Comfort + Food: Burton Partners with Food Bank for the Heartland
For the 3rd year, Burton’s customers can donate 5 cans of food and receive a furnace safety inspection and cleaning for just $55 dollars all month long. For 40 years, Food Bank for the Heartland has played a critical role in providing nutritious food to our food-insecure neighbors in Nebraska and western Iowa. Along with its 610 network partners, the non-profit often makes a critical difference for thousands of hungry families, who sometimes have to choose between medicine or rent, and feeding loved ones. In honor of Burton’s 3rd year of partnership with Food Bank for Hunger Action Month, we [...]
9 Ideas to Help You Save Money on Utility Bills This Winter
Winter is coming and with it comes the cost of heating your home. The internet is full of ideas for saving money on energy costs, but they can be expensive. Many major renovation projects are not worth the expense to make a home more energy efficient. However, there are other ways to lower your heating costs. You can save money on your energy bills without the costs skyrocketing. Here are our top 9 tips to say goodbye to shocking heating bills. Bundle up Wear warm clothes, put on socks and plush slippers. Wearing warm clothes indoors doesn't cost you anything [...]
4 Surprising Reasons to Use Your Ceiling Fans During Omaha Area Winters
In the middle of a hot Omaha summer, your ceiling fans are probably on full blast—racing to beat the heat and generate a cool indoor breeze. But did you know your ceiling fan can be just as effective at improving your indoor comfort in the cold of winter, too? It sounds counterintuitive, but switching your fan direction in the winter is one of the ways you can warm up your rooms—without having to crank up the heat. Read on to learn how changing your winter fan rotation can reduce your energy bills and keep your family warm all season long! [...]
Four Appliance Checks You Should Do Before Winter
Frigid temperatures can wreak havoc on your home’s appliances. Before the winter season is in full swing, it is important to address any potential problems that could cause lasting damage to your home. Here are four appliances you should inspect before cold weather hits, and continue to inspect throughout the winter season. Furnace An unchecked furnace can result in serious consequences. Carbon monoxide can be released into the air when the fuel in your furnace builds up instead of burning. Unchecked systems can also be a fire hazard when a broken interior part blocks ventilation or penetrates a heat source. [...]
How Often To Replace Air Filter
Get into the habit of frequently replacing your air filter. It’s a great way to ensure your HVAC stays in good condition, reduce energy bills and avoid future maintenance issues. A good rule of thumb is to replace your filter during a new season change, but it may also be dependent on additional things like the size of your home, pets, or if you or your family suffer from respiratory conditions. Pets can bring in dirt from outside. Their fur can also clog furnace filters. Change the filter more frequently to keep the filter clear of pet hair and dander. [...]
Is It Time to Replace Your Furnace?
Use our checklist to help with your decision! How old is your furnace? A properly maintained furnace can last anywhere from 15 to 30 years. You can check the age of your furnace by locating its identification label. Does your furnace have a lot of maintenance issues? If your furnace frequently breaks down and requires costly repairs, you may want to start shopping around for a new furnace. Have you noticed a gradual up-tick in energy bills? As furnaces age they have to work harder to produce heat. This results in high energy bills. Are certain rooms colder or [...]
The Dangers of Cracked Heat Exchanges
It is especially important to have your furnace checked during the winter season when you are heating your home more frequently. Most appliances that create combustion gas, like furnaces, can potentially create health hazards to your home if it is not maintained regularly. For instance, cracked heat exchangers can produce carbon monoxide and pose a danger to your family. How does it work? A furnace’s heat exchanger uses fuel to combust inside of it and create heat. A fan located inside the furnace will then blow air over the heat exchanger and into the ductwork. This is where heat is [...]
How Does Indoor Air Quality Affect Your Home?
Indoor Air Quality Let’s clear the air! Learning more about indoor air quality and how you can control pollutants within your home can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. Is the quality of your indoor air negatively impacting your family’s health? Health Effects When you’ve been exposed to pollutants, health effects can often show up shortly after. Some symptoms may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. Additional symptoms may include headaches, dizziness and fatigue.These immediate effects are generally short-term and treatable. Long-term exposure from indoor pollutants can be more serious. For instance, after repeated [...]
Celebrating 30 Years of Service
This is a special month for Burton AC, Heating, Plumbing and More. We’re celebrating our 30th anniversary in business. We’ve served Omaha and the surrounding communities for three decades. Maybe you’ve seen our billboards or heard the jingle – “If Your Plumbing’s Hurtin’ Just Call Burton.” Perhaps you’ve made updates to your home, or maybe you’ve had an emergency situation with one or more of your home’s systems, and our team was there to install, repair or replace what you needed. However, it has been a journey to get to where we are today. We continue to evolve and adapt [...]
How to Make Winter Indoor Living More Comfortable & Affordable
Your heating system is a team player. Think about that for a second. If your windows and doors aren’t properly sealed, your furnace, etc., can only do so much to keep you warm. If your ducts are clogged or your registers are dusty and dirty, your heating system has a built-in handicap. Yes, it’s the consummate team player. And here are a couple of other potential “teammates” that can help it do a much better job AND save you money: Programmable Thermostats – The easiest thing in the world is to forget to lower your thermostat in the morning before [...]
Under Pressure: Frozen Pipes
When water freezes it expands. If it expands too much, pipes can burst, water can escape, and you could be facing serious damage in your home. Winter in the Midwest often means days or weeks on end of single digit temperatures, meaning we’re at a high risk for winter damage like frozen pipes. Here are some safety measures you can take during extreme cold weather, and what to do (or not do) if you suspect your pipes are already frozen: Preventing Frozen Pipes In Your Home Leave your doors and cabinets open. Obviously, this is only meant for interior [...]
How to Warm Up a Cold Room
Do you have a room in your home that’s always cold? Perhaps it’s one you rarely use so you’re not overly concerned about it. Or maybe it’s your bedroom or home office and, to compensate, you pile on the layers, plug in the space heater, and count down the days until spring. Trust us, there are much more effective ways to solve the problem and here are just a few examples. Toe-Kick Heater – If your feet get chilly standing at your kitchen counter or bathroom vanity, consider installing a toe-kick heater. They discreetly fit into the hollow spaces under [...]