Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Pittsburgh’

Keep Your Workshop Warm This Winter with a Garage Heater

Monday, 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. 

Continue Reading

Repair or Replace Your Boiler System?

Monday, February 26th, 2024
woman-by-heater-boiler-arm

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.

Continue Reading

5 Reasons Homeowners are Switching to a Heat Pump

Monday, January 1st, 2024
couple-on-couch-with-mini-split-behind-them

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.

Continue Reading

5 Common Furnace Smells and What They Mean

Monday, December 18th, 2023
Girl pinching her nose against a white background

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.

Continue Reading

Should I Choose a Gas or Electric Furnace?

Monday, December 4th, 2023
red-pen-marking-off-boxes-on-blank-checklist

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.  

Continue Reading

Drafty Doors & Windows? Tips for Sealing Air Leaks

Monday, October 9th, 2023

As a homeowner, there are a lot of things you need to stay on top of to make sure your home is comfortable. You also need to make sure that you’re not paying too much for your comfort. One thing that’s often neglected is making sure your home is as weatherproof as it can be. That means a home that’s well insulated and tightly sealed against the elements. 

Making improvements in weatherproofing is a great way to substantially decrease your energy bills. Sealing up air leaks is a surefire way to stay more comfortable not just in the winter, but throughout the year. 

Continue Reading

Furnace Comparison Guide for New Installations

Monday, September 11th, 2023

Furnace technology has advanced enormously in just the last decade. The furnaces of today are designed to be more energy efficient while reducing your carbon footprint. With greater energy efficiency comes a reduction in energy bills, and with how much you use your furnace during our cold, bitter winters, these are all benefits that homeowners are happy to reap! 

So what do you need to take into consideration when shopping for a new furnace? Some key things to consider are its fuel type, AFUE rating, and blower speed. Let’s take a look at these in depth.

Continue Reading

Get Your Home’s Air Back-to-School Ready

Monday, August 28th, 2023
3-sick-kids-using-kleenex-on-couch

If it’s “Back to School” time in your family, you’ve probably got a lot of things on your to-do list. Purchasing school supplies, scheduling doctor appointments, and planning a family schedule are just some of the many things that need to be considered.

Part of your preparation might be making sure your kids have hand sanitizer, wipes, and Kleenex in their backpacks. That’s because back to school means your child or children will pick up a lot of germs while they’re out and bring them back to your household.

Continue Reading

Negative Impacts of Extreme Heat to Indoor Air Quality

Monday, August 14th, 2023

Extreme heat waves are becoming more and more common not just in the US, but across the world. Here in Pennsylvania, we haven’t been immune to the extreme heatwaves that have been sweeping the Northeast. Add to that the poor air quality caused by the Canadian wildfires and it’s all the more reason to hunker down inside your home.

When a heatwave is in the forecast, people are advised to stay inside to avoid the brunt of the heat. And when wildfire smoke is present, not venturing outside is highly recommended. Your home should be not just a cool respite when temperatures skyrocket, but your home’s air quality needs to be healthy as well. Let’s look at the negative impacts of extreme heat on your home’s indoor air quality and how you can improve it. 

Continue Reading

July Heat Wave: Tips for Extreme Heat Safety

Monday, July 17th, 2023

Extreme heatwaves are an issue that is becoming more common across the US. In fact, we’ve already experienced some unusually high temperatures here in Pittsburgh and we’re not even halfway through the summer. 

When a heatwave is in the forecast, many homeowners want to know what they can do to not just stay comfortable, but to stay safe in their homes. It’s also important to know how to set your thermostat during extreme heat. Let’s go over 3 tips for how to stay safe and comfortable during record-high temperatures. 

Continue Reading