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Benefits of an Automated Thermostat

Written by Kevin on . Posted in HVAC.

Many homeowners control the temperature in their homes by manually adjusting thermostats that regulate their air conditioning and heating systems. If you have an automated thermostat, you will enjoy setting temperatures for different times of a day. That means you do not have to turn any dial from the unit’s panel to adjust the temperature according to your needs. Instead, you can command your HVAC unit to turn off or on from an application on a mobile gadget.

Your automated thermostat will not only regulate the temperature in your home, but it will also show you the duration it’ll take to make the changes you requested. Furthermore, you can also keep track of how much you are spending on heating and cooling costs. Here are some of the benefits you will enjoy after switching to an automated thermostat.

1. It Lowers Your Energy Bills

One of the biggest benefits offered by automated thermostats is saving on energy costs. Energy costs continue to skyrocket in every part of the globe, and one of the best ways to combat that is to try to minimize your energy usage. However, with automated thermostats, you can precisely regulate the temperature in your home to suit your comfort.

For each degree you lower or raise your home’s temperature during winter or summer, you can save a maximum of 2% on your energy bill. For instance, you do not have to keep your heat or air conditioning system high when you are not at home. You can develop a schedule that follows the routine of your family to avoid wasting energy. You can keep the temperatures warm or cool when you are at home and ease up using power when you are away from your home.

2. It Uses High-Tech Tools and Features

Most automated thermostats come with a wide array of technological tools and functions, including Wi-Fi capability and the ability to control your smart thermostat with a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Having a programmable thermostat that’s linked to your home’s network can assist you in creating a connected home that you can easily control virtually from any place, including the comfort of your favorite couch. If you are on vacation or a business trip and you realize there is an unusually cold or warm day back at home, you can easily regulate the temperature of your thermostat from your gadget.

3. It Maintains a Constant Temperature in Your Home

The other advantage of automated thermostats is their capacity to maintain the ideal constant temperature in all parts of your home. Rather than setting your HVAC system high during summer, an automated thermostat can operate at a steady level. When the weather is cold, your heat can remain constant because it follows the programmed temperature schedule you’ve set for your home. With programmable thermostats, you can avoid cold and hot spots in various parts of your home, and your family can enjoy a cozy home throughout the year.

4. It Is Easy and Quick to Adjust

A manual thermostat takes some practice and a lot of time to read through the many steps of setting temperatures for different times. You will have to go to your wall unit to make some adjustments every time you leave your house, which is a practice most people neglect in the first place. You will also have to readjust the thermostat whenever you return home, once you wake up in the morning, and when going off to bed.

Homeowners can spend less time regulating their thermostats with an automated version. Using automated thermostats can eliminate all the time that you spend adjusting your manual unit. You can set your schedule one time every season and forget about the device. That will help you focus on other important things in your home or life.

5. It Reduces Your Air Conditioner’s Wear and Tear

Without an air conditioning system, it might be almost impossible to keep your residence cold during the summer or warm during winter. However, as your HVAC ages, its efficiency will most likely decrease, making your residence less comfortable while also increasing your energy bills. The best way to optimize your air conditioner’s performance and to minimize its wear and tear over time is by installing a programmable thermostat.

An automated thermostat helps decrease your air conditioner’s typical workload, which prevents severe damage and assists in optimizing efficiency. While every air conditioner can benefit from an automated thermostat, these options are particularly beneficial for older units. If your HVAC unit is not efficient or is older, before you can get another one, you can try to help it do its job better by pairing it with an automated thermostat.

6. It Maximizes Zoned Cooling and Heating in Your Home

An automated thermostat can also help keep your home running well if you have multiple climate zones in your residence. Having different climate zones around your home can significantly increase your property’s energy efficiency. An automated thermostat allows you to customize each temperature and climate throughout your residence’s square footage using programmable controls in every zone.

7. It Allows You to Take Advantage of Different Times During the Day

The other benefit of having an automated thermostat is that it will enable you to take advantage of the temperature variations based on the season and the sun’s position as well as the different times during the day. Once the afternoon or morning sun begins to heat your residence during the summer, you can change your cooling schedule.

Similarly, during the winter season, you can minimize your heating energy and allow the sun’s warmth to take over some of your furnace’s warming duties. During cold nights in winter, you can boost the HVAC system’s heating energy to keep your home warm and comfortable.

8. It Increases the Efficiency of Your Home

Keeping your residence energy efficient is one of the major problems that every homeowner thinks about when the seasons change. An energy-efficient residence uses the available resources more effectively and does not cause a lot of wear and tear to major household systems and appliances. Your home should not contribute to adverse environmental impacts and energy wastage, and using an automated thermostat is one of the ways you can help control your waste.

Conclusion

As you can see, having an automated thermostat for your heating and cooling needs might be one of your home’s most cost-efficient investments. You can enjoy the benefit of additional energy savings that might reflect in a reduced utility bill. Apart from the money savings, an automated thermostat can assist you in maintaining the best and most comfortable environment in your interior spaces.

If you are interested in upgrading your residence with a programmable thermostat, your best solution is consulting a Beltway Air Conditioning & Heating professional in Hanover. We offer a wide array of cooling and heating services to keep your home cozy.

Our team of professionals can advise you on the best automated thermostat that will suit your needs. We also offer other services, including AC installation, AC repair, AC maintenance, heat pump installation, furnace installation, furnace repair, heat pump repair, furnace maintenance, boiler service, and heat pump maintenance. Contact us to schedule your automated thermostat installation and to learn how you can keep your residence comfortable throughout the year.

How to Go Green With Your HVAC Installation

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Energy Efficiency.

When you replace an old HVAC system, you receive many benefits in return. One of the most obvious benefits you receive is reliable heating and cooling versus your old system that likely couldn’t keep up during extreme weather in Hanover.

Another unexpected benefit, though, is that your new system will likely save quite a bit of energy compared to your old system, making your new system much more “green.” Plus, with some basic adjustments, you can make your system even more efficient, resulting in an environmentally conscious HVAC installation. Here are five ways you can make your new HVAC system from Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating as environmentally friendly as possible.

1. Utilize a Programmable Thermostat

With a new HVAC system comes new possibilities for increased comfort. The best way to customize this comfort and increase the efficiency of your new system is to install a programmable thermostat alongside your new system. The most efficient thermostats are smart thermostats that learn your living patterns so that they can automatically adjust the temperature in your home, meaning your HVAC system will run only as often as is absolutely necessary.

However, even a basic programmable thermostat is still better than a manual thermostat. All programmable thermostats can be set to keep your house at one temperature while you’re away from home and then change to a more comfortable temperature when you return. Rather than keeping your home at a constant temperature all day, these temperature changes save significant energy, making your system more environmentally friendly.

Even if you opt for a basic mechanical thermostat, though, you can still set it so that your HVAC system runs less. By adjusting the thermostat by just one or two degrees, you can see a significant drop in energy use that results in lower utility bills for you.

2. Use a Heat Pump

Thanks to the temperate weather in Hanover, a heat pump from Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating is another great way to supercharge your energy savings from your new HVAC system. The biggest advantage of using a heat pump is that it uses heat that is present in the air outside to heat your home during the winter.

Rather than using electricity or natural gas to heat the air, a heat pump pulls in heat from the outside and brings it inside to warm your home. In the summer, this process is reversed, much like a traditional air conditioner, as the heat pump pulls heat from inside your home and expels it outside. All throughout the year, this process of heat exchange is far more efficient than a traditional HVAC system, allowing you to be environmentally conscious while still keeping your home at an optimal temperature.

3. Use Zones

If you have a larger home, one of the best ways to keep your new HVAC installation “green” is to use zoned heating and cooling. Rather than using one HVAC system to heat and cool your entire home, a zoned system uses two or more closed-circuit HVAC systems to heat different areas in your home. This allows you to keep the different areas at different temperatures, which is especially handy if you don’t use these areas very often.

Of course, if you have a smaller home, that doesn’t mean you have to be left out of the “zone fun.” At Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, we install mini-split systems in addition to zoned HVAC systems. A mini-split system is essentially a small heat pump that is meant to heat and cool just one room in your home.

These systems are ideal for bedrooms, living rooms, or any other rooms that you occupy for long periods of time. Since they are smaller, these systems are highly energy-efficient, meaning you can keep essential rooms comfortable while not wasting energy to heat and cool rooms around your home that you don’t use.

4. Optimize Your Ductwork

The ways in which conditioned air moves throughout your home make a big impact on your HVAC system’s energy efficiency. That’s why at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, we believe that your home’s ductwork is just as important as the other components in your HVAC system.

Before we begin a new HVAC installation, we will analyze your ducts to ensure that they’re properly routed, with no tight turns or other unusual elements that could restrict airflow. In addition, your ducts will be checked for signs of damage that could allow air to escape from your ducts before it reaches its intended destination.

The main goal in optimizing your ductwork is to ensure that all of the air that you are paying money to heat or cool makes it to the areas that need to be heated or cooled. This is important because the more conditioned air that reaches these areas, the less time that your HVAC system will have to run to bring these areas to a comfortable temperature.

5. Hire Quality Installers

Another great way to have an efficient HVAC system is simply to ensure that the new system is installed correctly. If any component of your HVAC system isn’t installed correctly individually and then optimized to work correctly with the other components, you will have efficiency problems from the first day you use your system.

For example, when your system is charged with refrigerant, the volume of refrigerant needs to be carefully measured to ensure that the system isn’t over- or under-pressurized. If the wrong amount of refrigerant is present, your air conditioner will struggle to remove heat and humidity from the air in your home, meaning your system will have to work longer to keep your home comfortable.

This is just one of the many elements that have to be correct to ensure your system works well, which is why it’s crucial that you choose an experienced HVAC contractor such as Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating. We say that “our work reflects our passion,” meaning that we take great pride in every job we complete because we are passionate about doing great work and keeping you and your family comfortable in your home.

Trustworthy AC Installation

At Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating in Hanover, MD, we work hard to provide the HVAC solutions you need so that you can heat and cool your home as efficiently as possible. That’s why, compared to some HVAC companies, we offer solutions that aren’t as common, including heat pumps and mini-split systems. Along with operating efficiently, we offer humidifier and air purifier installation services to ensure that your HVAC system provides you with air that is healthy to breathe. If instead, you need to increase the efficiency of the HVAC system at your business, we are proud to offer a full range of commercial services for a variety of applications.

Our commitment to each project we do is reflected in the phenomenal feedback we receive from our customers. Five-star reviews are common on Yelp, Google, and other review sites. That is why we are a Google Guaranteed business and are Screened & Approved by Home Advisor.

If you want your next HVAC installation to be as efficient as possible, give us a call at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating today. We offer comprehensive heating and cooling services.

How to Ensure an HVAC Company is Reliable

Written by Kevin on . Posted in HVAC.

Whether you need a new system installed, old equipment replaced or just a seasonal tune-up, it is important that you deal with an HVAC company you can trust. Selecting a new HVAC provider can be challenging. There are often many businesses to choose from, and it can be difficult during the exploratory phase to tell whether an organization possesses the characteristics of trustworthiness, including:

  • Competence
  • Consistency
  • Dedication
  • Dependability
  • Integrity
  • Sincerity

Seek an Established Brand

The common advice is to seek an HVAC company that has been in business at least five or even 10 years. The idea here is to avoid the fly-by-night outfits and ensure that you choose an enterprise that will be there to stand behind its work. But there are new companies out their making names for themselves and old companies that manage to stay in business despite subpar customer service.

Instead of focusing on how old an HVAC provider is, emphasize how established it is. Longevity can certainly be part of that, but consider the experience of the ownership and the roots the company has laid down within your community and the other communities it serves.

Also, consider the business’s affiliations not just locally but within the HVAC industry at large. Local affiliations can include the Chamber of Commerce as well as business and trade associations relevant to your city and state. Manufacturer affiliations are quite informative as well.

If an HVAC company is a Lennox Dealer, for instance, then you know those technicians are competent since they have to meet certain training thresholds in order for a company to be recognized as such. Also, if an HVAC provider is a Lennox Premier Dealer, then you know that the dedication to customer service is such that Lennox is willing to vouch for and promote that business.

Be Aware of Regional Expectations

HVAC companies will vary from state to state and city to city and even county to county. Some of these differences are due to the regional needs of the homeowners those businesses serve. A homeowner in the Northeast, for instance, has heating and cooling concerns that are quite different than someone in the Southeast.

You may also want to contact your local Chamber of Commerce in order to identify the requirements and guidelines for local businesses in general and local HVAC providers in particular. You should know how much insurance is legally mandated and how much is recommended as well as which licenses and certifications are required and advised.

Request Insurance Details

Be direct in asking about insurance. A company that is sincere and values integrity will be forthright in disclosing amounts as well as showing you liability insurance forms, workers’ compensation documents, and other related paperwork.

Determine the scope of the coverage. You want to ensure that in addition to the company itself, all employees and subcontractors are insured. It is very important that workers’ compensation insurance covers injuries incurred on the job. Without that protection, the onus is likely to fall to your home insurance policy.

Ask About Licensing and Certification

In Maryland, HVAC contractors require an HVACR license and must present it to you upon request, and through the Maryland Department of Labor website, you can look up a license, check if it is valid and inspect all that it entails. An HVACR license has various tiers: apprentice, journeyman, inspector, limited, master restricted and master. Each tier has education and examination requirements and must be renewed, and the license tier dictates the insurance requirements. When hiring a company, you should expect that the owner of the business or at least the team supervisor holds a master license and that apprentices will never perform work without direct supervision.

Most well-established HVAC providers will have certifications beyond state requirements. Perhaps the most notable organization is North American Technician Excellence, which provides a wide range of HVAC-related certifications. If a company has NATE-certified technicians, you can have confidence in not just skill and training but in ongoing education and thus dependability and consistency. Many HVAC providers are certified with the EPA as well so that they can perform home energy audits and give clients confidence that equipment will be installed, repaired and maintained with energy-efficient performance in mind. Other notable trade associations include:

  • Air Conditioning Contractors of America
  • Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute
  • National Air Duct Cleaners Association
  • National Comfort Institute

Consider Reviews, Ratings and Referrals

A company’s reputation can inform you about its sincerity and all the other factors of trustworthiness. Begin this process with the Better Business Bureau. You can also check with the Maryland Department of Labor. An HVAC provider with numerous complaints is probably best avoided. A company that has earned BBB accreditation and a high rating, on the other hand, should instill you with peace of mind because you know that you will be dealing with a reputable outfit.

Request references from the company. Those references should be recent customers who have had major work performed, such as an installation. You can also find information on the internet through resources like Google My Business, Yelp, HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List and so forth. With online reviews and ratings, consider the perception as a whole rather than focusing too much on a particularly enthused or angry client. If you have neighbors, coworkers or family who have hired the company, then they, of course, can be an invaluable resource as well.

Pay Attention to the Details

This process can be involved but is worth the effort. As you progress, you may rule out certain companies before requesting a quote, and ideally, you should receive written estimates from at least three companies before finalizing your decision. Estimates are a great opportunity to interact with these companies. Professionalism is a choice, and when an HVAC provider is uniformed, courteous and well-spoken, it shows that the company is detail-oriented.

Getting three quotes gives you a clearer pricing picture. Beware of the company that underbids as much as the one that overbids. A company that underbids is more likely to cut corners and more prone to run into troubles regarding time and other resources. When considering an estimate, factor in customer care. Know going in about what kind of warranties, satisfaction guarantees, post-job support and so forth that a company provides.

A Trustworthy HVAC Company in Your Area

If you are a homeowner in Maryland, then Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating would love an opportunity to demonstrate why you can trust us. We are a locally owned and operated HVAC provider that serves Hanover and the neighboring communities. Our team is also Google Guaranteed and HomeAdvisor Screened & Approved. We offer commercial services as well as residential. Our team installs, replaces and maintains air conditioners, furnaces and heat pumps, and our indoor air quality services extend to air purifiers and whole-house humidifiers. Call us today to learn more about these services and to schedule an appointment.

The Best Air Purifiers For Germs

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Indoor Air Quality.

Do you know what a pathogen is? A pathogen is a particulate usually found in the air that can produce disease. This includes germs, bacteria, and viruses. You may not realize this, but your Hanover house could be full of pathogens right now. Pathogens can attach to microscopic dust and dirt particulate floating in the air of your house right into your mouth, nose, or ears, making you sick.

Everyone wants to avoid getting sick, but they may not even realize that the reason they are getting sick is the air in their own home. Is the air in your house clean? Is it clean enough? If you are like most homeowners, the answer to that is probably no.

One thing you can do to improve the overall air quality in your home and, in turn, the overall health of the people living in it is using an air purifier. Air purifiers come in a variety of shapes and sizes with different power capabilities and energy usage.

Pathogens can linger in the air for hours, sometimes even days, so it is a good idea to do everything you can to get rid of them with a filtration system of some kind. If you are considering getting an air purifier to use in your home or place of business, here are some great models you can check out to help you get started in your search.

GermGuardian AC4100

The GermGuardian AC4100 is a lower-priced model offered by one of the most recognizable brands in the air purifier market. It is a 3-in-1 design, meaning it has a HEPA filter, pre-filter, and carbon filter in its housing.

This model is diminutive in size and is not meant to filter a large area, making it an ideal unit to clean the air in your bedroom or an office. This model does not have many luxury features, but it features an easy-to-use, no-frills design. The following are some of the specs and features of the GermGuardian AC4100.

  • 7.5 x 6.5 x 11 inches
  • UV and dioxide germ killer
  • Filter replacement reminder
  • 3-speed fan
  • 1-year factory warranty

Levoit LV-H132

This purifier model is designed to purify a 129-square-foot area, making it a great model for small- to medium-sized rooms. The Levoit LV-H132 is not the most powerful small air purifier you will find in someone’s house, but it has a lot of features other smaller units do not have.

This is an especially useful air purifier for homeowners who want to use it at night. This is for two reasons. The first is you can turn off the lights by selecting Night Mode, which offers two levels of brightness. The second is it runs quietly. Because of the options and features of the Levoit LV-H132, it is a sophisticated machine, but it is still easy to interface with. It features the following specs.

  • 22 inches tall
  • 3-speed fan
  • 2-year factory warranty
  • Soft button controls
  • Two color options
  • IQAir

If you want to experience some of the best quality in-home air purifiers have to offer, the IQAir is worth checking out. It has HyperHEPA filtration, meaning it can filter out particles sized all the way down to .003 microns. That is just about 10 times smaller than a virus!

Not only is the purifier powerful, but it can also cover a pretty big area. Covering 1,125 square feet, it is powerful enough to filter the air in a smaller house. This combined with filters that are 100 times more powerful than standard HEPA filters gives the unit a lot of bang for its buck. On top of its easy-to-use controls, here are some other specs of the IQAir purifier.

  • 16 x 15 x 28 inches
  • Triple-seal technology
  • Even flow diffuser
  • 35 pounds
  • Swiss-made

Medify MA-14

This air purifier is medical grade thanks to the H13 HEPA filter housed in the unit. H13 is the highest-rated HEPA filter and removes 99.7% of the pathogens found in the air in your home.

Compared to other purifiers with this level of power, the MA-14 is lightweight and portable. This means you can move it multiple times a day as it purifies the 470-square-foot area around it in around an hour. One of the best aspects of this purifier is its lifetime warranty, meaning it will be replaced if anything mechanical goes wrong with it that is not your fault. Here are some additional specs and features of the MA-14.

  • 12 x 8 x 8 inches
  • 4.4 pounds
  • 3-speed fan
  • Night light

Alen BreatheSmart FLEX

Do you have kids? The Alen BreatheSmart FLEX is a great model for larger families because it can purify a big area quickly. It is known to purify an entire one-bedroom apartment in just half an hour with a reach of 700 square feet. This is an impressive power rating considering the sleek design of the unit.

Installed in the Alen BreatheSmart FLEX is a HEPA Silver Filter, so you can be sure your air purifier is getting a variety of pathogens out of the air. Even at Turbo Speed, the fan uses less than 40 watts of power, making it one of the best purifiers when it comes to energy ratings. At most, it will add $1 a month to your energy bill using the following specs.

  • 19 x 16 x 28 inches
  • 21 pounds
  • 4-speed fan
  • True HEPA filter

Pure Enrichment PureZone

This is the air purifier for you if you want one you will barely notice throughout the day. The PureZone is designed with an extremely quiet fan, preventing it from becoming disrupting if it is in use while you are asleep.

Another cool feature of this effective purifier is the built-in timer. You can set the purifier to shut off in various increments of time. This prevents it from wasting energy by running when it does not have to. It is rated to purify an area of 200 square feet, making it ideal to use in a den, an office, or a bedroom.

The Pure Enrichment PureZone air purifier has the following specs and features.

  • 10.8 x 7 x 12.5 Inches
  • 5-year warranty
  • 3-stage purification
  • 3-speed fan
  • 6 pounds

Blue Pure 121

This is the air purifier for someone who enjoys both form and function. It has a sleek two-color design that will not take away from the aesthetics of a room while it is cleaning it.

Just because it looks good does not mean it does not work effectively. The Pure 121 removes 99% of the pathogens in a room, making the area healthier in a short period of time. One or two of these can purify an entire space thanks to its 700 square foot reach, along with the following specs.

  • 13 x 13 x 28.2 inches
  • 18.2 pounds
  • 3-speed fanv
  • Recyclable filters
  • 3-part filtration

Pathogens are everywhere, but that does not mean you should not do everything you can to get them out of your house. If you are considering purchasing an air purifier, call Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating in Hanover today for more information. In addition, our team offers heating and cooling repair, installation, and maintenance.

How to Fix Uneven Heating in Your Home

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating understands how frustrating it can be to have rooms in your home at different temperatures. Uneven heating can be caused by a variety of issues and create drastic temperature differences between the various rooms in your home. Fixing these problems can lead to a more enjoyable and comfortable home environment.

Use a Zoned Heating System

Ductless mini-split heating systems are a great way to combat uneven heating in your home. These units are installed high on the walls of your home and don’t require a central heating system. You’ll be able to set different temperature zones for various areas of your home.

Add Insulation and Energy-Efficient Windows

Heat loss in certain rooms of your home can cause the temperature to drop. Single-pane windows can cause a lot of heat to escape. Replacing them with an energy-efficient alternative can keep your home cool. Adding insulation in critical places, especially your attic, will also reduce heat loss and minimize uneven heating.

Clear Air Vent Areas

Having objects in front of the vents in rooms can reduce the amount of warm air that can heat that particular space. Remove all furniture and anything else that can obstruct airflow to ensure maximum airflow in each room of your home.

Keep the Fan Running

Switching the fan on your heater from “auto” to “on” can keep it running even if you aren’t actively heating. This will encourage the mixing of air throughout your home and help prevent cold spots.

Your Skilled Heating Technicians

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating in Hanover, MD can assist with furnace and AC installation, replacement, and maintenance. We can also work with heat pumps, boilers, ductwork, and indoor air quality solutions. Our team works hard to maintain an A+ rating with the BBB by putting customer needs first. We’re fully licensed, bonded, and insured for our work. Give Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating a call today to learn more about our services.

Are Annual Furnace Inspections Necessary?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Uncategorized.

In Hanover, Maryland, Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating is the place to call when you need help with your heating system. Our skilled technicians can handle any problem you throw at them. However, many homeowners do not realize that you can avoid emergency repairs with an annual furnace inspection and tune-up.

Keep Your System at Peak Efficiency

When we install a new heating system, it powerfully heats your home, providing comfort through the winter months. With each season, the system loses some of its initial power and efficiency. The natural process of wear and tear can loosen parts and affect the burner settings. You may notice that you are using a little more fuel each season. A maintenance appointment with the experts at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating can make a huge difference. They will clean out any accumulated dust, lubricate moving parts and re-calibrate the settings. This series of small adjustments will keep your system running at its best.

Increase Your System’s Life

A new system may be able to go for a couple of years without routine maintenance, but ignoring routine maintenance will probably cost you in the long run. Our technicians see a lot of furnaces. An annual inspection can be the difference between a short life and a long life. If you want your furnace to last for extra seasons, keep it well-maintained.

Avoid Emergency Repairs

There is nothing worse than realizing that your furnace is not working in the middle of winter. While the experts at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating will get there as soon as we can, it is far better if we can handle small repairs before they shut your system down. During your annual inspection, our technicians will look over your furnace for any potential problems. They can replace parts that are showing signs of stress. You can rest assured that your heating system will supply you with another season of home comfort.

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating is ready to handle the heating and cooling needs of residents and businesses in the Hanover area. We have the expertise and experience to get the job done. If it is time for your annual furnace inspection, contact Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating today.

Furnace Tips for the Holidays

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Just as it starts getting cold out for the holiday season, people begin to make their homes cozy and inviting for guests. While the temperature you usually set your thermostat at is comfortable, a house full of guests can quickly become too warm. Here are some tips to consider when heating your home during the holidays.

Schedule a Visit From an HVAC Professional

You should have an HVAC specialist inspect your heating system before the holidays begin. They will ensure your system is operating efficiently and effectively. A tune-up of your system can result in lower energy bills and less likelihood of needing an expensive repair or having your furnace breakdown. They can also inspect your ductwork for leaks and clean it.

Replace Your Furnace Filter

You should inspect your filter monthly and replace it every few months as needed. This will result in clean air for your guests.

Use Your Ceiling Fans

Many ceiling fans have a reverse setting for colder months. This setting pushes warm air down to where your guests are and will reduce your heating costs.

Lower the Temperature

People give off body heat, warming a home. If you are expecting a lot of guests over you should reduce the temperature by one to two degrees. This will make your home more comfortable and prevent a situation where you need to turn down the thermostat.

Cook What You Can Before Guests Arrive

Cooking also heats a home. To prevent your home from getting too hot, cook what you can before people arrive at your home.

HVAC Specialist to Call

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating provides HVAC services to people throughout the greater Hanover region. We have been providing excellent services to homeowners and businesses for many years. As a locally owned and operated company, we offer a full range of HVAC services including AC and furnace repairs, tune-ups, custom ductwork, and installations. For more information, please call us today.

Furnace vs Fireplace: Which One is More Efficient?

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Heating.

Is there anything more glorious than bright flames in the fireplace? In terms of looks, a fireplace is much more spectacular than invisible hot air coming from ducts. That said, a fireplace might not be the perfect replacement for a furnace. If you are looking at the energy efficiency side of things, a furnace has some benefits. Before you make any decisions, look closely at an energy efficiency comparison between the two.

A Fuel-Power Rating System

Both a gas fireplace and a gas furnace must burn fuel to generate the flames required to create heat. Efficiency usually refers to how much gas becomes necessary to generate heat. When a system uses too much gas, then it doesn’t rank high on the efficiency scale. And there literally is a scale. The Annual Fuel Efficiency Ratio (AFER) scale logs the percentage of gas burned to generate. Top-of-the-line furnaces deliver a ratio well into the 90% range. Lower-quality furnaces won’t provide that much. A fireplace, however, has a very unimpressive ratio because it must produce a giant flame, generally, for visual purposes.

Tune-Ups Help with Efficiency

A dirty furnace won’t produce heat at the highest level of efficiency. Neither would one in need of parts upgrades. Perhaps a tune-up would give a furnace a greater efficiency boost. Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating meets a variety of heating and cooling service requests in the Hanover, MD, area. If you want furnace repair or replacement, the technicians at the company can do the job.

Combining the Furnace and Fireplace

A fireplace can’t heat an entire home, but it can heat a single room efficiently. Perhaps the furnace could run at, possibly, 60 degrees to keep the house warm while the furnace keeps an occupied room at 70 degrees. A fireplace can’t replace a furnace because of its limitations, but it may complement the furnace nicely.

Maximize the efficiency of heat in your home today. Make a fast call to Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating to set a date on a service call. We offer heating and cooling services.

How to Fix Uneven Heating in Your Home

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating understands how frustrating it can be to have rooms in your home at different temperatures. Uneven heating can be caused by a variety of issues and create drastic temperature differences between the various rooms in your home. Fixing these problems can lead to a more enjoyable and comfortable home environment.

Use a Zoned Heating System

Ductless mini-split heating systems are a great way to combat uneven heating in your home. These units are installed high on the walls of your home and don’t require a central heating system. You’ll be able to set different temperature zones for various areas of your home.

Add Insulation and Energy-Efficient Windows

Heat loss in certain rooms of your home can cause the temperature to drop. Single-pane windows can cause a lot of heat to escape. Replacing them with an energy-efficient alternative can keep your home cool. Adding insulation in critical places, especially your attic, will also reduce heat loss and minimize uneven heating.

Clear Air Vent Areas

Having objects in front of the vents in rooms can reduce the amount of warm air that can heat that particular space. Remove all furniture and anything else that can obstruct airflow to ensure maximum airflow in each room of your home.

Keep the Fan Running

Switching the fan on your heater from “auto” to “on” can keep it running even if you aren’t actively heating. This will encourage the mixing of air throughout your home and help prevent cold spots.

Your Skilled Heating Technicians

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating in Hanover can assist with furnace and AC installation, replacement, and maintenance. We can also work with heat pumps, boilers, ductwork, and indoor air quality solutions. Our team works hard to maintain an A+ rating with the BBB by putting customer needs first. We’re fully licensed, bonded, and insured for our work.

Give Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating a call today to learn more about our services.

How to Measure Your Home’s Energy Efficiency

Written by Kevin on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Your home’s energy efficiency impacts everything from how easy it is to stay cool during the summer to how much you pay in monthly energy bills. You may already have a general idea of how efficient your home is if you’ve felt hot or cold spots in certain rooms. However, you probably don’t know your home’s exact energy efficiency rating. That’s where we come in! Here at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, our expert technicians can perform three tests to measure the efficiency of your Hanover home.

Blower Door Test

A blower door test is designed to measure your home’s air-tightness. The more airtight your home is, the more energy-efficient it is because heat loss is minimized. The test is performed by attaching a large fan to a door in your home. When we turn the fan on, the test is able to measure the airflow that passes through the fan in or out of the house.

Low-Emissivity Window Checkers

Low-emissivity coatings are used on modern windows to reduce home heat loss. Not only do these coatings increase your home’s energy-efficiency, but they also help keep your home comfortable. Many modern windows are treated for low-emissivity, but some older windows or specialty windows do not. We use a device called a low-emissivity window checker to find out if any of your windows should be replaced.

Infrared Cameras

Infrared cameras have the technology to capture hot and cold spots. We use the camera to take images around your house, of both the interior and exterior of the building. We’re able to use the resulting images to identify spots where your home is experiencing air leaks or insulation problems.

Hanover’s Expert Heating & Cooling Technicians
Here at Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, we’re Hanover’s experts in home energy efficiency. Our technicians are skilled at performing all the tests needed to measure your home’s energy efficiency, in addition to providing expert heating, cooling, and indoor air quality solutions. Whether you need a tune-up, replacement, or repairs, we’re the right team for the job. Give us a call today to learn more.

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