Heating & Furnaces FAQs

If it’s been more than a year since anyone looked at your furnace, water heater, or sump pump, or if you’ve noticed any changes in performance, unusual sounds, or higher utility bills without a clear reason, it’s a good time to book a maintenance visit.

A clogged filter can reduce furnace efficiency measurably, some estimates put the impact at 5 to 15% higher energy consumption compared to a clean filter. Over a full Central Alberta heating season, that adds up to a real dollar figure on your utility bill, on top of the added wear on your equipment.

Annual preventive maintenance, ideally in spring or early fall before heating season, is the most effective way to catch worn igniters, dirty burners, and failing components before they cause problems. A Bruin’s technician will inspect, clean, and test all key components during a standard tune-up.

At Bruin’s Plumbing & Heating, we have a long list of members. To serve each of our members in a timely manner, we ask that you wait for a Bruin’s representative to contact you. Rest assured that our team will contact you between February and August for your upcoming annual service. Appointments are available Monday through Friday (except holidays), 8:00am to 4:30pm.

Prior to the technician’s arrival at your home please ensure the area around the equipment is clean and that there is a clear pathway from the door to the service area. Also, if you have any pets, please keep them safely away in another part of the home.

Your Bear Care Club membership is a one-year membership with non-refundable fees for mid-term cancellations.

To cancel your membership, please let us know within 30 days of your annual renewal date. For monthly memberships, you’ll still be responsible for the remaining months of the 12-month term if you decide to cancel early.

View Terms & Conditions.

As part of your service, the Bruin’s team will contact you before your annual service is due to schedule you in via email, phone, mail. Whether you choose to move forward with your annual maintenance for the year is up to you. Each service is available for each calendar year and is non-refundable.

Our Bear Care Club Memberships are designed to save you time and hassle. That’s why our memberships will automatically renew on the anniversary date unless either party notifies the other within 30 days of the annual renewal dateRepresentatives at 403-343-6060.

Your Bear Care Club membership does not cover these costs. However, as a member you will receive a 10% discount on the repair labour and repair materials charges associated with your applicable schedule/contract. (Note: Installation of new equipment does not qualify for this discount.)

You wouldn’t buy a brand-new car and expect to never have to put air in the tires, change the oil and check out any unusual noises, would you? In the same way that an automobile requires periodic maintenance for optimal performance, a home comfort system should be regularly inspected by a qualified technician.

Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV for short, is a filter rating system devised by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) to standardize and simplify filter efficiency ratings for the public. The higher the MERV rating, the higher the efficiency of the air filter. Simply stated, a MERV 12 filter will remove smaller particles from the air than a MERV 8 filter. For the consumer this means that you now have the ability to effectively compare one filter to another. In general, any MERV 8 or 11 filter will perform about the same as any other MERV 8 or 11 filter, respectively. The MERV rating only applies to efficiency. Additions such as carbon, Lysol anti-bacterial treatment and Arm & Hammer baking soda are value-added benefits and are not an expression of the MERV rating system. If allergies or asthma are your concern, we suggest you choose a MERV 8 filter or higher.

Your UV Air Purifier requires little maintenance. Simply replace the bulb once per year, or once every two years depending on the model.

Check the documentation that came with your furnace. Recommendations vary based on a number of factors: the type of filter that you use, how many pets you have, whether anyone in your home has allergies, etc. If you use disposable fiberglass panel or electrostatic panel filters, you should change them anywhere from once a month to once every three months. Pleated filters generally last from 3 months to 6 months, again, always check your filter monthly, no matter what type filter you use. Filters are relatively inexpensive and easy to change, so there is little reason to wait. If you don’t change or clean your filter often enough the filter can get clogged with dust and other airborne particles, forcing your furnace to work harder to maintain airflow. This will reduce your furnace’s efficiency and can cause damage.

Filter efficiency refers to the percentage of airborne particles that the filter removes. This is different from the fuel efficiency of your furnace (commonly measured as the AFUE). You can choose either a high-efficiency or a low-efficiency filter for your highly fuel efficient furnace. (Note, however, that failing to change / clean your filter regularly can reduce your furnace’s fuel efficiency.)

It’s recommended that you schedule a maintenance service visit once a year with a licensed HVAC technician. This will prolong the life of your heating system and keep it running safely and efficiently throughout the cold season. A qualified heating technician will thoroughly clean and inspect all of your heater’s components and make any necessary repairs or adjustments. Not only does this ensure that your heater is performing at optimal levels, which helps to save on overall heating costs, but it also allows the technician to address any major problems or safety concerns.

This could mean one of two things. 1. An intermittent chirp is probably an indication of a defective smoke detector. 2. A consistent chirp is probably an indication of a low battery condition and the smoke detector requires a new battery.

First, disconnect any additional devices that may have caused the breaker to overload and trip. Breakers are mechanical devices and must be turned all the way off before turning back on. Remember this is a mechanical device, so this may require several attempts. If this fails to reset the breaker, or the breaker feels “Sloppy” when resetting, there may be a more serious problem. Call a licensed electrician.

In general, the sound generated by a ductless air handler (sometimes referred to as a head) is equivalent to whispering in a library (between 21 and 30 decibels). The sound from an outdoor unit is more like normal conversation (60 decibels) but is less than a conventional air conditioning condenser.

When you schedule your regular maintenance visit with a qualified heating technician, they will test your system to make sure it is running at optimal levels. But there are some ways you can determine whether or not your system is working efficiently on your own. Abnormally high heating bills are one of the indicators that your system is running at low efficiency levels, but keep in mind that how well your home is insulated and sealed and whether your filters are clean will also play a role in heating costs. You can also tell by how warm your house stays throughout the winter. If some rooms are colder than others, or if you find that you are turning up the thermostat more often, your heating system may not be running very efficiently. Check your thermostat setting. Is your heating system achieving the desired temperature setting you are requesting on the thermostat? If not, call one of our HVAC professionals to inspect and test your heater.

Follow manufacturer guidelines to guarantee proper water heater operation, a long lifespan, and warranty protection. Regular maintenance can increase the lifespan of the heater.

Find the source of the leak first. Look around you for any additional water sources that could be there. Put down some paper towels where the water was located.

If the towels are damp when you return, there is a problem, and the water heater may be to blame. In this case, call our expert plumbers for water heater repairs in Red Deer, Lacombe, Sylvan Lake, and surrounding areas immediately.

There are several things you can do to make your air conditioner quieter. First, check to see if anything is blocking the front of the unit. If there is, remove it. Second, make sure the unit is level. If it isn’t, adjust the legs until it is. Third, clean the coils and fans. Fourth, check for loose parts and tighten them if necessary. Finally, if the unit is still noisy, you may need to replace it.

Contact us today for AC repair in Red Deer, Lacombe, Sylvan Lake, and surrounding areas.

At a bare minimum, air conditioners should be serviced once a year. However, this can vary depending on the type of air conditioner, its location, and how often it is used. If your air conditioner is not serviced regularly, it may not work as efficiently and could break down more often.

• The unit is not cooling the home sufficiently.
• The unit is making strange noises.
• The unit is leaking water.
• The unit is not turning on or off properly.
• The airflow from the unit is not strong enough.
• There is an ice buildup on the unit.

Your Bear Care Club membership does not cover these costs. As a member, you are eligible for a 10% discount on a one-time duct cleaning service, or you can add this service to your membership on a two —or three-year recurring term.

Your Bear Care Club membership is a one-year membership with non-refundable fees for mid-term cancellations. Should you wish to cancel, please contact Bruin’s within 30 days of your annual renewal date. Monthly memberships are still responsible for the remainder of the 12-month term for cancellation.