The ideal range of home humidity is 30 to 50 percent. In the Twin Cities metro area, with its cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers, your home may fall below the ideal range during cold weather and rise above it in warmer weather.
Modern furnaces can operate for two decades or more, assuming you keep up with preventative maintenance over the years. If your furnace is approaching 15-20 years old, it might be time to think about a furnace replacement. Aside from the equipment’s age, here are eight other ways to determine if you need a furnace replacement:
We all fear the moment when our home heating system breaks down, especially in the Twin Cities metro area, which has the coldest average temperature of any major metropolitan area in the United States. Here are some tips for furnace troubleshooting when your home heating system malfunctions or stops working:
When hiring an HVAC contractor, you’ll want to know a few things before moving forward. While requesting references, checking certifications and gathering quotes are obvious questions for your contractor, there are a few less obvious things you’ll want to know, such as the bond requirements that Minnesota HVAC contractors must follow.
One of the biggest factors to consider when replacing a furnace is efficiency. While a highly efficient unit will cost you more upfront, it will also save you money on your energy bills for years to come.
You’re probably familiar with the slight burning smell that fills the air the first time you turn on your furnace each season, but do you know what causes it? While this odor is normal, other funny furnace smells can be the first sign your furnace needs maintenance or even repairs. Here’s a list of furnace smells, their causes and what to do about them.
Is your current HVAC system running out of steam? If you’re tired of dealing with a malfunctioning heating and cooling system, start shopping for the perfect replacement system sooner rather than later. To help you get the most from your investment, you have two primary considerations to make: the equipment size and the efficiency rating.
In the United States, gas furnace efficiency standards haven’t increased in nearly 30 years, despite multiple efforts to do so. Gas furnaces are currently required to have an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) level of 78 percent. AFUE measures units of heat output per 100 units of input, or put more simply, the amount of fuel that gets converted into heat for your home. The 78 percent AFUE level is the same level that was instituted on gas furnaces with the passage of National Appliance Conservation Act of 1987, which set national HVAC system efficiency standards.
As an alternative to traditional furnace that operates at just one high speed, a variable-speed furnace – or technically, a furnace equipped with a variable-speed blower motor – can adapt to changing heating needs in your home, adjusting its speed accordingly.
Rapid advances in thermostat technology are making these devices more and more user-friendly, feature driven and accessible. The latest WiFi thermostats allow access via mobile apps, the Internet, and WiFi networks and hotspots.
