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Altoona Furnace Repair: “Furnace Turns Off Every 5-10 Minutes”

January 6, 2016

Periodically at Metro Heating & Cooling, we like to share with you “real-life” cases and scenarios from people around the Des Moines Metro area who have HVAC troubles. In “Case #3620 – Altoona Furnace Repair”, we discover that a homeowner thought he needed a completely new furnace, but the problem turned out to be much simpler: Overview An Altoona homeowner comes home from work to find the temperature of his house at 55 degrees. He turned the thermostat up and nothing happened. Since he just bought the house this past summer...

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Digital Thermostats – Your Next Gift to Yourself (HINT: It’s NOT the Nest)

December 24, 2015

It seems like when it comes to technology, everybody wants the latest craze. (Do you know anyone who waited in a line for or pre-ordered the newest iPhone? I do.) Well, it is the same with digital thermostats. These kinds of gadgets are new and exciting additions to your life, and, to be frank, they’re just really cool. Sometimes, though, I wish not everyone and their mom was buying one, and it was just me who had something everyone wants. It’s not hard to run to Best Buy or Target to pick something up,...

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Icicles–Great for Holiday Cards, Not So Great for Your House

December 1, 2015

When people think of a winter wonderland, icicles likely make their way into the picture. It’s not uncommon to find them hanging from houses in your neighborhood, shimmering among the bright, fresh snow in winter. You might even have them on your own house. But sometimes even the prettiest things have a nasty story behind them. If your icicles are just a few inches long, don’t get too much anxiety over it. Sometimes a few small winter diamonds are unavoidable, and that’s okay. But when those honkers turn into 2+...

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Efficient HVAC Systems: Ground Source vs. Air Source Heat Pumps

November 18, 2015

When it comes to heating and cooling energy efficiency, the term “heat pump” is often referred to by those within the industry. However, most homeowners don’t know what a heat pump is or how they actually work. It helps to first understand the differences in these two different efficient HVAC systems: An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a central system that harvests heat from the outside air, which is then circulated through the house’s ductwork by the furnace or air handler to heat the home during the winter months. During the summer months, the cycle is reversed....

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Poor Home Insulation is Not the HVAC System’s Fault

November 8, 2015

Is your house freezing cold in the winter or crazy hot in the summer? You might be surprised to learn this sometimes not the fault of the HVAC system. Whichever of the extremes it is, you feel you have done everything that you can think of to fix it. You’ve cranked the heat up to 80, you’ve plunged your air conditioning down to 60, you may have even purchased a new furnace. It seems like you’ve tried everything, but your efforts have come to no avail. At this point, this...

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Using Your Programmable Thermostat the Right Way Can REALLY Save Money

October 29, 2015

Many people might argue that the programmable thermostat isn’t worth your time and investment, but it’s often due to the fact that they aren’t effectively using it. At first glance, it might seem complicated to find harmony between comfort and savings, but here we have compiled a list of easy tips and tricks to optimize your programmable thermostat while being cozy in your home, saving you up to 10% on your bill every year. There are four distinct types of thermostats, each with its own unique programming. 1-week programming.This typically low-cost...

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How to Design Your Ductwork Effectively and Efficiently

October 19, 2015

You see and hear all the commercials about “new heating and cooling equipment that are 98% efficient and 16 SEER”, but just because you have high efficient equipment doesn’t necessarily mean your home will be comfortable. This is where the conversation on your home’s ductwork starts, and how you can produce the most efficient HVAC system and a comfortable home. I often use the analogy of comparing your furnace and duct system with your body’s heart and arteries/veins. You could have the healthiest heart in the world but if your arteries are...

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Why You Need to Ventilate Your Home

October 12, 2015

Ventilation is very important in an energy-efficient home and it helps control moisture allowing homes to breathe. If it’s lacking ventilation it can lead to mold growth and eventually lead to structural damage. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is the determining body on how much a home’s living area should be ventilated. Here is the formula, if you are interested: CFM = 0.03A + 7.5 (# bedrooms + 1)] as published by ASHRAE 62.2 in 2013 There are three basic ventilation strategies: Natural ventilation Spot...

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Choosing the Right Size Furnace – Bigger Isn’t Always Better

September 29, 2015

In a lot of ways, bigger is totally better: pizza, hotel rooms, beds, budgets, the list goes on. But when it comes to your furnace, the opposite could be more beneficial for your home. Are you a “proud” owner of a big furnace, disappointed in its performance? You might be experiencing some very common problems like high utility bills, inconsistent temperatures throughout your home, or too-short heating cycles.

8 of the Top 10 “Homeowner Pet Peeves” are Related to Home Air Quality

September 23, 2015

Many homeowners can understand the pains of keeping their home comfortable. From cleanliness to lighting to security, there are many important things that contribute to it, and no doubt air quality takes a huge chunk of what homeowners worry about. A recent survey identified the top 10 home pet peeves many people experience and 8 of them were related to home air quality. Here, we have listed them and shared potential do-it-yourself solutions to your biggest problems. #8. Your basement is damp A damp basement is a common occurrence among households. It can...

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Altoona Furnace Repair: “Furnace Turns Off Every 5-10 Minutes”

Digital Thermostats – Your Next Gift to Yourself (HINT: It’s NOT the Nest)

Icicles–Great for Holiday Cards, Not So Great for Your House

Efficient HVAC Systems: Ground Source vs. Air Source Heat Pumps

Poor Home Insulation is Not the HVAC System’s Fault

Using Your Programmable Thermostat the Right Way Can REALLY Save Money

How to Design Your Ductwork Effectively and Efficiently

Why You Need to Ventilate Your Home

Choosing the Right Size Furnace – Bigger Isn’t Always Better

8 of the Top 10 “Homeowner Pet Peeves” are Related to Home Air Quality

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