How Do I Choose the Best Filter for My Furnace?

February 17, 2022

Unpredictable winter temperatures in Savannah, GA will find you turning to your furnace for warmth. Your furnace’s air filter sits in the air handler and traps particles from the air before it enters the ductwork for distribution to each room. When it’s time to replace the air filter, you’ll want to pick the best one for your well-being and furnace’s requirements. Pick a High MERV Rating The ability of a furnace filter to trap particles is evaluated with the minimum efficiency reported value (MERV) system. MERV ratings range from one to 25. Higher MERV ratings mean the filter’s fibers trap more particles. Most furnaces can use a filter with a rating of 10 to 14. Select a Material Furnace filters may be made of polyester, fiberglass, cotton, cellulose, or wool and typically have a cardboard frame. Cotton, cellulose, and wool may be compostable. In some areas, the cardboard can be recycled. Reusable filters typically have a plastic frame. Choose a Style There are flat and pleated filters. Flat filters cost less but usually have lower MERV ratings. Pleated filters trap more particles and cost a few dollars more than flat filters. Consider Your Time If you have enough spare time...

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Heating System Resolutions for the New Year

January 13, 2022

If you look after your heating system, it will keep you warm no matter what the temperature is outside. Because of this, you do need to take good care of it throughout the cold season. In order to ensure that it runs properly whenever you need to use it, you should make these heating system resolutions a priority for the new year. Stay on Top of Maintenance A lot of costly issues can be avoided just by having regular maintenance done. Unfortunately, a lot of homeowners forget about maintenance simply because they haven’t noticed any issues with their heating system. However, just because you aren’t aware of problems doesn’t mean there aren’t any occurring. To put it simply, having a competent professional inspect your equipment is your best insurance policy. It should also save you money on your utility bills. If you haven’t been that great with staying on top of maintenance in previous years, set a few reminders on your phone so that you remember to schedule it. Get Your Ductwork Cleaned Dirty ductwork can make your heating system fail to run as efficiently as it should. If you have your ducts cleaned by a professional, you may be...

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How to Determine What Size of Furnace You Need

December 20, 2021

When the colder weather hits the Savannah region, it can be so nice to get warm and cozy at home. If you’re in need of a new furnace, either because of a new build or because it’s time to replace your old unit, you may be wondering what size of furnace would be ideal. This is a common question that our customers ask us at , and we’re always happy to provide our neighbors with more information. Size Matters The “size” of a furnace is measured in terms of its capacity. Specifically, the industry uses something called “BTUs.” BTU stands for “British Thermal Units.” One BTU is the amount of energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. It makes sense that a larger home would need a larger furnace. A rule of thumb is that 30 to 60 BTUs are required per square foot. Therefore, a 2,000-square-foot house would need a furnace with a size of between 60,000 and 120,000 BTUs. We realize that this is a pretty wide range. A few factors can help you narrow this range down even further. A newer home with plenty of insulation can use a...

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What You Should Do If Your Heat Goes Out

November 20, 2021

No one wants to deal with their heat going out when it’s cold outside. Unfortunately, it can happen for a variety of different reasons. If your heat goes out in the winter, here are some of the things that you should do. Reset the Circuit Breaker It’s not uncommon for things like a power surge to trip your circuit breaker. When this happens, you may be able to reset it to get your heat to start working once again. However, if it keeps happening, you need to leave the circuit breaker off to keep it from damaging your entire HVAC system. Call an HVAC Technician As soon as you discover that your heat isn’t working, you need to call an HVAC technician. They can come out to your house to inspect your unit so that they can determine why your heat isn’t working. If it’s a minor issue, they may be able to fix it right away. Use Space Heaters to Stay Warm When it’s very cold outside, the inside of your home may feel unbearable if the heat isn’t working. You can stay warm by using space heaters. Just make sure that you use them properly so that you...

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When Do I Need to Replace Residential Ductwork?

October 20, 2021

Your cooling and heating equipment will eventually break down and may need to be replaced. This includes the ductwork that delivers the heated and conditioned air throughout your home. How Old Is Your Ducting System? A general rule of thumb to follow is to replace your ductwork when it is 10 to 15 years old. Problems may begin to arise around this time and alert you of pending issues. Replacing ducts before pests and leaks begin to occur will save you frustration and money. Signs It’s Time to Replace When energy bills spike or rise, leaky ductwork can be a cause. Your conditioned air can escape through gaps or holes in the ducting system. In some cases, the channels can collapse and prevent air from flowing properly. A rise in health issues can also be another sign it’s time to replace ducting. Tears and gaps in the materials allow pollen, dust, and contaminants to enter your household more easily. Do you want help assessing your ductwork? has experienced technicians available to service your home in Savannah. We can improve your indoor air for you. Cleaning Improves Ducts Keeping your ductwork clean is a good way to stretch the lifespan of...

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Which Heating System Is Most Efficient for Your Home?

September 20, 2021

Choosing the right heating system for your home can be the difference between winters spent in comfort and winters spent being cold and uncomfortable. Different heating systems provide different benefits and drawbacks that should be considered. Not every option is a good fit for every home and family, so keep your individual needs and desires in mind when shopping around. Read on, and we’ll let you know our personal picks for the best heating systems and which ones are the most efficient. Furnace Only This is the most common method of heating a home and the one you’re probably familiar with. Gas furnaces reside in over half of all US homes, and there are oil and electric furnaces to account for as well. Older models weren’t the most energy efficient, but new advances in technology have eradicated this issue. The best furnaces have a high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency rating or AFUE for short. This rating is a quick way to see what percentage of fuel burned is actually converted into energy for your home. The higher the number, the bigger the monthly energy savings. Heat Pump System Heat pumps are becoming more popular, particularly those that are geothermally sourced....

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Don’t Fall for These Common Cooling Myths

August 17, 2021

Keeping your air conditioner working at an optimal level is essential during the summer season. However, many people still follow common myths about keeping their home feeling cool in the middle of summer. Understanding the truth behind these common myths is important in helping you save money and avoiding mistakes. Here are a few common summer myths about keeping your house cool during the summer months. Closing Air Vents Saves Money Many people choose to close their air vents in unused rooms to help save energy. However, closing these vents won’t help you save money due to your air conditioner continuing to distribute air at the same level throughout your house. The best option is to always keep your air vents open in all the rooms in your home. Turning off Your Air Conditioner Improves Energy Efficiency Another common myth is turning off your AC while you are gone from your home for an extended period. Unfortunately, turning off your air conditioner will only require it to work even harder to keep your home cool once you turn it back on. Slightly raising the temperature on your thermostat is always a better choice, just a few degrees. A Bigger AC...

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How to Reduce the Noise Levels of Your AC

July 29, 2021

There are different reasons why air conditioners emit so much noise. It could be in need of a repair or it simply may have a poor design. Here are a few tips to decrease the noise levels when you run an air conditioner. Insulate the Walls A central air conditioning system is located throughout the house. Reduce the noise by installing insulation into the walls that separate you from your air conditioner. There are different forms of sound-deafening materials to use from soundproof foam to acoustical drywall. In the end, an insulated home increases the efficiency of your HVAC unit by keeping the cold air inside of the home. Install a Compressor Blanket Install a sound blanket around the compressor without interfering with the airflow. The insulation helps the AC to maintain a more stable temperature as it pumps the refrigerant through the system. Many AC manufacturers use these blankets to reduce the unit’s noise levels without having to replace the machine. Use Plants Plant bushes, shrubs, or garden fences around your air conditioner to block out the sounds. Plants can withstand air conditioning that frequently switches on and off. Choose a Distant Location It’s too often that you hear...

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How To Clean Air Conditioning Unit

June 6, 2021

Everyone wants the cleanest and most comfortable air in their home. It is necessary to periodically clean your air conditioning unit to keep it running efficiently and maintain quality air throughout your indoor spaces. Here are ways to clean your air conditioner to keep it running reliably. Cleaning Your Internal Air Conditioning System To begin to clean the internal mechanisms of your air conditioning unit, you first need to shut off power to it via your circuit breaker. It is unsafe to work with a live, working unit, so making sure it is fully shut down is essential. After this, you should open up the door that encloses the evaporator coils. There normally is no natural opening, so you may need to remove screws or duct tape to get inside. After you have access to the internal evaporator coils, use a soft brush to remove the dust and other dirt from the surfaces. Additionally, you may need a special coil cleaning spray that traps dust and removes it from your coils. This spray is available at your local hardware store. Cleaning Your External Air Conditioning System The exterior of your air conditioning unit includes the grille and fan. Whenever you’re...

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What Are Air Conditioning BTU’s?

May 6, 2021

Replacing your AC or adding a portable unit to your cooling system requires you to understand some basic terminology. BTU, or British thermal unit, is a term that you should know. What are BTUs, and why is this acronym important? What Is a BTU? British thermal units are a way to measure thermal, or heat, energy. Technically, a BTU is the amount of heat that it takes to heat 1 pound of water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. However, when it comes to your AC, it refers to the amount of heat that the unit can remove from the room per hour. Why Are BTUs Important? When BTUs aren’t figured correctly, keeping your home cool can be difficult and even cost you extra money. An incorrect number can cause your unit to operate continuously without really cooling properly. This increases utility costs and causes the equipment to fail long before it should. Your equipment’s specifications should match up with the square footage of the area that you intend to cool. can help you get a new high-performance AC system installed in Savannah. We know how to accurately figure BTUs for your home and offer in-home estimates. BTUs for Your Floor Plan...

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