You’ve heard it before. You have probably listened to countless radio commercials urging you to schedule an appointment right away. You may have even seen or heard our fall specials.
But the question remains … “Do I really need a furnace tune-up every year?”
To answer that question, I’d like to first pose a few other questions:
If you answered yes to some of these questions (or any at all!), then you really do need a furnace tune-up each year.
The best analogy is that of a dentist. It’s recommended that two times per year you see the dentist for preventative dental care. They will clean and inspect your teeth, remove plaque build-up, inspect for cavities before they become a real problem, periodically take x-rays to identify hidden concerns, and many dentists even perform cancer screening.
Why is this so important? So that you can maintain great dental health and fix minor issues, before they become major issues. Instead of a painful root canal, or tooth extraction, these yearly exams will alert you to potential issues so that you can take care of it without a huge painful experience on your mouth and your wallet.
The same is true with furnace tune-ups. A qualified HVAC technician will inspect your HVAC system to ensure it’s running at peak efficiency. They will help make sure minor issues are fixed immediately before a costly repair or replacement is needed. They will also make sure your system doesn’t fail you during the winter and leave you and family out in the cold!
When scheduling a yearly tune-up, it’s important to understand exactly what will be covered. Be sure to do your homework because not all service calls will cover the same things. At TJ’s Plumbing & Heating, we cover the following items during our tune-ups:
The leaves are starting to turn and the nights are getting cooler. Now is the perfect time to schedule your yearly furnace tune-up to ensure that your system is running at peak efficiency and safety. Call TJ’s Plumbing & Heating today. And, be sure to check out our fall specials:
Clean & Check Your Furnace: $69.00 Special
Clean & Check Your Tankless Water Heater: $20.00 Off
Clean & Check Your Boiler: $74.00 Special
$100 off a new Furnace or Boiler
$50 off Whole-House Aprilaire Humidifier
$35 off First-Time Customer Discount
And more!
Purchasing a new HVAC system can be a big investment. But, it’s one that can pay a lot of dividends over time and help to dramatically save on energy costs.
When thinking about a new HVAC system there are many things to consider and many questions to ask. The one question that we constantly get is: How long should my HVAC system last?
The answer? It depends.
I know, I know, that’s a really vague answer but unfortunately it’s the right answer. It really depends on the quality of the system, the size of the unit (making sure it’s the appropriate size for your home), proper installation, and perhaps most importantly…how well the system is maintained.
While all units are different, there is a common consensus that your HVAC system should last 15-20 years. With that said, the unit’s lifespan can be increased with proper maintenance, including:
A blocked air filter can restrict proper airflow. This causes the system to work harder to heat or cool to the proper temperature. This causes undue stress on the unit and decreases the lifespan. Aim to change your air filter every three months and get into the habit of checking it even more frequently. Large HVAC repairs or replacements are costly, air filters aren’t!
Having a professional tune your unit each year will help ensure the unit is running at peak efficiency. HVAC systems are complex systems with a lot of parts that work together. Having a professional conduct routine maintenance and make minor repairs can prevent more costly repairs in the future and dramatically extend the life of your system.
While you may not be a licensed HVAC technician, that doesn’t mean you can’t check in on things! Take the time in the spring to inspect your A/C unit before turning it on. Clear away debris from your unit or your furnace. Make sure there is proper airflow and check your filters regularly.
Imagine how you would feel working a 24-hour shift without a break! That’s how your system feels when it’s constantly running day in and day out. Don’t put undue stress on your system. Get a programmable or smart thermostat, follow our thermostat setting tips, and don’t crank the A/C or heat when you really don’t need to!
Contact the HVAC experts at TJ’s Plumbing & Heating. Our trained HVAC experts will help you evaluate your home’s system and identify the best possible HVAC solution. Whether it’s a repair or a completely new system, our team will work with you to identify the most cost-effective and efficient solution. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Wouldn’t it be great if you set your thermostat to 70 and every inch of your home was exactly 70 degrees? Well that’s just wishful thinking, isn’t it?
Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to have the same exact temperature at every point in your home. But for some homes, the temperature swings can be huge and unbearable. We have seen extreme cases in which a temperature in a room on the first floor can be over 20 degrees different than a room on the second floor.
There are a number of different reasons that temperatures vary throughout a home. Let’s look closer at a few of the most common:
Contact the HVAC experts at TJ’s Plumbing & Heating. Our trained HVAC experts will help you evaluate your home’s system, insulation, ductwork and more. In some cases we can identify simple fixes to solve your challenges. Whether it’s a big or small challenge, our team will work with you to identify the most cost-effective and efficient solution. Contact us today for a free consultation.
The summer is upon us! It’s time to hit the pool, the beach, the boat or relax under a nice shady tree with a great book. But sometimes the summer can also bring hot and muggy days. The days where it’s tough to breathe and walking to mailbox makes you feel like you just swam a few laps in the pool. It can also make sleeping at night almost impossible!
Installing air conditioning and keeping your system properly maintained can help give you a cool and comfortable place to escape the heat. But, it can also drive up your energy bill and put a crunch on your wallet.
It’s suggested that when you’re home, you should set your thermostat to 75-78 degrees. This is generally a comfortable temperature for most people if your humidity levels are controlled. If your humidity levels are too high, then 78 may feel too hot and muggy. But if you maintain the right humidity levels, then 75-78 should feel perfectly comfortable for most people (here is more detail on the right humidity level).
If you’re leaving for an extended period of time for vacation or a long weekend, you may consider turning off the system completely and cracking a window to allow excess heat to escape. However, if you’re just leaving to go to work for a few hours, you’ll want to turn the thermostat to around 85. Studies show that for every degree above 78, you could save approximately 6-8% off your cooling costs. So, if you’re cooling off your home throughout the day when no one is there, you’re just wasting energy. However, you don’t want to allow it to get too hot in the house, even when you’re away. Letting your home get over 86-88 while away will cause the system to work hard to bring that temperature back down.
Here are a few tips that can help make sure your system is running efficiently and you keep energy costs at a minimum:
High humidity levels make the air feel much hotter than it is and can cause mold and mildew issues in the home. A dehumidifier works to remove moisture in the air and makes the air feel much cooler. If you feel hot even when the temperature is a comfortable 75, you may need to control those humidity levels. Here is more detail on whole house dehumidifiers.
Make sure that you have your unit serviced by a licensed professional each year. This will not only keep your system running more efficiently, it will help extend the life of the system and better control costs. Learn more about HVAC tune-ups here.
Simply opening windows on a cool night will allow cooler air into your home and reduce the need for your A/C unit to turn on. Take advantage of those cool nights and let a little fresh air in your home.
If you sit next to a window on a bright and sunny day you’ll understand just how much heat can come into your home. By drawing the blinds on the sun-facing windows throughout your home during the day, you can keep the heat out and the cool air in.
Using a fan can help recirculate the cool air throughout the home and make everyone much more comfortable without having to lower the temperature.
Smart thermostats will learn about your heating and cooling preferences. They know when people are home, and when they aren’t. Studies show that installing a smart thermostat can cut cooling costs by 15%! Learn more about smart thermostats here.
At TJ’s our team of HVAC professionals will make sure you have the right systems in place, running at peak efficiency. Contact us today for a free consultation.
The summer in our area can bring amazing weather. It can also bring with it some amazingly hot and sticky weather.
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “It’s not the heat, it’s the humidity.” In our area of the country we can have a tough battle with high humidity which leaves us feeling hot, muggy and damp.
Humidity is simply the amount of water vapor in the air. It’s what helps to form clouds, rain, and lightning and thunder. When the humidity level is high, there is a lot of moisture already in the air and this can eventually lead to rain. Humidity is a very important part of our environment, but it can lead to some challenges too.
Our body uses sweat as a way to regulate temperature. When it’s hot out, we sweat and the air around rids us of this moisture and cools us off. When the humidity levels in the air are high, there is already a lot of moisture in the air and our sweat won’t evaporate (and we can’t cool off). That’s why high humidity levels in the air can make an 80 degree day seem even hotter than it is. Likewise, when humidity levels are low it can feel much cooler than it actually is.
Environmental studies show that the most comfortable humidity level is around 45%.
In the winter, many people will turn on a humidifier with their HVAC system to help add moisture into the air. Doing this makes the air feel warmer and can help cut down on your heating bills (more info on whole-house humidifiers).
In the summer, using a dehumidifier in your home helps to pull out moisture from the air. By keeping a lower moisture level in the home, the temperature feels cooler and more comfortable.
High humidity levels can make the air feel much warmer than it actually is. It can also have a few other consequences for your home and family. Here’s why installing a whole-house dehumidifier makes so much sense for our area:
High moisture levels provide a perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew and also allows dust mites a comfortable home where they can thrive. Mold, mildew and dust mites can trigger allergies and make things unbearable for those who suffer from asthma and other respiratory conditions. By eliminating excess moisture levels, you can drastically reduce alleging levels.
Showering and cooking add a LOT of moisture to your home. In the summer months when air moisture levels are already high this water can’t evaporate in the air, it builds up on windows and other areas of your home. This excess water can lead to rotting issues and mildew growth. A whole-house dehumidifier will help remove this excess moisture so it doesn’t cause damage throughout your home.
A stand-alone dehumidifier can help remove moisture from a room, but doesn’t help the rest of the house. A whole-house dehumidifier works together with your HVAC system to ensure moisture levels throughout the entire home are consistent.
As mentioned above, high moisture levels make the air feel much hotter than it is. That means you need to turn your thermostat even lower and use more energy to stay cool. Using a whole-house dehumidifier allows you to reduce that moisture level to a comfortable range and makes the air in your home feel cooler. This helps to limit the stress on your A/C unit and lower energy consumption (saving your money).
The experts at TJ’s Plumbing & Heating can help. We will help identify the right whole-house humidity control solution to keep your home feeling comfortable year-round. Contact us today for a free estimate on installing a whole-house dehumidifier today.
Do you really need to get your air conditioning serviced by the professional? The short answer is yes. But here’s a bit of detail on why it’s so important:
Contact the HVAC professionals at TJ’s Plumbing and Heating. Our air conditioning experts will help make sure your system is running at peak efficiency and make sure you don’t run into any issues this summer.
Do you remember the movie franchise Back to the Future? Our good friend Marty McFly traveled to the future in a DeLorean. He went from the year 1985 to the year 2015—and boy did things change!
While the writers and producers did overshoot on a few things (we’re still stuck in traffic jams on the ground), they did get several things right:
The houses in Back to the Future even had a lot of automated features to make life easier and more comfortable. Could you imagine being able to turn on the lights with your voice? Or how about being able to turn on the heat or air conditioning miles away—or even around the world for that matter?
Well, luckily for us these last few are predictions that did come true. Homes are now smart—sometimes even smarter than us!
Smart thermostats connect wirelessly to the Internet and allow you to control your home’s heating and cooling system remotely from a smart phone, tablet, or computer. Many also allow you to connect to a smart hub like Amazon’s Echo so that you can control systems with your voice.
Smart thermostats are more expensive than traditional or programmable thermostats. On average they cost from $200 – 400 for the unit itself. But they do come with a host of features that offer great convenience and cost savings:
The traditional programmable thermostat is nice. You can program specific temperatures at specific times—but it’s not 100% flexible. With a smart thermostat, you can change temperatures remotely. If you don’t know exactly when you’ll be home, you can set the heat low while gone and then use your phone to begin heating your house on the way home. Or in the summer you can turn on the A/C before you leave work and walk into a refreshingly cool home when you arrive.
Probably one of the most amazing features of smart thermostats is that they are self-learning. They get to know your heating and cooling preferences and continually learn and adjust. As you manually adjust temperatures after first installing, it quickly learns what you like and automatically adjusts future temperatures.
A standard programmable thermostat goes on and off based on the strict schedule you set. It doesn’t care if anyone is home or not, it turns on when the clock ticks. Smart thermostats however listen. With audio and movement sensors, it can tell when someone is home, or when the home is empty, and adjust energy consumption accordingly.
By learning your behavior, reducing energy waste, and adjusting remotely, smart thermostats can greatly reduce energy bills. Many smart thermostats even provide a detailed report on consumption that allows you to pinpoint waste and adjust your habits.
One of the first mainstream and popular smart thermostats, Nest, was found to save a considerable amount. Real Savings did a study and found average the Nest Thermostat saved 10-12% on heating and 15% on cooling. Based on typical energy costs, the study estimates as savings of $131 to $145 per year.
The experts at TJs will provide more information on whether a smart thermostat is right for you. We can help you get connected and enjoy the convenience and cost savings right away. Contact us today to learn more.
Constant sore and irritated throat.
Static electricity that won’t seem to stop.
That nagging cough that won’t go away.
It’s been a long winter. Even though the temperatures are beginning to warm just a bit, the nights are still cool and your house is still dry.
The short answer, physics.
The longer answer is that colder air can’t hold as much moisture are warm air. All air contains some water molecules that bounce around in a gas state. These molecules can bump into each other and form a grouping that then drop out of the air (moisture). Since cold air can’t hold as many molecules, they don’t bump into each other as often so less moisture is produced.
Ok I get it! You might not really care too much about why it’s so dry, you just want to find a solution. Lucky for you, there are some great solutions available!
To help put more moisture back into dry air, there are some temporary solutions and then some more permanent solutions too. Let’s look more closely at a few:
This is a pretty simple and easy option. As you boil the water steam will rise and add some moisture into the air. While it’s simple, it also won’t raise the humidity levels throughout the entire house. You might find some temporary relief in and around the kitchen, but it’s not a very effective whole-house solution.
You can purchase a free-standing humidifier that you fill with water, plug-in and place in a room. This will release a steady stream of humidity throughout the area it is in.
This will increase the humidity levels in the general vicinity of the unit. It is a relatively inexpensive option, but you will need to buy one for every room of the house and continually fill the water reservoirs. You also can’t easily control the humidity level.
While a bit more costly initially, a whole-house humidifier offers a humidity solution for the entire home with more control. While the other options might work in a very small area of the home for a limited time, the whole-house humidifier works with your heating system to circulate more comfortable air throughout the entire home.
The whole-house humidifier allows you to choose a comfortable humidity level and ensure that too much moisture isn’t released into the air (which can damage furnishings).
As an added benefit, a steady humidity level throughout the home provides more comfort at lower thermostat temperatures. This allows you to drop the temperature a degree or two. According to the EPA, every degree you lower your thermostat can save 4% in your energy bill!
So goodbye to dry! The experts at TJs will provide a free estimate and consultation to determine the most effective and efficient system for your home. Contact us today to learn more.
Dear TJ,
My name is Alayna S.. I live in Forestville NY. I wanted to inform you of the fantastic and exceptionally good service from Josh, Kyle, and James of the Falconer/Jamestown NY office offered to me and my husband.
To give you slight background of the situation. My husband and I were in the process of putting a new propane tank in. And when the propane company came to install their tank, they realized that the gas lines to my house are not up to code being a 1982 build double wide trailer. And he requested that I needed to fix this problem before he could install the new propane tank. That’s where you come in.
I called TJ’s and scheduled for my free estimate. So the very next day, Josh and Kyle came and did the estimate. They got a handle on the situation, stayed in contact with their GM, and gave me a quote. I then accepted the job that needed to be done. So the very next day, those two came right back and did the job that needed to be done for the propane tank. Unfortunately when they went to do the pressure test, due to my corroded lines and such, the test failed, and sadly we had to resort to putting all new lines in. But those two explained everything to me and explained the reason for why the pipes had to be completely redone. And due to the gravity of the situation, they stayed for as long as necessary to make sure the job was done, which was a 9:30am to about 7:00/7:30 to make sure that at their general managers request, we at least got heat for the weekend till they could come back on Monday and finish the rest since the original work took longer than expected. And so I accepted the job for the new lines, and so, today as I write this, James came in Kyle’s place and Josh and both are working really hard to redo all the remaining lines.
I am also so grateful that your company is willing to work with me to pay my bill. It was more than what we do upfront, but I appreciate being able to write checks to finish paying off my bill for the work these fine three gentlemen are doing today.
I cannot say again how thankful I am for their tireless hard work, and I am definitely gonna be using you again for my new heater next fall/winter, as well as for the air conditioning unit that needs maintenance on it as well and/or replaced. These gentlemen have been so nice to me and just made the whole experience more endurable.
Again, thank you soon much for taking time to read this. I think these men need to be recognized throughout the whole company for their kindness and as James is a current manager and has done this job for the past 25+ years. And I am sure Josh and Kyle have been doing this for years too despite them being younger than James. But each one showed exceptional customer service. Again thanks.
Sincerely,
Alayna S.
“Recently had some plumbing/carpentry work done on my home by your company. I was so impressed by the quality of the service I received, thought I would send you a message.
Your guys, in particular Kyle, were just wonderful. In days of poor and frustrating customer service situations, I was so very pleased (and surprised) by your staff. Very professional and the quality of work was excellent. They were courteous and communicated well, keeping me abreast of the situation, and answered all my questions.
Although a costly unexpected repair, I was left with a pleasant experience.
A positive experience!!!!”
-Jeffrey R.