Besco Air Inc.

Lower Your Heating Costs with These Useful Home Energy Tips

With winter upon us, it is more important than ever to track your home energy usage. Simple steps like turning the thermostat down when you’re at work, maintaining proper insulation, and closing drapes at night can save you hundreds of dollars every year.

In this video, you’ll get a few simple tips to keep your energy costs down this winter. An often-overlooked way to save is to ensure that your home is well ventilated. Be sure to keep your vents clean and unobstructed to allow warm air to easily circulate throughout your home. 

At Besco Air, Inc., we provide highly rated furnace and air conditioner repair and installation services to Chicago-area homeowners. To schedule an appointment, visit us online or call our Chicago office at (773) 295-4694. 

Symptoms of a Heating System that Needs a Professional Checkup

All furnaces fail from time to time, but knowing the symptoms of an improperly functioning heating unit can help you catch problems before they become worse. Learn more about when it is time to call a Chicago furnace repair technician by looking for the following signs:

Your Furnace Turns On and Off Frequently
If your furnace short cycles, or turns on and off repeatedly, it could be a sign that it is overheating. Furnaces have safety mechanisms in place to prevent components from burning out, which causes an overheated furnace to frequently turn off and on. This usually results from a lack of airflow through your furnace—perhaps due to a dirty air filter or a faulty blower. More serious is the possibility of a leaking air exchanger, which could potentially release carbon monoxide into the air.

Your Blowers Stay On
A furnace blower that stays on continuously could result from one of two problems; either your thermostat is set to “fan continuous,” or your furnace has a faulty fan limit control switch. Make sure your thermostat is set properly, and replace or repair your fan limit control switch as needed.

Your Furnace Doesn’t Produce Enough Warm Air
A furnace that doesn’t produce adequate heated air could have an air circulation problem. Many furnaces with dirty air filters will not provide enough air circulation to heat your home. Be sure to have your filters changed at least once every three months, or once a month during times of heavy use. Additionally, a service technician can check to make sure nothing is obstructing your furnace’s combustion chamber. Dirty gas burners could also explain a faulty furnace. A technician can adjust and clean burners as necessary.

Nothing is more inconvenient in the winter than a faulty furnace. Fix your furnace problems before they become worse by hiring a qualified Chicago furnace repair technician. Call Besco Air, Inc. at (773) 295-4694 to schedule a maintenance visit today.

Explore These Links To Find More Valuable Home Heating And Cooling Tips And Information

Visit these pages to learn more about how winterizing your home can maximize the efficiency of your heating system, how furnaces can suffer without the right maintenance every year, the benefits offered by radiant floor heating, and the allergens that might be hiding in your air ducts. Give Besco Air, Inc. a call at (773) 295-4694 to get some important furnace maintenance information and find out how we can improve your energy efficiency and indoor air quality this winter.

• Head to this page from Energy.gov to learn how radiant heating warms your floors and your home efficiently.
   
• Take a look at this page from EnergyStar.gov to understand the impact that regularly changing your filter can have on your furnace’s energy efficiency.
   
• This page from HowStuffWorks.com can help you recognize some of the most common indoor air pollutants that can be adversely affecting your indoor air quality.
   
• These tips from ACEEE.org can help you improve the energy efficiency of your existing furnace and offer further information on maintenance and safety.
   
• Check out these interesting DIY tips from DoSomething.org for creating draft blockers and other tools that can help make your home more comfortable.

Tips for Winterizing Your Home to Maximize Your Furnace's Effectiveness

Your furnace is only as energy-efficient as the rest of your home. Identifing sources of energy loss will improve the efficiency and overall function of your furnace. Winterization prevents energy loss by sealing your home's building envelope.

Weatherstripping and Caulking
Spaces around your windows and doors can cause uncomfortable drafts and allow cold air to enter your home. Inspect the weatherstripping around all exterior doors and remove any that is worn or cracked. Replace it with enough weatherstripping to create a good seal around the door while still allowing it to open and close freely.

If you are uncomfortably cold when sitting next to a window, you may even want to consider replacing it with something newer and more energy-efficient. In the meantime, caulking can help seal air leaks and promote heat retention.

Air Filters and Ducts
Your furnace has an air filter that protects its internal components while promoting good indoor air quality. However, neglecting to change the filter allows it to become clogged with dirt and other particles, which in turn greatly slows down airflow and uses more energy. Check your filter once per month and change it as necessary.

Your ductwork can be another source of energy loss. Leaky ducts can cause 20 percent or more energy loss in your home, while allowing contaminants to enter your indoor air. Have your ductwork inspected by your heating and cooling specialist. They can recommend and perform sealing procedures to make your system more efficient and safer for your quality of life.

Besco Air, Inc. can analyze your home and tell you where improvements can be made in order to give you the best results this winter. Visit us online or call us at (773) 295-4694 to learn how you can improve your energy efficiency and comfort, and how we can help.

Every Home Deserves a Trane

Trane has a proud history in the HVAC industry going back more than a century, and provides the best value and performance that a homeowner can attain today. Trane heating and cooling systems work seamlessly with one another to provide you comfort no matter the size or style of your home.

Trane systems have been used in iconic structures like the Statue of Liberty and the St. Louis Arch, and that same attention to detail, professionalism, and quality goes into every household system manufactured by Trane. No matter your budget, Besco Air, Inc. can help you find the heating and cooling units that offer you the best comfort and energy efficiency.

Call us at (773) 295-4694 to schedule an appointment so we can find the perfect Trane for your home. Visit our website to learn more about what we have to offer by providing you with the highest-quality Trane equipment today.