Is an Electric Ignition Better in a Furnace Than a Pilot Light?

March 15th, 2021
Blue flames burning inside a gas furnace during operation after furnace installation.

This is a question you might not have ever asked yourself. Perhaps you weren’t even aware this was an option. However, if you have an aging gas furnace, it’s something for you to consider as you explore your options for replacement.

Note, that we are not talking about an electric furnace. While there are certainly benefits to having an electric furnace installed, and we’re happy to answer any questions you might have about such installation, what we are discussing here is an electric ignition system within your gas furnace.

What ignition option should you choose when planning furnace installation?

For a new furnace installation, an electronic ignition system is a more efficient and cost-effective choice than a standing pilot light. It only activates when needed, reducing gas waste and improving energy efficiency. Electronic ignitions also enhance safety and help modern furnaces reach higher AFUE ratings.

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How to Choose the Right Plumber for Your Home

March 1st, 2021

woman-looking-under-sink-at-leaking-pipeOur professional plumbers have been in the trade for a long time, and we have seen what can happen when you have the wrong home services “professional” in your home, whether it be for your HVAC, electrical, or plumbing needs.

Plumbing, especially, can be quite complex, and even something as seemingly simple as unclogging a drain can bring up unexpected surprises that you’ll only want a trained professional to manage (trust us). Still, we understand the temptation to hire a general handyperson, or to even take the offer to help from a friendly neighbor.

We can’t stress, though, how important it is that you choose a licensed and insured plumbing contractor when you need any kind of work on your pipes or plumbing appliances. You may think you’re saving money but in the long run, hiring the wrong person for the job can cost you more.

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Will Your Heater Make It Through the Rest of Winter?

February 15th, 2021

woman-in-parka-huddled-on-couch-drinking-of-of-mugWintertime temps are still here for a while—in fact if you believe in Groundhog Day predictions, it’s here for about four more weeks, at least! This means your heating system has some time before you shut if off for the season. So if you have repair needs, you should definitely take care of them sooner rather than later.

We understand how tempting it is to put off end-of-season heating repair needs. After all, can’t you just wait until you need the system again next fall?

You could, but if it’s a problem also impacting your air conditioner, you’ll find yourself in trouble later this spring. And if it’s a big enough problem, you might have a completely broken down heater by the time you go to turn it on next fall.

But how do you know you even have heater repair needs? Read on as we uncover some of the most common warning signs, and if you discover any of them, give us a call.

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Plumbing Mishaps: Do You Have an Emergency on Your Hands?

February 1st, 2021

man-on-phone-while-holding-bucket-up-under-ceiling-collecting-waterPlumbing emergencies are inconvenient, to say the least, often unsanitary, and sometimes very damaging to the entire home. Fortunately, we can help with our emergency plumbing services!

Over the years, we’ve responded to many a service call regarding malfunctioning or damaged plumbing. Read on as we uncover some of the most common plumbing emergencies you can face and give us a call the second you find yourself facing one.

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How Do Your Electrical Outlets Protect You?

January 18th, 2021

outletDid you know that your electrical outlets protect you? At least, this is definitely the case in modern homes. This is part of the reason it’s so important that if you live in an aging home, you have your electrical system inspected on occasion. Today’s electronics and electrical appliances put increased demand on these systems, which can lead to overloads, blackouts, or even electrical fires.

Even in a newer home, safety becomes a concern if, for some reason, your electrical system isn’t working as it should. Electrocution is another threat when it comes to electricity dangers, which is why it’s so vital that you have the right outlets in place—outlets that protect you. What outlets are we talking about? GFCI and AFCI outlets! Read on to learn more.

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Does My Heat Pump Have a Refrigerant Leak?

December 21st, 2020
Blue 3D question mark icon, symbolizing questions about heat pump repair.

Heat pumps are a great HVAC option for many homes, for a number of reasons! The ability to efficiently heat and cool your living space if of course a great benefit, plus heat pumps save space and money. Something to remember though is that since a heat pump does double the work of a standard air conditioner or furnace, it needs double the care!

This means ensuring that you have maintenance scheduled for the unit twice a year, once in the fall and once in the spring before you need the system the most. This will ensure it operates as effectively and efficiently as possible, for as long as possible. It also ensures that we can check on all the different components of your system to make sure they’re operating as they should. This includes the refrigerant line!

Heat pumps are different from standard air conditioners, or from furnaces that don’t use refrigerant. They use refrigerant in their cooling process during the summer, but unlike standard AC systems, the process is reversed in the winter to provide you with heat. So, refrigerant is pretty important! But what if your system is losing some?

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Tips to Keep You Warm This Winter

December 7th, 2020

woman-hugging-pillow-looking-coldWinter is right around the corner, and we want to help you be prepared! Hopefully you’ve already taken a step toward winter prep by having your heater tuned-up. If you have a furnace, this means scheduling an annual maintenance session. If you have a year-round heat pump system, this means having maintenance done twice a year.

But what if you’ve had maintenance done and you just don’t feel like your heater is keeping you warm as it should? Well, it may be that you need a heater upgrade. We’re happy to talk to you about your options! Another possibility is that you simply aren’t using your heating system as efficiently as you could be. Read on as we share some heating efficiency-boosting tips.

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Does Your Water Need an Upgrade?

November 23rd, 2020

hand-holding-glass-of-waterYou might be wondering what we mean by this—“My water? What’s wrong with my water?!”

We get it—this probably isn’t something you think about too often. But we want to encourage you otherwise. Some water quality problems can be quite harmful, after all. The water you use for cooking, cleaning, and drinking has many miles to go from the water treatment plant to your home, and on the way has the potential to pick up harmful contaminants.

And then there are mineral deposits, too. Namely, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Now, these minerals are not harmful for you to ingest, but over time they are very harmful to your plumbing system and quality of life. Read on as we uncover the problems associated with what’s called hard water and what you can do about it!

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“Does My Boiler Need Heating Maintenance?”

November 9th, 2020

gas-boiler-manometerThere are many things in life that are understandably debatable. Should you have pineapple on pizza? Is the second week of November too early to start listening to holiday music? Should you schedule maintenance for your boiler?

Before you shout out a resounding “NO!” for all three of these, we have to urge you to reconsider your response to the last inquiry. Boilers are very sturdy and have fewer moving parts than other types of heating systems, like furnaces or heat pumps. But that doesn’t mean you can necessarily get away with not diligently caring for your boiler system.

In our last blog post, we covered why it’s so important that you have furnace maintenance done and there are many checkpoints to consider with furnace systems. But any heating system needs to have annual inspections, boilers included. Read on to learn more!

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Follow This One Step to Prevent Furnace Repairs

October 26th, 2020

furnace-burnersTemperatures are starting to drop and homeowners are starting to think about their heating systems. How well is yours working? How much are you paying for its use each month? Do you have any repair needs to address?

We hope as well that you’ve considered the single most important step you should be taking toward furnace care this season—scheduling maintenance!

Your maintenance tune-ups are the best way to keep your heating operating as effectively and efficiently as possible for as long as possible while avoiding up to 85% of the repair needs it may ever need in its lifespan. Keep reading as we go over why it’s so vital to have this service done and how you’ll benefit.

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