Posted on September 21st, 2017
Prepare Your Furnace for Winter
Fall is the perfect time to get your home ready for winter. Your highest priority for this season is heating and that’s where your furnace comes in. Take care of it now so you’ll be spared the freezing consequences later.
1. Replace filters you probably spend most of your time indoors during the cold months. Dirty filters will contaminate the air you breathe, decrease the efficiency of your furnace and overwork your blower. Regular replacement will prevent this problem, and keep your winter breathing clearer.
2. Clear your mechanical room of debris remove unrelated items from the room, particularly flammable items. Make sure to leave the areas around your unit clear for servicing or repair. Concentrate on the area around the duct opening from outside. This outdoor air is critical for your furnace to burn gas completely so you don’t get carbon monoxide in your home when it’s all fired up in winter. 
3. Do visual checks on internal parts like the blower and burners Open your furnace and take a look at the blower belt and motor. Make sure the belt is tight and clean any dust from the motor and blower. This ensures your furnace’s efficiency is maximized and reduces the likelihood of failure when the fan is running at top speed during winter. Inspect your burner and gas connection for signs of corrosion, dirt or loose connections. This is critical for safety of you and your family.
4. Clean ductwork and check for leaks have a Western Technician clean your ductwork before the season starts to keep the air in your home safe and breathable this winter. Turn on your furnace (you can use the fan-only setting on your thermostat) and listen closely for air escaping from ductwork. Note whether there are grilles with not enough air coming through as this can indicate a leak in that branch of your duct system.
5. Clean the area around your flue exhaust as with the combustion air intake, make sure the area around the flue exhaust is clear of debris to keep your furnace working safely and to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Remove branches and other debris from the flue outlet and when the snow comes, make sure it’s not piled around your flue vent. If the vent is on the roof, make sure there are no birds’ nests blocking the air from your furnace exhaust.
Have a professional technician from Western Heating & Air Conditioning inspect your furnace. Give us a call at 801-375-COOL or visit TimeForComfort.com for us to do a full inspection and tune up so your furnace is completely ready for the coming winter.
Posted on September 14th, 2017
Tankless Water Heater VS. Storage Water Heater
Have you ever had the problem in your family where someone takes a hot shower and all the hot water is gone? Or maybe the hot water just doesn’t not come quick enough? There’s a way to fix that! Now more than ever are people considering the switch to a tankless water heater… and rightly so. Tankless water heaters take up less space, save you money on your monthly bill, require less maintenance, and provide hot water all the time without heating a storage water tank.
Sounds too good to be true, right? You may want to do your homework on whether or not a Tankless Water Heater is right for your home and family. Here are the basics that you need to know!
Our winner: The Tankless Water Heater
We have found that in Utah your best bet is to eventually switch to a Tankless Water Heater. With some bitter winters and the amount of hot water that most people go through, it can save consumers thousands of dollars in the long run. But, that doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for every home and family. If you have a Storage Water Tank that is performing well then it may be a better idea to run it until it’s time for a replacement. Keep in mind that a Tankless Water Heater will cost more for the initial installment but will cut down on monthly costs year after year.
For more information, here are some helpful links:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/tankless-water-heater.htm
If you’re considering your options for which type of water heater to use or yours is in need of repairs, we can take a look at what you have and can help you figure out the most cost efficient solution! Visit us at TimeForComfort.com or call 801-375-COOL!