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  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.

A home's thermostat is something that most don't think of when it comes to vital equipment. And it shouldn't be because it can allow you to save a lot of money when it is working right. Like most things, thermostats have evolved in the last few years. You might still have those old rounded dial models that continue to work without issues. With a simple and inexpensive upgrade, the benefits can be huge. This is especially true if you're changing from a manual thermostat to a programmable one. Your Energy Bills Will Be Lower This is not a salesman’s pitch. By changing from a manual thermostat to a programmable one, your system can save between 5-15% a year. This savings is only on your energy bill! There are even more savings in store for you. This not sounding like much. But, it is the amount you'll need to pay for the installation of a new thermostat. In the long run, your system will begin to save you money. The Temperature Adjusts When You Need It To One of the main benefits of having a programmable thermostat is the fact that you only need to program it once. After that, it will do the adjustments by itself. It's great to have the home at the same temperature when you wake up and when you go to bed. You won't even having to worry about it. More Information On Your HVAC System The old thermostats can only show you the temperature in your home. With new programmable models, you can see a lot more useful information. You can see when you have to change the filters, for example. Plus you can receive alerts when there is a problem with the system itself.

Winter is right around the corner, so it's time think about preparing your home for the cold nights ahead. You need to make sure that everything is working well for those cold days. Here are 5 ways to prepare your home for winter: Check The Gutters Looking at the leaves falling from the trees is one of the most beautiful things about autumn. Despite your love for the scenery, the leaves tend to accumulate on your home and in your gutters. And with winter coming, this can mean you'll have a problem. So a simple task you need to tackle is to clean the gutters before the temperatures start to fall. If you don't clean the gutters, dirt and moisture can build up. The freezing temperatures will turn this small mess into ice dams on your building. And the water can seep right into your home. Seal Your Doors And Windows Make sure that all the doors and windows are working well as you check both the exterior and interior seals. One of the things that you can do to prevent the heat from getting out and the cold to come in is to install a door sweep. They are usually seen at the bottom of the doors and they're quite inexpensive and work very well. In what concerns to the windows, you need to inspect them as well. Check all the windows to make sure that there are no gaps, cracks, or broken glass. Also see the window frames, especially if they're made out of wood. If you notice a nickel-wide crack between your windows and siding, use silicone caulk. This works very well for the exterior. Check The Heat Before you use your burners and heating system, make sure they are ready for continuous use. You should change the filters, check the pilot light, and test the systembefore you need it. Make sure there is not a dust or soot build up and that carbon monoxide detectors are working.

  Thinking of your home’s energy consumption is a smart move. Being smart with your energy use can lower energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint. Being energy efficient can begin with simple steps. Turn off lights and electronics when not needed. You can also install a smart thermostat for more efficient controls.   Ardmore Fresh Air can help you be more energy efficient with heating and cooling. If you want to make a difference in your home, here are three things you can do today. You do not need to make a huge effort. Even simple changes can lead to better results over time.  Turn Off Unused Energy Drainers Turning off a light or tv when you are leaving the room and no longer using them should be common sense to most people. You know that leaving a light, fan, or electronic device on means that it will still use energy even if it is not in use. You can use this information when considering the energy use around your home. Something that has increased in the last couple of decades is the drain of phantom energy. Phantom energy refers to energy used when electronic devices may be off but are still plugged in. Computers, newer TVs, gaming devices, and household appliances now offer “sleep” modes. They may turn off in some fashion but also remain powered to return to full usage when you are ready. While convenient at times, this can lead to you using more energy. Instead, try turning off or unplugging these devices. If you know that you will not use these devices again, power them down when you can. Another energy drainer besides high-powered devices will be your light bulbs. Switching to new energy efficient bulbs may cost a few more dollars when you buy them. But, over the life of the bulb, they will use far less energy than traditional standard bulbs.