Blog

Will a New Furnace Installation Reduce Your Home’s Energy Costs?

December 17, 2024 by Alejandro Paz

Unlike wine, furnaces do not get better with age. Every furnace has a finite lifespan, and during that time, it’s going to become less efficient, even if you perform regular maintenance.

This might lead you to believe that a new furnace installation is a foolproof way to reduce your energy costs. After all, if your old furnace is losing efficiency over time, won’t a new one automatically cut down your power bills? The answer depends on several factors.

When Will a New Furnace Lower Power Bills?

Here’s a look at the ways a new furnace can be the solution to your problems.

Your Current Furnace Is the Wrong Size

Furnaces and HVAC systems need to be the right size. If they’re too small, they’ll run forever in an attempt to maintain air temperature. If they’re too big, they’ll constantly cycle on and off.

Your Current Furnace Is 15 Years Old

Give or take a few years, furnaces will only make it to their 15th birthdays — maybe their 20th if you’re lucky. Around this point, repairs will become so frequent that it will be more cost-effective to just buy a new unit.

Also, the technological advancements over the last 15 years have been significant. Furnaces today are far more efficient than ever before, sometimes using close to half the energy of older units.

Your Furnace Installers Did a Poor Job

When searching for “furnace installation near me,” it can be tempting to go with the first option you see in the search results without conducting any further research. If you — or your home’s previous owners — did just that, the results can be dire.

Maybe you didn’t look at reviews, or your installer didn’t have the right experience and training. Whatever the reason, a poor installation can be devastating to furnace efficiency. Whether the unit is starved of power due to faulty wiring, the ducts are leaky, or the return air drop is too small, you end up with a unit that doesn’t work as it should.

When Is a New Furnace Not the Solution?

Surprisingly, there will be times when a furnace installation won’t reduce energy costs.

Your “Old” Furnace Is Too New

If you’re trying to replace a furnace that’s only a year or two old, replacement may not help. Even if it’s not heating your home well, the issue likely lies elsewhere, such as with the thermostat setting or your home’s insulation.

You’re Switching From Condensing to Non-Condensing

There are two main types of furnaces: condensing and non-condensing. Non-condensing furnaces expel exhaust gases through a flue pipe, which wastes fuel. These types of furnaces typically carry an 80% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating.

Non-condensing furnaces use a second heat exchanger to extract every last ounce of heat from the exhaust gases, raising the AFUE rating to between 90% and 98%. Even if you get a great deal on a non-condensing furnace (they tend to be the cheaper option), it will use up significantly more energy and eat into your power bills.

Reduce Energy Costs With a Furnace Installation From Steadfast Heating & Air

If your furnace is at the end of its lifespan, was installed poorly, or is the wrong size for your home, turn to Steadfast Heating & Air. Our expert installation techs will work with you to satisfy your budget and comfort needs. Contact Steadfast Heating & Air today!

Top 5 Signs You Need Furnace Repair Before Winter Hits

November 22, 2024 by Alejandro Paz

Even as an attentive homeowner, you might not know how to tell when your furnace is malfunctioning. The early signs of a problem can go unnoticed until the system fails altogether.

If you know about the early warning signs of common heating issues, you’ll be able to get prompt repairs. This will help you save money and avoid the loss of heat in the winter.

1. Unusual Sounds and Odors

Many people assume they’ll need a furnace replacement when they hear unusual furnace noises. That’s not always the case. You might need only minor furnace repair services, such as fixing a damaged blower motor, a malfunctioning capacitor, or damaged ductwork.

Consistent furnace and boiler maintenance will prevent most odd odors. If you do notice that your heated air has an unpleasant smell, an HVAC technician can locate the source. Depending on the type of odor, you might have an electrical short, melting plastic components, or a fuel leak.

Due to the seriousness of these potential causes, it’s important to schedule professional service right away.

2. Natural Gas or Carbon Monoxide Leaks

Furnace repair becomes a safety issue when it involves leaking fuel or fumes. You can recognize a natural gas leak by a hissing sound or the scent of rotten eggs. However, a carbon monoxide leak is harder to identify. Keep a carbon monoxide detector near your furnace and replace the batteries every six months.

When you call a technician to repair a furnace with a leak, make sure you mention the presence of fuel or fumes. This will let the technician know that you’re reporting an emergency situation. It will also help them diagnose the HVAC problem. The technician can focus their attention on areas that commonly leak fuel or fumes.

3. Inconsistent Heating or Cold Spots

As long as you keep up with furnace maintenance, your heating system should sufficiently heat your entire home. Cold spots can indicate a duct leak. Poor heating throughout your home could mean your furnace isn’t cycling efficiently.

Don’t wait for your utility bills to skyrocket. Schedule furnace repair right away to restore your heat.

4. Water Leaks or Pooling Water

Even though it might not affect the unit’s ability to function, you should schedule furnace repairs as soon as you notice a water leak. This usually means your system has a clogged condensate line.

A clogged line leads to pooling and water damage. In addition, the water can short out electrical wires and corrode the furnace’s components. Prompt repairs help you prevent advanced damage throughout the system.

5. A Discolored Pilot Light

When installing a new HVAC system, a technician will prepare the fuel line. This involves securely connecting the furnace to the line to prevent leaks. Over time, a variety of problems can affect fuel flow and turn the pilot light yellow. This situation requires immediate repairs for heating efficiency and your overall safety.

There are several potential causes of a yellow pilot light. Sediment buildup, a clogged air intake valve, or a bad fuel regulator are some of the most common. An experienced technician has the training and equipment needed to isolate and repair the underlying cause.

Don’t Put Off Furnace Repair

In addition to new system installations, Steadfast Heating & Air provides heating repairs. We’ll diagnose your furnace problem and fix the issue before winter arrives so you can rely on consistent and reliable heat throughout the season. Contact us to schedule service today.

Why Regular Air Duct Cleaning Is Essential for a Healthy Home

November 15, 2024 by Alejandro Paz

You might know that cleaning your air ducts on a regular basis will help you maintain energy efficiency. Did you know that this service can also help you maintain a healthier indoor environment? Here are several ways that clean air ducts positively impact the well-being of everyone in your home.

Remove Allergens From Your Home

One unpleasant feature of dirty air ducts is the presence of allergens. Over time, pet dander, pollen, and other allergens get trapped in your ducts. As your HVAC system runs through a heating or cooling cycle, the treated air picks up those particles and distributes them in your living spaces.

Although you’ll never remove all allergens from your home, air duct cleaning will get rid of most of these particles. Even if you don’t suffer from seasonal allergies, clean air ducts will help you breathe easier.

Eliminate Unpleasant Odors

The dust and waste that collects in your ducts can come from a variety of sources. Everything from cigarette smoke to pest waste leaves odor-emitting particles in your ducts. Even replacing an old HVAC system won’t always get rid of these unwanted smells.

Air duct cleaning is the most effective way of removing foul scents from your living spaces. The service involves removing visible debris and unseen particles that cause odors. Properly cleaning air ducts leaves you with pure, odor-free air.

Get Rid of Bacteria and Germs With Air Duct Cleaning

When you know where to find bacteria and germs in your home, you can take steps to remove these threats. Many commonly touched surfaces, such as countertops, collect illness-causing microbes. In addition, some unseen areas are among the most contaminated.

Your duct walls provide an ideal breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Treated air picks up these microbes and spreads them throughout your home.

Use air duct cleaning services to remove bacteria and germs. Regular duct cleaning reduces the amount of microbes in your home’s air. Eventually, those microbes will settle on surfaces in your home, where they can grow and pose bigger health concerns. Duct cleaning is an effective way to reduce the spread of bacteria and germs.

Keep Your Ducts Mold-Free

Mold and mildew require cool, dark places and high humidity to thrive. These elements are especially common in a home’s air ducts. Since you don’t normally see the inside of your ducts, fungi can grow freely on these surfaces. Any air that rushes through your ducts will pick up mold spores and disperse them in your living spaces.

Regular duct cleaning eliminates mold and other fungi growth early. Since regular cleaning helps reduce moisture on your duct walls, mold won’t have the necessary conditions to grow. Mold can cause serious respiratory problems, so preventing its growth is a vital concern for every homeowner.

Enjoy the Benefits of Expert Air Duct Cleaning

Steadfast Heating & Air has a reputation for superior HVAC services. We also provide air duct maintenance and cleaning. As we remove debris and contaminants from your ducts, we’ll look for damage and corrosion. Contact us to learn more about our air duct services.

What Can You Expect When You Have Your HVAC Unit Replaced?

April 18, 2024 by Alejandro Paz

Keeping your home comfortable starts with your HVAC system. Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, or HVAC for short, is responsible for modern homes being what they are without having to light a fire or crack windows. If any part of the system needs replacing, you need to be aware of how the process goes.

Lots of Choices

Whether you are replacing the heater/furnace or the AC unit, there’s lots of choices. Convert to a different type of appliance, switch to a different fuel or power source, change the size to accommodate your home better, etc., are all choices with which you will be presented. It isn’t easy, since swapping out exactly the same appliance for almost exactly the same appliance doesn’t require any upgrades in electrical or gas lines. Conversions to a different power source (e.g., solar, gas, or electrical) require installing a lot more equipment.

Do Your Homework

What is it you need most from the appliance you have to replace? Maybe you want it to be more energy efficient or you want it to conserve fuel or power and only operate in off-peak hours. Find the right heating or cooling system based on what you hope to accomplish and not just on its ability to heat or cool.

Find the Contractor and Technician Who Installs What You Want

Not every HVAC contractor and technician installs every product out there. Some will only install certain brands. To ensure that you hire the right company, ask them what brands and models of heating and cooling appliances they work with and have experience installing. Then hire the contractor that installs exactly what you want.

Block Off Several Hours for Installation

Be sure to plan ahead and block off several hours for installation. In most cases, four hours is enough, but six hours is better in case the technician needs more time.