We understand that navigating heating systems can raise many questions, from choosing the right furnace to troubleshooting common issues. That’s why we’ve compiled answers to the most frequently asked questions about heating systems to help you stay informed and make confident decisions about your home’s comfort. Whether you’re curious about maintenance, repairs, or new installations, you’ll find the answers you need right here.
Q: When should I replace my furnace?
While the average life expectancy of a furnace is 15 to 17 years, the best way to know when to replace your furnace comes during annual interactions with your HVAC technician during the preventive maintenance, otherwise known as a tune-up or clean & check. A licensed certified hvac technician will be able to listen to your heating and cooling concerns, make suggestions and offer solutions, and assist in planning ahead with you to make your investment on a proactive basis, the best experience so there are no unexpected surprises or expensive surprises. You must have a relationship in place with a company you can trust to do this correctly.
Q: Why is my heater making strange noises?
Most heaters have two electric motors driving fans that can become restricted or out of balance due to dirt or airflow restrictions. The result is vibration that will produce noises wherever two surfaces are close enough to rub together. Continuous rattles, rumbles, squeaks, humming, (people use so many describing words for these) are going to need to be traced down, and the root problem corrected. Louder noise, such as booms, bangs, and anything that shakes the house is a very serious situation. Whenever you are in doubt, turn your heater off and call a professional contractor for help.
Q: How can I save money on my heating bill?
Getting annual maintenance or regular tune-ups is the best way to ensure your heating system is running at peak efficiency. Making sure the system is clean and the filters are being changed regularly because this is an easy & inexpensive way to save money on your heating bill. If your heating system is over 10 years old or has needed frequent repairs it may be time to consider options for a new & high efficient furnace. High efficient furnaces may be a larger investment upfront; however you will see a significant reduction in your monthly heating bill.
Q: Should you turn your heating off in the summer?
Standard gas furnaces can be turned off during the summer simply by switch heat settings to cool settings on the thermostat. Some boiler systems are known to have a summer & winter mode setting on the thermostat or temperatures control. Turning the pilot light off on your heating system in order to decrease energy consumption & increase utility savings is a common myth & holds no truth.
Q: What type of furnace is best for my home?
A Trane High Efficient Model is always the best for your home in terms of efficiency and monthly savings. If you have plans to move in the near future & are not considered with the ongoing monthly energy savings, you many decide that a basic builders model is the right furnace for you. It is highly recommended that you receive an estimate (we recommend one to three estimates) from a professional, licensed heating and cooling contractor. Make sure to invest in quality & name brands like Trane heating and cooling systems which provide both reliability & high quality. Trane furnaces go through extensive testing & come with amazing warranties so in the future if you do need any repairs your parts will most likely be covered by the manufacturer.
Q: How long do furnaces last?
A well maintained furnace will last 15-20 years. Failure to receive proper maintenance from a licensed & professional HVAC Contractor can not only void your Manufacturer Warranty, but it can also lead to a shorter lifespan and pricey repairs. It’s also important to receive annual tune-ups for safety reasons. Furnaces have both electrical and gas components both of which can be potentially dangerous and even life threatening if not properly inspected.
Q: What is the burning smell coming from my furnace?
With a new furnace install, this smell is oil that is used during the manufacturing process. On startup in the fall, sometimes you will notice the burning smell. Sometimes dirt and dust will buildup on the outside of the heat exchanger. It will burn off after the first few times running the furnace, this is normal.
Q: Which is best: gas or electric?
Gas is going to be the most cost effective. Electric is, by far, the most expensive.
Q: What type of filter should I use for my furnace?
If you have a 1” filter we recommend using a non pleated fiberglass filter. If you have a media cabinet, use the manufacturer filter.
Q: How often should my furnace filter be replaced?
1” filters should be replaced monthly. Media filters can be replaced every three to six months.
Q: How often should I have maintenance on my furnace?
We recommend annual maintenance to ensure the system operates as safely and efficiently as possible.
Q: What size furnace is best for my home?
Each individual home is unique and has different factors that come into play when determining the right furnace for your home. A proper load calculation must be performed to answer this question. Everything is taken into account when doing this, down to the color of the shingles on the roof!
Q: Why are some rooms in my home warmer or cooler than others?
This is due to a variety of factors, and often is not due to one cause. Possible causes include the direction of the room (is it north or south facing, etc.), what floor the room is on, the amount of insulation in the attic, how many windows are in the room, if the room is above an unconditioned space such as a crawl space or garage, improperly sized duct work, etc.
Q: What is the process for installing a new heating system?
The first part is receiving an estimate from one to three licensed, qualified heating and cooling contractor. Once you receive your estimates, make a decision on which company and equipment is best fit for you and your home needs. The next step is to contact the company you’ve selected & schedule the installation. The HVAC company will then order the equipment & materials and schedule an installation crew to complete the installation. The morning of the day of installation the Blue Frost Heating & Cooling crew will call, text and email you upon arrival to inform you with the estimated time of arrival. Upon arrival the crew will formerly introduce themselves, and will inspect the location the new equipment will be installed. They will be wearing shoe covers and laying down tarps to protect your home from outside dirt, dust and debris. They will then remove the old existing equipment and then will proceed to install the new equipment. Once the newly installed unit is completed the install team will cycle & test the equipment to ensure it is working properly & according to manufacturer specifications. Once completed the install crew will show you how it works & ensure you have a full understanding of how to safely operate it as well as answer any questions you may have. Your invoice will be emailed to you & the sales manager will follow up with you within two weeks to schedule a follow up visit to ensure you are happy with the installation & satisfied with your newly purchased equipment.
Q: How do I know if my furnace is broken?
You know your furnace is broken if it’s a) not producing heat, b) not producing enough heat, c) making irregular noise, d) giving off an abnormal odor, e) Leaking or producing excess condensation. If any of these things happen you will want to contact a licensed, qualified heating & cooling contractor like Blue Frost Heating & Cooling.
Q: Why should I switch to a high efficiency furnace?
There are many benefits to upgrading to a high efficiency furnace. One of the great benefits you will instantly notice is how much money you will save on your utility bills each month! The energy savings puts money back in your pocket! Another reason it’s a good idea to switch to high-efficiency furnaces is the rebates that you will quality for, some rebates you can receive up to $600 back in utility rebates alone! Another positive reason to switch is how quiet, yet powerful the equipment runs. Many non-high-efficient furnaces run a lot longer & make a lot of noise; however with a high efficient furnace you will experience the exact opposite.
Q: Does a new furnace add value to my home?
A new furnace will definitely add value to your new home! If you have plans to sell your home in the future, a new furnace replacement will give future home buyers peace of mind knowing it’s new and will not need to be replaced for quite some time, meaning less money they need to plan on spending. A new high efficiency furnace will bring even more value to your home as home buyers will not only have peace in knowing they don’t need to replace their furnace, but also they will actually be saving money every month on their monthly utility bills!
Q: What is the best time of year to replace my furnace?
It’s best to talk to your contractor to find out if there are any promotions or rebates either from the manufacturer directly, or from the utility companies. Sometimes there are great seasonal promotions in the spring and fall that you can receive great incentives and, many times, 0% financing or cash back rebate options available.
Q: How do I prepare my furnace for winter?
Annual maintenance is the best way to prepare your heating system for the winter. Getting a furnace tune up by a professional, licensed HVAC Contractor like Blue Frost Heating & Cooling is the best way to achieve this. Make sure to program your thermostat on a set schedule so you are not wasting energy & money, while keeping your home at a comfortable temperature setting. Be sure to change your filters regularly too as this can clog up with dirt & debris causing your furnace to fail. Being proactive & performing these items is a great way to ensure your furnace is operating to it’s fullest potential.
Q: How should I set my humidifier in the winter?
The indoor humidity level should be set between 30% to 50% during the winter. Many factors come into play into the exact humidity level such as the year your house was built, the condition of your windows and doors, are there any air leaks, do you have wood furniture or wood flooring. Talk with you comfort specialist to find out the exact humidity level for you specific home to ensure you don’t have too much or too little indoor humidity levels in your home.
Q: Why is my furnace not reaching temperature?
Your furnace may not be reaching the set temperature for a variety of reasons. It’s possible you have a dirty filter that needs to be changed. You could have a faulty thermostat or just need to change the batteries on your thermostat. It could be that the extreme cold temperatures outside are affecting the temperature in your home since most furnaces are not designed to operate in extremely low, below zero temps. There could also be a more serious underlining issue that requires you to contact a professional HVAC contractor who can best diagnosis & determine what is causing your furnace to not reach the temperature it is set at.
Q: If I’m looking to purchase a furnace model that Blue Frost does not offer, can you still help me install it?
We are only able to install equipment that we supply. We do not install customer supplied furnaces as we are unable to provide warranties related to equipment we do not provide.
Q: What are three common heater issues?
The 3 common heater issues are a cracked heat exchanger, ignition failure & faulty flame sensor
Q: Which is more crucial to keeping my home warm during the colder months – a new heater or new insulation?
Both a heather & insulation are so important; however a new heater is probably the first step, followed by insulation. If you don’t have the proper levels of attic insulation you will experience a great deal of heat loss, which not only makes your heater work harder, but it decreases the unit’s efficiency level & increases your monthly utility bills.
Q: Are there any system repairs or adjustments that don’t require a professional and I can make myself?
The common repairs and adjustments that do not require a professional would be setting your schedule on a programmable thermostat & regularly changing your filter. Most manufacturers require a professional on repairs or cleanings in order to keep your warranty in tack. Calling a professional is the best way not to void that warranty & ensures the repairs & maintenance are being done the proper way.
Q: When is the best time to have my furnace inspected to make sure that it is ready for fall and winter?
Unlike the air conditioning which needs to be checked once 50- to 60-degree temperatures hit, a furnace tune up can be checked and maintenance at any time in fall or winter. Keeping your heating and cooling system clean is the most important thing to remember in every season.
Q: Is having a heater on too high of a temperature or running for too long continuously bad for my furnace?
Leaving the heater running constantly or at high temps is not bad for your furnace, but it will be working harder which can shorten the lifespan of the equipment as well as decreases its efficiency levels. Monthly utility bills will also be much higher if you continue to let your furnace run all the time.
Q: What is two-stage heating?
A two-stage heating system means that the furnace has two settings. Different from a single stage furnace the two-stage does not need to run at top capacity once it powers on. On days when there is less heat desired, or warmer days a two stage furnace can be set to a lower setting which both increases the efficiency (which also saves you money on your monthly energy bills) and also lengthens the lifespan of the heating system itself.