Essential Winter HVAC Maintenance Tips for Sparta Homeowners

As the temperature slowly starts to increase here in Sparta, North Carolina, people are starting to use their air conditioners more and more each day. The official start of summer is approaching fast and there is no better time than now to have your annual air conditioning tune-up. Make sure you are doing everything you can to be ready and stay comfortable for the upcoming heat and humidity that we know will arise here in the greater Sparta, NC area. Maintaining your cool and comfort this summer is important, but there are also other benefits in sticking to your preventative HVAC maintenance schedule. Increase System Lifespan The average lifespan of a well maintained air conditioner is around 12-15 years. With that being said, your AC unit will run better and last longer with regular preventative maintenance. Unfortunately, many heating and cooling systems break down or need regular repairs simply because they have not been properly taken care of and have neglected maintenance. Think about your AC unit like your car – they both need regular check-ups and maintenance to keep running safely and efficiently. Improve Energy Efficiency Regular HVAC system maintenance ensures that everything is running properly. This means that your unit is running efficiently which in turn, saves you money. Preventative maintenance appointments include cleaning, checking for any broken parts, checking refrigerant, etc. These are all things that you may not see but they can greatly decrease your AC efficiency when not addressed. A clean, well maintained unit will cost less to operate than one that is not. Improve Air Quality Finally, preventative maintenance can help to improve your indoor air quality. What many homeowners tend to neglect since it’s not something they can directly see is their indoor air quality. The quality of the air we breathe in matters. Dust, dirt, and debris can accumulate around your unit’s components and cages which can make their way into the air that your unit blows into your home. Staying on top of your regular AC maintenance can help to prevent poor indoor air quality and help to improve your quality of life and well-being. Ensuring that your air conditioner is in great shape heading into the summertime is important if you want to stay cool and comfortable here in the greater Sparta, NC area. Do you even remember the last time you had an AC tune-up? Now is the perfect time to call or email us for more information on getting your AC unit prepped to tackle the upcoming heat. Billings Heating & Cooling is always ready to bring comfort to your home. Give us a call today to learn more!

If you aren’t in the heating and air conditioning world, it’s extremely easy to forget about your HVAC system. It’s even common for the majority of homeowners to only think about their system when it breaks down on them or stops functioning the way it should. Well do you know what one of the biggest causes of system failures and complications is? You guessed it, dirty and clogged air filters. What are Air Filters? Your air filters have on primary job and that is so clean the air that circulates through your heating and cooling system. Air filters trap and hold many different types of pollutants and contaminants that could negatively impact your health and your comfort. This filtration occurs when expended air is brought back into your HVAC equipment to be distributed again. This air is forced through your filters and you filters remove the mold, dust, pollen, pet dander, etc. from the air. What Happens When You Don’t Change Your Air Filters? When your air filters are not regularly changed, they can become clogged from the buildup of the pollutants and contaminants that stick to the filters. Of course air filters are designed to pick up these contaminants however, they are not invincible and require regular change outs. When they are clogged, the can not only no longer trap contaminants and pollutants floating through your air, they also create multiple problems for your entire heating and cooling system such as: Increase in Utility Bill – With clogged filters, air can no longer easily flow through your HVAC system. This puts unnecessary stress and wear and tear on your system because your HVAC equipment is now having to work even harder to distribute air where it’s needed. Because your equipment is working overtime for you, your utility bills will continue to increase. Decrease in Comfort – Like we mentioned before, clogged filters block the air in your HVAC system from flowing the way it should and at the rate it should. This means that the cool or warm air that your heating and air conditioning system is working hard to provide will not get to where it is needed and your overall home comfort will decrease. Health Concerns – Because clogged filters can no longer trap contaminants like clean ones can, those pollutants end up back in the air that everyone in your home is breathing. Poor indoor air quality poses many health concerns including: headaches, itchy throat and eyes, fatigue, dizziness, coughing, difficulty breathing, and more. If you are interested in learning more about the dangerous effects of neglecting your air filters, give Billings Heating & Cooling a call today! We can provide you with the indoor air quality solutions that your Sparta, North Carolina home deserves!

Spring has officially sprung here in Sparta, North Carolina! That means that the summer heat and humidity is going to be here before we know it (and probably before we are ready for it). Even though it’s hard to believe that summer vacations are approaching so quickly, we need to start taking care of our HVAC system to ensure that it’s prepared for the weather. There are a few things you can do on your own to ensure that your HVAC system is locked and loaded before the heat arrives. Below are five tips to ensure your comfort this spring and summer. 1. Change Your Filters You should already be in the habit of changing your air filters every season, if not more frequently, but the beginning of spring is an important time to do so. A lot of dirt and debris are collected on your air filters in the winter time thanks to the blustering wind blowing things around more frequently. Dirt, debris, pollutants, etc. can clog your air filters which hinders your systems air flow. Change out your filters with new, fresh, clean ones to improve your HVAC efficiency and your home comfort. 2. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat If you haven’t invested in a smart or programmable thermostat yet, what are you waiting for? Now is the time to do so before the warm weather truly hits and your HVAC contractor is swamps with service calls. A programmable thermostat allows you to set a heating and cooling schedule for your home so you can improve your comfort and decrease your energy bills. Give Billings Heating and Cooling today to learn more about our thermostat installation services and thermostat products. 3. Clean Your Vents & Your Unit Keeping your vents clean and clear is essential in keeping your home feeling cool this spring and summer. If anything is blocking your vents, like furniture, plants, curtains, etc., it can block the cool air from coming through your vents. Do you and your home a favor and dust off your vents and clear the area around it. Additionally, you should do the same for your outdoor unit. Lightly dusting your unit off will help improve your indoor air and improve the unit’s efficiency. 4. Check for Leaks & Insulate This is an important but often overlooked step. It’s imperative that you check for any leaks in your home and insulate when needed. Things like your windows, doors, attics, etc. can leak and let in the outdoor air. When this happens, your home loses the coolness it once had thanks to your AC unit and gains warmth from the spring and summer air. Walk around your home to ensure you feel no leaky spots in your insulation. 5. Schedule Professional AC Maintenance When you’ve done everything that you possibly can on your home, there is one more thing you can and should do. Call Billings Heating and Cooling to schedule your routine AC maintenance check-up. This is the only thing you can do to ensure that your system is 100% ready and prepared to tackle the upcoming warmth. Call us today to schedule your next HVAC appointment!

If you want the short answer, yes. Your insulation absolutely matters. If you want to find out why it matters, keep reading. Your heating and air conditioning system works hard for you. It keeps you warm in the cold Sparta, North Carolina winters and it keeps you cool and comfortable in the hot and humid summers. What most people tend to overlook though is how important your insulation is when it comes to keeping your home comfortable in the winter and summer seasons. You need to have a high performing and efficient HVAC system but you also need to pair that with a properly insulated home. Insulation 101 The main purpose of insulation is to control the flow of heat and coldness in your home. What that means for your home in the winter time is this: your insulation is there to prevent the warm air that your heating unit produces from escaping your home. This can happen through your attic, storage rooms, windows, doors, walls, etc. In the summertime, your insulation is there to do the opposite. Your insulation prevents the heat from entering your home and mixing with all of the cold air that your air conditioning unit produces to keep you cool. You need insulation basically everywhere in your home. More specifically, you just need to make sure that there are no areas in your home that could allow outside air to leak in (or inside air to escape out). That means you need to put down insulation in areas such as your basement, crawlspaces, doors, walls, attics, windows, and even your floors! We know that this sounds expensive and extensive but we can assure you that investing in proper insulation is completely worth it and it should not be overlooked. Benefits of Proper Insulation - Comfort - Efficiency - Cost Effective The most obvious benefit of good insulation is the improved comfort it can bring to your home. Adding insulation to your home will regulate the temperature in your home, especially during extreme weather (both warm and cold). Additionally, you will be reducing your environmental impact by adding insulation. You will be using less energy to heat and cool your home. This will not only reduce your carbon footprint, it will also help to keep your HVAC system running optimally for a longer amount of time. Finally, it is extremely cost effective. Like mentioned earlier, your home will become much more energy efficient. When your HVAC system has to use less energy to keep your home comfortable, you will be decreasing your energy bills. Make sure your home insulation is in check before you plan to invest in a new HVAC system. Your insulation matters - for your comfort, wallet, and for the environment.

We know that we are almost halfway through with the winter season – however that doesn’t mean it is too late to try and save money on your energy bill while you still can. The cold weather here in Sparta, North Carolina is no joke and requires your heating unit to be working almost always to keep your home warm and cozy in the cooler temperatures. What that doesn’t mean is that you have to overspend on your energy bills to compensate for the cold weather. The team here at Billings Heating & Cooling put together a list of our favorite tips on how to cut back on your energy bill even when it’s freezing out. Change Your Furnace Filters Replacing your furnace filters regularly is essential when it comes to keeping your furnace running efficiently. A clogged furnace filter will hinder the airflow of your HVAC system. This not only decreases your furnace efficiency, it also decreases your overall home comfort. Your furnace will have to work harder to get warm air through your home which will increase your energy bill as well. Do yourself and your wallet a favor and regularly check your furnace filter in the colder months. Be sure to change them out when they become too dirty to ensure your furnace efficiency. Layer Up We know this sounds so simple but it is so important – layer up! If you are used to lounging around your home in shorts and a tank top, throw on a sweatshirt and some long pants. We don’t want you to walk around your home with a heavy jacket on but make sure you are dressed warmer than you would dress for the summer. Use Your Curtains Wisely This next tip is also a very simple one but works wonders. During the day, make sure you open up your curtains and your blinds to let in the natural light. The sun will act as a natural heater for your home – costing you nothing! Additionally, be sure you are closing your curtains and blinds when the sun goes down. This will act as another layer of insulation for your windows, helping to keep the cold air out even more. Program Your Thermostat If you have a programmable thermostat but you aren’t sure how to use it or you just never use it – this is for you. Make sure to program your thermostat according to the season! If your thermostat is still set for the summer weather, it is time to change it ASAP. Change your settings so your thermostat is turned down while you are typically away from home so it can have a break and crank it back up upon your arrival time so your home is warm and cozy again by the time you walk through the door. Check Your Insulation Last but certainly not least, check and recheck your window, door, and attic insulation. Your insulation keeps the warm air inside and the cold air out in the winter. If you feel that any room or window is colder than the rest of your home, you may have an insulation leak. Call your HVAC contractor ASAP to get it looked at by a professional. If you’re in the Sparta, North Carolina area – give Billings Heating & Cooling a call today for all of your heating and cooling needs!

You may have heard about needing to maintain your indoor air quality before, but do you truly know how important it is? The quality of air in your home is more polluted than the air outside, isn’t that crazy? But it’s true and part of the issue is that our homes our sealed tight. So things like mold, spores, pollen, bacteria, dander, etc. are all stuck inside of our homes. They have nowhere to go because of the seals and insulation in our home, so they circulate through our air and our heating and air conditioning system. Your home is where you spend most of your time. It’s a place where you can relax and wind down. You should feel comfortable there. However it’s hard to feel comfortable in a place when you know there is excess dirt and dust floating through the air. Have no fear – the team here at Billings Heating & Cooling is here to worry about your indoor air quality for you. We have specialists here that can provide you with solutions to improve your home’s indoor air quality. We offer installing things like filtration systems and odor reducing solutions for your ductwork. On top of the indoor air quality improvements, many of these solutions include improving your homes comfort as well. If you’re in the greater Sparta, North Carolina area and are looking for ways to improve your indoor air quality, health, and your quality of life – give Billings Heating & Cooling a call today! How to Spot Poor Indoor Air Quality: Bad allergies (sneezing all the time inside, itchy eyes, etc.) Runny nose Frequent headaches and/or fevers Increased fatigue Burning, itchy & water eyes Sleep apnea (in some cases) What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality? You can’t pinpoint poor indoor air quality to one thing as it’s a combination of a bunch of different things. Surprising things like certain gases that are emitted from your carpet or other household fabrics (curtains, rugs, etc.). Household cleaning products, personal care products, paints, candles, etc. all contribute to polluting your air as well. If you have pets, they can bring in a lot of pollutants from outside with them from their fur. Your home traps all of the gas, dirt & debris that these things bring into your home so they have nowhere to go but float throughout your air. How Do You Improve Your Indoor Air Quality? Changing out your air filters regularly is one of the easiest ways to improve your indoor air quality for your home. How often you change them depends on a lot of things like: your HVAC system, the quality of your filter, your personal home environment (pets, people living in your home, etc.), and your outdoor environment as well. If you are unsure about how often to change your filters, just check them once a month to see how they look. If it looks too dirty and clogged, it’s time to replace it. If it looks semi-dirty, you can check on it next month. As long as you are regularly checking them and changing them out when necessary, you will be improving your indoor air quality tremendously. A humidifier is something you can purchase for your home to help improve your indoor air quality. In the winter, your heating system can dry out the air inside of your home. A humidifier adds moisture to the air which will help prevent symptoms such as dry skin, sore throats, etc. Additionally, humidifiers can help prevent the accumulation of bacteria, mold, dust, and other irritants that cause problems to your health. Finally, consider investing in some plants! This is something that is not completely related to the heating and air conditioning world but it can still help you out tremendously in terms of your indoor air quality. Certain plants act as a natural air filter to help improve your air quality. Plants like Lemon Trees, Snake Plants, Fiddle Leaf Trees, etc. can all act as natural filters to help purify the air inside of your home.

While it may not be winter yet here in Sparta, North Carolina, it sure does feel like it some days. The best way to stay warm is to stay indoors. To ensure you are comfortable in your own home, you need to make sure that your furnace is maintained properly and in good enough form to relieve you from the cold. If you have any issue with your furnace, we hope this article will help you investigate the situation and allow you to find a quick fix for your issue. If it is something that you cannot fix on your own, please call your trusted HVAC professional or give Billings Heating & Cooling a call if you’re in the Sparta, North Carolina area. Check Your Thermostat Your thermostat is the messenger between you and your furnace. If your thermostat is broken, your furnace will not get the message you want to send it. So if your furnace is working completely fine but your thermostat is broken, your furnace will not heat your home the way you want it to. Make sure you check your thermostat to ensure it’s working before assuming your furnace is broken. What’s That Sound? This is an important question to ask yourself in regards to your furnace. You will not hear a noise from your furnace (especially a furnace from a high quality brand) unless something is wrong. Popping noises are typically normal and come from your ducts when turning on and off your furnace due to the metal expanding and contracting. However if you hear rattling, whistling, etc. you could have a serious problem on your hands and need to call in a heating and cooling professional ASAP. Check Your Filter A common issue with furnaces are the filters. People often forget about them but they need to be cleaned frequently or replaced. They keep your furnace running efficiently and the air healthy. If you don’t clean them after long periods of time, it can cause damages that will need repairing. You should clean your filter about every 2 months, preferably every month in the cold seasons. If it’s still not running properly after cleaning, it may be time to replace your furnace filter. What’s That Smell? If you turn your heating system on and always notice a funky smell, you should be concerned. This could be a gas or oil leak and needs immediate attention from your HVAC professional. If it is just a burning smell the first few times you are turning on your heat, don’t be alarmed. This is normal when your furnace is first accumulating to running often again.

There is no doubt that fall is here in Sparta, North Carolina. It feels like yesterday that we were cranking up our AC units to keep cool in the summer heat and now we need a jacket to walk outside. With the cold weather now and fall only being less than a month in, we can’t imagine what the winter here will feel like. With that being said, we want to make sure that you are prepared for the colder weather when it arrives. Below, the team at Billings Heating & Cooling has put together our top four tips in preparing for the fall and winter weather before it’s too late. Insulation Without proper insulation inside of your home, the work that your HVAC system does won’t matter. The job of your insulation is to keep the air inside of your home inside and to keep the outside air outside. Do you and your heating and cooling system a favor – walk around your home to check for any leaks in your insulation. If you notice some areas of the home feel cooler than others, it could be an insulation issue. Make sure you have a professional come out to help properly seal your insulation before it’s too late. Examine & Clean Your Unit Cleaning your outdoor unit is very important in any season but especially more so in the fall. Debris and pollen are more prevalent in the summer so it’s even more important that you clean your outdoor unit now. Make sure that no plants or yard décor have blocked your unit either – this could hinder the airflow of your HVAC system which would require your system to work harder than it has to this winter to keep you warm. Update Your Thermostat If you use a programmable thermostat and haven’t changed your settings yet, now is the perfect time. You don’t want to have your system programmed the way you had it programmed in the summer when it’s much cooler out now. Be sure to adjust your thermostat settings to match your schedule and the current outside weather. Clean Your Vents & Change Filters Cleaning your air vents and changing out your air filters can make the world of difference in the efficiency of your HVAC system. A clogged air filter or vent hinders the air flow throughout your home. This means your system has to work in overtime to produce the proper amount of air flow. Changing out your air filters should happen every three months so if you haven’t changed yours since the beginning of summer, now is the time.

When we say to not skip your heating and air conditioning maintenance, we mean it. We wouldn’t be taking it too far either if we said to NEVER miss your HVAC maintenance, it’s that important. Skipping your routine heating and cooling maintenance is one of the worst things that you can do for your HVAC system. On the contrary, making sure you stay up to date with your routine maintenance check-ups is one of the best things you can do for your HVAC system. It is so much better to be preventing HVAC emergencies instead of reacting to them. Let’s look a little further into why heating and cooling maintenance is so important and some of the ways it can benefit you. Less Frequent Repairs Just because you regularly maintain your HVAC system doesn’t mean that you will never have to repair it. There will obviously be times where something happens and you can’t control it, no matter what steps you have taken to prevent it from happening. However, the more frequently your system is maintained, the less likely your chances are for experiencing a breakdown. Because your system is experiencing less repairs, you are saving more money because you are not having to pay for a technician to come and fix your equipment. You are always improving your comfort level because you will have less frequent days of it being too hot or too cold in your home. Longer Lifespan Without regular tune-ups, you will find yourself having to replace your HVAC equipment and system a lot sooner than you should. HVAC systems are expensive – make sure you maintain yours to get the most bang for your buck. Yes you will be spending money on the maintenance service but you will also be saving more money in the long run because you are cutting down repairs and you’re prolonging the replacement time. Higher Efficiency Last but not least, the efficiency of your HVAC system increases when it’s well maintained. That means your comfort levels increase along with it. A properly maintained system will perform at a higher level than a poorly maintained system – it just makes sense. With improved efficiency also comes decreased energy usage. That means you will be saving money on your energy bill, it’s a win-win situation. The next time you’re thinking about cancelling your maintenance tune-up, don’t. Remember how important it is to keep your system healthy and running the way it should. If you ever have any questions regarding maintenance or your HVAC system in general, give the Billings Heating & Cooling team a call or better yet, stop by our office in Sparta, North Carolina. We are always happy to help and look forward to hearing from you soon!