Blog

After what felt like a long, scorching hot summer in the Boise area most may not be ready or excited to think about the heating season that's quickly approaching, however here are a few reasons why it should be #1 on your To-Do list:

1. Prevention is the best cure! Think of cleaning your furnace like you do changing the oil in your vehicle, if you want to prolong the life of your furnace then you'll want to get it serviced and cleaned every year. If it’s not cleaned often enough your system’s air flow could be reduced causing it to run less efficiently. It could also cause parts to wear down and fail, leading to a costly repair in the future.

2. Think of the savings! Some companies offer discounted pricing for preferred customers with current service agreements. What this means for you

Changing your air filters is an important part of maintaining your AC unit. It also helps reduce your energy consumption as well as helps keep the air clean.

All in all it’s an important task of owning or even renting a home!

If you have never changed an air filter before don’t worry it is a simple task.

First of all you need to purchase the correct air filter.

Before you try and change the filter make sure your HVAC unit is off! This is for your safety! If you can't figure out how to turn off the unit itself, you should turn off the breaker.

Figure out where your air filter is. It is more than likely located on the right side of the unit. Take out the old filter (you will see how dirty it is, then realize how important it really is to change them).

Now insert the new air filter that you purchased into the same place the old one was. Many air filters will have arrows telling you which side to face toward the outside air.

Changing your filters should be done often. The filters in your home usually need to be changed once a month or once every three months depending on the type of filter you're using. You should check the product information on the filters for the manufacturer's suggested frequency of change.

How often you change it can also depend on where you live and how often you use your HVAC unit.

Just remember that having dirty air filters can dramatically reduce a system's efficiency. Replacing a dirty, clogged filter with a clean one can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%.

It is very important to keep them clean and to keep up on changing these air filters.

If you still aren’t able to figure out how to change your air filters or aren’t sure how often to do it please contact us today!

As the heat creeps up on us you probably begin to appreciate that air conditioning(AC) unit more and more!

Like with anything in this life that you appreciate such as your car, your boat or your home you have to maintain it! Prolonging the life of the things you love and lets be honest the things that cost the most is important!

AC units aren’t very cheap so if you want to make sure you have yours for the full life expectancy then you need to make sure you take care of it.

You might be wondering how do you even maintain an AC unit. You might be totally knowledgeable on maintaining your car but not many people even realize that AC units need maintenance.

No worries, we will give you some tips to maintaining that precious AC unit of yours!

• Take care of your air conditioning coils: According to Engery.gov you should minimize dirt and debris near the condenser unit. Your dryer vents, falling leaves, and lawn mower are all potential sources of dirt and debris. Cleaning the area around the coil, removing any debris, and trimming foliage back at least 2 feet (0.6 meters) allow for adequate airflow around the condenser.
• Comb your coil fins: There is a tool called a fin comb that will help you comb these back when they are bent.
• Change your air filters: Not only does this extend the life of your AC unitbut by replacing a dirty, clogged filters you can lower your air conditioner's energy consumption by 5% to 15%.

There are many more steps to taking care of your AC unit. Sometimes the best thing is to hire a professional who can do all of this for you! And give you quick tips on simple maintenance.

Contact us today to learn more!

The summer is here and it is hot!

As a matter of fact it’s getting hotter!

You probably love having the luxury of having air conditioning but you would also probably love to find some ways to stay cool so that you don’t have to constantly run the air conditioning.

Here are some tips on keeping cool during these hot summer months:

• If you work out then try to workout during the cooler times in the day such as early in the morning and later at night. Then when you come home you won’t need to crank the AC to get your body temperature down.
• Same goes for outdoor activities. It’s always fun to play outside and have some outdoor fun but when you come home you will feel the need to cool the house down even more than it would need to be without those activities. So try to do those activities during the cooler times of the day.
• Drink tons of cold water! Keep water bottles in the freezer so that you can grab a cold one whenever you need it! Cold water will cool the inside of your body down which will help with your outside temperature as well.
• Take a swim! If you don’t have a pool then just take a cold bath or shower to cool yourself down rather than cranking the AC.
• Avoid caffeine and alcohol as these will promote dehydration which will heat your body up (plus it isn’t healthy to be dehydrated).
• Eat cool foods such as salads. Keep the oven baked foods for the winter. The oven heats your house up and the hot food heats you up!
• Purchase a fan! Fan can be a great substitute for the AC.

There are many different ways to stay cool! Take advantage of these things so that you don’t have to have a constant stream of air conditioning going!

There are many different issues that home owners encounter with their HVAC systems each year. From increasing utility costs to the buildup of dust and inconsistent heating, there are many problems that could be triggered by a number of different issues. This is why it is vital that you perform regular maintenance on your home’s heating and air conditioning systems.

Here are some of the most common issues that we hear from those who call in with HVAC problems:

• Increasing Energy Bills: If you are experiencing increased utility costs and have not drastically changed how you are using your system, it could be because of reduced efficiency. Don’t end up paying more for less!
• Dust Buildup: Excess dust buildup in your home can be a sign it is time to perform regular maintenance on your HVAC system. Not only will regular maintenance save you money, but it will also help to keep your home cleaner and fresher!
• Fluctuations in Temperature: Improperly maintained and outdated HVAC systems can bring about inconsistencies in regulating the temperature of your home. This symptom could mean a number of things, from buildup in your ducts to a number of different issues with the HVAC unit itself.

Is it time to perform maintenance on your HVAC System? Contact us today to learn more about how you can get started with Butler Heating!