Blog

By Forquer
May 23, 2019 Category: Heating, Heat Pumps, Geothermal Energy

A common problem for folks who live out in the country is deciding on which method to heat their homes. Depending on the situation, some types of heating units work much better and while others are less reliable. Price is another factor to consider whether its the price of installing to equipment or the monthly bill. Electric Heating for Your Home Every homeowner should have the ability to use all electric heating sources. The most common is a forced air electric furnace. This type of heating is, as a whole as a more expensive option. Then there is the electric heat pump, which is a bit cheaper than the furnace but overall the fuel used to heat electrical appliances is expensive. This means that your monthly heat bill will likely be very high, especially in those cold Ohio winters. Natural Gas as an Alternative Heating Source The cheaper alternative to electric heat is to heat with natural gas options. The issue with natural gas is that though it is a cheaper choice, it is not always

By Forquer
May 09, 2019 Category: Heating, Air Conditioning, Mini Split

If I have an addition, garage, or patio on my property is my HVAC equipment going to be enough to heat and cool that additional space or do I need to consider adding additional equipment? The answer is almost always going to be that you will need additional equipment. If the added space is similar to your house in terms of structure and insulation, then you will most likely not need to add another unit. Heating and Cooling Sunrooms For example, if the extra space is a three seasons room like the one shown above with a lot of windows, youre going to need a separate heating and air conditioning unit. This is because this type of room does not have much insulation and will always be much hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. Your original thermostat will not be enough to control the temperature in this room if it can even indicate it. Therefore, this room would really do well with its own thermostat and its own small air conditioning heating system such as a mini split system. Heating

By Forquer Heating and Air Conditioning
April 04, 2019 Category: Maintenance, Carbon Monoxide, Heating

Carbon monoxide is scary for a lot of people because its something that you cant see, you cant smell it, and if comes from many appliances we used in our home on a day to day basis! If too much is released in your home it can be very dangerous. So,how do you know what can produce carbon monoxide in your home and how do you protect against that in your home? What is Carbon Monoxide? Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that is extremely toxic to people and animals. Where Does Carbon Monoxide Come From? Carbon monoxide is releasedfrom every appliance in your home that burns a fossil fuel such as a gas stove, hot water tank, furnace, etc. What Can I Do to Protect My Family from Carbon Monoxide? Invest in a CO detector on each floor in your home. A CO detector is your first line of defense against CO poisoning and they are generally inexpensive. Do not use your stove as a heater for your kitchen. Stoves are only intended for a short amount of time

By Forquer Heating
March 28, 2019 Category: Heating

What is a Ventless Heater? Ventless gas heaters are a single room heating device that works by using the oxygen in that room to fuel the combustion process, allowing it to efficiently create heat. Usually, the unit will be hung on your wall and you can turn it on and off as you please. Many people will use these appliances to heat up their basement or three-season room while entertaining. This is a perfect example of how to properly use your ventless gas heater. Improper use would include running the heater while you are not paying attention to it, such as while you are sleeping or if you leave the house. It is crucial that people know that there are some rules they should abide by when using one of these units to heat a room in their homes. Proper Use These small heaters are very good at what they do. They can heat a room up in just a few minutes, but they are not meant for long-term heating or heating more than one room. They were designed to only be used when necessary and

By Forquer Heating & Air Conditioning
March 14, 2019 Category: Heating, Air Conditioning, Furnace, Maintenance

A very important question that many homeowners ask is, is it necessary to have my furnace and air conditioning unit looked at even though everything is running fine and they have been for years? The answer is one-hundred percent yes! Preventative maintenance is essential to keep your furnace and air conditioner running as efficiently as possible and as long as possible. Think about your car; would you take a cross-country road trip without checking the oil first? No, even if your car is running great, you still take that preventative measure to ensure your car makes the trip there and back. The same concept applies to your furnace and AC. Often times, people wait until their heating or cooling breaks down before they call in a specialist to look at it. More often than not, this procrastination costs them a lot of money when the whole situation could have been avoided with simple check-ups or filter replacements every now and then. FalseSense of Security There is a false sense of security

By Forquer Heating
March 08, 2019 Category: Heating

Which is better? Steam or Hot Water Heat? There are many different ways to heat your home. We typically focus on the most wide-spread in our day and age: forced air heating through a duct system. Today were talking about another form of heating and how to maintain those systems: steam and hot water boilers. A lot of the bigger, older homes in the Akron/Canton area were built with steam technology because thats where it all started. Its important to be educated on the type of heating your home has and the maintenance required for that heat source. Steam Heating Here we have a steam boiler [pictured right]. The boilers that were installed in these older homes came equipped with a sight glass so you can see the water level, and a low-water sensing device to maintain the water level. These steam boilers use the water to send steam up through the radiation, and then thats what is used to heat the home. Hot Water Heating After heating with steam, then came hot water heating, or what we

By Forquer Heating
February 27, 2019 Category: Thermostats, Heating

During the winter its important to heat your home not only for comfort, but to maintain the integrity of your pipes. If you work long hours, have a trip planned or are a snowbird that flies south for the winter it can be difficult to keep your home at an appropriate temperature while being cost conscious. You may seek assistance from a family member or a friend, but what happens if theyre unable to check-in on your home one day? If the temperatures are low, as they tend to get here in Northeast Ohio, that small time is all you need to be welcomed home to a cracked piped. So, we ask: how can we monitor the temperature in our home while remaining cost conscious? Forquer Heating and Air Conditioning in Akron/Canton, OH recommend investing in a setback thermostat with WiFi capabilities. What is a Setback thermostat? For those of you who work long hours, or are gone most of the day - a setback thermostat may be a great solution. A setback thermostat is a programmable thermostat that allows

By Forquer Heating
February 07, 2019 Category: Zoning, Heating, Air Conditioning

How can zoning make my house more comfortable? Are there rooms in your home that never reach a comfortable temperature? If you have a large home you may find that there are rooms or complete floors that are either too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter. A lot of our Akron/Canton clients ask us How can I keep my whole home comfortable? One of the ways we can keep the temperature even throughout your home is by installing a zoning system. What is zoning when it comes to air conditioning and heating in your home? Zoning is a heating and cooling system that uses dampersto regulate the flow of air through the ductwork of a house. By using dampers, youre able to control the temperature of a large area. Zoning is a great way to zone off sections of your home - giving you control of the different areas of your home. That way you can set your temperature to what is most comfortable to you. How Can I add a Zoning System to My Home? There are two ways to add a zoning system to your

By Forquer Heating
January 31, 2019 Category: Heating, Air Conditioning

Your furnace and air conditioningis like any machine -an old car, washer or dryer - over time you can expect some degradation- at what point do you measure the repair costs vs. replacement? Deciding Whether to Replace Your Furnace Air Conditioning When making a decision to repair or replace your furnace, you can rely on our service experts here in Canton, OH at Forquer Heating Air Conditioning. While we wont know if your equipment needs repaired or replaced over aphone call, we can help determine what your best options are after a home visit. On average, the life of a gas-fired furnace in Northeast Ohio is 20 years and the average lifespan of an air conditioner is about 15 years. If we come out and youre looking at an expensive repair on an old piece of equipment thats not in very good shape,it wouldnt be a very good investment to repair the unit and it may be time to think about a replacement. We like to give you your options with an educated viewpoint on what your equipment really

By Forquer Heating
December 21, 2018 Category: Heating

Forquer Heating and Air Conditioning has partnered with Virteom to engage our customers and users about ourheatingand air conditioning services and the technology behind the scenes of heating and cooling. In this video Jacqui and Jim discuss why you should prioritize getting your homes infrastructure replaced first before your furnacewhen you enter into a new home or are dealing with an old drafty home. Watch or read the transcription below! Where do Customers Need To Spend Their Money First - Infrastructure or Furnace? If the customer has a limited budget, they need to consider these two questions: Do I replace that old furnace? Or do I attack the structure first? They might have a lot of windows or not so great insulation. This may be contradictory of what you would expect from a heating contractor, but your first step is to attack the structure. Replace Your Infrastructure to Reduce Infiltration So if we were to take a look at a furnace like this (pictured right) - this is not