Power Outage Safety: How to Survive a Prolonged Power Outage

April 22nd, 2024
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According to many sources, major power outages are more common and last longer than they did 10 years ago. Not only are they occurring with greater frequency, but the amount of downtime that people experience is also increasing. 

A power outage that lasts more than a few hours can have serious repercussions. For people who depend on medical equipment that depends on having power, a power outage compromises the ability to use essential equipment. The contents of your refrigerator can easily spoil during a prolonged outage, which results in the costly and wasteful replacement of groceries.

In addition to having a plan for when power outages occur, the best way to arm yourself in the event of a prolonged outage is to get a whole-house generator. We’re your trusted source for the best generator installations, maintenance, and generator repair in Upper St. Clair, PA

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Solved! How Often Do You Really Need to Change Your Furnace Filter?

April 8th, 2024
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One of the most common questions we get is, “How often should I change a furnace filter?” A quick Google search will likely cause only more confusion as the answer will range from every month to every 3 months.

Generally speaking, you should replace a standard HVAC filter every 3 months. However, this should be more frequent depending on certain factors. Let’s go through some household circumstances that warrant a furnace filter change closer to the 1-2 month mark.

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Pro Tips on How to Extend the Life of Your Furnace

March 25th, 2024
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Furnaces have an average lifespan of 10-15 years. Unfortunately, having to replace a furnace before even the 10-year mark is not unheard of. Homeowners who have had to replace an HVAC system early have one overwhelming question: “What could I have done to avoid an early replacement?” 

Although furnaces that need to be replaced that early have been grossly neglected, the best way to make sure your furnace lasts for 15 years or longer is to take excellent care of it. Let’s go over 8 pro tips on how to maximize the lifespan of your furnace.

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Keep Your Workshop Warm This Winter with a Garage Heater

March 11th, 2024
Air conditioner technician installing mini split

When your home was first built, its HVAC system was (ideally) designed to sufficiently heat and cool all the rooms of the home. However, many homeowners have made additions to their home’s square footage, leaving certain areas without adequate temperature control. And some areas of homes such as garages weren’t designed to be heated.

Perhaps you’ve tried to make do with a space heater or an AC window unit in these spaces. If you’ve been unhappy with the results, you might avoid spending time in the rooms you should be able to enjoy year-round. 

That’s where the magic of mini splits comes in! These wall-mounted, 2-in-1 heating and air conditioning units are the perfect solution to spaces that have been difficult to control the temperature of. Let’s go over 7 areas in a home that would benefit from the addition of a ductless mini split. 

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Repair or Replace Your Boiler System?

February 26th, 2024
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There’s a lot to love about boilers as heating systems. They provide cozy, comfortable, radiant heating that’s completely different from a forced-air heating system like a furnace. They’re incredibly energy efficient because water is a more effective heat transfer medium than air. They need fewer repairs and last much longer than furnaces or heat pumps.

But eventually, the day will come when you’ll need to decide if you either repair your boiler or opt for a boiler replacement. How do you know when an expensive repair bill is worth the cost? Let’s go over 6 things to consider when trying to make the decision.

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How to Cut Home Heating Costs This Winter

February 12th, 2024
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How have your heating bills been so far this winter? Have they been surprisingly low or shockingly high? If it’s the latter, this blog post is for you! No one wants to pay more for something when they could be paying less.

Your home’s heating costs are dependent on a number of factors such as the insulation in your home, the quality of your ductwork, and how efficient your furnace is. When your furnace is running efficiently, it provides a whole host of benefits in addition to cutting your heating costs such as reducing the need for furnace repair. Let’s go over 5 important factors to be aware of so you can feel confident you’re paying the least amount of money on heating expenses.

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Give Your Indoor Air Quality a Boost During Cold & Flu Season

January 15th, 2024
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When most homeowners think of the main thing that affects their home comfort, they probably think about its temperature. When it’s sweltering hot or freezing cold outside, having a dependable AC and furnace is indeed paramount to comfort and safety. 

However, having the perfect indoor temperature isn’t the only thing that affects your comfort, safety, and health. Your indoor air quality (IAQ) is just as important. That’s why we provide comprehensive IAQ services. From air purifiers to air cleaners, read on to learn how these systems can boost your IAQ not just during cold and flu season, but all year round. 

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5 Reasons Homeowners are Switching to a Heat Pump

January 1st, 2024
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Getting a heat pump in Pittsburgh has been surging in popularity lately, and for good reason. If you’re in the market for a new HVAC system, you’ve undoubtedly come across heat pumps in your research. 

Recent advancements in heat pump technology have addressed the previous problem of heat pumps struggling with efficiency in cold climates. Now with options like cold-weather heat pumps, there’s never been a better time to upgrade from a central furnace or AC to an all-in-one heat pump. Let’s go over 5 reasons why homeowners are making the switch.

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5 Common Furnace Smells and What They Mean

December 18th, 2023
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When your gas furnace is working properly, you’ll hardly even notice it. Other than the sound of it turning on and off and the whoosh of air through the vents, it shouldn’t make much noise. And at the beginning of the heating season, you’ll probably smell dust when you turn it on for the first time. But otherwise, your furnace should be operating silently and without emitting any smells.

When your furnace gives off weird smells, it’s a sign to sit up and take notice. Your furnace is trying to tell you that it’s not operating as it should. Depending on the type of smell, the issue behind it could be something that requires urgent attention by a professional HVAC company to something ordinary and run-of-the-mill. Let’s go over 5 common furnace smells and what they mean.

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Should I Choose a Gas or Electric Furnace?

December 4th, 2023
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If you’re in the market for a new furnace, there are a couple of essential decisions you need to make before you move forward. The first thing you’ll need to decide is whether you get an electric or a gas furnace.

This can be an easy decision if your home doesn’t have access to natural gas. However, if your home has a gas connection, choosing between gas and electric requires some deliberation. There are pros and cons to both gas and electric furnaces. Let’s break these down easily for you so you can make the best choice for your budget, home, and family.  

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