Heat Your Home for Less with These 5 Ways to Save
As energy costs rise, it’s becoming increasingly expensive to keep your home comfortable year-round. And here in Omaha, where chilly weather can push the temperature down into the single digits—or worse—you may feel like you’ve only got two options: Spend or shiver! The weather may be crisp and cold this month, but with these 5 energy-saving tips, your family doesn’t have to be! 1. Fresh filters improve your furnace’s performance You’ve heard us share this tip a hundred times— always, always keep clean filters in your home’s comfort systems! There are dozens of reasons why a clean filter improves the [...]
The 3 Faulty Furnace Problems We Solve Every Day
When your furnace is on the fritz, it can feel like the only solution is a completely new system! But when you work with the expert service technicians here at Burton, you may have other options. Here are three common furnace problems that seem like the end of your unit, but may actually be easily repaired: 1. Your unit won’t produce heat We know what you’re thinking—a furnace that won’t heat is a lost cause! But there may be a simple solution. When you call Burton to request a furnace inspection and repair, we’ll check: Your thermostat settings. If your [...]
Do These 5 Things Before You Turn Your Furnace On for Winter
Fall is the perfect time of year to give your furnace a quick tune-up before the cold weather really sets in. A cleaning and testing in early fall gives you plenty of time to schedule a home furnace repair, if needed, and gets your home ready for that first freeze of the season. Prepare your furnace for the real Omaha cold with these 5 prep-steps: 1. Put in a new filter Not only is a clogged furnace filter inefficient, it can cause your unit to overheat. Put in the new filter and set a reminder on your phone or calendar [...]
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 [...]
Electric or Gas Furnace? It’s a Hot Topic!
When it’s time to replace your furnace, you’ve got a big decision on your hands. Go with a low-impact, easy-to-install electric furnace? Or opt for a high-efficiency, higher cost gas furnace? Once you’ve narrowed down the type of furnace, who do you call to install it? Before you make up your mind (and make that service call), read this quick comparison between gas vs electric furnaces. Furnace technology has improved significantly over the past decade, and the best choice for your family now may be different than you think! Gas vs Electric Furnaces: What's the Better Heating System? 1. Electric [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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. [...]