Collier's Heating & Air Conditioning Blog: Archive for December, 2016

Important Thermostat Tips for Winter Heating Savings

Monday, December 26th, 2016

We’re going to experience another cold winter here in Fort Wayne, and our home heating systems—from furnaces to geothermal heat pumps—will put in a great deal of work to keep our households warm and cozy. That can also add up to steep energy bills over the season.

However, those bills may not need to be as steep as they were last year. A few simple mistakes with setting the thermostat can end up costing you from month to month. We have some advice on using the thermostat so your heater saves money—without a sacrifice in comfort.

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The Power of a Whole-House Humidifier in Winter

Monday, December 19th, 2016

Winter is the time of year when the weather here in Indiana can turn drier than normal. This is because much of the moisture vapor in the air freezes. Furnaces in homes can contribute to the problem, since the standard atmospheric furnace draws air from the home to run, allowing more outside air to move in—outside air that’s drier than the indoor air.

When relative humidity falls below 30%, it can start to create comfort and health issues in a home. A single portable humidifier doesn’t do much good against this; these humidifiers are best for use in an infant’s room. We recommend you instead have our professionals install a whole-house humidifier in your HVAC system.

Here are a few of the benefits you’ll experience during the winter thanks to balanced humidity:

  • Better comfort: Low humidity allows heat to escape from the human body faster. That’s great in summer. It’s not so great in winter. When the humidity is balanced, people in your house will feel around 10°F warmer than they would otherwise.
  • Energy savings: When people feel warmer in the home, it means you won’t have to keep the heating system running as often. Balanced humidity can mean a reduction of 25% off the usual cost to keep your house warm in the winter.
  • Fewer illnesses: Dry air dries out mucus and sinus membranes. Since these are vital bodily defenses against germs and viruses, dry air will mean a higher chance of people getting sick. With a whole-house humidifier, you can expect a healthier winter season for everyone.
  • Stop dry skin: Dry conditions allow moisture out of your skin, leading to itchy, cracked, and dry skin and lips. If you use skin lotion and lip balm all through the season, maybe you should have a humidifier put in.

You only have to call our indoor air quality experts to find out more about setting up your home with a great whole-house humidifier. And if you want to prepare for humid summers, we also install whole-house dehumidifiers.

Collier’s Heating & Air Conditioning serves Syracuse, IN and the surrounding areas. “A company you’ve grown to trust.”

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Check Out Our Fireplace Shoppe and Your Choices for a New Fireplace

Monday, December 12th, 2016

We’re a different type of heating company. We’re the people you can trust when it comes to putting in a new furnace, repairing a malfunctioning boiler, or doing routine maintenance for a heat pump. If you need whole-house heating assistance, we can deliver it for you. But we also work with the oldest type of heating system that’s still in use: the fireplace.

Our Fireplace Shoppe is a special part of our business. Although few people use fireplaces today as their main source of heat for their homes, fireplaces are a wonderful addition that creates a cozy feeling, a sense of luxury, a social gathering place, and even a bit of relief for the furnace or boiler. The Fireplace Shoppe provides many models and accessories, as well as BBQ grills and outdoor furniture.

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The Benefits of Joining Our HomeSavers Club

Monday, December 5th, 2016

One of the basics of keeping a home comfortable and energy efficient through all four seasons is to schedule maintenance tune-ups and inspections for the air conditioning system and the heating system at least once a year. The air conditioning system needs its maintenance done in spring to ready it for the summer heat waves, and the heater needs a fall maintenance visit to prep it for the chills of winter.

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