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Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

When Is It Time to Call for Heating Services in Georgetown, TX?

Monday, January 26th, 2015

Everyone knows that their heating systems aren’t invincible. No matter how sturdy your heater is, eventually it’s going to require some maintenance.

The question then becomes: when should you call for it? A lot of people like to wait until a problem occurs before calling for any sort of heating services. While this may save you some slight inconvenience, it will often cost you quite a bit in the long run. Let’s examine some of the best times to call for heating services, and why you shouldn’t wait until something breaks.

Annual Heating Maintenance

The old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” is just as relevant in heating maintenance as it is anywhere else. Preventive maintenance is extremely beneficial to your heating system in many ways. It can identify and fix any parts that may be threatening to cause problems, and ensure that your heating system in general is in the best possible condition it can be. This is especially important during the fall season, right before winter sets in and the demand on your heating system increases exponentially. It is recommended that you have your heating system checked at least once every year, in order to keep it in ideal operating conditions. Even if nothing seems to be wrong with your system, schedule the appointment anyway. You’ll reap a much larger benefit in the long run.

Any Time You Notice an Issue

Heating services can be a pain sometimes. You have to go out of your way to schedule the whole thing, and often make yourself available in case the HVAC technician needs to talk to you about anything. However, that’s no reason to ignore the signs that your heater is having trouble. Though not all issues with your heater present warning signs, there is no excuse to ignore any unusual noise or other behaviors that your system might present. Trust us, the sooner you react to any possible issues, the easier it will be to fix them.

If you think you may need heating maintenance services in Georgetown, call Roznovak today.

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What Can a Heat Recovery Ventilator Do for My Home Heating?

Friday, January 16th, 2015

By now, you’ve most likely been using your heating in Cedar Park for a couple of months, and have had at least one energy bill come in regarding your heating. If you looked at that bill and wondered if there was a better way to make your heating work better for you, you aren’t alone.

And there is a way: install a heat recovery ventilator.

What Is a Heat Recovery Ventilator?

A heat recovery ventilator, also known as a HRV, is a ventilation device that utilizes the heat energy of your outgoing, stale air to pre-treat the cool, incoming fresh air. The way it works is this: the HRV expels your used indoor air, but does so through the HRV; at the core of the HRV is a heat exchanger. At the same time, a small fan draws air into the HRV from the outside. As the two airstreams enter the HRV, the heat energy and moisture from the outgoing air is transferred to the incoming cool, dry air. This pre-treated air becomes part of your heating system’s air flow, but because it is pre-heated, your heating system doesn’t have to work as hard to warm it.

How Does This Help Your Home Heating?

First, an HRV helps take some of the work load off your heating system by pre-treating the air; this reduces the amount of work your heater has to do to heat your home. Any time you can reduce the workload of your heating system, you help increase its energy efficiency. Another benefit of a decreased workload is less stress for your system; a system that isn’t stressed isn’t as prone to malfunction, breakdown and premature aging. The results are less energy use and improved operation for your heating system.

How Does This Help You?

Less energy use means lower monthly energy bills. But there are other benefits a HRV offers you:

  • Improved comfort
  • Better moisture balance
  • Even heating

Think your heating in Cedar Park could benefit from a heat recovery ventilator? Then call the experts at Roznovak today and schedule an appointment!

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What Does R-Value Mean and Why Is It Important?

Friday, January 16th, 2015

Good insulation is necessary for year-round energy efficiency and comfort in your home, but it isn’t a one-size-fits-all kind of product.

Different areas of the country need different levels of insulation throughout the year due to differing climates. For example, a home in Florida will not need the same level of insulation as a home in Maine – but the home in Florida still needs the right amount of insulation to ensure comfort and energy efficiency. So how do you know how much insulation is needed for your home in Taylor, TX? One way is to review R-value.

What Does R-Value Mean?

The “r” in R-value stands for the word “resistance”; this is because insulation slows the transfer of heat, i.e., gives resistance to the heat. The number in an R-value rating indicates the level of insulating power that particular type of insulation has; the higher the R-value of a particular type of insulation, the greater its resistance to heat transfer.

How Is the R-Value of Insulation Determined?

The R-value of any kind of insulation depends on three factors:

  • Type of insulation
  • Its thickness
  • Its density

What Factors Influence Needed Insulation Levels?

As mentioned above, homes need varying levels of insulation; determining this level takes into consideration several factors:

  • Geographic location
  • Climate of location
  • Floor plan of the home
  • Where the insulation is going (exterior wall, ceiling, etc.)
  • Number of stories in your home
  • Specialized architecture (vaulted ceilings, wall-to-ceiling windows, etc.)
  • Type of foundation (slab, crawlspace, basement)
  • Type of heating and cooling systems you have

Can’t I Insulate Myself?

The short answer is: sure you can – but do you really have the skills a professional will bring to the job? Insulation involves a lot: determining what type/s of insulation are best for the different areas in your home, the creating of vapor barriers to protect your home and insulation from excess moisture, installation of radiant barriers in the attic, calculating the correct amount of insulation for your home – the list is long and involved. And unless you can handle all these things and more, it’s best to leave the job to a trained expert.

The insulation in your Taylor, TX, home effects your entire home and everyone in it. If you need help with insulation installation, call the people you can count on: Roznovak.

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Steps to Take before Heating Installation

Monday, January 5th, 2015

Installing a new central heater for a home may sound like an intimidating task, but it shouldn’t be. If you rely on professional heating service in Hutto, TX from Roznovak, the job will go speedily and with few issues. You can trust to our experience to see that your new heater does the job it is supposed to, and will do it for many years to come.

Here are a few steps you can take to help ensure a great new heating installation:

  • Decide on the right type of heater to suit your needs: There are more heating options available today than ever, so choosing a new heater can sometimes present a daunting challenge. If you are replacing an older system, you will probably stay with the same type. However, if you are putting in the first heater for a new home, you must choose among systems like furnaces, heat pumps, ductless heating, and geothermal. The right type of heating for your home will depend on the available fuel sources, factors regarding your house, and your budget plans. Work with professionals to be certain that you make the best choice possible.
  • Have the heater properly sized: This is a key step where you will be glad that you have professionals to assist you. A new heating system must be the right size to provide the heat level you require for comfort but without overworking and draining energy. A heater that is too large for its space is as bad as one that is too small. Skilled technicians will perform a heat load calculation to determine the amount of BTUs a new heater must generate to find the ideal middle ground between effective warmth and efficient performance.
  • Schedule a convenient time: Heating installation usually requires a day to complete. The actual time varies, but your installers should be able to give you an accurate estimate once you have decided on what system to install. Plan to have the work done when you won’t need to have the heat on in the house, preferable when few people will be home, and expect the work to take up at least a few hours.
  • Clear access to the work zone: The installers will take precautions to protect your home by laying down floor coverings. However, you can make the job go faster by moving furniture and other large obstacles to the basement or cabinet in your home where the new heating system will go.

For the most part, you will not have to worry about the details of heating installation if you have a quality team to handle the work. Our technicians at Roznovak have provided Hutto, TX with residential heating service since 1979, and we are experienced with performing fast and effective installations of many types of systems. Call us when you first decide that you need new heating, and we will take care of selecting and sizing the new unit so that you end up with the ideal new home heater for your needs.

 

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What to Look for in a Residential Heating Service Company

Friday, November 28th, 2014

It’s that time of year where the need for heating service becomes a distinct possibility. Unfortunately, as we switch on our heating systems and run them for longer portions of the day, the chances that you’ll need heating repair increase as well. Parts begin to wear down, you may notice an increase in your utilities, and you might not get the heating performance you once did. When it comes time to contact a heating technician, you want to make sure you find a company who knows all about heating, so they can get in and out as quickly as possible and so that you get the most thorough service possible. Here’s what we recommend you look for in a residential heating service.

A Wide Range of Heating Services

You should choose a company that offers the widest range of services possible so that you can ensure you have found a quality company for future services as well. Make sure your technician is trained on your particular type of heating system by searching through the website or inquiring when you call about what types of systems they service. Find a company you can return to for maintenance, repairs, and even upgrades like zone control or a new thermostat.

Offers a Residential Maintenance Program

You should also consider finding a company that offers a residential maintenance program. If you enroll in a maintenance program, you’ll get two maintenance visits a year, usually at a low package rate. Many homeowners neglect to schedule maintenance every year, even though it’s vital for proper operation of their heating and cooling system. With a heating maintenance program, you’re guaranteed two visits a year for cleaning, adjustment and inspection, which could help reduce repair needs, lower your bills, and keep your unit running longer.

Duct Cleaning and Sealing

If your heating doesn’t seem to be as powerful as it once was or if you notice hot or cold spots in areas of the house, it could be due to a problem in the ducts. If this is the case, some heating companies will simply refer you to a duct sealing company. Instead, look for a company that performs both duct and heating services, so you can get all your repairs from one contractor.

Here at Roznovak, we think you’ll find that our residential heating service in Hutto, TX exceeds your expectations. Give us a call now!

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Why Is Thermostat Installation an Important Part of Heating Service?

Friday, November 14th, 2014

Your thermostat controls when your system operates and the temperature of your home. As such, having the right thermostat for your home can be a great tool for achieving the control you want over your home’s heating. There are a few choices when it comes to installing a new thermostat, and with any upgrade to your heating system, it’s best to have installation performed by a professional. Roznovak specialists have been offering comprehensive heating service in Georgetown since 1979, including thermostat installation, so call us today!

Why Install a New Thermostat?

Here are a few reasons why an upgraded thermostat can help you and your heating system:

  • Better energy efficiency – with a programmable thermostat, you can program your heating according to your schedule and accommodate for times when your home is occupied or unoccupied. This allows you to gain great control over when and how much you heat, which can help you reduce your energy usage.
  • Better comfort – the precision and accuracy of digital thermostats allows you to set an exact temperature setting versus aiming for one, as can be the case with slide or dial thermostats. This can help improve your comfort level.
  • Less wear on your system – with a programmable thermostat, you will most likely use less heating, which means your system will operate less. Less operation means less wear on your system.
  • Convenience – it can be challenging to remember to turn down your heating when you leave for work during the week or when you go to bed. With a programmable thermostat, this isn’t an issue as you can set the program to handle all the temperature changes you want.

What Are My Choices?

  • Digital
  • Programmable
  • Smart
  • Wireless

Upgrading your thermostat can help you increase your energy efficiency and comfort while also helping your heating system. If you are ready for a new thermostat, call Roznovak and schedule an appointment for residential heating service in Georgetown today.

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Steps to Take for a New Heating Installation

Friday, November 7th, 2014

A new heating system can help increase your energy efficiency, improve comfort and provide you with a reliable performance. But to make sure you install a system that fits you and your home, it’s important to take a few critical steps. Since 1979, Roznovak has provided residential heating services in Austin, TX, and our expert technicians have installed all kinds of heating systems. If you are ready for a new heating system, call us today!

Step 1: Type of System

There are so many options available to homeowners when it comes to choosing a new heating system that it can be overwhelming. One of the best ways to manage this is to understand what types of systems are available and the basics of how they work. Roznovak carries the following types of systems:

  • Furnaces – gas and electric
  • Heat pumps
  • Geothermal systems
  • Ductless systems

Each of these systems can effectively heat your home, but each heats differently. Furnaces are one of the most common and traditional types of heating systems, commonly using gas, oil, propane or electricity to heat your home. Heat pumps don’t generate heat at all; instead, they transfer heat from one area to another. Geothermal systems harness that natural, steady temperature of the Earth below the frost line to heat your home, and ductless systems use heat pump technology to heat and cool your home without the use of air ducts.

Step 2: Sizing

Too often, we hear that all you need to know to buy a properly-sized heater is the square footage of your home; this is not true. To accurately calculate the heat load for your home, you need to factor in your home’s orientation, daytime heat gain, the type and number of windows and doors you have, insulation levels, floor plan, number of occupants and number of rooms. It is a complex calculation, and one that a trained technician can help you with.

Step 3: Fuel Type

The most commonly-used fuel types for heating systems are natural gas, oil and electricity, but you can also use propane, solid fuels and solar energy. Some households do not have access to all fuel types, so this is something to be aware of when selecting a new heating system.

Taking these steps before choosing and installing a heating system helps ensure that you select a system that will provide you and your family with many years of warmth and comfort. If you need help deciding what system best fits with your home, take advantage of our Roznovak residential heating services and schedule an appointment with one of our specialists today.

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What Is an Energy Recovery Ventilator?

Friday, October 10th, 2014

Energy efficiency is important for you and your home. But sometimes a home can be so airtight that ventilation is compromised. While throwing open a window helps with ventilation, this isn’t a great option when you are heating or cooling your home. However, there is an upgrade you can add to your HVAC system that can provide healthy ventilation while also saving energy: an energy recovery ventilator. An ERV brings fresh air into your home without compromising the heating or cooling, and helps save energy while it does this. ERVs are great devices, which is why we offer them as part of our heating service in Hutto, TX. It’s important to hire only trained professionals when installing an ERV, and the expert technicians at Roznovak are ready to help.

How Does an ERV Work?

The genius of an ERV lay with its core: the heat exchanger. This exchanger exhausts the stale air from your indoors while using the energy from the stale air to pre-treat the incoming fresh air. During the winter months, your stale, heated indoor air is sent to the outside, but the energy from this air warms the incoming cool, fresh air before it enters your home. In the summer, the stale, cool air from your home exits to the outside, but the energy from it is saved to cool and dehumidify the incoming warm air.

Benefits of an ERV

There are several benefits to installing an ERV:

  • Less wear on your system – ERVs help reduce the workload on your air conditioner by pre-treating the incoming air. This means your system can do less work to achieve your set temperature. Less work means less running, which reduces the wear and tear on your system.
  • Improved indoor air quality –an ERV provides constant fresh air to your home. This helps keep clean air circulating throughout your home, maintains humidity levels and improves the overall indoor air quality.
  • Increases energy efficiency – the pre-treating of the indoor air helps to increase the energy efficiency of your system.

If you’ve been looking for a way to have better ventilation in your home while increasing energy efficiency, an ERV may be just what you need. Call Roznovak today and schedule an appointment to discuss how this residential heating service in Hutto, TX may be able to help you.

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3 Benefits of Scheduling Heating Maintenance

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

Leaving the heating system alone until it starts manifesting problems is a very common attitude among homeowners. It can also cost you thousands of dollars a year. Preventative maintenance is always cheaper than repairing or replacing a broken part. Cost isn’t the only factor to consider, either.

Read on to discover 3 benefits of scheduling heating maintenance.

Reliability

Not all problems with your heating system will give you warning before causing the entire unit to break down. If you wait for some sort of sign before calling your HVAC technician, you may get blindsided with a broken system and an expensive repair bill. This could be especially bad in winter, when going without heat for even one day is a very uncomfortable thought.

Scheduling regular heating maintenance gives you the advantage of addressing minor issues before they become big, expensive problems. You can also have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that your heating system has a clean bill of health.

Savings

As mentioned above, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Little problems that can be easily fixed at first can grow into very expensive problems in short order. This is especially true of parts that the rest of the system relies on. Broken motor? The whole system is useless. Malfunctioning thermostat? Even if the rest of the system is perfectly fine, it won’t work. On top of all that, many manufacturer warranties require that you conduct regular maintenance in order for them to remain valid. If you neglect your heating maintenance and something goes wrong, you may end up paying entirely out of pocket.

Efficiency

There are some occasions where your heating system will display symptoms of a problem before breaking down entirely. That doesn’t mean that you can just ignore those symptoms, however. Even if the problem does not intensify, which is unlikely, you will experience a drop in efficiency from the unit. This can cause your utility bill to go up, as the unit has to work harder to do its job. Proper maintenance saves you from those high utility bills because of a malfunctioning unit.

If you haven’t had your heating unit checked this year, call Roznovak. We’re experts in heating maintenance in Taylor, TX.

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