Heat pumps are an alternative type of climate control appliance that take the place of central furnaces and air conditioners. They work by using a heat exchanger to move heat into or out of your home, depending on the season, and are much more energy efficient than their traditional forced air counterparts within temperate climates. However, just like all other major appliances, heat pumps can begin to break down over time, becoming less effective and efficient.

It can be hard to deal with ever-increasing heating bills during the winter. Of course, you need to keep your home comfortable and warm, but during cold winters, when your HVAC system is not working efficiently, the costs can mount. Luckily, you can do your part to get a handle on your growing utility bills by making your furnace a little more efficient. You should have your system professionally serviced every once in a while, but there are some simple things that you can do yourself to improve its efficiency.

Thinking about your home heating needs in the middle of summer is one of those things that difficult to wrap your mind around. After all, thinking about any heat at all in the summer isn't ideal. However, it should be something to consider before the winter quickly approaches. On thing to do is have your furnace inspected. If it's determined that you are going to need a new one, buy it right now, during the off season.

You have probably heard of smart thermostats that allow you to control your HVAC from remote locations. However, you may not have thought of how the thermostat can benefit you. Well, here are some of the ways different people can utilize remote-controlled thermostats: Those Who Have Irregular Schedules There are many people whose lives do not conform to such regular schedules. Maybe your job doesn't have a fixed schedule you can leave the house at different times on different days.

An air conditioner (AC) in a house with a dog works a little harder and therefore needs a little extra TLC, than an AC in a house without a dog. This is because dogs increase the level of particles in the air, which accumulate in different parts of the AC, particularly the filters. Here are some of the TLC measures your AC requires if you have a dog in the house:

Hurricane season can be one of the most destructive times of the year. If you expect a major storm to hit your area this year, take steps to protect your plumbing system from clogs and other damages. Flooding water can introduce debris into your sewage system and drains during the storm. Once debris enters your plumbing system, it can clog up it and flood water into your home or damage your pipes.

As the weather outside begins to cool, the AC will be needing maintenance as the end of the cooling season approaches. During the early autumn months, you will probably still need your AC and as the leaves fall off trees, it will be time to start preparing for winter and doing the heating repair and maintenance that your AC and heating need. Here are some autumn AC care tips to help you at the end of the season:

There are so many heating and cooling systems on the market, it can feel impossible to figure out which option is the best. While there are numerous things to keep in mind while you shop, you may want to look at how the unit is powered. Here's a look at several different options so that you know what's available. Dual Fuel A dual fuel heating and cooling unit consists of a heat pump that runs on electricity and a furnace that runs on gas.

Nearly 3 out of every 4 American enjoy some sort of air conditioning in their homes, but cranking it up all the time only uses more electricity and raises your utility bills. If you're concerned about paying too much for your AC but still want to feel cooler in those hot summer months, consider some of these alternative ways to do just that. Here are 5 ways you can cheat the heat without cranking up the AC all day and night.

Your home has a long, hot day ahead of it, so it's time to turn on the air conditioner. But once you turn it on, you get nothing but warm air out of it no matter how low you turn down the thermostat. There are plenty of issues that can prevent your air conditioner from performing as it should, but the following four issues may not be as common as, say, a dirty air filter or a refrigerant leak.