Saturday, October 22, 2016

Enjoy Cooler Weather And Tax Breaks While You Can

Depending on where you live, fall may come as a breath of fresh air. After enduring long stretches of high heat and humidity, it can feel good to open some windows in your house and give your air-conditioning system a rest. Seeing your utility bills go down can also be a relief.
While your air conditioner is chilling out, or at least shifting from heavy to light duty, you might want to give your furnace consideration. If it’s old or has required a lot of repairs in recent years, it may be time to think about getting a new system installed. This can give you the comfort of knowing you won’t be caught without heat when the extreme winter weather hits. Plus, if you live in the U.S., you’ll likely have the opportunity to take advantage of federal HVAC tax credits, which are set to expire at the end of 2016. It all adds up to affordable HVAC heating and cooling options.

A limited-time window for hvac tax credits

If you’re considering a new HVAC system, now is the time to take advantage of the innovation of Lennox and take comfort in federal tax incentives.
In 2015, the U.S. government renewed the 25C tax credit for high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. This credit is effective through December 31, 2016, and is part of a larger energy-efficiency incentive for home improvements. A $150 maximum credit is available for qualifying high-efficiency furnaces, and a $300 maximum credit can be claimed for qualifying central air conditioners and heat pumps. A separate 25D solar tax credit is available for solar-ready air conditioners and heat pumps from the Dave Lennox Signature® Collection.

Local energy incentives also available

You may be eligible for additional home energy tax credits or rebates in your region. Contact your local utilities company to find out, or visit dsireusa.org to search the DSIRE Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency®. 

Fall rebates and financing from Lennox

Lennox offers several products to meet your comfort, budget and installation needs. If you buy a qualifying Lennox® high-efficiency system before November 25, 2016, you can get HVAC rebates of up to $1,600 and get 9.99% financing. Or, you can take advantage of 0% interest for up to 60 months. 
Financing your system can make your purchase more affordable over time. It also gives you the flexibility to bundle the cost of your HVAC units and accessories, such as air cleaners and controls, with service fees. With Lennox financing, affordable heating and cooling can be yours, as more comfort options than ever are now within reach. 

A full bounty of rewards

This fall, you have the opportunity to make your most-used appliance—your home heating and cooling system—your most rewarding. You’ll be making a smart choice that can significantly reduce your monthly utility costs. Plus, you may be able to take advantage of federal tax credits, local energy incentives and rebates from Lennox. Your local Lennox Dealer may offer additional savings on Lennox products.
The mild fall weather won’t last for long, and neither will the opportunities to save on a high-efficiency heating and cooling system. Be sure you make the most of both while you can.

How Is Your Furnace Like The Heart Of Your Home?

How Is Your Furnace Like The Heart Of Your Home?

It’s the unsung hero sitting out of sight. You don’t think about it unless something is wrong. And after a while, you don’t even notice when it comes on and goes off. In a way, your furnace is the heart of your home’s heating and cooling system.

It's all about the flow.

Like a heart, your furnace is responsible for keeping everything moving. Winter, summer, spring or fall, the furnace is pushing air through your ducts.
To move this air, your furnace has a blower motor connected to fan blades. The type of fan motor your furnace uses can affect the comfort level in your home, and the amount of energy you use.

Single-speed motor(PSC): Operates at full blast, or not at all. Found in less efficient furnaces.
Constant Torque Motor: Can adjust airflow based on heating or cooling need to maintain even circulation. Operates quieter on continuous fan speed and offers efficiency savings up to 33% more than standard single speed motors.
Variable-speed motor: Provides the highest level of comfort and energy efficiency.Variable-speed motors can operate at high speeds, low speeds, and anywhere in between, ramping up and down like a dimmer switch. Because they can fine-tune airflow to heating or cooling demand, they minimize wasted electricity and ensure the money spent on utility bills goes directly into the comfort of your home.  Variable-speed motors also prevent blasts of uncomfortable air that occur when single-speed systems start up, providing year round comfort.

It never stops.

In the winter, your furnace pulls double duty by both warming and circulating the air. It does so by passing air over a metal structure called the “heat exchanger” that has been warmed to a high temperature by gas or electric heat.
During the summer months, when heating isn’t needed, your furnace turns off its heating capabilities.  However, it still works hard every day to circulate cooled air through your home.

It helps keep clean air circulating.


Your heart moves blood through your kidneys to remove impurities.  Your furnace does the same thing by moving air through your home air filtration system. As long as your filter isn’t clogged, and the air is flowing, impurities are being captured and taken out of circulation.

You can help it last longer by taking care of it.

Your heart can affect your health like few other things. When it’s sick, nothing works right. In much the same way, a healthy furnace can make your whole home feel better, and help you use less energy every month.  The best ways to keep your furnace healthy and happy include:

Checking your air filter

A clogged filter makes your furnace work harder, because the air doesn’t flow as freely.  Regular replacement of disposable filters, or regular cleaning of washable filtration components, will keep the air moving like it should.

Getting a professional opinion

Regular seasonal system checks from Betlem Residential Heating & Air Conditioning will keep your equipment working at peak efficiency, and help you detect and address any maintenance issues before they become serious. Call us at 585.271.4328 or e-mail us to learn more.