Furnace

The HVAC system is a lot like the heart, it is the lifeline of your home, keeping you and your family warm in the winter and cool in the summer.  However, a lot goes into keeping your home warm, cool, dry, moist, clean, etc.  Your heating, ventilation and air conditioner are big expenses and costly utilities, it makes sense to keep the system working well and working smart, but it can be confusing to figure out what you need to do to keep your system running.

Here are 7 things you should know when considering your indoor comfort.

  1. When to Invest in a New HVAC System

A few items to consider replacing your current system include spending 30% or more of the price of a new furnace or air conditioner on repairs, if your utility bills have increased 50% as a result of an older system that is less efficient, if your current system is older than 10 to 15 years.

  1. Total Savings with a New System

Heating and air conditioning make up over 40% of a home’s energy bill, so a unit that is not energy efficient is costing you more. In fact, today’s ENERGY STAR systems can be up to 60% more efficient that equipment that is 10 years old.

  1. Central AC as a Necessity

Most new homes come with central air conditioning as a standard feature these days.  However, if you have a home that does not have central air and you are considering adding it to your home, consider that the best solution for indoor comfort, great air quality, and humidity control is central air conditioning.

  1. Improve Air Quality

Indoor air can be up to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air and can contribute to allergies and respiratory issues.  Adding a ventilation system, a UV light, or an air cleaner can drastically improve your indoor air quality.

Adding a humidifier can also help keep your indoor air comfortable.  Adding moisture during the dry months can prevent dry skin, nosebleeds, and can also save your wood furniture or flooring from drying out.

  1. Keep Air Ducts Clean

The Better Heating-Cooling Council recommends having your air ducts cleaned once a year.  Your air ducts are the pathway for heated or cooled air to travel throughout your home.   Pollen, mold, dust, pet dander and dust mites can make these ducts their home.

Every time your furnace fires up and sends air throughout your home, everything in those ducts is traveling in that air and is delivered directly to your family room, bedroom, kitchen, etc.

  1. Schedule Annual System Checks

The best way to prevent unexpected issues is to have your HVAC system checked out.  Schedule an AC system check in the spring to avoid surprise repairs and schedule a furnace check in the fall to get ready for winter.  A qualified technician can check your system to make sure nothing needs to be repaired or replaced.

  1. Talk to a Professional

TR Miller Heating & Cooling is a family owned 3rd generation HVAC company committed to keeping Chicagoland area homes safe and comfortable all year long. We believe our customers deserve the best quality indoor comfort services possible and we take pride in being the name so many of our friends and neighbors know they can count on.

We’ve proven our commitment to excellent customer care and high-quality workmanship through the number of happy customers and awards we’ve received. We have been honored with recent awards including the Customer Care Excellence Award, Angie’s List Super Service Award, and we’ve also been ranked as the American Standard Dealer of the Year.

Author

  • brian sloan headshot

    Brian Sloan is the President of TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical, one of the western Chicago suburbs' leading family owned home service companies, serving homeowners across more than 80 communities throughout Will, Kendall, DuPage, Kane, and Cook counties.

    TR Miller is more than a business to Brian, it's a family legacy. The company was founded by his father, Tim Miller, and Brian and his brother Jim have played an important role in growing the business from a small local operation into a full service residential HVAC, plumbing, and electrical company serving homeowners throughout the greater Chicagoland area.

    Brian's perspective on the home services industry comes from firsthand experience. Before taking on leadership responsibilities, he worked in the field as an HVAC Service Technician and Fabrication Technician, diagnosing heating and cooling systems, assembling custom HVAC components, and supporting residential installations throughout the western suburbs.

    That hands on foundation continues to influence the way Brian leads TR Miller today. He understands both the work taking place inside a customer's home and the systems, training, and support required behind the scenes to consistently deliver a great customer experience.

    Over the course of his career at TR Miller, Brian has worked across nearly every major area of the business, including operations, marketing, sales, job coordination, customer service, finance, and leadership. Today, as President, he is responsible for the overall strategy, growth, culture, and performance of the organization.

    That breadth of experience across both the technical and business sides of home services has helped shape how TR Miller operates: combining the systems and accountability of a professionally run organization with the care, responsiveness, and personal connection of a family business.
    Brian's philosophy is straightforward, make home services convenient and reliable while giving homeowners the information they need to make the best decisions for their homes and families. That means educating customers, providing clear options and upfront pricing, and making sure homeowners understand both what was found and why a repair or replacement may be recommended.

    Under Brian's leadership, TR Miller has expanded beyond HVAC into plumbing and electrical services, grown across multiple locations, invested heavily in technical and leadership development, and been recognized seven times on the Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest growing privately held companies.

    Credentials & Affiliations:
    - President, TR Miller Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical
    - Membership Officer, YPO Chicagoland
    - Board Member, Nexstar Network
    - Former Vice Chair, Board of Directors, Plainfield Shorewood Area Chamber of Commerce
    - Associate's Degree, Waubonsee Community College
    - Former HVAC Service Technician & Fabrication Technician, TR Miller
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