HVAC Blog

The popularity of air purifiers has risen sharply. From small table-top devices to larger appliances designed to treat large rooms, air purifiers work to improve indoor air quality within homes. When it comes to treating a single space or room, portable air purifiers are effective at reducing pet dander, allergens, dust and other airborne pollutants. Maybe you have noticed increased comfort from a portable air purifier near your bed or in your home office. Since indoor air pollution is a top 5 environmental health risk, the rise in popularity of air purifiers and air cleaners is not surprising.

Although portable air purifiers are effective in contained spaces, a portable air purifier is not the best device to reduce air contaminants including viruses throughout your entire home. Fortunately, Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling installs whole house air purifiers. When used properly, whole house air purifiers can help reduce airborne contaminants throughout your entire home. Many of our customers are curious about the benefits, effectiveness and value of adding a whole house air purifier into your HVAC system.

What Is the Purpose of an Air Purifier?

Air purifiers improve air quality through a number of designs. The most common systems capture particles in a filter. A whole house air purifier is effective at removing airborne dust, dirt, allergens, viruses and other pollutants. High-efficiency particulate air filters trap gaseous pollutants and volatile organic compounds. Some designs add ultraviolet light to target more bacteria and indoor toxins. The purpose of all air purifiers is improving the overall indoor air quality.

How Does an Air Purifier Work?

A whole house air purifier works by moving air entering your HVAC system through one or several filters. These filters are made out of fiberglass, paper, mesh and other filtering materials. Home air purifiers trap particles so the air is cleaner when it’s circulated back into living areas.

What Are the Benefits of Air Purifiers?

There are a number of practical benefits of air purifiers. From health to energy efficiency, air purifiers actually provide solutions for many homeowners. While you clean surfaces, vacuum carpets and wash your hands, the air circulating throughout your home contains many airborne irritants for both you and your home.

Health Benefits

Air purifiers add an additional defense for households concerned with allergies, asthma, pet dander and viruses like COVID-19. During cold and flu season, air purifiers work to provide cleaner air to every room in your home. The effectiveness of air purifiers are difficult to measure because so many other factors impact the health of your household. Debris, bacteria and allergens that collect on surfaces do not process through air purifiers. Ultimately, air purifiers incorporate filters that clean the air within your home.

Energy Efficiency

Air purifiers are highly effective at removing particles from the air. Clean air improves the efficiency of furnaces and HVAC systems. Just like when our technicians perform maintenance on your furnace and air conditioner, air purifiers remove the dust and debris that slows systems. Clean components run better and perform better over time.

Increased Comfort

Air purifiers prevent harmful particles from circulating through the air ducts and vents into your home. Many air purifiers target gaseous irritants found in household cleaners and emitted from natural gas appliances. Whether reducing VOCs, dust, allergens or viruses, improving air quality in your home adds comfort and peace of mind.

When to Contact Poston Brothers

If you are curious about the best air purifier for your home, Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling is ready to help. Our team will match you with the best air purifier to suit your home, family and lifestyle. The primary benefit of a whole house air purifier is treating all the air circulating through your home. Discover how effective air purifiers can be for you.

Air vents are one of the most visible components of your home’s heating and cooling system. The most basic definition of air vents is any opening that moves air in and out of a space. Depending on the design of your home and HVAC system, vents may appear on the ceiling, floors and along the walls throughout your home. Since vents deliver air into all the rooms of your home, understanding how your HVAC system works and how to clean vents is important.

Understanding Air Vents and Ducts

Consider your furnace and air conditioner as the heart of your heating and cooling system. Air is treated within these appliances then dispersed through ductwork like veins stretching throughout your home. Finally, air is delivered through air vents like arteries into the rooms of your home. While an air duct is fixed, each vent can be adjusted to control air flow into individual rooms. Keeping all of these components clean and maintained is vital to reducing indoor air pollution.

Furnaces, air conditioners and heat pumps should be maintained before the start of each season. Each of these major appliances benefit from cleaning, calibrating and preventive maintenance. Outdoor air contains moisture, dust and debris that can greatly impact the performance and durability within these systems. Cleaning the area around air conditioners is important for performance. Furnaces feature air filters to improve indoor air quality before moving air into ducts and through vents. The best way to improve indoor air quality is scheduling annual maintenance on your furnace and air conditioner.

Air ducts are fixed throughout your home. Metal ducts and flexible ducts are most commonly used to carry treated air to your home’s living areas. Clean air ducts improve the overall comfort within your home. A light amount of household dust is expected to collect in any air duct. Air ducts professionally cleaned may reduce the risks associated with pet dander, mold growth and excess ducts from your home. While there is no definitive study, frequent duct cleaning may improve indoor air pollution for sensitive family members with allergies, asthma and other respiratory concerns.

One definitive rule states duct cleaning should be performed by a professional when excess dust builds up in the system; vermin and other pests have been present in and around ducts; and any time moisture contaminates your duct work. There is a high risk of biological contaminant growth when excess dust and water collect. Anytime visible mold growth appears on vents or ducts, you should contact a heating and cooling professional for proper cleaning. Mold contamination and mold spores pose serious health problems for any family member.

While properly maintained furnaces, air conditioners and ducts require professional heating and cooling professionals, clean air vents are part of regular house cleaning. Removing dust and any other debris from vents will improve comfort, reduce airborne irritants and protect the entire system.

Different Types of Vents

Throughout your home, you may find two types of vents. Once you understand what each type of vent does, you will understand why cleaning vents is important.

Supply Vents

Supply vents deliver air into each room. These are the rectangular vents air enters into rooms. Common sizes include 4×10″, 4×12″, 6×10″ and 6×12″. Controlling how air moves throughout your home is important to calibrating the system. Since most supply vents can be adjusted to increase and decrease the flow of air, professional technicians can improve overall home comfort during maintenance. Adjustments, vent covers and other techniques can be used to improve energy efficiency and save on energy bills. A clean supply vent reduces dust and debris from circulating throughout the room.

Return Vents

Return vents draw air from rooms and send it back to the air conditioning or heating system. As air enters your home through supply vents, existing air moves out of your home through return air vents. This maintains air pressure in your home. When properly installed and calibrated, return vents improve efficiency and save on energy bills.

Cleaning Vents

Cleaning your home should include cleaning both supply vents and return vents. Just like removing dust and debris from surfaces and floors, cleaning vents improves indoor air quality. Air will move freely through clean supply vents into rooms and stay clear when exiting through clean return vents. Cleaning vents helps you notice sudden increases of dust or moisture. Any moisture on vents, especially signs of mold, is a cause for alarm. You should contact our professional services at the first indication of humidity. Excessive moisture may be helped by adding a dehumidifier to your home. Sudden increases of dust on vents may indicate your ducts should be professionally cleaned to address poor ventilation.

When Poston Brothers Heating and Cooling can Help

Since you cannot see the ductwork within your home, watch for warning signs that you need our professional services. If you see excess dust in sunlight near windows, along register vents or other surfaces, then you may need cleaning of the interior ductwork. If your air filter is clogged or excessively dirty, there could be damage to your ductwork. Rising energy usage may indicate clogged systems or air ducts. Musty smells in your home indicate high moisture levels. Any other signs of mold or vermin should prompt a call to Poston as well.

Finally, scheduling regular maintenance with our team of skilled technicians is the best way to keep vents clean, adjusted and ensure healthy indoor air quality. You can ask our technicians the best way to clean air vents in your home. We also calibrate your HVAC system during regular maintenance. This means our team checks to make sure vents are properly adjusted, return vents are clean of obstructions and air flow is optimized throughout your home. From cleaning air vents to installing complete systems, Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling is an expert in every HVAC component.

Modern heat pumps are reliable but do require more maintenance than traditional air conditioning systems. A heat pump should be serviced twice per year during the early spring and fall months. Maintaining a heat pump has many benefits including maximizing the energy efficiency of the system and improving its lifespan.

When you schedule heat pump maintenance with the team at Poston Brothers, you partner with experts in maintaining, repairing and replacing heat pumps. Understanding some of the steps involved in heat pump maintenance is important for all homeowners with a heat pump. Knowing when to change your air filter and how to clean around your outdoor unit helps supplement spring service and fall maintenance. We also provide some insights into signs your heat pump needs repair. Finally, we explain some other benefits of all our services.

What Are the Steps to Maintaining a Heat Pump?

A tune up on heat pumps may vary slightly by brand and age. There are steps to maintaining the outdoor unit, ducts and thermostat. Knowing these basic steps keeps you aware of why maintenance is so important.

• Check, clean and replace filters – The most simple maintenance is replacing air filters monthly or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. This inexpensive step keeps air filters working properly and reduces energy consumption.
• Clean outside unit – Removing any debris on and around the outside unit is always important. Foliage, weeds and other yard waste often collect around the unit between maintenance checks. Any obstructions will restrict airflow and reduce efficiency. A clean unit means lower energy bills.
• Check the area around the unit – Heat pumps need a couple of feet on every side to run best. Trimming back shrubs in the spring and fall is recommended. Outdoor air free of debris keeps the heat pump running well.
• Cleaning coils, registers and ducts – Air quality depends on clean air filters and air ducts. Regularly cleaning these components and inspecting the condition prevents repairs and improves comfort in your home. In this step, our team observes duct leaks and addresses repairs.
• Confirm refrigerant charge – Test for leaks and replace any lost refrigerant.
• Inspect components – Clean, tighten and protect all electrical terminals and wires.
• Lubricate motors – Inspect condition and verify condition of belts.
• Test operations – Observe all components are operating properly including cooling and heat functions.
• Thermostat – Verify thermostat is calibrated and sensors are functioning.

Common Signs Your Heat Pump Needs Repair

Although heat pumps are very reliable, there are indicators of a potential breakdown. Being alert to minor changes lets you call in the HVAC contractors at Poston Brothers before a small repair becomes an emergency with your heat pump.

• Strange noises – These may include a humming noise or a steady buzz. If the fan doesn’t run or you hear any unusual sound, we can help.
• Circuit breaker – If the circuit breaker trips frequently when the heat pump turns on, the unit should be repaired.
• Changes in comfort – If the temperatures are uneven within your home or cold air blows during the colder months, you need the pros at Poston to help.
• Heat pump does not run – When a heat pump no longer turns on, there may be a minor issue we can repair or a more significant problem.

Regular maintenance is the best way to prevent repairs. Whenever your heat pump needs help, our team is ready to perform service calls and make the necessary repairs to keep your home comfortable.

You Can Depend on Poston Brothers Heating and Cooling

Efficient operation of your heating and cooling systems is important to the comfort of your family. Both heating during cold weather and operating during the cooling season depend on heat pump servicing. Clean air filters, outdoor coils, indoor coils and preventing refrigerant leaks can often be prevented when you schedule heat pump maintenance with Poston Brothers.

Whenever you need air conditioning, heating and indoor air quality services, contact our team at Poston Brothers Heating and Cooling.

Dehumidifiers are a good idea for many of our customers to reduce high humidity in their homes. The technicians at Poston Brothers Heating and Cooling are experts in air quality within your home. The comfort of your home reaches far beyond the temperature reading on your thermostat. Improving the overall quality of your indoor air impacts the health of your family, the condition of your home and even energy costs.

One of the most important elements of indoor air quality is humidity. Controlling humidity is possible with humidifiers and whole house dehumidifiers. These products work within your central air system to reduce the effects of humidity.

Understanding How Humidity Impacts Indoor Air

We all know that a humid environment is uncomfortable. Your home’s air conditioning is a great escape from a steamy summer day. Within your living space, a humid climate may aggravate asthma symptoms, trigger allergies and often allows mold spores to move throughout your home. A dehumidifier helps remove excess moisture from the air circulating through your HVAC system.

Signs Indoor Air Is too Humid

The internal wear on your air conditioner and microscopic bacteria floating in humid homes are difficult to identify. Fortunately, there are common indications extra moisture is in your air. Too much moisture may reveal itself in the following conditions:

• Stuffy nose and difficulty breathing
• Uncomfortable air even when the thermostat is set at your preferred temperature
• Condensation on windows and doors
• Musty smell from air ducts and small spaces
• Mold or water spots along corners or on ceilings
• Creaking of doors, floor boards or cabinets

Benefits of Installing a Whole House Dehumidifier

A whole house dehumidifier is better for your home than individual room dehumidifiers. A whole house system treats all the air within your home. By removing excessive moisture in the air before it enters the air ducts and moves through your vents, everyone breathes easier in every corner of your home.

The impact of a whole house dehumidifier benefits your home, your energy usage, and, most notably, improves the air quality for your family’s health.

Protecting Your Home

Benefits of a whole house dehumidifier impacts the well-being of your home by preventing mold growth, wood rot and eliminating musty smell. Excess humidity can create issues within the ducts and cause undo wear on air conditioner and furnace components. When you control humidity in your home, you help prevent repairs to the structure and expensive appliances.

Energy Usage

Dry environments are more comfortable during the spring and summer months. When you reduce humidity to the ideal level, air temperature can often be adjusted. Adjusting your thermostat to a higher temperature and running your air conditioner less frequently may lower your energy bill.

Health Benefits of Dehumidifiers

The health of your family is one of the most important reasons to install a dehumidifier into your home. Drier air is healthier for family members who suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Reducing mildew and mold is an obvious benefit. Using a dehumidifier may reduce the pests and dust mites that prefer moisture in the air.

Installing a Dehumidifier with Poston Brothers Heating and Cooling

Poston Brothers can help make an immediate impact on the comfort of your home. Instead of struggling with excessive moisture in your home, contact us for expert advice.

Our experts will guide you through every step from consultation to installation. To learn more about reducing moisture buildup in your home and for any services including air conditioning, heating and indoor air quality contact Poston Brothers today.

 

Servicing your furnace is the best method to protect your home, reduce utility bills and avoid costly repairs. Regular maintenance of your furnace improves air quality, enhances comfort, maximizes the lifespan of your system and protects against breakdown during the coldest months. Your furnace protects your home against extreme weather. Professional maintenance is invaluable for a number of reasons.

Many people think that as long as their heat kicks on, that they can skip yearly maintenance. However, the team at Poston Brothers explains why you should not skip your annual maintenance.

When Is the Best Time to Schedule Maintenance?

In Kentucky, it is best to service your gas furnace once a year, ideally in the late summer or early fall. Because Poston Brothers service many furnaces throughout the area, you might find that when you call us to schedule your furnace inspection we might not be able to see you for a few months. This is because our calendars fill up fast, so the sooner you call us to schedule your furnace maintenance, the sooner we’ll be able to see you.

You’ll also want to maintain your air conditioning unit annually as well. Annual inspections on both systems keep them running reliably throughout the season and when done by qualified HVAC technicians, they will keep your system’s warranty valid. Many manufacturer’s warranties require that systems are maintained properly, which can help make repairs more affordable.

What is Done During the Annual Maintenance Appointment?

Hiring the HVAC technicians at Poston Brothers to perform a heating tune-up will ensure your system runs at peak performance all season long.

According to Energy Star, the following should be included in a yearly heating tune-up:

• Checking and inspecting the condensate drain. A clogged condensate drain can negatively affect indoor humidity levels and even cause water damage in your home.
• Tightening electrical connections.
• Checking thermostat settings.
• Lubricating all moving parts. Parts that aren’t lubricated can cause motor friction while increasing electricity usage.
• Checking all system controls. This includes the starting cycle to ensure the furnace starts, operates, and shuts down properly.
• Checking gas connections, gas pressure, heat exchanger, and burner combustion

What Can Furnace Maintenance Help With?

When you call a qualified heating technician to perform furnace maintenance for your home, you’ll notice a number of benefits right away.

Improves Indoor Air Quality

During maintenance, your system will be cleaned which will eliminate pet dander, mold, mildew, and bacteria from the furnace system. Removing these contaminants reduces allergy, and asthma symptoms and provides the best air quality within your home. Your HVAC technician will also change your air filter which will help keep these contaminants from polluting your system.

Enhanced Comfort

Comfort begins by optimizing the performance of your furnace. Failing components, leaks and other issues strain your furnace. When our experts perform maintenance, they immediately address the minor issues that can affect airflow and prevent your home from reaching set temperature. Maintenance enhances the comfort in your home, protects your furnace against unnecessary wear and may even keep your utility bills low even when temperatures drop.

Maximize the Lifespan of Your System

Since your furnace is one of the most important and expensive components in your home, you want to make sure you get the most out of it. Many furnaces will perform efficiently for 15 years, and HVAC system maintenance from the professionals at Poston Brothers help extend the life of your system as long as possible. By performing maintenance before the cold months, our team can advise when aging units should be replaced.

Protect Against Breakdown

There is nothing more stressful or dangerous than a furnace breaking down during frigid winter temperatures. Diagnosing minor issues during annual furnace inspections helps catch minor problems before major issues shut down your furnace. Fixing minor issues is typically far less expensive during maintenance than fixing a broken furnace.

Poston Brothers Makes Scheduling Furnace Maintenance Simple

Poston Brothers is dedicated to keeping your family warm and safe. Schedule heating services in Burlington, KY, and the surrounding Northern Kentucky area by scheduling an appointment online today! Poston Brothers Heating and Cooling is dedicated to your comfort!

When you own an older home, you may find that it did not come with ductwork installed. While you enjoy the aesthetic feel of the home, it probably is very stuff and uncomfortable without ductwork or a modern HVAC system. And it’s not just old homes that commonly suffer from a lack of ductwork. Many homes have sunrooms, attic spaces, new additions or separate structures like garages and sheds that often lack air ducts. To add cooling to these spaces, you might consider working with your current central air conditioning system to cool these rooms, but that often comes with a hefty cost.

Cooling a home without air ducts is accomplished using a ductless mini-split system. The distinct advantages of ductless cooling systems continue to increase demand and enthusiasm for Poston Brothers’ expert services. These systems provide an affordable way to make any room as comfortable as a room with central air conditioning, but without ductwork.

What is a Mini-Split?

Mini-splits consist of one or more air handlers mounted to the wall, floor, or ceiling. These units are connected to an outdoor compressor. Since they do not require ductwork, they are less invasive and more efficient than central HVAC systems. Far quieter than window units, mini-split units provide cooling in warmer months. When paired with a heat pump, a ductless system can also provide heating during the winter months.

Some ductless systems can accommodate up to eight units to cool an entire home. Each zone can be customized to provide better temperature control around the house. This can help save on energy costs. With central air, one AC unit works to cool the entire house. However, with zones, you can turn off the air conditioning in unoccupied rooms to save energy.

With remote and smart home integration, mini-splits are rapidly becoming an ideal solution for heating and cooling demands in Northern Kentucky.

What are the Key Benefits of Mini-Splits?

Many people are familiar with the concept of central air, but can a ductless system provide the same level of comfort? You might be surprised how many benefits you’ll experience when you have a ductless mini-split system installed.

Scalable

Professional installation begins with an assessment of your home. Individual mini-split units can be combined to control zones throughout your home. Our experts match the right unit to your space. Often, a mini-split is used to boost existing cooling equipment in specific areas. That drafty home office or sun-soaked attic can benefit from a single unit.

Energy Efficient

Expert installation of a ductless system improves energy efficiency. Installing a central air unit that is the wrong size may result in short cycling. This wastes energy, alters temperature and humidity control, and may even damage the system. This is often why you can’t just add ductwork to your home when you add an addition without purchasing a new central AC system. Your current central air system will not able able to effectively cool the whole house with the added space. Plus, you’ll need more ductwork installed in your home to reach the rooms you want to cool. Ductwork itself has many flaws. For example, ductwork accounts for more than 30% of energy consumption for forced air systems. Without ducts, our team installs mini-splits with efficiency in mind.

Versatile

Without ductwork, ductless systems can be located in the best locations for your needs. Expert installation makes it possible to cool rooms on the front side of the building while locating the compressor in a more inconspicuous location on the outside.

Secure

Professionally installed ductless systems maintain the security of your home. Windows are left sealed when mini-split units are installed in place of window units. A ductless mini split system is also easy to install. With not ductwork needed, an HVAC system technician needs to drill a hole to run a conduit between your air handler and outdoor unit. This is a much simpler process than running ductwork throughout an existing home.

Count on Poston Brothers for Professional Mini-Split Installation

Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling offers professional installation and service for ductless systems. Whether you need a whole house solution or supplementing a unique space, call us today to talk more about your best solution or to schedule installation!

When shopping for a new air conditioning unit, many homeowners are concerned with how long different systems can be expected to last. What is the average life of a central air conditioning system? What can homeowners do to extend the unit’s service life, and what issues can cause it to fail sooner than expected? Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling has the answers!

What Is the Average Life of a Central Air Conditioning System?

According to Energy.gov, central air conditioners typically last 15 to 20 years. However, this is only an average life expectancy for these units. The actual lifespan of your central air conditioner could be shorter or longer than expected. There are numerous factors that can impact what is the average life of a central air conditioning system, both positively and negatively.

How Can Homeowners Extend Their Air Conditioner’s Life?

Now that you know the average life of a central air conditioning system, let’s talk about how to keep your air conditioning unit running as long as possible. There are many factors that can influence how long your system lasts.

• One of the most important things you can do to extend your air conditioner’s lifespan is to hire a qualified HVAC professional to install it for you. Proper sizing and installation can help avoid many common problems that can shorten the life of your system.
• You should also change your air filter on a regular basis. A clogged air filter can cause the system to work harder, leading to overheating and stress on the air conditioner.
• Take steps to ensure good airflow through the home. Seal any duct leaks, seal any air leaks around windows and doors, and keep all vents open and clear. Taking these steps will help your air conditioner run more efficiently and reduce the chances of it failing prematurely.

Do Central Air Conditioning Systems Need to Be Serviced?

Central air conditioners definitely require professional services over the years if you want to keep them running well and preserve their function and condition. It’s important to stay on track with regular maintenance needs and prioritize any cooling system repairs that are needed.

Professional maintenance service is often called a tune-up, and regular tune-ups have been directly linked to extending the average life of a central air conditioning system. During an air conditioner maintenance tune-up, the technician will check all of the parts of your AC system to make sure they’re in good shape. They’ll also clean it and take care of any small problems that could turn into bigger ones if left unchecked.

It’s also important to keep an eye out for any warning signs that may indicate your system is in need of repair service. If you notice your air conditioner isn’t cooling as well as it used to, is making strange noises, or is leaking water, it’s time to call in a professional for repairs. Failing to do so could lead to more system damage as well as bigger problems down the line, and may cause your system to fail prematurely.

How Often Should a Central Air Conditioning System Be Serviced?

Most central air conditioning units require one professional maintenance tune-up each year. This service should preferably be performed in the spring before the start of the cooling season. Doing so ensures all components are in good working order ahead of time to protect against damage and breakdowns once you need to use the air conditioner.

Repair services for air conditioners should be scheduled as soon as performance problems are detected. Whenever you notice signs of discomfort, poor energy efficiency, or other central air conditioner issues, call for repairs right away.

What Issues Can Cause an Air Conditioner to Fail Prematurely?

There are a few different things that can cause an air conditioning unit to fail prematurely.

• One of the most common issues is a lack of air conditioner maintenance throughout the years.
• Failing to change your air filters or clean your outdoor unit can lead to decreased performance and eventually, a failed compressor.
• Refrigerant leaks are another common cause of premature failure for air conditioners
• Another issue that can cause an air conditioner to fail is over usage by turning the thermostat down too low or failing to set the programmable thermostat properly.
• Airflow restrictions can also be a problem, caused by dirty air filters, blocked outdoor units, duct leaks, and closed registers in the house. When there isn’t enough airflow, the air conditioner has to work harder to cool your home, which can lead to early failure.

Professional Help to Extend Air Conditioner Lifespan

What is the average life of an air conditioner is approximately 15 to 20 years, but there are many factors that can impact how long your actual unit stays in service. Scheduling routine maintenance can help identify and address small issues before they become bigger problems. Having repair service performed when issues are detected prevents extensive damage and protects the air conditioner.

Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling helps Burlington, KY homeowners maximize central air conditioner lifespan with expert installation, maintenance, and repair services. Contact us today to learn more!

Most people don’t give much thought to their thermostat. They set it and then go about their day, unaware of how much they actually depend on the device in their home. The type of thermostat you choose to install impacts comfort, HVAC efficiency, and so much more. Today, we take a look at programmable vs smart thermostats to see which will help you determine which one is right for your needs.

Thermostat Choices

Programmable and smart thermostats are the two most popular options when it comes to controlling your home’s heating and cooling system. Before we discuss the programmable vs smart thermostats debate, let us first introduce you to these HVAC products.

Programmable Thermostats

With a programmable thermostat, you set the temperature in advance of when you want the heat or air conditioning unit to turn on. Setting the temperature of your home for the week in advance can save you energy and money.

For example, if you’re going to be out of the house at work during the day, you can program your heating and cooling system to turn off when you’ll be leaving and come on later in the day so your home reaches the desired temperature by the time you arrive home. You can choose from different types of programmable thermostats that fit your lifestyle. If you are away from home from Monday to Friday, you can set the thermostat so your heating and cooling system won’t work unnecessarily.

Some programmable models of thermostats even connect to the home’s Wi-Fi so you can access the thermostat and change temperatures from almost anywhere! Most programmable thermostats have digital displays, and some come with full-color display panels that can share other data about the weather or your HVAC system’s performance.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats offer enhanced HVAC energy efficiency because they can learn your habits and make heating and cooling adjustments on their own. It tracks patterns of behavior and adjusts the use of your HVAC system to these patterns automatically. Paired with sensors, they have the ability to detect when someone enters or leaves a room, as well as the ability to adjust the temperature to a predetermined setting upon entry or exit.

Additionally, some smart models can sense whether anyone is home or the house is unoccupied to either operate the HVAC system or conserve power when no one is around, which ultimately helps save on energy bills. Geofencing features can detect your location and adjust heating and cooling use for your arrival or departure.

Smart thermostat technology can also keep track of your home’s energy use, allowing you to monitor the efficiency of your HVAC system. You have access to reports showing your energy usage over time which can help you make further energy-saving adjustments at home. Receive maintenance reminders so you can always keep your HVAC system in good shape and maintain its efficiency.

These Wi-Fi-enabled thermostats can be controlled remotely with your smartphone, tablet, or computer, making them very convenient. Using Wi-Fi data and outdoor sensors, they may track weather conditions to further optimize the temperature in the home.

Smart Thermostat vs Programmable Thermostat Options

Deciding between a programmable or smart thermostat is a personal choice for many homeowners. Here are some important points to consider as you make the choice between programmable and smart thermostats.

• The programmable thermostat option is the first option most homeowners consider, and for good reason. They’re cheaper on average, and they’re far more common. A programmable thermostat will let you set an on/off schedule for your home’s temperature based on your daily routine. Various programming options are available to fit your household’s scheduling needs. Wi-Fi-connected models also allow remote temperature changes in case you need to make an adjustment while away from home.
• If you’re looking to stay ahead of the trends in the smart home, you have to make sure that you’re using the right devices to automate tasks. While smart thermostats are a bit more expensive than their programmable counterparts, they’re definitely worth it if you’re looking to save money or have more control over your air conditioning and heating. The temperature automation provided by a smart thermostat is unmatched. Different models also come with various features that further improve household energy efficiency as well as help you best care for your HVAC equipment.

Call Poston Brothers for Professional Thermostat Installation

No matter your decision when it comes to which thermostat is right for your home, it’s important to have the thermostat you choose installed by a professional. Professional installation ensures your new thermostat is compatible with your home’s HVAC system and that the thermostat will communicate correctly with the heating and cooling equipment to maximize energy savings.

Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling offers professional installation and service for smart and programmable thermostats. Call us today to talk more about smart thermostat vs programmable thermostat choices or to schedule installation!

A whole-house ventilation system is an important part of any home. It helps keep your indoor air quality high and can help improve your energy efficiency. In this blog post, Poston Brothers will discuss what a whole-house ventilation system is, how it works, and some reasons why you may need one. We will also cover the different types of whole-house ventilation systems that are available on the market today.

What Is a Whole-House Ventilation System?

Most people are familiar with the basic concept of ventilation – it’s just a way of moving air around, right? A whole-house ventilation system is a key component to ensuring your home receives proper ventilation with a supply of fresh air while exhausting indoor air.

A whole-home ventilation system provides a way to supply incoming air to the home and for stale air to be exhausted. The system is made up of fans, vents, and ducts that work together to exchange indoor and outdoor air. As it operates, the fan draws fresh air into the ductwork and circulates it to the home’s living areas, which exhaust air out through the vents.

The work done by a whole-house ventilation system ensures a fresh stream of clean and healthy air round the clock. Their use can help you improve the indoor air quality in your home by removing pollutants and controlling humidity levels, and helping your heating and cooling systems operate more efficiently throughout the year. A whole-house ventilation system can be used in conjunction with other HVAC systems, such as furnaces and air conditioners, to further improve the home’s indoor comfort conditions.

Could Your Home Benefit from Better Ventilation?

Proper ventilation is essential for great comfort in any home. However, many homes do not have adequate ventilation, and as a result, households can suffer from a variety of problems.

According to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), 35 percent of the home’s total air volume should be changed over each hour. If you’re not sure if your home is receiving adequate air changes and lacks sufficient ventilation, here are a few key signs to look for.

• Condensation and moisture on windows and other surfaces
• The home feels stuffy and humid
• Mold growth in the home
• Odors tend to linger indoors
• Excessive dust accumulation
• Poor airflow throughout the house
• Difficulty achieving or maintaining comfortable temperatures
• Those with allergies or asthma experience more symptoms indoors
• Household members experience headaches or cold-like symptoms at home

Types of Whole House Ventilation Systems

There are several types of whole-house ventilation systems that can be used to improve the air flow in your home and put a stop to the problems mentioned above. The four main types of whole-house ventilation systems include:

• Exhaust: Exhaust ventilation systems for your entire house use exhaust fans to depressurize the home. By doing so, the system pushes the home’s existing air out of the structure. Fresh air makes its way into the residence through passive vents and air leaks throughout the home.
• Supply: Supply systems have a fan that pressurizes the home to force fresh air from outdoors into the home. The existing air supply is then pushed out of the structure through air leaks, range hood ducts, and vents.
• Balanced: Balanced ventilation systems have a supply fan and exhaust system fan as well as two duct systems to equally exhaust stale indoor air and supply fresh air.
• Energy Recovery: An energy recovery whole-house ventilation system uses special equipment to capture energy as it exhausts stale air and uses that energy to condition the fresh air brought into the home.

Is a Whole House Ventilation System Right for You?

If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned in your home, you may benefit from having exhaust or supply systems installed. Call Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling today to request an estimate on a whole-house ventilation system.

A malfunctioning heat pump can cause your energy bills to skyrocket, make your home feel uncomfortable, and even damage the HVAC system. If you notice your heat pump is not blowing cold air into your home, it’s important to take some steps to troubleshoot the problem. Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling walks you through troubleshooting a heat pump not blowing cold air as well as what problems require professional help to fix.

Check the Air Filter

The first thing you should check if your heat pump is not blowing cold air is the system’s air filter. A dirty air filter restricts air coming from the blower and it may feel like you don’t receive cool air from the vents in the home. To check, remove the existing filter and look to see if its surface is completely full of dirt, dust, and other debris. If so, replace the filter with a fresh one. You can buy air filters at most hardware stores.

Check the Thermostat

Another heat pump troubleshooting tip you can try when your heat pump is not blowing cold air is to check your thermostat settings. Make sure the thermostat is set to the cooling mode and that the fan is set to AUTO (so it only cycles with the heat pump and doesn’t blow out warm air in between cycles). If you still feel like you have a heat pump not cooling, lower the temperature by a few degrees to see if cool air is produced and the room temperature becomes cooler.

Clean the Coils

One common reason a heat pump system may not be blowing cold air is because of a build-up of debris on the outdoor condenser coils. The common debris you can find on these coils could be anything from leaves and twigs to insects and pests. When debris accumulates, it can restrict the coils’ ability to release heat – a necessary part of the cooling process.

If you’re experiencing this issue, your best bet is to turn off your heat pump and take a look at the outdoor unit yourself. You can turn off the heat pump at the power switch or at the circuit breaker. If the coils appear dirty, it’s best to schedule a maintenance tune-up to have them cleaned by an HVAC technician. Clean away all debris from the outer fins of your heat pump to keep dirt and grime away from the coils as much as possible.

When to Call a Professional

When you find the heat pump not cooling your home, another heat pump troubleshooting tip you can try before calling a professional. However, not all issues can be fixed so simply and some require solutions performed by an HVAC technician. Common heat pump problems that should be addressed only by a professional HVAC technician include:

• Low Refrigerant: Low refrigerant levels can prevent the heat pump from working correctly. Frozen coils can also be a sign of this problem. A technician will find and repair any leaks causing your heat pump to lose refrigerant and recharge the unit with the proper volume of refrigerant for efficient operation.
• Reversing Valve Issues: The reversing valve is responsible for the direction of the unit’s operation, so if it’s not working properly, the heat pump won’t be able to cool your home correctly. If the reversing valve is stuck and running your system as if it is heating the home, this may be why you have a heat pump not blowing cold air. A technician can repair or replace this component.

Call Poston Brothers for Heat Pump Repair

No matter your heat pump problems, whether your heat pump is blowing hot air or your heat pump isn’t working correctly at all, you can count on the team at Poston Brothers for heat pump repairs in the Burlington, KY. Try some of our troubleshooting tips first to see if you can solve the problem on your own. But not every problem is fixable without the help of a professional technician, and that’s when you can call Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling for heat pump repairs. Schedule an appointment today.