What's Going Up Your Chimney?

Morgan Relaxing in Front of the Fireplace

It's that time of year again when we love to enjoy the comforts of a fire.  However, this holiday season you need to make sure that Santa Claus is the only thing going up the chimney.

There is nothing quite like having a fire to get into the holiday spirit.However, many of us often forget to close the damper after the fire is out and the embers have cooled. Leaving your damper open allows the cold outdoor air to enter your home and for energy savings to go right up the chimney!

You may think that by utilizing the fireplace you are giving your furnace a break. However, if you don't remember to close the damper, you will actually force your furnace to work a bit harder.

TIP:  Each morning after a fire, I grab a piece of newspaper and use it to close the damper.  When I am finished, I leave the paper lying on the fireplace grate as a reminder that the damper has been shut.  If I don't see the paper, I know that the damper is still open!

If you are located in Southeastern Wisconsin and are looking to replace your furnace, contact me at 1st Choice Heating & Cooling for a free estimate.

Happy Holidays!

It's Time to Humidify!

Early Snowfall in SE Wisconsin 11-16-14

It appears that "Old Man Winter" has decided to show up early this year and stay for a while.  This also means that your furnace has been at work earlier than in years past.  The continued use of your furnace and prolonged cold weather can significantly lower your home's humidity, so it is time to turn your humidifier back on.

Average humidity levels in most homes should range between 30-50%, with 45% being ideal.



Benefits of Increasing Your Homes Humidity

• Soothes nasal passages and eases the symptoms of the common cold, as well as help you to heal faster.
• Relieves the symptoms of other upper respiratory ailments like asthma and allergies
• Combats dry and cracking skin
• Protects your home's wood furniture, trim and flooring by keeping it from drying out and cracking
• Reduces static electricity

A whole-house humidifier is easy to add and costs less than you may think to have installed on your existing HVAC system.  If you are located in Southeastern Wisconsin, contact Wayne at 1st Choice Heating & Cooling or call our office at 262-547-2030.

Beware "The Reaper"

According to forecasters, this Winter season may prove to be as brutal as last season.  All the more reason to fear "The Reaper" HVAC contractor.

Recently, I was invited to give a proposal to a young couple who had just purchased a home and made the very wise choice of having an energy audit performed. They learned that their 5-year old furnace was not performing to the required standards, and they automatically assumed that they needed to replace it. They called in several HVAC contractors to give them bids on a new furnace, and all of them readily provided them with a quote to replace their existing unit.

I was uncomfortable with this situation, and I told the couple that I couldn't believe that a furnace this new was ready to be declared "DOA".  Instead, I offered to send in one of our technicians to take a look at it.  If upon inspection, they determined that it had a failed heat exchanger or other "fatal" issues, I told them that I would be happy to quote them the price for a new furnace, as well as apply the service call charges toward their new purchase.

As I suspected, our technician found that their furnace was in good working condition. However, the poor energy efficiency readings they had received were due in part to the fact that the unit had not been properly installed.  Our technician made a few adjustments, and the homeowners were out only the cost of a standard tune up.

Did I lose out on a sale...yes.  Was it the right thing to do...absolutely!  I am banking on the fact that we now have a service customer for the remaining life of that furnace, as well as a new furnace when their existing one finally "gives up the ghost".

This is why we are a NARI contractor, and why homeowners should always make sure they look for a reputable contractor.  If you are located in Southeastern Wisconsin, contact me at 1st Choice Heating & Cooling.  You can be assured that I will give you an honest assessment of your HVAC needs.

HVAC Technology in the Fight Against Ebola

"Gigi" Robot

In the on-going fight to eradicate Ebola, a technology that is already being used in the HVAC industry for years is now giving hospitals a "fighting chance" of eliminating the virus.  It has also been used for years to help combat Anthrax.

The robot "Gigi" at left, blasts ultraviolet (UV) light to kill 99.9% of germs in hospitals.  Click on link below for complete report from CNN.
CNN - Germ Zapping Robot

At 1st Choice Heating & Cooling, we have been making UV light equipment available to our customers for over a decade.

Second Wind UV Light

How does it work?  Bacteria and viruses living in your home are transmitted through the air and spread through your HVAC system from room to room. Installing an ultraviolet (UV) light to your system attacks the DNA of the organisms and renders them harmless. By eliminating viruses during the cold and flu season, this technology can help to keep your family healthy.  As an added bonus, the UV light also attacks bacteria and germs that cause odors, keeping your indoor air quality healthy and odor free!

Adding a UV light to your existing HVAC system can give you some "peace of mind", and it is easier and more affordable than most people would think.

Contact your local HVAC contractor today to get a quote on a UV light.  In Southeastern Wisconsin, call 1st Choice Heating & Cooling and ask for Wayne.

Don't Turn Off That Humidifier Just Yet

Carrier Humidifier

If you have a whole-house humidifier as part of your HVAC system,  it has probably been getting a workout lately. The very cold, dry conditions of January and February have taken their toll and sapped most of the moisture out of our homes.

Generally speaking, I like to advise my customers that when we set our clocks ahead  for daylight savings time (DST), it is often the appropriate time to turn off our humidifiers.  However, as we all know, this Winter has been a bit unusual.

This season, I would strongly suggest continuing to run your humidifier until we start to see more spring-like weather conditions.  Once we start to see a period of warmer temperatures and "non-frozen" precipitation, you can turn it off.

I would also like to suggest that since our systems have gotten quite a workout in recent months, you may also want to check on your furnace filter.  If it is looking dirty, you will want to replace it before the start of the Spring/Summer cooling season.

Time to replace

If you live in Southeastern Wisconsin and have questions or would like more information on including a whole-house humidifer on your current HVAC system, contact me at 1st Choice Heating and Cooling in Waukesha.

The Fine Art of Replacing a Rooftop Unit

BP Convenience Store - Waukesha, WI

If you or someone you know owns a business that needs to have their rooftop HVAC unit replaced, make sure you hire a contractor with experience.

Not every HVAC contractor is familiar with the finely-orchestrated procedure required to pull off a seamless replacement.  Chances are that the work will be done during business hours, so it is vital that there is as little disruption as possible.

A good contractor will have the required rooftop experience and contacts to coordinate the following:


1.  Crane rental
2.  Delivery by product distributor
3.  Electrical contractor
4.  Salvage company (to take away old unit)

All of these pieces need to be in place at precisely the right time to make the job a success.  Forgetting to schedule just one of the above, will result in costly overages and down time.  Not to mention the additional time that the heavy equipment will be sitting at the place of business.

As was the case with a recent replacement in a high-traffic area, it also required the rental of barricades/equipment to enforce traffic control.  Making sure that the contractor you hire has successfully coordinated a number of rooftop replacements will save you headaches in the long run.

Rooftop Replacement at BP C-Store (Waukesha, WI)

In Southeastern Wisconsin, contact 1st Choice Heating and Cooling for your rooftop replacement needs (generally 25 tons or less) at 262-547-2030.

Maintaining Your HVAC System Like Your Car

Your home's HVAC system is one of the biggest purchases you will make other than your home and automobile.  So why is it that we don't treat our furnace and air conditioner like we do our car?  You wouldn't drive a whole year without getting an oil change, would you?

Routine tune ups and preventative maintenance are crucial if you wish to get the full life expectancy out of your car, and the same applies to your home's HVAC system. 

It is also important to make sure that the company you select to provide your maintenance is doing more than just checking to make sure your furnace doesn't have a cracked heat exchanger and/or that there is ample refrigerant in the air conditioner.  It is easy to get lured in by an advertisement or coupon offering a deeply discounted tune up.  Remember...you get what you pay for.  A good HVAC contractor will provide a complete tune up, with an extensive checklist.  Click here for an example of what a complete service/maintenance program should provide:  1st Choice Maintenance and Safety Inspection.  

It goes without saying that you don't want to be the homeowner that has to make that emergency call on the hottest or coldest day of the year, much less on a weekend or holiday!  Creating a maintenance schedule with your trusted HVAC contractor will assure your comfort and peace of mind for years to come.

In Southeastern Wisconsin, contact 1st Choice Heating and Cooling.