A maintenance should be performed annually on your furnace to keep it running at peak performance. It's recommended the heating system be maintenance during Fall/Winter. Think of it as an oil change in your vehicle. You can ignore the oil light and in time the repair will cost more then the oil change.  Performing a maintenance gives you peace of mind, can add longevity to the life of the unit and can help keep the utility costs down.   

The 1" air filters should be replaced a minimum of every two (2) months. The 4" air filters should be replaced a minimum of two (2) times a year. We recommend you use a filter with a high MERV rating (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value).  If you are tired of tracking down a location to purchase filters or find they are expensive, we recommend the AccuClean Whole Home air filtration system. No need to every replace a filter again! Just vacuum as needed! The AccuClean will work with most systems. Call for details.

Does your system make unusual noises? Is it heating all areas of the house sufficiently? Have your utility bills gone up? Has it been taking longer to heat up the space?

Any of these are signs that you may need service to avoid any further serious damage to your system, as well as keep your home comfortable for the people in it.

Preventative maintenance is very important so please be sure to always have a yearly maintenance on all units (furnace, heat pump & air conditioner). This will help keep repair bills down and provide longevity to the unit.  

By following these simple guidelines, you can estimate whether or not fixing vs. repairing is the right decision. On average the lifetime of:

• an air conditioning or heat pump unit is 12-15 yrs
• a furnace is 15-20 yrs

However, these are guidelines. If a unit has been repaired several times, has not had annual maintenances or has had higher than average wear, then even if it's before the average lifetime of a typical system, it might make sense to replace it.

If you have a unit with less than 95% efficiency and find you are fighting high utility bills, it may be time to upgrade.

Some systems can cost just $3,500 to replace, so if you take into account the age of the system, the cost of a repair at approximately $500 and higher than usual utility bills, it probably makes more sense just to replace it. Western Heating offers12 months same as cash financing o.a.c.

On average, once the equipment is delivered, an in-house installation will take approximately 1-2 days.

For climates with moderate heating and cooling needs, heat pumps offer an energy-efficient alternative to furnaces and air conditioners. Like your refrigerator, heat pumps use electricity to move heat from a cool space into a warm, making the cool space cooler and the warm space warmer. During the heating season, heat pumps move heat from the cool outdoors into your warm house; during the cooling season, heat pumps move heat from your cool house into the warm outdoors. Because they move heat rather than generate heat, heat pumps can provide up to 4 times the amount of energy they consume.

The most common type of heat pump is the air-source heat pump, which transfers heat between your house and the outside air. If you heat with electricity, a heat pump can trim the amount of electricity you use for heating by as much as 30%–40%. High-efficiency heat pumps also dehumidify better than standard central air conditioners, resulting in less energy usage and more cooling comfort in summer months. However, the efficiency of most air-source heat pumps as a heat source drops dramatically at low temperatures, generally making them unsuitable for cold climates, although there are systems that can overcome that problem.

For homes without ducts, air-source heat pumps are also available in a ductless version called a mini-split heat pump. In addition, a special type of air-source heat pump called a "reverse cycle chiller" generates hot and cold water rather than air, allowing it to be used with radiant floor heating systems in heating mode.

The financial equation looks like this.  In a gas furnace/electric air conditioner installation, the furnace heats and the air conditioner cools.  The annual operationing costs are the sum of the two units.  In a gas air handler/ electric heat pump installation, the furance heats below about 35 degrees, the heat pump heats from 35 up to 70ish and cools above 70 (depending on settings).  The operations costs of heating below 35 degrees are the same, however, heating costs from 35 to 70 degrees are lowered significantly with the heat pump and therefore, the annual cost is less than the furnace/AC installation.

A number of relatively new innovations are improving the performance of heat pumps.

Unlike standard compressors that can only operate at full capacity, two-speed compressors or dual compressors allow heat pumps to operate close to the heating or cooling capacity that is needed at any particular moment. This saves large amounts of electrical energy and reduces compressor wear. Two-speed or dual heat pumps also work well with zone control systems. Zone control systems, often found in larger homes, use automatic dampers to allow the heat pump to keep different rooms at different temperatures. 

Some models of heat pumps are equipped with variable-speed or dual-speed fans. The variable-speed controls for these fans attempt to keep the air moving at a comfortable velocity, minimizing cool drafts and maximizing electrical savings. It also minimizes the noise from the blower running at full speed.

Aluminum coils allow for continous coils and do not corrode like copper coils.  New "fin" coils have thousands of tiny "spines" radiating out from them to provide greater heat transfer capabilities and more effeciency over the lang haul.

Communicating heat pumps in matched system installations provide a continous flow of information between the furnace, heat pump and the thermostat in insure maximum effeciency and the greatest comfort.

In comparison with a combustion fuel-fired furnace or standard heat pump alone, this type of system is also economical. Actual energy savings depend on the relative costs of the combustion fuel relative to electricity.

Proper operation of your heat pump will save energy.

Do not set back the heat pump's thermostat if it causes the backup heating to come on; backup heating systems are usually more expensive to operate. Continuous indoor fan operation can degrade heat pump performance unless a high-efficiency, variable-speed fan motor is used. Operate the system on the "auto" fan setting on the thermostat.

Like all heating and cooling systems, proper maintenance is key to efficient operation. The difference between the energy consumption of a well-maintained heat pump and a severely neglected one ranges from 10%–25%.

Clean or change filters once a month or as needed, and maintain the system according to manufacturer's instructions. Dirty filters, coils, and fans reduce airflow through the system. Reduced airflow decreases system performance and can damage your system's compressor. Clean outdoor coils whenever they appear dirty; occasionally, turn off power to the fan and clean it; remove vegetation and clutter from around the outdoor unit. Clean the supply and return registers within your home, and straighten their fins if bent.

You should also have a professional technician service your heat pump at least every year. The technician can do the following:

• Inspect ducts, filters, blower, and indoor coil for dirt and other obstructions
• Diagnose and seal duct leakage
• Verify adequate airflow by measurement
• Verify correct refrigerant charge by measurement
• Check for refrigerant leaks
• Inspect electric terminals, and if necessary, clean and tighten connections, and apply nonconductive coating
• Lubricate motors, and inspect belts for tightness and wear
• Verify correct electric control, making sure that heating is locked out when the thermostat calls for cooling and vice versa
• Verify correct thermostat operation.

Is it starting to make noises? Is it cooling all areas of the house sufficiently? Have your utility bills gone up for no apparent reason? Has it been taking longer to cool down the space?

Any of these are signs that you may need service to avert any further serious damage to your system as well as keep your home or business comfortable for the people and pets in it.

It is important to have a yearly maintenance on your cooling system to keep it at peak performance and help with longevity.

If not all areas are cooling properly this might be corrected by adding zoning or taking a look at the duct system.

 Turn off power by pushing and holding the power button for approximately three seconds until all the LED’s illuminate. Release the power button. The LED’s will remain on until the voltage has discharged and it is safe to remove the door. This requires approximately 15 seconds. There are three parts to the AccuClean, the prefilter, the field charger and the collection cells. It's recommended the filters be vacuumed outside the home to ensure particles on the filter are not re-introduced into the air. Persons highly sensitive to the collected particles should wear appropriate respiratory protection while cleaning the filter. To reset the pre-filter timer, press and hold the RESET button until the pre-filter LED turns off. (1 to 2 seconds) To reset the collection cell timer, press and continue to hold the RESET button until the collection cell LED’s turn off. (4 to 5 seconds)

Preventative Maintenance agreements are an easy and inexpensive way to protect your home, your family or your business from sudden failure of your system.

You always want to be sure that your system is up and running when you need it on that first hot or cold day of each season!

With our preventative maintenance agreements, you'll enjoy twice yearly annual season tune-ups and as a maintenance customer you receive discounts on parts as well.

"Enjoy All Seasons in Comfort"

The cost will depend on what you decided to covered under the preventative mainteniance agreement. You can add the heating system (air handler or gas/propane furnace), heat pump or air conditioner. This agreement is designed to accomdate your system so you can add the heating & the cooling or just the heating. A very inexpensive way to protect your system from sudden failure and discomfort when the seasons change.

And, our service agreements are transferable and may increase the value of your home if you sell it!

• Furnace or Air Handler $119.00
• Heat Pump $119.00
• Air Conditioner $119.00
• Electronic Air Cleaners $30.00 (can be added when covering heating and/or cooling system)
• Hybrid system $238.00