We know that you’re asked everyday if you would like an extended warranty, extra insurance or added protection for your purchases. While there are some situations where the extra investment is not worth the cost (remember those old alarm clocks from Radio Shack?), protecting your HVAC system is an investment worth making. Here’s why:

Reduced Electric Bill. Just like giving your car an oil change protects the engine or going every six months to the dentist reduces your risk of cavities, maintaining your heating and air unit can lower your electricity bill. By properly maintaining your HVAC unit, you are making sure that it will run efficiently all season long. Running more efficiently means running less often, therefore reducing your total power bill. Our technicians will come out once in the spring and then again in the fall to ensure your unit is ready for each new season.

Get More Life Out Of Your Unit. Routine tune ups, oil changes, inspections, and tire rotations keep your car running longer. The same is true with your HVAC unit. Our technicians will clean the coils, oil your motors, check air flow, drain lines, vents, gas pressure, burners, and much, much more. As you use your unit over time, it will likely require additional Freon. Avoid a service call in the summer months when your unit isn’t blowing cool air. With our maintenance agreements, we will check the Freon in your unit, adding more or adjusting it as needed.

Keeping You Safe. Your annual check up at the doctor’s office keeps your body healthy. Inspecting and adjusting your HVAC unit can help you avoid a potential unhealthy situation as well. Part of routine inspections include checking your heat exchanger for cracks. If cracked or broken, this component can lead to carbon dioxide leaks, often unnoticed in your home or business. Carbon Dioxide is a deadly, colorless, and odorless gas. We have responded to these repairs in the past, but if caught in time, they can be easily avoided.

Saving You Money When Life Happens. Even though you go for your routine dental cleanings, cavities still pop up from time to time. The same is true with your heating and air conditioning unit. A maintenance agreement can keep it running smoothly and efficiently – but life happens. If your unit needs an unscheduled repair during the year, our maintenance agreements allow you to receive a discounted rate on those surprise situations. And we promise it will be less painful than sitting in that dentist chair.

Sometimes in life, investing in protection is worth the cost. To get the most for your money and keep your HVAC unit running as long as possible, call Thornton’s Heating & Air today to get your semiannual maintenance agreement started.

With all major investments in life, you want to receive a good return and make them worth your while. You may not realize it but that also stands true when it comes to your HVAC system, especially when it comes to SEER.

Who Sets SEER? SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) is enforced by the US Department of Energy. ALL HVAC units have a SEER rating which you can find on the side of your exterior unit, often on a bright yellow sticker (see below). Just like you may see “energy efficient” appliances, lawn mowers, and even cars, your HVAC unit can be energy efficient, too. The SEER guideline for your HVAC varies by what area of the country you live in. In North Carolina, the minimum SEER ratio is currently 14. For a full explanation of how SEER is calculated, you can find out more information here.

So What’s In A Rating? You’ve likely noticed that energy efficient home appliances or automobiles are a higher upfront investment compared to their less efficient counterparts. The same is true with your new HVAC unit – the higher the SEER the higher the investment. However, there’s a good reason why and it can lead to great savings for you!

The higher the SEER the more efficiently your unit runs year round, which means savings on your power bill year round, too. This calculator shows the difference between a minimum 14 SEER unit and a 20 SEER unit with an average five year savings of over $600 and 15 year savings of over $1800. Depending on the life of your unit you could save thousands of dollars on your power bill over time from investing in a higher SEER HVAC system. Many older units, which may be true for you, have a SEER even lower than 14 since the minimum requirement was just adjusted a few years back. The minimum is expected to be adjusted again in 2023 by the US Department of Energy to a 15 SEER for North Carolina residents.

There are many factors that can contribute to how long your unit lasts and how efficiently it runs. At Thornton’s Heating & Air, we recommend a bi-annual tune up, once in the warm months and again when it gets cool. SEER can help your unit run more efficiently but our maintenance agreements keep them running smoothly year round. For any of your questions about SEER, HVAC units, ventilation, duct work, maintenance or repairs, give our experienced technicians a call today!

There are a few things in life that you need to live – water, food, and shelter being the most obvious. Staying warm in the winter and cool in the summer is another necessity. Whether you have an existing HVAC unit or, you’re buying or building a home or business and considering a new unit, one question remains, “How long should my unit last?” While there’s not always an easy answer, we’ve broken it down for you.

System. One of the many factors to consider when answering this question is the type of system do you have. In general, a newer model HVAC system should last between 15-20 years, depending on the maintenance performed. Older model units generally aren’t built to last as long, and it may be more difficult to order parts for replacement. In some cases, with lesser quality systems, parts may not be available at all. At Thornton’s, we pride ourselves on using top brands, such as Rheem, which has over 100 years of industry experience and customer satisfaction. Our Rheem units also include a 10 year warranty on parts.  These units are built to last, but just like most important investments in your life, keeping them serviced is a key factor to longevity.

Service. You get your oil changed for your car every 3,000 miles, your teeth cleaned every six months, and your pets vaccinated yearly. A HVAC unit needs the same type of routine maintenance to keep it running smoothly and to avoid any unscheduled problems. Our maintenance agreements keep you covered for both hot and cool air. The experienced technicians at Thornton’s will service your unit once in the spring before the hot air arrives and again in the fall to prepare your unit for the cold temps. This preventative agreement includes inspecting electrical parts, oiling motors, checking freon, checking gas pressure, cleaning your drain line, checking air flow, calibrating your thermostat, and much more. One low price not only covers your unit’s “check up” but also provides you a discount on any unscheduled repairs in the future.

By keeping your unit serviced and running smoothly, you can easily extend the life of your HVAC system for several years. When it’s no longer possible or cost efficient to repair, our technicians are happy to provide you a free estimate on a new quality unit and offer financing options as well.

Surroundings. The type of system you have and keeping it serviced are two main factors in how long your unit will last. There are also a few things that YOU can do at home to help. For starters, keep your filters changed at least every two months, more in a home with pets. Clean filters allow the air to flow smoothly and your unit to run less. When completing any yard work, always blow grass and debris away from your outdoor unit to keep it from getting clogged. Don’t constantly change your thermostat, either. Our technicians suggest either using a programmable thermostat, or setting the temperature and forgetting it. Constantly changing the temperature on your thermostat can cause the unit to work overtime to catch up.

Just like any major investment, you want your HVAC unit to last as long as possible to get the most value from it. Call Thornton’s first and we’ll be happy to provide you a free quote on a new unit, set up a maintenance agreement on any existing unit, or answer any of your service and repair questions. Just like your HVAC unit, after serving the community for over 48 years, we believe in keeping a good thing going!

Air conditioning. Those two words can bring all of us complete joy in those sweltering summer months. However, just like your cars, clothing and homes, one size does NOT fit all when it comes to your air conditioning unit.

Too Much Of A Good Thing. It may not seem possible on those hot days, but you CAN have too much air conditioning. A unit that is too large for your living space can actually cause mold and mildew problems on the interior of your home. If your unit is too large, it will only cycle (or run) for a few minutes at a time then cut off before it quickly starts the cycle over again. A quick run cycle doesn’t provide your unit adequate time to remove water vapor from the air. If this happens you will likely begin to see condensation build up leading to possible mold and mildew on your windows, furniture, and even baseboards.

Another sign that your unit may be too large for your home is an increased electric bill. When your unit cuts on and off frequently it uses more electricity – a factor you will see played out on your next power bill. With a too large unit, you’ll also likely feel inconsistencies in the temperature of your home due to short cycles and lack of time for the air to properly distribute through your home.

Bring On The Air. While having a unit that’s too large can cause problems, a unit that is too small brings its own set of issues. There’s nothing worse that sitting in your home on a warm July afternoon and just not being able to get cool. In order to have a system that will effectively remove the hot air from your home, remove the moisture, and blow cool air back through your vents, your unit needs an appropriate BTU (British Thermal Units). The larger your home or business, the higher BTU needed to remove the warm air and start the process over. You will often hear air conditioning units referred to as “tons”. Each ton is 12,000 BTUS. One of the main factors that we consider at Thornton’s when installing a new or replacement unit is the size of the home, insulation, and the total square feet in the living space to make sure the appropriate size unit, or how many tons, is recommended.

Another sign that your unit is too small is that it runs nonstop. As previously mentioned, your unit should ideally run around 25 minutes between cycles. If it’s constantly running to keep up, your home will never be properly cooled to the appropriate temperature AND you’ll notice an increase in your electric bill.

At Thornton’s we offer free consultations and estimates on new any new HVAC units. Our trained, experienced technicians are happy to answer any of your questions, evaluate your home and recommend the proper heating and cooling equipment for your home or business. Call us today and let us size up your HVAC system.

At Thornton’s Heating & Air we have been keeping homes cool in the summer and warm in the winter for over 45 years. What you may not realize is that we can help with your commercial and business, too. A recent job here is Alamance County turned out to be our largest commercial project to date.

The Beginnings. We were approached by one of our existing customers about creating a heating and cooling system for his new commercial space. We have worked with Roll Development Construction in the past on various different housing units and projects. The company contacted us about a new commercial space in the Burlington/Graham area that is still in the construction stages. Creating heating and air for a large commercial space requires planning. First, we evaluated the space, researched what size units would be needed and then placed an order with our primary supplier, Rheem, probably a familiar household name to you, too.

Bringing It Together. Once the units arrived, our team of technicians implemented an installation strategy. The three units, two 12 ton and a 7.5 ton system, took about two weeks be to delivered. We contacted a crane company out of Raleigh to help with the heavy lifting and the work on the Graham property began. This project was a collaborative group effort involving every one of our technicians. From start to finish our teams were able to successfully install both units and the custom made duct work. In only three days it was up and running!

Happy, Warm, and Cool Endings.  We love when a plan is put together and falls into place perfectly – and so do our customers. Just days after completing the job the folks at Roll Development are already reporting that the new units are “running great”.

With 45 years of experience, the professionals at Thornton’s are able to create a plan for your home or business – regardless of the size. After all, keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter is what we’re here!

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Cool weather has arrived, and as the temperatures continue to drop, the technicians at Thornton’s are here to keep your home and business warm and toasty all season long. While you’re kicked back watching your favorite holiday movie, you may not realize what is really happening “behind the scenes” in your home. There are several ways to keep your home or business warm and one size (or heating unit) does not always fit all.

Mini Split. When you already have an existing unit but have an additional area of your home or business that has been added on, a mini split may be right for you.  This type of heating and air unit is ductless, installed to heat and cool certain spaces or rooms within your home. These are a perfect option for a bonus room, garage area, or small home addition since they do not require an extension of the duct work. These units are often hung on the wall out of sight and run quietly and smoothly while controlling heat, air and humidity! The maintenance on a mini split unit is much lower than a traditional unit and they are more efficient when heating and cooling a single area.

Packaged Unit: If your home or business does not have a crawl space or basement area, a packaged unit is likely the most practical choice. This type of unit has one large metal cabinet which is often placed on a concrete slab outside of your home. A packaged unit can include a heat exchanger or heating coils but either way the entire system is “packaged” together to save space and improve functionality. A gas pack is a specific type of packaged unit where the unit heats and cools all in one system.  The heating portion of this type of unit normally runs on either natural gas or propane.

Split System: A split system essentially uses two units working together in homes where there is enough space to include and indoor cabinet or gas furnace. This could be an attic, basement, or large closet. These types of systems use duct work throughout the home to evenly disperse the air. There are many different types of split system combinations including an indoor furnace and outdoor air conditioner, an indoor air handler and outdoor heat pump. An evaporator coil comes with the pump and air handler as well. If replacing an existing unit, our technicians normally recommend sticking to the same type of unit that previously existed in the home. We are happy to discuss your options and the benefits of any HVAC units with you when considering new construction as well.

When heating your home or business, you’ll want to take many factors into consideration to ensure that you are choosing the right system for your needs. Size of the home, SEER, your existing unit, and geographic area are just a few items to consider. As always, the staff and technicians at Thornton’s Heating & Air are here to answer your questions and walk you through the process from consultation to installation. Call us today and let us help you stay warm and toasty this holiday season and for many more to come!