Winters in Houston, Texas are usually mild although we do occasionally see Elsa lose control and freeze everything. That is why it’s important to have a reliable source of heat for your home to keep Elsa’s fury at bay. When considering how to heat your home, it usually comes down to two choices: a gas furnace or an electric furnace. We’ve broken down the differences so you can understand which one might be best for you and your home. 

​Just like your air conditioner, your furnace uses the air ducts throughout your home to deliver heat to each room in the house. An electric powered furnace uses heated coils, and a gas-powered furnace uses burners fueled by natural gas. Let’s break down the pros and cons of each option.

Pros

• Electric furnaces are connected and powered through your home’s electrical grid. If your home does not have access to the civic gas line this can be a great option.
• They typically cost less to install.
• They have less maintenance and there is no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.
• They usually last longer than gas furnaces which helps stretch out your investment.

Cons

• Electric furnaces are usually more expensive to run which means you’ll be spending more money long term.
• If you already suffer from dry air in the winter months an electric furnace will not do much to help as they emit a dry heat which only adds to drying out the air.
• If the electricity goes out, so does your furnace. You might want to consider installing a generator as a backup power source.
• Electric furnaces can take longer to heat your home which means they can be less efficient, especially if it is very cold outside. 

Pros

• Gas furnaces cost less to run than electric furnaces which leads to better savings in the long run.
• They are more robust when it comes to heating your home. No matter how cold it is outside a gas-powered furnace will be able to keep up and keep your home cozy and comfortable. People who live in colder climates tend to rely on gas powered furnaces.
• Since natural gas is a clean burning fuel, it is a good choice the environment while keeping your family comfortable at the same time.

Cons

• Gas furnaces are usually more expensive to install than electric furnaces since they must be connected to the civic gas line.
• They have shorter life spans and require more maintenance. A gas furnace will last about 10-15 years whereas an electric furnace will last 20 to 30 years.
• Carbon monoxide is a natural by product of running a gas furnace. Even though they are designed to remove carbon monoxide from your home, there is still a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning which is why a carbon monoxide alarm is a good idea to have installed. 

As you can see there is a lot to consider when making the decision of how you will keep your family comfortable during the winter months. Country Air is here to help answer all of your heating and cooling questions and help you find the best solutions for your home and budget. Give us a call today at 281-356-8564.

Does anyone sit around and think about their home’s heating system in Houston? No, not really. Only on the days Texas decides to turn into an artic tundra just to heat back up in the uppers 80’s the next. If you’re a Houstonian, you know what we are talking about!

The days that we do need our heating systems sure do come in handy though and because we are not used to extreme colds it isn’t fun if the heater randomly decides to quit.
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At Country Air, our top priority is keeping our customers comfortable year-round, so here is a list we put together of furnace warning signs that may indicate you need service or replacement before the next winter storm.

5 Warning Signs Your Furnace Might Need Replacing

1. Your furnace is old. Some things that are old are good, like wine or grandparents. Old furnaces, however, are not. Electric furnaces typically last about 20 to 30 years while gas furnaces last about 15 to 20 years. Once their expiration date comes and goes, their parts become unreliable due to corrosion and ventilation can become restricted from dirt build up.
 
Cracks can also develop in the heat exchanger or flue pipes, which could cause carbon monoxide to leak into your home’s air. Pro tip: If you don’t have a carbon monoxide detector installed in your home. Make sure you get one right away. Carbon Monoxide is a deadly gas that you cannot see or smell!
 
2. Your heating bill is much higher than normal. This could be an indication that your furnace is having to work overtime to keep up with your temperature desires. An aging furnace will not run as efficiently as newer system which will always result in higher energy bills, and that is no fun around Christmas time!
 
3. Odd noises. No kids, that’s not Santa on the roof, just the furnace on the fritz! Many times, odd noises coming from your furnace can be fixed with a repair from the experts but sometimes it could mean something more. If you hear anything strange call an HVAC pro right away.
 
4. Furnace flames should be blue. Gas furnaces are most common so if you have one give your flame a peek and if you see it yellow or orange in color that is a sign that something is up.
 
5. The air in your home isn’t right. It either feels too dry or too humid. Both are problems and could mean that you have the wrong sized furnace for your home. Moisture build-up in your system can lead to other problems like mold and mildew growth which affects the air quality in your home and your family’s health. An HVAC expert can tell you if your furnace is the right size for your home. 

Pro Tip: Get your furnace inspected and maintained yearly, this will catch problems before they get worse and allow your system to run efficiently which saves you money on energy bills and extends the time in which you must replace your unit.
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If you need help with your furnace, give the experts at Country Air a call at 281-356-8564. We wish you all a happy, warm, and safe Christmas!

​The cooler months are right around the corner which for most Texans is a sigh of relief. Although our heaters aren’t running all the time in the winter here, we do get some days where it is needed (cough, cough Snowmageddon 2021?) That brings us to the topic of the hour: what is a fall heater check for and why is it beneficial to you?

A fall heater check keeps the warranty on your system valid.
Imagine this: a part unexpectedly breaks on your HVAC system, but you’re still covered by warranty, ahh a sigh of relief. But - when you call the warranty department you realize that your warranty is no longer valid – oops. You’ve been DIYing the maintenance on your system instead of leaving it to the professionals and now you have to fork the bill.

You can avoid this headache by simply calling a professional like Country Air to come do the maintenance for you. Most companies offer a maintenance plan that saves you money and offers other perks - like same day service.

Most HVAC manufacturers require proof of annual maintenance so they know the equipment was properly cared for as some of the parts that make an HVAC system work can be costly to replace.

A fall heater check increases the life expectancy of your system.
Your HVAC system is a machine. Just like your car is a machine. You wouldn’t drive your car for 60,000 miles without changing its oil or doing any kind of maintenance on it and expect it to last a long time. The same is true of your HVAC system. It needs routine maintenance to ensure all the parts are working harmoniously together for a long life. 

A fall heater check ensures your HVAC system is running at optimal efficiency and lowers the cost of your energy bills.
A well-oiled HVAC system means your spending less month per month on energy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you could see a savings up to 30% on your energy bill. 

A fall heater check helps discover problems before they get worse.
It’s the worst when the crazy Texas weather goes from 80 degrees one day to 30 degrees the next. You turn the heater on, but nothing happens – there goes the heat!
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Routine maintenance checks allow the professionals to find problems in your system before they bust. This means your system is less likely to go down when you need it most and you’ll save money on costly repairs.  

My mom always used to say, “Prior proper planning prevents poor performance.” And well, she is right again with this one. Give us a call at 281-356-8564 to schedule your fall maintenance inspection. We look forward to serving you!