Five HVAC Trends To Watch For In 2020 Heating and cooling systems have made huge advancements in the last decade, but where will they be in 2020 and further into the future? It’s good for both contractors and homeowners to be aware of where the industry is heading because they can adapt their services and homes to the changes.   Even Smarter Thermostats A growing number of household goods are enabled with WiFi, making them “smart appliances”: televisions, refrigerators, blenders… and thermostats. It’s called the Internet of Things, and it helps these appliances provide more services and adapt efficiently to changing patterns. Smart thermostats are great for saving energy, and while the addition of WiFi happened some time ago, they are going to be able to connect to the rest of the appliances in the home. T his is because many people are moving their homes towards smart integration, meaning a system that connects everything. Alexa and Google Home run everything with a simple co...

Canadians are very mobile people. Every year, more than 4 million people move to new homes across the country, and 2020 won’t be any different. Right now, many are likely looking at new homes and thinking about making a move later in the year. Many people look at the living space, the state of the roofing, and other parts they consider important; rarely do they think about the HVAC system. You don’t need to be a professional to think about and look at the heating and cooling system of a home – you need to remember to make it a priority! Start With The Bills If you’re looking at a home, ask if you can see any energy bills. Roughly half of the annual energy expenses will go toward heating and cooling your home. Looking at the bills and comparing them to the average for the area will help you ensure that the home’s HVAC system is efficient and in working order. Do A Visual Check And Ask Questions When taking a tour of a house, a lot of people skip past the HVAC system as they examine...

Every homeowner should take proactive steps towards their comfort before winter begins. One of the best ways to secure your warmth during the coldest time of the year is investing in long-term HVAC maintenance. A service contract ensures that professional technicians check and maintain your HVAC system all winter long.  Our team can come up with a plan for you, especially if you want to catch an issue before it starts or make your system more efficient!   The Perks Of Service Contracts In The Winter: Energy Efficiency The last thing you want is your heating to break down on the coldest day of the year, but you also don’t want to pay more for fuel than you have to. A service contract could also lower your utility bills because the technician uses preventative maintenance to spot inefficiencies in the system. This way, you won’t have to learn about problems through a high bill. We can schedule the maintenance for when the seasons change. A well-maintained HVAC system can...

Winter weather means HVAC systems across London run longer hours to provide warm relief on the coldest days. This means that higher heating bills are inevitable. Don’t let paying more money be the reason for the season – follow these tips to slash your costs and save money this winter!   Program Your Thermostat Keep your thermostat on a tight schedule that revolves around when you’re in and out of the home. Set the temperature to 20°C (68°F) when you’re at home and 17°C (63°F) when out or asleep. If your family can’t handle the shock, gradually reduce the temperature over the winter to see how much you can lower it while staying comfortable. This is easy when you have a smart or programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat lets homeowners schedule their heating to run only when it’s necessary. A smart thermostat hooks up to your wifi and gives homeowners even more energy-saving options. They can control the HVAC system from anywhere with a smartphone. If you’re still o...

The water heater is an important investment for your home. The tank you have installed should be large enough so that no one in the family has to start their day with a cold shower. However, if it’s too large, you’ll pay for the energy needed to heat all that water you’re not using. To determine what size is best for your family, start with the number of people living in your home.   What Size Of Tank Does My Family Need? Most water heater tanks are 40 to 60 gallons in size; this is between 180 and 270 litres, though in Canada we mostly measure tank size in gallons. Depending on your needs, the size can go as low as 20 gallons and as high as 100 gallons. Four factors determine which size is appropriate for your home: the energy source, size of the space for the tank, home size, and the number of people in the home.  Energy Source: Electricity, natural gas, and propane are the three most common energy sources for a water heater. It can also be hooked up to a boiler if ...

A home is dependent on the water heater. Think about cold showers, washing the floors with freezing water, and there being no hot water for the dishes. These unpleasant scenarios are why you need to keep your hot water tank in working order ! A water heater that is properly installed and maintained should last up to 12 years; a tankless heating system should last up to 20. They don’t usually work longer than that lifespan because of the natural sediment that flows in through the municipal system. While both tank and tankless water heaters have ways of dealing with this sediment, these protective measures will eventually break down. What Causes Hot Water Heater Breakdowns? Like every other appliance, water heater tank wears down through constant use. As natural particles in water move through the system, they break the glass that lines the inside to protect the metal. The glass is very thin, so to keep the tank from corroding sooner than it has to, a device known as an anode rod a...

The modern central HVAC system is very efficient. All of the actions, from the heating to the ventilation to the air conditioning, work using many of the same parts. This is because HVAC equipment doesn’t just create and pump out heat or air conditioning out of thin air (pardon the pun). Rather, it uses the transfer of thermal energy to change the temperature, and a device called the heat exchanger makes this temperature transfer happen. How Does The Heat Exchanger Work? In spite of its name, the heat exchanger is an important part of both the cooling and heating. Heat naturally moves from areas of high temperature to areas of low temperature, and the heat exchanger is in place to reverse this process to either cool or heat your home. It works by transferring thermal energy from one medium to another through coils in the system. Heat exchangers use combustion gases to heat the air or a cold fluid to cool it. A heat exchanger in an HVAC system uses conduction to transfer heat. Thi...

Many problems with HVAC systems start with the thermostat. When this important piece of equipment fails to control the temperature properly, it can trick you into thinking you have a worse problem then what’s actually wrong. If you’re struggling with the following problems, don’t tear apart your furnace to find the issue – the fix could be a whole lot simpler! Your HVAC System Won’t Turn On  The biggest tell of a faulty thermostat is that your home’s heating and cooling system won’t turn on at all. Believe us, you’ll know when this becomes the problem. Before you get worried about a major HVAC repair, just have a look at the thermostat first; something could be preventing it from sending signals to your furnace and air conditioner. The HVAC System Doesn’t Respond To Settings Changes If your heating and cooling isn’t responding to a change in the temperature or setting almost immediately, it’s very likely that something is wrong with your thermostat’s ability to communicate wit...

Your furnace should last at least fifteen years before it needs a major overhaul or replacement. But how do you get it to that fifteen-year mark and beyond? The manufacturers tell you that the warranty is the way to go. Warranties are supposed to cover your HVAC in case of a breakdown, but that coverage only goes so far. What are you supposed to do when you can’t afford to extend the warranty and you’re out of your coverage? There are alternatives to purchasing an extended warranty on your HVAC system . You should know what coverage the manufacturer will automatically include, and how regular upkeep can save you money in the long run! Warranties For Furnaces Most furnaces, like other appliances, will come with a Manufacturer’s warranty . These can vary in length, and can even cover different components of the HVAC system. The part that most consistently comes with its own warranty is the heat exchanger. This large section actually does the heating, so it is the most expensive to ...