Month: June 2018

Father and son relaxing in what looks to be a warm, comfortable home.

Natural Gas vs Electric Water Heaters in Anchorage & Mat-Su Valley

Posted on | by Mike Klebs

Chances are, you turn on your shower, sink, or dishwasher every day without any thought as to where the hot water comes from. The water heater is working behind-the-scenes to give you the hot water you need to cook, clean, and get through your day. You may not realize, but there are actually two main different types of water heaters available – gas and electric. Today, we are going to discuss these two different types of water heaters. You may be surprised to find that there are actually quite a few differences when it comes to upfront costs, energy efficiency and even performance.

Upfront costs.

While it may be tempting to keep using the hot water heater you currently have, realize that upgrading may pay off in a short while through improved efficiency. Electric heaters are usually less expensive to purchase and less expensive to install. However, if you already have a home fit into for a gas water heater part of this cost may be nonexistent. In addition, different size tanks will have a different upfront cost. Spending more for a larger tank may not be necessary if you have a smaller family.

Cost to operate in Anchorage & Mat-Su

While the upfront cost to install a water heater are usually lower for an electric system, a gas heater will usually cost less to run over the long haul. However, realize that this will vary from location to location. One of the best ways to determine if the case in your area is to contact your local utility company and get information from them. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Make sure you are comparing the costs to operate a 60-gallon gas water heater versus a 60-gallon electric water heater, for instance.  

Performance

Electric water heaters are usually a little easier to maintain than natural gas water heaters. However, one concern with electric water heaters is that they will not perform if you are without electricity–something of top concern during a long, hard winter. Despite these small differences, realize that both types of water heater will usually do the job, you just have to figure out which one is right for your current needs.

If you’d like more information about installing, upgrading or maintaining your water heater, reach out to us at KLEBS Heating today. We’d love to help you find the best possible hot water solution for your household or business. Our experts look forward to hearing from you!

Woman trying to vacuum up bugs and other debris.

Pests And Your HVAC

Posted on | by Mike Klebs

Pests, such as insects and even some mammals are uninvited guests in your home. If you’re proactive with pest control, you should be able to keep invaders to a minimum. However, there are certain areas that are more prone to letting pests in than others. One of these is your HVAC system. It makes sense, the unit has to have some connection with the outdoors for ventilation. Pests in or around your HVAC equipment can cause big problems. We’ve gathered a bit of information about what you can expect from them if you have an infestation and what you can do to protect your equipment from this happening in the first place.

How Pests Damage Your System

Pests can damage your HVAC system in many ways. Your ducts can be scratched, bitten or otherwise destroyed. In addition, if pests die in the system, this can lead to reduced air quality. Plus, the pesticides used by exterminators are not always good for air quality either. Also, any extra stress on the system will make your unit wear out faster than it otherwise would and may cause higher than necessary energy bills.

Prevention is Key

While you may be able to work with a pest control specialist to remove pests from your HVAC system, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Consider these simple ways you can prevent pests from invading your HVAC system in the first place.

  • Change the Filter – Dirty filters can harbor all sorts of allergens, including pests. Change the filter regularly and keep your whole system less appealing to all sorts of invaders.
  • Clear the Area – Trim back the weeds, bushes and other growth if you have a main outdoor unit or make sure there’s no clutter around an indoor unit and that area will be less likely to harbor pests.
  • Cover Vents and Flues – By covering vents and flues, and keeping them in good repair, you’ll make it much harder for pests to enter the system at all. There are a number of different covering systems available, your HVAC maintenance professional can help you find the best one to provide long-term results for your unit.

As always, the best way to keep pests out of your HVAC equipment is to schedule regular maintenance. Contact us at KLEBS today and let us take a look at your system in Anchorage or throughout the Mat-Su Valley. We can make sure you don’t have any problems – or pests – that will lead to trouble for your system.