A good place to start is with your furnace AFUE (efficiency).  AFUE stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency.  It is a percentage that tells you how much gas is actually used to heat your home.  For example if your furnace is 80% AFUE, 80% of the gas is used to heat your home, the other 20% of gas (that you pay for) goes up your chimney.  You must also take into account how old your furnace is.  If your furnace is 80% but also over 10 years old, your furnace efficiency could be 70% or lower!

Furnace efficiencies now can range up to 95%!  They also come with variable speed blower motors which can use 1/10th of the electricity that your blower motor uses now.  These high efficient furnaces also have two-stage gas valves.  These two-stage gas valves can use a low stage and a high stage of gas output depending on the temperature change needed.  With all these features, purchasing a high-efficient furnace is a must!

Money Saving Tips this winter

Stay Warm this winter

Follow general furnace maintenance guidelines to increase longevity of furnace, get you furnace cleaned yearly and change filters regularly.

• Make sure your attic is properly insulated (R-38 to R-44)
• Provide adequate ventilation for air circulation in your attic
• Weatherstrip and/or caulk around windows and doors
• Prevent fires and smoke damage- have your fireplace and chimney cleaned and inspected
• Install a Programmable Thermostat – save up to 30% by programming as directed to save money!
  
• Change your humidifier pad
  

Furnace Efficiency Tips

• Check filters monthly and change as needed
• Clean humidifier at beginning of heating season and change humidifier pad yearly
• Check ducts and repair leaks or separations, insulate if in an unheated area
• Check flue pipes for signs of rust, corrosions or holes

Boiler Efficiency Tips

• Maintain yearly and dust radiators regularly
• Check water level and pressure
• Check for leaks

                          A look inside duct work! Don’t breathe this!

Also, have your ducts inspected before this winter.  If you don’t remember the last time that your ducts were cleaned, then it should be done.  Remove one of your cold air return registers and try to look at the inside.  There is probably a lot of dust, sawdust, allergens, and possibly mold.  Valley Services cleans all of your duct work and inspects and cleans your furnace too!

There are many things that should be done to keep and maintain your heating and cooling equipment.  By following these guidelines, you can lengthen the life of your furnace and air conditioner.

Monthly

One of the most important but easily forgot things to do is to replace filters monthly. If dirty or clogged, replace with a filter that is the same size.

Important! Make sure arrow is pointing the direction of the airflow, otherwise it will restrict air flow and cause problems for your furnace.

Twice a Year (or more)

A very good way to avoid a costly service charge is to check intake and exhaust vents to make sure it is free of debris, ej. Bird nest, bugs, ice and snow in the winter, leaves, etc.

It is best to check it throughout the winter a few times depending on the amount of snow and drifting.

 Looking to save money and go High-Efficient this winter? Check out this Day and Night VS 95 95% Furnace with a variable speed blower and a two-stage gas valve!

Annually

September or October

To avoid costly service charges this winter, schedule your Fall Gas Furnace Maintenance (a 16 Point Tune-Up), call Valley Services for Specials. A Furnace Tune-Up can prevent problems or at least find them before winter starts.  Our technician inspects heat exchanger for Carbon monoxide leaks for your safety and cleans the blower motor and condensate drain tube!

February or March

It is recommended to have an End-of-Winter Furnace Maintenance (16-point Tune-Up) performed if you didn’t have it done before the winter, We clean the blower motor, lubricate parts, check heat exchanger for cracks that leak Carbon Monoxide.

April, May, or June

Before the summer heat hits, get your Air Conditioner maintained (15 point summer tune-up!).  Set up appointment in April or May for your pick of times.  We check refrigerant pressures and temperatures, clean the outdoor condenser, clean the blower motor and drain lines…and more!

Get your Refrigerator Filters, Vacuum Cleaner Bags and Filters, Humidifier Water Panels, Thick Media Furnace Filters, and also your Disposable Furnace Filters.

Order online and get them shipped directly to your home in just a few days!

Why is changing my furnace filter important?

Your furnace filter is the last defense to protect your furnace and blower motor from dust and other particles.  If your filter gets dirty and saturated it prevents the air flow needed to circulate the heat produced by the heat exchanger.  If the filter is blocking too much air, your furnace will shut down because of a high limit temperature safety switch.  Once you change your filter, you can either manually reset the switch, but most newer furnaces have auto reset switches.

Another reason why you should change your filter regularly is because some filters (when they get dirty) will let dirt, dust, and allergens through and circulate it through your home.  You and your family do not need to be breathing unhealthy, unfiltered air!

Why choose HEPA Filtration?

Indoor air quality is important to human health because we spend over 80% of our time indoors. Tight insulation, too much humidity, and other factors can lead to unhealthy air in your home or workplace which can cause health problems for you and your family.

If you are looking for an air filter that removes 99.97% of particles down to .03 microns, then Fantech HEPA Filtration is for you!

Sometimes it is not an easy decision whether or not you should maintain or pay for services on household appliances and equipment.  When times are tight it seems that people cut back on maintaining certain appliances to save some money.  This can be a risky move  considering that your furnace and air conditioner perform at their best and safest when cleaned regularly (annually).  Scheduling furnace tune-ups and air conditioner tune-ups are the best way to prevent costly repairs in the middle of a cold winter or hot summer!

When we are at your home performing a tune-up, ask for our FREE RotoVision Ductwork Video Inspection.  We can show you what the inside of you ducts look like and you can decide if you would like to schedule a RotoBrush Whole-House Duct Cleaning.

If you never have had your ducts cleaned before, chances are that there is dust and debris in your ductwork.  It is also a good idea to have the ducts checked for mold and mildew growth which can cause sickness.

Possible Reason to have your Ducts cleaned:

1.  Either you or someone in your family has symptoms of allergies or asthma.

2.  Most household dust contains mites, mold, mildew, pollen, and animal dander and you don’t want to breathe that!

3.  If you see dust on your registers and around your house in general.

We Proudly Serve these and locations and more:

In Wisconsin: Hudson, River Falls, Somerset, Baldwin, Roberts, Prescott, New Richmond, and Hammond.

In Minnesota: Lakeland, Stillwater, Afton, and Woodbury.

Call now to set up the FREE RotoVision Video Inspection!

With springtime, there are some chores that come along with it.  But it is not all bad.  It allows you to do work without overheating and breaking too much of a sweat.  One of the things that should be done is cleaning up your Whole-House Gas Furnace and Air Conditioner.  Some of the things you the homeowner can do on your own, but there are a few details that require more HVAC knowledge.  For one, we clean the outside condenser coil with a special coil cleaner that gets all the dirt and dust cleaned out which allows for better airflow and Air Conditioner Efficiency.

With the Furnace Tune Up, we clean the blower motor and ensure that it is working correctly.   For a true Air Conditioner Tune Up, the technician must check that the coil cleaner has been properly rinsed with water after cleaning.  Once that has been done, he will check out the operation of the furnace and ensure that the thermostat is communicating correctly with furnace and AC.

And the furnace and air conditioner tune up is not complete until he checks the overall operation and cycles the system to make sure that everything is working efficiently!

 

• Make sure your attic is properly insulated (R-38 to R-44)
• Provide adequate ventilation for air circulation in your attic
• Plant trees for windbreaks and sun protection
• Weatherstrip and/or caulk around windows and doors

Stay Warm this winter

Follow general furnace maintenance guidelines to increase longevity of furnace, get you furnace cleaned yearly and change filters regularly.

Furnace Efficiency Tips

• Check filters monthly and change as needed
• Clean humidifier at beginning of heating season and change humidifier pad yearly
• Check ducts and repair leaks or separations, insulate if in an unheated area
• Check flue pipes for signs of rust, corrosions or holes

Boiler Efficiency Tips

• Maintain yearly and dust off radiators too!
• Check water level and pressure
• Check for leaks

Stay Cool This Summer

Yearly maintenance on you air conditioning system is recommended as well.  We make sure that the coil gets cleaned with our eco-friendly coil cleaning solution and that the blower motor is cleaned after the heating season.

• Keep windows protected from direct sunlight with awnings and trees
• Apply tinted film to windows in direct sunlight to avoid overworking air conditioner
• Keep cooling system clean, including: filters, fans, ducts, vents and thermostats.
• Keep condensate drain line clean and not plugged
• Keep air vents and returns unblocked by furniture and drapes
• Adjust registers for upward air flow
• Keep outdoor condenser clean from debris, leaves, sticks, grass. You can clean with garden hose.

Take the survey below, don’t worry it is easy it only has YES or NO questions.  If you answer “yes” to any of these questions, it may be time to get your furnace or air conditioner clean and maintained (now ONLY $73 (reg. price $128)!  Call Valley Services, Heating and Air Conditioning Specialists!

715-386-7131

Indoor Air Quality Survey

Does anyone in the house have any allergies, asthma, or other respiratory health problems?

Does anyone in your family suffer from headaches, nasal congestion, or other sinus problems at night or in the morning?

Is there a smoker in the house?

Do you have dogs, cats, or other pets?

Do you notice a musty or stale smell when the furnace or air conditioner runs?

Do you notice dust on your furniture shortly after cleaning?

Does it seem like there is not enough air flow coming from your vents?

Is your furnace equipped only with a standard “throw-away” fiber glass filter?

715-386-7131

Dust, dirt, pollen, animal dander, and other airborne contaminants are pulled into your duct system every time the furnace or air conditioner runs.  These contaminants build up inside the ductwork over time and can help make your duct system an ideal breeding ground for mold spores, bacteria, fungus, mildew, and other microbes.  The removal of contaminants (HEPA Filtration) from the entire HVAC system is recognized by industry experts as the most effective way to eliminate air duct pollutants.

During these Furnace Maintenances (aka Furnace Clean and Tune) we also check the heat exchangers for cracks which can leak Carbon Monoxide into your home and clean out the blower so it circulates cleaner air.

We hope to hear from you soon!

Your furnace can be a bit more tricky.  The average life of a furnace is between 12-16 years.  A 15 year old furnace is like a set of tires with 45,000 miles of wear.  At this point, the efficiency of the furnace is way down from what it used to be and could possibly run into costly repairs.  It could be time to get a FREE HIGH EFFICIENCY FURNACE/AIR CONDITIONER ESTIMATE!

Safety is also an issue at this point in the furnace’s lifespan.  Carbon monoxide is generated from the burning process and travels through the heat exchanger.  If the heat exchanger gets worn down, it can rust and crack in places which can mean that carbon monoxide will leak into your home.

During annual Furnace Tune-Ups, we check the heat exchanger with a camera and a probe to make sure that there are no cracks and that your furnace is safe to run.  If you don’t get your furnace maintained, you have no way of knowing that your furnace is unsafe to use.

Call now to set up your furnace tune up with Valley Services, Heating and Air Conditioning!  Your comfort leader for the greater St. Croix Valley!

715-386-7131

1.   Try lowering your thermostat 1-2 degrees and see how big of a difference that can make!  Also, set it lower overnight to save even more!

2.  Schedule your annual Furnace Tune Up or Boiler Tune Up with a Valley Services professional!  This can ensure your safety and comfort this winter!  We check the heat exchanger for cracks and clean the blower to make sure it is functioning correctly and efficiently.

3.  Change your filters!  We feel we can never remind our customers about changing filters enough.  When it is so easy to do, there is no reason to have to pay a repair charge for something damaged by not changing the filter!

One final note to think about.  If your furnace is 12-16 yrs old (or older) it is a great time to think about getting a new, higher efficient furnace.  With the “Up To $1500 Federal Tax Credit” coming to an end December 31, 2010, the time is now to go high efficient!  If your furnace is over 12 years old, chances are the the efficiency is not what it used to be.

715-386-7131

Call or visit our website!  Set up your free high efficiency furnace and AC estimate now!

Getting your furnace cleaned is an important part of keeping your furnace running efficiently and smoothly!  We clean your blower motor, lubricate moving parts, and check your heat exchanger for cracks or leaks (detailed list below).

I believe checking your heat exchanger for cracks is the most important part of the tune up.  If there is rusting and/or cracks in your heat exchanger it will leak carbon monoxide in your home, and this is fatal!  I think checking the status of your heat exchanger is worth the cost of the maintenance!  Maintaining the heat exchanger is only 1 of the 16 points on the maintenance check list.  We make sure the flame sensor and burners are all functioning correctly and that your furnace is working as efficiently as it can.

Each year your furnace lowers in its efficiency, but maintaining it yearly can keep your furnace working at its peak efficiency!

715-386-7131

Call now for the special price of $95 with a donation to The Sharing Tree school supply program (for Hudson students or the food shelf!!!)

DON’T FORGET TO CHANGE FILTERS!!!

Furnace Tune-Up 16-Point Check List