Posts Tagged ‘heating and cooling salt lake city’

Brrrr.  It is freezing outside!  Winter has finally arrived and the need for Utah heating is here.  Fortunately today we don’t have to be like the pioneers and haul wood in for a fire to be comfortable and warm in our own homes.  A simple push of the button and bring on the warmth.

Today there are so many options to make your heater work even more smoothly and better for you. There are many benefits to have a properly working heater in your home and Utah heating can help.  Some of these conveniences include:  a time switch, a room thermostat, a weather compensator, a delayed start and a night setback function.

A time switch is a convenience that offers “on-off” control over a circuit.  You can set a time that you want your heater to turn off or on.  This can allow you to turn it off immediately or to get it turned on when you first feel cold.

A room thermostat is a simple device that allows you to control the temperature of the air in a room.  They are simple to control and designed to allow you the power to control the temperature of the room it is in.  This contraption starts up the pump and boiler of your heater to allow your room to stay at the desired temperature levels.

A weather compensator does just what its name says.  It compensates for the weather outside.  This is done by monitoring internal and external temperatures causing the heater to go on or off depending on what the weather is doing.

A delay start can be very handy.  It uses internal and external sensors to determine if the heater should go on or should wait, depending on the outside temperature.  This can help to save energy and money for the homeowner.

The night setback device allows for a home to be heated at a lower temperature during the night.  Many who are sleeping during the night do not notice their homes being cooler in the middle of the night as they are nestled snugly in their beds.  This function also allows for more energy to be saved and can help to reduce the time it takes a heater to start up if an under floor system is used for heating.

There are many other options available for securing a properly heated home.  Utah heating has a good reputation for being informed and reliable.  Remember that when it is cold outside, you don’t have to be inside.

There are a lot of things you can do in your home to keep your home warm during the winter. Winterizing your home is important because of the cold winter temperatures that happen in Utah. If you haven’t already done these, here are some tips with how to keep your home warmer and safer during the winter.

Get your furnace inspected. Contact your Utah heating professionals and ask them to inspect your furnace and clean out your ductwork. Dirty ducts or a faulty furnace could lead to high heating bills and inefficient heat in the home, so a Utah heating professional can really come in handy.

Change out your furnace filter of your Utah heating system when it is dirty. Usually filters need to be cleaned out on a month-to-month basis. Since you are going to be using it a lot during the winter you may want to save yourself trips to the store by stocking up on the filters in advance.

Do some inspecting. Look at the exterior doors and windows of your home to see if there are any leaks. You will want to check for any unsealed areas and fix the correction with weather stripping around doors and caulking around the windows.

Replace any broken or cracked glass windows. This is an easy way for hot air to escape the home and freezing cold air to enter it. If you replace the window with the windowsill be sure to prime and caulk the new wood.

You also want to be sure to watch for your Utah plumbing needs. Stop any potential plumbing catastrophes by taking preventative measures now. Drain your garden hoses, insulate your plumbing and pipes, and be sure that the heat in your home is at least 55 degrees to prevent frozen pipes.

You should also add additional insulation to your home if you live in areas of Utah that have weather that goes below 30 degrees in the winter. Good insulation keeps warm air in your home and cold air out. You can add insulation in your attic so the warm air in your home doesn’t escape through there.

Another thing to double check is your roof. Are there any worn roof tiles that might need replacing? The gutters on the roof should also be cleaned of any debris to ensure proper water removal during the winter.

Anyone who has dealt with frozen water pipes knows they aren’t fun. At the least, they are an annoyance as you can’t get the water you need for a morning shower before work.  At their worst the ice expands so much that your pipes burst and when the ice thaws, you have a huge mess all over your house.

If you live where temperatures routinely drop below freezing, you need to make sure your pipes are protected from freezing. Any pipes exposed to outdoor temperatures should be well insulated. This can include pipes above an unheated garage and even some pipes in exterior walls. Utah heating companies can help you with the right insulation for your pipes.

When insulating the pipes, make sure all areas are adequately covered. Even a small gap in the insulation can be enough to form an ice blockage. In very cold areas you may want to consider wrapping the pipes with electrical pipe heating wires to keep them from freezing. Contact a Utah heating specialist for help with this if you need it.

In the even of a power outage, if you know temperatures will be below freezing, open a tap that will allow water to slowly run through any pipes exposed to the cold. The water running through will prevent the pipes from freezing. You can also shut off the water to the house and drain the pipes by opening a faucet and leaving it open; this allows room for expansion so if the water does freeze, your pipes won’t burst.

If you will be away from home, leave your heater set to at least 55 degrees to insure your pipes won’t freeze. Keeping the garage door closed can increase its temperature by about 20 degrees. This also helps keep any adjoining rooms warmer as well.

Preventing frozen pipes is much better than having to deal with them after they are frozen, but what if in spite of all your preparations they unexpectedly freeze anyway? Never try to thaw frozen pipes using an open flame such as a torch. Besides the risk of fire, the high heat can cause the water to boil inside the pipes creating enough pressure to burst them. Also, never use boiling water to try to thaw your pipes.

You can use a hair dryer to heat the pipes and thaw the ice. We used work lights that also generate quite a bit of heat and let them shine on the frozen area. If your pipes have burst, shut off your water before thawing the pipes.

Once the water is flowing through your pipes again, if there are any leaks, it is time to fix them. If you are not familiar with fixing plumbing, you may want to call in a professional. If your frozen pipes are part of you heating system, Utah heating contractors can help with the repairs.

We don’t usually think about our heaters until the cold weather arrives. Then we turn on our heater, expecting it to work perfectly. If it doesn’t go on, we are in a panic trying to figure out what is wrong.

Before calling in a professional, there are a few simple things you should check yourself. Start by checking the thermostat to make sure it is on and turned up high enough to click on. Next check your furnace filter to make sure it is clean.

Check to make sure you have power to your furnace. If your furnace plugs into a wall outlet, use a lamp or something you know works and plug it into the same outlet. If you don’t have any power, check to see if the fuse has tripped and take the necessary steps to get power restored to the outlet.

If the outlet has power, but the furnace still won’t work, check to see if there is an emergency cut off switch on the furnace. You may need to read your owner’s manual to know where it is located. They usually have a red or white button.

If you have electricity, but your gas furnace won’t work, make sure you have gas going to the furnace. Has your propane run out? Was your gas turned off? Is the valve on at the furnace? The valve handle should be in line with the pipe to be open.

Most furnaces today have electronic ignition instead of using pilot lights. Don’t even try to start a malfunctioning furnace with an electronic ignition – it’s time to call the Utah heating professionals. If you have an old furnace that does use a pilot, make sure the pilot is lit.

If your furnace won’t start after you lit the pilot – it’s time to call the Utah heating professionals. If one of these steps hasn’t solved your problem, the repairs are most likely beyond your ability to fix. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

If you have gone through all these steps and your furnace still won’t start, it’s time to call a Utah heating professional. They are usually busiest when the first cold spell hits. Next year you may want to consider checking your furnace before the cold weather begins.

Are you looking for a new Utah heating unit to heat your home? Are you tired of your old heater taking forever to heat up your home? Or worse, it heats up your home fine but just guzzles down energy?

The best way to find a good Utah heating system is to do some research. Look around and ask around for favorite Utah heating systems that people recommend. One heating unit that is getting more and more popular is a waste oil furnace.

What is a waste oil furnace you may ask? Well, it is an oil furnace that uses a specific type of oil. It uses waste oil, or leftover oil, instead of your typical furnace oil.

The reason why this is gaining popularity is because it is helping the environment. Instead of throwing the leftover oil from cars and machines in a land fill somewhere and causing pollution you will be using it to heat your home. Quality waste oil furnaces burn the waste oil neatly.

Another reason to purchase and use a waste oil furnace is because it often is a relatively inexpensive way to heat your home. Since waste oil is heavier than the typical oil it doesn’t require as much oil to heat an area. Waste oil has a better count of higher heat than traditional heating oil.

Utah heating professionals will be able to help you know how you can find a waste oil furnace. Sometimes professionals will be able to make adjustments to your current oil furnace so it will work with waste oil. Be sure to use a qualified heating professional who has had experience with waste oil furnaces before.

Since you are using waste oil you need to be sure to find a place that supplies waste oil. This will take some effort on your part, but will be worth it. Good places to look for waste oil are garages, machine shops, industries, and loading docks. They often have waste oil they will give away if you come get it, or at least sell it at a minimal price.

Most systems will have a filter put in place to keep the oil clean. In order for oil to work properly in heating a home it is important to keep the oil clean from built-up residue. Oil drums do a good job keeping the waste oil clean.

A great way to do this is by running your heater to see if it is working correctly. Set the thermostat to a few degrees hotter than it currently is in your home. The furnace should turn on at this point with warm air blowing out.

If the heater seems to be heating up the room well and it is running properly you can turn the thermostat back to its normal, lower temperature. If there is a problem with the heater, like no warm air coming out of it or it not turning on, this is a good indication that there are repairs that need to be done. Contact your local Utah heating service technician for help fixing the issue.

Another good thing to check is the air filter. Be sure that the filter is clean and free from dirt and debris. If it looks dirty clean it or replace it with a new one.

You can also check the heating vents. Heating vents should be clean as well. Clear out any debris, dirt, or obstacles that might be blocking the air’s path through the vents.

Many Utahans use fireplaces for heat. Before using your chimney after the summer you want to be sure that it is clear of obstacles as well. Double check that there are no animals or birds nested in there, and that the chimney is free of any blockage.

You can also test to make sure your fireplace is working properly. Start a fire and make sure the smoke goes up the chimney and doesn’t smoke up your home instead. If the smoke can’t escape the chimney there is probably something blocking it.

Checking the Utah heating systems in your home will make sure that you have heat when you need it. The weather is starting to get chillier, so start testing out the systems now to prevent emergency situations later on. Comfort and safety come hand in hand with heating your home.

The fall is turning colder, and that means that Utah heating bills are starting to get higher. The need for a warmer house will continue to rise as we enter winter. Here are a few considerations to help you lower you electricity bill.

1. A great way to preserve heat in your home is through insulation. If you have a furnace, seal and insulate the furnace’s ductwork. Boilers should also have their pipes insulated.

Walls should also be insulated. Insulated walls keep rooms warmer, while poorly insulated walls do not. Be sure that the walls, floors, and even ceilings have a good source of insulation.

2. Take advantage of your thermostat! Thermostats are a great source of heat preservation. They allow you to program the exact temperature you want the room to be, so you can keep it at a lower temperature while you don’t need it warm – such as when you are away at work or sleeping.

Thermostats also help while you are away from home. Instead of “guessing” how hot the temperature should be, you have a temperature reading. That way you can make sure your home is the proper temperature so you don’t have to deal with busted, frozen pipes while you are away from home. It also prevents wasting energy that you don’t need to use.

3. Use the sun. The Sun can warm up your room in a natural way. Since it is a natural heat source be sure to open your curtains when you notice the sun is shining.

4. Lower the temperature of your home. Start off by lowering the temperature by one or two degrees with your Utah heating system. You shouldn’t be affected too much by such a small degree change, and you can always put on a warmer sweater to stay warmer.

5. Check for leaks out of rooms. Use weather stripping on windows and doors to make sure leaks isn’t causing the rooms to be colder than they need to be. Remember that leaks cause warm air to leave and cold air to come in, causing your Utah heating unit to have to work extra hard to heat the room. This will definitely cause a large heating bill.

When you are serious about saving energy it is important to know different cooling methods in your home. Utah air conditioning units can keep your home cool during the summer, but it also uses a lot of energy to cool the home down. Here are a few super saver tips for saving money on your electricity bill this month.

Use your ceiling fans. Ceiling fans have proven to make the room anywhere from 3 to 8 degrees cooler because it circulates the air around you. The other nice part is that many people can install ceiling fans themselves if they are the type of do-it-yourself individuals.

Be sure that you have the ceiling fan going the right way. You want the air to blow down, and remove the hot air next to you. Check that it is moving counter-clockwise to blow the air down. Some fans have a switch that allows you to change fan directions.
Clean out your Utah air conditioning unit’s filter. Utah air conditioning units should have their filters cleaned, or replaced, every month. A dirty filter makes your AC to have to work much harder, which will not save you any money on your electricity bill.

A lot of nifty inventions have come out to help cool you down. One of those is a chillow pillow. The chillow pillow is filled with water and is supposed to keep your head cool while you sleep.

Another cool invention was made for people who can’t sleep with out their covers, even when it is extremely hot. A fan, called the Bedfan, works to save you from having to run your AC unit during the night just to keep you comfortable through out the night. It attaches right on your bed, and fans right under the covers. It is especially handy for people who are prone to hot flashes and night sweats through out the night.

Avoid having sunlight stream directly in to your home. You don’t want the sunlight to raise the temperature of your home by a lot. Use drapes on especially hot days to keep the temperature in your home cooler.

Don’t forget to use the old classic options. Come home, drench your shirt in cold water, and wear your wrung-out shirt. The moisture on the skin should cool you down, especially if you have your fans going in the home. If you’re worried about your furniture use a towel for your back.

Swamp coolers and air conditioning units are used in many home across Utah. Utah air conditioning is necessary during the very hot summer months. But which is better, having a swamp cooler or air conditioning?

There are pros and cons to both. A swamp cooler is helpful for places that have dry climates, like Utah. It brings humidity into the air and cools it down. Evaporated coolers, or swamp coolers, have been around for a long time and are favorite items to many people.

But why would people prefer swamp coolers to Utah air conditioning units? Some people choose to use swamp coolers because they only have a small area to keep cool. They do not have to cool off a large area.

Swamp coolers are easier to install and require less effort. If you don’t want to spend the time to contract a Utah air conditioning company, then your best bet is to use a swamp cooler. Be warned, however, that swamp coolers are no piece of cake to install either.

Swamp coolers also tend to be less expensive to buy. There are some EC units that are very expensive, but there are some that can be found for $500 or under. These are the lower-end units.

Air conditioners have pros as well. Since they reduce the amount of humidity in the air, air conditioning units do not depend on the current climate. Swamp coolers do not cool down places that have high humidity, where an air conditioning unit would.

Air conditioning units also have the benefit that you do not have to winterize it. Swamp coolers are constantly using water and need to be disconnected and drained during the winter. Air conditioning units have a closed-system refrigerant.

Like most things, swamp coolers and air conditioning units have advantages and disadvantages. Study these out before purchasing one. That way you won’t be surprised by your purchase after it is installed.

To feel completely comfortable in your home it is not always entirely dependent on the temperature. Humidity has a large impact of the comfort of you and your family as well. You neither want your home too humid or not humid enough.

Experts have said that your humidity levels should be at 30 to 60 percent. Having it too humid or not humid enough doesn’t just have effects on you but on your home and furniture as well.

When your home is too humid it can cause some of the following:
-Mold, dust mites, and mildew can form

-Allergies and/or asthma worsen

-Damp spots form in basements, ceilings, attics, and walls

-Ice or condensation on the inside of your windows

-Musty odors in your home

-Termites and cockroaches will frequently breed in humid environments

-Clammy or sweaty skin

When there is not enough humidity in your home the following can happen:
-Wall paper peeling or paint cracking

-Chronic dry and itchy skin, nosebleeds, sore throats, sinus irritation

-House is still cold even with the thermostat is set high

-Furniture can crack, loosen, or start falling apart

-Repertory problems

These are just a few of the many indicators that your home is either too dry or too humid. Both can have lasting effects that we all would want to avoid.

Ducts being blocked or not cleaned properly, boilers, furnaces, and air conditioners call all be part of the problem of too dry or too much humidity in your home.

Other regular activities like bathing, breathing, raining outside levels, cleaning, and cooking can also add to the problem. Because such activities as these naturally make it more humid in your home, sometimes the easiest solution for you is to get your ventilation system checked out and see what would be best for your home.

Many people do not feel as if humidity is a big deal. It can affect so many things though. Getting your ventilation system checked is well worth the results. Many times you can find deals and even free estimates in your area.