It is great to see that rebates from Xcel and Center Point have increased for 2010, when you purchase high efficiency furnaces and air conditioners from qualifying Heating and Air Conditioning Contractors. In addition, Programmable Setback Thermostats now qualify for an additional rebate, when added to a qualifying furnace purchase. Remember, you must have a Heating and Cooling Contractor who has passed the utility certification requirements install the product to be eligible for the rebate

Many of our Customers are amazed that a new furnace and air conditioning system can be installed in less than 1 day. And best of all, the heat is off no more than 2 hours so you don’t have to worry about your home freezing or even getting cold.

The Federal Energy Tax Credit in effect for the balance of 2010 is the best use of dollars in the entire stimulus package. With over 1/2 of your energy expense going toward heating and cooling your home, this incentive to upgrade your old, inefficient comfort system will have an immediate effect on energy usage which can mean up to $100’s of dollars in savings. Many Minnesotans are realizing 30 – 40% and even more savings by replacing their old furnaces with new multi-stage furnaces with energy efficient ECM blower motors. Studies show that over 60% of furnaces are over 10 years old and our experience has shown that over 80% of furnaces 10 years and older are oversized and waste precious energy.
If your furnace is over 10 years old , I strongly recommend you replace it before the end of 2010 to take advantage of this tax credit.

There is no easier way to save on your energy costs than to install a Programmable Setback thermostat to adjust your indoor temperature throughout the year. Honeywell claims that you can save up to 16% by simply allow the temperature in your home to “setback” during sleeping and working hours throughout the day.
The price of setback thermostats has decreased and utility companies are now giving rebates when they are added to a new furnace installation.

If you are seeing water on your windows when you lift the blinds during these colder temperatures, allow some air to get behind the blinds and this problem should diminish.

Are you as tired as I am of seeing one Heating& Air Conditioning Contractor after another advertising a Free or 1/2 price Air Conditioner with the purchase of a Furnace ?
Let’s get “REAL”. If the price is really reduced, due to these slow times, make them prove it. Can you really buy a Furnace and Air combination for only the price of the Furnace ? $4500 – $5500 is what the 2 should cost, before any rebates or Energy Tax Credits, based upon their claims of no charge air conditioning.
Sorry, I just needed to “vent”. I am embarrassed by what these Contractors are advertising, be careful and get a competitive quote.

It has finally arrived and we couldn’t be more excited. It is the only Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector which does more than just sound an alarm, it actually shuts down the source of the CO. This product will shut your furnace off when it senses 50 PPM of CO for 2 minutes. The concentration of all other CO detectors must reach 70 PPM outside your bedrooms, which means the CO concentration is many times higher at the source.
Our Service Technicians can add this remarkable product to your furnace while on a routine maintenance or service call in less than an hour. We are also offering a $100 discount when you choose to add it at that time.

Just a reminder, if you wish to take advantage of the Federal Energy Tax Credit on your 2009 tax return , you must install your new Heating/Cooling system by December 31st.

Hopefully by now, you have purchased and placed a CO Detector in your home near all bedrooms. These units will normally sound an alarm if the reading surpasses 70 PPM for a period of 2 hours. We are very excited about a new product which mounts in the airstream of your furnace and will shut the furnace down if 50 PPM for 2 minutes is detected. Shutting down the source and not allowing the concentration to increase is very exciting. We will blog more as more information is available on this new, exciting product.

There is a very good article on wcco.com reminding all of us with sidewall vented furnaces and water heaters to be sure to remove the deep snow which can block the vents.
A blocked vent can shut the appliance down or worse yet, produce carbon monoxide. So, take a moment to look at your vents and remove any snow.