Month: January 2023

A properly functioning thermostat is essential for maintaining a comfortable home, especially in the winter. If your thermostat is set correctly but you still wonder why is my house so cold, there may be a few underlying issues present in your home that need to be addressed. Novak Heating, Cooling and Duct Cleaning explains the common reasons why you may be feeling cold while indoors this season.

Why Is My House So Cold?

Are you finding it hard to maintain your home’s temperature this winter? If you question why is my house so cold even though the thermostat is set properly, here are a few possible explanations for the chill you feel:

Poor Insulation

One of the most common causes of a cold home despite a correctly set thermostat is poor insulation. Insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining a comfortable temperature in your home, as it helps to keep warm air inside during the winter and cool air inside during the summer. If your insulation is insufficient or has become damaged, it can allow warm air to escape, making it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.

HVAC System Issues

Another possible cause behind why your house is so is a malfunctioning HVAC system. If your furnace or heat pump is not working properly, it may be unable to heat or cool your home effectively. This can be caused by a variety of issues, such as a dirty or clogged air filter, a broken thermostat, or a malfunctioning blower motor.

Also, the coldness you feel indoors could be caused by a lack of HVAC maintenance. Regular maintenance on your HVAC system, including cleaning and tuning-up, can ensure that your system is working at its best, helping to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.

Drafts

Drafty windows and doors can also cause your home to not reach the desired temperature. If your windows and doors are not properly sealed, they can allow cold air to enter your home and heated air to escape. Air leaks can make it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature, even with a correctly set thermostat.

Duct Leaks

Another possible cause of a cold home despite a correctly set thermostat is a ductwork issue. Ductwork is responsible for distributing warm or cool air throughout your home from your heating and cooling systems. If your ductwork is damaged, leaking, or not properly insulated, it can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system and make it difficult to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.

Call Novak to Help Fix Your Cold House

A cold house doesn’t have to plague you all season long! The issues causing cold temperatures in your house despite proper thermostat settings can be fixed with a little help from the pros!

At Novak Heating and Cooling, we can provide you with a comprehensive evaluation of your HVAC system and home to determine the cause of a cold home despite a correctly set thermostat. Our team of certified and experienced technicians can diagnose and repair any issues with thermostat, HVAC system, or ductwork. We can also provide regular maintenance to ensure that your HVAC system continues to work at its best. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and learn more about how we can help you maintain a comfortable temperature in your home.

Are the air quality levels inside your home impacting your family’s health and comfort? Does it feel like you’re constantly having to dust, run the vacuum, and clean surfaces? If so, then it might be time to look into a UV air cleaner. But how do you decide which type is right for you – a portable unit or a whole-home UV air cleaner? Novak Heating and Cooling explains each option so that you can make an informed decision about whether or not installing a whole-home UV air cleaner is right for your home.

What Do Air Cleaners Do?

When it comes to improving the air quality in your home, there are a few options available to you. One of the most popular options is the use of a UV air cleaner. UV air cleaners use ultraviolet light to kill bacteria, viruses, and other harmful microorganisms in the air. Many of these units are also combined with a form of filtration to remove dust, pet dander, and other particle pollutants from the indoor air supply.

The Options: Portable and Whole Home UV Air Cleaner Units

There are two main types of UV air cleaners: whole home and portable. Understanding the differences between these two types can help you make an informed decision about which one is best for your home.

• A whole home UV air cleaner is designed to be installed as part of your home’s HVAC system. It is typically installed in the ductwork and works in conjunction with your furnace or air conditioner to clean the air as it is circulated throughout your home. Because it is integrated into your HVAC system, it is able to clean the air in every room of your home, ensuring that the air you breathe is as clean and healthy as possible.
• A portable UV air cleaner, on the other hand, is a standalone unit that can be placed in any room of your home. A portable system is typically smaller and less powerful than a whole-home UV air cleaner and is designed to clean the air in a single room or area. While they can be effective at improving the air quality in the room they are placed in, they are not able to clean the air throughout your entire home.

Which Type of Air Cleaner Is Best?

There are several reasons why a whole-house system would be a better choice than a portable system. For one, a whole home UV light system is able to clean the air in every room of your home, ensuring that the air you breathe is as clean and healthy as possible. Additionally, because it is integrated into your HVAC system, it requires less maintenance and is more energy-efficient than a portable air cleaner.

Another advantage of whole house air cleaners is that they can help to improve the overall efficiency of your HVAC system. Removing harmful microorganisms from the air can help to reduce the need for frequent air filter changes and can also help to extend the life of your HVAC system.

In addition, a whole home air filtration and purification system can help to reduce the risk of health problems associated with poor indoor air quality. This can include respiratory issues, allergies, and asthma. Cleaning the air throughout your entire home can help prevent the spread of illness.

Improve the Indoor Air Quality in Your Entire House – Talk to Novak Today

Homeowners should consider a whole home UV air cleaner for their HVAC system instead of a portable system. A UV light air purifier can help destroy bacteria, viruses, and mold spores in the circulating air, and some models can even remove other pollutants. As a result, every time the furnace or heat pump kicks on, clean, fresh air circulates throughout the home. Contact Novak Heating, Air and Duct Cleaning to install a high-quality whole home UV air purifier in your HVAC system so you can enjoy clean indoor air all year long

Are you struggling to keep your home comfortable and warm during the chilly winter months? Do you have a heat pump, but find that it’s not working as efficiently as it should be? One particularly frustrating issue with heat pump systems is when the fan runs even after the desired temperature has been achieved. Don’t let this nuisance get in the way of enjoying a cozy space for you and your family. The experienced HVAC technicians at Novak Heating, Air, and Duct Cleaning discuss why your heat pump fan might be running in winter and how to fix it. We also will share some best practices that can help save energy so that keeping warm this winter doesn’t cost an arm and a leg! 

Problems Causing a Heat Pump Fan Running Constantly

There are several reasons why a heat pump fan might run constantly in the winter. Some of the most common reasons include:

• Dirty or clogged air filters: Heat pump fans rely on a steady flow of air to operate properly. If the air filters are dirty or clogged, it can restrict the flow of air through the system and cause the heat pump fan to run constantly. To fix this issue, simply replace the air filter.
• Frozen outdoor unit: In cold weather, the outdoor unit of a heat pump can become frozen. This can prevent the heat pump from functioning properly and can cause heat pump struggles which is why the fan will run continuously. To fix this issue, you will need to defrost the outdoor unit by running the defrost cycle and allowing it to thaw. Resolve any issues that could increase the outdoor unit’s risk of freezing, such as leaking overhead gutters.
• Incorrect thermostat settings: When the thermostat’s fan setting is set to AUTO, you’ll notice the heat pump fan only runs during heating cycles.  If the fan is set to ON, you’ll notice the heat pump fan running constantly, even when the heat pump is not actively heating. If the thermostat is not set properly, it can cause the heat pump fan to run constantly. To fix this issue, make sure the fan is set to AUTO.
• Faulty blower relay switch: If the blower relay switch is faulty, your thermostat setting may not be properly communicated to the heat pump system and it can leave the heat pump fan running constantly. To fix this issue, you will need to have the relay switch replaced by a qualified technician.

Best Practices for Winter Heat Pump Use

Here are some best practices for running your heat pump during the winter that will improve heating efficiency and protect your HVAC equipment:

• Keep the air filter clean: To ensure that your heat pump is running efficiently and effectively, it is important to keep the air filter clean. Clean or replace the air filter on a regular basis to prevent them from becoming clogged.
• Keep the outdoor unit clear: The outdoor unit of a heat pump should be kept clear of snow, ice, and other debris. This will ensure that the heat pump is able to receive the airflow it needs to function properly and prevent the blower fan from running constantly.
• Install a programmable or smart thermostat: A programmable or smart thermostat can help you save energy and money by setting the temperature in your home to match your schedule. The heat pump won’t have to work as much, which saves energy and reduces wear and tear on the equipment.
• Have the heat pump serviced regularly: To ensure that your heat pump is running at its best, it is important to have a maintenance tune-up performed by a qualified technician at least twice per year. This will help to prevent costly repairs and ensure that your heat pump is providing maximum comfort and efficiency.

Heat Pump Repair Services from Novak

If you notice your heat pump fan running constantly, there are a few reasons this could be happening. If none of the fixes above solve the problem, then it’s time to call Novak Heating, Air, and Duct Cleaning for heat pump repair services. Our team of experts will quickly diagnose and fix the problem so you can stay comfortable all winter long.

When it comes to heating your home, one of the most important decisions you will have to make is what type of heating system to buy. High-efficiency furnaces are designed to provide maximum comfort and energy savings, but they come with a higher price tag than traditional furnaces. So, are high-efficiency furnaces worth it? The experienced furnace professionals at Novak Heating, Air, and Duct Cleaning are here to answer your questions about furnace efficiency. 

How Are High-Efficiency Furnaces Different?

High-efficiency furnaces use advanced technology to heat your home more efficiently and reliably than traditional furnaces. Some of the technology that high-efficiency furnaces have that traditional models do not include:

• Variable-speed motors: High-efficiency furnaces use variable-speed blower motors to control the flow of air through the furnace. This allows the furnace to adjust its heating output to match the needs of your home, resulting in more efficient heating and greater comfort.
• Two-stage heating: Two-stage heating means that the furnace has two different heating settings. This allows the furnace to operate at a lower, more efficient setting for most of the time, and then switch to a higher setting when more heat is needed.
• Condensing technology: High-efficiency furnaces use condensing technology and a secondary heat exchanger to extract heat from exhaust gases and use it to heat your home. This results in more efficient heating and cheaper energy bills.
• High-quality materials: High-efficiency furnaces are built with high-quality materials, such as stainless-steel heat exchangers and durable blower motors. This results in a longer lifespan and less frequent repairs.

Pros & Cons of High-Efficiency Furnaces

One of the biggest benefits of high-efficiency furnaces is their energy savings. In general, all new furnaces are much more energy efficient than older models, but high-efficiency models offer higher AFUE ratings than standard efficiency models. Because they are designed to be more efficient than traditional furnaces, high-efficiency furnaces use less natural gas or electricity to heat your home. This means that you can save money on your monthly energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. 

High-efficiency furnaces are also very reliable. Because they are built with high-quality materials, they are less likely to break down and require costly repairs. This means that you can trust your furnace to keep your home warm and comfortable, even during the coldest days of the year.

Another benefit of high-efficiency furnaces is that they are very quiet. The same technological advancements that offer greater energy efficiency and equipment durability also make them quieter than traditional furnaces. This means that you can enjoy a warm and comfortable home without the constant noise of a loud furnace.

Despite their many benefits, high-efficiency furnaces do have some drawbacks. One of the main drawbacks is their cost. In general, high-efficiency furnaces cost more the better their  efficiency ratings. High-efficiency furnaces tend to have a higher price tag than standard efficiency models. This can be a significant investment for homeowners, and it may not be feasible for everyone.

Furnace Installation for Your Home

High-efficiency furnaces are worth it for homeowners who are looking for a reliable and energy-efficient way to heat their homes. They may require a higher upfront investment, but they can save you money on your monthly energy bills and provide maximum comfort and reliability. Contact Novak Heating, Air, and Duct Cleaning today to learn more about high-efficiency furnaces and receive a quote for new furnace installation.