Reduce Your AC BillsRoth Heating & Air

Ways to Reduce Your AC Bills and Save Money

/in , /by

Reduce Your AC Bills

It would be great if you could constantly keep your air conditioning unit switched on, especially during the summer. Though you might be tempted to do so, you still need to consider how your AC usage can affect your electrical bills. Still, there are energy-saving practices you can do when you keep your cooling system running in your home. Here are several tips you can consider to save money on air conditioning bills:

Keep Your House Comfortable

When using the AC unit, always keep doors and windows shut. Opening your windows at night lets humidity into your house and requires your A/C to work harder to remove the humidity drawn in through your windows. Apply weather strips on these openings to prevent hot, humid air from being pulled into your house.

Set Your Thermostat at 78 °F

The ideal energy-saving temperature depends on the climate of where you live. You can lower your electricity consumption by owning a set-back style thermostat. An optimum setting for most climates for the thermostat is 78 °F when you are at home. If you have a set-back stat, you can have it set-back (warmer) a few degrees when you aren’t home. Too large of a set-back will require the A/C to work too hard to drop the temperature down when you return home.

Avoid Adding Extra Heat to Your Home

Refrain from using the stove, oven, dishwasher, and iron to maintain a low indoor temperature. Cook your food with the microwave or outdoor grill. It would also be advisable to wash dishes manually. Ideally, it would be better to utilize these appliances in the evening when it’s cooler instead of in the middle of the day. Also, turn off computers, televisions, and other electrical devices when you don’t use them.

Use a Fan When the AC Is On

An efficient method of decreasing energy consumption is by setting your fan to the “ON” position on the stat, instead of the “AUTO” position. You won’t have to keep lowering the temperature in the house because the fan makes the air cooler. Also, a portable fan can distribute cooler feeling air to all parts of the room.

Hire an HVAC Professional for AC Cleaning and Maintenance
Ducts and vents accumulate dust particles over time, making your AC unit consume more electricity when cooling the room. This can shorten your cooling system’s lifespan and increases its chance of malfunctioning and needing repair. Avoid these issues and save money on air conditioning costs by scheduling a Power Vac Duct Cleaning and also having regular AC cleaning and maintenance.

If you want to hire a skilled HVAC technician in Wichita, KS to perform these tasks for your device, contact Roth Heating & Air. Get in touch with us to learn more about our residential AC services.

How Often Should You Change Your Air Conditioner Filters?Roth Heating & Air

How Often Should You Change Your Air Conditioner Filters?

/in /by

How Often Should You Change Your Air Conditioner Filters?

Changing your air conditioning filters is one of the best ways to prolong the lifespan of your AC and promote clean indoor air quality. So, how often should you get them changed? Read on to find out how frequently you should get an air filter replacement.

How Often Should You Have Them Changed?

Typically, you should get your air conditioning filters changed every three months. However, there are other factors to consider when it comes to how frequently you should replace them.

  • Pets – Whenever your furry friends shed, their fur can get inside the air filters and clog them up. Because of this, it’s best to get them changed every two months. When the seasons transition, pets tend to shed more. So, make sure to get an air filter replacement when the seasons change, from winter to spring or summer to fall.
  • Children – If there are infants or children at home, you need to provide them with protection by keeping your air quality clean. Allergens and pollutants in the air can affect the development of their lungs, brain, and immune system. Have your filter changed every 2 or 3 months.
  • Allergies – Poor indoor air quality can also be harmful to people who have allergies. To prevent the circulation of allergens around your home, get your air filter changed every six weeks.

How Can You Tell That You Need a New Filter?

Perhaps, there are times when you forget to keep track of your air filter replacement schedule. One simple trick to tell when it’s time to have it changed is to hold it up to a light source. If you see light passing through, this signifies that they’re still clean. However, if no light passes through, this indicates that your filter is too dirty and it’s time to get a new one.

What Happens if You Don’t Get Them Changed?

Over time, dust and debris will build up and clog your filter. This will affect your air conditioning system as it will need to work harder to function properly. This can also result in excessive energy consumption and an increase in your electricity bills. Most importantly, this will compromise your safety as the contaminants from your filters will circulate in the air.

Get an Air Filter Replacement With Roth Heating & Air
Are you looking for an air filter replacement in Wichita, KS? Contact Roth Heating & Air. We offer maintenance plans that will keep you on track with your air filter changing schedule. Call us today to learn more about our services and other AC products.

Heat Pumps vs. Air Conditioners: Which One Should You Get?

Heat Pumps vs. Air Conditioners: Which One Should You Get?

/in /by

Heat Pumps vs. Air Conditioners: Which One Should You Get?

It may be time to buy a new cooling system. Both an air conditioner and a heat pump will make a good choice. However, you may ask yourself this: which one will work better for my home? Read on to learn more about the similarities and differences between heat pumps vs. air conditioners to help you decide on which to purchase.

What Makes Them Similar?

A heat pump and an air conditioner are both used as cooling systems. The two units absorb heat from indoors and move it outside. This is what brings down the temperature inside your home.

What Makes Them Different?

Although they both provide you with cool air, a heat pump is the only one between the two that can also give you warmth. It has a switch you can flip to change from cooling to heating mode. A heat pump gets warm air from the outdoors, even if it’s cold outside, and brings it indoors. The hot air is then released to bring the temperature up inside your home.

Which One Should You Get?

You may be wondering about other factors that can affect your purchase. Here are other things that you can consider when it comes to getting a heat pump or air conditioner:

  • Cost of Expenses – Generally, a heat pump has a higher upfront cost. This is because it provides you with more functions compared to an AC.

 

  • Energy-Efficiency – This can be judged by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) ratings. Both a heat pump and air conditioner have units that rank high, which means that they are both energy-efficient. However, energy consumption can also depend on your location. For example, if you live in an area that experiences extremely cold winters, your heat pump will need to work harder to get hot air from outside to indoors.

 

  • Longevity – Air conditioners typically have a longer life span than heat pumps. This is because AC units are normally used during warm seasons only. On the other hand, since heat pumps can provide both heating and cooling, they tend to be utilized all year round.

Get Heating and AC Assistance With Roth Heating & Air

After reading about heat pumps vs. air conditioners, have you decided on which unit works better for you? If you haven’t yet, our team at Roth Heating & Air can help you with that. Just give us a call, so we can assist you in picking out the right HVAC system for your home. You can also browse our store for heat pump and AC products that you may need.

man fixing the screw

Five Furnace Problems That Need Emergency Repair

/in , /by

man fixing the screw

You wouldn’t want to go through winter without a working furnace. Having one is an excellent way to keep yourself warm and comfortable when it’s freezing cold. However, these heating system systems can unexpectedly break down. Read on to learn about some warning signs that you could be having a furnace emergency.

1. Randomly Switches Off

You might have experienced switching your furnace on only for it to turn back off after a few minutes. When this happens, it could be caused by a dirty air filter, rusted flame sensor, or malfunctioning thermostat. If you notice your furnace acting up, it’s best to contact professional technicians. They will be able to identify the source of the problem and fix it accordingly.

2. Loud Noises

Furnaces aren’t supposed to be loud. When turned on, they should barely make any noise. Sounds such as loud rattling or grinding are signs of an emergency furnace situation. This usually happens when your furnace is old.

3. No Warm Air

A furnace’s main purpose is to keep your place warm by blowing hot air. It’s a major problem when it does the exact opposite by blowing out cool air or no air at all. This can happen due to a blockage in the vent or an outdated blower motor.

4. Funky Smells

Most furnaces are fueled by natural gas that does not have an odor. When you smell something foul, such as rotten eggs or sewer, from your furnace, this could be a sign that you have a gas leakage. When this happens, turn your furnace off as soon as possible and have the professionals attend to your problem.

5. A Yellow Pilot Light

A furnace mainly has a blue pilot light with only the tip of the flame being yellow. When it is any other color, this could indicate carbon monoxide leakage. This can cause serious health hazards if it doesn’t get fixed immediately by technicians.

HVAC Repair Services With Roth Heating & Air
The best way to prevent these serious situations from happening is to have regular maintenance. At Roth Heating and Air, our team will be there for you even before a furnace emergency happens. Learn more about our maintenance plans by browsing through our site. We serve commercial and residential clients in Wichita, Kansas.

Getting a preseason furnace tune-up is essential for preparing your home for the winter. Read on to learn why it’s so important.

Benefits of a Central Heating and Cooling System

/in /by

Professional Heating and Cooling Service

There are many kinds of residential heating and cooling available today. One of the most common is the central HVAC network. In this setup, the cooling and heating process takes place in one location, and a series of fans and ducts distribute air around the home.

Having this HVAC system in your home has many benefits. Read on to learn about some of these advantages.

Uniform Home Temperature Control
Having central HVAC allows you to heat or cool your entire home all at once. Unlike split systems, which have one unit per space, you can conveniently control your home temperature from a single thermostat.

This allows you to set a uniform temperature for your entire home. However, if you only want to cool or warm certain rooms and exclude the rest, you can opt for a central HVAC with zoning features. This has discs or dampers in the ductwork to redirect the airflow to the rooms you want to be warmed or cooled. Either way, you can conveniently control the temperature of your entire home with a centralized system.

Cleaner Air
Homes with central HVACs tend to have cleaner air than those without. Since the central heating and cooling system is responsible for circulating air throughout your home, the air from all the rooms will be processed by the HVAC at some point. This means that any tiny foreign particles will be caught by the system’s filters and removed from the air you breathe.

Less Humidity
If you live in a particularly humid area, it may be best to install a central heating and air conditioning system to keep air moisture in check. The HVAC can remove extra moisture when the air touches its cold evaporator coil. The vapor condenses into water, which is then collected by the system and drained outside your home.

Reach Out to Roth Heating & Air
Give Roth Heating & Air in Wichita, KS a call for professional HVAC installation. We handle central air conditioner units and offer combo package units from different manufacturers like Rheem and Amana.