Heating Service in Battle Creek

We strongly suggest having your heater or furnace examined on a regular basis. Many heating failures occur because this vital part of homeownership is ignored, often leading to costly emergency repairs. During your detailed inspection, our HVAC expert will thoroughly check for signs of damage, clean away any accumulated dust, and test all electrical and mechanical components. From improved efficiency and reliable warmth to meeting manufacturer warranty requirements, there is no better way to protect your heating system investment. You can reach out to us at (269) 965-1627 to schedule your furnace tune-up in Battle Creek.

Regularly changing the air filter is a key component of maintaining your heating system’s performance and efficiency.

• Standard 1-inch filters: Replacement once-a-month is strongly advised.

• 4-inch filters: Manufacturers recommend waiting six to nine months between replacements.

If you have shedding pets in your household, check the filter more frequently. The best way to know if it's time for a new one is to look at it: if the filter is significantly more gray than white, it’s definitely time to swap it out.

Before calling for professional heating services, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Check the Power Supply: Is power getting to your furnace or heater? Verify that your power switch is in the 'ON' position and check your fuse box or circuit breaker for any tripped switches.

• Inspect the Filter: When was the last time you swapped out your filter? Installing a new, clean filter can often resolve many common heating problems.

• Verify Thermostat Settings: Ensure your thermostat is set to “heat” and not “cool”. If the display is dim, try replacing the batteries in the unit.

• Clear Vents: Is there snow or other debris blocking your outdoor vent? If so, safely remove the obstruction. This allows your system to exhaust properly.

If you still don’t have heat after these checks, it’s time to contact us for Battle Creek heating services at (269) 965-1627.

The most obvious way to reduce heating bills in Battle Creek is to install a new heating system. But it’s not the only way to take a bite out of gas and electric bills. You can also:

• Lower Your Thermostat: Turning your thermostat down 10 degrees can reduce energy use by roughly a third. If that’s too cold to stomach, each degree will save around three percent.

• Get Rid of Air Leaks: Heat often escapes through holes in your home or ductwork. In older homes, this accounts for between 25 and 40 percent of all heat lost. Sealing these leaks not only prevents drafts but also lowers your energy bills.

• Service Your Heating System: Yearly tune-ups on your heating system are a great way to lower your heating budget. During these service calls, our Battle Creek HVAC technicians will clean your boiler or furnace, allowing it to operate more smoothly and efficiently.

• Install Better Insulation: Insulation is one area where home builders often cut costs. You might be surprised by how cost-effective getting your home reinsulated is. We suggest calling a local Battle Creek insulation contractor for a better idea of the type of savings you can expect.

• Cover Your Windows: The Department of Energy estimates that 30% of all heat is lost through the windows. While old ones should be replaced, even newer ones can leak warmth. Adding floor-length curtains helps keep the warmth from your heating system inside.

• Check the Vents: Now’s the time to make sure the vents are unobstructed. Are they dusty? Take off the plates and clean them. This simple step will allow the heat in your home to flow more easily and evenly throughout your home.

The final cost of a furnace installation is dependent on several crucial factors. These include the specific type and brand of furnace being installed (e.g., single-stage vs. two-stage, high-efficiency), the amount of extra labor or ductwork modification involved, and the required size (BTU rating) of the unit for your home. Keep in mind that if your home has two separate heating zones or units, this will naturally raise the total cost of a furnace replacement in Battle Creek.

Enjoy your vacation! While you’re away, the last thing you want is a burst pipe or damage to your home. Some people mistakenly turn off their furnace or boiler completely, which is the wrong approach. Allowing your home to get too cold risks frozen pipes, which can damage appliances, walls, and flooring. To both save on energy costs and protect your property, you’ll want to set your thermostat at around 55 degrees Fahrenheit, a little warmer if you have pets. Just don’t forget to set your thermostat to ‘vacation’ or ‘hold’ mode before you dance your way out the door.

First, AFUE is an acronym that stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This rating tells you how effectively a furnace, boiler, or water heater converts the fuel it consumes (gas, oil, etc.) into usable heat over the course of a year. The higher the percentage, the more efficient the heating system is. This number is calculated by dividing the unit’s annual energy output by its input. The government sets minimum acceptable AFUE standards for heating equipment, which are subject to periodic review and change.

The AFUE is one example of an efficiency rating. Other common ones in the HVAC industry include the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER, often used for heat pumps/AC), Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). Regardless of the specific measurement used, these ratings all have one purpose: they tell you how well a heating system performs in heating a space and how much energy it uses in the process.

Which fuel source is best for your home depends on several factors. Here is a brief comparison of the two fuel sources across a variety of characteristics:

• Air Quality: Electric heating systems generally provide better indoor air quality than gas counterparts.

• Safety: No flammable fuels or gasses means less risk to your family.

• Speed: Gas heaters generally reach temperature quicker.

• Extreme Weather: If your power’s knocked out by winter weather, electric furnaces can’t function. Gas units can still provide warmth.

• Lifespan: Electric furnaces in Battle Creek last slightly longer than gas ones.

• Maintenance: Gas furnaces require more maintenance overall.

• Cost: Electric heaters are less expensive to install but cost more to operate.

A lot of homeowners mistakenly believe that closing off supply vents saves energy. It does not. In fact, this attempted energy-saving measure can:

• Cause undesirable pressure changes in your ductwork

• Lessen overall heating system efficiency

• Worsen existing air leaks

• Aid mold growth due to misdirected warmth

• Result in heat exchanger damage

Instead of shutting vents, open doors between rooms. If the issue is a room being too hot—and you haven’t zoned your home—you can slightly close the vent, but never fully shut it.

The easiest way to tell the difference is by looking at how the heat is delivered:

• If you have radiators and water pipes coming from your unit, you likely use a boiler.

• If you have ducts or vents that blow air, your home in Battle Creek is heated by a furnace or a heat pump.

(Do note that ductless heat pumps also exist.) If you still aren’t sure, ask our Battle Creek HVAC technician during your heating system tune-up. We'll let you know what your comfort depends on.

Most modern furnaces can’t be set above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This safety measure protects the system by preventing long cycles and overheating, which protects vital components like the heat exchanger. Your heating system likely has a high-limit switch as an additional safety measure. If it detects the furnace's interior is too hot, it will shut the unit off. Most Battle Creek HVAC experts recommend setting your thermostat no higher than 78 degrees for optimal efficiency and safety.

Single-stage heating systems, typically older or more economical, only have one level of heating output. To help boost efficiency, many modern furnaces are two-stage. This means they have a high and low output setting. The former is used on the coldest days to keep Jack Frost at bay. During more mild weather, the lower setting kicks in. These systems save energy and allow for more even heat distribution. Due to their flexibility, they’re also called modulating furnaces.

Hotter air can hold more moisture than cold air. So, as it cycles through your home, heated air will pull water from the environment. The combustion process can also lower your home’s relative humidity. It should also be noted that winter is often characterized by dry air. Consider installing a whole house humidifier in Battle Creek to make things more comfortable. These systems can be directly integrated with your furnace or other heating system.

Here’s a breakdown of the key components you’ll find in most residential heating systems:

• Blower: This component pushes heated air from your furnace throughout the rest of the home. If this part breaks, you’ll notice the unit is on, but the vents aren’t active.

• Blower Motor: The blower motor powers the fan in the blower. Without it, the air wouldn’t reach far from the unit.

• Blower Chamber: This box houses the blower and motor and stabilizes them, stopping them from falling off course or rattling apart.

• Combustion Chamber: This area of the furnace holds the entire firing system. For safety reasons, it’s separate from the blower chamber.

• Heat Exchanger: This is one of the most important parts of a modern furnace. It’s how you get warm, safe air in your home. The gasses created by the ignition process are piped into the heat exchanger. The excess heat warms this part, transferring that energy to the air flowing outside the exchanger’s walls. Once drained of heat, the combustion gasses are sent out the flue pipe.

• Burner: Every furnace needs fire to kickstart the heating process. Oxygen meets gas or an electric spark at the burner, and the resulting flame kickstarts the whole heating process.

• Burner Cover: This small piece of metal covers the flame sensor, blower chamber, and ignitor. Its primary responsibility is keeping flames inside the furnace.

• Flame Sensor: This part is small but mighty. It detects when the burner catches fire. If there’s an issue with the burner, the sensor will shut the unit off, preventing deadly carbon monoxide leaks.

• Ignition System: Older furnaces have pilot lights. Newer units—anything made after 2010—have an electronic ignitor. Unlike pilot lights, these systems can’t be blown out by a gust of wind, making them more fault-tolerant.

• Limit Switch: This sensor reads the temperature inside your furnace. If the unit gets too hot, it’ll shut it off. You can typically find the limit switch under the supply plenum. You may hear it referred to as a fan limit or furnace high limit switch.