Monthly Archives: February 2017

Should You Install a Furnace or Heat Pump in Your Desert Home?

Installing a Furnace in Your Desert Home
If your heating system is showing signs of wear and tear and needs repair from an HVAC repair company in Gilbert, you have a couple of options when it comes to replacing your old unit.

Your first option is a traditional furnace, which you might have installed in the home now. Furnaces are responsible for heating the home using fuel and are controlled by a thermostat. The drawback is that they consume a lot of energy.

The second option is a heat pump, which is designed to keep the home’s temperature comfortable and consistent. In the winter, warm air is brought in, sucked into the heat pump and circulated throughout the home. In the summer, warm air is pushed back outdoors.

Since winters don’t get particularly cold in Arizona, heat pumps have been a popular choice for dessert homeowners. But even in cold-weather states, air-source heat pumps are becoming more common due to their efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

In this post, we will explore the major differences between furnaces and heat pumps and which one is best for your Gilbert home.

How are Furnaces and Heat Pumps Different?

Furnaces and heat pumps have the same goal of keeping the home warm and comfy during the winter, but they achieve so differently.

  • Heat pumps don’t manufacture the heat they distribute. Instead, the heat is found from the outside climate and brought into the home. Furnaces, on the other hand, generate their own heat using oil, gas or electricity, which is more necessary in cold-weather climates.
  • Furnaces blow out heat, which can create hotspots in the home. Heat pumps do a better job of maintaining an even temperature. Some people prefer the warm blasts of air, while others prefer a more steady temperature.
  • Some people don’t like the lukewarm temperature that they get with an air-source heat pump. On average, heat pumps deliver air between 90 and 100 degrees, whereas furnaces get up to 120 to 125 degrees.

Is One Better than the Other?

There’s a reason why HVAC repair services in Gilbert offer both furnaces and heat pumps – some homeowners prefer one over the other! Pros and cons exist for each heating system, so it’s difficult to generalize and say that one is better than the other. Your best bet is to speak with a professional who can provide you with more personalized information.

Before you schedule an appointment, here are a few basic things to know that might make your decision easier.

  • Can you add a gas line? If you can’t add a gas line to your home, then the choice is an easy one: get a heat pump. A heat pump uses electricity. If you can add a line, you’ll need to factor in this cost.
  • How warm do you want your home? We mentioned above that heat pumps feel more lukewarm, which will be more uncomfortable as the temperatures drop. This isn’t common in the desert, but still, something to consider.
  • What are energy costs in your area? You’ll see a lot of generalizations regarding the costs of heat pumps and furnaces, but the real answer comes down to what you pay for gas and electricity. These rates vary from month to month, and heat pumps will get expensive if they need to pull air from a secondary heating unit. In general, though, heat pumps can save upwards of 30% off your electric bill.

Before you make an investment in a new heating system, give Bruce’s Air Conditioning and Heating a call! Our licensed and certified technicians are more than happy to provide you with a solid recommendation based on your needs and budget.

Photo Credit: Franco Giovanella

Commercial Air Purifier for Employee Health

Commercial Air Purifiers

If you own a business in the Greater Phoenix region, you might want to consider an air purifier for your workplace. Commercial air purifiers work just like residential units, but on a larger scale, and can be professionally installed by an HVAC service in Gilbert.

Air purifiers are responsible for trapping harmful particles that are floating around in the air, such as dust, pollen, and mold. In the workplace, there are other harmful contaminants to be concerned about, and an air purifier will trap these as well. It all depends on the industry you are in, as some are more at risk than others.

In this post, we are going to explore the benefits to installing a commercial air purifier in your workplace and how this investment can increase productivity and employee morale.

Less Illness

A major problem in any workplace is the spreading of germs. An air purifier can help reduce germs and bacteria in the air so that fewer illnesses are shared. This is done by circulating the air and getting rid of contaminants. Also, since air purifiers reduce symptoms from allergies and asthma, employees with these health conditions will have fewer side effects, and with that, cough and sneeze less.

Increased Productivity

Research shows that when employees feel healthier and happier, they are more productive. Having a commercial air purifier installed will create a better workplace because workers will feel healthier and less fatigued. It’s also important to show that you care about the health and well-being of your staff. Plus, with less illness going around, more employees will make it into work, significantly reducing downtime.

Reduced Odors

Anytime you have a group of people together, there’s bound to be a wide range of odors. Your break room, for instance, might have the lingering smell of stale coffee, reheated curry or even something moldy coming from the fridge. An air purifier dispersers odor-causing pollutants and can make your workplace smell clean and fresh.

Battling Sick Building Syndrome

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is used to describe a range of symptoms that occupants of a building suffer. These symptoms are nonspecific and can include irritation to the nose, eyes, and throat, skin irritation, infectious diseases or hypersensitivity reactions. These symptoms are linked to the amount of time spent in a particular building and are not linked to any specific disease.

Sick building diseases are generally believed to be caused by flaws in the heating, cooling and ventilation systems in commercial buildings. It’s also possible that certain contaminants in the workplace can lead to symptoms. If employees are complaining about not feeling well, take these complaints seriously. It only benefits your bottom line if your employees feel healthy, productive and energized.

If you suspect that there may be a problem causing people to feel unwell, call trusted HVAC repair company in Gilbert and have your air tested. You can determine if your workplace can benefit from an air purifier and also if you need your ductwork cleaned.

To learn more about improving the health and safety of your workplace, call Bruce’s AC. We’re happy to come out and test the air in your commercial building to determine what you and your employees are breathing in!

Photo Credit: Wixphoto.com

Are Annual Furnace Tune Ups Worth the Cost?

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Annual Furnace Tune Ups

It comes highly recommended to have your HVAC equipment checked annually. But is this really necessary? What is done during an annual tune-up that makes it so important?

An annual furnace inspection is the single most effective way to care for your HVAC equipment and prolong its lifespan. Furnace manufacturers recommend annual inspections by a qualified technician, and most have language in their warranties that say that damage caused by not having the proper maintenance won’t be covered.

Also, the older your furnace is, the more important it is to have it looked at. There’s more to go wrong, and it’s usually cheaper and easier to fix an issue if you know about it ahead of time. If you have a brand new furnace, an HVAC service in Gilbert may recommend having it looked at every two years instead of one.

What’s Included with a Tune Up?

When you have a technician service your furnace, it’s a good idea to know what’s being done. Though you would think that all HVAC repair companies in Gilbert deliver the same services, it’s not true. To make things more complicated, there is no industry standard for a furnace tune-up, so companies are left to their own accord as to what to include in their inspection.

At Bruce’s AC, we recommend having the following checked at your annual tune-up:

  • Analyze combustion gases
  • Check blower access door
  • Check fresh air intake grills and louvers
  • Inspect heat exchanger for rust or corrosion
  • Check burners for proper ignition
  • Check drainage system for blockages or leaks
  • Check and clean blower wheel
  • Conduct amp-draw test
  • Check wiring for corrosion or damage
  • Check and replace filters

Why Choose Bruce’s AC for a Furnace Inspection

Bruce’s AC provides detailed, comprehensive tune-ups that will keep your utility costs down and extend the life of your HVAC system. Regular inspections also prevent your furnace from breaking down in the middle of the night.

The year can go by fast, so if you’re not good at scheduling yearly appointments, you might want to consider an ongoing maintenance agreement. Our AC repair company offers pre-scheduled biannual checks for your entire HVAC system – heating and cooling. This means that your HVAC equipment gets steady attention, and you don’t have to do anything!

As you can see, yearly inspections are an important part of keeping your furnace in good condition. Before hiring a company to come out and inspect your furnace, make sure that you do your research and learn about what’s included with the tune-up. Each company is different and will provide different services.

Give Bruce’s AC a call to learn more about our prices on annual inspections. We have been delivering reliable, affordable heating and cooling services since 1972 to residential and commercial customers.

Photo Credit: Chance Agrella