Summer sun brings summer heat, which means you want to stay cool. Whether you have central air, AC window units, or ductless air conditioning, keeping your house cool in general will lower your energy costs without sacrificing comfort. [Read more…] about Tips to Keep Your Old House Cool
Tips to Keep Your Home Cooler This Summer
Even when you have a perfectly maintained AC, extreme weather can make keeping your house cool a problem. Brutal heatwaves like the three-digit temperatures the Pacific northwest recently experienced can tax even the best system. Even if your AC can handle it perfectly, power company actions and brown-outs will require extra measures. [Read more…] about Tips to Keep Your Home Cooler This Summer
How Much Clearance Should You Keep Around Your HVAC Unit?
The placement of your HVAC condenser unit matters – a lot. HVAC clearance makes a difference in how efficiently it operates and its risk of being damaged. [Read more…] about How Much Clearance Should You Keep Around Your HVAC Unit?
Does Your HVAC System Suffer from Dirty Sock Syndrome?
The indoor air quality in our homes is incredibly important to our health. After all, most of us spend the majority of our time indoors where pollutants tend to be twice the concentration. And let’s face it; we also want a home that smells nice. Bad odors not only make your home unpleasant, but they’re also a good sign that some kind of pollutant is infiltrating your home. Our minds may jump to the likely culprits like a trash bag ready to be taken out or spoiled food in the refrigerator, but the odor may be coming from your HVAC system. [Read more…] about Does Your HVAC System Suffer from Dirty Sock Syndrome?
How the 2020 Freon Ban Affects Your Air Conditioning
One year after the Freon ban has taken effect and with the warm weather starting, what does it mean for your home cooling system? That depends entirely upon your current system and if it involves Freon AC. No matter the situation, Tragar has a solution for you. For an overview of what the Freon Ban means, keep reading. [Read more…] about How the 2020 Freon Ban Affects Your Air Conditioning
Bioheat®: The Road to Carbon Neutral
Efficient energy usage and a greener way of living aren’t a trend. It’s a necessity for those who believe climate scientists. Lowering your carbon footprint or even going carbon neutral is as doable as it is important, even if you use home heating oil. Bioheat® is one solution. [Read more…] about Bioheat®: The Road to Carbon Neutral
Spring Cleaning Air Filters to Prevent Allergens & Pollutants
The weather is finally warming up and spring is in the air. While we get brighter, sunnier days, it’s also the start of allergy season for many of us. That is all the more reason to partake in some spring cleaning. [Read more…] about Spring Cleaning Air Filters to Prevent Allergens & Pollutants
How Do You Know If Your Furnace Is Dying?
A furnace failure is one of the worst things that can happen to a homeowner, not just in winter but any time. While it can happen unexpectedly, it’s much more common for signs of an impending failure to appear first. Being alert to the indications of a problem can allow you to act before your furnace completely dies.
How Do You Know Your Furnace Is Going Bad?
Even a properly maintained and serviced furnace – and yearly maintenance is the number one way to keep your furnace running properly as long as possible — can occasionally need repairs. So repairs, especially certain types of repairs, can indicate your furnace is starting to fail.
9 Signs of a Failing Furnace:
- Yellow burner flame.
- Soot streaks around the furnace
- No upward chimney draft
- Excessive moisture on cold surfaces like windows and walls
- Rusting, especially recently, on flue pipes and pipe connections, inside and out
- Leaking water at the chimney base or pipes
- Age of your furnace.
- Higher utility bills.
- Blowing cold air.
- Strange noises.
- Increased repairs.
- Sudden heat inconsistencies.
- Frequent cycling.
- Moisture buildup.
Your furnace should burn with a blue flame. Hints of yellow are fine, but it should predominantly be blue. An issue causing a yellow flame can often be repaired – usually it’s just a sign of a dirty burner – but it can also be one indicator of looming catastrophic furnace problems.
While a yellow burner flame could mean that the furnace is not burning efficiently, it can sometimes also indicate carbon monoxide is being produced, which is dangerous. Having a carbon monoxide detector can protect your family from fatalities. Other signs of a furnace giving off carbon monoxide are:
The average furnace lasts 15-20+ years, and one that has been well maintained will often be on the upper side of that range. Still, the older your furnace, the greater the chance of a failure, especially when combined with other warning signs.
If your natural gas bills are suddenly higher or you’re suddenly using a lot more heating oil, it could be due to furnace problems that lead to a full failure. Furnace efficiency can decline with age, but that’s usually a gradual shift. A sudden change or significant spike could be the sign that you should start furnace shopping.
A furnace blowing cold air could have a variety of reasons with some of those causes indicating imminent failure instead of more routine furnace problems.
Sudden furnace noises can be a sign of several different issues, some of which can be repaired. Others are furnace problems that precede a complete failure. If your furnace starts making odd noises, call for a service appointment to determine the nature of the problem and whether it can be repaired.
If you’ve had a few furnace problems recently that required repairs, that could be a sign of impending furnace failure.
It’s not unusual for a home to have rooms that tend to be warmer or colder than others. That issue can be addressed. However, if your cold spots are suddenly colder, or areas that are normally fine suddenly turn into hot or cold spots, it could be a sign of furnace problems. If weather or other external issues aren’t the cause.
If your furnace is cycling on and off much more frequently than usual, it could be a thermostat issue sending the wrong instructions to the furnace – or a sign that your furnace is failing. Call for a service appointment to learn which because in either case, it needs to be addressed.
If you find moisture on the walls, windows, or ceilings of some rooms, it could be a furnace problem involving insufficient airflow. That could be a vent problem or a sign of a failing furnace.
If you have any of these issues, especially in combination, your furnace could be reaching the end of its service life. Instead of having a complete furnace failure at a catastrophic moment, give us a call at Tragar for a furnace evaluation and, if your furnace is starting to fail, we can discuss replacement options.
Tragar Is the Expert in Long Island Heating System
Now is a great time to start planning a new furnace or upgrading your current system. Tragar can work with you today to make sure it’s a seamless process. Reach out to us for more information and a free estimate.
How to Use Smart Technology to Keep Your Heating Costs Down
Everyone wants to save money and that means saving energy. Today’s technology provides new tools that make this easier and more comfortable than ever. [Read more…] about How to Use Smart Technology to Keep Your Heating Costs Down
Why Are Some Rooms in My House Colder?
Winter or summer, you want your home to be consistently comfortable. Uneven home heating in the winter and uneven home cooling in the summer can be miserable. If own vinyl records, musical instruments, and other temperature-sensitive items, these inconsistencies can damage valuable items. Fortunately, solutions are available. [Read more…] about Why Are Some Rooms in My House Colder?