HVAC Blog

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.

While the exact month will vary according to climate, spring is the ideal time to perform air conditioner maintenance. Ideally, an air conditioner should be completely inspected, cleaned, and prepped for the cooling season just before you turn the system on for the first time. Air conditioning maintenance includes caring for the outdoor AC unit, the indoor air handler, the thermostat, and your ventilation system. In this article, Poston Brothers examines why spring is the best time to maintain your air conditioner and what to expect during your annual service. We will also explain the benefits of air conditioning maintenance and the benefits of having your air conditioner maintenance done by a professional HVAC technician.

3 Reasons to Perform Air Conditioner Maintenance in Spring

The mild temperatures of springtime mark the end of the heating season but in Northern Kentucky and Southern Ohio, there are usually a few weeks of comfortable weather before you want to turn your air conditioning on for the first time. This creates the perfect opportunity for caring for your central air conditioner.

1. Safe Operation – The dormant months can be hard on both the outdoor AC unit and the indoor system. Temperature and moisture can damage components. Excessive dust and contaminants can also collect in the system. A thorough inspection confirms all electrical connections as well as refrigerant components are in a safe condition.
2. Protect the HVAC Unit – Air conditioners are a major investment for any homeowner. During the winter, dirt, debris, and even pests can collect in the outdoor unit. Cleaning the unit and checking all of the components protects the integrity of the unit. AC tune-ups performed before the unit starts will remove foreign debris and makes certain the air conditioning system works properly throughout the summer.
3. Improve Indoor Air Quality – Seasonal allergies can surge in the spring. In northern Kentucky and the Cincinnati area, airborne allergens can clog air ducts and lead to dirty filters. Regular maintenance of the indoor air handler will catch problems early and make sure the evaporator coil is clean.
4. Reduce Risk of Breakdown – By making sure all systems function effectively before the start of the season, AC maintenance reduces the risk of repairs and issues within your HVAC system later in the summer.
5. Optimize Performance – An affordable tune-up helps to reduce wasted energy costs. Dirty systems work harder to cool your home. Longer running cycles lead to higher energy bills. A clean filter and properly adjusted systems improve the air conditioning performance and efficiency all season long.

Professional AC Maintenance Versus DIY Tune-Up

There are some chores in Spring that are practical to do yourself including yard work, painting, gardening, and preparing the backyard for summer barbecues. When it comes to AC services, it may be best to schedule maintenance with a trusted local professional. When you form a relationship with your HVAC contractor like Poston Brothers, you gain some key benefits.

• Expertise and Experience – Professional technicians are trained and N.A.T.E. certified. They have the expertise and experience to fully inspect and address issues within your system. Finding minor issues with condenser coils not only saves on monthly energy, but a thorough inspection can also add years of service life to your equipment. In the Spring, most HVAC companies offer maintenance specials and special discounts.
• Safety – Air conditioning units can be dangerous to work on, especially if you don’t have the proper tools and training. While homeowners should be familiar with replacing a clogged filter and adjusting their programmable thermostat, refrigerants and condensate drains can be tasked outside most homeowners’ skillset.
• Proper Equipment – The necessary maintenance required for air conditioners each spring requires specialized tools. Professional technicians have the equipment to diagnose and repair issues with modern AC units. They also have access to the correct replacement parts to keep your system running properly.
• Comprehensive Service – Professional air conditioning maintenance includes a comprehensive inspection. Having your cooling system tuned up by a professional HVAC technician ensures all components of the unit are working well.
• Warranty Protection – One of the primary differences between professional AC maintenance and a DIY tune-up is warranty coverage. If your AC unit is still under warranty, performing DIY maintenance is likely to void the warranty. Manufacturers work with authorized dealers to offer years of warranty coverage.

• Time and Convenience – When you schedule maintenance, the hard work is done. Air conditioning maintenance can be time-consuming and complex. Hiring a professional technician saves you time and hassle, allowing you to focus on enjoying the longer days and warmer weather.

When to Contact Your HVAC Contractor

It’s ideal if you can have this service performed before the weather heats up and it becomes necessary to run your air conditioner throughout the day. To make sure your annual AC tune-up is done before the weather gets too hot, contacting to make your appointment in the early spring is the best. In many cases, once you find a trusted local HVAC expert, you can join a membership club that automatically registers you for annual tune-ups.

At Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling, our goal is to build lifelong relationships with our customers. Our team works extremely hard to provide exceptional value and high-quality service. Unfortunately, many homeowners forget or put off scheduling maintenance as temperatures steadily increase each day. Although we recommend spring as the best time to have maintenance services performed, we can still provide you with tune-ups well into the summer.

If you need a bit more motivation, here are a few key reasons you want to take advantage of this timing for your AC maintenance appointments, as doing so will help you save money and stay comfortable.

Quick Response

Do you hate waiting weeks between calling for service and the date of your actual appointment? When you schedule air conditioner maintenance early in the season, you likely won’t have to wait long at all! Due to milder temperatures this time of year, homeowners are rarely using their heating and cooling equipment so HVAC companies typically aren’t busy and can take care of your cooling system maintenance needs quickly.

Better Efficiency

AC maintenance in the spring makes it possible for you to run a well-oiled machine from the start of the cooling season to its final days. When you make sure your air conditioner receives a professional tune-up ahead of summer, your system receives the essential care and services needed to improve the air conditioner’s efficiency and performance. Wear and tear from last season are erased so that your air conditioner functions at peak levels. With an air conditioner in such good shape on the first hot day of the year, you can rest assured your energy bills won’t skyrocket.

Breakdowns are Less Likely

The last thing you want to experience this summer is a cooling system failure that leads to costly repairs and time without cool air. Spring air conditioning maintenance works to lower the likelihood of needing ac repairs during the hottest days of the summer. When a technician is able to service your system ahead of use season, any malfunctions present can be spotted and corrected before you go turning on your ac system. Operating an air conditioner with certain flaws or malfunctions present can cause the problem to grow, leading to a lot more damage and it may even destroy your system to the point of a breakdown.

Comprehensive Air Conditioning Tune-Up

Your owner’s manual will provide some basic guidelines for a professional tune-up, but you will also want to verify your HVAC contractor goes beyond the basics and does a comprehensive service including:

• Checking the Thermostat – Thermostats are the brains of your HVAC system. During a tune-up technicians verify the system is working properly and holding the correct temperature. Smart thermostats and programmable thermostats can save you hundreds of dollars every year in unnecessary energy consumption.
• Inspecting the Air Filter – The air filter will be inspected and either cleaned or replaced if necessary. A dirty filter can restrict airflow and cause the AC unit to work harder. You can also learn how to replace your air filter monthly to improve energy use.
• Checking Electrical Connections – Checking hardware, wiring, and tightening electrical connections to preventing electrical damage and corrosion.
• Lubricating Moving Parts – Moving parts, such as the fan motor, pulleys, and other parts will be lubricated and sealed systems will be tested for signs of wear.
• Inspecting The Condenser and Evaporator Coils – Inspecting and cleaning the condenser and evaporator coils improves energy use. Cracked and damaged coils can lead to refrigerant leaks.
• Checking Refrigerant Levels – Low refrigerant levels can cause the AC unit to work harder. Leaks in lines the rest of the system may require a recharge.
• Inspecting the Condensate Drain – Cleaning the condensate drain and clearing any clogs avoids water damage and mold growth.
• Checking the Fan Motor and Blades – The fan motor and blades should be unobstructed and clean.
• Testing the Start and Run Capacitors – Running the system tests that capacitors and other major components are functioning properly.

Contact Poston Brothers for Air Conditioning Maintenance

Spring air conditioning maintenance works to protect your home’s HVAC equipment while keeping energy bills low and keeping your family cool once summer arrives. Spring is the perfect time to schedule your regular maintenance for your air conditioner. Call Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling today to make an appointment for your spring air conditioner tune-up.

Oh no, you came home from work and found that you have no heat. Instead of panicking, you do some research on the Poston Brothers site and find that many no heat calls we get are because the thermostat isn’t working. How can you tell if your thermostat is working? Test it! But how do you test a home thermostat? Luckily, the experienced heating and air conditioning system technicians at Poston Brothers are here to walk you through how to test a home thermostat.

Step-by-step Guide for Testing Your Thermostat

Thermostats tend to have a lifespan of around 10 years. That doesn’t mean that your thermostat is going to quit on you the second it turns 10, but like every appliance you buy, it has a limited lifespan. Ten years is also a long time for technology to advance, and recent developments in HVAC technology have created smart thermostats, which you might want to consider replacing your old thermostat with if your current one isn’t working.

But let’s focus on the current issue at hand: testing your thermostat. Follow our steps to test your home’s thermostat. It helps if you have a screwdriver, your camera phone, and a partner to stand by the furnace while you look at the thermostat.

Step 1: Check to See that the Thermostat Is Receiving Power

Is the screen on your thermostat lit up? If not, check your circuit breaker or fuse box to make sure that the HVAC breaker hasn’t been tripped. If it has, flip it back and see if that restores power to your thermostat and HVAC system. Your thermostat might rely on a battery for power, if it does, try changing the battery.

Step 2: Make Sure the Thermostat Is Set to the Proper Settings

It might seem silly, but make sure that your thermostat is not in the off position and that it’s set to the desired setting. If you have no heat, make sure the heat setting is on. Many times, the thermostat setting is overlooked when there is no heat.

Step 3: Turn Up The Heat

If you’ve confirmed that the thermostat is receiving power and is set correctly, but you still have no heat, try initiating the furnace to turn on. This is where your partner comes in. Have them stand by the furnace while you slowly raise the temperature inside. When the furnace burner ignites, it should make a clicking sound. Communicate with your partner if they can hear the furnace turning on.

Step 4: Turn Off The Power to the Furnace

If your furnace isn’t starting up, turn off the HVAC power at the home’s breaker box.

Step 5: Remove the Thermostat Cover

Use a screwdriver to remove the thermostat cover to expose the wiring. If you have a multimeter handy, use it to confirm the thermostat is not receiving power. Located the red and white wires to turn on the air conditioning, and red and white wires to turn on the furnace.

Step 6: Check the Wiring of the Thermostat

Take a picture with your camera phone so you remember which terminals the wires inside were connected to. Make sure the wires are tightly connected to the various terminals. Sometimes loose wires are the issue and you can return power to the furnace and try again.

If tightening the wires to the screws doesn’t work, open the thermostat cover again, remove the wires from the terminals and wrap the wires around each other. Make sure none of the other wires are touching these wires connected to each other.

Step 7: Turn On Power to the Furnace

If the blower turns on and the furnace burner ignites, then the thermostat was improperly connected or the wiring is defective. This means that the thermostat was not sending a signal and the thermostat needs replacing. If the burner does not ignite, check the wires to see if there is a break, otherwise, your furnace needs repairs.

Still No Heat? Call Poston Brothers

Poston Brothers are your Burlington, Kentucky heating and cooling specialists. If you’ve gone through all these steps and are still not able to get your furnace to work, call us right away. We can perform the necessary furnace repairs or replace your thermostat for you. Call us today.

Boilers are wonderful home heating systems that have stood the test of time. Instead of heating air like furnaces do, boilers heat water and turn it into steam. Because boilers contain a lot of water, what should you do when you notice the system leaking?

Depending on where the leak is and how much water is coming out of the boiler can determine your state of panic. The boiler experts at Poston Brothers are here to help you troubleshoot your leaking boiler and let you know when to call us for boiler services.

What Should I Do if My Boiler Is Leaking Water?

As soon as you notice your boiler leaking water, clean up the water to prevent water damage. Then, monitor the leak to see how fast it is leaking water. See if you can identify where the leak is coming from. A leaking boiler will need to be fixed by an HVAC technician, but doing some troubleshooting yourself can help save time. Not every leaking boiler needs to be replaced, but having the professional team at Poston Brothers look at your boiler is the only way to be sure.

Reasons Why Your Boiler Leaks

Leaks are never a good sign, but there are a few steps you can take to stop them. Boilers use both gas and very hot water to supply heat to your home. If you are not comfortable being around these elements, call Poston Brothers right away.

Pressure

The pressure relief valve on your boiler can get clogged with sediment and cause leaks. Boilers need to release pressure regularly, and if it cannot release steam, it will release water instead. Turn off your boiler and let it cool. Then open the pressure relief valve to release the water for 3-4 seconds. The water should come out clean. If you shut the valve and it continues to leak, that means there’s more sediment inside. Repeat this process until the boiler leaks stop. If they don’t stop, then call Poston Brothers.

Corrosion

Corroded pipes and tanks are a common reason your boiler is leaking water. Corrosion is a problem, and you’ll need to consult with a technician to see how bad the corrosion is and what repairs you’ll need.

Faulty Installation

If your boiler was recently installed and you’re noticing leaks, then there’s a good chance that the installation was done incorrectly. Occasionally, some joints and pipe fittings aren’t installed correctly, and that can cause a leaking boiler. Poston Brothers is always happy to provide a second opinion on boiler installation.

Broken Seals

Just like pipes, seals and parts can break down over time. A broken seal will spray a lot of water, so you’ll notice it right away. It’s important to turn off your boiler if the leaking water is constant to prevent water damage.

Temperature Control Valve

The temperature control valve regulates the temperature of the water in the boiler. If your temperature valve is malfunctioning and setting your boiler temperature too high, it could be causing boiler issues like leaks.

How Can I Prevent My Boiler from Leaking Again?

Boilers, like any central heating system, need to be maintained on an annual basis. If it’s been a long time since you’ve had a reputable HVAC company like Poston Brothers look at your boiler, now is the time. If it’s hard to remember to schedule your yearly maintenance, then join our Poston Club maintenance plan.

When you’re a member, we’ll remind you when your boiler is due for service and then we’ll schedule your appointment around your schedule. Member benefits also include a discount on all repairs, replacement credits, and discounts on service calls. Call Poston Brothers today for boiler repairs, and ask your technician about joining the Poston Club maintenance program.

Furnace maintenance can be intimidating to some, but there is one simple tip that can help your furnace’s performance and maintain indoor air quality: changing your furnace filter. Doing this regularly can help remove allergens and other airborne contaminants that cause dust and debris to settle in your vents and potentially cause damage to your furnace. But how often should you replace your furnace filter to help your furnace perform at its best? Poston Brothers, your Burlington, KY heating and cooling team, is here to answer all your furnace filter questions.

How Often Should You Change Your Furnace Filter?

Furnace filters come in all shapes and sizes. You can buy almost any furnace filter at your local hardware store. Bring your current furnace filter with you, or take a picture with your phone to make sure you’ve located the correct filter. Some furnace filters are thin and made of fiberglass. Others are thicker and have multiple layers. Depending on the width, some furnace filters last longer than others. A good rule of thumb is to replace your furnace filter every 90 days, or 3 months. However, you may want to change your filter more frequently if you have young children or pets. 

Pets create dander which often gets absorbed into the vents. The pet hair makes its way to the furnace filter and clogs it up more quickly than a home without pets. If you have young children, indoor air quality should be a top priority for your home. Replacing your furnace filter more frequently than 90 days will help maintain good air quality. 

Factors That Can Affect the Lifespan Of Your Furnace Filter

You might find that you go to change your furnace’s air filter after 90 days only to discover that it’s not full and it doesn’t need to be replaced. That’s fine. Each home is different. Certain factors can help extend or shorten the lifespan of your air filters. 

For example, in Kentucky, our winters are relatively mild and shorter compared to winters in the northern states. You might not run your furnace all winter long. If you don’t run your furnace every day in the winter, there’s a good chance your furnace filter could last for the whole season. Running your furnace on a constant basis is more likely to fill up the filter faster. 

The size of your house and your furnace are also important factors. A large house with a large furnace will need to work harder to heat the entire house. This could wear out the filter because the furnace needs to work more. Smaller houses with smaller furnaces might have smaller filters which would cause them to fill up quickly. Be aware of the size of your furnace filter for a better idea of how often you need to replace it. 

Signs It’s Time To Change Your Furnace Filter

When heating issues arise, one of the most common fixes we recommend our customers try first is changing the furnace filter. Many times, this is exactly what your furnace needs to restore air flow and start running again. Here are some other signs it’s time to change your furnace filter:

• You’ve noticed higher heating bills suddenly. A clogged air filter could be making your furnace work harder.
• You notice dust and debris coming from your air vents or built up in your ductwork. If the filter is full, it needs to be replaced to remove more dust.
• No heat, or very little heat coming from the furnace. An obstructive furnace filter could be restricting airflow to your furnace. 

Replaced Your Filter and Still Experiencing Furnace Issues – Call Poston Brothers

How often you should replace your furnace filter is up to you, but now you know what to look for. If you’re experiencing furnace issues and replacing your furnace filter didn’t help, there’s probably something else wrong with your furnace. If your furnace filter hasn’t been replaced in a long time, it can cause damage to your furnace. Let’s take a look and see what’s wrong. Call Poston Brothers today to schedule services for your heating and cooling system.

Winter means cold air, snow, and wind. But cold air does more than make you shiver. Cold air is often much drier than warm air, which means the humidity in your home is probably much lower than it should be. You can tell if the air in your house is dry when you notice your lips are frequently chapped or your skin is cracked and itchy. But dry air and low humidity can do more than cause dry skin. The indoor air quality experts at Poston Brothers want you to know the signs of dry air in your house and what to do about it.

What Causes Dry Air?

Humidity is the amount of moisture in the air at a certain temperature. The higher the temperature, the higher the humidity. This is why on a humid 88°F day, the air feels heavy and sticky. In the winter, when the temperatures are lower, there is less moisture in the air. Our furnaces don’t help with dry air either. Because furnaces heat the air without adding any moisture, lowering the overall humidity level even more. Moisture also evaporates from your body, leaving your skin, nose, and hair feeling dehydrated. 

The relative humidity in your home should be between 30%-50%. To see the humidity levels in your home, check your thermostat or use a hygrometer. 

Signs The Air In Your House Is Too Dry

Besides checking the humidity levels in your home, there are many ways to tell that the air in your house is too dry. Chapped lips and cracked skin on your hands are some of the most common signs. But you may have noticed some of the following signs too:

• Irritated sinus and nose bleeds can make it hard to breathe or sleep at night. If you wake up in the middle of the night coughing, it might be from dry indoor air.
• Asthma and allergy flare-ups. Dust, pollen, bacteria, and viruses love to travel through dry air and irritate your throat and nose. 
• Increase in static electricity.  Dry air is an insulator. When you touch certain surfaces in your house, there is a build-up of electrons that jump from one surface to another, causing a shock. You’ll get lots of static electricity shocks if you have dry air in your home.
• Damage to wood in your home. Furniture, floors, and musical instruments are vulnerable to dry air and a lack of moisture in the air can cause wooden items in your home to crack or warp.

How To Combat Dry Air In Your Home

If you’ve noticed a lot of these signs in your home, then you’re probably wondering what you can do to add moisture to the air in your home in the winter. Humidifiers add moisture to the air and help relieve some of your dry air symptoms.

You can buy individual room humidifiers to help some of the driest rooms in your home. These small appliances sometimes have filters that need to be changed regularly, filterless models are also available. You need to refill a water tank regularly to keep your room comfortable. 

If you need humidifiers in multiple rooms, you might want to consider a whole-house humidifier. Whole-house humidifiers are added to your home’s heating system and add moisture to the air as it comes out of the furnace. These appliances are virtually maintenance-free and you don’t have to frequently refill tanks of water. If your entire house feels dry every winter, a whole house humidifier might be the comfort solution that you’re looking for. 

To Learn More About Whole-Home Humidifiers – Call Poston Brothers 

Now that you know how to tell if the air in your house is dry, now it’s time for you to see how dry by testing humidity levels. If you notice that your relative humidity is very low, then call Poston Brothers to learn more about having a whole house humidifier installed in your home. This will help maintain your health, skin, and comfort levels in your home. Call us today to learn more about any of our indoor air quality services.

Boilers and furnaces are often used interchangeably, but they are different methods of heating your home. If your home has radiators, then you have a boiler. If warm air comes from registers and vents, then you probably have a furnace. You may be wondering about the differences between boilers and furnaces if you’re looking to upgrade the heating system in your home, or maybe you’re building a new home and are wondering which heating system would be best for your home. 

Poston Brothers is Burlington, KY’s leading heating and cooling team. We’re here to help you with all your heating and cooling needs. Call us today for a free consultation. 

The Difference Between Boilers and Furnaces

The biggest difference between a boiler and a furnace is that a boiler distributes heat generated from boiled water or steam through your home’s hot water pipes to warm baseboards and iron radiators. There are a wide variety of radiators on the market today, including baseboard radiators, cast iron radiators, or radiant heated flooring.  Furnaces, on the other hand, heat up the air and distribute it through your home’s ductwork, and the hot air comes out of the vents. Both boilers and furnaces can be fueled by oil, electricity, or natural gas. 

Is one better than the other? Both furnaces and boilers have their own pros and cons, and what works better for you depends on your home and your needs. It’s best to weigh your options side by side to see which works best for your personal preferences and budget.

The Pros and Cons of Boilers

Since boilers don’t use vents, they don’t require ductwork. Instead, the hot water or steam generated through a boiler is distributed through a series of pipes. Having a boiler in your home is a great idea if you have severe allergies because debris, allergens, and other irritants can’t hide and travel through ducts. 

Boilers burn fuel slower than a furnace, making them more energy efficient. The lifespan of a boiler is usually 20 years, similar to a furnace. Many customers like their boiler because it’s much quieter than a furnace, but the pipes run the risk of freezing and breaking. Also, boilers tend to be more expensive than furnaces and are more difficult to install. Whichever heating system you choose, be sure to trust a professional and experienced heating and cooling team to install your system properly. 

The Pros and Cons of Furnaces

Most homes have a furnace installed. Furnaces over the years have become more efficient. Furnaces are cheaper and easier to install than boilers and tend to have a lifespan of 15-20 years, depending on usage and maintenance. Both furnaces and boilers should be maintained annually to keep up with efficiency and performance, but furnaces are more likely to need frequent maintenance or can break down if they are not kept in a clean environment.

Both furnaces and boilers will only produce heat. If you have air conditioning installed to cool your home in the summer, both your air conditioner and furnace can use the ductwork to make your home comfortable, whereas a boiler relies on pipes. Since both furnaces and air conditioners rely on ductwork, if you’re planning on having an air conditioner, you might want to stick with a furnace. If you’re considering a ductless mini split air conditioner to cool your home in the summer, it will probably pair better with another ductless system like a boiler. 

How Can I Decide Between a New Boiler or Furnace for My Home?

After learning the differences between boilers and furnaces, you can now decide for yourself which would fit best in your home. If you’re willing to pay more in upfront costs, but save on heating bills, a boiler is a good solution. However, a furnace could be the way to go if you want to pay less in upfront costs and have a duct system already installed. 

If you’re still trying to decide, have the heating and cooling experts at Poston Brothers help you out. Call us today to schedule a free consultation, and we can help you decide what system will be best for your home. 

Every room in your house should be about the same temperature. However, if you find that some rooms are colder than others, it could be a sign that your furnace is having problems. There are many solutions to fixing cold spots in a house, and the only way you’ll know which will work best is to try a few out yourself.

This winter, don’t suffer in the cold. Poston Brothers can help you find the solutions that will work best to keep your home comfortable. If you try all of our tips and still can’t get warm, call us right away for a consultation.

Tips for Fixing Cold Spots In Your House

Cold spots in your house are not normal. If some rooms are colder than others, it doesn’t mean that your furnace is breaking down. There are several easy things you can do to improve the temperature throughout your house. 

Cover Drafty Windows

If only certain rooms of your house are cold, drafty windows are frequently the culprit. Feel around the windows for a draft. Wrap plastic film around your windows to keep the heat from escaping. This is a great way to save energy, especially in older homes. 

Improve Air Flow

Every year, you should have your furnace maintained and cleaned by a professional heating technician. During a maintenance visit, an HVAC technician can inspect and clean all necessary components and find small issues before they lead to bigger, more expensive repairs. This service ensures your furnace is operating properly and providing optimal air flow in your home.

It’s also important for you to regularly check your system’s air filter and change it about every three months. Air filters protect the furnace from debris, allergens, and other irritants that circulate through your air ducts. If this filter gets clogged, your furnace has a hard time moving warm air to all the rooms in your house. Changing your air filter on a regular basis can help maintain the efficiency of your furnace and solve many home heating problems. 

Consider Moving Your Thermostat

If your furnace isn’t getting an accurate reading of your entire house, it could be the reason why you’re noticing cold spots. Thermostats that are too close to the furnace, another appliance that generates heat, or are in a particularly sunny room could be skewing the temperature of your whole house. Move your thermostat to an interior wall in the center of your home if it is not in this location already. 

Duct and Vent Cleaning

Over time, dust and hair collect in your vents and accumulate in your ducts, making it hard for warm air to reach all the rooms of your house. Clean air ducts improve air circulation and air quality. Heat could also be escaping through cracks in your air ducts, preventing warm air from reaching every room in your home. It’s a good idea to have your air ducts cleaned and inspected to help eliminate cold spots. 

Check Your Insulation

Most insulation tends to last for decades, but if your insulation is old or damp, it might not be insulating your home enough. Check your insulation to see any common signs of aging, and add some more insulation if you notice that it is thin, shifting, or breaking down. 

Zoned Heating

If none of these tips have helped your home, it could be that your furnace is just having a hard time heating your entire house. Upgrading to a zoned heating system might be the best way to make sure everyone in your home is comfortable. In a zoned heating system, each area gets its own thermostat and the air only circulates within the zone, which improves the indoor air quality of your home. Zoned systems help you save energy and heat up your home much more efficiently. Call Poston Brothers today to learn more about zoned heating systems for your home.  

Still Cold? Call Poston Brothers

If you notice other issues with your home’s heating system along with cold spots, there might be some bigger issues with your furnace that should be addressed. Schedule a service call with Poston Brothers today to keep your home comfortable all winter long.

Annual furnace maintenance should be a part of every Burlington, KY area homeowner’s fall home maintenance routine. Furnace maintenance is important for maintaining the performance and energy efficiency of your heating system, while also helping your unit last longer and experience fewer breakdowns. Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling shares the benefits of regular maintenance for your furnace as well as what can happen if you skip it.

Why Is Annual Furnace Maintenance Necessary?

Your furnace is a mechanical system, and, as it operates, components experience wear and tear. Wear and tear happens even during regular system operation, so it’s something that is going to occur year after year. It’s just like your vehicle, which experiences wear and tear over the miles you put on it.

Annual furnace maintenance does for your furnace what a routine tune up does for your car – it undoes the wear and tear damage and helps your furnace run at its best until its next service appointment. A professional heating tune up keeps all components in good working order to allow the system to function at peak performance and energy efficiency levels so you get the best user experience. 

Neglecting regular furnace maintenance has similar consequences as skipping regular tune ups for your vehicle. Without a yearly tune up, your furnace doesn’t receive the maintenance care it needs to keep all parts running smoothly. Wear and tear will bog down the system, forcing it to use more energy to get the job done, and the furnace will start to struggle as it operates. 

With no trained eye on your equipment each year, minor issues won’t be caught and corrected early on – this leads to the development of serious malfunctions that cause damage to the furnace and could also pose a danger in your house such as carbon monoxide leaks. The combination of accumulated wear and tear plus serious system issues will eventually cause your system to fail completely, typically much sooner than it would have if it received annual maintenance.

Benefits of Annual Maintenance for Your Furnace

An annual furnace checkup is an affordable service that generates big benefits for Burlington homeowners. The perks you’ll experience when you have this yearly service completed include:

• Better home comfort. With all components functioning at their best, your furnace will run optimally over the season ahead. Wear and tear damage is mitigated so there is nothing standing in the way of your furnace delivering precision heating throughout the home.
• Lower heating bills. When furnace performance is optimized thanks to maintenance, it improves energy efficiency as well! With parts running properly, the system isn’t forced to consume excess energy to do its job. Maintenance works to reduce energy waste, keeping your heating bills low.
• Fewer repairs. When a professional HVAC system technician performs an annual furnace inspection, minor flaws are easily identified so they can be corrected now before they worsen and cause problems with your heating system. Wear and tear won’t cause components to fail early, so you’re less likely to experience system breakdowns over the winter. Investing in an annual tune up can help you keep furnace repair costs low and limit the amount of time you spend without heat, waiting on repairs.
• Longer service life. Furnaces that receive annual maintenance tune ups typically last longer. You’ll gain more years of use from your existing system, helping you maximize the return on this investment and preventing you from spending thousands of dollars on a new unit earlier than expected.

Annual Furnace Maintenance Services in Burlington, KY

Don’t neglect annual furnace maintenance for your heating system! Poston Brothers Heating & Cooling is here to help you take care of your home’s essential HVAC equipment – contact us today to schedule an annual furnace tune up. For all of your home’s heating and air conditioning needs, trust the technicians at Poston.