place lamps, TV sets, or other heat producing appliances near your thermostat. The thermostat senses the heat causing the air conditioner to no longer run in the summer and your heat to no longer run in the winter.
Dial for dollars: Remember that each degree you dial below 78 degrees increases your energy consumption by about 8 percent. If your monthly electric bill is about $100.00, you'll save $8.00 a month with EACH degree you can stand above 78 degrees.
It is hard to remember to tweak your thermostat before you leave, so consider buying a programmable thermostat, BUT remember not to have extreme changes or your central air unit may fall behind and not be able to catch up!
If your home has ceiling fans, switch your ceiling fan to run counterclockwise in the summer. That will push the cool air down. Remember to run the ceiling fans clockwise for the heating season!
Avoid landscaping with lots of rocks, cement or asphalt on the south or west sides of your home. If it's not shaded it will INCREASE the temperature around your home and radiate heat. Keep plants, shrubs, and other landscaping about two to four feet away from your outdoor unit to ensure adequate airflow.
Check back soon for more helpful hints and information.
Winter: This time of year with everything getting snow covered, don't forget to check your furnace vents to be certain they are not blocked. Blocked vents will cause your furnace to lock out. Be careful not to blow, plow or shovel snow so that you are blocking the vents on your furnace PVC vent pipes. Also, if you are in a mobile home, be certain to remove snow from your roof vents. If snow piles up or blows into vents, you will have no heat. Any further questions don't hesitate to call (715)284-5931 and we will be glad to answer all the questions we can. Stay warm and thank you for shopping local!
