5 Ways Leaky Windows Affect How Your Home Is Heated

March 17, 2022

There is no doubt that windows are an essential part of any home. They let in natural light and provide ventilation. However, many homeowners have experienced a leaky window at one point. This issue is not only frustrating, but your windows can also experience damage. What about the effects on your heating and cooling system? Do leaky windows affect how your house is heated? Yes, leaky windows do affect how your home is heated. If you are experiencing leakages in windows, you will likely pay about 20%-30% more of your energy bills. The more your windows leak,

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Why Your Heater Won’t Shut Off

October 13, 2021

You may have a problem with your heater if it won’t turn off. This is a common issue, and there are a few reasons why this could be happening. This article will give some reasons why your heater might be failing to turn off even when you expect it to. A Bad Thermostat The first thing to check is your thermostat. Your heater may constantly be working because your temperature drops even though the thermostat is set for a higher temperature. It may also be stuck in the “on” position because of ice buildup around the

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Issues You’ll Most Likely Face With Your Home’s Furnace

September 16, 2021

As a homeowner, you have a lot of responsibilities. One of those is ensuring that your furnace is properly maintained and repaired when issues develop. When you understand the most likely heater issues that you will face, you can better react to get your system fixed quickly. Broken Limit Switch Your furnace has a limit switch that measures the indoor air temperature that is running throughout your venting. Your thermostat relies on the limit switch to tell it when the indoor air has reached the set temperature that you have programmed into your thermostat.

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Should I Turn Off My Gas Furnace in the Summer?

April 14, 2021

Summer weather will soon arrive in Peoria, IL, which means you won’t need the heat from your gas furnace. With the coolest nighttime temperatures dropping into the mid-50s in July and August, your home will be plenty warm without the furnace’s heat. Read on to learn about why it’s a good idea to shut down your furnace for the summer season as well as some benefits and a couple of drawbacks of making this decision. Why You Should Shut Down Your Gas Furnace Every Summer Gas furnaces that are more than 10 years old usually have

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How Efficient is Geothermal Heating?

March 16, 2021

Geothermal heating is delivered by geothermal or ground-source heat pumps. If you plan to live in your Peoria, IL, home for a long time, a geothermal heat pump is an excellent investment in your comfort. These heat pumps have a long lifespan. The underground parts typically last for 50 years, and the parts that are above-ground have an average lifespan of 25 years. In addition to the lifespan of a heating system, it’s also important to consider its energy efficiency. Here’s what you need to know about how efficient geothermal heating systems are and what their energy efficiency ratings mean.

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How Does Geothermal Heating Work in the Winter?

January 21, 2021

You are tired of dealing with a furnace and the variable gas prices that go with it. You have heard great things about transitioning to a geothermal system, both in terms of operating costs and ecofriendliness. But you have also heard questions about how well these systems work during the coldest points of the Illinois winter. How does this system work, and will it be able to keep up with the bitter cold? How Do Geothermal Systems Work? To begin answering how well geothermal systems work in the bitter cold, you need to understand the basics

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Best Practices to Minimize Wear and Tear On HVAC Systems

December 16, 2020

Having an HVAC system in Peoria, IL, means you’ll stay comfortable during the exceedingly cold winters and the humid summer months. Given the extremes of the weather here, your HVAC system is going to take a beating. To reduce this wear and tear, you must take care of it. Here are five ways to minimize the wear and tear on your HVAC system. 1. Change Your Air Filters Regularly When your air filters get clogged, your heating or cooling system has to work harder to push the air through. This puts unnecessary strain on your

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Why is the Heat Pump Making Odd Noises?

November 19, 2020

Homeowners rely on their HVAC system to work properly to heat or cool their homes. Some may have a general idea about the parts inside the system, and such knowledge could allow a homeowner to keep a lookout for problems. If something’s wrong with the system, noises and other out-of-the-ordinary issues may raise alarms. When the heat pump starts to make odd sounds, a resourceful homeowner knows that the system requires an inspection. Unfortunately, there isn’t one single cause to point at when the unit makes odd sounds, but an experienced HVAC technician may be able to

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6 Reasons Bigger HVAC Systems Are not Always Better

October 20, 2020

Many home and business owners mistakenly believe that purchasing the biggest HVAC system they can afford is always the best solution. This fact is especially true for individuals who are replacing an older system that did not adequately cool the home. The truth of the matter is that bigger is not always better when it comes to purchasing an air conditioning system. There are several reasons you come out much better by choosing a system with a size and design that is a match for the spaces you wish to cool. 1. Frequent On/Off Cycles

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Why Upgrading Your Insulation Is Not a DIY Job

September 20, 2020

Adding insulation to your Peoria home is one of the best investments you can make. Adding insulation will help to keep your home more comfortable, reduce your energy costs, and increase your home’s value. However, all of these benefits assume that the insulation is installed correctly. Therefore, to receive the maximum benefit from your investment, it’s wise to have the pros at Bratcher Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. take-on your insulation installation project, even if you won’t get the satisfaction of doing the project yourself. Risk to Your Personal Safety Though the process of adding insulation is fairly straightforward, the places

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