Do you know how to properly take care of your air conditioner or heat pump in severe weather? Lots of things can happen to an air conditioner if it is not properly taken care of. HVAC units are built to withstand a tremendous amount of wind, rain, heat and cold, but special precautionary measures should be taken in certain instances to preserve the longevity of your outdoor units. Robinson Heating and Cooling is here to help you increase the longevity of your air conditioner and heat pump!

First, there is no need to cover up your air conditioner or heat pump when it is simply raining or snowing. Covering up your outdoor unit can actually hurt the interior mechanisms. For example:

• Rodents can build nests inside covered air conditioners or covered heat pumps. The cover provides a nice, safe, dry, warm place for them to squirrel away into. Rodents may chew through the wires inside the outdoor unit, causing shorts in circuitry or killing the entire machine. They may die inside, causing an unpleasant smell. Rodents may also strip your Freon lines for nest-building, causing your lines to be uninsulated and vulnerable to weather.
• Lack of airflow encourages the growth of mold and other plant life. Mold and mildew growing inside your air conditioner will not negatively affect your health in any way, but it can decrease your unit’s efficiency by cutting down on airflow. Over time, this may cause damage to the unit as it tries to compensate for the efficiency loss.
• Moisture will still get in. Even if you are trying to keep all moisture out of your HVAC unit, it will still find a way in. Humidity in the air will bring moisture inside a sealed air conditioner or heat pump, evaporation from the ground can bring water up into the cover, or melting snow or rain may puddle around the base and splash up into it.

Severe weather, on the other hand, requires proper care of your air conditioner or heat pump. Severe weather happens frequently in Wisconsin, so knowing how to prepare your outdoor HVAC units can help keep your air conditioner or heat pump up and running for years to come. When severe weather, such as a blizzard or thunderstorm, is on its way, a few precautionary steps can be taken to prevent or reduce damage to your HVAC unit.

• Turn off whatever heating or cooling units you have running. A power surge can cause damage to your heating or cooling system. Unless you are caught in a blizzard and need heat, turning off your heating or cooling units can potentially prevent lots of property damage.
• If severe winds are present, cover your outdoor HVAC units. Strong winds can blow debris into your unit or cause heavy objects to fall onto it. Covering your air conditioner or heat pump can prevent or reduce damage to the outdoor unit. Be sure to remove the cover after the storm has cleared.
• Remove loose yard furniture. Loose things in your yard such as patio furniture, toys, and tools can cause damage to your home, including your outdoor HVAC units. Removing them from your yard previous to a storm may prevent hundreds of dollars in damage.

If you notice damage to your air conditioner or heat pump after a storm, contact us or give Robinson Heating and Cooling a call at (920) 490-3394.

Wi-Fi Thermostats Provide Convenience and Cost Savings

For homeowners in and around Green Bay, WI.

Furnace replacement guide brought to you by Robinson Heating & Cooling.

Smart thermostats offer many benefits but their cost savings and ease of use often surprises our customers. Programmable thermostats are a superior product to traditional thermostats. They are valuable and offer homeowners more features than their predecessors.

Wi-Fi thermostats offer unmatched control and convenience. They also help to save money. Touchscreen models are easy to use and generally work with all types of furnaces and central air conditioning systems, including heat-pumps. Even if the home’s internet is offline, your Wi-Fi thermostat will still work properly and offer simple programmability.

The Comfort of Control.

Wi-Fi compatibility allows families to control Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems from across the room or across the country. Remote control offers homeowners the ability to ensure that the home is always at a comfortable temperature when needed. It also allows for the option to change the home’s temperature when not at home.

Wi-Fi thermostats: Technology of the Future.

Wi-Fi thermostats offer a proactive approach to furnace and a/c repair. Wi-Fi enables HVAC systems to provide timely notifications when service is needed. You can catch problems quickly and prevent an emergency, as well as the high cost of emergency repairs.
The popularity and extensive benefits of Wi-Fi enabled thermostats are a few reasons these products will continue to dominate the market. Consumers are pleased with the features and benefits of remote control!

Zone Control and Wi-Fi Access.

Wi-Fi access allows for control of multiple heating and cooling ‘zones’ as well. Multiple units can be conveniently programmed at home, or from across town, simply by using a smartphone or an internet connected tablet. If you’re considering bettering your HVAC system by adding zone control, please call Robinson Heating and Cooling to schedule a consultation!

Large Touch Screens and Simple Programming.

Wi-Fi control turns your smart phone or tablet into a large, interactive thermostat. Moreover, the actual thermostat that hangs on your wall is attractive and intuitive. Programming your thermostat has never been easier.

While programmable thermostats are paramount to an energy efficient HVAC system, Wi-Fi thermostats and Wi-Fi integrated heating and cooling systems offer distinct advantages.

No matter the size of the home or HVAC system, every homeowner can take advantage of Wi-Fi control for their heating and cooling system. Even those who do not have Wi-Fi can appreciate the plethora of features and money saving benefits that these advanced thermostats provide.

Some of the wi-fi products available can learn from your habits and usage to provide a cost saving schedule that keeps the home comfortable. Other wi-fi products have functionality built in that can email you regular reports showing how much electricity you’ve used and where you may want to consider making moneysaving adjustments.

Our favorite feature, by far, is the Wi-Fi thermostats’ ability to notify homeowners when there is a problem with the furnace or air conditioner. There is no substitute for preventative maintenance and repair. At Robinson Heating and Cooling, we want your home to be safe and comfortable. We also respect the value of a hard-earned dollar. Preventative repairs are much less expensive to address than untimely emergency repair.

Modern thermostats are truly a game changer. Heating and cooling systems are extremely complicated machines and smart thermostats offer a convenient way to control and maintain them. The control, money savings, and convenience of the Wi-Fi thermostat offer plenty for us to rave about. The handsome looks and touch screen ease of use offer a nice bonus as well.

Furnace replacement guide brought to you by Robinson Heating and Cooling.

Homeowners’ Guide to a Quieter Furnace

For homeowners in and around Green Bay, WI.

Furnace replacement guide brought to you by Robinson Heating and Cooling. More from the furnace replacement and maintenance series can be found on the resources page of our website.

Wisconsin’s climate forces homeowners to test the limits of a furnace. Furnace wear and tear from heavy usage is a main reason why a Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system may be too loud. Use this guide to help find what can be done to reduce furnace noise. We also cover a few considerations for replacing your home’s furnace with a quieter model.

Furnace Replacement: Choosing a Quieter Furnace.

A furnace will likely last 15+ years. Like anything else, the furnace will last longer if preventative maintenance is performed regularly. When replacing your furnace, there are a few options to consider if quietness is a priority.

Two-Stage Furnaces:

Two-stage (aka multi speed or variable speed) furnaces offer a distinct advantage for noise reduction. These furnaces have two speeds to meet the demands for heating the home. Multi-speed furnaces have the equivalent to a low and high setting with the low speed being much quieter.

Sealed Combustion Furnaces:

Combustion inside a furnace can be noisy. To keep the noise down, some manufacturers offer a sealed combustion option for noise reduction. Sealed combustion furnaces do a great job to lower the noise level when the furnace is running.

Type of Burner:

If quietness is important, consider the furnace burner type. In-shot burners, for example, sound somewhat like a jet-engine when the furnace is on. Fine for a basement or insulated utility closet, but not next to the bedroom.

Furnace Repair: Loud Furnace Noises Can be Dangerous.

For your safety, the safety of your property and of your family, be sure to have any uncommon noises coming from the furnace professionally inspected. The piece of mind will be well worth the cost of a diagnostic. And remember, if you hear a metal-on-metal or screeching sound, have the furnace repaired immediately!

HVAC Ductwork: Your Home’s Ductwork May be the Culprit.

There is absolutely no substitute for having the correct size furnace in your home. At Robinson Heating and Cooling, we go to great lengths to ensure that our furnace replacement is an exact match for your home. Many times, the noise from your HVAC system is caused by too much air being forced through the duct work.

It’s a reasonable assumption that the furnace and ductwork in your home were designed to work together. If a new furnace forces more air than the original ductwork was designed to receive, the result can be an overbearingly loud sound. Noise also may come from ductwork that needs attention. Robinson Heating and Cooling can remedy both of these situations.

Furnace replacement guide brought to you by Robinson Heating & Cooling.

For homeowners in and around Green Bay, WI.

We see them every winter, true legends of Brown County, dinosaur furnaces. Aggressive energy hogs with large footprints dwelling in the dark cool caves all around us. There are many dinosaur furnaces in Green Bay, De Pere, and throughout the area. Not until we rid the streets of these dinosaurs will energy efficiency and money savings have room to grow.

Most modern furnaces fall into three categories:

And then there are…

Dinosaur Furnaces

55% – 70% AFUE rating

Continuous pilot light

Heavy duty heat exchanger

They’ve Paid For Themselves Already

25 years of service life is not uncommon from a properly maintained furnace. Green Bay produces very rough winters and these units are run hard. Dinosaur furnaces have paid their dues, been ran through their paces, and often times given it all. It may be time for a furnace replacement.

Energy Efficient Upgrades and Furnace Rebates:

Regional, state, and federal rebates are available for homeowners looking to replace their furnace. At Robinson, we work together with HVAC manufacturers to be sure that our customers get the most for their hard-earned dollar.

Our team is also aware of various government rebates and incentives and will help you get the most bang for your buck no matter what system you choose.
Though built tough and strong, it’s time to retire these furnaces. It’s time to embrace the cost savings, energy efficiency, and true convenience of today’s furnaces and air conditioning systems.

Robinson Heating & Cooling has ample experience replacing, maintaining, and repairing the dinosaur furnaces of Brown County. At the call of our customers we will continue to put our honest natured, experienced, and kind service technicians to work for you. In some cases, we’ve nearly rebuilt furnaces from the ground up over time. Another option, however, is to replace old furnaces. Today’s furnaces are state of the art and truly valuable machines no matter what price point you choose.

Robinson Heating & Cooling is Able to Make Your Home a Healthier and More Comfortable Place to be. Learn More About Health and Home Comfort Here.

For homeowners in and around Green Bay, WI.

Brown County is a wonderful place to call home, especially in the spring and summer months! However, it is important to be aware of the allergens and contaminants found in the air this time of year. We’ve outlined some opportunities to improve your indoor air quality, specifically in the greater Green Bay area.

Clean Air Filters Are Important.

First and foremost, when it comes to your home’s heating and cooling system, it is just as important to change the air filters in your furnace and air conditioner as it is to change your car’s oil.

Read More “Health and Home Comfort”

The Annual Fuel Utilization Rating (AFUE) is One of the Most Important Aspects to Consider When Replacing your Furnace

For homeowners in and around Northeast Wisconsin.

Furnace replacement guide brought to you by Robinson Heating & Cooling. More from the furnace replacement and maintenance series can be found on the resources page of our website.

Here in De Pere, we certainly use a lot of fuel to heat our home. An AFUE rating is used to showcase how much heat a furnace will provide compared to another furnace while still using the same amount of fuel. Gas furnaces, oil furnaces and electric heating systems all have an AFUE rating. Even wood burning furnaces have an AFUE rating (generally between 50–90%). The biggest impact in cost depends on the type of fuel you use to heat your home (natural gas, electric, oil, etc.).  AFUE ratings, however, do not serve as an apples to apples between two separate types of heating fuels. Instead they offer a comparison between two heat sources with the same fuel type..

The AFUE Rating is a Government Sponsored and Enforced Mandate That Helps Homeowners Make an Educated Decision.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires new furnaces or boilers to display an AFUE rating so consumers can compare the heating efficiency of various models. The AFUE of a furnace can be found on the large yellow sticker affixed to the new furnace. The same information can also be found readily online.

What Goes in to the Annual Furnace Efficiency Rating?

Read More “A.F.U.E. and YOU”

Click on infographic to view larger.

Click on the infographic to view larger.