Category: HVAC

What Kind Of Air Filter Should I Use In My Home?

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One of the most commonly neglected maintenance items in your home is your air filter. These are simple to change out or clean and should be done an absolute minimum of once every six months. A clogged air filter leads to dirty air and low efficiency, and will make your entire HVAC unit work harder than it needs to in order to keep you comfortable.

Ok, so you know you need to change or clean the filter, but which filter is right for your home? Some filters must be replaced while others can simply be cleaned. In this post, we’ll do a side-by-side comparison to help you decide which option is best for you.

PERFORMANCE

Air filters can vary in their performance. A washable filter typically has a MERV rating of between 1 and 4. That means it will only catch large particles and things like soot. If you have a pet, the filter will not be able to eliminate pet dander. Other bacteria and viruses, as well as smoke, will not be effectively filtered out.

On the other hand, the MERV rating on disposable filters can be much higher, going as high as 16. That can help eliminate the tiniest particles in your air, including dust, pet dander, bacteria, viruses, and other allergens.

MAINTENANCE

Washable filters need to be cleaned once a month. Once they’ve been rinsed, they should be completely dry before they are put back in place. A wet filter could result in mold or fungus forming and then spreading throughout your home. Gross!

Disposable filters are just that – disposable. You throw out the old one and replace it with a new one.

COST

Here’s where things get a little tricky. Washable filters can last several years, but cost about $100 each.

Disposable filters cost about $15 each but need to be changed regularly. You can weigh the costs and benefits to determine what works for you!

WORTH THE CALL. ALWAYS.

These simple comparisons can help you decide if a washable or disposable air filter is right for you. The HVAC experts at The Bosworth Company can help! We can help you decide what’s best, replace your filters, and give your HVAC a full check. Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always!

3 Thermostat Tips To Keep You Comfortable

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You may not realize it, but one of the most critical elements of your entire HVAC system is that small plastic thing that sits on your wall: the thermostat. There are some special techniques you can use to make sure you’re best using the thermostat to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of your HVAC. In this post, we’ll discuss some of the thermostat strategies that will help you stay comfortable, and keep energy costs down at the same time.

WATCH THE WEATHER

Naturally, extreme hot or cold temperatures outside will have a direct impact on the temperature inside. The further the outside temps get from your comfort zone, the more energy is used to keep your home in a comfortable range.

In Odessa and Midland, especially in the fall, it could be close to 100 one day and only 70 the next, with lows dipping much cooler than that! Keep this in mind when setting your thermostat for the day. The greater the difference in temperature, the more you’ll pay to stay comfortable!

WAIT FOR IT…

One mistake many homeowners make is “cranking” up the heat or cold with the thought that this will make it heat or cool faster. This is a mistake and can lead to temperatures much higher or lower than actually desired. The air is either on or it is off. If you are hot, setting your thermostat at 40 will not make it cool any faster. If you’re cold, setting it at 90 won’t make it heat up any faster. Instead, set the thermostat at the desired temperature and wait patiently for the HVAC to do its magic.

GET SMART

Programmable thermostats, also known as smart thermostats are the latest and greatest in HVAC technology. They provide a variety of options for managing the temperature in your home remotely, and also can be set to turn off or on based on your schedule. You can even set it to turn back on when you’re headed home from work. This will save you money by not keeping the home at a perfect temperature while the home is empty during the day.

Many modern thermostats even have WiFi connections, allowing you to set or change them via your phone or computer. Others can send reminders when it’s time to change your filters. If your thermostat has these features, use them!

WORTH THE CALL

Ready to upgrade to a new thermostat, or just need some pointers on using yours effectively? The Bosworth Company can help! Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always!

Why is My A/C Rattling? 4 Top Reasons Explained

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Midland and Odessa are experiencing one of the hottest summers in years! That’s why it’s critical that your air conditioning stays running properly to keep you cool. In this post, we’ll talk about some of the signs that something could be going wrong, including a loud rattling sound that can sometimes be heard while the system is running.

CLOGGED SYSTEM

First, it’s important to know that any sort of unusual noise coming from your HVAC is never a good sign. One possible culprit of a rattling sound is that debris has found its way into your system. That could include sticks, rocks, or leaves that may have fallen into your exterior unit. Keeping the area around the unit clear of debris will help prevent this.

LOOSE PARTS

Another common cause of a rattling sound could be loose panels. These panels enclose your outdoor unit and are screwed into place, but can loosen over time. A standard screwdriver can fix the problem, but if the noise continues, be sure to keep searching for the source or have an expert come out to evaluate.

INTERNAL DAMAGE

The fans and blowers inside your unit are what move the air to and from your home. They will eventually wear down or malfunction, and if they do, you may hear a loud rattling noise. This is not something that should be fixed on your own. It’s important to contact a licensed HVAC technician, like ours at The Bosworth Company, right away to take a look.

BAD BLADE

You can see the giant blade in your exterior unit, but there are fan blades in your interior unit as well. These can work themselves out of place, and potentially hit the inside of their compartment continuously while running. If that’s the case, you’ll definitely hear what sounds like a rattling, or even a clanging. This type of issue should absolutely be repaired by a professional, as it may require a full fan replacement.

WORTH THE CALL

Are you hearing a rattling, or any other mysterious noise from your air conditioning this summer? If so, you should get it checked out before your A/C stops working and you end up stuck in the heat! The Bosworth Company has certified professionals that can diagnose your problem and find a solution to keep your home cool and quiet. Make an appointment online or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

5 Tips for Keeping Cool in Midland-Odessa This Summer

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Summer has arrived in Midland and Odessa, and it’s the hottest one in recent memory, with many days soaring into the triple digits. Like many West Texans, you’re probably blasting the A/C just to keep things bearable. You know the high power bill is coming, but it’s worth it to stay cool! In this post, we’ll talk about a few ways to save on your power bill (and the life of your air conditioning) without sacrificing comfort!

FIND THE FANS

When you use ceiling fans or even box fans or room fans, the air in the room keeps circulating – which makes it feel cooler. This is a cost-efficient way to keep rooms cooler, especially if you’re only using a few rooms in your house. It’s even more practical in our area where the air isn’t humid, so A/C is less needed to remove moisture from the air.

GOING BLINDS

Got blinds? Or curtains? If they get a lot of direct sunlight in the morning or evening, you should keep them closed. The sunlight creates extra heat that is beamed straight into the room. Closed blinds mean less sun and less heat.

COOK ON THE CLOCK

Be mindful of the time of day, and heat of the day, when using heat-creating appliances. For example, try to avoid using the oven or stove during the hottest part of the day. They’re great for cooking food, but that extra heat needs to be cooled by your A/C. Other appliances, like a dishwasher and clothes dryer, are also better served by running in cooler parts of the day.

OPEN DOOR

We’ve discussed, in other posts, the importance of leaving all of your air vents open – even in rooms you don’t use. The same can be said of doors throughout your home. This is because your system is designed to cool (or heat) the entirety of the living space in your home. If you close off some of the spaces, this can throw the system out of whack, and make it work harder than necessary.

BE THE CHANGE

We can’t say it enough: change your filters regularly. When a West Texas dust storm rolls through Odessa or Midland, all that dirt mixes with the air and can make its way into your system. Filters help keep the air in your home clean, but they can’t do that job if they are clogged! Change them regularly to make your system run properly and to help keep cool!

WORTH THE CALL

The number one way you can make sure your system runs smoothly all summer long is by getting it serviced once or twice a year. If you haven’t had one yet this year, The Bosworth Company is still offering our Spring Clean and Check. Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

 

What Causes a Frozen A/C?

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When the West Texas summers heat up into the 90s and above, you’re relying on an ice-cold air conditioner to keep it cool inside your home. But can your a/c unit ever get too cold? In some cases the unit can actually FREEZE up, rendering it useless! In this post, we’ll talk about what causes your A/C to freeze up, and how you can prevent it.

LOW REFRIGERANT

Probably the most common reason for a frozen A/C is a lack of refrigerant. There needs to be enough refrigerant for it to effectively pump cool air from your outdoor unit into your home. A lack of refrigerant will decrease pressure, which causes the evaporator coils to freeze rapidly. This pairs with water vapor to cause the system to freeze, creating frost on the coils as the temperature continues to drop.

Here’s the catch – if you’re low on refrigerant, there’s probably a leak in your system – which can occur in the refrigerant lines, compressor, or evaporator coils. If low refrigerant is your issue, it’s best to call an HVAC technician like ours at The Bosworth Company for help immediately.

DECREASED AIRFLOW

Airflow is essential in any ventilation system. A frozen A/C could be one side effect of poor airflow. Here are a few of the potential issues that could cause a decrease in airflow.

  • A broken blower motor will prevent the fan from blowing air over the coils to cool them. This will eventually lead to the system freezing up. If your blower isn’t running, that could be the issue.
  • Maybe the fan is running, but an electrical issue is limiting the amount of power being delivered. So even though the air is blowing, it’s not strong enough to prevent the system from freezing.
  • Leaks, tears, or blockages within your air ducts can also cause overall issues with airflow. Getting your ducts inspected is a good idea if you have freezing or airflow issues.
  • Dirty air filters can limit airflow and lead to a frozen HVAC unit. The good news is that regularly changing or cleaning your filters is an easy DIY project.

DIRTY COILS

Evaporator coils are a critical part of your air conditioner, and they won’t work if your system is dirty. A typical culprit of dirtying up coils is household dirt and dust. Because the coils are wet, dust sticks right to them! If not cleaned regularly, this can accumulate, and cause the system to malfunction or freeze.

WORTH THE CALL

Cleaning your coils is just one of many jobs completed by The Bosworth Company technicians during our Spring Clean and Check. For just $109, give your system a complete check and tune-up, to make sure you stay cool all summer long! Make an appointment online or call us today at (432) 570-5233, It’s Worth the Call. Always.

What’s The Perfect Temperature For Your Home?

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It’s a logical question for anyone who wants to be comfortable and save money: what is the perfect temperature setting for your thermostat? If it’s too high, you’ll spend too much money on your electric bill, but if it’s too low, you’ll have to be bundled up in your own home all winter. And since disagreements are bound to happen around the holidays, we’ll examine, once and for all, the best temperature!

THE IDEAL TEMPERATURE

The Department of Energy reports that the ideal wintertime temperature for your home during the day is 68 degrees. They don’t give a specific temperature recommendation for the overnight hours because there’s so much variance, but it’s generally acceptable to drop the temp by as much as 10 degrees while you’re cozy under the covers.

LET IT BE

When you do select the temperature for your home, it’s a good idea to leave it as consistent as possible. It can be tempting to blast the heat when it’s cold in the morning, then turn it down when it warms up outside, but this is not necessarily effective and is hard on your HVAC. If your thermostat is set to “AUTO” it will kick on when you need it, and won’t when you don’t.

Most households should have three temperature settings: one for when they’re home during the day, one for when they’re gone, and one for overnight. Limiting how much you change the temperature will benefit you in the long run.

GET WITH THE PROGRAM

Newer thermostats even come with programmable features, so you don’t have to worry about adjusting the temperature throughout the day. You can set it to start warming before you even get out of bed, or turn it up or down while you aren’t at home. The remote access settings can be accessed through your cell phone and can be very convenient (and save you money)!

THERMOSTAT LOCATION

You may have noticed that most thermostats are located in interior living areas. This is critical in getting an accurate gauge of your home’s temperature. If installing a new thermostat, make sure it’s away from excess sunlight, windows, directly in the path of air vents, or even close to furniture that could potentially block airflow. You’re looking for the ideal space where the air is flowing freely and in its most natural state.

WORTH THE CALL

Are you ready to upgrade your thermostat? Or even your entire system? The Bosworth Company can help you reach your ideal temperature for an ideal price! Make an appointment online, or call us today at (432) 570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

3 Things to Consider When Choosing Furnaces or Heat Pumps

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In our last post, we outlined some basic advantages and disadvantages of furnaces and heat pumps. Even if your home is already equipped with a heating system, should you consider switching? In this post, we’ll get more in-depth in determining which of these two options is right for you.

CONSIDER THE CLIMATE

We mentioned before that furnaces can be better at heating your home in extremely cold weather, but heat pumps are more efficient in moderately cold temperatures. If you live in the Odessa and Midland area, you know the temperature can drop to the single digits. This February’s cold snap lasted more than a week! However, that was extremely rare, and even when it does get that cold around here, it doesn’t last long.

Heat pumps are generally fine for our West Texas climate. They may use a little more energy to keep it comfortable when the temperature drops below freezing, but the cold is normally so short-lived that you won’t even notice. However, if you lived in an area where temperatures routinely stay below freezing for weeks at a time during the winter, a furnace would be the way to go.

CONSIDER THE COMBO

One possible alternative is a furnace/heat pump combo system. These systems work with both gas and electricity. The heat pump runs efficiently on electricity, then when it gets too cold, the gas kicks on and fires up the furnace. That option, though rare, works well for some households.

READY TO REPLACE?

If you have an older home, it’s possible that you have a furnace, but maybe consider a heat pump. Heat pumps are normally more expensive upfront but remember they can both heat and cool your home, meaning you won’t need a separate furnace and air conditioner. Because heat pumps are newer, they are almost always more energy-efficient and will save you long-term on your energy bills.

However, if money’s no object and comfort is king, it may be wiser to stick with the furnace. Not only will it keep you toasty on the coldest days, but it will also heat your home faster.

WORTH THE CALL

Regardless of what you have now, or the type of system you’re interested in getting, The Bosworth Company can help. We can evaluate your needs and budget to determine what’s right for you, whether it’s a heat pump, furnace, or even a mini-split! Make an appointment online, or call us today at 432-570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

Lennox Packaged Units

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These days efficiency is king. That’s why The Bosworth Company is proud to offer a full lineup of Lennox HVAC products, including new and improved packaged units. These units combine efficiency with function and affordability. These systems are a great choice if you’re looking to upgrade your entire system, as they’ll provide full comfort in the heat of summer and the chill of winter.

GREAT VALUE

If a product is efficient, that means you can stay comfortable for a lower cost – in other words, high efficiency means high value! Lennox packaged units come with a SEER rating of either 14 or 16 and an AFUE value of 81. Despite these high-quality specs, installation can be quite affordable. That’s because the units come as a package: the air conditioner, furnace, and humidifier all in one.

PRO PERFORMANCE

Lennox packaged units can handle all your home comfort needs. Our experts can help you select the unit that’s the right size for your home. With the generally mild winters that are common in Midland and Odessa, you’ll want a heat pump that can handle a cold blast, but a heater meant for Alaska would be a bad fit.

When it comes to the heat, a high-efficiency air conditioner will manage the heat in your home, as well as help control dust and allergens.

EASY INSTALL

The key to a packaged unit is not only keeping costs down but also making for an easy installation. All the heating and cooling components come in one compact installation. That means only one unit for both heating and cooling, instead of two. It also means a single blower and air handler. The unit is heavy duty with a base rail made of galvanized steel that keeps it off the ground to prevent corrosion and improve handling. The redesigned cabinet features an improved seal between compartments and channels water away from the unit.

WORTH THE CALL

Ready to upgrade to a new system that will save you money and keep you comfortable at the same time. Let The Bosworth Company tell you all about the new Lennox packaged units. Call us today at 432-570-5233 or make an appointment online. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

 

Thermostat Upgrade

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There are a wide variety of ways to help make sure your HVAC is running as efficiently as possible. Things like regular maintenance and weather-proofing your home are obvious, but there’s a secret weapon that can work wonders in improving efficiency – especially with the hot summer months just around the corner. In this post, we’ll discuss how upgrading to a programmable smart thermostat will start saving you money right away!

START SAVING

A new thermostat could mean immediate savings of 10-15% on your monthly power bill. Here are a few of the features that will keep you cool and help you keep your cool when it comes to monthly expenses.

  • New thermostats can be programmed to adjust the temperature automatically when you’re not home. That way they aren’t running up the power bill, but are still ensuring comfort when you get home.
  • Just a degree or two can make a big difference, so when the weather outside changes, subtle changes on your thermostat program will adjust to save you money.
  • Newer thermostats can even monitor your HVAC system for you, to make sure it’s running as efficiently as possible.

 

ENERGY STAR

Just like other appliances that are energy-efficient, a state-of-the-art thermostat can qualify as Energy Star qualified. This means you can get incentives to help pay for an upgrade, and even qualify for tax write-offs.

LENNOX

The Bosworth Company is proud to be a premier dealer of Lennox HVAC products, which include a variety of thermostats, including the Energy Star-qualified iComfort Smart Thermostat. This thermostat connects to your cell phone to detect when you’re home or away and adjust the temperature accordingly. It also has a humidity feature that adjusts the temp to make sure your home feels exactly the way you set it.

WORTH THE CALL

To reiterate, most people see thermostats as a convenience but don’t recognize the overall value for efficiency and comfort. Modern thermostats have the technology and capabilities to provide the best of both worlds. Give The Bosworth Company a call today to discuss some of the Lennox thermostat options. Make an appointment online or call 432-570-5233. It’s Worth the Call. Always.

Kohler Generators For Your Home

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Backup generators are something you only need for a cabin, or somewhere where you’re likely to lose electricity regularly, right? Not so fast, my friend. As all Texans can attest, the February Freeze brought unprecedented temperatures and misery to the Lone Star State. Even in West Texas, the Midland International Air & Space Port recorded 221 straight hours of sub-freezing temperatures. If you were one of the 4.5 million households statewide that lost power, chances are you wish you would have had a generator.

POWER YOUR LIFE

Backup generators produce electricity when the power goes out. During the big freeze, HEAT was the most obvious benefit of a generator, but there are a lot of other things that electricity brings that you may not have thought of. If the power goes out in the summer, for example, you’ll need air conditioning, not heat. No electricity also means no oven or stove, no hot water, no freezer or refrigerator (food can spoil), and no outlets to plug in and recharge your cell phone, just to name a few.

GENERATOR TO THE RESCUE

When the power goes out, generators can kick on literally within seconds. If it wasn’t for your flashing digital clock, you may not even know it went out. You’ll be able to keep those phones charged, access WiFi, watch TV, turn on lights and heat, and all the other conveniences you and your family enjoy in modern life.

INSTALLATION

Once you choose to invest in a generator, The Bosworth Company has you covered. As proud dealers of Kohler Generators, we install the unit outside your home. Kohler Generators run on liquid propane or natural gas and require minimal maintenance with no exterior power cords. As mentioned, they will fire up and bring your home power within seconds of an outage. Ask us about Power Boost technology, which controls the amount of electricity being delivered to your home. We’ll make sure your generator is the proper size and strength to meet the needs of your home.

WORTH THE CALL

If it was up to us, we’d never experience a winter freeze and widespread power outages again! But losing power from time to time is inevitable, and it’s going to happen again. Prepare yourself today by calling The Bosworth Company at 432-570-5233 or scheduling an appointment online. We’ll help you find the generator for you and ensure you won’t be left in the cold!