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Benefits of Routine Furnace Maintenance

March 29, 2020

A heating system is one of the most important and valuable investments within your home or business property. It keeps your home’s temperatures warm, and there is nothing as bad as having it malfunctioning on a freezing day. Your family is left exposed to uncomfortable living conditions; a situation that can be avoided by scheduling regular maintenance for your HVAC system. 1. Averts Costly Repairs Down the Road When you have your furnace regularly checked by a professional, it makes it possible to spot looming problems early before they become emergencies. Emergencies are costly and come

How Long Should a Furnace Last?

February 20, 2020

Whether you want to buy a new furnace or wish to keep your old one, you may feel concerned about how long a furnace will last. Regarding an old furnace, providing a specific answer to this question is next to impossible without a qualified, in-person inspection. New ones, however, do come with reasonable estimates of life expectancy. The Law of Averages In general, expect a gas furnace to last in the range of 15 to 30 years. An electric heater may last for around 30 years, too. Make sure to perform consumer research on particular brands

How Does a Thermostat Work?

February 1, 2020

We take a lot of things for granted in our modern lives, and having a comfortable home is at the top of the list. Since the weather changes throughout the year, being able to heat or cool your home is key in terms of keeping everyone happy. Thermostats are used to maintain set temperatures. Read on to learn more about a few different types of thermostats being used today. Non-Digital Thermostats Most traditional thermostats have thin metallic strips inside of them. Those strips can either expand or contract, depending on whether they’re getting hotter or colder

Is It Bad to Run My Heating System 24/7?

January 25, 2020

During the chilly months, some people like to run their heater nonstop while others prefer to just turn it on for a couple of hours here and there. There are advantages to both of these methods, but certain types of heaters will work better when operated in the proper manner. Here is what you need to know about running your heater 24/7 when it is cold outside. Leaving Your Fan Running Is Usually Good Typically, when you leave your heater on, the heating component itself will not run nonstop. Instead, your thermostat will turn it on

5 Common Boiler Problems

December 19, 2019

Your boiler is the center of your home’s heating system. A boiler problem is a major inconvenience, especially during winters in central Illinois. Here are five of the most common problems you may encounter. 1. Boiler Automatically Shuts Off There are many possible reasons for your boiler to automatically turn off. They include: Thermostat problems A frozen condensate pipe Low water pressure Air in the system Since these can be complicated to diagnose, have a technician inspect your system to determine what’s causing

5 Signs You Need a Furnace Replacement

November 20, 2019

A furnace is designed to heat your home or office and maintain its indoor air quality. If your furnace isn’t doing its job, it is time to install a new one. These 5 signs will let you know when it is time to replace your old furnace in Peoria. 1. Unusual Sounds Efficient furnaces operate with minimal noise. As its components wear out, you may notice strange sounds coming from your furnace. Unusual sounds include banging, thumping and shrieking. If you hear any of these abnormal sounds, have your system checked out by one of our

Are Furnace Tune-Ups Necessary?

November 7, 2019

Are Furnace Tune-Ups Necessary? At Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. in Normal, IL, we believe that maintenance is essential to keeping your system running at its best. However, we understand that customers might want to skip this service in hopes of saving some money. You might even make it through a season or two without any issues if the system is young. If you want to get the best value from your furnace, however, an annual tune-up is something you need. High-Efficiency Heating The first season with a new furnace should be simple. Our technicians leave the unit prepared

7 Basic Furnace Safety Tips

October 22, 2019

For many homeowners, the arrival of autumn signals the need to turn on their furnace and hope nothing goes wrong. Don’t be a part of that crowd. Taking a few actionable steps to guarantee your comfort and safety is not too time-consuming and can really reduce your fuel expenditure. 1. Keep Flammables Away Keeping flammables away from your furnace sounds intuitive, but sometimes you are pressed for space and may be tempted to use the furnace closet to store some of your items. You want to keep the area around your furnace clear of objects, especially

5 Benefits of a Heat Pump

October 2, 2019

A heat pump can be an efficient system for a home in almost any climate. Read on to learn more about the benefits of heat pumps. 1. It Can Cool and Heat Your Home A heat pump can do it all for your home. While you may think that the system can only warm up your home, these pumps can actually cool it down as well. The heat pump uses condenser and evaporator coils. When the refrigerant passes over the coils, the air cools down. With this type of pump, you don’t need to install two

What is Balanced Ventilation?

September 24, 2019

The climate control experts at Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. know that the comfort of Illinois homes depends on more than temperature. Over time, you’ll find that dust, dander and other irritants can build up in the air of your home. Even more concerning, volatile organic compounds, like those found in cleaning and beauty supplies, can get into your air supply. For complete climate control, you need air quality solutions. Efficiency Versus Air Quality When homeowners design a new home, they often want it to be more efficient than older structures. With new building materials and techniques, modern homes are

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