The blower is the powerful fan that moves heated air from the furnace itself, through the ductwork, and out at points throughout your home. Older types of blowers usually have permanent split capacitor, or PSC, motors. These motors, while effective, are not energy efficient. They operate only on high no matter how much or how little heating is actually needed, which means they always consume the most energy possible every time they run. In addition, a considerable amount of energy is wasted when the PSC motor switches off and on in response to temperature shifts in your home.

Electronically commutated motors, in contrast, are designed to run at varying levels depending on the settings you’ve selected at the thermostat and the actual heating demands inside your home. Built-in speed and torque controls allow the ECM system to work at the level that’s needed, rather than constantly on high. At the start, ECMs run at about two-thirds speed. If the thermostat detects that additional heating is needed after about 10 minutes of operation, the ECM switches to full speed.

Usually, the electronically commutated motor will near continuously at lower speeds, which improves system efficiency, reduces wear and tear, and decreases the amount of energy used to distribute warm air to your home. It’s also much quieter than a standard blower motor.

Since 1976, Comfort Solutions, Inc. has provided expert HVAC sales, maintenance and repair to customers in the greater Cincinnati area. Contact us today for more information on the benefits of electronically commutated motors, to find out why one will save you money and energy, or to schedule a blower motor replacement.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lebanon, Ohio and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about  Electronically Commutated Motors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Here are some of the most common smells that furnaces emit:

Fuel odors: Natural gas and oil furnaces may emit a slight scent of burning fuel. However, if the smell becomes strong, or has a rotten egg scent to it (indicating a natural gas leak), then it’s an emergency situation. If this occurs, evacuate and contact the Fire Department immediately.

Musty stink: Less serious than a fuel smell, mustiness indicates that there is a significant amount of mold or bacteria growing in your home’s heating ducts or some other HVAC component. There are any number of causes for this, but one of the most common is a malfunctioning or dirty condenser pump. In most cases, simply cleaning the pump will solve the problem. However, if you’ve cleaned or repaired the pump and the smell continues, it’s possible that mold is growing within your ducts and you will need to have them professionally cleaned to fix the problem.

Electrical smell: If you’ve ever smelled an iron or appliance that has overheated, you’ll recognize this smell immediately. If your furnace smells like a burning appliance, it’s likely that there are malfunctioning parts or broken wiring within the internal motors and burners. If your furnace is emitting electrical smells, you should shut it off immediately and schedule a service call.

Burning smells: These can occur when the furnace has not been used for a long time. It’s likely just accumulated dust burning off. This should go away within an hour of starting. If the burning smell continues longer than an hour or two, schedule a service call.

At Comfort Solutions, we have been providing the very best furnace and HVAC solutions to greater Cincinnati area residents since 1979. If your furnace is offending your nose, schedule an appointment with our highly skilled technicians.

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

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Dual-fuel systems, sometimes called hybrid fuel systems, combine the best elements of two of the most popular methods of heating. They employ an electric air-source heat pump and a furnace that burns fuel such as natural gas, fuel oil or propane. In combination, these two sources of heating are more efficient and economical than either could be by itself.

The air-source heat pump part of the dual-fuel system can, like any standard heat pump, produce indoor cooling when the weather is hot. When outdoor temperatures turn to cold, the heat pump can switch operation and generate effective heating. When temperatures drop below freezing or thereabouts, a standard heat pump struggles to extract heat from the outdoor air, and typically will switch over to an electric heating element. In a dual-fuel system, when outside temperatures hit that tipping point, a gas-fueled furnace takes over. This is a much cheaper way to heat during cold weather than the electric heating element.

By switching to a fuel-based furnace during the coldest days of the year, the dual-fuel system is always using the most efficient source of heating.

A dual-fuel system can be more expensive than a single-source heating system, and you must also manage two sources of energy (electricity and fuel) for the system. The benefits of a dual-fuel system, however, should more than make up for any of these inconveniences.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. serves heating and cooling customers in the greater Cincinnati area, and has done so for more than 33 years. Contact us today for more information on how a dual-fuel system will benefit you with increased heating system efficiency, better indoor comfort and reduced heating bills.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lebanon, Ohio and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about dual-fuel systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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When you start shopping, you’ll likely see many Energy Star approved programmable thermostats to choose from, with prices ranging widely. For some people, the best choice is a thermostat that isn’t too complicated and offers little more than simple temperature control. However, homeowners are increasingly preferring the options available in more modern thermostats.

Here are just a few options that you can look for when you’re buying a programmable thermostat:

• Wi-Fi enabled thermostats are becoming more common as people use their smart-phones or computers to manage their households. This is a great feature to have if you have a busy and ever-changing work/travel schedule.
• 7-Day programming options are great for people who travel extensively and allow homeowners to set their thermostats for longer periods of time. Otherwise, you’ll probably be fine with a model that allows for one program for weekdays and another for the weekend.
• Weather control/automatic adjustments are available on some models. They will take the weather report and adjust your thermostat settings accordingly. This is a great feature to have especially in areas where the weather is erratic or can change suddenly.
• Smart-response technology is a newer feature that actually “learns” your preferences and sets your home’s temperature according to your personal habits.
• Filter change indicators are a great feature available on higher-end thermostats; they take the guesswork out of the process and remind homeowners of this often overlooked chore.
• Battery back-ups are a great idea especially if you live in an area that is prone to power outages.

If you need some help making your choice, please contact us at Comfort Solutions, Inc. We’ve been assisting customers in southwest Ohio with their home heating needs since 1979, and we would love to make you our next satisfied customer.

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

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The new rules cover non-weatherized residential furnaces and gas furnaces in mobile homes. Units of this type installed after April 30, 2013 must carry an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of at least 90 percent. These rules affect states in what the DOE has identified as the Northern Region, which includes Ohio and most of the Midwest and Northeast.

The DOE’s rules focus on AFUE numbers because these ratings are an industry-standard measure of furnace efficiency. AFUE ratings indicate the percentage of energy in the fuel used by the furnace that’s converted to usable heat when the fuel is burned. Since the new standards call for furnaces at a minimum of AFUE 90 percent, this means that furnaces installed after the regulations take effect must be able to turn 90 percent of the fuel they burn into heat. High-AFUE furnaces use fuel much more efficiently, which conserves energy and reduces your monthly heating bills.

The Department of Energy estimates that replacing older, low-AFUE furnaces with newer high-AFUE models will provide substantial savings on heating bills. The DOE estimates that replacing an AFUE 50 percent unit with an AFUE 95 percent system can cut your heating bills almost in half. Upgrading to a high-efficiency furnace provides greater savings the more you use the furnace, which means they tend to make better financial sense in areas like ours with cold winters.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. brings more than 33 years of experience in the HVAC industry to its heating and cooling customers in the greater Cincinnati area and southwest Ohio. Contact us today for more information on furnace efficiency and the new efficiency standards for furnaces that will greatly affect how you purchase and use home HVAC equipment.

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

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Here is what you can expect when you schedule a duct cleaning with a reliable HVAC technician:

• A technician will come to your home and inspect the ducts for visible problems such as broken/loose connections, rust, mold and signs of insect/rodent infestation. If any of these issues are present, the technician will notify you of them and discuss solutions.
• Once any serious issues are addressed and rectified, the technician will then begin the duct cleaning process by attaching an industrial vacuum to the ducts and sucking out dust, dirt, pollen and other materials that may have found their way into the system.
• After vacuuming, the technician will insert scrubbing tools into the supply runs to remove any particles that are stuck to the inside.
• At this point, the ducts are clean, and it will be time to complete the cleaning process by vacuuming the drop filter box, fans, A/C coils, etc. that are part of the heating and cooling equipment.
• Finally, everything is cleaned up, wiped off, and your ductwork is ready to provide you with three to five more years of clean, healthy air.

Typically, a standard duct cleaning will take four or five hours to complete and will not only help keep the air in your home cleaner and healthier, but it will also shave a few dollars off your energy bills throughout the year.

At Comfort Solutions, Inc., we have been cleaning ducts in southwest Ohio since 1979, and we’ll be happy to schedule an appointment with you. Contact us to learn more about our services and how we can help improve the air quality in your home.

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

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What is the purpose of a furnace filter?
Air filters help keep your indoor air clean by removing dust, mold, pollen and other particulates from the air flowing through your heating and cooling system. As air circulates from your furnace unit to your indoor living spaces and back, it also travels through the filter, where airborne particles are captured and held.

How often should I change my furnace filter?
Filters should be changed when they get dirty. Check your filters every month to see what shape they’re in. Otherwise, change them every three months and during annual maintenance. Remember that dirty filters can block airflow within your heating system, which increases the chance of furnace breakdowns.

When replacing a filter, should I use one made by the same company that manufactured my furnace?
In most cases, a commercially made filter from any manufacturer will work in your furnace, as long as it’s the same size as the one you’re replacing and does not impede airflow.

What kind of filter should I buy for my furnace?
There is no single answer for this question since each furnace may use a different size or style of filter. You may want a filter with better efficiency ratings or other characteristics. Check the owner’s manual of your furnace, ask your HVAC provider, or check with the furnace manufacturer or filter sales company.

What is MERV?
MERV stands for minimum efficiency reporting value, an industry-wide standard for rating filter efficiency. MERV numbers range from 1 to 16 for residential filters. Higher MERV ratings mean better filter efficiency and higher levels of filtration, though they also have the potential to impede airflow.

Comfort Solutions, Inc. has been serving the heating and cooling needs of greater Cincinnati area customers for more than 33 years. Contact us today for more information on air filters and for expert help choosing a furnace filter that will work effectively in your home heating system.

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

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Heat recovery ventilators, also called HRVs or air-to-air heat exchangers, provide a way to increase indoor ventilation while recovering a substantial amount of the heating or cooling energy in outgoing air. Incoming air for ventilation is heated or cooled so that it does not significantly affect indoor temperatures and does not cause the HVAC system to work overtime to compensate. A heat recovery ventilator provides whole-house ventilation, improving air quality throughout your home.

HRVs are usually installed in the attic, where they run continually to provide ongoing ventilation. In general, they can replace the air in your home about once every three hours. While doing so, they can also reclaim up to 80 percent of the energy in the outgoing stale air.

During wintertime operations, the HRV pulls in stale air from locations throughout your home and directs the air into the unit’s heat exchanger. At the same time, the unit is also bringing in fresh air from outside. Inside the heat exchanger, the two streams of air pass closely together without mixing. The heat exchanger transfers heat to the incoming air stream, warming it and recovering heat that you have already paid for. Once the incoming air is warmed, it’s distributed throughout your home. Your HVAC system does not have to burn as much fuel to heat incoming air to indoor temperature levels.

The energy recovery process works similarly in the summer, except that incoming fresh air is cooled using the energy in outgoing stale air.

With more than 33 years in the heating and cooling business, Comfort Solutions, Inc. is one of the greater Cincinnati area’s leading providers of HVAC sales, maintenance and repair. Contact us today for more information on using a heat recovery ventilator to provide whole-house ventilation and fresher indoor air.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Lebanon, Ohio and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about heat recovery ventilators and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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The R-value refers to resistance, and it’s related to insulating values. Each value of an R-factor indicates an hour of resistance. Reinforced rubber padding has an R-value of 2.6, which means it resists heat transfer for 2.6 hours. However, other kinds of carpet padding have lower R-values, so it’s still possible to have a soft carpet underfoot, even with radiant heating systems.

The best choices for flooring over radiant heating include:

• Laminated materials: Whether they use wood veneer or synthetic materials, anything laminated is a good choice. These materials are formed in layers, which helps the flooring expand and contract without damaging the layers. Many laminated or engineered floors do not sit directly on the floor. Rather, they float on a thin foam layer.
• Stone or ceramic floors. Normally, these floors are cold floors, especially in our climate. However, they work exceptionally well with radiant floor heating because their R-value is low.
• Resilient flooring. Sheet vinyl and vinyl tiles are foolproof to use with radiant heat. You may find that rubber and cork flooring don’t allow the heat to transfer well. Linoleum is not a good choice for flooring over a heated floor because it expands and contracts with the temperature.
• Hardwood floors. If you want to take advantage of the beauty and durability of hardwood floors, choose wood that has been quartersawn instead of plainsawn. Producers cut the wood from the tree differently, and quartersawn is far less likely to crack because the wood expands vertically, rather than horizontally.

If you’d like to learn more about radiant heating systems and flooring options, contact Comfort Solutions Heating & Cooling, a NATE-certified contractor. We’ve provided HVAC services for the Cincinnati area since 1979.

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

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Tools to gather

• Portable light
• Utility knife
• Tape measure
• Pencil or marking pen
• Ruler long enough to span the width of the batt
• Stapler
• Putty knife
• Plywood sheet or boards to kneel or sit on
• Knee pads

Clothes to wear

• Hat or cap
• Long-sleeved shirt
• Long pants
• Lace-up shoes
• Heavy socks
• Work gloves
• Eye protection or goggles
• Dust mask

As you install the insulation, you’ll need the tape measure to measure the length of the cavities in the attic to fill. Mark the distance on the batt and cut it after you lay the ruler across it. You may need to staple the insulation in places where it doesn’t naturally stick to the cavities in the attic. A putty knife is useful for pushing the ends and sides of the insulation between the joists. A piece of plywood, along with knee pads, will help ease the pressure on your knees as you install the insulation.

It’s important to be fully covered when working with batts in the attic to avoid inhaling the fibers or getting them on your skin or in your eyes. When you’re finished for the day with the project, remove your clothing carefully and shower off with cool or tepid water to rinse away the particles. If you use hot water, the tiny particles can enter your skin, causing skin irritation, since hot water opens your pores.

To learn more about the benefit of adding batts in the attic, contact Comfort Solutions. We’ve provided HVAC services for greater Cincinnati since 1979 and are NATE-certified, the highest accomplishment in the industry.

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

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