Let’s attempt to demystify the oft-misunderstood and underappreciated humble heat pump. Even the name itself, “heat pump” is a somewhat of a misnomer because it does so much more than merely pump heat. It also has the ability to pump cool air so it can serve in a dual-capacity as an air conditioner and heater. And that’s the gist of heat pumps: they move heat rather than make heat. Traditionally used in more temperate climates, new technology has paved the way for the utiliza

There’s a host of occupations that have gotten a bad rap over the years. Often stereotyped as unscrupulous or shady, if you thought about it for a second you could probably call to mind a few jobs with bad reputations: auto mechanics, lawyers, used-car salesman, politicians. Some even put HVAC contractors in this bunch. Obviously, there are “bad apples” in every industry, across every job demographic. And as much as we hate to admit it, there are some chiselers in the HVAC fi

Sleigh bells are ringing, Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, and you are freezing your behind off! Unless you’re literally sitting in a snowbank, this means the heater ain’t working. So, after you put on a couple extra sweaters, but before you call the HVAC professional, there is a host of usual suspects to check off the list of probable malfunction causes. Troubleshooting and fixing some common problems regarding the furnace is not out of the realm of possibility; it’s not

An old, temperamental heating and cooling system can be a pain in the neck on so many levels. It’s inherently inefficient which puts a hurt on your wallet. It’s an inconvenience, in that one minute you feel on the verge of hypothermia, and the next minute you swear you’ve been relocated to a sweat lodge. These old units, with their “bangs” and “clangs,” are jarring. They can also be tremendous space hogs where square footage is coveted. The best way to overcome all these issu