Click on any of the following for valuable information regarding the heating, air conditioning and air quality in your home:
The Importance of Proper Maintenance
Why is it important to have regular maintenance on your home comfort equipment? Think about it this way. You wouldn't buy a brand new car and never expect to have to put air in the tires, change the oil, and check out any unusual noises would you? Well, the same thing can be said about your home comfort system.
Just as a well running car can get the best gas mileage and keep you safe on the road, properly running home comfort equipment will run more efficiently and keep you comfortable and safe in your home. One of the best ways to avoid problems with your heating and air conditioning systems is to prevent the problems before they even occur.
You can do this by scheduling regular maintenance on your system. With Schnaare's Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. you can rest assured that your system is being taken care of by high qualified technicians keeping your system in the best condition for your year round needs. Remember that even the best equipment, if not maintained properly, can cause problems.
Having your equipment serviced on a
regular basis has many benefits for you.
Here is a list of some of those benefits:
- Lengthens the life of the equipment by keeping it in good working condition.
- It maintains efficient operation which saves you energy dollars.
- It will save you money by eliminating costs of needed repairs and reducing any major repair expenses.
- It assures you of service by
experienced and qualified technicians from an
established dealership who will be there when you need them. - Regular service protects your warranty.
- Call us today and ask about our planned service program and start heading off problems before they even start!
Traditional furnaces are designed to heat your home, and keep you warm during the coldest weather. Therefore, they operate at one level - high. That means that every time your furnace starts and begins heating your home, it is putting out the maximum amount of BTU's that your furnace is designed for. The trouble with that is even in our area of the country the temperatures fluctuate and many winter days can be somewhat mild. On these mild days you don't need that full capacity to heat your home. This is where the two-stage furnace will help you feel more comfortable and save you money at the same time!
Unlike traditional furnaces that turn on and run at full capacity with each demand for heating, two-stage furnaces start out by running in its first stage, which uses only about 68% of its capacity. This reduced capacity is sufficient enough to warm your home on those mild winter days. When the temperature outside drops, the furnace will meet the extra demand by adjusting to the second stage in the heating cycle.
What are the advantages of two-stage heating?
Efficient Operation: Because the furnace spends the majority of its time operating in its lower capacity, first stage, it bums less fuel than a traditional furnace that always runs at full capacity and then shuts off when heating demand is met.
Consistent Comfort: Thanks to two-stage technology, the temperature inside your home should vary only a few degrees versus the larger temperature swings that are common with traditional single stage furnaces.
Quiet Comfort: Because a two-stage furnace starts in its first stage, when the level and amount of heat required is lower, and runs in this stage the majority of the time, it greatly reduces the noise associated with furnaces that turn on and run full blast. Two-stage technology means quiet comfort.
Improved Air Filtration: A two-stage furnace provides more consistent airflow- and with more consistent airflow comes improved air infiltration, which means you'll breathe easier with two-stage heating.
When your furnace is installed, the speed and airflow for your home is set depending up your specific situation, such as size of your home, etc
However, there are situations that can occur within the household to restrict airflow such as ductwork design, unit location, zoning or dirty filters, to name just a few. Think of variable-speed technology as your insurance for home comfort the way you prefer it. The variable-speed technology ensures that your home receives the amount of air required to keep you and your family comfortable. Variable speed motors have intelligent technology that monitor incoming data from the blower and adjust accordingly so you can feel confident that your system is working to keep you comfortable.
The furnace that uses this technology is called the two-stage variable-speed furnace. The two-stage, variable-speed furnace not only provides you with the most comfort of any other furnace on the market, it is also the most efficient! With the twostage technology combined with the variable-speed technology you save money on your energy bill with gas as well as the electricity. This furnace is by far the cheapest furnace to operate. When you combine this furnace with a high efficiency air conditioner, a high efficiency air cleaner, humidifier, and a zoning system you will experience the ultimate in home comfort levels.
What are the benefits of variable-speed technology?
Electrical Efficiency: Variable-speed motors can actually save you money on your energy bill as they consume less electricity than standard motors.
Cooling Efficiency: Having a variable-speed furnace as part of your home's comfort system means you will gain air conditioning efficiency or SEER. The higher the SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) the more energy efficient the unit. This means even more energy savings for your household.
Indoor Air Quality: With the low operating costs of the variable-speed furnace you can run your blower 24 hours a day without the worries of driving up your utility bill, This allows your air cleaner to continuously filter your air removing the allergens and harmful pollutants from your indoor air. This also helps with removing hot and cold spots within your home which will make you much more comfortable.
Contact us today to see how you can experience this in your home!
Zoning divides your home into separate comfort areas and makes your comfort equipment cool or heat only areas that need conditioning. For example, a living room with large windows may stay too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. A zoning system will send more conditioned air to the living room, to make up for the heat gained or lost through the windows. There are many other reasons to zone your home. Many families have different lifestyles and comfort needs. Maybe you have a home office that needs extra conditioning during the day, and none at night. Or you only use the upstairs bedrooms when guests visit. Whatever your needs, zoning can keep each area of your house at the perfect temperature for you and each family member.
The zoning system is able to accomplish this by using controlled thermostats in each zone. With separate thermostats, each zone signals the heating or cooling unit independently. This lets the system deliver cooling and heating only where it is needed. You will never have to cool or heat the whole house just to make one room comfortable.
An added incentive is that a zoning system can actually save you money. Zoning systems can use setback thermostats in each zone to make the most of energy savings. In zones rarely used you can set the temperatures for the unoccupied space accordingly and forget about those areas of your home. No more closing registers or shutting doors with each seasonal change.
New construction is the ideal time for a zoning system since it is installed during the construction process. If you are buying a new home, check with your builder about the zoning system. This system is always available through a quality HVAC contractor. The zoning system could make the difference between enjoying your new house and being truly comfortable.
New construction is not the only time a zoning system can be installed. It is much easier to install during the new construction process, but it can still be installed anytime you are replacing your air conditioner, furnace, or whenever you would like to start enjoying total home comfort.
Contact us today to see if a zoning system is what you need to enjoy total home comfort!
Air pollution surrounds us daily .... car exhaust, smog, indoor air. Indoor air? Yes, indoor air. Air pollutants can be up to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors! With newer homes being built "tighter" and existing homes being "tightened-up" to be more energy efficient we are beginning to experience poor indoor air quality. With better insulation, weather-stripping, upgraded windows and high quality exterior doors the exchange of indoor and outdoor air is limited causing this poor indoor air quality.
Many everyday, unsuspecting household items contribute to poor indoor air quality. Compounds found in carpeting, furniture, upholstery and drapery fabric constantly "off-Other sources of pollutants can include, but are not limited to, cleaning agents, paints and personal care products. The limited exchange of indoor and outdoor air leads to build- up of these contaminants inside your home.gas" or emit fumes.
Introducing AirAdvice
Schnaare's Heating and Air Condition will place the AirAdvice Monitor
in your home and monitor the air quality 24/7 for a full week
Schnaare's heating and Air Conditioning will provide you with a
comprehensive report highlighting changes and air quality needs.
We'll make Professional suggestions for improving your home's air quality
Call Us at (262)656-1945 to schedule a Free Test Done on Your Home
Indoor air pollutants can cause homeowners to suffer from flu-like symptoms such as headaches, nausea and respiratory irritation. They can also aggravate existing illnesses such as allergies and asthma. Recent statistics show that over the past ten years, asthma cases have increased by 51.6% and that over 40 million people suffer from asthma and allergies today. Even healthy people who have never suffered from allergies can benefit from clean air. Dust, smoke and other particles float around in air causing your drapes and furniture to gather dust. By removing airborne dust particles from the air, you reduce the amount of exposure they have on your respiratory system.
There are a number of things you can do to reduce the amount of pollutants in the air. Frequent dusting, vacuuming, and washing of bedding (use hot water, at least 130' F) will reduce the amount of dust and dust mites present in your living spaces. Although these methods are effective, not all airborne particles can be eliminated. Some particles are so small they may escape through the vacuum or never land on a surface. To capture these particles, products such as electronic air cleaners, high efficiency air filters, and UV lights can be beneficial.
UV lights inhibit the growth of biological contaminants. Through a process known as photolysis oxidation, UV rays help decompose air contaminants. When installed in conjunction with your home comfort system, these air purification devices can eliminate a good portion of the organisms in the treated area. At the same time, they clean the air filter surface, creating an environment that inhibits biological contaminants from growing.
There are several choices when it comes to air filtration:
Disposable filters: These are often referred to as "throwaway" filters. They are generally made of coarse fiberglass mats in a frame mounted on a filter rack. Only very large particles are collected in this filter. The filter efficiency increases as it fills with particles, until it reaches a point of saturation and begins to lose as many particles as it gains.
Reusable foam or metal filters: These filters have slightly higher capabilities than disposable filters due to the use of the oils and adhesives applied to the filter to cause the particles to adhere to them. They are washable and must be recoated after washing to obtain their original efficiency for reuse. These are most effective on large particles.
Electrostatic filters- These filters electrically charge the filter or the entering particles, much like a magnet, to attract particles to the strands of the filter as well as collecting particles by straining. These are most effective on large particles.
Pleated filters: These are constructed of fiberglass or synthetic fibers woven into a more dense material. The filter is arranged in V-shape forms to increase the area of the filter material without increasing the face area. This increases the particle holding capability. This filter allows you to capture a wider range of particle sizes, from small to large.
Electronic Air Cleaners: These are highly efficient filters that use an electric charge to remove and collect particulate matter such as dust, smoke, pollen, etc. The charged particles are then attracted to each other and forced to a series of alternately-charged metal plates where they are collected. These cells must be periodically cleaned with detergent and hot water maintains the efficiency of the collection. They are generally used with a pre-filter to remove the large particles before entering the cells where the smaller particles are collected.
High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters: These generally have an efficiency rating of at least 90% and above. These are considered to be very effective at small particle removal as well as removing the larger particles.
As you can see there is a wide range of filter types available to you. There is also a wide range of cost and maintenance associated with these filters. No matter which system you choose proper maintenance is very important to ensure proper indoor air quality.
Contact us today to find out which system will work best for you and your family!
Conditioning the amount of moisture in the air is necessary for your family's health. One of the major causes of respiratory infections is Inadequate humidification during cold weather. The start of the heating season each fall causes many people to begin having repeated attacks of winter colds. Winter weather is blamed for these problems, but the actual cause may be dryness which develops in the membranes of the nose, throat and bronchial tubes.
Dry air can cause more than health problems. Static electricity is a direct result of very dry air. Dry skin, bloody noses and the "cold" feeling you get when the furnace shuts down are also caused from improper humidity levels. Even household plants can suffer from the "winter drought" caused by low humidity levels. The recommended levels of humidity in the home are between 30-60%. During extremely cold weather, your home loses humidity to the outdoors and may drop to as low as 10%. By keeping the humidity levels in your home in the desired range you will begin to feel more comfortable and healthier. This range also minimizes the growth of biological pollutants such as mold and mildew
With central heating, people are confined indoors with unnaturally dry air for many months each year. Humidifiers help to keep comfortable levels of moisture in the air. Whole- house humidifiers work like old-fashioned room humidifiers: they put moisture into the air, making harsh, dry air easier to breathe. Whole-house humidifiers use water mist instead of hot steam, which keeps the entire house at a desired humidity level. No more carrying a humidifier from room to room in the winter. Today's humidifiers are installed in the ductwork, right beside your furnace. Just select the desired amount of humidity and enjoy the moist air that circulates through your home during the winter months.
Depending on the model you choose and the size of your home, a humidifier uses from 1.5 to 12 gallons per day when the furnace is operating. This minimal amount of water is enough to raise the humidity to your desired level, but not enough for you to even notice a difference on your water bill.
Installing a humidifier is an easy job if you are replacing your furnace. But you can have a humidifier fitted to your current system with minimal labor, since it is installed in the ductwork. It's also important to properly maintain your humidifier to avoid potential bacterial growth. Periodic cleaning and replacing the humidifier pad is strongly recommended.
Contact us today to get a humidifier installed in your home and begin feeling the comfort levels that you deserve!