Boehmer Heating & Cooling Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Pittsburgh’

Are HVAC Maintenance Agreements Worth the Money?

Monday, May 23rd, 2022

Maintenance. It’s one of those words you’ve probably heard, but maybe not given a whole lot of thought to in relation to your home comfort systems. If you own a vehicle, you probably have maintenance done for that, right? Maintenance is what helps you rely on its ability to keep getting you from point A to point B for years and years, as efficiently as possible.

Well, this same concept applies to your HVAC systems. Maintenance helps your air conditioner, and your heater, operate as efficiently and effectively as possible, for as long as possible. It reduces repair needs by as much as 85% and helps your systems retain 95% of their original efficiency rating.

And a maintenance program offers you even more. In fact, the question shouldn’t be, “are HVAC maintenance agreements worth the money,” it should be, “Can I afford to go without a maintenance agreement?” Read on to learn more!

Tags: HVAC Maintenance, Maintenance Plan, Pittsburgh
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Generator Buying Guide, Tips for Choosing the Right Generator for Your Home

Monday, May 9th, 2022

When we talk about the different types of generators, we’re generally referring to two basic types: the portable generator, or the whole-house generator. The latter is the one that’s going to give you the most bang for your buck.

This isn’t to say there is anything wrong with a portable generator. Portable systems are a great option for many scenarios, like if you’re going on a camp out and want to power up a cooktop, or maybe you’re “glamping” and want to turn on a TV! We’re not here to judge.

But what you should know about a portable generator is that while it’s a great option for short-term, specific use, the one situation where it really isn’t the right choice is if you want to power your entire home during a widespread power outage. In this scenario, you’ll want a whole-home automatic standby generator.

The best time to have one of these installed is in the spring, so right now! This prepares you for summer storms that could come our way and knock out power, leaving you without your HVAC systems, your refrigerator, and other important home components. Read on to learn more about why the whole-house generator is the right option to buy, and what you should know about these systems.

Tags: Generator Services, Pittsburgh
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Modern Air Conditioning Solutions for Old Homes

Monday, April 25th, 2022

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If you are the owner of an old home in the Pittsburgh area, there are probably many reasons to love it! However, it might not have come with one important component for modern Pittsburgh homes–centralized air conditioning.

While our summers aren’t as brutal as other parts of the country, like down in Florida, it goes without saying that it gets hot and you require much more than a few fans to get through it each summer. Perhaps you already have window units in place but are there other options if you can’t accommodate the bulky ductwork required for a central AC system?

Why, yes, there are! Read on to learn more.

Tags: Air Conditioning Services, Ductless Air Conditioning, Pittsburgh
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5 Products Every Allergy Sufferer Needs to Know About

Monday, April 11th, 2022

When you hear the phrase “indoor allergies,” you probably think of dust. And sure, dust is a very common irritant for allergy sufferers, but it’s certainly not the only particle or contaminant in the air that can impact you as an allergy or asthma sufferer.

It’s also important to remember that “indoor air quality” doesn’t just refer to the temperature of your home. Today’s indoor air quality solutions are designed to make homes healthier, not just more comfortable. In fact, there are 5 products in particular that can help allergy sufferers, and just about anyone else in your household. Read on to learn more about them!

Tags: Indoor Air Quality, Pittsburgh
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Spring Home Maintenance, Don’t Overlook Your Air Conditioner

Monday, March 28th, 2022

Spring is officially here! As the weather warms and you get in the mood for gardening and home improvement projects, you may be wondering where to start. Our basic spring home maintenance tips include:

Cleaning your windows and screens
Replacing the air filters in your HVAC system
Sealing up your doors and windows
Touching up your exterior paint
Decluttering your home

These are just a few examples! But perhaps the most important thing you can do for your home during spring is taking steps to make the interior of your home more comfortable, and your energy more efficiently. How so? By remembering your air conditioner, as well as your other indoor air quality efforts! Read on to learn more.

Tags: Air Conditioning Maintenance, Pittsburgh
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HVAC Maintenance Tips for Pet Owners

Monday, March 14th, 2022

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You may be wondering how your HVAC system can have anything to do with your furry, four-legged pal, or vice-versa. But actually, having a pet can have a huge impact on not only your HVAC system but your overall air quality. Keeping your pet clean, changing the air filters, and taking some important safety steps that we’ll cover below will all help you keep a safe and healthy home for your pet(s) as well as the human members of your household!

Read on as we share some of our top HVAC maintenance tips for pet owners.

Tags: HVAC Maintenance, Pittsburgh
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8 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an HVAC Company

Monday, February 28th, 2022

When you hire an HVAC company, you don’t want to work with just any ol’ contractor you find online. You want to make sure they’re qualified for the job, experienced, and that they won’t lead you astray by making expensive mistakes.

It can be hard though, to discern a truly professional HVAC professional from an amateur, if you’ve never had to deal with a choice like deciding between HVAC contractors. Fortunately, we’ve provided you with 8 of the top questions you should ask to ensure you’re getting set up with the right team. Read on!

Tags: HVAC Contractor, Pittsburgh
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Will Closing HVAC Vents in Unused Rooms Save Me Money?

Monday, February 14th, 2022

One of the most common questions we get from our customers is in regards to the best ways to save money. How can they lower their energy usage, how can they use their systems more efficiently, and yes even will closing their HVAC vents in unused rooms save them money?

We’ll dive into all of this—but the short answer to “will closing HVAC vents save me money” is no. Actually, this can do more harm than good to your HVAC system, which we will explain in a moment.

The best way to save money starts with having a home energy audit done. This is when our professionals come in and assess where you may be losing energy, whether it’s through drafty windows and doors, damaged air ducts, etc. From there, we can look at the best ways for you to conserve that energy, including informing you of the best HVAC systems for your specific home. Read on to learn more!

Tags: Home Energy Audits, HVAC, HVAC Services, Pittsburgh
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Common Heating Mistakes that are Costing You

Monday, January 3rd, 2022

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Did you know that the way you use your heating system could be costing you way more money than it should? Sure, your utility bills are going to rise in the fall and winter–this is expected in our area. But your bills shouldn’t be drastically higher.

Read on as we uncover some common heating mistakes you might unintentionally be making, and how to use your heater as efficiently as possible.

Tags: Heating, Indoor Air Quality, Pittsburgh
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What’s the Best Humidity Level for My Home?

Monday, December 20th, 2021

During the summer, you don’t want too much humidity. As you’ve probably discovered, too much of it makes you feel really uncomfortable–hotter than the temperature reading on your thermostat it seems like, right? This is because moisture helps you retain heat. Moisture also encourages the growth of mold and mildew in the home, leading to potential property damage.

In the winter, however, it’s possible to have too little humidity. Dry air causes just as many problems as air with too much moisture in it, unfortunately. It leads to static shock, lowered immunity, and cracked wood in homes as everything dries out. There must be a happy medium though, right?

Of course there is! The ideal relative humidity level in any given home is between 30%- 50%… anything lower than that 30% is considered too dry. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it–have a whole-house humidifier professionally installed. Read on to learn more about the benefits of doing this!

Tags: Humidifier Installation, Indoor Air Quality, Pittsburgh
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