As we find ourselves in the heart of winter, ensuring your furnace is in working order is on the top of the to-do list of every homeowner. Keeping your furnace in proper working order will protect you and your family as the temperatures dip and keeping your home warm becomes more and more important. The Charlotte NC heating technicians at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning can thoroughly clean and inspect your furnace this winter to make sure you are not left in the cold.

With our reliable technicians on your side, you can rest assured that your furnace is in the best hands possible when you need it the most. Our detailed cleaning and inspection of your heating system will include tests for your furnace, thermostat, ignition system, safety controls, as well as checking for leaks and means for inefficiency, as well as various other things we look for and inspect. You should only leave your furnace under the watch of a trusted professional – like the heating professionals with One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning. Our technicians offer some of the best warranties in the business, as well as 24/7 emergency service, as we know furnaces don’t cater to the typical 9-5 business hours.

For all your heating needs this time of year, One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning is here to help. For additional information about a furnace inspection this winter, give us a call at 704-323-8004 or contact us online today.

When it comes to your heating system, it is of utmost importance to make sure that your system is running efficiently in time for the oncoming winter season. As the temperatures dip, homeowners will be relying on their furnaces and boilers more and more to keep them warm and safe from the outside air.  This added reliance on your system places pressure on it. It is crucial to count on a reputable and reliable heating company to provide your system with a proper cleaning and maintenance tune-up before it is too late. Our Charlotte NC heating technicians at One Hour Air Conditioning & Heating can do just that.

Using our state-of-the-art infrared video camera inspections, we can diagnose and detect any problems with your central heating system. The heating and cooling trade has come a long way from simple flashlights and mirrors, and our advanced technologies reflect that. By showing you the exact root cause of the problem, you can see for yourself just what precisely is going on in your system. All of our repairs are guaranteed, and our drug-free, background-checked technicians will provide you the ultimate peace of mind when it comes to your system and your home’s safety. We know that safety is one of the main concerns when having work done inside your home, and we respect that. With our camera inspections, seeing is truly believing.

For all your residential heating needs in the area, we are here to help. For additional information regarding heating camera inspections, give us a call at 704-323-8004 or contact us online today.

Heating your home during the cooler months can turn into a large investment. Heating costs account for 35-50% of annual energy bills, so it is important to every homeowner to keep the costs as low as possible. Keeping the costs of your furnace to a minimum is on the mind of every homeowner, and our Charlotte NC heating experts at One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning can do just that. By providing proper maintenance and repair to your furnace, our heating technicians can keep your costs low and ensure your system is as energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly as possible.

By ensuring your system is up-to-grade, you are keeping your costs at a minimum and your performance at a high. Our trained technicians can replace an older model of furnace with a brand new system, one that boasts the latest technological advancements in the industry and can serve your home for years to come. If your system is older than 20 years, it may be time to consider a replacement. If your system boasts an old coal burner that was previous switched over to oil or gas, lacks electronic ignition, or does not have vent dampers or a draft fan, you also may want to consider a replacement. These models are severely out-of-date, meaning you are not attaining the energy-efficiency you could today, and spending unnecessary money on your monthly utility bills.

Our heating experts can evaluate your current system for cost-effectiveness and energy-efficiency, making our best recommendation as to whether to repair or replace your furnace. For additional information regarding furnace repair and maintenance, give us a call or visit us online today.

The temperatures are starting to rise, but it’s never too early or too late to start planning for the rising spring and summer temperatures by weatherizing your North Carolina home.

Weatherization includes home upgrades such as insulation, air-sealing, and efficient heating or cooling systems. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, weatherization reduces energy bills for the long haul. Some improvements provide savings over the lifetime of your house.

Once you decide to weatherize your home, you will first need to assess current usage. Check out the online tools from Energy Star, a joint program of the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. You may prefer to evaluate yourself or hire a professional energy auditor, who will determines how much energy your home consumes, as well as find problem areas where you lose energy and suggest how to make it more energy efficient.

Upon completion of the audit, let the weatherization process begin. Our Charlotte NC HVAC experts are insured bonded, and licensed to work on either residential or commercial projects and will make your home as comfortable as possible. Give our Charlotte cooling company a call today, or visit us online for more information.

Starting to notice a spike in your heating bill? You’re not alone, but with the chillier temperatures, that increase is expected around this time.

One of your new year’s resolutions may have been to save more money in 2011. Although the thermostat is running a little higher and longer than average, there are ways to keep your home warm – and your wallets full – with simple adjustments here and there. Check out the following tips from our expert Charlotte NC heating technicians that will help you save money.

• Change up your curtains: The curtains that “look nice” in your home may need to be replaced by the curtains that “provide comfort.” Thermal curtains, which give added insulation to a room, are made to not only warm up your home but also combat your heating bill. These curtains can fight off the cold temperatures now and give much-needed shade during the months with the hotter temperatures.
• Set your thermostat: Just because the temperatures are cooler doesn’t mean your thermostat has to reach a certain degree. A two- or three-degree difference, believe it or not, can make a major difference in what your heating bill is and what it could be. Instead of 75 degrees, drop it to 70 or 72. If you have it at 70, try setting the thermostat to 67 or 68 and put on a sweater or sweatshirt to combat the cool. Remember, you want to be comfortable, and this can be an economical answer for you.
• Do routine check-ups: Heating maintenance is so underrated that it often goes unnoticed – and untouched – in a home. In the winter months, make sure your furnace is in great shape and your furnace filters are fresh. Be on the lookout for leaks, as they can cause havoc (mold, foundation issues, etc.) all around your home. Keep your radiator and hot water heater in top shape. Little things like this will help in the long run.

Take advantage of these tips, and live life the way you planned when you first made the resolution. Let our Charlotte HVAC company help you in achieving your financial goals when it comes to your heating system and maintenance. Call us today, or contact us online for tips and information.

The end of December brings us a new year. However, the end of December also brings us closer to the deadline for claiming this years Energy Star tax credit. So now is the time to act on installing a new energy efficient furnace. Our Charlotte heating & air contractor will install your new energy efficient furnace or tankless water heater.

With every tax credit, there is a process. You must obtain a Manufacturer’s Certification Statement which can be found on the manufacturer’s website. Second, you must file a IRS Form 5695 with your 2010 taxes. Then save your receipts and manufacturer’s certification statement. The process is that simple.

For more information, visit the Energy Star FAQ page.

Some items at that may qualify include:

• Ductless Heat pump
• Conventional Gas Water Heater
• Tankless Water Heater

A Ductless heat pump is a high efficiency zone heating solution. Heat pumps are perfect for living rooms or that cold addition. Durable and energy efficient; your ductless heat pump will prove a fine choice.

A tankless water heater is an on-demand water heating solution. On top of your $1,500 maximum rebate, your energy savings will continue for years. Tankless water heaters are long-lived appliances and will pay you in the long-run.

The time to purchase a new furnace or water heater has never been better. Contact us online or call your Charlotte Heating & Air company at: 704-323-8004

Heat pumps are not widely understood; however, they may be a suitable option for many Charlotte homes, especially those without gas connections. Basically, a heat pump system derives heat from an external source, such as air, water or earth, instead of manufacturing it.

The most common type of heat pump, the air-source heat pump, is the focus of this blog posting. Here you have a single unit that both heats and cools your home, depending on the season, using refrigerant. Just like an air conditioner does during the summer, the heat pump directs hot air from your home’s interior to the outside. During the winter, the air-source heat pump derives heat from the outside and transfers it to your home’s interior.

How can a heat pump benefit me? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, air-source heat pumps can deliver 1.5-3 times more heat energy than electricity they consume; that could mean a lower utility bill for you. A heat pump’s efficiency and effectiveness diminish with long stretches of cold temperatures; therefore, they perform best in moderate climates. When temperatures remain consistently at 40 degrees or below, backup heat is required and typically generated by auxiliary electric resistance coils.

For more information about heat pumps and heat pump installation, contact the Charlotte heating and air conditioning experts at One Hour Air Conditioning.

Want to get the most out of your heater this winter? Make sure your windows and doors are properly sealed to prevent those cold drafts from ruining your comfort and making your heating system work overtime. The following tips can keep you toasty and save you money on your heating bill:

• Older windows are especially drafty. You can coat your window panes with special plastic sheeting designed to keep the heat in and the cold out.

• Use window curtains as an additional layer of protection against draftiness.

• Seal the open edges of your doors with weather stripping from the hardware store.

• Use store-bought or homemade draft stoppers and door sweeps to prevent cold air from coming through the bottom of your doors. You can make your own draft stopper by filling a fabric tube (or old t-shirt) with dried beans or popcorn kernels.

For an annual inspection of your heat furnace and overall heating system, contact your trusted Charlotte NC HVAC company. An HVAC technician, through preventative maintenance, can address any potential heating system issues before they become larger problems, providing you with peace of mind and warm winter comfort.