KY HVAC Blog

Will Having A New Air Conditioner Installed Save Me Money and Future AC Repairs?

5/14/2015

If you live in Burlington, KY or the Greater Cincinnati, NKY area, you may receive a Home Energy Report from your provider. One of our customers shared their report with us after Tri Star Heating and Cooling installed a new air conditioner and new furnace in their home. The difference in their home’s energy efficiency was astronomical. In fact, having a new furnace and new air conditioner installed made their home so efficient that their provider sent them a “Way to go” on their Home Energy Report. Impressive!

WHY DOES IT WORK?

So why does having a new air conditioner or new furnace installed save us so much money? Simply put – technology. Just like all of the other electronics in your house, science has advanced and air conditioners and furnaces have both benefited over the years. In the 1950’s companies advertising new air conditioners would show images of housewives and families enjoying relaxing activities by their sleek looking window units. Then suddenly you could even buy cars with air conditioners in them. Look how far we’ve come! In fact, now you don’t even have to be home to turn your air conditioner or furnace on and off. Check out this programmable, touch-screen thermostat from Carrier. You can program it from anywhere you access the internet - even from your smartphone!

SHOULD I REPLACE MY AIR CONDITIONER?

With the warm weather approaching (yes it’s eventually coming folks), some of you may have read information about getting an air conditioner tune up. How do you know if it’s time to consider installing a new air conditioner? Here are a few tips that may help with your decision:

1. My air conditioner is 12 years old (or older).

If this is the case – a new energy efficient air condition could lower the cost of cooling your home by approximately 30%! In most cases, your new system would pay for itself in 5-6 years. After that, you’ll be making money by saving all of those costs.

2. I do not have a programmable thermostat.

This is a simple air conditioner upgrade that can save you a lot of money! By programming your thermostat you’re not using your air conditioner unnecessarily. If you leave for work and forget to turn it down, this cost can add up quickly. Investing in a new thermostat is a great alternative if you do not need a complete new air conditioner but are still looking for ways to save money.

3. My upstairs is always hotter than my downstairs so I have to constantly adjust my settings.

If you find that the different floors of your house have different room temperatures, this could be a sign that your air conditioner is not running efficiently. If the system is young, it might just need a simple tune-up. In addition, you can follow some additional tips by “clicking here.” However, when the temperature difference is consistently noticeable, and your air conditioner is aging, this could be a red flag that it’s time for an update.

4. My bills are increasing every year.

Older air conditioners that do not qualify as “energy-efficient” will continue to increase your bill 1-2% per year. This is a lot of money over time. Instead of spending more, a new air conditioner can save you a significant amount of money and keep your family more comfortable at the same amount of time. If you are seeing a consistent increase in your energy bill, you definitely should be considering a new air conditioner and/or new furnace.

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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Freezing From Fear of Furnace Repairs

11/15/2014

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So you're afraid to turn on the furnace because you don't know if you'll hear the hum of warmth or the groan of unwanted furnace repairs? Suddenly, the first snow is falling and you're waking up with icicles on your nose and you can no longer avoid flipping the switch with your fingers crossed while saying a prayer. You don't have to stress about expensive, emergency furnace repairs by taking a few simple steps that will keep your furnace running smoothly all winter long, and your money in the bank where it belongs!

It's important to understand that every furnace will eventually meet its end. However, just like everything else, how you treat your furnace on a regular basis will have an enormous effect on how long your furnace will heat your home. There are steps you can take before the season begins and during the season when your furnace is most active. Waiting for a breakdown that requires emergency furnace repairs can be very costly and cause a great deal of discomfort to your family.

STEP ONE: Before the season begins, call a trusted HVAC contractor. When your system worked hard for several months and then spent six months dormant, it needs a tuneup. Your HVAC contractor will know what to check, clean and fix if necessary. There is usually a flat fee charged for this service that they will tell you up front. Think of this like getting a regular oil change on your car every so many miles. The cost of the oil change is lot less than the repair that may be required if you avoid the small cost of getting the service done.

STEP TWO: During the season, keep an eye on the filter of your furnace. If it is collecting dirt and dust, this can keep it from running efficiently. It's the same as when you have a cold and cannot breath as easily. When your filter gets obstructed with dirt and dust, the air cannot flow as easily. In turn, your filter has to work harder and cannot "breathe" as easily. By cleaning your filter on a regular basis, not only will you help avoid furnace repairs, but the increased efficiency will save you money!

STEP THREE: Let's face it, all mechanical systems age. The worst thing you can do is wait and cross your fingers in hopes that it will be alright for another year. So plan ahead. When your furnace is 20 years old, it's on the downhill side of efficiency. Sometimes the cost of a new furnace is minimal to the actual savings you will realize over the next several years by purchasing a new furnace. With the advancements in technology, you have to compare the cost of running your current system to the savings a new system will provide. You must also consider the cost of regular furnace repairs once the system has aged.

If you are considering replacing your HVAC system, do your research carefully. There are many high-efficiency systems available. Consider the size of your home and what is necessary to properly heat it. You may also want to consider the age of your air conditioning system. If it is the same age as your furnace, replacing it at the same time could save you a tremendous amount of money in labor costs.

Continue following the KY HVAC Blog for more tips on how to avoid furnace repairs, air conditioning repairs and how to keep your home comfortable for the entire family!

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HOW TO AVOID FURNACE REPAIR THIS WINTER

9/15/2014

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Winter is on it's way and according to the Farmer's Almanac, we're going to have a cold one. Don't cross your fingers and hope that your furnace is going to keep the family warm this winter. Avoid uncomfortable emergencies and unexpected furnace repairs that can be quite costly by making sure your furnace is running efficiently ahead of time.

If you have experience with furnace repair, then you can do your own inspection. However, if you don't know much about fuel jets and how to make sure the fuel burning process is properly initiating, then you might need a little help from your trusted HVAC Contractor. Here are the things that should be checked:

Venting System: The venting system of your furnace is designed to properly remove the flue gases. You certainly don't want those seeping into the house. Your contractor will make sure the vents are well sealed and each joint is also sealed properly. This will ensure that your furnace is properly disposing of the flue gases and keep your family safe.
Check Filter: Have you ever tried clamping your hand over your mouth while still breathing? This is exactly what it's like when you have a dirty filter in your furnace. As the dirt builds up, it gets harder and harder for your furnace to properly blow the air. This can lead to many problems and expensive repair bills. Your contractor will always remove covers and check the filter. This is something you should consider learning to do yourself about once a month.
Check Blower: Every furnace has a blower that helps move the air through the vents and out to your home. Some furnaces have a blower that requires lubrication. Your contractor will check the blower to make sure it is free of any blockages and properly lubricated.
Clean Burners: Just like the burners on your stove get dirty, so do the burners on your furnace. if they are not removed and cleaned properly, this can also lead to expensive furnace repair bills. Your HVAC contractor should remove and clean the burners to help your furnace run at its highest efficiency.
Clean Pilot and Sensor: At the same time the contractor is cleaning the burners, they will clean the pilot and sensor so they can run effectively. Then they will put everything in the furnace back together.
Safety Check: Last but not least, after every furnace check the contractor will make sure it is running safely and efficiently by running a safety check. They will check the carbon monoxide levels to make sure that the furnace is running clean and your family is safe. it's not a bad idea for you to invest in your own carbon monoxide tester so that you can make sure your family is safe all year long.

During the winter, continue to keep the area around your furnace clean and clear from all debris. This is not only for safety purposes, but so that your furnace is easily accessible and no blockages accidentally occur.

If you have any questions about your HVAC system or are concerned that you might need furnace repair soon, feel free to contact us at 859-282-7827.

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Will Having A New Air Conditioner Installed Save Me Money and Future AC Repairs?

Freezing From Fear of Furnace Repairs

HOW TO AVOID FURNACE REPAIR THIS WINTER

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