Message from Hometown Heating & Air’s President on COVID-19

Hometown Heating, Air & Electric has been closely monitoring the ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) and guidance as issued by the government and health authorities. The health and safety of our Customers and Employees is our top priority.

Click Below to learn more about our commitment to your safety:

The health and safety of our Customers and Employees is our top priority. Our teams have been monitoring the situation closely and taking the necessary precautions to keep our Customers, Employees, and our communities safe.

With the effects of the pandemic being felt more each day, we wanted to share the precautionary measures we are implementing to ensure uninterrupted HVAC services, should your need arise.
  • Hometown Heating, Air & Electric is implementing a zero-touch contact with all customers. All our transactions can be done electronically, so all receipts will be emailed to limit physical interaction with customers.
  • We are recommending customers use checks or credit cards. We will NOT be accepting cash.
  • Before and after servicing a customer’s HVAC equipment, all technicians will wipe the area with a disinfectant.
  • Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes have been supplied to all Hometown Heating, Air & Electric employees. As long as they are available, we will use them to wipe down any surface we have worked on.
  • Employees have been briefed on the importance of maintaining a clean and safe environment and on our communication and action plans regarding COVID-19.
  • We have engaged with our suppliers to understand their Pandemic Response plans.
  • Hometown Heating, Air & Electric locations are increasing awareness on Indoor Air Quality Solutions, as well as extending discounts on products to help eliminate the spread of airborne pollutants, such as the coronavirus, in our customers’ homes and businesses.

In addition to the steps above, we are closely monitoring the health of all our employees on a daily basis. If an employee shows any sign of illness, they will be asked to seek a medical diagnosis and cleared by a medical professional, or until they are symptom-free for 72 hours before being allowed to provide service to any customers.

If you have any questions, please contact us.

More information on the coronavirus is available here:

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Center for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Thank you for your continued trust, and our thoughts are with those impacted by this unprecedented situation.

Regards,
Ken Theiler, Owner
Hometown Heating, Air & Electric

You Need to Know These Installation Steps Before Hiring an A/C Contractor

You Need to Know These Installation Steps Before Hiring an A/C Contractor

Much of how your cooling system runs depends on the quality of the A/C installation. It’s important to select an HVAC contractor who will follow the most stringent practices in the industry to assure the equipment performs at top efficiency.

Here are four areas that a qualified HVAC technician will pay attention to during an A/C installation.

A/C Installation Sizing

Sizing an air conditioner precisely for your home is the first step in the process. Professionals use Manual J software, which involves a thorough analysis of your home’s energy efficiency, cubic footage, floorplan design, and lifestyle factors. If your HVAC contractor skips this step and goes by the size of your existing equipment, you may end up with a system that’s too large or small for your home. This can drive up cooling costs, reduce comfort and lead to reduced equipment life.

A/C Installation Ductwork

Ducts must be the right size and configuration for the system you choose. If ducts are too small, they’ll be noisy when the system run. If they’re too large, there won’t be adequate air pressure. All ductwork needs to be tested and sealed tightly to prevent leakage.

Installation Airflow

The amount of air blowing through the air handler needs to be tested during the A/C installation to verify it matches manufacturer recommendations. If there’s too little airflow, the evaporator coil in the air handler can freeze over, damaging the compressor in the outdoor condenser. If there’s too much, more heat will remain in the air that flows over the coil, lengthening the cooling cycle.

A/C Installation Refrigerant

At the close of the installation, the professional will gradually install the refrigerant into the condenser. Too much or too little refrigerant will adversely affect the performance of your new cooling system. Before the HVAC installer finishes, the refrigerant level must match the specifications established by the manufacturer.

About Hometown Heating, Air & Electric

Hometown Heating, Air & Electric is your full-service in-home heating and cooling provider. Whether you need a new unit installed or your current unit repaired and maintained, our certified HVAC technicians can do it all. An HVAC system is an important investment that will impact your life for years to come. It’s important to protect that investment, and Hometown Heating, Air & Electric does it better than anyone in the business. We provide quality HVAC services at a great cost!

Currently serving the following communities:

Cedarburg, Grafton, Germantown, Mequon, Menomonee Falls, West Bend, Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Milwaukee, Thiensville, Hubertus, Colgate, Kewaskum & Richfield.

Why Upgrading Your Insulation Is Not a DIY Job

Do you need to upgrade the insulation in your home? Over time, insulation can deteriorate, lose its effectiveness, and not provide the level of protection it should. Maybe you’re thinking about tackling the job yourself. Before you go out to the home improvement store in search of insulation, consider six reasons why it’s smarter to leave this job to the professionals.

1. Insulation Professionals Have the Proper Equipment

A professional who installs installation has a supply of tools and equipment designed specifically for the process. As an example, a professional has tools made to cut insulation in a precise way so it fits inside a wall or floor exactly how it should. When insulation is cut haphazardly, it can leave gaps allowing cool or warm air into or out of a home. You can have the best type of insulation available, but if it’s installed improperly, it won’t serve its purpose.

Professionals have the proper tools needed to secure insulation to a surface, so it doesn’t shift or move out of place. Insulation that isn’t firmly secured isn’t going to achieve the purpose of keeping the heat in and the cold out in the wintertime and vice versa in the summer.

2. Professionals Use Quality Products

Hiring professionals to upgrade your insulation means you’re going to get the best kind of insulation for your home. Our expert insulation installers at Hometown Heating, Air & Electric are familiar with the various types of insulation and which brands are the most reliable. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t.

Professional installers understand what type of insulation you need for your home. Some types of insulation are loose and can be blown in. Other types are made of rigid foam that must be put in place by hand. Professional installers can advise you on the most suitable type of insulation for your home.

3. Professionals Understand Safety Practices

Another reason to hire a professional to upgrade your insulation is they take the proper safety precautions. Insulation material carries with it dust and other very small debris that can get stirred up as installation takes place. Knowing the proper precautions to take and having the right safety gear should be left to experts who understand exactly how to implement safety protocols.

4. Professionals Have Knowledge of Proper Insulation Disposal

When you upgrade insulation, the old insulation must be taken out and disposed of appropriately. Expert insulation installers know how to completely remove old, worn-out insulation and dispose of it properly. Hiring professionals means you don’t have to deal with figuring out where to put the old insulation before putting in the upgraded insulation.

5. Professionals Stand Behind Their Work

At Hometown Heating, Air & Electric, we stand behind our work. We want you to be satisfied with the insulation upgrade we perform in your home. We are an award-winning company trusted by the people in our community. If there’s an issue, we take the time and effort to make it right. We want all our customers to be happy and satisfied with the quality of our work.

6. Professionals Know How Much Insulation to Use

Do you know how much insulation should be used in walls, ceilings, and floors? This is a question best left to expert insulation installers. It’s important to put the right amount of insulation into a home so it can do its job. Also, you don’t want to pay for more insulation than necessary. Therefore, it’s best to have a professional calculate the exact amount of insulation needed for your home.

At Hometown Heating, Air & Electric, we can upgrade the insulation in your home and address your other heating and cooling needs, if any. We provide air conditioner and furnace installations, repairs, and maintenance work. Also, we can assess the quality of your home’s air. If it needs improvement, we can suggest steps you should take to make it a healthier environment for your family. We’re glad to answer any questions you have about your home’s indoor air.

Hometown Heating, Air & Electric earned the Best of Home Advisor Award in 2018 and the Angie’s List Super Service Award in 2019. Plus, we’re proud to be an A+ accredited business with the BBB. Contact our courteous staff today and let us upgrade the insulation in your home.

The Dangers of Reusing AC Filters

There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes of your AC, and here to help you is Hometown Heating, Air & Electric in Cedarburg, WI. The filter of the AC unit is responsible for catching debris and making sure that the appliance runs at maximum efficiency. When a filter becomes full of dirt, dust, and other debris, you need to empty it right away. However, it’s crucial that you don’t reuse the filter. While it might seem perfectly functional, there are a couple of reasons why this is not advised. Here’s a breakdown of some of the dangers of reusing AC filters.

Poor Air Quality

Reusing AC filters simply leads to poor indoor air quality. The whole point of a filter is to remove dust and other particles from the air, but when you reuse a filter, it loses effectiveness each time. Some of the smallest particles will be passed on from usage to usage, and the filter can become too clogged to do its job in a productive way.

If you’re committed to the best air quality in your home, you’ll want to use a new air filter each time. In particular, people with preexisting health conditions should focus on air filter quality. Don’t rely on a separate air purifier to clean things up. The effect of a reused air filter should not be underestimated. Breathing in air that’s of such poor quality is a health risk that most people if they are aware of it, would simply choose to pass on. It’s just not worth the price of an AC air filter.

Mold and Mildew

AC filters that have been reused can also accumulate mold and mildew. These substances are not healthy to inhale either. If you have asthma or allergies, you want to avoid mildew at all costs. These particles can infect your lungs and make it more difficult to breathe. In the worst-case scenario, you could be looking at hospitalization for an extended period of time. You shouldn’t settle for reusing filters that are ridden with mold. Take some time to purchase a new supply of air filters for the next year.

Non-reusable Filters

There are two types of AC filters on the market. Reusable filters are specifically designed to be used over and over again. Non-reusable filters don’t have this sort of durability and must be disposed of when full. If your unit’s filter is non-reusable, you’re fundamentally at risk for respiratory issues when you reuse the filter.

It simply isn’t designed for this purpose. If you’ve never inspected your unit’s filter, take a moment to do so, and see whether it is reusable. From there, you can simply follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to proceed.

Rough Handling

When you reuse a filter, you’re exposing it to some rough handling. You might try to be gentle with the device, but some damage will occur no matter what. The edges of the filter might show signs of wear and tear as they are repeatedly folded over. If you use water to clean the filter, water droplets can slowly cause deterioration as well. Once the filter is clean, it will be inserted back into the unit in a worse condition than when you removed it. While this might not be super harmful at first glance, keep in mind that damage can add up over time. On your third or fourth time of reusing a filter, it will be in a much worse state than before.

Undetectable Dangers

Finally, the dangers of a reused filter are often hard to detect. If mold or mildew has accumulated, you might not be able to smell it with an untrained nose. If the filter has ruptured from the inside, this won’t be detectable until you actually open up the unit. From the outside, it could very well look like everything is running just fine.

Because these dangers aren’t always visible, you have to keep in mind that they could be severe behind the scenes. By using new AC filters, you reduce the chance of any of this happening. You don’t have to worry about the condition of your filter on a daily basis. Tossing out your filters is good for your peace of mind. And generally, the cost isn’t too inhibitive.

Installing New Filters

There are some serious dangers of reusing AC filters. It’s in your best interest to spend a little bit of money on new filters as opposed to reusing them for money-saving purposes. When installing filters and other AC components, professional service such as Hometown Heating, Air & Electric, can be of assistance. Some of our other specialties include heating, air conditioning, and indoor air quality. Reach out to us today so we can provide you with the safest HVAC systems out there! We look forward to telling you all about the ways we can serve your indoor climate comfort needs.