Extend the Life of your HVAC Equipment

Posted on February 22, 2018 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Having a working furnace and air conditioner is crucial during the winter and steamy summer days. Don’t run it and forget about it, as wear and tear is inevitable. You can save on costly replacements or repairs through proper maintenance. Extend the life of your HVAC equipment by following these steps.

Heating & Cooling Tips

1. Follow manufacturer instructions.

2. Have your systems checked every year by a qualified service technician. It’s best to schedule maintenance in the spring and fall. Technicians are busy in the hot and cold months, and you don’t want to wait until there’s something wrong.

3. Check your filters. Replace your filters every 30 to 60 days. If you have a permanent filter, clean it with mild detergent every 30 to 60 days. This is the most important step to increase the life of your equipment. Dirty filters make heating and cooling units work harder, which will shorten the life with use.

4. Keep your doors and windows closed. Your air conditioner and heater will work harder when there is more air to circulate. Make each space with ventilation smaller by closing your doors. This is the also the case for houses with boilers or window air conditioners. Rather than labor to regulate air temperature in the whole house, your a/c only needs to cool the individual room. With a boiler system, it’s efficient to close off rooms without a radiator.

5. Caulk and weather-strip air gaps on windows. This step is good for your wallet and your HVAC equipment. Old houses are especially drafty, so locate the air leaks by finding damaged glazing or old caulking. Another trick is to turn off all appliances and light an incense stick in each room. Turn on your exhaust vent if you have one. Then hold your incense stick close to windows, doors, and walls for a noticeable change in the smoke. If you have drafty doors, invest in some door draft blockers.

6. Use your thermostat. It’s a myth that you should keep your thermostat at a steady temperature. Most of the time, your furnace will be working harder to maintain the heat at a steady rate. Instead, program your thermostat for a comfortable temperature while you are home and ten degrees less while you are away. However, fidgeting with the thermostat will be less efficient, even if it seems harmless to put it up or down a degree or two. Keep it on a consistent schedule.

Energy Efficiency

Winter

1. Open window shades when windows are facing the sun. Let the sun warm your house naturally, putting less work on your furnace. The vitamin D is good for you this time of year!

2. Take advantage of using your oven. Slow cook your chicken and oven roast your veggies. The extra warmth will give your furnace a break. Your oven will be working two jobs at once without the added cost.

Summer

1. Close window shades facing the sun. Opposite of wintertime, you want to block the sun from adding extra heat to your house. Make sure to put your plants outside so they don’t suffer from the lack of sun!

2. Be smart with your other appliances. When you are doing laundry, hang up your clothes on a line to save energy or strain on your a/c. Why work an appliance that uses heat when it’s already hot outdoors? Washing clothing shouldn’t be an issue, though, if you stick to cold water. If it’s humid out, dry your clothes during the coolest part of the day: around dawn. Same goes for dishwashers.

3. Use your exhaust fans when cooking. Whether you plan on using the oven or stovetop for dinner, turn on the exhaust fan to let out the excess moisture and heat. Or maybe fix a cold sandwich or salad. In return, your air conditioner won’t have to work as hard! Same goes for your bathroom, but not everyone likes cold showers!

Annual Service Maintenance

Spring is around the corner, so it’s time to schedule your maintenance visit with WestAir Heating & Cooling.
Our technician’s maintenance list will take care of most things you cannot do yourself to ensure your equipment is running smoothly for summer and winter:

Annual Service Maintenance list:

• Clean furnace and check operation/filter
• Clean air conditioner and check operation
• Clean outdoor condenser and check refrigerant level
• Clean air exchanger filters and core
• Check radiant in-floor pressures and go over system
• Check humidifier filter and drain line
• Check unit heater operation
• Clean fireplace and check operation

Contact us for more information on heating, cooling, or our service maintenance!

This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Cooling,Furnace,Heating,Winter and tagged A/C, A/C, Air conditioner, Air filters, Air quality, Annual check-up, Caulk, Clogged filter, Cold air, Cooking, Cooling, Cost, Dirty, Dishwasher, Door draft stopper, Doors, Drafty windows, Dryer, Efficiency, Energy efficient, Exhaust fan, Fall, Filter, Filters, Furnace, Furnace filter, Heater, Heating, HVAC, Laundry, Maintenance, Quality, Save money, Shower, Spring, Summer, Sunshine, Sustainability, Thermostat, Windows, Winter

Why You Should Change Your Furnace Filter Often

Posted on January 22, 2018 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Changing your furnace filter seems to be an easily forgotten task. HVAC companies try their hardest to remind you to do these things, but do you know why you should change it more often than you think?

Maintenance

Getting an oil change for your car is as important as changing the furnace filter for your house. It simply extends the life of your equipment. A dirty filter means that less air is circulating, which then means that your furnace is working harder to keep your house warm. Over time, having a furnace go into overdrive for too long can overheat the system or break down the entire unit. This is not something you do want to deal with in subzero temperatures.

A little dirt can do a lot of damage. If your furnace filter is dirty, not only will it make your HVAC unit work harder, but it will also make your heating bills go up over time. All the extra effort that this heater is putting out digs a deeper hole into your wallet. While a new furnace filter might cost money, ignoring it will cost more in your gas bill, except you’re doing more damage than good by trying to be frugal.

Air Filter Quality

Skip the fancy furnace filters. A furnace filter is designed to protect your furnace, not improve indoor air quality. Some people swear by these special filters, but you’ll most likely have to run your furnace fan year-round to get the benefit of a high-efficiency filter. Extra work and extra care (replacing them often) will cost you more in the end.

There is a happy balance that you could achieve between cost and efficiency. For homeowners, we recommend purchasing a MERV 7 or 8 pleated filter, which traps 80 to 95 percent of air particles. If you are looking to get rid of pollutants and breathe cleaner air, consider getting an air cleaner instead.

When to call your HVAC technician

– Unit fails to turn back on
– Noisy or slow fan
– Bent fins
– Coils are extra dusty

Remember to change your furnace filter every month when fan is in use for heating and cooling seasons.
Got more furnace questions? Call us at (763) 498-8071.

This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Cooling,Energy Savings,Furnace,Heating,Indoor Air Quality,Tips and tagged Air filters, Air quality, Clogged filter, Cold air, Cost, Dirty, Efficiency, Filter, Filters, Furnace, Furnace filter, Heater, Heating, HVAC, Maintenance, Quality, Save money, Winter

Top Tips: How to Lower Your Summer Cooling Costs

Posted on June 28, 2017 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Summer has arrived. And even though the temps are soaring, your energy costs don’t have to. We’ve put together our top tips to keep your cooling costs in check this summer.

Monitor Your Thermostat

Keep an eye on your thermostat settings. If your family is curled up under blankets on the couch, it’s a good sign that your thermostat is set too low. Aim for between 72 and 78 degrees in summer. Even bumping up the number 2 to 4 degrees will have an impact on your bill.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

For the ultimate in home comfort and energy efficiency, install a programmable thermostat. Today’s technology allows you to access and control your home’s temperature remotely, and some thermostats will even “learn” and adjust to your family’s schedule. If you’ve already got a programmable thermostat, make sure you’re using it correctly.

Change Your Air Filter

Change out your air filter on a regular basis to ensure maximum air flow, improve overall efficiency, and prevent coil ice-ups.

Close Your Blinds

Blocking out sunlight by closing your blinds can not only reduce your cooling costs, it also can keep out harmful UV rays.

Cook Outside

Things can really heat up in the kitchen during the summer. Fire up the grill instead.

Bonus Tip: Flip the Switch

Unplug unused electronics or appliances. Use surge protector power strips or switched outlets that can be easily turned on and off. Don’t leave lights on in unoccupied rooms. While this may not directly keep your cooling costs down, you’ll still save on your electric bill.

Call WestAIR for an Annual Service Maintenance Check

It’s not too late to have your system checked by our professional technicians. We’ll make sure your system is running at the highest level of efficiency, determine if any repairs are needed, and make recommendations for replacement if necessary. We carry top quality air conditioning brands for the highest in energy efficiency.

Contact the cooling experts at WestAIR today. Call us at 763-498-8071.

This entry was posted in Air Conditioning,Cooling,Energy Savings,Tips and tagged A/C maintenance check, Air conditioner, air conditioning, Air filter, Annual service maintenance check, Cooling, Energy savings, Maintenance check, Programmable thermostat, Service, System check, Thermostat, Tips & advice

HVAC Humor

Posted on May 17, 2016 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

The first hot days of summer are upon us. Are you worried your air conditioner might not be up to the job of keeping your home cool? Call WestAIR Heating and Cooling at 763.498.8071 to schedule a tune-up.

Scheduling a regular check-up for your air-conditioner can greatly reduce your energy costs, extend its lifetime and improve the system’s performance. Contact WestAIR before June 30, 2016 to save with one of our current specials of $95 for a tune-up of your air-conditioning system.

This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Cooling,Energy Savings,Spring,Tips,Uncategorized and tagged Air conditioner, air conditioning, Cooling, Energy savings, Service, WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Is your Air Conditioning System keeping up?

Posted on August 10, 2015 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Hey Minnesotans, it’s summer! We love these sun shiny, summer days, but now that Mother nature is really cranking up the heat (and humidity!) your air conditioning unit may be working overtime! Or – does it sometimes feel like it is just not doing it’s job of keeping your house cool?

There could be a number of reasons your central AC does not seem to be doing the best job.

• Have you had your yearly routine checkup? Just like a regular checkup at the doctor, your AC unit needs to be checked out, cleaned and tuned up for optimal performance.
• Have you checked your thermostat? Make sure your batteries are fresh (if it uses batteries) settings are correct, and it is functioning properly.
• Have you changed your furnace filter?  Furnace filters should be changed once a month-even during the summer months.
• Try closing the vents in rooms you don’t use on a regular basis.
• Check out additional tips on our website.

Inefficiencies in your air conditioning system could be costing you a lot of money every month in energy bills. And many people probably think “Oh no, we cannot replace the system this year, it is too costly.” But the truth is, there may be instances that replacing your system could SAVE you money over the next few years! Your air conditioner’s inefficiency could be driving up your monthly bills substantially. Combine lower monthly bills with possible rebates and it is a win-win!

If your air conditioning system continues to battle the Dog Days of Summer this August, make sure to call your local professional at WestAIR Heating & Cooling. We’d be happy to come out to your home and personally assess your AC unit. We want you to be comfortable in your home, all year long.  Contact us today at 763.498.8071.

This entry was posted in AC,Air Conditioning,Cooling and tagged A/C, A/C unit rebates, air conditioning, Cooling, Routine A/C checkup, Service, Thermostat, WestAIR Heating & Cooling

It’s getting hot, Hot HOT!

Posted on June 9, 2015 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Hey Twin Cities! The first HOT day of the year is in the forecast! Time to get your home air conditioner fired up and running.  Worried that maybe it had a hard winter and might be slow to get going? Call WestAIR to schedule your tune up.

Yearly maintenance on your home’s air conditioner can greatly reduce your energy costs, extend it’s lifetime AND improve system performance. The best way to get the most out of your AC is have a qualified air conditioning specialist come out to your home to perform an inspection. They can give you recommendations such as:

• Keep outside unit clear of leaves, sticks and other debris
• Clean or change your air conditioning filters according to the manufacturer’s specifications
• Check hoses and fan belt for leaks or cracks
• Use a programmable thermostat to control the temperature of your home while you are away

And if that isn’t enough, right now, WestAIR is running a coupon special on AC Tune Ups  

Contact WestAIR for a Free Estimate to evaluate your home HVAC system.

This entry was posted in AC,Cooling,Energy Savings and tagged A/C tune-up coupon, Air conditioner, Cooling, Energy efficient, Energy savings, Service, Specials, Tips & advice

Spring AC Check and Clean

Posted on May 23, 2013 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

A late Spring this year means Summer is right around the corner and coming fast! Before you know it the heat will be scorching and your Air Conditioner will be working overtime. Is your AC ready to withstand the constant summer heat? Scheduling an AC check and clean is the best thing you can do to save future break down costs and reduce your energy bill for the summer. If you would like to learn more about why a check and clean is important please visit the government energy website.

Utility companies around the metro area offer to reimburse residents for their check and clean service expenses. Some of which include: Connexus, Crow Wing Power, Elk River Utilities, Hutchinson, Lake Country, New Ulm and North Saint Paul. For other rebates and savings in your area visit the Minnesota Power website.

Proudly delivering the “Quality Service you expect” for 25+ years. Contact WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate (763)498-8071. Location: 11184 River Road NE Hanover, MN 55341

This entry was posted in AC,Cooling,Uncategorized and tagged Air conditioner, Cooling, Energy efficient, Energy savings, Repair, Service, Tips & advice

Install High-Efficiency to Save $

Posted on March 15, 2013 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Whether it’s Winter or Summer, heating or cooling, furnaces or air conditioners. Now is your time to save money and cut down payments on energy bills. During this past cold winter you may have seen your bills skyrocket. Chances are you will continue to see the same trend this summer as temperatures continue to rise. Installing a high efficiency unit leads to perks such as saving hundreds of dollars on your energy bill each month along with a possible rebate from your energy provider.

Proudly delivering the “Quality Service you expect” for 25+ years. Contact WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate (763)498-8071. Location: 11184 River Road NE Hanover, MN 55341

This entry was posted in AC,Cooling,Furnace,Heating and tagged Air conditioner, Cooling, Efficiency ratings, Furnace, Heating

Setback Thermostats Save Energy and Money

Posted on July 1, 2012 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

The time of year has arrived to change that dial on your thermostat. How nice would it be to have the temperature in you house automatically changed at different times of the day AND save money on energy bills at the same time? With an energy efficient setback thermostat there will be 4 primary settings: wake, day, evening and sleep. Each are adjustable to your own comfort level and will help you save money. To learn more about Setback Thermostats visit our website at http://www.westairheating.com For additional information and a virtual interaction sample visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=thermostats.progThermostat

Proudly delivering the “Quality Service you expect” for 25+ years. Contact WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate (763)498-8071. Location: 11184 River Road NE Hanover, MN 55341

This entry was posted in Cooling,Indoor Air Quality and tagged Energy efficient, Energy Star rated, Furnace, Honeywell, Indoor air quality, Service, Setback thermostat, Thermostat, Tips & advice

Ductless Air Conditioning-Is it right for You

Posted on June 1, 2012 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

If you own a home, cabin or apartment without built in duct work; air conditioning is still not out of reach. Lucky for you WestAIR installs and services ductless air conditioners. The installation process is easy and there is no duct work needed. One great advantage is that with a ductless AC there is a zoning capability that allows for only occupied spaces to be conditioned instead of the entire house. Multiple areas may also be conditioned with mini splits or dual, tri and quad zones. Not sure if a ductless system is right for your home? Call WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate.

Proudly delivering the “Quality Service you expect” for 25+ years. Contact WestAIR Heating and Cooling today for a free estimate (763)498-8071. Location: 11184 River Road NE Hanover, MN 55341

This entry was posted in AC,Cooling and tagged Air conditioner, Ductless, Ductless air conditioner, Energy efficient, Install, Service, Whole house humidifier, Zoning