Now that winter’s behind us in the Twin Cities area, it might not be a bad time to consider your furnace’s performance over the recent winter. You’ll have more time to mull over whether an upgrade makes sense from the standpoint of efficiency and performance. If you come to the conclusion that it does, consider a new high-efficiency condensing furnace. Given the length and severity of Minnesota winters, condensing furnaces deserve serious attention because they offer some of the highest energy efficiency available. These furnaces are similar to other kinds of forced-air heating systems, but they differ in their ability to extract nearly all the potential heat from the fuel.

If you’re new to the area, or have recently transitioned from renter to buyer, it’s important to find a reputable HVAC contractor you can trust. The process of hiring an HVAC contractor goes more smoothly when you know what questions to ask.

Here is a short list of questions that can help you determine the best contractor for your needs, as well as who has the most prompt and friendly customer service.

Spending some time on home safety will help make your home as risk free as possible. The three main areas that need attention are electrical, chemical and combustible hazards, all of which are relatively easy to address.

Just like any high-tech device, your home’s programmable thermostat is only useful and effective when operated properly. Programming and operating your programmable thermostat the way it’s intended to be used is easy when you follow a few helpful guidelines.

Indoor air comfort has other aspects besides the heating and cooling provided by your home’s HVAC equipment. Your living area’s humidity can impact your comfort and health, as well as the amount of indoor pollution present. While a basic furnace and A/C system will keep your Twin Cities area home warm or cool, the inserted air filters may not provide enough filtration for your particular needs. An additional air cleaner setup with more aggressive, specialized filtration may be desired to obtain a higher level of indoor air purity.

The federal Department of Energy (DOE) reports that at least half the energy you use in your home likely goes toward cooling and heating it. Fortunately, it’s not hard to realize energy savings. Tending to your equipment and addressing your home’s insulation and air filtration will cut those energy costs without incurring a lot of expense. 

Replacing your air conditioner with a more energy-efficient model could save you as much as 30 percent on your cooling bills. While efficiency and features such as programming options matter, there are other factors to consider. These factors influence your system’s overall energy efficiency, so giving them some thought will help you get a handle on high cooling bills.

Indoor air quality has an effect on everything in a home, from the health and comfort of household occupants, to controlling the spread of microorganisms like mold and dust mites, to preserving porous structures and possessions. Explore your options for air quality systems that will provide better humidity control, air cleaning and ventilation. These benefits will boost the health and comfort of you and your loved ones this allergy season, and all year long.

Spring has finally arrived in the Twin Cities, and after a long, cold winter, residents are out in full force taking care of their spring to-do lists. A comprehensive A/C tune-up by a qualified HVAC professional should be at the top of that list. Annual preventive maintenance on your air conditioner will benefit you in several key ways:

If you or someone else in your Twin Cities area home suffers from allergies in warmer weather, improving your indoor air quality this spring will help alleviate your symptoms. The federal EPA cites poor indoor air in the home as one of the top five environmental hazards, triggering asthma and allergy attacks and causing a number of respiratory problems. Here are 10 tips to help you boost indoor air quality in the spring and breathe easier.