Design Comfort Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Bountiful’

AFUE Ratings and Furnaces: What You Need to Know

Monday, October 7th, 2024

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When it’s time to upgrade or replace your furnace, or if you’re getting a furnace for the first time, there are many things to consider. You’ll need to choose between a gas or electric furnace. You’ll also need to decide how energy-efficient it will be. 

AFUE ratings reflect the efficiency of gas furnaces. Understanding this rating is essential for homeowners because it directly impacts both your energy bills and the comfort of your home. In this post, we’ll dive into what AFUE ratings are, why they matter, and how to choose the right furnace based on these ratings. Rely on us for furnace service in Bountiful, UT.

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HVAC Tips for Pet Owners

Monday, August 26th, 2024

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Owning pets brings immense joy and companionship, but it also comes with a set of responsibilities—especially when it comes to maintaining your home’s HVAC system. Pets, with their shedding fur, dander, and unique behaviors, can put extra strain on heating and cooling systems. If you’re a pet owner, there are a few key tips for HVAC in Bountiful, UT to ensure your system runs efficiently and your furry friends stay comfortable. Here’s what you need to know.

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AC Scams At a Glance: Keep Your Cool

Monday, July 15th, 2024

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Hiring a trustworthy HVAC contractor is crucial for maintaining your air conditioning system and ensuring your home stays comfortable year-round. Unfortunately, the industry does have unscrupulous contractors looking to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners. 

These AC scams can cost you money and leave you with a poorly functioning or damaged system. In this blog post, we’ll highlight some common AC scams to be aware of and provide tips on how to avoid them. You can always count on us for trustworthy and honest air conditioning repair in Bountiful, UT.

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Operation Underground Railroad: Get Involved with Design Comfort

Monday, November 30th, 2015

While this blog is typically chock full of tips and explanations regarding ways in which you can live more comfortably, we have something different to discuss with you today. Design Comfort is teaming up with Operation Underground Railroad in order to raise money with which to rescue kids from human traffickers and to ensure that they are able to resume safe, productive, and enjoyable lives. This is a complicated undertaking, and it is not something that any company or organization can achieve on its own. That is why we are asking you to join the Design Comfort team on December 5th, at 9:00 am, to participate in this fundraising 5K. Additionally, we encourage you to learn more about Operation Underground Railroad here, and to consider other ways in which to get involved in this great cause.

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Should I Replace My Thermostat When Upgrading My Air Conditioner?

Monday, June 16th, 2014

When you have new installation for air conditioning in Bountiful, UT, you don’t necessarily have to change your current thermostat. The installers can connect the new AC system to the older control panel, and you can continue to control your cooling system the way you always have. But if your thermostat is the same age as the air conditioner that you’re replacing, then it is a smart idea to replace the thermostat during new installation with an upgraded model.

Our Design Comfort air conditioning installation team knows as much about thermostats as they do about fitting a new AC into your home. If you want to an up-to-date thermostat as part of the new air conditioning installation job, you can arrange they job with us.

Why a Thermostat Upgrade Is a Wise Choice with AC Installation

The advances in thermostat technology have mirrored those in HVAC technology. If your old thermostat is a manual model with sliders and dials, then you should definitely upgrade to a digital model. A digital thermostat can reach more precise temperature settings, and this will mean an improvement in comfort and energy savings. Digital models also have easy to read displays that will make it simpler for you to set and understand the temperature.

But there are even superior upgrades than going digital. Programmable thermostats allow you to control when the AC turns on and off even when you aren’t home. This is about more than convenience: a programmable thermostat will save power because you won’t need to keep an air conditioner running all day just so you can come home to a cool house. Instead, you can keep the AC turned off and saving power until the thermostat activates it a half hour before you come home.

The newest innovation in thermostats is the “smart” thermostat. These units permit homeowners to control them wirelessly from mobile devices or computers anywhere they have an Internet or satellite connection. Smart thermostats also learn a homeowner’s air conditioning comfort control patterns, and develop their own pattern to provide a house with cooling that best matches the owner’s needs while also saving energy.

Choosing the New Thermostat

In general, replacing a thermostat as part of AC installation is an excellent idea. You can upgrade to better technology, and you will have a system that is specially fit to your new air conditioner. To decide which new thermostat you should have installed, call professionals who can provide a range of options for thermostat replacement.

Our technicians at Design Comfort handle thermostat installation, repair, and maintenance services. Call us for installing air conditioning systems in Bountiful, UT and also for installation of a new top-of-the-line thermostat.

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Furnace Safety: A Guide

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

There are many advantages to a properly operating furnace.  Some of the most important are the safety and comfort of a Bountiful home’s occupants. Neither one of those things is something you can ignore, so here are several things you can do to ensure the  continued operation of your furnace.

  • Clean or change furnace filters on a regular basis. Replace disposable filters and clean permanent filters using water or cleaning solutions. Your owner’s manual or a qualified heating contractor can suggest a regular maintenance schedule.
  • Check the exhaust vent from the furnace. Clear obstructions such as leaves, clothing, or animal nests from the vent pipe or chimney. Keep roof exhaust vents clear of snow. If there is a faulty exhaust system (like a blocked flue), of if there are cracks and leaks in the pipes or improper adjustment of the burner, or if there is lower air pressure indoors than outside, the furnace can create serious indoor air pollution.
  • A clear air intake is important too, since furnaces need fresh air to “breathe” and complete the fuel burning cycle. Again, check for debris, snow, or animal nests in intake pipes.
  • If you have an older gas furnace, you may want to install a supplementary induced-draft fan that reduces the possibility of backdrafting. Some furnaces have automatic shutoff devices that turn off the furnace if it begins to backdraft.
  • Check internal components such as the blower motor and vacuum any dirt. Check belts and pulleys for excessive wear. You should consult your owner’s manual for any suggested maintenance tips on internal working components.
  • You may also want to check the pilot light to see if it is working and if it producing an even, blue flame. If the flame is uneven, it may be a sign of incomplete gas combustion, which can result in the creation of dangerous carbon monoxide gas.
  • Ensure that your thermostat is operating correctly by raising or lowering the temperature settings to make sure the furnace cycles on and off.
  • Install and maintain battery or hard-wired smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

Externally vented natural gas furnaces, when properly designed and installed, will operate safely for years. But if you detect a problem, use the most common solution – contact a qualified heating professional to check out your furnace.

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