Radiant Floor Heat Verses Forced Air Furnaces in Ann Arbor

Are you hearing noises coming from your furnace?

Do you get cold in the middle of the night?

Do you suffer from seasonal allergies or allergies all year around?

The way your house is heated may be at the root of your problems. However, you’re not alone, because many people have a heating system that doesn’t fit their needs. For some, radiant floor heat may be the best option, but for others, forced air may be better.

According to Energy.gov, there are advantages to both types of heating systems, including:

Radiant:

1. Eliminates duct losses.
2. Removes allergens.
3. Uses less electricity.
4. Runs mostly silent.
5. Enables you to set different temperatures for each room.
6. Easier to maintain. No ducts to clean, and no filter to change.

      Forced Air Heat:

1. Cheaper to install.
2. Cheaper to maintain.
3. Heats and cools your home.
4. Simple to use.
5. Treated by a humidifier, reducing dry air.

After people get their heating system inspected by a professional, they are typically faced with the question, “Is my heating system worth replacing to maximize my comfort?” We always suggest doing what’s best for you. If replacing your entire heating system to maximize your comfort isn’t in the budget, we won’t push you.

Our technicians who fix furnaces in Ann Arbor offer our customers peace of mind. All our technicians are highly trained professionals who continue their education through ongoing training, so they stay up to date to assure you the best service available. CMR mechanical prides itself on honest, quality service!

If you'd like a free in-home evaluation of your existing radiant floor heat or forced air furnace in Ann Arbor, or any other professional advice about heating and cooling your home or business, please feel free to contact us at info@cmrmechanical.com or call (734) 424-9555. We’re happy to help!

6 Ways to Ensure That Your AC in Ann Arbor Will Be at Peak Performance Next Year!

Whether you do-it-yourself or hire a professional, it’s important to get your air conditioner ready for next year! 

Do you consider yourself a do-it-yourselfer?

Do you like to tinker around the house?

In order to minimize wear and tear on your air conditioner, it’s important to conduct routine maintenance on all of your equipment. At a bare minimum if you have basic knowledge on how an HVAC system works, you should be able to perform tasks on a regular basis that can prolong the life of your equipment. 

Picture Courtesy from James Dulley of www.Cleveland.com

We suggest the following to get your air conditioner ready for next year:

1. Check your air filter and change it if it’s dirty.
2. Clean your outdoor condensing unit of leaves and debris.
3. Clean the indoor vents in your house.
4. Make sure all moving parts are lubricated.
5. Examine the fan belt and motor for tightness and wear.
6. Confirm that the thermostat is working properly.

If you’re unsure about how to do any of the above tasks, please feel free to contact our friendly AC Ann Arbor technicians. All our technicians are highly trained professionals who continue their education through ongoing training, so they stay up to date to assure you the best service available.

You don’t want to be frustrated when the time comes next year to turn on your ac unit, and nothing happens. You don’t want to be the only one on your block sweltering in the heat. Save yourself the trouble now and service your ac unit today!

CMR Mechanical has the experience, knowledge, and skills necessary to service and repair all brands of HVAC systems for your home or business. Call us today at (734) 424-9555 to schedule a “$99 Clean and Check Inspection” with one of our friendly AC Ann Arbor technicians.

Should You Replace Your Furnace If You Have A Cracked Heat Exchanger?

We received a call for a clean and check inspection when we discovered a cracked heat exchanger in a forced air furnace. We verified that the heat exchanger was cracked by removing the plenum (top duct work on the furnace) and the air conditioner evaporator coil.  The crack in the heat exchanger has the potential to leak carbon monoxide into your home.  Some articles on Google mention that a crack in the heat exchanger is not a significant problem, this is simply not true.  

The heat exchanger separates the air stream entering the home from the exhaust gases in the furnace.  A crack is a compromised system and this must be addressed before allowing the homeowner to continue using the furnace to heat the home.  Carbon Monoxide poisoning in the worst cases has proven deadly, and while this is the worst case, we can't rule out the possibility.   

Cracked Heat Exchanger

This furnace ended up being replaced due to the age and the cracked heat exchanger.  Sometimes customers choose to replace the heat exchanger verses replacing the furnace.  This is a decision that the homeowner has to make based on cost and the age of the system.  Replacing a cracked heat exchanger is like doing open heart surgery on a furnace, and just because you have a new heat exchanger does not mean that the rest of the components are new.  Most furnaces that have cracked heat exchangers are older models 12-20 years old and the homeowners should consider replacement due to the age, as well as the general condition of the furnace.  

Some manufacturers have a 10-20 lifetime heat exchanger warranty.  This warranty is for parts only and doesn't include the labor in most cases.  The average heat exchanger replacement takes one technician 4-5 hours.  If a customer is told that they have a cracked heat exchanger by another company, CMR Mechanical requests that one of our technicians verify the findings before we offer any recommendations.  This is to ensure that the heat exchanger is in fact cracked, and that the diagnosis by another company is correct.  Only then can we move forward with verified information on the furnace.   

CMR Mechanical technicians do a thorough inspection of the furnace any time we are on a service call, on a clean and check, and when we replace the evaporator coil on the furnace.  CMR mechanical prides itself on honest, quality service. Call us today at (734) 424-9555 to receive a thorough inspection of your furnace!