These Are the 12 Best Things You Can Do for Your AC

ByWade

Aah—that’s your sigh of contentment when you retreat from the hot summer sun and enter the sweet relief of your air-conditioned home. But if you want your AC to cool the air reliably and efficiently, it needs regular care and maintenance—and not just when Mother Nature turns up the heat. So, as the heat soars this summer, take a moment to give thanks to Willis Carrier, who invented modern air conditioning back in 1902, and then be sure to follow these 12 tips that will help keep all that cool comfort coming.

6 Things to Know If You Hate Your Home Heating System

ByWade

This time of year, it’s easy to imagine the conditions that await you upon leaving the house—a blast of bitterly cold air and a slippery path to your frost-covered car. Though unpleasant and inconvenient, such seasonal conditions rarely come as a surprise. Likewise, you know what to expect inside the home as well—a warm, cozy, and comfortable respite from winter’s worst. The trouble is that in many homes, the HVAC doesn’t meet expectations. If you’re tired of being unsatisfied and frustrated with your heating system, bear in mind that unlike the weather, you can change it. And for homeowners, there’s never been a more enticing time to upgrade. Recent years have witnessed innovation in countless product categories, including heating and cooling. Where traditional forced-air systems fall short, options like the Unico System succeed in delivering efficient, high-performance climate control, which promotes indoor air quality even while protecting the architectural integrity of your home. Indeed, while lackluster heating may have been the norm in the past, it isn’t anymore. Click through for everything you need to know.This content has been brought to you by The Unico System. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.

6 Signs You Need a New Furnace

ByWade

During heating season, there’s never a convenient time for the furnace to give out, especially considering the discomfort—and the genuine hazards—of a home without heat. Making matters worse, according to David Kenyon, a product manager with Sears Home Services, ailing heating equipment exhibits a curious tendency to die “on one of the coldest days of the year,” Rather than court disaster by depending on a troubled appliance, Kenyon recommends taking a proactive approach. “Make life easier for yourself and plan for any furnace project well in advance, before the temperature plummets and the issue becomes critical.” The first step? Determine whether your furnace absolutely requires replacement or whether “a relatively inexpensive repair would keep it in service for at least another season,” Kenyon says. Of course, for the average homeowner—for someone who looks at the furnace as a source of not only heat, but mystery—it can be quite challenging to distinguish between a doomed-to-fail furnace and a temporarily handicapped one. That being the case, Kenyon recommends discussing your concerns with a qualified HVAC technician “sooner rather than later.” Until then, closely monitor the appliance, and keep an eye out for indications of poor performance. Click through now for a few red flags to look for!This content has been brought to you by Sears Home Services. Its facts and opinions are those of BobVila.com.