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Seasonal Inspections

Winter Where Are You? Mother Nature doesn’t seem so sure what to do this winter, we’ve had unseasonably warm weather. While this is sad news for anyone who enjoys sports or activities which require snow, this is good news when it comes to my monthly utility bills! And I’ll take any help I can get …

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Things to Try Before Calling a HVAC Professional

Your home’s HVAC system can seem like an extremely complex piece of equipment. And while we always suggest that you have a trained skilled HVAC professional maintain and service your system as needed. There are still things a homeowner can try themselves, before calling in the pros. There are some common culprits when it comes …

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Seasonal Air Quality Control

For people who suffer from seasonal allergies, air quality is a key concern. Allergens in the air cause brutal bouts of sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes and even sinus headaches. Even taking refuge indoors will often not assuage these symptoms, as indoor air is often comparable to outdoor air in terms of allergens and overall …

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Your Furnace and its Control Board

Being Responsible One way to be a truly responsible homeowner is to familiarize yourself with the major systems and appliances in your home. By having at least some understanding of how, say, your refrigerator or toilet work, you gain understanding of how to use them efficiently and detect when something goes wrong. The same is …

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Spring Renewal Discount

This Spring Sterling is offering all of its customers a Renewal Discount for their Protection Plans. If you open a new contract or renew your current contract now through April 30th, we will give you 50% off your second year rate! Now is the time that Sterling suggests you start thinking about the changing seasons …

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Seasonal InspectionsThings to Try Before Calling a HVAC ProfessionalSeasonal Air Quality ControlYour Furnace and its Control BoardSpring Renewal Discount

Feb 28

New Energy-Saving ‘Learning Thermostat’

Categories:

Energy Efficiency

by admin

February 28, 2012

Check out this article, we found online about a new thermostat that is supposed to be coming out in the near future… Seems like a good idea in making your home more energy efficient, saving you some cold hard cash! Who wouldn’t want a thermostat who will learn when your away and automatically adjust the temperature or a thermostat that you can adjust via your smartphone/laptop if you’ve forgotten to adjust it before leaving the house! I know I’ll be keeping an eye out for more information and to see how these thermostats actually function in real life. If you have or have seen one of these in action please comment below and let us know your thoughts.

 

 

 

 

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Feb 24

What Causes Cracks in a Heat Exchanger?

Categories:

Heating

by admin

February 24, 2012

Furnaces are designed so that the heat – and the combustion byproduct produced inside – doesn’t interact directly with the outside air. This design is to ensure you have a safer furnace in your home that won’t inadvertently affect your family’s health.

The metal piece that separates the furnace heat from the outside air stream is called the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger performs a very important function, and if it is broken or cracked, it can’t work properly.

A cracked heat exchanger is very common problem with heating systems, as well as one that should be repaired as soon as possible. But what causes a heat exchanger to crack? Here are some of the most common reasons:

  • A long period of normal use. A furnace heat exchanger naturally expands and contracts with the heat of the furnace, over and over again as the furnace is turned off and on to heat the home. Over several years, this stress can crack the metal.
  • Poor air flow, often caused by dirty or obstructed vents, can result in poor air flow through the furnace. This overworks the furnace, which can crack the heat exchanger prematurely.
  • Poor, incomplete or improper combustion can also cause a heat exchanger to crack. When the combustion process is less efficient – which can also be a result of poor air flow — your furnace’s burners have to run hotter and longer to heat your home, which means extra stress on the heat exchanger.

Essentially, if a furnace is running at less than optimal efficiency for an extended period of time, the heat exchanger is put under additional stress beyond the usual and can crack prematurely. Therefore, the best way to prevent a cracked heat exchanger is proper maintenance, particularly keeping all vents clean and unobstructed and getting an annual maintenance inspection.

If your heat exchanger does crack, do not hesitate to call Sterling’s Office and get it repaired. The crack can allow potentially dangerous combustion gases to seep into your home, which can have a negative impact on your family’s health.

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Feb 14

Show your system some love…

Categories:

Maintenance

by admin

February 14, 2012

Love is in the air… What No Valentine?? NO Problem!

Show your heating system some love and it will return the favor long after Valentine’s Day is over by running more efficiently all winter long!

Sterling recommends having your heating system inspected and maintained at least once per season. Doing so will allow our trained technicians to make sure your unit is running at its peak performance. While they are there they will inspect all your major parts, clean and lube necessary parts and make sure everything is running properly. Keeping the system maintained will help it run better and hopefully last you longer. These inspections also help our technicians spot any signs of wear & tear which could lead to larger issues down the road, allowing you to be better prepared should additional service be needed.

We currently have a few Protection Plans to help meet your needs. TODAY ONLY we are offering you a special Valentine’s Day Discount! We wanted to share the love with our customers and pass along a 10% discount on the Service Plan of your choice. Plans available: One-time Seasonal Inspection, Basic Service Plan, and a Premium Service Plan. (Please see our website for additional information)

If you would like to take part in the 10% discount, you only need to sign up for and schedule a seasonal inspection. The service can be scheduled for a future date at your convenience, during normal business hours.

The service department is standing by to assist you. Don’t hesitate to call or you might miss out on this one day discount!

 

Our Rates fluctuate depending on the equipment and accessories you have in your home… But here are our basic prices for a standard one zone system (one furnace inside/one condensing unit outside) with no accessories (such as a humidifier, electronic air cleaner, or media air filter)

  • One Time Seasonal Inspection would be $125 ($112.50, after discount)
  • Basic Service Plan would be $164.50 plus tax ($148.05 plus tax, after discount)
  • Premium Service Plan would be $400.00 plus tax ($360 plus tax, after discount)

 

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Jan 31

Simple Ways To Winterize Your Home

Categories:

Maintenance

by admin

January 31, 2012

photo by http://www.tomboytools.com/

Simple Ways To Winterize Your Home

‘Tis the season to crank your thermostat. Unfortunately it could cost even more than normal. Americans will pay 15% more for heating expenses than last year, according to the EIA. At this point you’ve got no excuse not to follow this simple guide for winterizing your home.

Dodge the draft

Problem: Cold air is rushing in from underneath your door, and warm air is rushing out.
Solution: The draft snake, adopted during the Great Depression era, is one of the easiest ways to cut back on energy waste. A draft snake can be easily made by rolling up a towel or filling up a pouch of fabric with kitty litter or sand, or you can buy one pre-made.
Money/Energy Saved: According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste 5 to 30% of energy use per year.

Caulk any gaps

Problem: Little gaps in windows, doors, or cracks in the walls are letting cool air in, raising your energy bill.
Solution: Here is a quick test to help find out where to seal these gaps: Have a friend stand outside the suspected window/door/wall with a blow dryer while you hold a lit candle inside. If the dryer blows the candle out, then it’s time to seal those cracks using caulk. Also check the caulk around your doors and windows outside to see if they’ve deteriorated over time.
Money/Energy Saved: Sealing up drafts will save you to up to 30% of energy use annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Change the direction of your ceiling fans

Problem: The air in your home feels hot and trapped, but turning on a fan only produces cool air.
Solution: If you have any ceiling fans inside your home, know the rules: Counter-clockwise rotation produces cooling breezes and clockwise rotation produces warmer air.
Money/Energy Saved: This method will cut your heating costs by 10%, according the U.S. Department of Energy.

Install storm doors

Problem: The cracks in your door are increasing the air flow in and out of your home, letting warm air out and cold air in.
Solution: Installing a storm door can seal those drafts and help reduce air flow.
Money/Energy Saved: A storm door can increase energy efficiency by 45%, according the U.S. Department of Energy.

Control your thermostat

Problem: You want your home warm so you keep the thermostat high, but your wallet is suffering from the high energy bill.
Solution: Set your thermostat to 50 or 55 degrees when you go to bed and work. You won’t enjoy the warmer temperature while you’re asleep or away from the house, anyway. You can also purchase a programmable thermostat.
Money/Energy Saved: Turning down your thermostat 5 to 10 degrees for eight hours a day can save 10% per year on your energy bill, according to Brighter Planet.

Pile up on insulation

Problem:Heat is rising right out of your home, leaving you cold and miserable.
Solution: Loading up on insulation is one of the best ways to save your energy bill so add more between your walls, attic floor, and basement ceiling to stay toasty.
Money/Energy Saved: An insulated home loses a quarter of its heat through the roof, according to Energy Savers.

Lower your water heater’s temperature

Problem: You’ve unknowingly kept your water heater on the default setting.
Solution: Conventional water heaters are typically set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, but most households only need a setting of 120 degrees to be comfortable. Check your water heaters and lower them to 120 degrees.
Money/Energy Saved: Lowering it by 20 degrees will save about 6 to 10% on your bills, says Energy Savers.

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Sep 13

How often do YOU change your filters?

Categories:

Air Quality

by admin

September 13, 2011

The main component of any air quality system is your air filter. Good filters can remove almost all of the particles that inundate your home every single day, from pet dander to pollen.

But many homeowners are not aware of when they should be checking and changing the filters in their air quality system. They know it should be done regularly, but how often?

Knowing Your Home

The first thing to consider is the size of your home and what types of contaminants you must deal with each day. Air testing helps with this, as does regular cleaning of the areas around your air filter, including your ductwork. If you don’t have any pets and don’t keep any plants inside, your biggest air quality issue is likely dust, and dust will only fill up the filters quickly if you have a large family.

However, if you have a lot of pets, multiple plants and a large family, the odds are that your filter is being put through the ringer every day – asked to filter out a tremendous number of contaminants. This is when you might need to change the filter more often.

Changing Your Filter

If you have a high quality HEPA filter, it’ll probably work for as long as it’s rated. Only lower quality filters or those not large enough for the space in which they are installed will fail early. However, keep in mind that a HEPA filter, even when it can last longer, should always be changed no later than the manufacturer’s recommended date.

For most homes that time-frame is every 3-6 months. However, some higher quality filters can last as long as 12 or even 18 months in the right conditions. If you use your air filter in conjunction with an air purifier, you should also have the cartridges changed out at the same time as your filter.

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Sep 06

Allergies??? Here are some products that can help…

Categories:

Air Quality

by admin

September 6, 2011

One of the biggest problems related to indoor air quality is allergies. When your homes air quality is not treated properly, excess dust, humidity, bacteria, mold, and other contaminants can cause a number of allergy problems, especially if anyone in your home has asthma and is particular sensitive to a contaminant.

Luckily, there are quite a few products on the market designed to reduce the effect of indoor allergens and help you feel comfortable all year long.

  • Filters
    HEPA air filters are designed to capture incredibly small bits of debris in your home. They remove things like dust, mold, debris, pollen, and pet dander before they can trigger an allergic reaction. The best filters are all HEPA certified and are available either for a single room or for your entire home. The size of your home and the amount of contaminants you have will ultimately determine which filter is best for you.
  • Air Purifiers
    For those of us with allergens beyond dust and pollen, purifiers are a good next step. Air purification is done electronically, utilizing ionization technology to remove things like gas and smoke as well as bacteria and viruses that get into your indoor air. Anyone suffering from even a mild bout of seasonal allergies can be made very uncomfortable by these types of contaminants. Advanced purification systems also come with UV germicidal lights to kill bacteria and viruses.
  • Ventilation
    While capturing the bad stuff in your air is important, so too is getting new air into your home. Allergies are triggered as much by stale air as by the allergens in it. So, a good ventilation system is important. Simple fan units work very well for many families, but if you want to avoid the loss of heated and cooled air during the most extreme weather in your area, an energy recovery ventilator is a good alternative to straight fan ventilation.
  • Humidity
    Finally, humidity is a big issue for many families. Dryness in the winter can make colds and flus worse and excessive humidity in the summer is a haven for things like mold. A good humidifier removes humidity when it gets too high and adds moisture to the air during the winter when it gets too dry.

Always do your research before choosing an air quality system for your home. It’s important to choose components that will help you overcome whatever allergies you face, throughout the year.

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