Everyone Needs to Know Where The Heating System Vents Are!

How much do you know about your home’s heating system? If your answer is “not very much,” then you are not alone. The unfortunate fact is that most people don’t take the time to get to know their HVAC systems as well as they should.

The more you recognize about your heating system, the easier it will be to understand what’s wrong if you start to have heating system issues. This can help you understand what repairs are needed and find the right HVAC company.

Distribution System

Most American homes today are heated by a central furnace, which is either electrically powered, or powered by natural gas or oil.

A furnace blows warm air through a way of ducts and delivers it to various rooms via warm air registers or grills.

Another type of central heater is a boiler. Boilers are usually powered by natural gas or heat oil and distribute heat by heating water that flows into radiators in various rooms.

The heat from the water heats the metal of the radiator, which then radiates the heat out into the air, while the now-cooled air returns to the boiler to be reheated.

Heat pumps are another option for central heating. They distribute heat through ducts, just like in a forced-air system. Heat pumps pull any warm air they can find outside during winter months and pump it into a house. During the summer the process is reversed (pumping warm air out of the home) to cool the house.

Close Vents

One way that people may try to save money on their heating bill is by closing the registers, or air vents when they leave a room.

At first glance this seems to make sense; close the vent, so that warm air isn’t being wasted in a room you are not using.

The truth, however, is that closing your vents can end up costing you more on your monthly heating bill than just leaving them open.

Aside from raising your energy bill, closing your vents can also lead your system to break down, and potentially throw off the amount of warm air being distributed to other parts of your home.

Save Money

If you’re looking to save on your energy expenses this winter, there are a few ways to do it.

One easy way to save money is by taking advantage of the free heat given by the sun. Keep your window curtains or coverings open during the day to let in heat from the sun, and keep them closed at night to keep the heat in.

Putting your ceiling fans to use is another good way to make your heating system more efficient. Keep your ceiling fans running at low speed, rotating clockwise to push warm air back down gently and keep the room warmer.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can also save money by turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees at night, and use warmer sheets and blankets in your bed.

Don’t forget to share this article with your friends and loved ones to encourage them to learn more about their heating distribution systems. The next time your heating system needs servicing, call Heidler Inc. (410) 268-7191 to speak with an HVAC professional in Annapolis.

Heating System Not Turning On?

A finicky heating system that won’t turn on when you need it can be extremely dangerous, especially in the middle of winter in Maryland. So how do you get a heater to turn on when it’s acting up? Should you just toss it out and get a new one, or is there a simpler, less expensive solution?

The heating service professionals at Heidler Inc. know all about the various issues that may be causing your heating system to break down, and we’ve written a few of them down for you here. Read on to learn more about why your system may not be working, and what you can do about it.

You May be in Need of a Checkup

The first thing any heating technician will ask when your heater isn’t turning on is “when was the last time your system had a check-up?”

Regular inspection and maintenance on your heating and AC systems can prevent significant issues that could cause it to break down.

There are many advantages to having regular maintenance and check-ups performed on your system, including:

• It allows your technician an opportunity to spot potential problems before they start.
• Regularly changed filters mean better air quality in your home.
• If your system does need repairs down the road, they will likely be minor jobs that don’t cost as much.
• Keeping your system well-maintained means it will probably have a longer lifespan!

Check Your Thermostat

Often, when your central heating system is giving you trouble, the problem isn’t in the heater itself, but in the thermostat. Here are a few ways you can check your thermostat to see if it is the real cause of your heating problems:

1. Check to make sure that the thermostat is set to “heat” and that the fan is set to “auto.”
2. Next, if you have a digital thermostat, try replacing the batteries.
3. Take the thermostat cover off, and check that all the wires are properly connected to their respective mounting screw.
4. Test the wires. This can be dangerous, as it involves electricity, and should only be attempted by someone who knows what they’re doing. If you are not comfortable testing the wires yourself, consider calling a professional heating technician.

Make Sure Your Pilot Light is On

If your home is heated by a gas-powered furnace, one of the first things you should check to make sure that the pilot light is on.

If you find that your furnace’s pilot light has gone out, there may be a few different reasons why.

One is that the flame began to burn inefficiently, which can be noted by the flame burning yellow instead of blue, so the thermocouple cut the gas, thus putting the pilot light out.

A malfunctioning thermocouple would also cause the pilot light to go out for seemingly no reason. Sometimes, the pilot light can burn out over simple things like the intake valve being dirty, or a strong draft blowing through the furnace.

Can you Heat Your Entire Home With Radiant Floor Heating?

Radiant floor heating isn’t just about the nice luxury of keeping your feet warm (which admittedly is very welcome on chilly Annapolis, MD mornings). It is a type of heating that offers a number of benefits.

Compared to other heating systems, with radiant floor heating, you have dusty ductwork, rattling radiators or noisy vents. Rather, you’ve got a quiet, even distribution of heat when and where you want it.

Yes! (Or Wherever you Have a Floor)

The short answer to “Can you heat your entire home with radiant floor heating”? is yes. In theory, as long as you have a floor, you can utilize radiant floor heating.

The heating system goes right into the floor, heating water or using electricity in an infrastructure of pipes.

While it generally is room-specific (i.e., for the kitchen or bathroom, where you are standing a great deal, or might be in bare feet), it is a viable and effective way to heat your home. If you plan to use radiant heating to heat your whole house, the hot water method (hydronic) is recommended.

It is More Energy Efficient

Radiant floor heating is more energy efficient for a number of reasons. It functions more on an on-demand basis, which means that you waste less.

Remember too that heat rises, so given that this type of heating is located in the floor, it harnesses the natural ability for heat to float upwards in the room, generating more heat without consuming more energy.

How Does it Work?

With radiant heating, hot water tubes or electric wires are buried within the floor. These tubes/wires radiate heat that floats upwards through the room and warm objects as these heat waves encounter them, further spreading the heat throughout the space.

This is contrasted with forced air heating, which is what you find in most homes in the U.S. Heat blasts out of the vents in the room, moving quickly up to the ceiling quickly and cooling as it falls back down to the floor.

Theoretically, your upper body could be warm, while your feet are freezing, as the warm air doesn’t always extend all the way down to the floor (which is why floors are so often cold when you wake up in the morning).

In short, radiant heat is more even and more effective than forced air heating. It’s a little more costly to install, but, like with all energy efficient upgrades, you recoup your costs over time with savings on your bills.

Lower Your Energy Bills in 2018 with these 3 Easy Steps

We only just finished ringing in the new year, and that means homeowners still have their minds attuned to resolutions for 2018, including how they can save more money around the house.

Well, we have some good news for you: we have three simple ways that you can save yourself some money every month, and it all has to do with making your home more efficient, reducing the amount of energy you use, and cutting your energy bills.

1. Learn How to Use Curtains and Drapes to Your Advantage

Even though most people just think of drapes and curtains in terms of decoration and privacy, these home accents can also go a long way for helping to make your home more efficient.

One of the factors that affects home efficiency is drafts, and heavy drapes can help to reduce this in winter and keep your home warmer.

Just remember that when you do use heavy drapes in winter, make sure you open them up during the day when the sun is shining on the window to let in the rays and the heat.

Another factor that can make your home less efficient is the hot summer sun, because when this beats through your windows during the cooling season, it means your air conditioner has to work harder. Here, thick drapes with a light-colored liner can reflect these rays and make your house more efficient.

2. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat

Another great way to reap the benefits of a more energy-efficient house is with a programmable thermostat. Heating and cooling needs account for nearly 50 percent of your energy use, and you can reduce this by up to 30 percent with a simple thermostat upgrade.

These devices help to reduce your energy use and costs by dropping the amount that your furnace and air conditioner work during the day when nobody is home and at night when the family is asleep, and this translates to less energy use.

In the morning and in the evening when everybody is home and awake, set your thermostat to 78 F in the summer and 68 F in winter (if this is comfortable), and then use the programmable thermostat to increase the temperature in summer and drop it in winter during the day and at night.

3. Address Air Duct Leaks

One of the most common themes that comes up during energy audits is leaky ductwork, because these can make your heating and cooling systems highly inefficient.

If there are any holes, leaks, or cracks in your ducks, then air will escape on route from your furnace or A/C to your vents, and this means your heating and cooling devices have to work harder.

In fact, typical homes lose between 20 and 30 percent of the air blowing through their ducts, so sealing these leaks can make your home more efficient, lighten the load on your heating and cooling systems, and reduce your energy bills.

We’ve been serving valued customers in the Annapolis, MD area for many years, and we know how important it is for you to find ways to save money. Reducing your energy use and lowering your energy bills is a great way to end up with more money in your pocket at the end of the month, and this also means you’ll be contributing to a greener planet at the same time, and that’s something everyone can benefit from.