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7 Things to Look for When Choosing a Heating Contractor

Written by Kevin on November 16, 2021. Posted in Heating.

Whether you need a new heater in your Hanover home or simply require routine heater maintenance, finding the right professionals to handle the job is important. The best heating contractors offer competitive rates, pride themselves on transparency, and have a broad range of capabilities. They’re also aligned with the top heating equipment manufacturers. Following are seven key things to look for when hiring a heating contractor.

1. Significant Industry Experience

Choosing to hire an established heating contractor with ample work history can be beneficial in many ways. To start, you can rest assured that the technicians working on your project know what they’re doing. Seasoned professionals have encountered a vast range of HVAC problems, and they’re expertly familiar with the top heating system brands and models. These attributes ensure fast and accurate diagnosis of problems, the application of the most economical and effective solutions, and fewer issues going forward.

It’s also much easier to learn more about an experienced company than it is to research one that’s only recently started in this field. Established companies can often provide a number of solid references, and they usually have plenty of online feedback to peruse. Before hiring any HVAC contractor, take some time to read through the reviews that other consumers have left. This will give you insight into their quality of workmanship, their response times, their level of customer service, and many other pertinent factors.

2. Professional Licensing and Insurance

Never hire an unlicensed and uninsured entity to complete any project on your property. Doing so can result in the cancellation of your own home insurance. It can also leave you footing the bill for any resulting property damages or personal injuries sustained on your premises. Although this seems like a no-brainer, many homeowners make the mistake of only looking for license numbers and insurance certificates rather than directly verifying these things with the issuing bodies.

Although many HVAC companies publish copies of their insurance certificates on their web pages, the only way to make sure that these policies are still in effect is by contacting insurers before work is started. Calling insurance companies to verify insurance is especially important if you have a fairly large project to complete. Should a contractor’s policy ever lapse during the work process because of non-payment or failure to meet the included terms, you’ll be notified right away. Contacting state boards to check the validity of contractor licenses will give you the opportunity to learn whether or not a company’s license has been suspended and whether a licensed party is currently facing any major legal issues.

3. Capabilities That Are in Line With Your Project Goals

Not all HVAC companies are equal in terms of their quality of work and their capabilities. You may have an aging furnace that needs to be serviced or replaced, or you could be looking to have your very first boiler installed. Working with companies that are familiar with the equipment type that you currently own or want is important. However, you also want to learn more about some of the expanded services that HVAC contractors provide. This is especially true if you’re looking to add heat to a home that lacks ductwork for supporting a central forced-air heating system or if you want to have a ductless heat pump installed. A good company can offer a diverse range of heater types. They can also assist with additional needs such as duct cleaning, custom ducting, indoor air quality, and cooling system maintenance, repair, or installation.

4. Excellent Customer Service

It’s not enough for an HVAC company to provide a broad range of services and products. Not all homeowners in Hanover, Maryland, are aware of the latest innovations in this field. More importantly, there are few consumers who are capable of determining which solutions are exactly right for their needs. The best HVAC contractors will always take the time to carefully explain each of your available options. This remains true whether they’re performing minor heater repairs or full-on heating system replacements. Understanding the benefits and drawbacks of each option helps homeowners make their own informed decisions about their heating and cooling needs. Some companies take the time to explain different services and solutions in person. Others maintain vast online knowledge bases that consumers can peruse at their own discretion.

Another sure sign of excellent customer service is a solid satisfaction guarantee. When HVAC contractors provide both the labor and the materials for any project, reputable companies will reliably correct any errors or oversights or replace defective products. They’ll also state their willingness to do so in writing. As you shop your options in local providers, ask to see copies of their standard job contracts. These should include clear language pertaining to any guarantees being offered.

5. Timely Service

Nearly every HVAC company in the region is inundated with service requests whenever the weather turns excessively hot or cold. Many homeowners make the mistake of waiting until they absolutely need their heating and cooling equipment before turning it on, checking its functionality, and performing important seasonal maintenance. Whether you’re caught with a last-minute issue resulting from negligence or have a well-maintained system that breaks down unexpectedly, you’ll want to have an HVAC contractor that can schedule an appointment fairly quickly. Moreover, if you need immediate service, you shouldn’t have to pay ultra-high rates to get it.

6. Competitive, Transparent Pricing

Don’t make the mistake of hiring the absolute cheapest HVAC contractor that you can find. Although price is definitely an important factor to check, you shouldn’t make it your sole consideration. Instead, look for companies that work hard to maintain competitive prices and that are totally transparent when issuing their estimates. When reading consumer reviews, check to see whether the contractors that you’re considering are known for having hidden fees. The top professionals in this field maintain strong supplier relationships and have established partnerships with many leading HVAC brands. This allows them to source essential products and components fast and at affordable prices. More importantly, it enables them to pass generous discounts down to you. A good HVAC contractor will additionally offer an in-person quote. Before any job is accepted or completed, you should get a line-by-line breakdown of all associated costs.

7. A Commitment to Energy Efficiency

When upgrading your home heating and cooling equipment, you always want to work with contractors who are committed to offering energy-efficient models and helping you enjoy their full benefits. These entities will explain the ongoing rewards of paying a bit more up front in order to limit your energy consumption, cut your home heating bills, lower your carbon footprint, and increase your overall comfort. They take the time to explain the advantages of having the latest and most cutting-edge features. They also train their clients in effectively using their upgraded heating equipment, whether they’re installing high-efficiency heaters, programmable thermostats, smart thermostats, or high-end heat pumps.

Energy efficiency doesn’t stop at installing high-performing heaters and teaching customers how to use them. HVAC contractors can also recommend important changes to the building’s interior. These might include ductwork replacement or repairs, sealing off gaps, cracks, and other air leaks in building materials, upgrading or adding insulation, and more.

At Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating, we offer top-rated HVAC products from Daikin, Trane, Goodman, and Lennox. We also provide first-rate heater repair, heater replacement, and indoor air quality services. Homeowners in the greater Hanover, Maryland, area can turn to us for custom ductwork, heat pumps, and much more. If you’re looking for a reputable, reliable heating contractor, call us today.

8 Ways to Know if You Should Repair or Replace Your Heating System

Written by Kevin on November 2, 2021. Posted in Heating.

Having problems with your furnace is stressful enough, and the worry of having to replace it only adds fuel to that fire. Fortunately, there are eight simple ways to evaluate whether you should repair or replace your system.

1. How Old Is Your System?

When properly maintained, the average heating system should last roughly 15 to 20 years. As your system ages, it naturally loses efficiency, so the older your system is, the more it’ll cost to run. In addition to using more energy, your system’s components will eventually wear out and need repairs.

Even if your system seems like it’s strong right now, an aging system could give out at any time. If your system is nearing the end of its expected service life, start planning your replacement now. This helps ease the burden of replacing your system, keeping it from becoming an emergency when you need it most.

2. Have You Kept Up With Routine Maintenance?

Your heating system needs routine maintenance to serve your family for its full intended service life. This is so important to the function of your system that most manufacturers require it as a term to maintain their warranty.

Your system naturally collects contaminants on the circulating fan and heat exchanger as it runs. When this happens, it puts strain on the entire system, causing it to wear out more quickly. This extra wear increases over time if not resolved and erodes your system’s service life.

During routine maintenance, your technician will clean these areas of your furnace to keep air flowing freely. They’ll also test your system’s components to ensure they are working optimally. Suboptimal components also cause additional wear and should be repaired before they lead to more substantial damage.

3. Is Your System Leaking Carbon Monoxide?

We all know how dangerous carbon monoxide can be. It’s known as the silent household killer. What you may not know is that your furnace is one of the primary sources of carbon monoxide in your home.

This deadly gas is one of the byproducts of burning fuel in your furnace. With a properly designed and maintained system, this easily escapes through the vent and dissipates in the air outside.

However, some problems with the system allow this to leak into your home. You should always keep a carbon monoxide detector in your home to let you know if there’s an issue. A technician will also do more testing during routine maintenance to detect smaller leaks that may not have set off your household detector.

A cracked heat exchanger is one of the more common causes of carbon monoxide leaks in a furnace. Part of your routine maintenance is a visual inspection of your exchanger to see if there are any cracks. A cracked heat exchanger commonly means it’s time for a new heating system.

4. Are You Consuming More Energy?

You likely keep an eye on your energy bill every month and cringe as the prices keep jumping. However, more important than the cost of your utility bills every month is the energy you consume.

As your system gets older, it naturally loses some of its efficiency, extending your heating cycles. Your system uses the same amount of fuel while running, so longer cycles mean more fuel used. You’ll notice this in your energy bill when you compare your fuel consumption to the same month last year.

If every month has higher consumption, then you know you have an efficiency problem. While some maintenance tasks may fix some efficiency problems, they are also a sign of an aging system nearing the end of its service life.

5. How Much Are Your Repair Bills?

Repair bills are another key indicator of what’s happening with your system. Common knowledge among HVAC professionals is that repairs increase in the last two years of a heating system’s service life. Not only do the number of repairs increase, but so do the complexity and cost of those repairs.

There’s an easy way to determine if the repairs warrant a new system. Take the total costs of your repairs over the last two years and multiply that by the age of your system. If that cost equals more than the cost of the new system, it’s time to get the replacement.

6. Is Your Furnace Making Strange Noises?

Strange noises also let you know when there’s something wrong with your system, and potentially when it needs replacing. Nearly all furnaces make some level of noise, and not all noises mean you need a new unit.

However, most noises, especially ones that are loud or get louder over time, indicate problems that need attention. Ignoring those problems only causes more damage to the entire system. Some noises, like a rattling from within your furnace unit when it first starts up, may indicate a serious problem, like a cracked heat exchanger.

7. How Soon Do You Plan to Sell Your Home?

As you’re looking at heating repairs and home investments, consider how quickly you want to sell your home. If you’re considering a move in the next two or three years, it may be time to replace an aging system, even if it may be a little earlier than if you were to stay longer.

One of the considerations for many buyers is major repairs and investments the home will need in the first couple of years after the purchase. An aging heating system means they’ll have that expense sooner over later. While this may not have a large effect on an offer, it may mean your ideal buyer would make an offer on a similar property with a newer system.

8. Could You Use a Tax Break?

Who doesn’t like to get a break on their taxes at the end of the year? If your system is aging, and you’re looking at repairs, that’s sunk money. However, if you replace your system, there are tax credits available for qualifying units. For instance, there is a $150 federal tax credit for natural gas, oil and propane furnaces with an Annualized Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating of 95% or better.

Choosing a New Heating System

It’s important to choose the right heating system for your home. You may be able to swap out an old gas furnace for a more efficient heat pump or geothermal system. Or upgrade to a high-efficiency system to help reduce your operating costs.

You’ll also need to make sure you get the right size heating system for your home. While knowing your serviceable square feet is a good start, there are other considerations that affect your need. This could be the environment around your house, how many people occupy your home, your windows and insulation, just to name a few. An experienced installation professional will take all of these into account when recommending an appropriate unit for your home.

People around Hanover have turned to Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating for trusted heating installation and repairs since 2015. Our team of expert technicians provides a full range of heating and cooling installation, maintenance and repair services, along with indoo

Space Heater Safety Tips to Prevent House Fires

Written by Kevin on October 19, 2021. Posted in Heating.

One of the leading causes of house fires in the wintertime is the misuse of space heaters. If you’re thinking of supplementing your regular heating system with a space heater, you’ll want to follow the tips below.

Never Run Attended

One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make when using their space heater is running it when they’re not at home. With the growth of space heaters with built-in thermostats, many homeowners are leaving their space heaters on all the time. Whenever the room temperature drops below your set temperature, the space heater turns on. This may seem like a good idea on the surface, but it can actually be detrimental to your home.

It’s not uncommon for pets to knock over your space heater. Whenever you’re not home, the thermostat could cause your space heater to automatically turn on while it’s lying on the floor. This can easily lead to overheating and a house fire. Instead, always unplug your heater when you’re done using it. In addition, never have your space heater on when you’re sleeping.

Purchase One That Is Safety Certified

To ensure safe consumer operation, space heaters can undergo safety certification testing by three major consumer health companies. If the space heater is deemed safe after extensive testing, it will receive one of three labels. These include UL, ETL, and CSA. Make sure that whatever space heater you want to purchase has one of these safety certifications on its label.

Always Place on the Floor

Due to the fact that heat naturally rises, it’s a good idea to place your space heater on the floor. You want to be mindful of where exactly you place it so that it’s out of the way of any doorways or major traffic routes throughout your home. In addition, you want to make sure that whatever material the floor is made of that it’s not flammable. You don’t want to be placing your space heater on a carpet that is flammable as it will likely overheat and catch fire.

You also want to be mindful of where you position the cord for your space heater. Avoid trying to hide it underneath carpeting or furniture. Not only does this create a tripping hazard, but it can also cause the wiring to overheat and result in a fire. It’s best to position your cord out of the way and visible for those walking in the area.

Don’t Use Power Strips

It’s essential to realize that space heaters draw a lot of power to run effectively. Many power strips and even extension cords are not rated to handle the amount of power that your space heater needs to pull to run. It’s best to avoid using either of these options. Rather, you want to plug your space heater directly into a wall outlet and make sure that the other outlet is not in use.

Give It 3 Feet

When positioning your space heater in a room in your home, it’s a good idea to pay attention to what’s around it. You’ll want to give it a good 3 feet of open space the whole way around the entire space heater. This helps to prevent the unit from overheating and ensures that it doesn’t catch any flammable objects on fire. Make sure that you’re looking out for all objects like curtains, bedding, or even photographs on the wall.

Make Sure It’s in Good Condition Before Each Use

Over time, your space heater can be susceptible to deterioration, depending on how long you’ve had your heater and how careful you are with its physical structure. The most obvious type of deterioration is that the cord becomes loose or exposes its wiring. Another problem may be that the actual housing on the space heater has started to crack in various areas.

Every time you go to plug your space heater in, you should be looking it over to check its condition. If you notice any of these wear and tear problems, it’s best to avoid using the space heater. Simply throw it out and invest in a new one.

Talk to Your Kids About Safety

As you know, space heaters can be quite dangerous when not utilized correctly. While you likely understand the dangers, it’s very unlikely that your children do as well. Rather, you’ll need to sit down and discuss the dangers associated with space heaters and create some boundaries for your children. These boundaries should include who is allowed to operate the space heater and what distance they should stay from the space heater at all times.

Consider Investing in the Pet Sense Safety Feature

If you have pets in your home, they can create a hazard when it comes to your space heater. Simply sitting next to it it may cause them to receive burns, and running around it may cause them to tip it over. One great safety feature that many newer space heaters have is referred to as Petsense.

There is a sensor inside the space heater that determines if anything comes too close to it. If it does, it will turn the space heater off to prevent it from burning or causing a fire. This can be a great safety feature to purchase for people who have young children as well as pets.

Get Tip-Over Protection

Another great safety feature that you may want to consider investing in is tip-over protection. This particular safety feature provides a sensor inside of the space heater that will shut the unit off if it senses that it’s no longer level. This can be an especially useful safety feature for homes with children and pets.

Look for Overheat Protection

Overheat protection is another safety feature that many space heater manufacturers are integrating into their newer models. This feature works by using an internal sensor inside of the space heater that pays attention to the heat of its internal components. Whenever it senses that the internal components are getting too hot, it will automatically shut off the unit for a specified period of time.

Consider Cool-Touch Housing

Another must-have safety feature for any new space heater is cool-touch housing. One thing that you may have noticed with older model space heaters is that they can get very hot when they’re run for long periods of time. Whenever you touch the outside of them, they can get to the point where they burn your skin. Investing in a space heater with cool-touch housing can allow the outside of your space heater to remain cool to the touch regardless of how often it runs. Again, this is a great option to invest in for houses with young children and pets.

Premier Heating Services

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating provides premier heating services for the entire Hanover, MD, community. We’re also proud to take care of all of your indoor air quality, custom ductwork, heat pump, AC repair, AC maintenance, AC installation, furnace conversion, furnace repair, furnace maintenance, furnace installation, and commercial HVAC service needs. Call us today to schedule a consultation appointment.

Knowing When to Repair or Replace Your Heating System

Written by Kevin on October 5, 2021. Posted in Heating.

Heating system problems commonly lead to significant stress. They usually happen during the times you depend on it most, making repairs an emergency. It’s easy to think you’re going to need an entirely new system with even the slightest problems. However, not every problem necessitates a replacement. Here’s how to know when to consider repairing versus replacing your heating system.

Your System’s Age

Your system’s age is one of the first things to consider when determining how to proceed with your problem. With proper maintenance, the average heating system will last 15 to 20 years. If your system is less than 10 years old, you may be able to repair your system. You may even have a warranty to cover those repairs. As you approach and exceed 15 years, some other factors will play a more significant role.

Maintenance History

Your heating system will need periodic maintenance if you want it to reach its full expected service life. This maintenance includes deep cleaning, plus testing to check for small problems that will quickly escalate into major repairs. If you haven’t given your system regular maintenance, you’re likely going to need a replacement sooner, with repairs cascading due to excessive strain.

Climbing Energy Bills

As good practice, you should keep an eye on your energy consumption both month to month and year to year. Seeing your actual consumption increase every month over the previous year indicates your system is losing efficiency. This may be as simple as your system needing a tune-up, or it could be a symptom of an older system nearing the end of its service life.

Increasingly Frequent Repairs

You may have parts fail or wear out over the years you’ll use your system. However, steadily increasing repairs indicates you’re heading toward the end of your service life. In fact, it’s common knowledge you’ll face the most repairs over the last two years of your heating system’s usefulness.

Skyrocketing Repair Costs

Not only will your system need more frequent repairs, but those repairs will also become increasingly more expensive as the major components fail. You can easily determine whether the costs to repair your system warrants replacing the system instead.

Simply multiply the cost of the repairs needed by your system’s age in years. If the product is greater than the cost of a new system, you’re better off replacing your system. Consider adding the last 12 months’ repairs together, and do the calculation if your system is greater than 15 years old.

Inconsistent Temperatures

Your system should evenly heat your home when everything is working properly and your vents are all open. Inconsistent temperatures only indicate your system has a problem. This could range from an ineffective duct system to a failing circulating fan or a major burner problem. Combine this problem with other variables to determine if you should solve this problem on its own or look at a new system.

Unusual Cycle Length

Your system should not run constantly but should have a cycle length of 10-20 minutes, depending on the outside temperature. Longer cycles indicate your system’s efficiency is waning. Shorter cycles are often more frequent and indicate your system may be overheating. This is common both when a sensor fails and when your system nears the end of its service life. A professional evaluation will help you determine which is the case for your system.

Color of Your Burner Flame

Your burner should produce a blue flame when it’s working properly. However, a flickering or yellow flame indicates your fuel may not be burning completely. This both reduces your energy efficiency and indicates an increased risk of carbon monoxide issues with your system. This may be a simple problem with the gas regulator or the burner itself. It could also indicate a problem like a cracked heat exchanger, which likely means you need a new system due to the cost of a replacement.

Soot Around Your Unit

Another common symptom of your furnace not fully consuming its fuel is soot. You’ll notice this around the burning chamber when it’s time to clean your system. In extreme cases, you may also notice it around your vents or on the floor around your unit. The most common cause for significant soot buildup is a cracked heat exchanger. One of our technicians can help you determine the underlying problem and whether you should repair your system or consider a replacement.

Carbon Monoxide Leak

Almost everyone knows that carbon monoxide is a significant health risk and is nearly undetectable without a device to catch it. It’s also one of the most significant risks of using a natural gas or propane-fueled heating system. If your carbon monoxide detector is going off, get your family out of the house and call for help.

If the source of the carbon monoxide turns out to be your heating system, you will likely want to replace it. The most common source of carbon monoxide leaks is a cracked heat exchanger.

Lack of Heating Power

You may notice your heating system is running, but there’s not much heat coming from your vents. There may simply be less air coming from your vents, which indicates an airflow restriction of some kind. In contrast, you may have plenty of air, but it’s just not as warm.

In either case, this may be an issue that’s easily resolved with routine maintenance. A dirty circulating fan or heat exchanger may cause this issue. It may also be indicative of your system turning the corner on its age, heading quickly toward a replacement. If you haven’t had maintenance this year, start there, and let the technician test your system and see if there are any other underlying causes. Most companies charge nearly the same for a maintenance visit as they do for a service call.

You’ve Increased Service Variables

When your system was installed, it should have been sized based on the serviceable area’s square feet. The size also took into consideration other variables such as how many people occupy your home, the size and number of windows, and the height of your ceilings, among other things.

If you’ve made any major changes to your home, your system may no longer be appropriately sized. If you’ve replaced windows with larger ones or added heating to your garage or attic, you may need to upgrade your system.

Trying to run an improperly sized system for your space puts excessive strain on the system and drives up utility costs. If your system is too big, it’ll cause short cycling due to generating too much heat and not effectively circulating it. This also causes excessive strain from constantly starting and stopping and near continual cycling.

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating is a heating service provider for residents in and around Hanover, MD. Our team of reliable technicians provide both heating and cooling installation, maintenance, and repair in addition to indoor air quality solutions. Call to schedule your consultation with one of our experts to discuss whether it’s time for a new heating system for your home.

The Most Efficient HVAC System for Your Home

Written by Kevin on September 15, 2021. Posted in Heating.

One of the most common questions when it comes to home heating and cooling concerns is which equipment is the most efficient. Homeowners often want a simple and clear answer, but the truth is that the question is quite complex. It involves numerous factors and demands context. The most efficient HVAC system in the South, for instance, may not provide enough heat here in Maryland and would therefore not be practical. In order to provide the best possible answer for you, we will break the question down into its most important components and provide you context for each.

Central Heating and Cooling

All of the HVAC systems that are in the discussion for most efficient all have one thing in common, and that is a centralized design. Central systems have ductwork that is normally installed above the ceilings but can also be installed in walls and under the floors. The heating and/or cooling equipment conditions the air, which is then distributed throughout the ducts by force via an air handler. Used air enters the system via one or more intake registers, and the air is provided to individual rooms via exhaust vents. This is a pressurized system that ensures that the air is being distributed evenly throughout the building.

Zoned Heating and Cooling

Although debatable as the technologies continue to evolve, an argument can be made that zoned systems are the most efficient subset of centralized systems. In a traditional central air setup, there is one fixed-speed air handler, and the entire home is a single zone. In a zoned system, the residence is broken up into various zones that can be heated and cooled on an individual basis. Such systems often have a variable-speed air handler, and there can also be multiple air handlers and even multiple heating and cooling units. Zoning allows you to minimize heating and cooling in those areas of the home that are not being used, and that can make a significant difference in total energy used over the long term.

SEER, AFUE, and HSPF

The HVAC industry, along with the federal government, has developed ratings that let you compare energy efficiency across like-technologies. SEER stands for seasonal energy efficiency ratio, and it represents the electrical input to cooling output over a typical cooling season. You can use this value to compare one AC unit to another and determine which is more efficient. Likewise, AFUE—which stands for annual fuel utilization efficiency—lets you compare furnaces and other heating equipment. A furnace with an 80 AFUE rating converts 80% of the fuel it consumes into heat.

Another metric to be aware of is the heating seasonal performance factor. HSPF is used to evaluate heat pumps when they are in heating mode. Heat pumps can cool as well, and SEER ratings are available so that you can compare heat pumps to other heat pumps and air conditioners in regard to cooling. AFUE does not apply, however, since heat pumps transfer heat rather than extract it.

Air Conditioners

Central air conditioners all share one thing in common, and this is the use of electricity. Most work on the same basic premise as well, which involves a compressor, a condenser coil, and an evaporator coil. All three of those components work together to manipulate the refrigerant, which cools the air. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit will run and the lower your utility costs. Most modern AC units have a SEER rating of at least 13. Air conditioners must have a 14.5 rating to qualify for the ENERGY STAR label. There are SEER ratings as high as 21, but this is where it gets complex because there is absolutely a point of diminishing returns depending on the size of your home and other factors.

Heat Pumps: Air-Source vs. Geothermal

Traditional air-source heat pumps are an excellent alternative to pairing an air conditioner with a furnace if the home is in a moderate climate. If the climate is too cold in winter or too hot in summer, an air-source heat pump will generally be inefficient. Geothermal heat pumps are a newer technology that transfers heat to and from the ground. This technology is in the running for the most efficient HVAC system in a vacuum, and what is interesting about them is that they are well suited to cold climates where traditional heat pumps are not an option. They still come up short in hot climates, however.

Furnaces: Electric vs. Natural Gas

This can be a polarizing aspect of the discussion because it depends on perspective. In terms of pure efficiency and what is best for the environment, electric wins out. AFUE ratings can be as high as 100, and electric is simply a cleaner fuel source. AFUE ratings for gas furnaces get close at 97. However, natural gas is usually the cheaper option, and many people prefer the feel of the heat. In addition, most people are making a choice base on what they have available. If you are already set up for an electric or gas furnace, it usually does not make financial sense to switch to another source.

High-Efficiency Furnaces

Most furnaces have an AFUE rating between 80% and 85%. HE furnaces are able to achieve superior ratings by using a second heat exchanger to recapture some of the loss. These units are absolutely cheaper to run over the long term. However, the difference in initial cost is significant, and the average homeowner cannot justify the savings.

Smart Thermostats and Other Smart Features

The most energy-efficient HVAC systems are smart systems. HVAC systems are getting smarter all the time and being better integrated into the overall smart home. The concept of smart HVAC begins with a programmable automatic thermostat that can adjust your system based on context. This can save you a considerable amount of money, for instance, when the system can dial back the cooling or heat because everyone is asleep. Other smart features include shades that can open and close based on the amount of sunlight and vents that can open and close in the zoned system based on room use.

Humidifiers and Dehumidifiers

Relative humidity is an important component of home comfort. An air conditioner can remove moisture from the air, but in particularly warm environments, a dedicated whole-home dehumidifier can make a big difference. The AC unit does not have to work as hard, and you can be comfortable at a higher temperature. Furnaces, on the other hand, tend to dry out the air. A whole-home humidifier not only improves indoor air quality but allows you to heat your home comfortably at a lower temperature.

Your Local HVAC Pros in Maryland

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating is a leading HVAC company that is proud to serve homeowners and businesses in Hanover and throughout the surrounding areas. Our company designs, installs, services, and repairs heating and cooling systems for residential and commercial clients throughout the region. We also specialize in air purifiers and whole-home humidifiers. If you have any questions about our services or would like to schedule an appointment or on-site consultation, call us today or contact us online.

Furnace vs Fireplace: Which One is More Efficient?

Written by Kevin on November 18, 2019. 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.