AC Issues Raising Your Electric Bill? These Factors May Be to Blame
Did your latest air conditioning bill come with a side of sticker shock? You’re not alone! Last summer, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association predicted summer electric bills would spike by 20%! Major heat waves, longer hot spells, and rising energy costs are all contributing to that rising monthly budget hit. But these aren’t the only factors that can push up your summer cooling bill. And while you can’t change the weather or your local electricity rates, the costly culprits we’ll share below are well within your control. 5 Common AC Issues That Raise Your Electric Bill Read on to [...]
2023 HVAC Regulation Changes
In 2023, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a new set of rules that aim to improve the energy efficiency of new HVAC units across the country. And if you’re planning on replacing your home comfort system this year, these regulations apply to you, too! Here’s what you need to know about the DOE’s new HVAC regulations—and what they mean for your next home comfort system Starting on January 1, 2023, all newly manufactured and installed HVAC systems in the Northern region of the US, including Nebraska, will be held to a higher SEER standard. A SEER—which stands for Seasonal [...]
Heating Services in Omaha You Can Get at Burton
When is the best time to find your new go-to furnace and heating services company? When your furnace still works! Because nothing takes your day from bad to worse than coming home to a chillingly cold house, and having no clue who to call. To save you furnace frustration when the winter blues strike, we’ve put together a quick list of the most common reasons Omaha homeowners give us a call: 1. For furnace inspections, cleaning, and tune-ups Our annual furnace preventative maintenance service is hands-down one of the best services we offer because it keeps your furnace running at [...]
Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality is More Important Than You Think
No matter how clean your home is, there’s one area we guarantee you’ve missed. And all the dusting, vacuuming, scrubbing, and polishing in the world just can’t get it clean. The air inside your home is some of the dirtiest, most pollutant-filled air you breathe every day. In fact, you can have as much as 2x-5x more pollutants in your indoor air than outside. Considering we spend an average of 90% of our time inside, there’s no question indoor air quality is a health factor worth fighting for. While outdoor air may be full of natural allergens, indoor air contains [...]
Hunger Action Month: It’s Time for Happy Homes and Fed Families
September is Hunger Action Month— our opportunity to unite in the fight against hunger. Hunger Action Month is an initiative launched by Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the nation. Every September, Feeding America partners with hundreds of food banks and thousands of Americans to restock pantries nationwide, just in time for winter. At Burton, we take every opportunity we can get to serve and support this local community. And Hunger Action Month is no different. That’s why we’re bringing back our annual hunger-fighting special for the 4th year in a row: This September, a $55 Furnace Inspection and [...]
3 Signs Your Thermostat and A/C are Out of Sync
It’s a hot, sunny, Omaha afternoon. Your A/C has been running all day, but your home is feeling more and more like your own personal dry sauna…. You know something isn’t working right. But before you go blaming your air conditioner, take a closer look at your thermostat. If your home can’t keep its cool, watch for these three signs that your thermostat and HVAC system aren’t talking: 1. Your thermostat won’t turn on If your thermostat’s display has gone dark, it’s not telling your HVAC system when to turn on and off. Typically, a fresh set of batteries will [...]
How To Instantly Improve Your Air Conditioner’s Performance
Air conditioners are the true MVPs of summer. To keep your air conditioner's performance running like a star athlete (and to lower your summer energy bills!), follow this easy checklist to optimize your system’s performance: Get a full system inspection and tune-up. A system inspection will reveal any leaks, cracks, or inefficiencies that could be costing you a pretty penny this summer. And the quick tune-up will take care of any minor repairs or replacements needed to improve your unit’s performance— before you’ve got a major fix on your hands. Clean your condenser unit. If your branches, bushes, or landscaping [...]
Burton Homeowner Hacks: The Easy Way to Maintain Your HVAC System
This time of year, your HVAC system is probably running almost around the clock to keep up with the hot Omaha sun. And all that extra effort can really tax your unit if you’ve got clogged or dirty air filters. One of the easiest things homeowners can do to maintain their system on their own (and avoid an A/C repair call) is to change their air filters frequently and make sure they’re installed correctly. If it’s been more than a month since you last replaced your filters, this hack is for you. We’ll cover why you need to change this [...]
How to Choose the Right Air Conditioning System
On a hot Omaha day, there’s nothing like the refreshingly cool, perfectly crisp breeze of an air conditioning system operating at peak performance. To keep your home comfortable all summer long, it’s important to choose the right size and type of A/C system. You know the phrase “one size fits all?” Well when it comes to your A/C, that couldn’t be further from the truth. If you’re building a new home or replacing your existing A/C system, here’s what you need to know about air conditioners: Permanent A/C systems come in three main types Central air conditioning: This system uses [...]
Before You Book, Here’s How to Vet an HVAC Service
If you’re looking to hire an HVAC service in Omaha, how do you find the best one? Flip open the phonebook (if you’ve still got one of those), scroll through Yelp, or search “HVAC service near me” and you’ll find a hundred different HVAC companies in under five seconds! The options can be truly overwhelming. To help you pick the best local HVAC service that will get the job done right, for the right price, we’ve put together a handy guide to the main questions you should ask every potential service— and how they should answer them. So pick up [...]
What to Do if Your A/C is Running 24/7
Dear Burton, Lately, my A/C has been running constantly. The air temperature is comfortable, but the unit just doesn’t shut off. Should I call for an A/C repair, or is this normal for Omaha summer days? - Cool but Concerned If your A/C is running 24/7 during the summer, that’s likely a sign that something needs to be repaired or cleaned. Even if your A/C seems to be working fine, it’s a good idea to call for an air conditioning service every year— before you fire up your unit for the first time. At Burton, our annual A/C preventative maintenance [...]
5 Signs You Need an A/C Repair – Before the Heat Wave Hits!
Nothing interrupts your carefree, sunny fun like a broken A/C during the dog days of summer. It’s time to dust off that A/C unit, flip to the cool side of the thermostat, and do a quick at-home inspection of your system— before the real heat wave hits! Related: 3 Signs Your Thermostat and A/C are Out of Sync Here are five easily-recognizable signs that it’s time for an A/C repair: You’ve got a water leak. If you notice a puddle around your A/C unit, call a repair tech right away. Moisture and condensation are normal, but in a properly functioning [...]