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Read our weekly articles on how to care for your home's HVAC system and keep your family in the comfortable lifestyle they're accustomed to

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SPRINGTIME:  TIME TO PREPARE YOUR AIR CONDITIONER IN BURLINGTON, KY AND THE TRI-STATE

3/31/2014

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Picturesource: http://www.123rf.com/photo_13500023
Old Man Winter has hung around for quite a while this year.  Most of us are eager to say “So Long!” to the cold weather and “Welcome Back!” to the warmer temperatures.  When doing your spring cleaning, don’t forget these few tips for preparing your air conditioner in Burlington, KY and every city across the country that’s getting ready for the new season.  We’ve had record breaking snow fall and temperatures for the last five months.  So it’s with a kick in our step that we look forward to opening up the windows and letting in the fresh air. 

Preparing Your Air Conditioner

1.       Replace Your Filter.  If this seems obvious, it is.  However, air conditioners in Burlington, KY and everywhere are breaking down because they are overworked.  This is a simple maintenance task that is easily forgotten.  It is important to check your filter monthly.  If dirt is building up that means your air conditioner is working harder than it should to pull in air.  Think of breathing through a blanket and each month the blanket gets thicker.  The filter is at the mouth of your air conditioner and if it’s dirty it blocks the flow of air.  Set a reminder on your calendar or phone to check it monthly.  This will save you money and increase the life of your air conditioner in Burlington and everywhere!

2.       Clean Away Debris.  Your air conditioner unit is outside.  It is exposed to falling leaves, bird droppings, weeds and other wind-blown debris.  It’s important to keep the area surrounding your air conditioner clean and clear of anything that may block the flow of air.  Heavy landscaping should also be avoided.  Air conditioners in Burlington, KY are especially subject to blowing leaves, small tree limbs and other items that come with the heavy rains and storms we experience during every season. Simply taking a rake and clearing everything away when you’re working in your yard this spring will do the job!

3.       Check Your Refrigerant Level.  Your air conditioner, just like your car, uses chemicals to transfer heat from one place to another.  However, it does not “consume” the refrigerant when it is operating the correct way so the levels should remain the same at all times.  If your refrigerant level in your air conditioner is low, this might be a sign of a significant problem and you should call your trusted HVAC contractor immediately.  Regardless of the extreme weather changes we can experience in Burlington, KY, air conditioner refrigerant levels should not be affected. 

4.       Schedule Your Tune Up.  Even if you follow the first three steps in this article, it is important to get schedule a tune up before relying on your air conditioner.  A good HVAC contractor will be able to make assessments on any future issues that you can avoid, make adjustments necessary for your air conditioner to run efficiently and let you know if there’s anything you can do to increase the life of your system.  They can also take care of Step 3 (checking your refrigerant level) if you are uncomfortable doing it. 

Taking good care of your air conditioner goes a long way to prolonging its life and avoiding expensive repairs that pop up unexpectedly.  Make sure you don’t delay

Tri-Star Heating & Cooling has earned its reputation as a leading NKY HVAC Contractor by providing the best heating and air conditioning products and services to the entire Greater Cincinnati area for over 30 years.  We are dedicated to the principles of quality services at affordable pricing while delivering the latest in products and technology.  


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Gas Furnace vs. Electric Furnace Repair for Homeowners in Burlington, KY

2/27/2014

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Homeowners in Burlington KY are tasked with making big decisions while considering various options - especially when it comes to furnace repair and their HVAC systems as a whole.  In addition, if you are trying to decide between gas and electric, you may not know the differences that matter the most.  Finally, whether you have an electric furnace or a gas furnace there are multiple items to consider when it's time for furnace repairs.  We'll help you wade through some of the options so that you are more knowledgeable and comfortable about making the right decision when furnace repairs are needed.  

THE DIFFERENCE

The first thing you should understand is the difference in how an electric and gas furnace operate.  An electric furnace has a blower that moves air over a sequence of hot coils that are heated by electricity.  Once the air is heated, it is distributed throughout the house.  A gas furnace works much the same way but, but instead of using electricity to create heat, it uses the combustion of gas in a heat exchanger. Then, just like in an electric furnace, the heated air is distributed throughout the house.  

THE COST DIFFERENCE

In Burlington KY (and everywhere) homeowners become confused about choosing an electric or gas furnace when it relates to their efficiency.  While an electric furnace may be considered more efficient than a gas furnace - it doesn't necessarily mean the monthly cost is cheaper.  In fact, it costs much more to run an electric furnace than a gas furnace.  This is simply because electricity is more expensive than gas.  Therefore, while an electric furnace may run more efficiently, it will cost more on your monthly bill than a gas furnace will. 

Another confusing factor when it relates to a choosing a gas furnace or electric furnace may be the risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.  It is true that a gas furnace does have a slight risk because it is a fuel-burning appliance. However, this risk can be mitigated by simply scheduling your yearly maintenance.  A yearly tuneup is something that you should schedule whether you have an electric or a gas furnace in order to prevent the future need for furnace repairs on an emergency basis.  

In the end, the particular climate you live in directly relates to which type of furnace is the best option for you.  For homeowners in Burlington KY gas furnaces are the less expensive option on a monthly basis.  Electric furnaces tend to be better for homeowners in dry climates with hot or mixed temperature.  

One additional item to note is that electric furnaces may be cheaper to install initially than gas.  However, this small savings will be lost over time by a more expensive monthly bill.  

With regards to extended maintenance costs, they are very similar to each other.  However, an electric furnace may have a longer lifespan because it has less moving parts.  When it's decision-making time, consider these pros and cons:

ELECTRIC:

Pros:  Cheaper initial cost, longer lifespan

Cons:  higher monthly cost, takes longer to heat up the house.  

GAS:

Pros:  Significantly lower cost on monthly basis.  Heats up house quicker.

Cons;  Higher initial installation cost.  Slight risk of carbon monoxide poison.  

Every house is different, and every homeowner has different needs so if you are still unsure of whether a gas furnace or electric furnace is the best choice for you, feel free to Tri Star Heating and Cooling, your Burlington KY HVAC Contractor to help you choose the right option for you.  

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7 Tips for Avoiding Air Conditioner and Furnace Repair

2/19/2014

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It’s been a long hard winter and as the warmer temperatures begin to peek out here and there it’s important to remember that spring isn’t just about the end of winter, it’s about the beginning of summer.  Hopefully these cold temperatures in Northern Kentucky didn't cause you to need furnace repair.  While you might not have to worry about furnace repair in the summer, you do have to worry about getting your air conditioner ready for the season.




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 By following these few simple tips in the coming spring, you can avert an HVAC system catastrophe that no doubt will happen on the hottest day of the year!


Air conditioning repair is much different than furnace repair so it’s important to know what needs to be done for each unit.  Feel free to print this page and use it as a “to-do” list when prepping your HVAC system.  

Getting your HVAC system ready:

1.       Clear Debris.  On a day when the temperature is a bit warmer, take the time to go outside and walk around your air conditioning unit.  Pick up any fallen debris, like twigs, etc.  Rake away any leaves and pull any weeds that may have grown close to the unit.  Make sure the space around your air conditioner is fully clear so that air is easily able to be pulled in without any blockage.  This will add to the efficiency and make your air condition work much less during those hot days.  Continue this throughout the season to make sure nothing is blocking the flow of air to your HVAC system. 

2.       Clean or Replace Filters.  This is important to do on a regular basis all year long.  However, many people forget during the winter if they haven’t required furnace repair.  Set a monthly calendar to check your filter.  This will help remind you to make sure it’s always clean and your HVAC system isn’t working too hard to pull air through a dirty filter.  It contributes greatly to reducing a/c or furnace repairs

3.       Clean Ductwork.  Oftentimes, we clean our vents because we can see the dirt and dust building up.  This is not exclusive to the vents, but happens all year long in the ductwork of your HVAC system.  Dirty ductwork can contribute to the need for air conditioning work or furnace repair unnecessarily.  Many carpet cleaners now also will clean out your ductwork.  Consider doing this at least every 2 years to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system overall. Once again, less dirt means less strain on the system therefore reducing the need for air conditioning or furnace repair.

4.       Lubricate Motor.  Some of you might be uncomfortable doing this, but it’s not that difficult.  Make sure the power to the air conditioner is turned off.  Grab the owner’s manual and identify the motor.  Most likely, this will require you to remove a side grate from the unit.  Find the fan motor oil ports above the fan blade.  Using lightweight household oil put a few drops into each port.  Put the side grate back on the unit and you’re done.  Just like any other motor, lubrication improves performance.

5.       Test the System.  This seems like an obvious step, but many people do not test their air conditioning unit before it’s time to crank it up for the season.  Don’t wait until the sweltering heat is upon us to make sure your HVAC system is running smoothly.  Otherwise, you could require repair during a terrible heat wave!  This also applies to testing your furnace before winter and avoiding furnace repair in freezing temperatures.  Before the beginning of winter or summer, test your system on a comfortable day before you need them to work for you.

6.       Schedule Your Tune Up.    Just like an automobile, your HVAC system needs a yearly tune up.  Don’t wait until something breaks.  Furnace repair and Air Conditioning repair, can both become unnecessarily expensive.  Many times a simple, yearly tune up from a trusted HVAC contractor will help you avoid these bigger expenses. 

7.       Consider Upgrading Your Thermostat.  During your yearly tune up, inquire about home automation.  Many times, this can be done just by upgrading your Thermostat.  This will allow you to raise and lower your temperature from anywhere you have internet connection.  It not only saves you money on monthly bills, but will help your HVAC system run more efficiently giving it a longer life, and reduced need for air conditioner or furnace repair. 

By following these 7 tips you’ll improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, reduce the need for air conditioning or furnace repair, save money and be ready for each new season as it comes.  Being a proactive homeowner is completely worth it!


Tri-Star Heating & Cooling has earned its reputation as a leading NKY HVAC Contractor by providing the best heating and air conditioning products and services to the entire Greater Cincinnati area for over 30 years.  We are dedicated to the principles of quality services at affordable pricing while delivering the latest in products and technology.  

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