Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog : Archive for April, 2015

Benefits of Replacing Your Thermostat

Monday, April 27th, 2015

Spring is here, which offers homeowners a chance to examine their heating and cooling system between the snows of winter and the heat of summer. Nowhere is that more important than your thermostat, which controls all aspects of your HVAC system. A malfunctioning thermostat needs to be replaced quickly: here in Pittsburgh, PA, weather is usually too hot or too cold to go without it. But even if it’s working just fine, the benefits of replacing your thermostat are hard to ignore. Here’s a brief list of some of the things a new thermostat can bring you.

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Is It Time for AC Replacement?

Monday, April 20th, 2015

Spring is a great time to assess your home’s needs, and if it’s time to replace an outdated air conditioner, now is the perfect time to do it. It isn’t always obvious when it’s time to replace an air conditioner, especially when your system is still running, so our experts have listed a few factors to consider. One thing that never changes is that it’s imperative to hire an expert for your AC work, especially for a system replacement. Our specialists can help you size and install a new replacement for your Pittsburgh, PA, home, so just give us a call today!

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Ways to Avoid Air Conditioning Repair This Summer

Monday, April 13th, 2015

If we could offer you an air conditioning system that was guaranteed never to break, we’d do it in a Pittsburgh minute. We can’t do that because such an air conditioning system doesn’t exist, but what our experts can offer you are some great tips on how to avoid air conditioning repair and reduce your incidence of repair.

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Make Air Conditioning Maintenance Part of Your Spring Cleaning This Year

Monday, April 6th, 2015

As our temperatures edge a little higher each day, our attention starts to turn towards the warmer weather. We may not be fully ready for spring cleaning yet, but this time of year is perfect for scheduling maintenance for your air conditioning system in Pittsburgh and the surrounding areas. Hiring a professional to perform a full tune-up on your AC system brings benefits that will last all season long, and scheduling your maintenance appointment now gets you ahead of the crowd. So what kind of benefits can you and your AC gain from a spring maintenance appointment with your Boehmer Heating & Cooling expert? Let’s take a look:

Benefit #1: Better energy efficiency.

During a maintenance appointment, your air conditioning system is thoroughly inspected, cleaned, lubricated and adjusted to optimize performance. Your AC was made to operate at a certain level of efficiency, and without regular maintenance, your system can lose up to 5% of its original efficiency each year it isn’t maintained. Annual maintenance helps your system regain its energy efficiency levels.

Benefit #2: Helps prevent future repairs.

The thorough inspection your AC system undergoes during a maintenance appointment allows the technician to spot both existing and developing problems. If the issues are small, such as frayed wiring or a stretched fan belt, these items can be repaired during the appointment. Should a bigger issue be discovered, such as a refrigerant leak, you’ll be advised of the problem so that you can make additional plans for having the problem repaired by an expert. The steps of maintenance help get you ahead of potential repairs and also help you control existing ones before they can become bigger.

Benefit #3: Extends the life of your system.

Maintenance keeps your air conditioner in good working order, which means the system won’t operate under unnecessary stress. Stress is the number one reason that air conditioners can prematurely age, which can lead to frequent malfunction, breakdown and a need for early replacement.

When you start to clean this winter’s dirt and grime from your home and yard, don’t forget to include your air conditioning system in the spring cleaning. The experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling are ready to help, so schedule an appointment today!

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Where Your Home May Be Losing Energy

Thursday, April 2nd, 2015

Do your monthly energy bills seem out of your control? Are your family members uncomfortable even when the air conditioning and heating system is running? Does it seem like you have to run the AC or heater for hours before the house finally cools down or heats up? If so, your HVAC system, your family members, and your wallet can benefit from a home energy audit in Pittsburgh from Boehmer Heating & Cooling. A comprehensive energy audit involves tests and inspections which help you to learn where your home is losing the most energy.

  • Leaks around windows and doors – A blower door test can help technicians to learn whether there are areas of your home through which air can leak in or out. Even a few minor cracks can really add up, and a technician may recommend replacing the doors or windows.
  • Duct leaks – The ducts are a common source of energy loss. Since most ducts are hidden from your view, you have no way of knowing when there are cracks and holes that allow air to leak out into unoccupied spaces like attics or crawlspaces. This forces your AC to work harder and may increase your cooling and heating costs by 30%.
  • Inadequate insulation – Insulation is a barrier of sorts, involving layers of material which keep heat from moving in or out, to an extent. This is important in both the winter and the summertime, and even if you already have insulation in parts of your home, this may not be enough. A technician will inspect your attic and perform tests that help to determine where insulation is lacking, where it needs replacement, and how much insulation is necessary to keep you comfortable and limit your air conditioning and heating usage.
  • Faulty HVAC equipment – During an energy audit, technicians look over your furnace, boiler, air conditioner, heat pump, and/or water heater, inspecting each component to look for any areas that could use a tune up or a repair, since worn down parts contribute greatly to excessive energy use.

A home energy audit can bring these items to your attention, as well as any filtration issues that may affect the quality of the air in your home. Call the professional HVAC and energy-efficiency experts at Boehmer Heating & Cooling to schedule a thorough energy audit in Pittsburgh today.

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