It happens more often than you think. People decide to forego their regular furnace maintenance or forget to test their heating system before cold weather sets in. Then, as it does, the weather suddenly switches from cool summer temperatures to straight fall chill. And that’s when you know there’s no chance of another heat wave to let us keep on living the summer dream. It’s time to turn up the heat, and put on our gloves and scarves as we head out the door. The HVAC professionals at CJS Heating and Air have many times been called to homes where the gloves and scarves are being kept on, even within the home. A broken or poorly functioning heating system means people need to get a little creative on how to keep warm and return to some of the methods used in pre-furnace days. If your furnace is blowing cold air or isn’t coming on, call our team for an appointment, and then read on to employ some of the tips below on how to keep warm while you’re waiting for furnace repairs.
Archives for 2017
Life And Death Reasons To Get A Carbon Monoxide Detector
You probably have a smoke detector in your Dayton home, especially since most new homes come with them already installed. Most people would agree that it is a “no-brainer” to have one in your home to alert you and your family of a possible fire. But, what about a carbon monoxide (CO) detector? Do you have any installed in your home? [Read more…]
Ideal Thermostat Settings for Every Season
It’s a constant battle: comfort vs cost. Whether it’s summer heat or winter chills, we frequently answer questions about how to balance comfort in your Dayton home with the cost of operating your furnace and air conditioning system. [Read more…]
How To Check Your Heating System Before Winter Hits
Experienced homeowners are more likely to understand the importance of checking their heating system before winter hits. They forgot to check their heating system just once — and then vowed to never make that mistake again. Read on to learn what to check and do when testing your heating system before the winter weather season.
Clear out and clean up the area around your furnace
The first thing you’ll want to do is make sure there is no clutter or debris around your furnace before you ascertain whether it’s working properly or not. Throughout the year, stuff can pile up around your furnace. Now is the time to clear away all fire hazards.Check your furnace air filters
When the warmer weather began earlier this year, you happily shut off your furnace and forgot about it. Over the course of last year’s colder weather, your furnace filters did some quality work. But, if they haven’t been changed for some time, you should check them out. Before checking the filter, be sure to turn off the circuit breaker at the main electrical panel supplying power to the furnace. Safety first! Once you’ve done that, you can inspect the furnace filter. Check both sides and replace if it’s dirty. If you fail to do this, you’ll limit the airflow and end up using more energy than necessary to heat your home. Purchasing extra furnace filters in the off season will save you that added worry.Test the furnace and thermostat
Once you’ve checked and replaced the filter (if necessary), you can restore the power to the furnace. You can now test to see if it’s working properly. Turn the furnace on and check your thermostat while it’s running. Make sure the thermostat shows that your home’s heating up. If nothing is happening within 15 to 20 minutes, you should contact your local HVAC company to inspect and repair your system. If it feels warmer, you shouldn’t have any issues. Don’t be alarmed if you smell something a bit off the first time you turn on your heating system. This is often the result of burning dust, which has accumulated over the warmer weather period. If it bothers you, open up your windows and let your home air out. But, if the smell reminds you of gas or oil, you should be safe and call in the professionals for a leak inspection.Test your hot water radiators
If you have hot water radiators in your home, you should also check that these are working properly. Make sure that when you’re testing your heating system, you have all the radiator valves on. Turn up the thermostat to maximum, wait 15 minutes, and then touch the radiators to see if they have heated up or not.Fill up your oil tank
If you fuel your home’s heating with oil, make sure your oil tank is full before winter hits. Some may have their tank filled automatically, but if you don’t, then try to fill up early, as prices may go up during the colder season.Protect your family
Before you start running your furnace regularly, you should check your carbon monoxide detector. Replacing your batteries at the beginning of the season is the safest choice, even if the batteries are not completely dead. You can use them for something else and be confident your carbon monoxide detector will work through the heating season. If you do not have a carbon monoxide detector in your home, go out and purchase one now. Similar to a smoke detector, a carbon monoxide detector will beep and alert you to too-high levels of this colorless, odorless gas. It’s something almost undetectable by our senses and can cause carbon monoxide poisoning and even death.Schedule your biannual HVAC maintenance appointment
Whether your heating system is in need of repairs after you test it or you want to make sure it’s properly cleaned and serviced for the upcoming season, CJS Heating and Air is here to help. We offer a 24-hour emergency heating service and reasonable rates on parts, service, and new installations. Get in touch today for your service check-up!]]>5 Common Sense Reasons To Get Furnace Maintenance Before You Need It
You’ve felt those chilly mornings. So has your thermostat. Chilly mornings will soon become frosty nights. Before you put your furnace to the test, a little preventative maintenance can save you a lot of expensive headaches—as well as chilly days and nights.
Why get Furnace Maintenance Before You Need It?
Here are five common sense reasons to schedule a CJS Furnace Safety Check and Tuneup.
1. ‘Tis the Season
Because your furnace has the summer off, dust and residue may have built up inside. It’s time to get it cleaned out properly and ready to roll for the winter. Our clean, screened, trained and timely CJS Techs will clean out the system and take apart key components to inspect them for damage. They’ll also change your furnace filter and re-ignite your pilot light if you shut it off over the summer.
2. Temperatures are Dropping
It’s not going to be long before the thermometer starts living in single digits making a functioning furnace more than an issue for comfort in your home, but safety as well. The time is now to identify any potential problems with your system when you’ve got control over your schedule and when the weather is pleasant enough. You don’t want to have a disaster strike in the middle of the night in January.
3. Carbon Monoxide
You do everything you can to keep your family safe, right? In that case, you definitely need to schedule a furnace tune-up on your to-do list. Carbon monoxide is tasteless and odorless, which makes it hard to detect. To protect against deadly carbon monoxide poisoning, have a detector installed. Also have routine furnace inspections, where your CJS tech cleans your system and looks for leaks where carbon monoxide can escape into your home.
4. Cost Efficiency
Would you rather pay a little to fix a small problem or a lot to fix a big problem? It’s a no-brainer. However, without one of our clean, screened, trained and timely CJS techs to do the work, you won’t be able to uncover potential problems until they become more expensive to fix.
5. Improve Air Quality
Getting your furnace serviced means that it is running clean and smooth. This translates into improved air quality for your family. Furnace maintenance is particularly important if you or one of your family members has asthma or allergies, or if you have a pet releasing dander in the air.
Why wait till your house is an icebox?
Scheduling your CJS Furnace Safety Check and Tuneup today will give you peace of mind, knowing you’ll be warm and cozy during the season ahead. Give CJS Heating & Air, in Dayton, OH at (937) 488-4758 to get scheduled.
5 Ways to Save on Your Utility Bill This Winter
As winter months approach, many of us Dayton homeowners struggle to find creative new ways to save on utility bills. The time to take action is now before cool snaps turn into frosty, cold nights.
Energy-Saving Tips
Taking these few simple, energy-saving steps helps conserve energy and make this winter more comfortable and affordable.
1: Optimize Home Insulation
Depending on how much your Dayton home has already, applying home insulation can help lower energy bills. Placing extra insulation around windows and covering the gaps between the base of an exterior door and the floor with convenient “weather strips” helps prevent waste.
2: Schedule Regular Heating and Cooling Maintenance
One of the simplest ways to save on utility bills is scheduling regular preventative maintenance for your furnace and air conditioning system. One of our clean, screened, trained, and timely CJS techs can inspect your air conditioning and furnace to make certain that this equipment remains in safe, efficient working condition. For example, we clean dirt and debris from your combustion chamber which helps your furnace operate more efficiently, ultimately contributing to more energy savings.
3: Use Energy Star Appliances
Another smart way to lower energy bills is to purchase energy-efficient appliances. Refrigerators, ovens, and other household appliances and fixtures today frequently carry the Energy Star label. This system helps you understand how much energy these units require. Over time, purchasing Energy Star energy-efficient products results in significant savings.
4: Consider Ceiling Fans
Installing ceiling fans throughout your home increases comfort without keeping the thermostat as low in the summer or as high in winter months. Ceiling fans help cool everyone in a room effectively, working in conjunction with central air and central heat.
5: Upgrade Outdated Home Heating And Cooling Systems
Mechanical systems all break down at some point. If your Dayton home heating and cooling system frequently malfunctions, or uses outdated, obsolete technology, upgrading to a state-of-the-art heating and cooling system will help reduce your utility bills.
During earlier decades, many manufacturers did not appreciate the importance of conserving energy. Today, most modern heating and cooling systems emphasize energy saving features.
Dollar Wise And Common Sense
Taking a little time to explore ways to lower utility bills remains a very wise investment. Savvy property owners today understand the importance of conserving energy.
3 Furnace Troubleshooting Tips When It Blows Cold
You rely on your furnace to keep you warm during the long, cold Dayton winters. But if your heating system is blowing cold air, then there are three common reasons such as thermostat problems, overheated furnace or the pilot light is out.
[Read more…]
4 Tips To Keep Your Home Warm This Winter
Staying warm in winter is a basic need that all creatures share, but you can also use winterizing projects around the house to help save yourself some money. Keeping warmer and saving money doesn’t have to cost a lot either. Here are four ways you can stay warm and keep money in the bank. [Read more…]
The Importance of a Properly Installed Heating and Cooling System
You have finally decided to replace your antiquated heating and cooling system with a brand-new, high-efficiency model, so you start the search for a local company that is willing to do the job. The first contractor you talk to promises to have your system up and ready in a day or two, which sounds too good to be true. While technically possible, heating and cooling system installation can be complicated, and the last thing you want is to pay a ton of money for a system that does not work properly. For superior indoor comfort all year round, you need to find a professional technician with the knowledge and skills to do the job right. It is important to be aware of what to expect during the installation process, so take a look at this handy guide to ensure that your new system will sufficiently meet your heating and cooling needs.
What to expect prior to installation
It takes skill to design and install a heating and cooling system, so be wary of any technicians that are trying to rush you through the process. Several things need to be completed before installation can begin, so make sure your technician provides you with:- An accurate load calculation to help determine the size of heating and cooling system that will work best for your home
- Recommendations for products that are approved by independent quality organizations like the Air Conditioning, Heating & Refrigeration Institute (AHRI)
- Performance data on heating and cooling system options
- A venting system assessment to ensure the safety of your family
- A ductwork assessment to ensure optimal efficiency and to check for leaks or sizing issues
What to expect during installation
While the technicians need room to work, make sure they take the following steps during the installation process:- Check the refrigerant charge
- Assess airflow throughout the home
- Check the thermostat for accuracy
- Keep an eye on all electrical components to ensure proper safety and function
- Routine maintenance schedules
- Important documentation such as the owner’s manual and any warranty paperwork
- Any measurements that were taken to facilitate future repairs and tune-ups.
Tips to Lower Your Heating Bill This Winter
When the snow is falling and the temperatures drop below freezing, all you can think about is cranking up the heat and staying nice and warm inside your home. While this may be good for your soul, your bank account may not agree – especially when the monthly energy bill arrives! However, there are several easy ways to save money on your energy bills if you plan ahead. Take a look at these simple tips to keep your costs down and your spirits up this winter.