Touchstone Heating & Air Inc Blog | Air Conditioning and Heating Tips

Welcome March! And Welcome Air Conditioning Maintenance!

March 6th, 2023

The month of March means the end of winter and the beginning of spring. That doesn’t necessarily mean an immediate change to spring weather, but warm weather is never far away here in Florida.

March is a great time to think about how you’ll keep your house comfortable throughout the steady heat of the middle of the year. For all of us at Touchstone, this when we get to work helping customers with air conditioning maintenance. This is one of the most important services we offer, because it helps our customers enjoy the best performance from their cooling systems and get the largest return on their investment in home comfort. Maintenance eliminates most of the problems an AC may have. Best of all, it bestows peace of mind for our customers who don’t want to get trapped with a broken AC in the middle of a July heatwave.

Will an Air Purifier Remove All the Contaminants in My Home?

February 20th, 2023

The simple answer to this question is “no.” Science has yet to devise any type of single air purification or air filtration system that will remove 100% of airborne contaminants from a living space. Your house contains multiple sources of airborne pollutants (furniture material, building materials, paints, varnishes, cooking products, hobby products, cleaning chemicals, cosmetics, and people) that are continually emitting contaminants into the air. No air purifier can remove all of them and give you a “clean” home. The clean rooms found in healthcare facilities and industrial facilities are the closest it comes to contaminant-free environments.

This doesn’t mean an air purifier in Sanderson, FL for your home has no value. You can’t remove 100% of the contaminants, but you can get close. The right use of air purification and air filtration professionally installed into an HVAC system can remove more than 98% of unwanted particles from circulating through your house. That’s an impressive amount. But what’s the right air purifier for the job?

Some Important Info About Electric Furnaces

February 6th, 2023

Electric furnaces are heating systems found in many homes in Florida. They’re far more common here than in more colder parts of the country. You may be considering installing an electric furnace in your home, or perhaps you’d like more information about the one you already have. We’re glad to help out, whatever the case. But here’s something you might not have known:

Electric furnaces can outlast many other heating systems

Because electric furnaces don’t have the strain of combusting fuel and the presence of combustion gases like natural gas furnaces, and they don’t have as many moving parts as heat pumps, they will not wear down as fast as either. Where a natural gas furnace will usually not last much longer than 15 years and heat pumps can last around 10 to 15 years, a quality electric furnace can last beyond 15 years.

Do You Have Leaky Air Ducts? Here Are the Best Ways to Tell

January 23rd, 2023

Sealed metal air duct inside a building under construction, illustrating recent HVAC duct repair work.

Leaks in the air ducts of a home’s ventilation system are a major problem. It’s easy to overlook how much of a problem because ductwork is purposely hidden from sight in a home behind walls and in the attic. But if you have leaky air ducts, they’ll cost you in money, comfort, and even health.

Regular air duct maintenance is crucial to prevent costly repairs, improve indoor air quality, and enhance system efficiency. The solution to leaky ducts is to call us to schedule duct services in Madison, FL. We’ll test the ducts to determine the level of air leakage and then seal up all the leaks, restoring the ventilation system to airtight condition once more.

To call us for duct services, you first have to know there’s a problem. How can you do that when you can’t see most of the ductwork? There are several signs that can warn you of these air leaks listed below.

Several Common Repairs Your Heat Pump May Need

January 9th, 2023

It’s always heat pump season. That’s one of the amazing things about these systems: they provide comfort for both hot and cold weather. Right now, with colder winter weather than we’re used to in Florida, you’ll rely on your heat pump to deliver warm air to your house and family. If you’re wondering whether a heat pump is a good fit for Florida’s unique climate, this insightful article about heat pumps in Florida can provide clarity.

But what if it doesn’t? Although heat pumps are built to rigorous standards, they can still malfunction like any other complicated electronic device. Even with the best maintenance—which can eliminate more than 50% of repair needs—you still may need to call our technicians for heat pump repair in Lake City, FL at some point.

With that in mind, let’s look at some of the more common repair needs that can crop up for a heat pump.

Yes, Your Heating System Can Be TOO Powerful!

December 26th, 2022

This HVAC fact often comes as a surprise to people. After all, what’s wrong with having a heating system in your home that’s more powerful than necessary? True, it costs more to buy a more powerful system, but it means you can always have the extra heat boost when you need it, and when you don’t need it, you can just turn it down.

None of this actually works out, because furnaces and heat pumps don’t operate with a throttle where you ramp up and down how much thermal power the heater puts out. Aside from wasting money on getting a heater that’s too powerful for your house, an oversized heater will create other problems that will cost you in both money and comfort.

Let’s take a closer look at why an oversized heating system is bad news for your home.

How Does an Electric Furnace Work?

December 12th, 2022

Electric furnaces are a common option for heating in Florida. In regions with colder winters, electric furnaces can become costly to operate and they don’t have the heat capacity and heating speed of using a gas-powered furnace. In our short and mild winters, however, electric furnaces are cost-effective and just plain effective. For homes that don’t have a connection to a gas main, using an electric furnace in Newberry, FL is an excellent option for winter heat.

If you’d like to know more about electric furnaces and how they operate, we’re glad to share our knowledge with you.

How an Air Purifier Will Benefit You in the Winter

November 28th, 2022

Winter in Florida may not be a flurry of snow as it is for more northern states, but can still be drizzly and cold. It’s a time when you’ll want your home sealed up as best as possible to trap heat so you and your family can stay warm without having to rely too much on your heating system.

A shut-up home like this creates problems, however. Winter is a season with increased illnesses, as germs and viruses find it easy to thrive on people packed together in closed-in spaces. This is the flu season, and of course there are a few nasty strains of viruses still making the rounds—and they spike in frequency during the winter.

For this reason, and several others, we recommend installing an air purifier in High Springs, FL to help with winter conditions. We don’t mean one of those portable room air purifiers, but a powerful and effective whole-house purification system installed into your ductwork and controlled through the thermostat. This isn’t just a benefit for the winter: it will help you throughout the year, such as during spring when allergy season starts.

How Heating Maintenance Improves Your Winter Safety—Even in Florida

November 14th, 2022

Each fall, we make it a point to remind our customers to schedule heater maintenance in Wellborn, FL and elsewhere in North Central Florida. It’s easy for people who live in a warm climate to let their home heating needs slip past. There simply isn’t the same urgency in Florida when it comes to winter as there is in a place like Wisconsin. But heating maintenance is still important in our region, and that’s why we make a bit of noise to ensure the homeowners know it’s the time of year to get their heating maintenance appointment on the calendar before the winter.

There are several reasons why these annual inspections and tune-ups for home heating systems are important, even in the Sunshine State. Maintenance ensures the best performance from a heater when necessary, lowers the occurrence of malfunctions, and keeps energy efficiency high. But even without those factors, there’s an important reason to always have heating maintenance … and that’s safety.

Get Ready for the Season Ahead With Heating Maintenance

October 17th, 2022

It’s October, and even if the weather is still warm, this is when we recommend our customers arrange for their annual heater maintenance in Fort White, FL and throughout North Central Florida. Scheduling maintenance now ensures your system is ready before cold weather arrives, helping to prevent unexpected issues when temperatures drop. Regular annual maintenance also helps avoid the need for furnace replacement, saving you from costly and inconvenient system overhauls. Regular maintenance helps ensure that worn or damaged parts are identified early and can be replaced before they cause major system failures.

Unfortunately, people often forget the importance of heating maintenance in a place that gets as warm as Florida, but with the heating season approaching, this is an important service, as we’ll explain below.

Introduction to Heating Systems

Heating systems are the backbone of home comfort during the colder months, ensuring your family stays warm and cozy when temperatures drop. Whether your home relies on a natural gas furnace, an electric unit, or an oil-powered system, each type of heating system has its own set of features and maintenance needs. Keeping your heating system in top shape is about more than just comfort, it’s about maximizing energy efficiency, reducing energy bills, and avoiding costly repairs down the road.A well-timed furnace tune up can make a world of difference, helping your system deliver optimal performance all season long. Regular maintenance tasks, such as inspecting the heat exchanger for cracks, checking for gas leaks, and cleaning or replacing the air filter, are essential for keeping your heating system running safely and efficiently. These maintenance practices are crucial not only for furnaces, but for your entire hvac system, ensuring reliable comfort and efficiency throughout the year. By staying proactive with your maintenance routine, you can extend the lifespan of your furnace, improve indoor air quality, and ensure your home is ready to handle the demands of winter. In this article, we’ll walk you through the key steps to maintaining your heating system, so you can enjoy reliable heat and peace of mind all season.

Understanding Your Furnace System

To keep your home warm and comfortable during the colder months, it’s important to understand how your furnace system works. At the heart of your heating system are several key components that work together to deliver reliable heat. The combustion chamber is where fuel and air mix and ignite, creating the heat your home needs. This heat is then transferred to the air by the heat exchanger, a critical part that ensures your system operates safely and efficiently.

Once the air is heated, the blower motor pushes it through the ducts and into your living spaces, ensuring even distribution throughout your home. The air filter plays a vital role by trapping dust and debris, preventing them from circulating in your air and potentially clogging up the system. Regular maintenance of these components, such as cleaning or replacing the air filter, inspecting the heat exchanger, and ensuring the blower motor is running smoothly, helps maintain optimal performance and energy efficiency. By understanding these key components and their functions, you can better appreciate the importance of regular maintenance in keeping your furnace system running efficiently and your home comfortable all season long.