Happy Holidays

Posted on December 22, 2017 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Happy Holidays from WestAIR. Wishing you a festive holiday season.

This entry was posted in Holidays and tagged Christmas, Family, Friends, Happy, Holiday, Holidays, Hope, Joy, Merry, Peace, Presents, Seasons, Winter

Why You Need a Whole-Home Humidifier

Posted on December 8, 2017 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Did you know that the most comfortable indoor air humidity level is 40 to 60 percent? Cold air does not hold water vapor well, making it drier as it gets colder. Dry air could be the reason you get nose, throat, and skin discomfort in the winter.

What makes it worse?
Turning on your heat.

Heated air with low humidity also dries out the wood in your home, shrinking the wood framing around doors and windows. The shrinking causes gaps to occur and allows cold air in. Any moisture will drain outdoors, leaving you with cracked and dry skin.

Unfortunately, you can over-humidify your house as well. Too much humidity in the winter can damage windows as ice forms. If this happens, moisture will most likely be present in walls and attics, causing sheathing and woodwork to rot over time. This not only damages your house, but the mold can make you sick.
What do you do then?

The solution needs to keep your home’s humidity at a happy medium. The percentage of optimum humidity changes as it gets colder.

*Based on an indoor temperature of 70 degrees F

You can improve your humidity levels and your heating bills by caulking and sealing your windows and doors. Next, you can maintain indoor humidity levels with a home humidifier. When your home’s humidity falls below the optimum level, a whole-home humidifier from Aprilaire goes to work, adding moisture to your dry air. This dry air is forced through the water panel evaporator and is distributed throughout your home, eliminating that parched, dry air lurking in your home. Aiprilaire offers humidifiers that are energy efficient, reduce airborne viruses, and protect wood floors or furniture.

Eliminate the damage and discomfort caused by dry air. We’re currently offering $25 off the installation of an Aprilaire Whole-house Humidifier. Offer ends December 31st. Call us today!

This entry was posted in Humidifier,Winter and tagged Air, Airprilaire, Cold, Doors, Dry, Dry skin, Heater, Home humidifier, Humid, Humidity, Windows, Winter

Six Tips to Reduce Your Heating Bill

Posted on November 29, 2017 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

Winter has arrived in full force, but that doesn’t mean you have to blast money from your wallet as you turn up the heat. WestAIR Heating and Cooling offers six easy ways to reduce your heating bill this winter and for years to come.

1. Control your Thermostat

Using a thermostat is an easy way to control your home temperature and maximize your savings. While you are away, set it 10 degrees cooler than your regular setting. So, if you feel comfortable at 69 degrees, you would program it to be 59 degrees while you’re at work or on vacation. Some newer thermostats have capabilities to be controlled by a phone app or website!

2. Insulate Windows and Walls

You can lose half of your heat if your home is not well insulated! Is your attic or basement insulated? If not, fill all the gaps with fiberglass insulation. If your windows are drafty, fill in the leaky spaces with caulk.

3. Look at those Ducts

Heat can leak right through your air ducts too. You can patch them with aluminum foil tape (not duct tape) and mastic sealant. First, clean the surface near any leak you find in your air ducts. The aluminum foil tape works best on flat surfaces. Mastic is for curved surfaces that would be difficult to tape. Use both for leaks bigger than a quarter-inch for extra protection!

4. Keep Up on Filters

Did you know that you should change your furnace filter each month? Not only will it let warm air flow freely, but it will reduce the need for costly repairs. Inexpensive fiber filters work fine, but standard pleated filters are better for airborne dust.

5. Take Care of your Furnace

Many people forget this step, but tune-ups are necessary for furnaces just like an oil change is for your car. Nobody wants to wake up shivering in the middle of the night because the furnace isn’t working properly. Although we do offer same-day and emergency service in case this happens, avoid breakdowns with a scheduled maintenance check. Take advantage of our current promotion and save $10 on any repair or service call.

6. Invest!

Sometimes you must kick your old furnace to the curb. If your repair costs more than 50 percent of the cost of a new furnace, or your monthly heating bills have significantly increased, you should most likely consider a replacement. Upfront costs may seem daunting, but today’s furnaces are more energy efficient and will save money in the long run. If you think it’s time to replace that old furnace of yours, we stand by Rheem heaters for quality. Rheem is a leading provider of top-quality, innovative heating products that offer the latest technology, lasting performance, great warranties, and excellent service and support. As a proud Rheem Pro Partner, our highly trained, licensed technicians can recommend a Rheem furnace or other heating product to best meet your needs.

Contact us to learn more about a furnace tune-up or questions!

This entry was posted in Energy Savings,Furnace,Heating,Tips and tagged Advice, Cold, Cold weather, Ducts, Efficiency, Filters, Furnace, Heat, Heater, Heating, HVAC, Insulation, Minnesota, Reduce costs, Repair, Rheem, Save money, Thermostat, Tips, Weather, WestAIR, Winter, Winterize

Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted on November 23, 2017 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

A big part of Thanksgiving is practicing gratitude. At WestAIR, we are thankful for our HVAC technicians who help keep our homes warm in the wintertime!

This entry was posted in Fall,Holidays and tagged Fall, Gratitude, HVAC, Technician, Thankful, Thanksgiving, WestAIR, Winter

Find the Right Garage Heater

Posted on October 26, 2017 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

November is finally pushing us to turn on our thermostats. If you have any last-minute home or work projects to finish, you will need a garage heater as well. If this is your first heater, you will need to assess this situation first. Ask yourself, what do you need a heater for?

Heaters for quick projects.

Are you doing some quick fixer-uppers such as fixing or replacing parts from time to time? Do you have a designated workspace in your garage? If so, consider getting a portable electric heater. These garage heaters are lightweight, quiet, and provides direct heat.

Heaters on the go.

Do you need your garage heater for work projects outdoors or for a traveling job? You will want something fast and portable. Portable gas and kerosene heaters are lightweight and need little maintenance. Both use a fan to help circulate air.

Heaters for long-term projects.

Do you spend most of your time in the garage? Fixing up cars or hanging out with your buds, or just finished the great “Man Cave”? You will want a heater that is installed and thermostat controlled. Installed gas heaters are quick, quiet and project more heat. Electric installed heaters are compact and need little maintenance. Both types of heaters require mounting or installation. We recommend this option because you can keep your space warm to avoid letting your car idle in the winter. You can also provide a warm area for your family or pets.

Schedule an appointment today if you are interested in installing a unit heater for your garage.

This entry was posted in Fall,Furnace,Garage,Heating,Winter and tagged Cold weather, Electric heater, Fall, Furnace, Garage heater, Garage heaters, Gas heater, Heaters, Kerosene, Thermostat, Unit heater, WestAIR, Winter

Fighting the Common Cold

Posted on March 20, 2014 by WestAIR Heating & Cooling

The winter to spring transition is wonderful in terms of cutting down on energy bills and warming up. However, it may bring the common cold to your home. At WestAIR we offer three products that can help keep your family healthy during this time and throughout the entire year.

1. Air Cleaners: These are best in homes where family members have allergies, asthma or other respiratory conditions.  Air cleaners filter the air and remove the tiniest microfibers and particles. This includes small dust particles, bacteria, and viruses.
2. UV Lights: By installing a UV light this can help to eliminate mold, dust mites and bacteria. In fact, the majority of hospitals and health clinics are now installing UV lights to make the environment cleaner and healthier.
3. Humidifiers: In the Midwest and especially in Minnesota, it gets very dry during the fall and winter months. Installing a humidifier is a great way to control the humidity in your home and benefit from reduced cases of the flu, the common cold, and other sicknesses.

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 Indoor Air Quality,Tips and tagged Air cleaner, Clean air, Energy savings, Fall, Health, Humidifiers, Spring, UV lights, Winter