The inversion is already settling in the Salt Lake valley here in Utah and I get so worried about my kids breathing the polluted air. There is a revolutionary new system designed to help eliminate indoor air quality risks by reducing air pollutants, viruses, allergens, mildew, smoke, dust, pollen, mold, odor-causing bacteria and odors caused by pets and cooking. You can keep that gross inversion air out of your home. Call us today if you're interested in having an Air Scrubber installed in your home. We are offering a $500 discount for the month of November. Call Main Street Heating & Cooling 801-930-5151.

Nest Protect--The Smarter Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

This month, we are throwing in a FREE NEST PROTECT with every new furnace install. Nest Protect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm is the best smart smoke alarm on the market. It’s hard to overstate the importance of having functioning, reliable smoke detectors in your home. From 2007 through 2011, almost a quarter of all home fire-related deaths in the US occurred in homes with nonworking smoke alarms. While any functioning smoke alarm will alert you to problems if you’re at home, a Nest Protect can alert you anywhere your smartphone whether you’re home or away.  
Call Main Street Heating & Cooling today at 801-930-5151.

5 Advantages of Ductless Mini Split Heating & Cooling Systems

Do you have that one room in your house that is never quite comfortable?? In our house, it was our master bedroom--always too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. I hated paying to heat or cool my entire home just so we could sleep. The solution: A Ductless Mini Split (you can see it in the upper right) It has been the best!!! It is so quiet and quickly gets to the temperature we want. Our utility bills have gone down and best of all....we can sleep!!! 

Most people have heard of ductless cooling and heating systems, and they have probably seen the small, indoor devices installed high on walls in homes, restaurants or office buildings. But what do you really know about these systems?

1. They Offer Highly Flexible Solutions

Whereas traditional heat pumps and central air conditioning systems force cooled and heated air through ducts, ductless systems deliver air directly into different zones. They are comprised of a small outdoor unit and one or more indoor units that require nothing more than mounting capabilities and access to electricity.

Sometimes referred to as split systems, multi-split systems, or split-ductless systems, ductless cooling and heating offers home and business owners a cost-effective way to replace inefficient window units, space heaters and electric baseboard heaters. They can be installed in home additions, new construction, condominiums and apartments, or to improve temperature control in specific rooms. Ductless systems can even be fit for buildings that currently use ducted forced-air systems. 

2. They Save You Money

One of the biggest reasons why homeowners switch to ductless cooling and heating is overall cost savings. In recent years, utility costs across the country have skyrocketed. When a home’s temperature depends upon an inefficient system, monthly bills can quickly climb out of control. Ductless systems operate on less power – they are smaller than traditional forced-air systems, and because the temperature-controlled air is delivered directly into a room, there is no loss in efficiency. Multi-split systems also allow homeowners to create “zones” in their home, which means they no longer have to cool or heat rooms that aren’t occupied. 

In addition to saving money on utilities, homeowners may also be eligible for tax credits or utility rebates for the year they install a ductless system. There are many programs at the federal, state and local level that allow homeowners and businesses to take advantage of these additional savings.

3. They Improve Indoor Air Quality – Happy Breathing!

Often times, the quality of indoor air can actually be lower than the quality of outdoor air. With traditional HVAC systems, air ducts must be professionally cleaned on a regular basis, and even after cleaning, dust and allergens are left behind. Ductless systems, on the other hand, offer multi-stage filtration that can drastically reduce dust, bacteria, pollen, allergens and other particulates in the air.

4. They Are Quick and Easy to Install

Installing a traditional, ducted system can take several weeks and disrupts daily activities in the home. Ductless systems are far less invasive to install, and depending upon the number of indoor and outdoor units required, can be up and running in as little as one day.  

Multi-split systems run on small pipes that require a mere three-inch hole. That means homeowners don’t have to worry about rebuilding walls or ceilings around ductwork and there is no loss of precious square footage.

5. Ductless Cooling Lowers Your Carbon Footprint

The small size of a ductless cooling system and its zoning capabilities allows for greater energy efficiency. Ductless cooling and heating systems follow ENERGY STAR guidelines, which means they are far more energy efficient than the minimum standards set forth by the U.S. federal government. Improved efficiency saves money, of course, but it also helps reduce your total carbon output. 

Additionally, ductless systems take advantage of advances in chemistry to reduce effects on the environment. Ductless systems use a refrigerant called R410A, which is known for its zero ozone depletion potential. This means the system will have less impact on the environment throughout its lifecycle. 

Ductless cooling and heating systems are energy efficient, environmentally friendly and completely customizable. They offer homeowners the ability to cool and heat specific zones of their home to the exact temperature they desire, providing consistent and exceptional year-round comfort. 

Call us today if you have an uncomfortable room in your house and we can see if a Ductless Mini Split is the answer for you. 
801-930-5151

Consequences of Not Maintaining Your HVAC System

If you have ever replaced or installed an HVAC system in your home, chances are you were bombarded with tips and advice on how to maintain your new heater and air conditioner; chances being even higher that you probably ignored all of that information. It runs on its own, so why mess with something that seems to be working, right? However, there are many consequences that are guaranteed to arise if you neglect to keep your system well maintained.

Health Problems

In addition to some surprising problems that can affect your wallet, various health problems that are hard to detect can affect both you and your family. If you do not change your air filter regularly, it will become covered and clogged with dust and other particles. Overtime, these particles will be blown into your home where members of your household will undoubtedly breathe them in, often without even realizing it. This might seem harmless to the common individual, but eventually you will experience symptoms such as:

• Fatigue 
• Coughing & Sore Throat 
• Congestion o Irritation in Eyes, Nose, and Throat 
• Asthma Attacks 
• Various Illnesses

Efficiency Problems

It is easy to assume that because your air conditioning turns on and off that it is working efficiently, but after a certain amount of time passes without maintenance, you may start to realize that your HVAC system seems to be having to work much harder just to reach the temperature you’ve set it at. This can be due to problems such as a clogged air vent or various unknown causes that need to be looked at by a professional HVAC service. This will also coincide with poorer air quality and could eventually render your wallet empty if your HVAC system reaches a point in which it must be replaced!

Keep your family (and wallet) safe all year around. Do not allow for bacteria-building dust particles to sweep through your home and cause your family to fall ill. Additionally, it is most beneficial to have your HVAC system checked by a professional as soon as you begin to notice that it is having to work much harder or is hardly working at all! The easiest step you should always ensure that you do is changing your air filter very consistently, as it is essentially the heart of your HVAC system; it relies on a clean filter to effectively pump in and circulate clean air into your home. To learn how to winterize your HVAC system, read our blog here.

How Ventilation Affects Your Home AC

Ventilation, by definition, is the process by which “clean” air is intentionally brought into your home and circulates to push the stale air out. Having such a system in your home is incredibly important, as it keeps the air you breathe clean and rid of various toxins that you definitely don’t want inside your body. Luckily, there are various types of ventilation systems you can have installed in your home, each with their own benefits.

Natural Ventilation

Natural ventilation still removes stale air and replaces it with fresh, clean air in your home, only without using the typical mechanical systems. Natural ventilation as a sustainable energy source has become more popular due to the increase of modern and more contemporary buildings. Not to mention, it allows the home or building to use 60% less energy, dramatically increases air quality, and reduces carbon emissions.

• How does it work? Taking full advance of wind and its buoyancy to drive fresh air into the home, it removes the need of fans. This ventilation method uses the “stack effect”, which makes use of the fact that warm air rises above cold air; this can be utilized so that naturally ventilated spaces can allow the warm air to escape from the vents located at the top of the building. This keeps cool air in and hot air out in a completely natural way

Why use this method? Simple, it is the more cost effective solution and for those who are concerned with being more “green”, it works naturally!


Mechanical Ventilation

Without ventilation to provide fresh air, pollution will most certainly build up in your home. This method of ventilation circulates the air in your home using ducts and fans and gives the user more control over the process rather than relying on natural air and wind. The benefits of mechanical ventilation are vast, especially considering that Americans typically spend most of their time indoors.

• How does it work? There are a variety of mechanical ventilation systems, all based on the type of climate in which you live. What they all have in common is that they allow for fresh air to be drawn in by a vent and distributed to each room by a fan or duct. Depending on your climate, your HVAC professional will decide how much air should be brought it, dehumidified, and pushed back out. 

Why use this method? You know the air quality you’re going to get, you are ensured a certain amount of comfort, and it’s all because you have more control with a mechanical ventilation system.


Surprisingly enough, indoor air can easily become more polluted then the outdoors because the dust and dirt gets trapped inside. Ventilation systems allow you the relaxation of knowing you are breathing clean, fresh air. Remember that proper installation is absolutely critical to maintaining proper air quality in your home, so trust the experts at Main Street Heating & Cooling!

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EVOLUTION OF FURNACES FROM BEGINNING TO NOW http://bit.ly/1sT7Ufp #Furnace #History

What Every Woman Should Know When Looking for a Furnace Installation/Repair

With Arctic freezes and Polar vortexes around us, it is no surprise that people face dreary winters with threat to not just travel and work, but also maintenance of precious appliances. To avoid emergency and very expensive heating repairs when temperatures dip, it is important to ensure that your furnaces and heating systems are in the best working condition. If they are not, it will result in an unhealthy atmosphere and extremely cruel living conditions. And the blame and responsibility to ensure their proper maintenance falls on the woman of the house. There are some things that the woman should remember to avoid last minute repairs or being blind sighted by the cold.

Throw Out the Old; Bring in the New

Ladies, if you move into an old home, old but sturdy, then you should keep in mind that the appliances and utilities might not be in the best shape. So after repairing the structure of the house, you must pay attention to the furnace. You might not need a new furnace, but you might have to do some repair work on it.

Quality Control

If you have to buy a new furnace, then you must check its quality. There are several factors that play a key role in determining the quality level of the furnace; BTU level, existence of an air filter and humidifier and the brand. Some furnaces have an air filter fit into them. An air filter is especially helpful if you or anyone in the house, especially young kids, are allergic to dust or small particles in the air. A build-in humidifier is very important as it eases the dryness in the air and static in electricity.

Before Buying

Before you go out into the market and buy that essential furnace, make sure that you conduct a thorough check in your own home to see the type of construction. This will help determine the type of furnace you purchase. Check whether you have a natural gas line, a propane tank or an oil tank and the source of electricity, as well its intensity. Is your house in an area where there is a problem with the electric connection?

AFUE

This is not just another complex acronym without an explanation. AFUE or Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency is a federal government requirement, which rates equipment for efficiency. The higher the rating, the better the model. Gas furnaces are rated for AFUE based upon the amount of heat used to warm your home from burned fuel. A 90% furnace will use 90% of the available heat to warm you. 10% of the heat is vented outside. Older furnaces are often as low as 60% efficient. So they need to be repaired to bring their efficiency up.

Types of Furnaces

There are three types - a single-stage, 2-stage and variable-speed. The 2-stage and variable speed furnaces give greater humidity control, quieter operation and better air circulation and temperature distribution throughout the house. So if you have an older version that needs constant repair, it would suit you better to replace it with a more modern version.

Do It Yourself

Some DIY tips include preventive maintenance of the furnace. Always check the filter and do it periodically, especially before the winter season. This will ensure optimal energy efficiency and air quality. Ensure that the thermostat is set to 'heat' and is a few degrees above the room temperature and check whether the fan works. If it does not come on, then the unit might be frozen and needs to be checked at the level of the main furnace.

Ladies, remember that you can do all the prevention by yourself, without having to hire a mechanic. But if you have even an ounce of a doubt, a little bit of help can go a long way.