Blog | Fire 'n' Ice Heating & Cooling

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Don’t Fall for These 3 Heating System Myths

April 18, 2019

It’s normal to want to try to save money on your heating bill while still keeping your home warm. Unfortunately, many homeowners follow incorrect advice that can actually end up costing them more in the long run. Don’t follow that herd. Here are three common heating myths you shouldn’t believe. 1. You Need to Keep Your Thermostat at a Constant Temperature You may have heard that you shouldn’t lower your home’s temperature while you’re away, but nothing could be further from the truth. It actually takes more energy to keep your house at a constant temperature than it does to warm up a cold room. The higher the temperature your thermostat is set to, the more of a hit your heating bill will take. Don’t hesitate to lower your thermostat on warmer days or while you’re away. Even bringing it down just a few degrees while you’re at work can mean significant savings. This is especially true when you plan on being gone for the weekend. If you have a programmable or smart thermostat, you can even set it to start warming up again before you come back. 2. Closing Your Vents and Registers Will Save You Money You may...

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5 Energy Efficiency Tips

April 8, 2019

In today’s world, more and more people are becoming wary of energy consumption in their homes. Everyone is shifting to energy-friendly appliances since energy sources are quickly diminishing. Here are five ways you can conserve energy in your house. 1. Maintain or Replace Old Appliances Old appliances such as water heaters and refrigerators are plagued by characteristic high energy consumption and less efficiency. Of course, repeated use of home appliances wears them down over time. This means they become less efficient as time goes by. Therefore, it becomes essential to maintain and regularly service home appliances. Even with regular servicing, these appliances may become outdated and incompatible with present energy-saving technology. Maintaining them might become more of a liability than an advantage. It would be suitable to purchase modern, technologically advanced appliances. Better yet, having energy-friendly devices can get you rebates in tax credits provided they meet the Energy Star criteria. 2. Purchasing a Smart Thermostat Thermostats are meant to control and manage the heating and cooling of our homes. Today, smart thermostats exist. The latter adjusts the room’s temperature through advanced intelligent learning capabilities. These intelligent appliances learn when you’re most active or less active and adjust the temperature...

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Old vs. New: Is It Time to Replace Your Furnace?

March 20, 2019

Not too many homeowners like the thought of having to invest in an entirely new furnace. After all, this is a major investment. However, if you’re just making do with an older furnace, especially one that’s way past its standard lifespan, there may be more advantages to opting for a furnace installation than you may realize. Here’s a closer look at how old and new furnaces compare. Safety Concerns If you’re like most homeowners in Downers Grove, IL, it’s safe to assume that you want to do everything possible to keep your home safe and comfortable. An older furnace tends to be more likely to have worn parts and wiring. There’s also the possibility of issues with potential gas leaks or carbon monoxide. With a new furnace, you’ll get the added peace of mind in knowing that all components are designed with today’s safety standards in mind. Overall Efficiency The more efficiently a furnace operates, the less you will spend on monthly utility bills. Even if your older furnace is still able to keep your living or working spaces warm, you may be wasting money if it takes more of an effort for your equipment to achieve this goal. In...

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Find the Right Heating System for Your Home

March 1, 2019

There are many choices on the market for a new heating system. For example, you could heat your home with a boiler, furnace or heat pump. Each system uses a different method to keep your home warm during the winter months. Many of these units can help you save a little money on your heating bills too. With a little research, you can find the right option for your home. Here are the differences between the three major systems. Boilers and Radiant Heat Systems Most people confuse boilers with furnaces. These two systems are very different from each other. Boilers use electricity, natural gas or propane as a fuel source to heat water. The boiler’s warm air is distributed throughout the home by a radiant heating system. Many people use baseboard heaters, aluminum panels or radiators to heat their home. This radiant heat system helps you to have maximum heat efficiency without circulating air around the home. Furnaces Furnaces are the most common way to warm your home. They are available in electric or gas models. These systems blow heated air through a series of ducts. Furnaces are often called a forced air system. The heating system can be fueled...

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A Smart Thermostat Controls Your Comfort

February 20, 2019

The thermostat is a basic part of any heating system, allowing you to set the temperature of the rooms in your home. Like all technology, thermostats have been improving in both quality and ability. Using a smart thermostat will change the way you heat your home. Here are some of the benefits a smart thermostat brings to your heating system. Programmable Comfort Many homes now use programmable thermostats. You can set the thermostat at different temperatures depending on when you are around during the day. The house will be comfortable when people are home and cooler when everyone is out. Smart thermostats are taking this programming to the next level. Not only can you input a daily or weekly schedule, but some thermostats can learn your habits over time, creating a schedule based on your family’s coming and going. Other thermostats can coordinate with sensors, only warming or cooling rooms when someone is present. Remote Access Many smart thermostats can be accessed via an internet connection or paired with your smartphone. You can set the thermostat from anywhere in the world. If you are getting home from work early, you can tell the thermostat to warm your house during the...

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Why Do Utility Companies Care if You Maintain Your System?

February 2, 2019

HVAC maintenance is a noble cause because of several reasons. All stakeholders, from manufacturers to utility companies, have an interest in how every system that draws its source of energy from the supply line works. Every year, each homeowner should inspect and maintain his or her system. Here are the top reasons why utility companies care about the state of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. 1. Poorly Maintained Systems Consume More Energy Energy is a premium commodity globally. The price of energy continues to increase each passing day thanks to the growing demand and scarcity of the resource. When utility companies are planning production and distribution, they have to factor in consumption levels. If the systems are in perfect conditions, they’ll require optimal energy to run them. If that’s not the case, then consumption levels will be erratic. The utility companies will not have an easy time keeping up with demand for energy, especially during the peak season such as winter. 2. System Maintenance Determines the Safety Levels A well-maintained system is secure, and the risk of it breaking down is minimal. When the systems are secure, the chances of systems causing stress on the overall utility lines...

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Aspects of an HVAC System

January 25, 2019

Our HVAC company, is often asked by our customers what an HVAC system entails. First, HVAC stands or heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. These components keep our customers’ homes comfortable in all seasons and in all weather, and our professionals install, repair and maintain them. Here are more details about the HVAC system and what it encompasses. Heating There are five main types of heating systems. One uses forced air. The air originates in a furnace and is blown through supply ducts and up and out of registers. When the air cools, it falls into return air registers and goes back to the furnace to be heated again. Hot water and steam systems use a boiler to send hot water or steam through supply lines and into radiators. A radiant system uses electrical cables or tubes filled with hot water installed beneath the floor or even in the walls or ceiling. Heat pumps can be used for both heating and cooling. Most people in the United States still use furnaces, boilers or heat pumps. Furnaces and boilers can be powered by: Oil Gas Propane Electricity Solar power Heat pumps, which resemble and work like central air conditioning units, take heat...

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3 Heating System Myths

January 5, 2019

Illinois homeowners know that keeping a heating system in great shape is a top priority. Unfortunately, there are many heating system myths that the average citizen believes. Here are a few heating myths that need to be busted. 1. Closing Vents and Registers Lowers Bills Most homeowners believe that reducing the space being heated will reduce energy expenditures. The reality is that closed vents throw off the balance of a forced-air system and make it work harder to heat a home. A better way to cut back on wasted energy is by cleaning vents, registers and ducts to ensure unimpeded airflow. Make sure that there are no leaks in conduits by applying duct insulation. Hire an HVAC technician to help you with the maintenance of your heating system. 2. Turning Up the Thermostat Heats a Home Faster Regardless of the fuel being used, a furnace can only produce so many BTUs per minute. Setting the thermostat higher than your target temperature won’t make your heating system magically warm the house faster. A better way to achieve quicker heating results is to keep the house at a moderate temperature while you’re away. Programmable smart thermostats can maintain a minimum temperature during...

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What to Expect from a Furnace Replacement

December 20, 2018

It is time to replace your furnace in your Downers Grove, IL area home. You have tried to repair the old unit for the last time and would rather enjoy your home instead of always worrying about the heat. The technicians at Fire “N’ Ice Heating and Cooling Inc. are here to make this important repair as easy on you as possible. Here are a few things to expect on the big day. Ordering the Right Unit for Your Home Before we get down to replacing your furnace, we need to make sure we are ordering the correct one for your home. We will complete a heating survey and match the output of a new furnace to the size of your home while taking into account its insulating factors. We will try to source the new unit as quickly as possible, but if you are replacing in the summer we can take extra time to get the perfect fit. Expect it to Take a Day If we are just removing an old unit and popping the same model in place, it could take as little as 4 hours. However, if you need any adjustments to your pipes, electrical, or ducting,...

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The Wonderful Invention of Furnaces

December 17, 2018

Furnaces are among the most remarkable inventions of all time. Before we dive a little more into the details of this awesome human discovery that has solved the ancient agony of unbearable weather conditions, it’s important to work with qualified furnace expert for all your installation and repair works. With a seasoned, qualified professional watching your back, you are at liberty to enjoy a far-reaching comfort of mind on matters heating, cooling, repairs, and maintenance services in your home. Fire ‘n’ Ice Heating & Cooling, Inc. does top-notch installations and ensures that your heating system or AC unit functions optimally & reliably. Origin and Usage of Furnaces The name furnace is from Latin Fornax, meaning oven; a device that achieves high-temperature heating by fuel combustion, electricity, or induction heating. A furnace can either be used in a home heating system or for industrial purposes. Alice Parker is the brain behind the first home central heating system which allowed temperature regulation functionality and more efficient heating. By 1935, a forced air wall furnace was consequently developed. What are the Components of a Home Furnace? A home furnace is made up of several components that work together to achieve the heating effect....

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