If you’ve been outside lately then you’ve probably noticed a chilling trend – it’s cold! With the season just getting started, the freezing temps and dreary weather is here to stay. We know that many of our customers delay turning on their heating unit until the last minute possible. But staying warm over the next few months doesn’t have to break the bank. Here are some heat and energy saving tips that will warm your heart, your home, and your budget.

1. Keep It Clean. While this may seem like an obvious chore, according to our technicians most residential air filters are not being changed nearly enough. In a home with pets we recommend changing them at least once a month since excessive dirt and pet hair accumulate quicker. Normal filters should be changed at least every two to three months. Having a clean filter allows air to flow through easier, therefore making your unit work less.
2. Let The Air Flow. It may seem counterintuitive, but make sure your air vents are open and uncovered to best utilize your HVAC unit. The added pressure caused by closed vents can actually make your unit to break down or cause a leak or tear in your air duct. Do a quick walk through of your home and make sure your furniture, piles of laundry, or kid’s toys aren’t covering those vents in the corner.
3. Hands Off! Another common misconception is that lowering and raising your thermostat throughout the day will actually help reduce energy usage. Keeping your home cooler will keep your unit from running as much , but constantly changing the temperature can actually cause havoc to your unit.
4. Get Rid of Cold Air. Adding weather stripping to any door or window can help keep the warm air in and reduce the amount of cold air getting in on those blustery winter days. According to the Department of Energy if you can close your window or door on a dollar bill and easily pull it through then you’re losing energy. Along with weather stripping, heavy insulated curtains can also be added to keep the cold air at bay.
5. Heat What Matters. When you’re heating your home, you want to make sure the heat is keeping YOU warm, and isn’t just hovering up the ceiling. That might be welcome in the summer months, but in the winter, you want the heat redirected to you! You can accomplish this by simply rotating your ceiling fans to blow down.
6. Seal It Up. Winter and summer, the air ducts under your house work hard to keep the air flowing from your HVAC unit to the inside of your home. Often times it takes a problem to realize that there is a leak or tear in your air duct. Larger tears can be visibly seen however smaller, slower rips or tears may take a licensed professional to uncover. These leaks, big and small, can normally be fixed by having your air ducts sealed.  Preventative measures can often fix smaller tears before they become bigger issues, which leads us to one of our biggest money saving tips…maintenance agreements.
7. Prevent Costly Repairs. At Thornton’s we offer pre-paid maintenance agreements which provide you with a complete HVAC inspection twice a year – in the fall and again in the spring. During these inspections, our technicians cover an extensive list of HVAC services which can keep you from having unnecessary costly repairs year round. And, if something unexpected does pop up during the year, these agreements provide a discount on these unplanned repairs.

So, don’t freeze this winter when you could be warm and cozy, and save money at the same time! As always, call your trusted source for heating & air conditioning. For over 40 years, Thornton’s Heating & Air has helped to keep you warm all season long.

The time has come for a new air conditioning unit for your home or business…but now what? An HVAC unit is an investment that will last you for years to come, but like many items in life, cheaper is not always better. One of the factors that you want to judge when get a new unit is the SEER ratio.

SEER – What It Really Means. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (not rating as you may see), the ratio of the cooling output of an air conditioner over a cooling period, divided by the energy it consumed during the same period. That sounds great, but what does that really mean? SEER is the efficiency at which air conditioning units create cooled air. We’ve all heard of “energy efficient” and years ago the units that our parents and grandparents used were extremely inefficient, resulting in very high electric bills. Today North Carolina requires a minimum rating of 14 for any newly installed air conditioning units however the higher the SEER rating the more energy efficient your unit can be and, over time, this significantly adds up! Think of your unit as a car engine, the lower the gear, the more your car has to work, with a higher SEER unit, your unit uses different zones (changing into higher gears) and will not have to run as long for the same amount of cooling output.

Saving You Money. How does SEER help you? According to SEER calculations, simply by going from a unit that is 14 SEER to 20 SEER you could save over 30% on your electric bill. This can lead to thousands of dollars in savings of the life of the unit. Even higher SEER ratios will save you even more money as they are extremely energy efficient. Like with any major investment, you’ll want to do your research. Lower SEER units have a lower up front cost but the savings on your electric bill during the lifetime cycle of the unit could easily lead to conclude that a higher SEER is worth it for your home or business.

Like with any HVAC questions, call the experts! Thornton’s Heating & Air has over 40 years experience helping the local Alamance County area and beyond. Our technicians would love to answer any questions that you may have and schedule a FREE estimate on your new installation today!

At Thornton’s Heating & Air we pride ourselves on the fact that we provide quality work at reasonable rates and excellent customer service, the first time. This vision began with Frank Thornton, the original owner. Frank founded Thornton’s Heating & Air 1973 after working in the HVAC industry and deciding to work for himself. Being a native of Alamance County, he wanted to remain local and serve the area where he grew up. While Frank continued to grow, his son Tim also worked alongside him, learning the great skills and customer service that Thornton’s stands behind. After completing 6 years in the Marine Corp, Tim came back to help his father build the thriving and growing business that it is today and is now the owner and president.

Tim and his crews now stand behind every heating and air until that is installed, serviced or repaired. He is so confident in his company that all of the work performed by Thornton’s Heating & Air comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Thornton’s can install or repair any major HVAC system specializing in residential or light commercial work. For over 40 years they have continued to satisfy homeowners, business owners, real estate professionals and customers all over the Triad area.

From preventative maintenance to duct work, new installations and everything in between, Thornton’s ensures that our work is done right, the first time. Call us today for a FREE estimate on your new HVAC system or to see how we can save you money year round with a preventative maintenance agreement. We aim to serve you!