Replacement Furnace Installation

This is another replacement furnace installation that we just completed. The furnace is a 95% high efficiency Aire-Flo made by Lennox International. In this video you can hear the heating system start - well, you can hardly hear it, actually, as these systems are very quiet when installed properly. 

The Aire-Flo furnaces are very reliable as well. We have installed up to 12 of these per month for the past 2 1/2 years, and haven't had a single warranty issue yet.

If you're looking for a quality product from a well-known manufacturer (Lennox International), this product line is definitely worth your consideration.

Three Ways to Improve Energy Efficiency This Winter

Ready or not, another winter season is soon to be upon us. The start of the cold weather season often means higher utility bills for several months. However, it doesn't have to be that way. The following steps can help you improve your home's energy efficiency and decrease the cost of keeping your family warm.

Schedule a Heating System Tune-Up

Regardless of the type of equipment you use to heat your home, make it a habit to schedule a preventive maintenance appointment in the early fall. This ensures that your heating equipment can keep up with the demands your family places on it all winter long. You may be able to save up to 20 percent on your heating bill by catching minor problems early and making sure your furnace filter is always clean. For long-term energy efficiency, consider replacing heating units that are more than 20 years old.

Stop Air Drafts

There are numerous ways for cold air drafts to get inside of your home. Some of these include:

• Electrical outlets
• Mail slots
• Extra space beneath doors and windows
• Wall-mounted air conditioners
• Caulk holes
• Foundational seals

One of our professional service technician's can assist you in locating and fixing air leaks in your home.

Check Your Level of Insulation

Up to 30 percent of a home's heat can be lost due to improper insulation. Northern climates should have a minimum of 30.5 to 41 centimeters of insulation in the attic and walls. This is equal to 12 to 16 inches in the U.S. and an R-40 insulation rating in Canada. Upgrading your level of insulation should result in an immediate improvement in comfort level as well as lower utility bills.

Free Estimates for New Furnace Installations

Our team of energy experts is available to help you improve the efficiency of your home. You can learn more by scheduling your free in-home estimate today.

Simple Tips for Energy Efficient Home Heating and Cooling

Whether it's summer or winter, spring or fall, home heating and cooling is crucial to staying comfortable in every season. However, with climate change and energy bills on the rise, how can you do this while minimizing the effects of both? It's easier than you may think. Just follow these simple tips and you'll be well on your way to a fuller wallet and a happier planet.

Remember to change your air filter 

At most, check on it once a month, especially during the hottest and coldest times of the year. If it looks dirty, it's best to change it. At the very least, heating and cooling systems run best when their air filter is changed at least every three months. Not changing the filter makes your system work harder than it has to to keep you comfortable, which can also shorten the life of your system, and waste considerable amounts of energy in the process. So, while it may be inconvenient to change the filter, think of what you'll be saving on energy and maintenance costs in the process.

Seal your accessible ducts 
Air ducts can waste substantial amounts of energy, especially in low-usage months. Sealing or insulating these ducts can greatly improve the efficiency of your home heating and cooling system by as much as 20 percent!

Sealing ducts is actually a rather quick and easy process. First, target ducts in easy-to-access spaces like attics and basements and use a duct sealant or metal-backed taping to close the seams. Once that's done, carefully wrap these ducts with insulation. In doing so, they won't overheat during the summer or get too cold in the wintertime.

Use a programmable thermostat

This is especially useful if you're away from home often for work, school, or travel. A programmable thermostat lets you control when the heat or air conditioning is needed even when you're out of the house, and they often have pre-programmed settings to streamline the process. Not only does this save you time, it saves you energy--and money otherwise spent on needlessly inflated energy bills.

Don't let rising energy costs get you down--with just a couple of simple tips and a few minutes' spare time, you'll be saving considerably on energy costs while keeping your home comfortable year-round.

XP17 Heat Pump Video

     This Lennox XP17-036 heat pump is a solar powered unit. You can hear how quiet it is in this informal video by comparing the unit's noise level to that of the birds chirping in the trees or to the fence gate creaking in the background. It is running at full capacity cooling a home of approximately 3500 square feet. Other models can heat or cool up to 5000 square feet per unit.

     We had installed a 4 ton unit in another nearby home and it was equally as quiet. The owner was expecting to hear a certain noise level from her unit and asked "When is that big boy going to turn on?"  I wish I had a video of her face when we told her that it was already running.

Solar Powered Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners

New for 2010, Lennox has begun to release their new solar powered heat pump and air conditioner product lineup. Referred to as "SunSource Solar Ready" units, these new heating and cooling units come with built-in controls and electronics to allow the home owner to attach anywhere from 1 to 15 solar power collectors, though it is not necessary to use solar power to run these SunSource units as they are also able to use your home's electrical supply just like all other heat pumps and air conditioners do.

In southern areas, with good south-facing exposure, the solar panels can collect almost 300% more power than is required to operate the a/c or heat pump. Through the addition of the iComfort controller / thermostat, the excess power collected can be fed back into your home's electrical system. Excess power can even be sold back to your electrical utility's grid (if offered in your local area).

SunSource Solar Powered HVAC System

Consider the green environmental impact is we were to remove the entire air conditioning load from the existing power grid. A few less brown-outs would be appreciated too.

Current models available are the XP21 Heat Pump, the XP17 Heat Pump and the XC17 Air Conditioner.