Summer is just around the corner. Schedule your air conditioning tune-up today for only $89+tax.

Air Conditioner Unit Tune-Up Includes:

• Clean condenser coil on outside unit.
• Check refrigerant levels for proper efficiency.
• Check all safety controls.
• Check all wiring for safety.
• Make sure all refrigerant lines are covered with insulation.
• Make sure the condenser is level.
• Pull and clean the blower if necessary.
• Check to see that thermostat is operating properly.
• Start air conditioner and make sure the unit is operating properly.

The Lennox iComfort Wi-Fi Thermostat is smarter than the average thermostat. Just like your car has a diagnostic system, the icomfort Wi-Fi gives you a heads up when maintenance or repairs are needed. If you risk it with other smart stats, you may not know something is wrong until your home comfort is interrupted.

Call Waterbury today for a free estimate on a new thermostat. (605) 338-TEMP.

You can have the most beautiful home on the block, but if it’s cold and drafty in the winter or hot and sticky in the summer, you’ll end up hating the place. Nothing is better than always coming home to a house that is truly comfortable and making a house feel like that is a job anyone can do. Being comfortable in your home is something that you don’t really notice until there’s a problem.

Maintaining a certain level of temperature and humidity requires a home that has proper insulation, a well-maintained HVAC system and quality weatherstripping. Assuming your house is properly insulated, here’s a quick checklist to maintain your HVAC and temperature control systems that will keep it humming along and problem free throughout the year.

Cleaning Filters
Heating and air-conditioning systems rely on a filter to strain dust and lint out of the airstream. Replacing and/or cleaning the filters is easy, but the hard part is remember to do so. Use your Google Calendar or any other calendar that allows you to set a recurring event and set an event to check your filter every 90 days.

Choosing and Maintaining a Forced Air Heating System
All forced-air heaters including oil, propane or natural gas, require regular maintenance to ensure the heat exchanger and flue are in good working condition. If you’ve got new construction or are replacing a heating system, go with a top brand like Lennox which should be professionally installed. It doesn’t make sense to cut corners with a cheaper unit that will cost you more money down the road. Look for units that are ENERGY STAR rated and you could also be due a government rebate as well as savings on your utility bill.

Maintaining Hydronic Heating Systems
Hydronic heating systems use heated water instead of air and pump it through a piping system to radiators located in rooms throughout the house. These systems require regular maintenance and older systems will last a long time if cared for but even after a cleaning they are typically only running at 50-65% efficiency compared to newer boilerswhich operate at 85% efficiency. If you’re hydronic heating system is pre-1970 then you’ll also need to regular check the expansion tank to make sure it’s at the proper level.

Servicing Air-Conditioning
Central AC is made up of an air handler inside and a condenser outside. The filter on the air handler should be changed once a year to keep it from clogging and the outdoor condensers should be free of leaves and branches which can block vents. Here are 5 tips to keep your air-conditioning unit running strong.

Here’s a great video with tips for preparing your home for a visit from an HVAC contractor.

Maintaining Chimneys
We all love a toasty fireplace, but chimney maintenance should not be ignored. Creosote buildup is a fire hazard, especially with wood burning fireplaces, so schedule a chimney sweep at least once a year or more to keep your chimney clean. Before starting a fire for the winter make sure and look up through the chimney to see if a nest or branches stuck inside. Keep the damper closed whenever the fire is off to prevent loss of heat in the room.

Ceiling Fans
Fans can be used to great effect to maintain a comfortable home and are virtually maintenance free. Dust them often and oil them when needed and your fan should last a long time.

Temperature Controls
It makes sense to invest in a high-quality thermostat and temperature control unit. These can be programmed to maintain different temperatures throughout the day and night to achieve maximum comfort level and savings. We recently featured the Lennox iComfortwhich is wi-fi enabled and allows you to check and maintain your home’s temperature from anywhere. If wi-fi isn’t for you there are plenty of other thermostat control options from Lennox that will fit a variety of budgets but all offer great performance.

Source: Charles & Hudson

Visit our booth at the 2013 Sioux Empire Home Show!

The ACCA web site reported yesterday, in a story by Charlie McCrudden, that the Fiscal Cliff legislation passed this week included a tax credit for the installation of high efficiency residential air conditioning and heating equipment.

The reinstatement of what was known as the 25C tax credit provides for up to $500 in homeowner tax credit. As a bonus, the provision was made retroactive to include all qualifying installations starting January 1, 2012 as well as moving forward into 2013. Qualifying installations must meet these minimum standards.

Furnaces ($150 Tax Credit)

• Natural gas, propane, or oil furnace with an AFUE of not less than 95%

Boilers ($150 Tax Credit)

• Natural gas, propane, or oil boiler with an AFUE of not less than 95%

Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps ($300 Tax Credit)

• Split system central air conditioner that achieves the highest efficiency CEE tier
  as of January 1, 2009 (16 SEER; 13 EER)
• Packaged central air conditioner that achieves the highest efficiency CEE tier
  as of January 1, 2009 (14 SEER; 12 EER)
• Split system electric heat pump that achieves the highest efficiency CEE tier
  as of January 1, 2009 (8.5 HSPF; 12.5 EER; 15 SEER)
• Packaged electric heat pump that achieves the highest efficiency CEE tier
  as of January 1, 2009 (8.0 HSPF; 12.0 EER; 14 SEER)

Advanced Main Air Circulating Fan ($50 Tax Credit)

• A fan used in a natural gas, propane, or oil furnace with an annual electricity use of no more than 2 percent of the total energy use of the furnace.

You will find more detail at: https://www.acca.org/archives/industry-resources/government-affairs/hot-air/8196

Waterbury’s recently had the opportunity to replace an old AC unit at a customer’s home with
a brand new Lennox unit. Here are a few photos of our guys installing the unit and the before & afters.

Waterbury Salesman, Gary Black telling installer, Aaron Hultman the plan of attack for the day.

(L to R) Salesman, Gary Black | Delivery Driver, Dave Jordheim | Installer, Cody Randall

Deliveryman, Dave, delivering the new unit and setting it in place.

Installer, Cody Randall

Before and afters of the old and new unit.

The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the CP9C Coleman furnace model the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient designation for 2012. This is a significant recognition due to the fact that not all manufacturers have systems capable of achieving this combination of efficiency and functionality, and it positions these Echelon
models in a select group of premium units.

For more information on this Coleman furnace, please call our sales group at (605) 338-TEMP.