Heating & Air Conditioning Blog | Dogtown Heating & Air

How Often Should You Change Your Furnace Filter?

January 19, 2021

Changing the furnace filter on schedule might help homeowners avoid costly problems. Clogged air filters might degrade efficiency, which means higher heating bills. A dirty furnace may even cause overheating, which could lead to a cracked heat exchanger. So, when is it appropriate to change a furnace filter? A Common Frequency Air filter companies usually suggest changing a furnace filter every 90 days. An exception would be thicker filters, which could last upwards of six months. That said, these “common frequencies” come with some caveats. Changing the filters ahead of schedule might be necessary, depending on

How To Keep Furnace Vents Clear of Snow

December 4, 2020

When it snows, it’s not just your driveway and sidewalk that need attention. You also need to make sure your furnace vent is free of snow and ice. If the vent is blocked, it can cause damage to your furnace and pose a serious safety hazard. Why It’s Important to Keep Your Furnace Vent Clear If you have a gas furnace, the fuel being consumed is natural gas. Burning that substance results in more than just warmth. Carbon monoxide and other undesirable gasses are also being produced. These gasses are vented away from your home through

Why You Need to Have Your Home Tested for Carbon Monoxide

November 18, 2020

Keeping your Urbana house safe from threats both visible and invisible is one of your most important responsibilities as a homeowner. One of the more dangerous invisible threats is carbon monoxide. Since it’s colorless, odorless, and tasteless, it’s impossible to detect carbon monoxide without special equipment. Making the investment of time and money, though, to have Dogtown Heating, Air & Plumbing test your residence for carbon monoxide is one of the best investments you’ll ever make. A Debilitating Enemy One of the major dangers of carbon monoxide is that it can debilitate you so that you can’t evacuate your home

Why Would a Furnace Only Blow Cold Air?

October 20, 2020

When the temperature starts to cool down, homeowners may wish to turn their furnaces up. Unfortunately, the system might only produce cold air, which is a potentially troubling sign. What could be wrong that the furnace only puts out cold air? There could be a few issues here. Check Your Fans Setting Checking the fan setting may reveal the problem really isn’t a problem. If the fan setting sits at “On,” then only cold air will come out. At the “On” setting, the blower runs continually, whether or not the furnace produces any heat. Adjust the

End of Summer AC Maintenance Could Help You Save Money Next Spring

September 18, 2020

Once the summer winds down, consider having the air conditioner inspected and tuned up before it goes into hibernation. One immediate reason for this is that the rates can be cheaper at the end of summer than at the beginning of spring. Regardless of the timing, though, the important thing is to have it done at least annually. We layout the benefits below. Prevents Problems Linked to a Dirty AC All through the summer, your AC may have collected dirt and debris. It starts with the filter, which, if it’s the pleated kind, will become clogged

The Dangers of Reusing AC Filters

August 16, 2020

Although there are specific types of air conditioner filters that are designed for reuse, most filters aren’t reusable. Unless your air filter specifies that it’s safe to clean and reuse, there are several reasons why you should discard it after use and install a clean one. Read on to learn why it’s important to never reuse old AC filters. Mold and Mildew Could Grow Air filters aren’t built to shed any excess moisture that gets on their surfaces. If you use water to rinse them off, the moisture that’s retained over days or weeks could

The Different Careers in HVAC

July 16, 2020

There are many career options in the HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) industry. The HVAC industry is growing and many jobs pay well, so it’s a good industry to get into. Here are some of the career options available. HVAC Technician An HVAC technician repairs and maintains heating and cooling equipment. The average pay for someone in this position is about $51,000 a year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This occupation is projected to grow by a healthy 13% through 2028. HVAC Installer People in this career install heating

How UV Lights Can Boost Your Indoor Air

June 16, 2020

Today, perhaps more than ever, you are conscious of the viruses and bacteria in the air in your home. You want to maintain a healthy environment in your house for your family and guests. The use of ultraviolet lighting may just be one of the foot soldiers you need to keep the air in your residence as healthy as possible. This short-wavelength light can damage the genetic material in molds, bacteria, and viruses. Sometimes, this kills the organism, whereas other times, the organism is just rendered unable to reproduce, causing it to die out. UV Lighting Near

Why Does My HVAC System Smell Like Smoke?

May 13, 2020

Seeing or smelling smoke from your home’s HVAC system can be alarming. An odor of smoke could develop for several reasons, and not all of them are emergencies. Here are three reasons why your home’s heating and cooling system could smell like smoke and which actions you should take. Dirty Filter or Vents A dusty air filter could create a smoke type of smell. Dust on the electrical heating elements may also cause a short-term smoke odor the first time you use the emergency heat for the season. If you

The Best Air Purifiers For Germs

April 17, 2020

Most purifiers can combat air pollution effectively. But, air pollution isn’t just smoke and some strange odors. The mold spores, pet dander, pollen, dust mites, and germs in your indoor environment require specialized air filters for effective removal. Air purifiers fitted with HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters are the most efficient at getting these harmful particles out of your indoor air. These filters force air through a fine mesh, trapping and killing any present germs. Here are three great air purifiers to fight off germs. Alen Paralda Air Purifier Incorporating the HEPA-Silver threads,