When upgrading HVAC equipment, it’s worth investigating a variable speed system before you make a decision on the best system for your home. The term “variable speed” actually refers to the air handler component of an HVAC system. Although systems with variable speed air handlers have a higher upfront cost, the technology offers significant advantages over single-speed systems that only run on high, and two-stage units that offer just one lower speed level.

Nobody wants to have an emergency situation in the middle of a winter storm, especially in Maple Grove, Minnesota. With the heavy snow fall and extreme dips in the temperature, residents need to have the foresight in being prepared for situations that may possibly arise. From food supplies to home insulation, properly preparing for harsh winter conditions will give you peace of mind that you’ll be ready for the unexpected.

When it’s time to replace your old furnace with a new one, one of your first choices will be whether to stick with an old-school single-stage furnace, or ramp up to a two-stage or three-stage model. You’ll also likely have to decide whether to select a variable-speed blower motor. Your decision will come down to whether you’d like a relatively cheap purchase and installation, but are willing to cope with high energy bills for the life of your furnace, or vice-versa. Here in our cold Upper Midwest climate, you should probably go with “vice-versa,” meaning a two-stage furnace or three-stage model, with a variable-speed blower motor.

The days leading to winter are undoubtedly one of the busiest periods for residents in and around Plymouth, MN. Known for its extreme winter weather, Minnesota’s cold spell will have residents scrambling to make sure that their homes are toasty. The real challenge, however, lies in keeping utility costs within budget throughout the season.

Keeping your furnace efficient will save money on energy costs and keep your family comfortable all winter long. In principle, furnaces and boilers all work the same way, heating air or water and distributing the heat to different parts of the home. An annual inspection of your heating system will help keep the operation of your furnace efficient and reliable.

Did you know that your thermostat has a separate fan setting? There are both pros and cons to setting your thermostat fan to “on.” The determining factor might be whether you are more interested in saving energy costs or in improving your indoor air quality.  

The home’s heating and cooling system is one of the largest contributors to electricity and fuel consumption. This is particularly true when the weather grows colder. One way to reduce the cost of heating your Twin Cities area home is to enjoy the benefits of a condensing furnace. A condensing furnace is a high-efficiency model that through the use of two heat exchangers squeezes maximum heat energy out of the fuel that’s burned.

For obvious reasons, everyone needs to be aware of how to detect a gas leak in their home. Left undetected, escaping gas has the potential to cause a tragic situation. Here are several things to keep in mind.

If the heating,ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) system in your Twin Cities-area home is fitted with a conventional, one-speed fan blower-motor for air distribution, consider this: replacing that single-speed fan with a variable-speed, electronically commutated motor (ECM) can deliver a long list of benefits of which you may not be aware, including:

Dust mites are one of the most common causes of allergies, and they can wreak havoc on your indoor air quality. These arachnids prefer humid and warm places. Temperatures over 70 degrees with 75 to 80 percent humidity allow dust mites to multiply rapidly. However, they can’t survive in climates with 40 to 50 percent humidity.