Have you been holding off on upgrading your heating or cooling system waiting for the right deal? Now is the time to act. Not only will replacing your furnace, air conditioning system and/or water heater help you save energy and save on your utility bills, but new tax credits will help lower your tax bill, too.

Do you have an attached garage? If so, you need to be aware of the potential for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Installing a CO monitor near the common door between the garage and your home will alert you to elevated CO levels and could save your family’s life. Attached garages can be a breeding ground for toxic fumes and gases that can migrate indoors if your house isn’t adequately protected. The best way to prevent CO and other unwanted fumes from entering your home is to take proper safety precautions.

Scientists have solved the mystery of why fall and winter are the cold and flu seasons, mainly blaming this on dry indoor air. Besides getting you and your family vaccinated, ensuring adequate home humidification will go a long way toward slowing the spread of these viruses.

The air filters protecting the air quality in your Twin Cities area home might be causing more harm than good. If the filter isn’t up to par, you may be under the impression that your indoor air is clean when it’s actually filled with microscopic pollutants that are making you sick. Regularly replacing, upgrading and inspecting these air filters will help keep your home’s air clean and healthy.

The right-size furnace for your home assures you that it will heat your home efficiently and durably. Sizing concerns with HVAC equipment make a big difference because a system that’s too big won’t run nearly as efficiently. It will turn off and on frequently, also called short cycling. Short cycling wears out the parts faster, doesn’t heat your home thoroughly, and drives up your energy bills. In the summer, the HVAC system doesn’t remove as much humidity, leaving you uncomfortably warm. 

Static electricity is something that few people manage to avoid during our long, cold Twin Cities winter. As heating systems warm the air, the humidity drops, and when it falls to 30 percent or lower, static shocks become more common. Although it’s annoying for everyone, it can be damaging to home electronics that have low-voltage components. The best remedy is to raise the humidity in your home by using these methods:

When your indoor air quality is not up to par, you can experience an increase in health complications. Your indoor air can harbor many nasty particles that lead to headaches, nausea, fatigue, respiratory problems, and an increase in symptoms associated with allergies and asthma. These airborne contaminants create an overall unpleasant living situation in your home. Thankfully, your Twin Cities heating and air conditioning pros can identify the cause of your poor indoor air quality.

For the past 20 years, homeowners have relied on the Energy Star logo to identify the most energy-efficient products. Today, the Energy Star’s Most Efficient label is helping the the original program evolve, showcasing the best of the best when it comes to high-efficiency heating and cooling systems, refrigerators, televisions and more. If you’re in the market for new HVAC equipment for your Twin Cities area home, this designation is something you’ll want to look for.

When you’re buying a furnace for your Twin Cities area home, the EnergyGuide label can help you make the best decision. This label indicates the energy efficiency that can be expected from the heating equipment. To make your decision-making process easier, the FTC will soon make changes to the EnergyGuide label that will make it more informative and useful.

Estimating the payback of your new furnace is an important decision that requires careful consideration. Use this how-to guide to help you choose which system is right for your Minnesota home.