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Many homeowners have bad habits with their heating, ventilation and air conditioning. It may seem like it doesn’t affect your home. In reality, these bad habits can lead to a lot of problems. These can include comfort issues, higher utility bills, and a shortened lifespan. Here are five common mistakes homeowners make and how to avoid them. These tips can help you some money and help your HVAC system. Extreme Thermostat Temperatures Homeowners think it saves money to set the temperature to extreme levels when not home. Shut the system down and then let it adjust when you get home right? Wrong. This makes your HVAC system run for 3 to 4 hours as you wait for the system to reach the desired temperature. Set the thermostat to no more than 3 degrees higher than the normal temperature when you leave. This helps to avoid uncomfortable temperatures and excessive work for your HVAC system. Closed or Blocked Vents Another bad habit is closing vents in rooms that are rarely used. They believe that it will save them energy and money. This is impractical because closing vents will create negative pressure. This will send the air in places you do not want it to go. Closing vents will make your HVAC system work harder to maintain the set temperature. This will damage it as well as increase its energy consumption. There are better ways to seal off a room or adjust your system than blocking certain vents. Blocked Condenser An outdoor condenser releases the heat that the refrigerant absorbed inside the house. If covered by plants, weeds, and debris, it will hinder the airflow and it will not be able to do its job. To maintain the efficiency of your HVAC unit, clear anything around the condenser. It is also wise to have a professional clean the condenser coils at least once a year.

  Heating bills usually skyrocket to a lofty sum during a Chicago winter. If your energy bills are higher than normal, then check around your house for possible causes. Fixing them could help reduce your bills. Doing this can save you money while keeping your kids and family safe and warm during the cold season. Below are some tips on how you can reduce your heating bill. These are techniques on how to save energy and lower the cost of your heating bill. Prioritized in this article are the simplest and most cost-effective tips. Sunlight is the Best Heat Source You can raise your curtains up during the day to let the natural heat in. Nothing beats the lovely rays of the sun to warm you up and your home. Sunlight puts color on your skin. We all need the Vitamin D that the sun provides. We all love the sun, but make sure to always use sunscreen, especially on the kids.   Do Minor Repairs in Your Home Sometimes, the cold is due to leaks, cracks and “drafty” windows and doors. You would want to prepare for the colder season by getting these repairs done as soon as you see them. Get the repairman to fix all these repairs done. You can also opt for a cheaper alternative by covering your windows, with a plastic sheet on a frame. This would help the warm air remain inside and the cold air outside.   Adjust the Thermostat on Different Levels When You’re Awake and Asleep While awake in the house you can adjust the thermostat to as low as it is comfortable. And while asleep you can set the thermostat back to normal for the right number of hours necessary.   Tune-up the Fireplace Make sure to seal the damper when the fireplace is not in use. This heating process is good for the environment. This does not need any electricity at all, so you slash a significant amount off your energy bill. 

  Another winter is beginning to bear down on Chicago and the rest of the Midwest. Most people know how to prepare for nights that make central heating needed! But along with your comfort, you should also be thinking about your health. As we all know, during the toughest months of the year, a heating system is a must in every home, office, and building. Figuring out which heating system fits your needs best can be difficult. This is because the quality of the system matters. You may already have a functioning heating system. If so, it is important to maintain and repair your boiler or furnace often. This helps to ensure you are toasty and warm all winter. But do you know when it is time to consider installing a newer heating system? Most would prefer to wait to make serious changes when they are necessary. But, you could be unaware that a very big problem is impending. Your heating system could leave you in the cold facing the need for a full overhaul.  Here are five signs that your heating system might be due for new equipment this winter. The Current System Is Older Than 15 Years: Do you know how old your heating system is? When was the boiler or furnace you are relying on installed? Many older heating units can last roughly 16 to 20 years. Newer heating and air conditioning systems can last longer with proper maintenance. If you are unsure about the age of your heating, have Ardmore Fresh Air help you find out. If it has been more than 15 years, it would be wise to start considering an upgrade.

  It is that time of the year again. Temperatures are dropping, the football season is almost over, and the joys of fall have begun to fade. Another Chicago winter has begun to announce its arrival. One of the greatest concerns for any home or business during the winter is how to keep your building warm. Why are these important? Well during this time of the year most will spend more time inside. So of course we all would like to be comfortable but even more vital is our health. A good heating system in your home is more a necessity than a luxury. You can help your system before the season throws its toughest conditions at your home.  You shouldn’t have to bundle up like you are climbing Everest when you are sitting in your living room. Maintaining a heating system is key in your quality of life during these cold months. The heating system in your home or business is about to experience some strain this time of year. So it is worth it to spend a bit of time preparing and checking your home or business now. Inspect your current heating system Check to see if your current heating system is ready for another year. If it's time for a new heating system, we are ready to help you. Many of us ignore it and always expect our boiler or furnace to start right up and power through another year. Take a little time to check your business or home e as it currently is and remember how it performed this past year. Test your heating system some and check the burners to make certain they work. Take the time to install storm windows if you own them. Check around your building's doors and windows for air leaks around the seals.

Ardmore Fresh Air is family-owned and operated with over 40 years of experience. We are an honored Ruud Pro Partner, a reputable manufacturer for heating and cooling. Each member of the team at Ardmore Fresh Air has a great deal of experience. We help customers find the best furnace for their home or business. Over the years, Ruud furnaces have continued to be one of the most popular and reliable items we install.   Consumer Reports Ruud Review Now Consumer Reports has released their findings for gas furnace reliability for 2016. It is no surprise that Ruud furnaces ranked FIRST! Consumer Reports collected information and feedback from over 21,000 people. These people all had gas furnace installed between 2011 until the spring of 2016. They ranked companies based on the rate at which gas furnaces break down or stop functioning. Ruud gas furnaces have an 8% breakdown rate. This led to them ranking ahead of all other furnace manufacturers. Trane and American Standard tied for second at 9%. Many companies like Bryant, Carrier, and Lennox had numbers in the 10-15% range. York furnaces reportedly have a 19% breakdown rate, worst by far among the major brands. Here is the graph from Consumer Reports comparing the different brands:

  Boilers and furnaces are the two most common types of heaters that are being used by people in today’s world. In fact, we have been using these two sources of heat for hundreds of years. They are often updated with newest HVAC technology. People have experienced the increase in reliability, safety, and the efficiency of them.   Most of the people who get a new heating system at home wonder whether they should go with a boiler or a furnace. First of all, it is important to keep in mind that neither is immediately better than the other. It depends on your specific requirements at home and the amount that you are planning to spend.   Before analyzing the differences of boilers and furnaces, take a look at what they have in common. Both boilers and furnaces have the ability to run off different fuel sources. As a result, they are flexible with sources of fuel.   Boilers usually run off oil, electricity, and gas. Furnaces often use propane, electricity, or natural gas. These two types of heaters have their own disadvantages as well. It is up to individuals to analyze their requirements and go for the best option. You can also seek professional help if you feel more comfortable. Furnaces Furnaces are often called forced air systems. They have the ability to increase the temperature of air with the exchange of heat. They have a built-in fan, which sends heated air to the home through ductwork. This heated air has the potential to increase the temperature of your home. Gas jets and electric heating elements generate heat, which transfers into the air.