Are you looking for an energy efficient furnace in Raleigh? Today’s furnaces are rated with an AFUE (annual fuel-utilization-efficiency) rating. This rating shows the percentage of fuel the furnace uses to warm the air in your home. At Carter Heating & Air, we install heating systems and provide furnace tune-ups in Raleigh and surrounding areas. Look for a high AFUE rating to maintain lower energy bills in your office or home. When you are comparing furnaces with different AFUE’s, Consumer Reports offers these tips for determining the best value:

 “Just how quickly the investment is recovered, though, depends on more than the difference in AFUE between the two units; the electrical bills to run two furnaces with different AFUEs can differ significantly. Payback times will also be affected by the climate where you live, how well your home retains heat, and the rates you pay for gas and electricity.”

AFUE ratings between 78-97{72184548b2732d1e53f026153d0af7b89d3b74c9430607d21641291217d8190b} are the most common ratings for furnaces on the market today. Although the higher AFUE furnaces are more expensive, you will see greater cost savings through your lower energy bills over time.

The Southeast has recently experienced very low temperatures in the winter seasons, making it comparable to Northeast temperatures, so it makes sense to look at furnaces with AFUE’s over 90{72184548b2732d1e53f026153d0af7b89d3b74c9430607d21641291217d8190b} in the Durham and Raleigh areas. Our service team provides convenient installations, comprehensive furnace check up’s and HVAC maintenance and repair services. New furnaces help lower energy bills and become more energy efficient in your home and business.

There are some other tips that will help you to increase energy efficiency:

• Keep your thermostat a little lower than usual. Just a few degrees cooler will save you money and reduce emissions.

• Put heavy curtains up in the coldest rooms of your house, to block the cold window from affecting the internal temperature of the room.

• Have your ductwork inspected for leaks, and seal any leaks that are found.

At Carter Heating & Air, we will install the right furnace for your square footage, ductwork, house floor plan, and budget. With our range of new furnace recommendations, you can decide on the energy efficiency that will work for your family’s needs. We offer heating system maintenance and repairs to keep your furnace well-maintained and running smoothly. Our team of trained technicians will assist you with all of your heating system needs in Raleigh, Carrboro, and surrounding areas. Contact us at 919-772-4456 today.

(Source: Heating, Cooling and Air: Efficiency Matters, http://www.consumerreports.org, 2014)

You visit the doctor annually, and it is also recommended to have a professional inspect your furnace annually.  Missing a year could cause future problems down the road. It is essential to hire a professional who is certified in furnace service to perform a furnace tune-up in Greensboro and surrounding areas. Why are these annual furnace inspections by a professional suggested as part of routine maintenance? Here are some of the reasons, as mentioned in the StarTribune newspaper:

“Keep in mind, this isn’t just about safety; it’s also about preventative maintenance.   It’s about sometimes catching a problem before your furnace quits working in the middle of the night.   When you have to hire a heating contractor to show up on a Sunday evening because the furnace stopped working, you’re probably going to end up paying emergency rates.”

HVAC checkups are necessary not only for safety reasons, but to prevent future problems that could come up if they are not addressed. At Carter Heating and Air, we provide quality furnace tune-ups and service in Raleigh, Durham, Carrboro and Garner, and our maintenance technicians are highly experienced, delivering excellent, complete services. You may be asking yourself what is included in most furnace tune ups. Here’s a list of the most common items that are checked during the inspection:

• “The vent system needs to be checked for blockage and/or leakage.  This includes the outside termination and the connections at and internal to the furnace.
• Combustion gases must be analyzed and compared to the unit specifications.
• The blower access door needs to be checked to make sure it makes a tight seal at the furnace.
• The fresh air intake grills and louvers need to be checked for blockage.
• The heat exchanger needs to be inspected for rust and corrosion.
• The burners need to be checked for proper ignition, burner flame, and flame sense.
• The drainage system needs to be checked for blockage and/or leakage.   This includes the hoses internal to the furnace.  The condensate drain and trap need to be cleaned, and the water replaced in the trap.
• The blower wheel needs to be checked for debris and cleaned if necessary – this requires complete removal of the blower wheel.
• An amp-draw test should be conducted on the blower motor and compared with what is listed.
• The wiring needs to be checked for corrosion and damage.
• The filters need to be checked (but this needs to be done much more frequently than annually)”

Take care of your furnace and keep it safe and healthy for your family, home or business. It’s easy to do with a quick call to our office. At Carter Heating and Air, you will receive a comprehensive, annual furnace tune-up in Durham and surrounding areas, with a quality guarantee. Furnace manufacturers highly recommend this maintenance, as referred to in most standard warranties:

“Furnace manufacturers all recommend annual inspections and maintenance by a qualified technician.   They also have language in their warranties saying that damage to the units caused by improper maintenance is not covered under warranty.”

Carter Heating and Air provides professional, timely service for all furnace service in Carrboro, Garner and surrounding areas. To schedule HVAC checkups and learn more about maintenance programs call (919) 772-4456.

(Source: Are Annual Furnace Inspections Really Necessary?, http://www.startribune.com/)

Are you listening to a strange rattling or hissing sound in your walls? Do you want to discover where it is coming from and how to stop it? At Carter Heating and Air, we know that rattling, hissing or clanking noises often indicates that there is a problem that needs to be fixed in your Raleigh HVAC system before it leads to a greater, more costly repair. Our experience can help locate the annoying noises and repair your system if needed. By keeping up with regular maintenance from a reputable Raleigh HVAC company, you can avoid costly repairs and keep your system running at peak capacity. Let’s take a look at the rattling, hissing and clanking noises and guide you to a solution.

A rattling noise can be located in your external unit or the indoor unit area. If the sound is coming from the outside unit, first check for debris that may be stuck in your system. Clearing any obstacles around the unit might eliminate the problem. However, if the sound is coming from an internal component area of your Raleigh HVAC system, turn it off before the problem becomes larger. Call the experts at Carter Heating and Air to perform a comprehensive repair and eliminate the problem. The issue may be located deep in your system, and there could be a loose part or a connection that needs to be repaired. Our technicians are trained and certified so they can identify the problem and repair your HVAC system efficiently.

A hissing noise may indicate that air is escaping from a small area. Sometimes it can be in your walls, and other times it may be at the air filter location. When the hissing sound comes from your walls, this may indicate a serious problem. A leak or multiple leaks in the ductwork located in your walls may be the cause for this hissing noise. A professional specialist from a Raleigh HVAC Company needs to be contacted for this repair. With the proper tools and expertise, the leak or leaks can be located and repaired. Carter Heating and Air has fully equipped service vehicles with all of the necessary tools and parts to get the job done efficiently and affordably. If the air filter is where you hear the hissing sound, simply remove the air filter and replace it or adjust the size so that it fits better in that location. The hissing sound should go away once the air filter is in place correctly.

Clanking sounds are indicators that there are loose parts or possibly loose blades and pipes. This situation needs immediate attention before the loose parts cause extensive damage or a system failure. An immediate evaluation of the clanking noises is in order and Carter Heating and Air can do the repair work promptly to ensure that no further damage is done to your Raleigh HVAC system. Carter Heating and Air can help get your system back to normal so you can heat and cool your home efficiently. We also provide HVAC installations and maintenance service for the Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill areas. Call us today for your service appointment: 919-772-4456.