Most everyone would agree that an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. This is precisely why we get regular check-ups and dental cleanings, and perform routine maintenance on our cars.

But surprisingly, when it comes to protecting their biggest investment, many homeowners tend to forget this old adage and rarely – if ever – have their home heating system cleaned and inspected. Perhaps it’s all about “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”?  Or maybe some folks just don’t know how truly important it is to have this service performed every year.  Not just for the sake of the system’s ability to heat your home, but for reasons of health and safety, too.

So if it’s been a while since you’ve had a licensed home heating technician make sure your heating equipment is in tip top shape, here are 5 reasons to make that appointment today.

1. Cleaner indoor air. As your heating equipment sits dormant during the warm months, it accumulates dirt and dust. And that dirt and dust, along with allergens and even mold spores, can get pushed out into your living space through air vents and registers.

2. Your family’s safety. A cracked heat exchanger can release dangerous levels of carbon monoxide into your home, putting your family at risk for CO poisoning.

3. Increased energy efficiency. A clean furnace with well-lubricated parts operates more efficiently to keep you and your family at optimum comfort levels, which means less energy used and more money saved on heating costs.

4. Extended operating life. The average furnace is built to last 15 years, but one that is properly cleaned and tuned up on a regular basis can last even longer.

5. Fewer system breakdowns. An annual pre-season inspection can turn up problem areas and worn components that, if taken care of now, can minimize or eliminate potentially costly repairs later on.

Yes, It’s still September, and yes, there’s still plenty of warm weather left before the colder stuff arrives.  But that’s precisely what makes this the best time of year for annual preventative maintenance; as in, get the work done now so you’ll have no interruption in your heating service later on.

Today, we invite you to call Absolute Air to help turn your home into a more comfortable, energy efficient, and safer environment for your entire family. Call for Air conditioning services in forney TX.

Spring is tantalizingly close.

So close, it’s tempting to declare that winter is over.  Done.  Kaput.  The problem is, it’s not.  In fact, right at this moment, your ever-diligent blogger is looking at the 10-day forecast for the Dallas suburb of Kaufman and, sorry to say, low temperatures next week will be in the mid-thirties.

Sorry for the bad news, but now for the “glass is half full” side of our story.  Right now, there are a bunch of things you can to keep nice and warm for what’s left of winter but still manage to bring your heating costs down.

There, don’t you feel a little better already?  Well, you will once you see your NEXT heating bill, but provided you practice one or more of the following home comfort tips from Absolute Air.

1. Take one for the team.  Lower your thermostat just one itty bitty degree and, over a 12-hour period, that adds up to a 3% reduction in your heating costs.  So if, for example, you’re used to leaving it 70 even when no one’s home, lower the thermostat to 66 and then raise it again when you get home.  You can stand at least a little discomfort until your house warms up, right?  Same thing goes during the overnight hours.  If you’re accustomed to turning it down to 68, push it another degree or two and save some money.  In fact, this is where a programmable thermostat would really come in handy:  more about that a little later on.    
   
2. Check your filter.  The filter inside your furnace needs to be cleaned or replaced once a month, and for several good reasons.  One of them is to help control your heating costs.  Another is to help your system last longer.  You see, a clogged filter makes your furnace have to work harder to maintain the desired temperature.  The harder it works, the more wear and tear, and the shorter its shelf life.
   How’s your insulation holding up?  There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to climb up into your attic with a flashlight and check it out.  Over time, gaps will appear and the insulation starts to compress, thus losing some of its ability to keep heat from rising into the attic and then out through your roof.  Insulation, like your furnace, doesn’t last forever.  So if you can’t remember the last time you checked it or had someone do it for you, there’s no doubt you’re paying too much to heat your home.
   
3. Easy on the ventilating fans.  Kitchen and bath fans are quite effective in removing moisture from your home, and just as effective in sucking out the heat.  So vent while you must, but be diligent about turning those fans off after they’ve done their job.
   
4. Remove anything block vents, registers, and baseboard units.  What you don’t need, in particular, are heated drapes, jeans, slippers, or chairs.  What you want is a nicely heated home at the lowest cost possible.  So one big way to help yourself is to let the warm air flow freely, and without anything blocking its way.

As we mentioned earlier, programmable thermostats are on your side when it comes to keeping home heating costs at a minimum.  Let’s say you’re bound and determined to come home to a nice warm house.  Well, without a programmable thermostat, the only way to accomplish that is to keep your house warm all day, even while you and everyone else is out and about.  Or, you can save bunches of money by replacing your old thermostat with a programmable model and pre-set the thermostat to change from 64 to 70, for example, about 30 minutes before you’re planned arrival.  Mission accomplished.

To learn more or to schedule installation, contact Absolute Air today.  We have lots of good ideas to help you heat – and cool! – your home for less.

As the fall temperatures continue to drop and we prepare to greet winter, many families in Terrell and Forney turn to space heaters to take the chill out of their homes and save on home heating costs.

But while space heaters offer an economical and portable way to increase the warmth in a single room, or heat a small area of the house without turning on the main heat source, they are also very serious fire hazards. In fact, space heaters are responsible for an estimated 25,000 residential fires each year.

Fortunately, you can keep your family safe and warm this winter just by following a few simple, yet crucial, space heater safety tips.

• When selecting a space heater, make sure that it has been tested to meet the most current safety standards, and is approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratory.
• Choose the right size space heater for each room.
• Space heaters must now be equipped with an automatic tip-switch that will turn the heater off should it fall over. Do not use an old space heater that does not have this feature.
• Read the manufacturer’s use and care instructions carefully.
• Place the space heater on the floor, at least 3 feet away from any flammable items such as draperies, bedding, or clothing, and never in areas near water.
• Avoid using extension cords with space heaters.
• Always turn off and unplug a space heater when you leave the room or go to bed, and never leave young children alone around a space heater.
• If you are using an unvented fuel-burning heater, make sure to leave doors open to the rest of the house to allow proper combustion and prevent any build-up of carbon-monoxide.
• And finally, teach every member of your household how to properly use a space heater, and make sure everyone understands the potential dangers.

At Absolute Air, we care absolutely about your family’s comfort, convenience, AND safety, and there’s a lot we can do to give you greater amounts of each one.  Call us today for more information or to schedule service.

972-932-5373
972-564-5373
Click here to request service or for more information

Let’s See What’s Going On.

It’s that time of year again. Time for hearty soups, fleece blankets, and cozy sweatshirts. It’s also time to start up your home heating system and make your home a warm and inviting retreat from the cold outside.

But if you notice an unusual odor as your furnace kicks into high gear for the first time, it could be an indication that something is not quite right. While some very faint odors are common when a furnace cycles on for the first time after hibernating all summer, others could lead to system failure, or worse, a dangerous explosion.

So how do you know what odors to look for and when to call a professional? Here are four of the most common furnace odors and their causes.

1. If you notice a dusty or smoky smell, first make sure that your heat registers are open throughout your house. For proper air circulation, at least 80% of your home’s registers should remain open. If that’s not the case, it could simply be that your furnace is burning off the dust that has accumulated on its components over the warm weather months. The dusty smell is just as likely coming from air flowing your ducts, an environment where dust loves to gather.  We recommend a thorough duct cleaning every 3-4 years.
2. An electrical burning smell usually means system components or wires are damaged and causing the unit to overheat. It’s best to shut the furnace off and call an HVAC contractor who will inspect the furnace and repair or replace any necessary parts.
3. A musty, moldy smell is most often a sign of mold growth in your vents or on system components, typically due to moisture build-up. The mold would need to be eradicated and the source of the moisture identified and fixed in order to prevent this problem and stop the flow of mold spores into your living space.
4. The most dangerous smell – a rotten egg or sulfur odor – requires immediate action, as it could mean you have a gas leak in your furnace, which could lead to an explosion. Evacuate your home immediately, no matter what time of day. Then call 911 from a safe location.

Your best move, always, is to have your heating system cleaned and inspected at the start of the heating season, strange odors or not.  It’s your best bet for a season long of safe and reliable operation, not to mention lower utility costs.  To schedule service and check one more thing off your “worry list”, contact Absolute Air today.

972-932-5373
972-564-5373
Click here to request service or for more information

Your home’s best friend through the colder months in Forney and Terrell is a well-running furnace.

The longer you’ve had it, chances are the more you take it for granted.  Sorry to be the bearer of not-so-glad tidings, but it’s not going to last forever.  As time goes by, it’s common for a furnace to begin acting up.  So, by understanding the three main components of your heating system you’ll have a better idea of what the problem might be.

The heat source.

Aptly named, this is where the heat originates. If your furnace is gas-burning and it is not heating, then the furnace most likely is not receiving the fuel it needs to ignite.

The distribution system.

This component to your heating system is responsible for delivering the heated air throughout your home, i.e. your ductwork, vents, and registers. If your furnace turns on but heat doesn’t seem to be reaching the rooms in your home, the distribution system is most likely the culprit.

The thermostat.

A faulty or malfunctioning thermostat can cause your furnace to turn off and on repeatedly or not at all. Since the thermostat is responsible for sending a signal to your furnace to turn on or off, it can easily be the source of the problem if your heat is in short supply.

If you experience problems with your furnace this winter, particularly if it doesn’t respond when you try to turn it on, follow the steps below to see if you can get it going again:

• First, check the circuit breaker to make sure the furnace is receiving power. Also look for a secondary power switch, located on the furnace itself.

• Check the furnace for a ‘reset’ button, which is typically found on or around the motor housing. For a gas furnace, leave the unit off for approximately 30 minutes before pressing the button to let the unit cool off first. If that doesn’t do the trick, wait another 30 minutes and try again.

• If you have a natural gas furnace, inspect the pilot light to make sure it’s functioning properly. Check that the gas supply is turned on as well.

• Ensure that your thermostat has been set correctly. Increase the temperature setting by 5 degrees to trigger the unit to turn on.

At Absolute Air, we offer a host of home heating services, including annual preventative maintenance, expert repairs, plus new system design and installation.  If you have a home heating need or require air conditioning services in forney tx, you can count on us for sound advice, prompt service, and outstanding workmanship.  We look forward to your call.