Smart homeowners know the value of a furnace system tune-up. Regularly servicing your heating equipment helps ensure that it operates at peak efficiency, improves home comfort, and lowers your energy bills.

Without regular preventive maintenance, you could leave yourself vulnerable to several problems, including:

• Lower system efficiency. If you were to never service your furnace, it would eventually operate at a much lower efficiency than it would if it were serviced annually. You see, your system is prone to dirt buildup, because debris that floats around in your home’s air eventually makes its way into the system. When this happens, buildup creates friction within the furnace’s components, causing it to work harder to produce the same level of comfort while consuming much more energy.
• Compromised home comfort. When buildup occurs, you’ll begin to notice that your home isn’t as comfortable as it once was. And that dirt that’s built up inside your furnace? All the air that’s delivered into your home passes through the system, picking up dirt as it goes and sending it into your home, hurting your home’s indoor air quality.
• Higher energy bills. As your system’s efficiency slowly diminishes, you’ll start to see higher energy bills. A furnace consumes more energy when it has to work harder to overcome buildup.
• Safety problems. As part of a comprehensive tune-up, a heating technician will help ensure home safety. A gas-powered furnace should ventilate carbon monoxide, produced as a byproduct during combustion, outdoors. If it’s not inspected regularly, improper venting could lead to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Shorter life span. Over time, furnaces are susceptible to wear and tear, as the system’s parts work hard each season. Without maintenance, however, wear and tear will eventually lead to a system failure, sooner than it would happen if the system were well maintained.

There’s no reason you should have to experience any of the problems listed above. With regular furnace tune-ups, you can rest assured that your system will operate efficiently — and without fail — throughout the winter season. For expert help, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning today. Serving the San Antonio area, we’re always happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Furnace repair image via Shutterstock

Most homeowners in San Antonio give their air conditioning systems more attention than furnaces, and rightly so: Our region sees much more extreme temperatures during the summer, and the season lasts longer.

However, it’s important that you don’t ignore your furnace system, particularly because it’s a hazardous combustible system. Give your furnace a tuneup to ensure that your heating system operates safely.

A furnace system that runs on natural gas can be hazardous, because it produces carbon monoxide (CO). A furnace system is designed to safely vent gases outside of the home; however, venting can become compromised over time, especially if it’s not regularly serviced and inspected. Additionally, a furnace that doesn’t operate efficiently can produce increased amounts of CO.

When operating in a closed-up home without proper venting, a furnace that leaks CO can lead to CO poisoning, which can be fatal. Further compounding the problem, CO is a fast-acting gas that can cause significant damage to your health at low concentrations. It’s particularly hazardous to the very young and old.

A regular furnace tuneup once a year will help ensure that your system operates efficiently, that it doesn’t produce excess CO, and that the system’s venting is in good working condition, safely exhausting CO outdoors.

However, safety is not the only benefit of a furnace tuneup. Because you rely on your furnace to provide heat when necessary throughout the winter, a tuneup will:

• Ensure that the furnace operates consistently.
• Help keep your home comfortable.
• Keep the furnace operating efficiently. A clean system is not inhibited by a buildup of dirt and grime, which can cause the system to consume more energy.

Stay safe and comfortable with a furnace tuneup, knowing that your combustible furnace system is properly and safely maintained and vented. Remember, even if your furnace is heating just fine, it can still be leaking deadly carbon monoxide into your home. That’s what makes an unattended gas furnace so dangerous. Need help? The highly trained and knowledgeable experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning are available for a consultation. Just give us a call, or contact us online.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about giving your furnace a tuneup and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Keeping your heating system in the best shape possible is really fairly easy, and it won’t break your bank. It does require consistency over the years, however: To help ensure ideal comfort conditions in your home and to maintain your system’s efficiency, give the heating system regular maintenance. 

Most experts will agree that consistent, annual furnace maintenance is the most effective contributor to a system’s health. And a healthy heating system is better able to operate efficiently, keep you and your family comfortable, last as long as possible, and avoid unnecessary repairs.

A scenario where furnace maintenance does not occur reveals a bleak picture for homeowners. When a system isn’t regularly cleaned and inspected, three results are almost inevitable:

• Buildup happens. Over time, dirt will gain access to your system and begin to build up a layer of dirt on the system’s components. This dirt forces the furnace to work harder, and use more energy, to produce the same level of comfort as a clean system.
• Buildup leads to more serious consequences. Buildup causes your system’s components to wear down faster than they would if maintenance was consistent. As a result, repairs might be required down the road, and it’s likely the system will fail sooner than it should.
• Safety is compromised. Regardless of the fuel source you use, there are safety hazards connected with any fuel-powered equipment, but especially with gas furnaces that produce the deadly by-product carbon monoxide. Annual maintenance will include inspecting the system for safety, and it will help ensure that you and your family are safe.

Keep up with easy, low-cost maintenance each year, and you’ll get more efficient results from your system – that also lead to energy savings for you each month – and you’ll lock in optimal comfort for you and your family. Want to do something to contribute? Change the air filters on your heating system every month when you start to use it frequently.

To schedule a maintenance appointment, or to get your maintenance questions answered, contact Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning anytime.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about home energy efficiency  and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Most homeowners in the San Antonio area focus on getting efficient cooling results, and rightly so: San Antonio’s climate requires that a significant portion of home energy bills go toward air conditioning to stay comfortable. But we can’t ignore our heating systems, either. With the winter just around the corner, investigating high-efficiency furnaces now means you have time to research and comparison shop to make a selection, as high-efficiency furnaces are a long-term investment that pay you back again and again.

When looking at furnaces, you’ll need to know what Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings mean. A furnace’s AFUE rating shows consumers how efficiently a system heats a home compared with the total amount of energy it consumes to produce that heat. So, high-efficiency furnaces that are rated 90 percent AFUE use 90 percent of the total energy consumed to heat your home.

A high-efficiency furnace gets big returns because it uses energy efficiently, so your monthly utility bills will be smaller. It also creates a comfortably heated home that you can enjoy on winter’s coldest days. Additionally, having a good heating system raises the value of your home. The energy savings, comfort and increased home value these systems provide make them a wise investment.

In order to benefit from a high-efficiency furnace’s AFUE rating, you should also consider your home’s ductwork. In forced-air systems, ductwork contributes to significant air loss, which can sometimes total more than 30 percent of the furnace’s total heating output. Whenever you have a new heating (or cooling) system installed, having the ductwork inspected is a critical component to reaching the highest performances levels it can get.

It’s not too soon to think about heating, as winter is around the corner. Take a look at high-efficiency furnaces that will comfortably heat your home throughout the winter and make your energy bills almost negligible. With the increased payback in energy savings, you’ll quickly see a return on your investment. Call us at Jon Wayne to get started.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Do you think you might need to replace your furnace? Does it need costly repairs? Jon Wayne can help you make a decision about the condition of your current furnace if you’re facing a significant repair and think it might be wiser to replace the furnace.

Consider these questions as you decide whether to repair or replace:

• What is the age of your furnace? You might be surprised to hear that some experts classify a furnace that is just 10 years old as “older.” But technology has increased efficiency in newer furnaces to such a degree that it can be worthwhile to replace a 10-year-old furnace. By upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace, you’ll quickly see a return on your investment through monthly energy savings.
• How efficient is your furnace? Even if your system needs repairs, you generally can’t increase its efficiency by changing out parts. The only way to do that is to upgrade. Look for your current furnace’s “annual fuel energy utilization” (AFUE) rating, which shows a furnace’s efficiency. High-efficiency systems start at 90 AFUE.
• How well have you cared for your furnace? Regular preventive maintenance can extend the life of a system by up to five years. If you’ve neglected maintenance for your furnace, a repair might not be worthwhile.
• How often do you use the furnace? Because San Antonio’s climate doesn’t require homeowners to use furnaces extensively, they generally last beyond the recommended age limit. Most furnaces should function an average of 15 years. A furnace operating in Wisconsin might last eight to 10 years, whereas in Texas a furnace might work well for over 15 years.

Other signs it might be time to replace your furnace: Your energy bills spiked last winter; you noticed hot and cold spots throughout your home; or your furnace was excessively noisy.

As you consider whether to repair or replace your heating equipment, the NATE-certified experts at Jon Wayne Heating & Air Conditioning are available for consultation. Please contact us anytime.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County.  Visit our website to see our special offers to get started today!

The lifespan of an average furnace is 15 years. There are those that have lasted 30 years or even longer. They are exceptions. They may be still running but costing the owner more than they know. A good way to know if one is near its end is to look for a few tell-tale signs.

If the sounds of the system are different or louder than in past years, those noises could be warnings. Pops and clicks could be just normal sounds of ducts heating up and expanding or cooling down. Roars, rattles, squeaks and other sounds can be signs of a blower motor ready to go, belts or bearings worn out, or bad heat exchangers.

Heat exchangers heat up and cool down day after day, winter after winter. This process can cause metal fatigue and eventually lead to cracks. The stress of expansion and contraction takes its toll after years of use. Have it checked once a year by a service technician for any cracks.

Is your fuel usage going up year after year? If so, that is a sign of declining energy efficiency. Furnaces have reduced efficiency, requiring more fuel, after a long life of service. Also, if the unit has to have work done more frequently, that is an indication that other components are wearing out. Small, frequent problems can be a warning sign that larger ones may be coming. Common maintenance is normal, but a high rate of replacement parts and repairs is not.

Getting one of the new, energy-efficient furnaces before yours goes out can save you money today and in the future. Getting it professionally and properly installed is most important. Furnaces go out at the worst times–when they are the most heavily used.

If yours is getting on in years, let us check it for you. Our NATE Certified heating specialists at Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning know the difference between simple maintenance problems and a failing unit. If you have suspicions or questions about your old furnace, call us. We are always happy to help.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace repair and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

If you have an old furnace that’s showing its age, chances are it would be cheaper in the long run to replace it completely rather than continue to perform repair after repair. Even if you get your old furnace running as well as it possibly can, you’ll still be overspending to heat your home, because today’s high efficiency furnaces are as much as 28 percent more efficient than most older models.

Furnaces have ratings known as “annual fuel utilization efficiency,” or AFUE. This rating indicates the percentage of energy put into the furnace which is actually converted into heat for your home. Older furnaces can have AFUE ratings as low as 60 percent even if they are operating at peak performance, while the most efficient furnaces of today operate at up to 98.2 percent efficiency. If you have a furnace with a 60% AFUE, it means that for every dollar you spend on gas, you only get 60 cents worth of heat. The rest goes outside through the flue pipe.

It’s true that new furnaces with higher AFUE ratings are more expensive, but you have to consider more than just the price tag. High efficiency furnaces save you a great deal of money over their lifespans. Consider the difference between a lower-end model with an AFUE of 80 and a higher-end model with an AFUE of 98. That’s an 18 percent spread–which means that you’ll enjoy 18 percent savings on your energy bills if you buy the high-efficiency model. Year in and year out, that adds up to a lot of money, especially since heating accounts for about half of all energy use in a typical household.

To find the furnace that’s right for you, audit your home’s heating usage and crunch the numbers. Consider the initial price of furnaces in the lower, middle and upper efficiency ranges, project your expected annual usage costs, and add up the total cost of both purchasing and running the furnace over its expected lifespan (which averages about 20 years with proper maintenance). Then, look closely at furnaces that optimize your energy savings while delivering the best value for your investment.

If you’d like an expert opinion on high-efficiency furnaces or the heating system that’s right for you, feel free to call the professionals at Jon Wayne Heating and Air. We’re happy to help. We can even show you how some furnaces qualify for the new Federal Tax Credits.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about high efficiency furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services  San Antonio and the surrounding communities of Seguin, New Braunfels, Bulverde, Boerne, and Comal County. To get started, check out our website or see our current promotions.

There are many strange noises your furnace may make, some of which indicate serious problems and others simply more irritating than reason for concern.  When is it time for furnace repair, and what do these noises mean?

• A whining noise may indicate an air leak in any number of locations in the furnace, such as the base, the combustion air blower or the return air grille.  In any case, this is not good news and it may be time for furnace repair.
• A moaning noise often indicates worn motor bearings.  If you have determined that it’s coming from the inducer motor, it’s probably time to install a new motor and wheel.
• A loud rattling noise that is heard about 30 seconds before the blower kicks on could mean a heat exchanger problem such as a crack.  This needs to be checked immediately due to possible carbon monoxide emission.
• A low noise that sounds somewhat like the low, steady sound made by a train often indicates bad motor bearings.  In this case, the solution is usually to replace the motor.
• If your furnace makes a clicking noise followed by intermittent swooshing, it could mean a gas valve that is leaking gas.  Finding out why the valve is leaking can be tricky, and takes some investigating.

With any furnace, it is advisable to have maintenance and repair issues handled by a professional, especially in the case of a fossil fuel burning appliance.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning servicesthe City of San Antonio along with Bexar and surrounding counties.

Our goal is to help education customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace repair and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

Even in San Antonio, where winters are relatively short compared to other areas of the nation, furnace maintenance is important. Professional furnace maintenance helps ensure safe and efficiency operation. When your heating system runs efficiently, it saves you money.  Changing filters once a month is a project most homeowners can perform themselves. Monthly filter maintenance is recommended because when filters become clogged, your system has to work harder to force warm air in to your home.  Essentially, this means higher heating costs to you.

Filters also work to clean debris and dust from the air, resulting in better indoor air quality.  Homeowners should not assume that because the cold weather only lasts for two or three months that furnace maintenance can be overlooked.  Changing your filters on a monthly basis results in lower energy costs, longer life for your heating and AC system, and cleaner, healthier air inside your home.

It is even more important that filters be changed regularly if a smoker lives in the home or pets are kept indoors.  These conditions mean that your filters gets clogged even faster.

There are several different types of filters that are used today depending on what type of system you have.  Paper and fiberglass filters are commonly used.  Some are even made of aluminum.  Common inexpensive disposable models are usually the least effective for filtering out dust and smaller particles, which means inferior air quality inside your home. There are some extended use disposable media models that do a superior job of filtering the air while still maintaining sufficient airflow necessary for AC systems. The best air purifiers for use with combination heating and cooling central systems are combination media (disposable element) and electronic models. These models require professional installation.

Furnaces typically collect a great deal of pollen, dust, animal dander and other pollutants; this means that anyone living in your home with asthma, allergies or other respiratory problems may find their symptoms aggravated when the air is not effectively cleansed.  This is one more reason that frequent filter changing and furnace maintenance is essential, no matter how short the winter season is.

Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning services San Antonio and the nearby communities of Boerne, Bulverde, Devine, Hondo, Kenedy, Karnes City, La Vernia, Natalia, New Braunfels, Seguin and Comal County.

Our goal is to help educate our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about furnace maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.