Thinking about replacing an old and inefficient furnace? You may be considering the various types of furnaces that are available. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy shares the following information to help you know when it is time to replace your old furnace:

• If your furnace or boiler is older than 10 years, chances are it is a good investment to replace it with a high-efficiency model with the guidance of a good contractor. Also consider a replacement now if your system is one of the following:
  • Old coal burner that was previously switched over to oil or gas
  • Old gas furnace without electronic ignition. If it has a pilot light, it was probably installed prior to 1992 and has an efficiency of about 65% (the least efficient systems today are 80%)
  • Old gas furnace without vent dampers or an induced draft fan (which limit the flow of heated air up the chimney when the heating system is off).
• If your furnace or boiler is 10–20 years old, and you are experiencing discomfort or high utility bills, hire a highly-qualified home performance or heating contractor who can help you evaluate your existing system. Often it will be more cost-effective to improve house insulation and air-tightness, repair or insulate ductwork, or tune up your system before purchasing a new one.

With all of the available options out there, it’s time to narrow down your choices. For the hottest heat available, we recommend a heating oil furnace, which has 140,000 British Thermal Units (BTU’s) per gallon. This type of system heats faster than gas furnaces, reducing the total amount of fuel that will burn. When comparing BTU’s, note that one BTU of oil burns less pollutants than one BTU of natural gas, making it a clean choice for your home. On cold, freezing mornings, your oil furnace will heat up quickly and bring comfort to your home in a safe way.

In Burlington, Eden, Greensboro and High Point, your oil furnace should get regularly scheduled maintenance to keep it safe and reliable. At Berico, we not only install the furnace, we supply the fuel oil, maintenance and tune-up’s necessary to keep your heating system running at peak performance. How about cost savings? Using the information below, you can calculate return on investment (ROI), noticing that $100’s of dollars can be saved by replacing your old furnace with a new energy efficient oil furnace:

If you have an idea of how much it will cost to install a new system, use the chart below to calculate how much money you are likely to save each year with a more efficient system, and what your return on investment is likely to be. Remember, when fuel prices go up, your savings will go up.

1. Calculate Dollar Savings per $100 of Annual Fuel Cost
To determine savings from the table to the right, find the horizontal row corresponding to the old system’s AFUE, then choose the number from that row that is in the vertical column corresponding to the new system’s AFUE. That number is the projected dollar savings per hundred dollars of existing fuel bills. For example, if your present AFUE is 65% and you plan to install a high-efficiency natural gas system with an AFUE of 90%, then the projected saving is $27 per $100. If, say, your annual fuel bill is $1,300, then the total yearly savings should be about $27 x 13 = $351.

2. Calculate Return on Investment
ROI = first year savings ÷ installed cost
Example:
ROI = $351 ÷ $2,500 = 0.14 = 14%

There are new dual fuel furnace options available today, so you can have flexibility and benefit from getting heat from a heat pump when temperatures are more moderate and an oil burn when temperatures go below freezing. At Berico, we sell heating oil to our Greensboro and High Point clients. Call 336-273-8668 today for more information on oil furnaces and heating oil.

(Source: Consumer Resources: Heating, www.aceee.org,) http://www.aceee.org/consumer/heating

If you like the clean air, high efficiency ratings and the reliability of a natural gas furnace, and you also want a dependable system that warms up the home on the most freezing days of winter, a dual fuel furnace is a perfect fit. By alternating between gas and oil to heat your home, you will have control over the heating source selection, resulting in lower energy bills. This hybrid system has a heat pump and gas furnace, providing you with the best of both worlds, in terms of efficient heating and cost savings. Thermo Pride, a manufacturer of Hybrid systems and one of the top brands that we carry at Berico Fuels, explains the technology:

“With energy costs rising, homeowners are searching for the most economical solution for their indoor comfort needs when it comes to both heating and cooling. Thermo Pride hybrid heat dual fuel system combines your existing oil furnace with a heat pump to deliver an energy efficient alternative to switching to gas. The dual fuel system is so efficient that the cost to heat with it is less than with any gas furnace available on the market today.

A heat pump works like and air conditioner in warm weather and can reverse the process and heat the home when cold weather arrives. The hybrid heat dual fuel system allows flexibility against unpredictable fuel cost providing flexibility to react to changing energy costs. The system delivers exceptional performance by automatically switching to the most economical heating source depending on the outdoor conditions.”

Natural gas providers have contracts, stating the terms that apply for using dual fuel furnaces. Since there are potential discounts available to dual fuel furnace owners, it is a smart choice for a heating replacement in Greensboro. When it is time to consider replacing an old heating system or buying a new one, the dual fuel furnace offers key features to consider:

• Perfect for climates that experience cold seasons and temperature fluctuations.
• Additional electric heat will not be needed in cold winter months.
• Options are available, such as humidifiers, de-humidifiers and air filtration variations.
• Custom adjustments specifically made for your climate.

If your cold season goes from late October to late February, the dual fuel furnace makes sense because an oil furnace setting will kick in to bring warmer air faster throughout the home on the coldest days, and a lower fan speed natural gas setting on mild days will allow for less energy to be used to warm the home. Your home will be more comfortable during the coldest days, since you can control how the furnace operates depending on the temperature. You will be able to get rid of your space heaters once you have a hybrid system in place, since the overall temperature will be more comfortable in every room of your home. Discounted natural gas rates, more efficient heating and versatility are reasons that dual fuel furnaces are becoming popular choices for homeowners and business owners.

At Berico, we carry a variety of brands for dual fuel furnaces, including Lennox, York, Goodman, Armstrong Air, and Thermo Pride. In Greensboro and Eden, dual fuel furnace installations are done by our certified and trained technicians, who will guide you through the functions of the new hybrid system.

(Source: Fall 2013 Newsletter, www.thermopride.com, 2013)

http://www.thermopride.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Fall_2013_Newsletter_111813.pdf

When you switch the thermostat setting from Cool to Heat and turn the furnace on for the first time, an odd burning smell fills your house. What could it be? We’ll help you figure out what caused this burning odor. But first, you need to stay calm and switch the thermostat setting to “off”. You will need to go over to your heating system and confirm that you do not see a fire or other serious situation at that location. There are a number of circumstances that can cause this smell to occur. Even if your heating system passes this basic type of DYI inspection, you need to schedule a seasonal furnace inspection and maintenance appointment with Berico Fuels. Serious issues and potential system failures can be avoided when furnace service and repairs in the Greensboro area are made at the start of the cold season.

The Combustion Chamber Has Dust Accumulation

While your furnace sat in an idle mode during the spring and summer seasons, dust accumulated inside of the combustion chamber. After turning on the furnace, the chamber was ignited, searing debris which caused the burning odor. Next, a blower pushed the warm air through all of your ducts, sending the burnt smelling air around your home. The good news is that this type of burning smell produced from dust is safe. The odor will leave your home quickly, with the help of opening one or a few windows to let it escape. If you continue to notice a burning smell, this indicates that there could be another problem with your furnace. Call Berico Fuels to provide a tune-up and inspection of your heating system, as well as the recommended maintenance to keep your system working properly.

Clogged Filters Need to Be Changed

Replacing your furnace filters on a regular basis will make the air cleaner in your home. If it has been months since you last changed your furnace filter, this a possible reason for the burning smell. When using a forced-air furnace, a clean filter is essential to delivering warm, healthy air to the rooms in your home. The filters take out allergens and airborne particles, such as mold spores, pollen, dust and pet dander. Filters work to clean the air before your furnace is heated, so that the circulated air is free of allergy-producing particles. When the filter becomes dirty or extremely soiled, the filter cannot work as intended because the filter fibers will be clogged with dirt and dust. This can cause a bad smell.

Pay attention to your filters to prevent a dangerous fire, which may develop from an overheated unit. The good news with this is that it is easy to fix the bad odor if a dirty filter is the cause. Simply change the filter with a new, clean one and the burning smell will disappear. It is important to keep track of filter changes, and make sure they occur every 30-60 days or as recommended by the manufacturer. Extend the life of your heating system and prevent malfunctions by frequently changing furnace filters. If this does not resolve the burning odor, contact Berico Fuels for furnace service in Greensboro and surrounding areas.

The Furnace Blower Malfunctions When Starting Up

The blower functions by drawing heat from your furnace and pushing it throughout your home. The unit’s internal temperature is also managed by the blower, so it will not get too hot. Mechanical devices sometimes need a repair, so that is also true of the furnace blower. When a blower stops working effectively, overheating of the furnace can occur, producing the burning odor throughout your house. If this happens, contact Berico Fuels immediately. It is important to call a certified technician for this type of repair, and our qualified technicians are fully trained to provide excellent repairs and maintenance for your heating system.

If all three of the potential causes listed above have been checked and the burning smell is still present, contact Berico Fuels right away to schedule an inspection of your heating system. We will get rid of the smell and keep your home safe and comfortable. Our trained technicians will help you identify the problem and will perform repairs to fix the bad odor. At Berico Fuels, we offer quality maintenance, installation and repair services in the Greensboro area for commercial and residential customers. Call us at 336-273-8663 to schedule your furnace and heating checkup and service.

Your furnace is probably something you rarely worry about. As long as it’s doing its job, there’s usually no need to think about it. However, as soon as it breaks down, particularly if it’s the dead of winter, it’s something you won’t be able to stop thinking about it.

Greensboro Furnace Repairs Done Right Who can I call to fix it?

Can I find someone in the Greensboro area that is trustworthy? How much will they charge me? When it comes to furnace repair, you’ve got a lot of choices. However, when deciding on a heating and air conditioning company, there are many questions you should ask, including:

Is the company reputable?

Do they provide long-lasting HVAC warranties?

Do they supply the heating oil or propane I need to run my furnace?

Will the company be around to help me throughout the life of my heating unit?

Before making a final decision on any Greensboro HVAC company, it’s important to keep all of these variables in mind. And just because a company offers low rates doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll give you the work and service you need. Berico Heating and Air Conditioning can answer a firm “Yes” to all of the above questions. Our company has been servicing residents and businesses of the Triad and beyond with their heating needs since 1924. Here are the reasons why you might need your furnace to be repaired:

Dirty or clogged filters

Because a dirty filter restricts airflow, it should be changed monthly. A dirty filter puts unnecessary strain on your furnace.

Wear and tear

Wear and tear on parts such as belts and bearings could cause your furnace to overheat.

Pilot or ignition control issues

If your intermittent pilot or hot surface ignition isn’t working properly, this can affect airflow.

Thermostat malfunction

Problems with your thermostat can result in no heat, no fan to force the hot air through your home, or intermittent heat.

Lack of maintenance

If you’re not providing your furnace with regular maintenance, there’s a much larger risk that it will break down.

Furnaces and heating systems are designed to require little maintenance. You might never have a problem with your furnace, but if you do, it’s important to know who to call. For all of your Greensboro heating needs, trust the experts at Berico Heating and Air Conditioning. Schedule furnace maintenance with Berico today!

Scorching summer heat can make upstairs living nearly unbearable. Sometimes AC Repair in Greensboro is inevitable. Even the best air conditioner in Greensboro has difficulty keeping upstairs spaces cool and comfortable. Why? It’s simple; because heat rises. To keep the upstairs cool in your home, utilize these easy maintenance tips.

Keep upstairs blinds and curtains closed during the day. As the sun enters the rooms through windows, it can make the space feel several degrees hotter. Pale opaque shades and drapes are ideal for blocking sunlight.

Replace single-pane windows. If you’re still living with single-paned window models, consider upgrading. Single-paned windows and window casings that leak allow hot air to seep in and make your AC work harder to cool your upstairs.

Ensure that your attic is well-insulated. Attic insulation in Greensboro is essential for all seasons, keeping heat out in the summer and in during the winter. Opt for a minimum of R30 insulation to help keep attic heat from conducting down into the second-floor living spaces.

Replace filters. When dirt and debris builds up on filters, they can become blocked, impeding proper airflow. This issue can have the greatest negative effect at the farthest reaches of the duct system, in other words upstairs. Filters should be replaced at least every three months, or more often if you have shedding pets.

Close half of your downstairs registers. Opening all upstairs supply registers and keeping downstairs supply registers partially closed forces more cold air upstairs where it’s needed. Do not close all downstairs registers as some air is needed for the air conditioner to work efficiently.

Unblock upstairs air return vents. Check upstairs air return vents to ensure none are blocked by furniture, drapes, rugs or other items. These vents should have plenty of room to create good air circulation throughout the upper floor.

Call in a professional for maintenance help. Contact Berico, a trusted Greensboro cooling and heating professional to survey your home. We can make recommendations on how to cool your upstairs spaces and will check for problems that are preventing effective cooling throughout the house. We can also provide air conditioning repair in Greensboro homes.

If your bedroom feels more like a blast furnace than a relaxing retreat, it’s time to make some vital changes to your cooling strategies. For more professional advice on home cooling and heating services for your home, please contact us today.