Press Releases 5 -

Three Ways to Cut Cooling Costs This Summer

Save Money and Stay Cool

Cooling bills in the summer can easily undo the comfort brought by the air conditioning system. Too often, homeowners are faced with the unpleasant decision of choosing between paying stifling bills and living in a stifling home. Surely there is a better way!

Most homeowners don't know that choosing between comfort and savings doesn't have to be a binary choice. Nearly every home is already equipped or can quickly be equipped with equipment that can improve comfort without sacrificing savings. Here are the top tips from local experts to help every homeowner save money and stay comfortable this summer.

Install Smart Thermostats

The key to saving money during the summer is simple: make the air conditioner run less. The good news is this is an easily achievable goal. Furthermore, this can be accomplished while still keeping the home cool and comfortable. The first thing that homeowners should do is get technology on their side.

New programmable thermostats and smart thermostats are great tools for cutting down the runtime of the air conditioner without leaving the home hot. Smart thermostats automatically learn the movements of those in the home and adjust the setpoint of the AC system higher when no one is home. As people return home, the thermostat allows the air conditioner to catch home so the home is comfortable. Programmable thermostats accomplish the same thing, except the owner has to schedule times for the air conditioner to sit idle.

Look for Opportunities to Install Weatherstripping

The next best thing homeowners can do to keep their homes cool and save money is to make the air conditioner's job easier. When technicians install an air conditioner, they size it according to the load it must overcome to keep the home cool. Some of the factors that they take into account include things like:

The thickness of the walls
Types of insulation
R-value of windows
Solar exposure

When these factors aren't considered, a larger load is placed on the air conditioner, and bills skyrocket. One of the simple things homeowners can do to reinforce these load factors is install weatherstripping around windows and doors. This keeps cool air from leaking out and wasting energy. Weatherstripping is easy and cheap and can be done in one afternoon by any homeowner.

Use Fans as Intended

The final change that homeowners can make to keep their homes cool and their bills low is using ceiling fans as intended. Most homes come pre-equipped with ceiling fans, but for those that don't, owners should consider installing them in frequently-occupied areas like living rooms and bedrooms.

To maximize the cooling power of fans, make sure they turn in the correct direction. In the summer, fans should turn counterclockwise. This pushes a draft of air past people sitting beneath. The draft cools by speeding the evaporation of moisture on the skin, causing a cooling effect. While fans don't lower the temperature, they are a cheap way of maximizing the effectiveness of the body's cooling system.

About Central Heating

Central Heating can help homeowners save money with the latest technology. Their skilled technicians can quickly install smart thermostats to maximize savings and are always available for emergency repairs. Call today for smart AC solutions in Barrie, ON.

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Is the Beginning of the Summer the Best Time for AC Replacement?

Signs That the AC Unit Needs to Be Replaced Before Summer Begins

The spring is a great time for homeowners to breathe a sigh of relief. After a cold winter with high heating bills, most homes enjoy a break before the cooling bills become oppressive during the summer. Not only can the worry about high energy bills ruin the mood of this exciting season, but it can also cause doubts about the ability of the current AC unit to keep up or even survive the coming summer.

AC replacement is a big decision mainly because of the cost. Installing new AC systems can be expensive, so homeowners want to make an informed decision so they don't spend money before it is necessary. Here are some ideas that help homeowners determine if this is the perfect time to replace their air conditioner before high bills and unexpected repairs cause unnecessary expenditures.

The Unit is Too Old

The first thing that is good to examine when determining when to replace the AC is the current system's age. Most air conditioners with good maintenance are expected to last between 20 and 25 years. After this point, the system will fail at several points, and operating costs will skyrocket. If good maintenance practices are not observed, the unit may fail after just 15 years.

To determine the age of the AC system in the home, look at the machinery itself. Label plates will be obvious on the outdoor compressor unit and the furnace inside. Write down the serial numbers on both pieces of equipment and check them against the manufacturer's serial number decoder. This will tell the owner the exact age of the system and help them to get an idea of when it might need to be replaced.

Efficiency is Causing High Energy Bills

The second hallmark of an AC unit that may need to be replaced is high energy bills. Every year an AC is in service, it will lose several percentage points of efficiency. This will be painfully evident after a few years when costs rise.

To preserve efficiency, homeowners should ensure that maintenance protocols are strictly followed. Yearly AC maintenance can protect efficiency and prevent unexpected problems that add to operating costs. Even after a few years of neglected maintenance, a tune-up can restore efficiency, especially on newer machines.

Cooling Power is Inadequate

After years of service and lost efficiency, an AC may fail to keep the home cool enough. Not only will this be evident in high utility bills since the unit will run longer, but the home will be noticeably less comfortable. This is due to a confluence of factors like:

Refrigerant leaks
Poor insulation
Low efficiency
Leaky ductwork

If the air conditioner seems to be working harder than normal, but the house is still warm and muggy, it may be time for an AC replacement this summer, especially if the other signs are evident.

About Central Heating

Central Heating provides custom solutions for heating and cooling problems. They use the latest technology to keep every home comfortable at affordable costs. Call today for guaranteed AC service in Barrie, ON.

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Don't Forget to Spring Clean the Air Ducts

Spring is Air-Duct Cleaning Season

Spring is most people’s favorite season, but spring is synonymous with allergies and spring cleaning. Luckily, devoting some time to spring cleaning can drastically reduce allergy symptoms that affect most people to some degree.

Cleaner air inside the home is the best place to start when it comes to reducing allergy symptoms, and ductwork is a great place to start cleaning up the air. Why not add duct cleaning to the to-do list during spring cleaning tasks? Here is some advice from local duct cleaning experts to help homeowners decide if it is right.

Reasons to Schedule Air Duct Cleaning

All the air in a home flows through air ducts multiple times daily. During the winter, people spend more time indoors, so naturally, dust and grime are more likely to build up inside ducts, contributing to common winter respiratory problems like sinus infections, colds, and the flu. Unfortunately, the build-up in ductwork reaches its worst just in time to exacerbate spring allergies.

When the air ducts in a home are dirty, there is virtually no way to relieve allergy symptoms. The only way to stop allergies is to get a fresh start and have the air ducts professionally cleaned. Professional duct cleaning removes the dust and mold built up inside the ductwork. This not only cleans up the air in the home but also keeps the home more hygienic and reduces the load on the air conditioner. This means that air duct cleaning can have positive effects like:

Lower heating and cooling bills
A cleaner home
Lessened respiratory distress

Signs That It’s Time for Air Duct Cleaning

Experts debate about how often air ducts should be cleaned. Most agree that having the ductwork cleaned every year is unnecessary. However, there are occasions when annual duct cleaning may be a great idea. Some of the signs to help homeowners determine if duct cleaning is overdue are:

Dust clinging to supply grates
Poor airflow in the home
Mold issues in bathrooms and around windows
Bad allergies or worsening lung issues
Bad odors that keep coming back
High bills and decreased comfort

If any of these signs are noticed, a duct cleaning may be all that is necessary to make things right.

Easy Ways to Keep Air Ducts Cleaner

In most homes, duct cleaning is done every two to three years. To make the results last longer, homeowners can make a few changes around the house. Since the cause of dirty ductwork is usually an abundance of dust within the ducts, the best way to preserve the air between duct cleanings is to keep the home tidier. To improve the air in the home, try things like:

Replacing air filters every three months
Using exhaust fans in the bathroom to expel excess humidity
Dust flat surfaces weekly
Vacuum and sweep to remove the source of dust
Wash bedding, clothing, and towels regularly
Keep pets groomed to reduce dirt and dander in the home

About Central Heating

Central Heating is a full-service heating, cooling, and indoor air quality contractor. With financing options, cleaner air has never been more affordable. Call today for highly-rated air duct service from the experts in Barrie, ON.

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Meet the Women Who Have Helped Shape the HVAC Industry!

Female Pioneers Who Have Changed the World of Heating and Cooling

With Women's History Month in full swing, there's no better time to learn about the influential women who have impacted history in all areas of life. And there's one area that most people probably don't expect to find many female trailblazers - the HVAC-R industry.

HVAC-R (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration) has always been a male-dominated field. Still, without the innovations of brilliant women throughout history, the industry wouldn't be what it is today. This article will outline the accomplishments of two key figures in HVAC-R history and how they serve as an example to young women today.

Women In the Industry Today

Women still comprise only a small fraction of the HVAC industry - around 9% - but even that figure is significantly higher than several years ago. Part of this is because tens of thousands of jobs need to be filled, and HVAC companies are actively encouraging and recruiting women to fill them - after all, it can be a rewarding career for men and women alike.

Another reason for the uptick is that organizations and labor unions (such as Women In HVACR) offer mentorship programs and scholarships for young women looking to enter the trade. Many women who started as technicians are now salespeople, managers, and CEOs.

How Alice H. Parker Revolutionized Home Heating Systems

One of the first women to get into the world of heating and cooling was Alice H. Parker - though she did so as an inventor, not a tradeswoman. In 1919, at 26 years old, Parker filed a patent for a gas furnace that would become the precursor to modern central heating systems. At the time, most homes relied on wood- or coal-burning stoves and fireplaces for heat. Parker found this inadequate for keeping her New Jersey home warm in the winter, so she designed something better.

While she was not the first to develop a natural gas furnace, her design was unique in that it involved several independently controlled burners that served ducts to different parts of the house. Today, this is known as zone heating - modern homeowners have Parker to thank for the ability to independently control temperatures in different parts of the house!

The Engineering Legacy of Margaret Ingels

Another trailblazer in the early 20th century was Margaret Ingels. Born in 1892, Ingels would be the first woman to graduate in engineering from the University of Kentucky and the second woman to get an engineering degree in the United States. Four years later, in 1920, she became the first woman to get a professional Mechanical Engineer degree.

She then went on to make vital contributions to the burgeoning HVAC field, including developing a machine that measured the amount of dust in indoor spaces and a sling psychrometer device, which measures humidity levels in the air. These innovations have had a profound and lasting impact on how the industry manages indoor air quality and comfort. After a long career at the Carrier corporation, Margaret Ingels passed away in 1971 - but her legacy continues to inspire female engineers and professionals to this day.

About Central Heating

Since being founded in 2007, Central Heating has quickly become one of Barrie, ON's most highly-rated HVAC contractors. Their trustworthy, licensed experts are always punctual, clean, and courteous, so homeowners can rest easy knowing they're getting the best possible service. They offer a money-saving membership plan, are available for emergency service 24/7, and back up all work with a 100% satisfaction guarantee - so don't hesitate to call Central Heating for HVAC repair and maintenance in Barrie, ON!

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Answering Questions About Residential Boilers for Valentine's Day

Three Things Customers Should Know About Their Boiler

Even though the boiler and radiator system has been around for a long time, they still have a lot of potential for a lifetime of warmth. Modern boilers are only vaguely recognizable when compared to their ancestors and offer consistent, ecologically friendly heating for either a hot water tank, a home, or both! Customers may find themselves softened and falling in love with their heating again if they choose a boiler system.

Boilers Don't Really Boil

When people hear the term "boiler," they may think of steam coming from the funnel of an old locomotive or water boiling in a pot. While boilers used steam in the past, these days, they merely use a heat exchanger to heat water and send it through a closed system of pipes to warm the home. The basic parts of a boiler include the following list:

Burner: This is the source of heat and may be fueled by oil, kerosene, or natural gas.
Heat Exchanger: This is part of the boiler that water moves through to heat up. The gas from the burner heats the air in the heat exchangers, which raises the temperature of the water that travels through the exchanger's coiled pipes.
Water Tank: This is often present when the boiler is used to heat water for the home and acts as a part of the central heating system.
Pipes: A closed system of pipes transports the heated water throughout the home.
Thermal units: These are nodes connected to the pipes that may distribute heat to the rest of the home(like a radiator). Modern boilers may not have visible thermal units because the heat is transferred via the baseboards or the home's floor.

This Old-School Option is Eco Friendly

Installing a boiler may seem like going backward from a technological standpoint, but this is not true. Boilers are not only continually being improved just as other systems are, but they are also a good choice for environmentally conscious people. Some ecological and health benefits from a boiler system are listed below.

The closed system of pipes recycles water
Highly energy efficient
Low emissions
No air ducts reduce heat loss
No transfer of allergens such as mold and mildew
Saves money on energy bills

Beware of Low Pressure!

Low water pressure in a boiler ruins its efficiency and can be caused by a leak or clog in the water pipes. Boiler repairs will be needed, or the whole system may be in danger of malfunctioning. Due to the difficulty of determining the exact cause of the low pressure, a homeowner should always hire a trained professional. This will likely extend the life of the boilers and avoid the need for emergency action. Keeping up with maintenance and boiler repairs is important to peace of mind and physical comfort.

About Central Heating

Central Heating offers emergency services for Barrie, ON, and the surrounding communities. Call them today for information on financing options and their expert workmanship during boiler service.