Furnace Articles

Heat Pump Versus Furnace

November 25, 2022
Living Room

Looking to install a new heater in your Howell home? Your two most popular choices are a heat pump and a furnace. Each one has advantages and disadvantages when compared to the other.

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How Do I Know When I Need a New Furnace?

October 1, 2022
How Do I Know When I Need a New Furnace? Magnified image of a heat duct

Let’s face it—there’s never a good time for the heat to go out in your New Jersey home. You certainly don’t want to wait until your heating system stops working for you to realize you need a replacement!

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Preparing Your HVAC System for the Fall

September 15, 2022
HVAC Fall Maintenance

Maintaining your heating and cooling equipment ensures it’ll run smoothly the way it should when you need it. Investing your time and money in these seasonal maintenance tasks goes a long way to protect both your New Jersey home and your HVAC investment, including your wallet. Well-running systems are more energy efficient, so they end up costing you less to run all season long.

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What Does AFUE Mean?

January 10, 2022
AFUE

While an air conditioner’s efficiency is measured by its SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating, an electric or gas- or oil-fired furnace’s efficiency is measured by its AFUE, or average fuel utilization efficiency. This standard measurement is given in percentages, letting you know how much of your fuel is actually used to heat your New Jersey home and how much fuel is wasted. The higher the AFUE rating, the more efficient the unit is. Typically the ratings or percentages you’ll see on new furnaces range from 80 to 100 percent (contingent upon the fuel type of furnace being rated). If a furnace has an AFUE of 80 percent, this means the furnace converts 80 percent of the fuel to heat your house, while the remaining 20 percent is lost, usually out the chimney.

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Tips to Troubleshoot Your Thermostat

December 15, 2021
Tips to Troubleshoot Your

If your heating or air conditioning system suddenly stops working in your Howell home, it’s easy to think the worst. However, sometimes the malfunction is not really caused by your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at all, but actually from a broken thermostat.

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How Can I Make My Furnace Last Longer?

November 10, 2021
Furnace Last Longer

The average furnace lasts between 10 and 15 years. But did you know you can take steps to make it last longer? There is no shortcut or hack to increase your furnace’s longevity. In reality, the key is treating your Howell system with care and respect. With just a small amount of time and energy, you can ensure your furnace will live well beyond its warranty. From our team here at 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, here are four things you should do to make your furnace last longer:

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Why Won’t My Furnace Stop Running?

October 29, 2021
Furnace Stop

Is your furnace blowing air without pause? If so, you’re probably feeling a bit concerned. First, your Howell house most likely feels like an oven. On top of that, your utility bill will be considerably higher with your furnace constantly running. Believe it or not, this is a fairly common problem our professionals at 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning see frequently, so you don’t need to worry.

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What Are Signs I Need a New Furnace?

December 14, 2020
man holding furnace piping

A furnace is a major investment for any Point Pleasant homeowner. Although it’s not something that will need to be done frequently, most people will face the decision of needing to purchase a new heating system sometime during home ownership.

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Schedule Your Annual Furnace Inspection Now

October 19, 2020
A maintenance man writing on a clipboard

Even if you have not thought about your furnace for months—it is easy to overlook if it is stationed in the basement or hidden in a closet—fall is the perfect time to make sure the most important seasonal equipment in your home is ready for action.

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What Is Short Cycling?

March 23, 2020
Short Cycling

Short cycling is a term used in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) world to explain a situation where a furnace or air conditioner turns on and off too frequently. The “short cycle” is the period of time that your HVAC equipment is actually running, and the shorter this cycle, the harder your system…

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What Are the Basics of Furnace Filters?

February 15, 2020
Furnace Filter

Furnace filters. They’re one of those items not really on the top of everyone’s minds, but they are important and can have a big impact. At 1st Choice Heating & Air Conditioning, we know with the right furnace filter, you can save money and improve your Howell indoor air quality (IAQ) in one fell swoop.…

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Video – Why Does My Furnace Smell Like Gas When I Turn It ON?

January 24, 2020
Woman trying to determine why her furnace has a smell like gas when she turned it on in her home.

You turn on your furnace, and you smell gas. What should you do? First assess what the smell most likely is, and you may not need to call anyone. Of course, if you’re still nervous because you just don’t know, turn off your furnace and give one of our highly trained technicians a call at…

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Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

January 15, 2020
couple trying to stay warm and determine why their furnace is blowing cold air in their home.

Did you finally turn your furnace on this winter only to have cold air blowing out of your vents? Or did your furnace stop working just when you started to need it most? There are a few reasons your furnace may be blowing cold air, and there a few things to check before you need…

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How Can I Save Money on My Heating Bill This Winter?

December 16, 2019
Mom and daughter relaxing by the fire after learning how they can save money on their heating bill this winter.

Is your energy bill too high in the winter? Are you looking for ways to cut costs? There are a number of simple things you can do at home to save money. Some of them are bigger projects, but most are simple things you can do in your day-to-day life to help reduce your heat…

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Video – Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

November 26, 2019
furnace blowing cold air on woman

There are a few things to check in your home in the case that your furnace is blowing cold air, such as your thermostat settings, air filter, and your home’s ductwork. If you can’t figure out the issue, give us a call at 732-378-9189 and we will inspect your furnace.

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When Do I Know It’s Time to Buy a New Furnace?

November 12, 2019
Little girl freezing in front of heating unit showing her family that it's time to buy a new furnace;.

It’s easy to moan when you decide that a major appliance or home system needs replacing. After all, these are expensive investments and probably not your favorite way to spend your hard-earned money. Unfortunately, there’s often not a clear-cut message, short of an appliance completely breaking down, that definitively indicates it’s time to buy a…

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Video – Check Your Furnace Pilot Light

October 25, 2019
check your furnace pilot light

Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the pilot light has gone out. Call us at 732-378-9189 or request service online to have it properly fixed. This is indicative of a bigger problem that requires professional help.

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