Category: Heating

What is two-stage heating?

As you start to explore heating options for your home or office, you may need to think about the types of furnaces on the market. A two-stage heating furnace may work best in settings requiring improved efficiency and a subtler heating experience. This is what you need to know to decide if a two-stage furnace is right for your space. What Two-Stage Heating Actually Means Furnace stages refer to the amount of heat allowed to pass through the system. A valve controls the burner, and different settings change the position of the valve to influence the heat output. Most furnaces (single-stage furnaces) have one setting: you can turn them on or off. When using a single stage system on milder days, an owner may notice the system cutting on and off frequently to maintain the desired indoor temperature. Two-stage heating systems, on the other hand, have a setting in addition to the on/off position. In a two-stage system, thermostat settings can completely or partially open the valve to allow heat to pass through. At the fully open stage, the furnace operates on high. At the partially open stage, the furnace releases a reduced level of heat (at about 65% of

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Should I Leave Interior Doors Open or Closed During Heating and Cooling?

The price of cooling (and heating) your home can get pretty costly, especially if you live in West Los Angeles. Even though we are lucky to enjoy some of the very best weather in the USA, there are times when temperatures fluctuate. When the weather warms up or cools down, it can get even more expensive to try and keep comfortable in your home. Therefore, many homeowners and renters alike wonder, is it better to leave my doors open or closed when running my HVAC system? The simple answer is, leave them open. You see, when an HVAC system is operating, it functions best as a whole unit, circulating air throughout your entire home. So, when you shut several doors in and around your home, you’re actually disrupting the nature of how your HVAC system operates. This not only ends up costing you more money in the long run, but it can cause additional problems as well. Why Leave Doors Open? Although it’s a common belief, shutting doors to rooms you are not using will not save you money on heating or cooling costs. It will only force your HVAC system to work overtime, causing potential long-term damage. It can also

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An Overview of Carrier® Cor Thermostats

Technological advances have led to a multitude of options for controlling temperatures in your home. Among the most popular innovations is the Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat, which gives you the ability to wirelessly control household temperatures with an app installed on your smartphone, tablet, laptop computer or desktop computer. The Carrier® Cor thermostat is a relatively new Wi-Fi thermostat with a well-rounded feature set. Let’s look at some of the highlights of this device. What Do Wi-Fi-Enabled Thermostats Do? A Wi-Fi-enabled thermostat has something called an IP (Internet protocol) connection, which allows it to receive commands from wireless signals that pass through your household’s Wi-Fi modem. With this type of thermostat installed in your home, you can enter temperature control commands from any location within range of your modem’s signals. The complexity of the commands you can issue depends on the make and model of thermostat you purchase. Some products give you comprehensive control over temperature-related functions. Features of the Carrier Cor Thermostat The Carrier Cor has a number of features that make it an appealing option for homeowners seeking a full selection of temperature controls. The feature list starts with the unit itself, which is built around a color touch screen and

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How ductless mini-split heat pumps work

Ductless mini-split heat pumps are one of the latest innovations of the modern revolution in home heating and cooling technology. Instead of replacing a malfunctioning heating system with a centralized unit that simultaneously services your whole house, you can independently deliver fully controllable heating to as many (or as few) rooms as you wish. Here’s a brief rundown on the way that ductless mini-split heat pumps get the job done. What Does a Heat Pump Do? First, let’s look at how a heat pump operates. A traditional furnace in a centralized system generates heat internally by doing one of two things: burning a fuel source (e.g., natural gas or propane) or activating an electric component called a heating element. A heat pump does not produce its own heat. Instead, it pulls heat from one of three sources (outdoor air, the ground or nearby water) and passes that heat on to the interior of your home. During warmer parts of the year, a heat pump can function as an air conditioner by reversing itself and pulling heated air out of your household’s interior. What Is a Ductless System? A traditional heating and cooling system with a central heat pump relies on

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Pitfalls to Avoid When Buying a New AC or Furnace

The purchase of a new air conditioner or furnace is one of the larger expenses you can expect during your home’s lifetime. If the system you buy does its job properly, you’ll receive the benefits of reliable household heating and cooling. On the other hand, if your new heating or cooling system doesn’t work reliably and efficiently, you may end up paying the price for decades to come. Here are some of the key pitfalls to avoid when purchasing a new residential furnace or AC. Buying a System That’s Too Big or Small Each residential air conditioner and furnace on the market is designed to deliver cooling or heating to a home of a certain size and layout. Unfortunately, many consumers mistakenly purchase a system that’s too large or too small for their home. Potential consequences of this mistake include early furnace or AC failure, unnecessarily steep monthly utility costs and a perpetually uncomfortable building interior. Failing to Check Your HVAC Contractor’s Background No matter where you live in the U.S., you probably have access to a number of skilled and reputable heating and cooling contractors. Unfortunately, you also likely have access to disreputable contractors who do such things as

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What Size Heat Pump Do I Need?

There are several important steps in the process of selecting the right heat pump for your home. You need to determine the best type of heat pump for your home and climate (air source, water source or ground source), decide on your desired efficiency rating, and select the installation method and features of your new heat pump. Finally, you need to size your heat pump properly to make sure that you are heating your home effectively and efficiently. Correctly sizing your heat pump is very important, and fortunately there is a standard sizing method used nationwide. This method, created by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, is known as the Manual J method for sizing heat pumps. The Manual J method considers eight variables to help you size your heat pump with confidence. The Right Size Saves Money Getting the right size heat pump really does make a significant difference to the efficacy, reliability and efficiency of your HVAC system. Heat pumps that are too small or too large for a home can have a number of negative consequences, including higher energy costs, drastic temperature differences inside, poor humidity control and frequent on-and-off cycling that strains the system. Consulting an experienced and

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Heating and Cooling Tips

Your HVAC system is responsible for cleaning, heating and cooling the air in your home. This article contains heating and cooling tips and tricks that will ensure air conditioning in your home is smooth and efficient. Ventilation Ventilation is an important part of your home and should be properly cared for. Proper ventilation will not only control humidity in your home, but also prevent growth of mold and other moisture-related problems. Make it a habit to clean the ventilation more often and also check to ensure the ductwork is properly sealed. Energy Savings HVAC systems take up a lot of the monthly energy bills, especially during extremely cold seasons. To save money on energy bills, switch to a newer and more energy efficient unit. It is also important that you adjust the thermostat settings to suit your current weather if you are to lower energy bills. Maintenance To ensure your air conditioning unit serves you for the longest period of time, it is important to perform maintenance checks every few weeks. The easiest way to maintain your unit is by cleaning and replacing the filter every two to three months. It would also be wise to have a professional inspect

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