Houses are built on many different types of foundations. Whether crawl space, basement, slab, or another type, the foundation of your home affects the amount you pay to heat and cool it each month. No one type is better than another, but each needs to be handled differently when it comes to heating, cooling, and insulation. It’s also important to consider your foundation when choosing a new system for AC replacement in Burlington, NC.

Extra Insulation in your Crawlspace Foundation Can Save You Money

Do your floorboards feel cold in the winter time? If you have forced air heating and a crawlspace foundation, you may find that your feet are always cold and your heating bill is high. Without proper insulation, your crawlspace could be letting in cold air during the winter and hot air during the summer. Your HVAC system then has to work harder to achieve the desired indoor temperature, using more energy and increasing wear and tear on your furnace and air conditioner. Sealing and insulating your crawlspace keeps the outside air where it belongs—outside.

Sealing your Basement Can Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs

Basements can be cold and damp. They can also be hot and stuffy, lacking ventilation. Properly sealing your basement can keep moisture and cold out, making it easier to keep it warm and cozy during the winter. Your furnace will require less gas, propane, or electricity which saves you money during the winter. Excess moisture and humidity in your basement can be an added challenge for your air conditioner during the summer months as well. Keeping basement humidity under control allows your air conditioning to cool the space more efficiently, also lowering your energy bill.

Slab Foundations Should Also be Insulated to Save Energy

In very warm climates, slab foundations are sometimes not insulated. But in climates where the winter months reach freezing temperatures, insulation is extremely beneficial. Both cold and warmth from the ground can impact your indoor temperature. Insulation keeps the air temperature in your home more even, making it easier to heat and cool consistently from room to room. Your HVAC system will require less energy to make your home comfortable, and the energy is what costs you money.

Less energy usage results in a lower energy bill. It’s that simple.

Evaluate your Foundation Insulation Before AC Replacement in Burlington, NC

If you are thinking about replacing your air conditioning system or if it dies and leaves you with no choice, be sure to check your foundation and insulation before you choose a system. It’s also important to get an accurate number of square feet that needs to be heated and cooled. If you recently finished your basement or attic or added on to your home, your new HVAC system may need to be larger to accommodate the additional space. Make sure your basement is sealed and your crawlspace or slab is insulated before you go through with AC replacement in Burlington, NC. Alamance Oil can perform an energy audit on your home and let you know if outside air is getting in due to insufficient insulation. Expert technicians can install a new HVAC system that is properly sized to heat and cool your home efficiently, saving you money each month. Call (336)226-9371 for a free home energy audit or AC replacement estimate.

Have you noticed an unusual odor in your home when your furnace is running? Does it seem to be coming from your vents or from the furnace itself? Different smells can mean different things, some of which may indicate a problem. Some smells may mean you should contact the company that handles your propane delivery in Reidsville, and other smells may be harmless. This guide will help you decide what to do.

Smells That Mean Trouble:

1. Rotten egg or rotting smell. Propane and natural gas are naturally odorless, so an odor is added that smells like rotten eggs or rotting in general. This makes it easier to detect in case of a leak. If you smell this, you could have propane or gas leaking into your home. Turn off the furnace and get out of the house to a safe location and call your fuel supplier or gas company.
2. Smoke. Where there’s smoke there may be fire. You should definitely not smell smoke or see smoke coming from your vents or furnace. If you do, or if your smoke detector goes off, turn off your furnace and contact your HVAC company. If you see or suspect a fire, get out of the house and call the fire department.
3. Singed wires or metal. If you smell an electrical burning smell, like when wires or metal gets overheated, that may be exactly what’s going on. The electrical wiring inside your furnace could be getting too hot or shorting out. Turn off your furnace and call your HVAC service provider.
4. Formaldehyde or strong chemicals. This smell could indicate a crack in your heat exchanger, which could cause a chemical-like odor. In this case, carbon monoxide could be leaking into your home. Turn off your furnace, get out of the house, and call your HVAC repair company.

Normal Furnace Smells (if temporary):

1. Burnt dust. If you smell burnt dust the first time you turn on your furnace for the season, this is completely normal. However, if the smell persists for weeks you may have a problem. A thorough cleaning and tune-up for your furnace will likely correct this problem.
2. Musty or dampness. This is also normal at the beginning of the cold weather season. Your furnace has been sitting dormant in humid weather, so it may smell a little musty. If the odor continues beyond the first week of use, it’s possible you have a mold or mildew problem that needs to be corrected.
3. Oil. This can be the result of a dirty, clogged filter. Replace all of your filters with new clean ones and see if the smell dissipates. If not, call your HVAC company for a check-up.

Get Affordable Furnace Maintenance and Propane Delivery in Reidsville from Carolina Fuels

Unusual smells coming from your furnace could be caused by a problem with your heating fuel or the system itself. Whatever the cause, Carolina Fuels can help. An all-in-one home comfort service provider can handle every aspect of your heating system from furnace repair and replacement to propane delivery in Reidsville. Don’t ignore strange smells, call (336) 273-8663.

Owning a home comes with some responsibilities. Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every year. Clean out your dryer vent every few months. Replace your HVAC filters at least every 6 months. There’s more, but who can remember all of that? You may just brush it all off as unimportant and figure you’ll deal with it if a problem occurs. Unfortunately, that kind of thinking may put your home and appliances in danger. If it seems overwhelming, handle one thing at a time. Let’s tackle the filters first as part of regular HVAC Maintenance in Greensboro, NC.

Changing your Filters and other HVAC Maintenance in Greensboro, NC is Very Important

If you have a forced air heating and cooling system, there are filters in your intake vents. The intake vents are the larger vents that are used to pull air into the HVAC system. That air enters the system and is either heated or cooled, depending on the time of year and your thermostat settings. It is important that the air that goes in is clean, which is the reason for the filter. The filter removes the dust and other particles from the air, keeping them out of your indoor unit and ducts. Over time dust builds up on filters and they become clogged. Clogged filters can cause a variety of problems for your HVAC system such as:

• Reduced or blocked air flow. Clogged filters don’t allow enough air into your system for it to function properly. You’ll experience low air flow out of your vents as well.
• Overheated heat exchanger. When air flow is blocked the heat exchanger in your furnace will get too hot too quickly. The furnace will shut off without heating your home.
• Increase in energy usage (higher bill). Your HVAC system will strain to heat or cool your home with a lack of air, using more energy and driving your bill up.
• Lack of home comfort. Poor air flow leads to short cycling, when your system turns on and off repeatedly without achieving the desired indoor temperature. This makes it much harder to reach the level of comfort you desire.
• Frozen evaporator coil. The outdoor unit of your air conditioner can freeze over, even in the sweltering summer heat, because of clogged filters. Low air flow prevents the hot outdoor air from moving over the evaporator coil as it should, which causes it to freeze.
• Poor indoor air quality. The dust, allergens, and toxins in the air will not be stopped by a dirty filter. All of those things will get through your system, ducts, and vents to pollute the air inside your home.
• HVAC system failure. Clogged filters left unattended for too long can eventually lead to whole system failure, which may or may not be repairable. You could have to replace your entire HVAC system.

Routine HVAC Maintenance Takes the Responsibility off Your Hands

If you’re worried that you won’t remember to change your filters, there is a way to have it automatically taken care of. Reliable HVAC companies like Berico offer maintenance agreements that include replacing your filters twice a year along with other very important system care steps. HVAC maintenance in Greensboro, NC typically involves automatic service calls in the spring and fall that include inspecting, cleaning, and tuning up your system to prevent problems and keep it running efficiently. Take the burden of remembering to change your filters off your shoulders with a Comfort and Protection Service Agreement from Berico. Call (336)273-8663 to sign up today.