Keeping your home comfortable requires the right system. For your heating needs, you’ll likely be deciding between a heat pump and a furnace. Since both offer benefits and drawbacks, making the choice about which is right for you isn’t always easy. The team at Rick’s Heating & Cooling can help you determine which type of heating system is right for your needs. Here are some things to consider as you make your decision.

Benefits of Heat Pumps

A heat pump offers an energy-efficient option to heat and cool homes in moderate climates. These systems work like a refrigerator, using electric energy to move heat in order to meet your comfort needs. In the summer, this means moving heat from your home to the outdoors to make you home cooler, and in the summer, it means moving heat energy from the outdoors into your home to make it warmer. This can allow you to heat and cool your home for a fraction of the cost of a furnace or air conditioner. A heat pump serves both functions, so you only need to install one unit for year-round comfort.

Potential Downsides of Heat Pumps

The main drawback of a heat pump is the fact that it doesn’t work well in temperatures below the freezing level. In these instances, a backup heat source is needed. Most heat pumps have backup furnaces, but they use electricity or gas to heat the home during cold spells, which can negate some of the benefits. However, for those days when the outdoor temperatures stay above freezing, the heat pump can be quite efficient and effective. Heat pumps are more costly than furnaces to install, but you will end up saving money in the long run over the life of the heat pump.

Benefits of a Furnace

A furnace uses gas or electric energy to heat air, then pumps the heated air through your home via your ductwork. This is a great option for heating your home that works no matter the outdoor temperature. Another potential benefit of a furnace is a lower installation price.

Potential Downsides of a Furnace

The main drawback of heating your home with a furnace is the cost of heating. The gas or electricity that you need to run a furnace creates expenses that add up. Over the life of a furnace, you can expect to pay more than you would with a heat pump. If you wish to have cooling for your home, you will have to install an air conditioner along with your furnace.

Which Is Right for You?

So which heating option is right for you? The answer depends on your goals. If your goal is a lower initial cost, then a furnace is likely best. If you’re looking to save on your overall energy costs, a heat pump may work better.

Making this choice is complicated, and that’s where the team at Rick’s Heating & Cooling can help. Our experienced HVAC technicians can help you measure your needs and goals to choose the right heating option for your Cincinnati, OH home. If you are in need of a new furnace or heat pump, contact us for help.

You can contact us online or call 513-899-6005 for expert guidance on your search for the right heating option for your property.

Winter in Ohio is notorious for being bitterly cold, which leads to high energy bills. If you’re looking to balance comfort with energy savings for the remainder of the season, follow these recommended thermostat settings in the winter.

Set a Comfortable Temperature

Begin by manually setting the thermostat to a temperature you feel comfortable with while you’re at home. We recommend dressing for the weather and setting the thermostat to 68 degrees, though anything at or below 70 degrees is ideal. Remember, the lower you set your thermostat in the winter, the more money you’ll save.

Next, choose a setback temperature for the hours when everyone is away. Setbacks are worthwhile anytime your house is vacant for more than four hours. We recommend setting the thermostat to 62 degrees or lower while you’re gone to avoid paying to heat an empty house. However, to prevent frozen pipes, you shouldn’t set the furnace any lower than 55 degrees.

Upgrade to a Programmable Thermostat

Installing a programmable thermostat keeps you comfortable when you’re at home and saves you money when you’re away. Once you program the settings you want, you can go about your day while the programmable thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature based on your schedule. There’s no need to remember to turn the temperature down when you leave for work in the morning, and best of all, the thermostat recovers a comfortable setting by the time you get home. It’s the best of both worlds!

Consider the specific features of the programmable thermostat you choose:

• Day settings: Seven-day units allow you to program a different schedule for every day of the week. 5-1-1 models let you program Monday through Friday on the same setting and Saturday and Sunday differently from one another. 5+2-day models allow for a different setting on weekdays and weekends.
• Program settings per day: Many programmable thermostats allow you to enter up to four settings per day. These periods are typically named Wake, Day, Evening, and Sleep.
• Wi-Fi capabilities: “Smart” thermostats connect to the internet, making them accessible from an app on your phone. This allows you to check and change the temperature from anywhere.

How to Maximize Efficiency from Your Programmable Thermostat

To maximize heating efficiency and help your new programmable thermostat pay for itself in energy savings, follow these tips:

• Use the hold feature properly: You can pause the regular thermostat schedule when you’re away for extended periods with the vacation/permanent hold setting. You can also override programmed settings on a daily basis if you feel uncomfortable. Just remember that every time you turn up the thermostat, you’re using more energy and increasing your heating costs.
• Refrain from cranking up the temperature: You won’t heat up your home any faster by boosting the setting to 90 degrees. All this does is increase your bills as the temperature exceeds your comfort level. Instead, adjust the temperature by a degree or two at a time to minimize energy waste.
• Consider adding a zoning system: If your home suffers from uneven temperatures, one way to combat the problem is with a zoning system. This incorporates multiple thermostats and dampers in the ductwork to control the temperature in different rooms independently. Be sure to set each programmable thermostat according to the above recommendations to maximize comfort and energy efficiency.

Contact Rick’s Heating & Cooling for More Thermostat Recommendations

If you have any questions about the recommended thermostat settings explained here, or you’re interested in installing a programmable thermostat, please contact Rick’s Heating & Cooling today. We perform expert HVAC services in homes and businesses across Southwest Ohio.

Have you just been told your furnace has a cracked heat exchanger? You might assume that, as with other furnace parts, you can just replace the heat exchanger and get the system back up and running again without too much trouble.

However, the heat exchanger is the heart of any furnace, making it one of the most expensive parts of the entire unit to repair or replace. If you have a cracked heat exchanger on your hands, use the information here to help you decide if it’s time for a new furnace.

What Is a Heat Exchanger?

The key to heating your home is found in the heat exchanger. When the thermostat detects that the temperature is falling, the furnace flame turns on and heats up the interior of the heat exchanger. This warms up the metal walls and tubing of the heat exchanger before the blower turns on so the air blowing across it picks up as much warmth as possible.

It’s important to understand that air doesn’t flow through the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is where combustion gases are contained and vented to the exterior after the air passing has absorbed a majority of the heat stored within. Some furnaces feature two heat exchangers to maximize efficiency. The exhaust from a furnace with a dual heat exchanger is cooler, meaning more of the energy your HVAC system consumes is converted into useful heat for your home.

Determine if the Heat Exchanger Is Cracked

It’s sad but true that some unscrupulous HVAC contractors will try to convince you that your furnace heat exchanger is cracked when it’s really in satisfactory condition. This tactic allows dishonest technicians to sell you an expensive repair or entirely new furnace.

Watch out for technicians who attempt the dubious diagnostic method of using water cameras or smoking agents to check for small gaps in the heat exchanger wall. According to the Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, heat exchangers are not hermetically sealed, so a tiny bit of leakage is safe and even expected.

If your heat exchanger has really cracked from years of rust and corrosion, the hole will be large enough to see with the naked eye. Other signs of improper combustion caused by a crack in the heat exchanger include:

• Soot buildup on internal furnace components
• High carbon monoxide levels in the flue pipe that may leak out and set off your CO detector
• Flickering yellow or orange burner flames, when they should be steady and blue

Why You Should Replace the Furnace if the Heat Exchanger Is Cracked

It usually takes 18 to 20 years for rust and corrosion to cause a hole to form in a furnace heat exchanger. If your furnace is old enough to have this problem, the heat exchanger probably isn’t worth replacing. Doing so would be comparable to buying a new engine for an old, rundown car.

In most cases, you are much better off putting your money toward a new, high-efficiency furnace replacement. Your investment will provide many immediate and long-term benefits, including:

• Improved home comfort and humidity levels
• Better air circulation for more even temperatures from room to room
• Lower heating bills all winter long
• Cleaner indoor air
• Quieter operation

Contact Rick’s Heating & Cooling for Furnace Replacement in the Indianapolis Area

If you’re looking for a second opinion regarding the condition of your heat exchanger, or you’re ready to upgrade to a new, high-efficiency furnace, please contact Rick’s Heating & Cooling today. We are the furnace installation experts for homes and businesses in Southwest Ohio.