Michigan winters are no joke. With freezing temperatures and heavy snowfalls, your furnace is your home’s first line of defense against the cold. To keep your family safe and comfortable, it’s essential to take proactive steps in preventing furnace breakdowns during Michigan’s harshest weather.

At Dion’s Complete Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, we’re here to help with expert tips and services to ensure your furnace is winter-ready.

Schedule Furnace Maintenance Every Fall

The best way to prevent unexpected furnace failures is through regular maintenance. Scheduling a professional tune-up every fall ensures your system is prepared before temperatures plummet.

During a maintenance visit, a technician will:

• Inspect the entire system for wear and tear
• Clean or replace the air filter
• Lubricate moving parts
• Identify and address any issues found

By investing in annual maintenance, you’re going to improve your system’s efficiency, extend its lifespan, and reduce the likelihood of breakdowns in the future.

Ensure Your Home Is Well Insulated

Even the best furnace can’t keep up if your home isn’t well-insulated. Heat loss through poorly sealed windows, doors, and attics forces your furnace to work overtime, increasing energy consumption and wear on the system.

To keep the heat inside your home:

• Check for drafts around windows and doors, and seal them with weatherstripping or caulk.
• Add insulation to attics and crawl spaces.
• Use insulated curtains to block heat loss through windows.

Keep Up With DIY Furnace Maintenance

While professional maintenance is important, there are a few simple tasks you can handle yourself for good measure, including:

• Replace the air filter every 1-3 months.
• Keeping vents clear of furniture, rugs or other obstructions.
• Check the exhaust pipe outside your home for debris or blockages.
• Adjust the thermostat to a lower temperature when you’re away or sleeping for additional savings.

Consider using a space heater in specific rooms to reduce the load on your central heating system. Though these are small tasks, they make a big difference in preventing wear and tear.

Signs Your Furnace Needs Attention

Even with proper maintenance, problems can arise. If you notice any of the following signs, it’s time to call a professional:

• It’s never warm enough: If your furnace has a broken piece or loose part, it will struggle to heat your home.
• Strange smells: Gas leaks will develop an odor (unless it’s carbon monoxide), and burning smells may mean parts are grinding together or overheating.
• Odd sounds: Banging, rattling, or whistling sounds signal loose or broken parts.
• The furnace won’t turn on: Depending on your furnace, it could be a sign of a gas leak or an electrical problem.

If your furnace breaks down, prioritize staying warm by layering clothes and using space heaters safely. Then, call a trusted HVAC professional for emergency repairs.

Call Dion’s Complete Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Today

Don’t let a furnace breakdown leave you in the cold this winter. At Dion’s Complete, we’re committed to keeping Michigan homeowners warm and safe through reliable maintenance and repair services.

Call us today at (810) 673-7228 to schedule a tune-up or repair and ensure your system is ready for whatever winter brings.

As you prepare for the colder months by stocking up on firewood or buying new coats for the family, don’t overlook one important step: conducting a home energy audit.

This simple audit helps you analyze your energy usage and find areas for efficiency improvements, ultimately helping you spend less money heating your home.

Dion’s Complete Plumbing, Heating & Cooling can help any repairs or replacements you need after your audit. Continue reading to learn just how to audit your home!

What Is a Home Energy Audit?

A home energy audit is an assessment of your home’s energy consumption. It typically includes a furnace inspection, an insulation check, and a look at your energy usage patterns. You can hire a professional for a thorough inspection, but many homeowners can find energy-saving opportunities by performing their own.

How To Prepare for an Energy Audit

If you’re scheduling a professional energy audit, here are a few steps to get ready:

• Clear any obstacles to give contractors easy access to all parts of your system.
• Make a list of specific concerns you have.
• Close all windows and blinds to ensure an accurate assessment.

What To Check in a Home Energy Audit

If you’re performing a DIY audit, here’s what you should focus on:

HVAC System

Your HVAC system plays a major role in energy efficiency. Inspect your furnace for any signs of damage and reach out to an HVAC technician if you spot anything. Also, pay attention to how your home warms up – uneven heating or slow warming could indicate ductwork problems or dirty filters.

Insulation

Check for drafts around doors and windows. If you detect cold spots, seal them with expanding foam or use heavy curtains to help retain heat. Don’t forget to inspect the insulation in the attic, either – be sure to wear protective gear, as insulation can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs. Remove and replace any wet or moldy insulation.

Energy Usage

Review your energy bills over the past year to determine what uses the most energy in your home. A quick and easy way to conserve energy is to unplug electronics and appliances when they’re not in use. Lamps, TVs, curling irons… Standby power adds up quickly!

What Are The Benefits Of A Home Energy Audit?

Performing a home energy audit offers many benefits, such as:

• Save money: Using less energy means you spend less on bills.
• Improve efficiency: Not only is improved efficiency great for the environment, but you’ll feel warmer while using less energy.
• Extend the life of your system: A well-maintained HVAC system lasts longer and performs better than a neglected one.

Call Dion’s Complete Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Today

If your home could use some efficiency improvements after completing an energy audit, don’t hesitate to contact Dion’s Complete. We can replace air filters, repair broken parts, and seal ductwork leaks to improve your home’s efficiency!

Call us today at (810) 673-7228 to schedule your service.

Your old furnace finally gave out, and you’re deciding between replacing it with another furnace or upgrading to a heat pump…

If you’re milling around your local home improvement store asking yourself, “Which should I choose?” Here’s what you need to know.

How Do Heat Pumps and Furnaces Work?

Despite the name, heat pumps don’t just heat your home – they can cool it, too.

The most common type, an air-source heat pump, uses outdoor air to transfer heat inside during the winter and cool air in the summer. There’s also a geothermal version, which draws heat from the ground instead.

Furnaces, on the other hand, burn fuel like gas or oil to generate heat. Because they don’t offer cooling, you’ll need a separate AC system if you choose a furnace.

Pros and Cons of Heat Pumps in Michigan

The biggest advantage of a heat pump is its ability to handle both heating and cooling, saving you the cost of a separate air conditioner.

Since heat pumps don’t rely on burning fuel, they also offer cleaner indoor air and are more energy-efficient than furnaces, leading to significant savings on your energy bills.

However, air-source heat pumps have a hard time performing in cold climates like Michigan’s harsh winters. Because they’re installed outdoors, they experience more wear and tear,  and will wear out faster due to being installed outdoors, which can mean more frequent replacements compared to furnaces.

Additionally, as heat pump technology continues to evolve, it is likely that we will start to see more heat pumps capable of keeping up with colder winter climates for northern states like Michigan.

Pros and Cons of Furnaces For Michigan Homes

Furnaces are a popular choice in Michigan because they provide fast, reliable heat, even in freezing temperatures. They’re also durable, often outlasting heat pumps, and with fewer moving parts, they generally require fewer repairs.

Plus, furnaces tend to be less expensive to install, which can be a relief if you’re watching your budget!

The downside is that furnaces can be costly to operate, especially gas models. They also tend to dry out the air, which could be uncomfortable if you’re prone to dry skin or respiratory issues.

Heat Pump vs. Furnace: What’s Best for Michigan Residents?

Because air-source heat pumps work best in moderate climates, they’re not ideal for use in Michigan, where winter temperatures can drop well below freezing. That’s why most homeowners in Michigan stick with their tried-and-true furnaces, which offer excellent heating capacity.

If you have your heart set on a heat pump, you’ll want a ground-source model, or a hybrid or dual-fuel system, which combines a furnace and a heat pump in one package. The furnace heats your home during winter, while the heat pump handles cooling in the summer.

Still Not Sure? Call Dion’s Complete Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

Not sure whether a heat pump or furnace is right for your home? Call Dion’s Complete Plumbing, Heating & Cooling at (810) 673-7228. Our experts will help you choose the best system and make installation a breeze!