Gas vs Electric Furnaces

December 17, 2019

Homeowners regularly face choices when it comes to the care of their property. When a furnace dies, for example, and questions arise about what type of model would be the best replacement option, deciding on whether to buy a gas or electric furnace might be puzzling. Choosing the right one involves understanding the differences between the two. Determining the Costs Not surprisingly, many homeowners weigh costs before choosing a furnace. Staying with a budget makes sense since you don’t want to spend more than you can afford. With that said, you should look at the “big picture” regarding costs. An electric furnace usually comes with a lower price than a gas one. The price could even be significantly lower. However, other costs come into play and not only ones associated with installation. For instance, gas fuel isn’t as expensive as an electric power source. Over time, though, a gas furnace may prove less costly due to reduced power expenses. The Lifespan Question Asking, “How long will this furnace last?” is a crucial question. Once the furnace expires, it becomes time to get a new one. With a gas furnace, expect the system to last about two decades. An electric furnace,...

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Why Does My Furnace Keep Turning Off?

November 7, 2019

You may have noticed that your furnace will stop running mere seconds or minutes after it begins a heating cycle. This is generally not enough time to circulate hot air around a home, and it could be a sign that there is a problem with your furnace or other heating components. Here are some common reasons for short-cycling: The Air Filter Could Be Dirty A dirty air filter may cause your furnace to get too hot. When this happens, a safety switch will turn the furnace off to ensure that it doesn’t sustain significant damage. The folks at in Peoria can inspect your furnace to determine the cause of a short cycle. If necessary, a service technician can change an air filter or take other steps to fix a short-cycle issue. In some cases, this may include installing a new furnace, thermostat, or heat pump. The Furnace Could Be Too Large for the Home Larger furnaces tend to be able to heat homes more quickly. However, if your home gets warm too fast, the furnace could shut down before it gets through an entire heating cycle. If the furnace shuts down, the home may get cold relatively quickly as well....

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Furnace Safety 101

October 17, 2019

In Illinois, you rely heavily on your furnace. Cold temperatures are uncomfortable and dangerous. Not being aware of furnace safety is also dangerous because it can lead to fires or carbon monoxide poisoning. Fortunately, running a furnace safely is easy. Here’s everything you need to know about furnace safety. Your Furnace Needs Professional Cleaning Every Year Vacuuming the outside of your furnace and the vents in your home — a maintenance task that you should do once a month — isn’t enough to properly maintain your furnace. It also needs professional cleaning once or twice a year. Because of the cold climate in Chicago, we recommend twice a year. You can have your furnace professionally cleaned through furnace maintenance. Other helpful tasks are completed during professional furnace maintenance, such as inspection of the internal components and lubrication of moving parts. offers furnace maintenance in Peoria, Illinois, and the surrounding areas. We use top-quality products and employ NATE-certified technicians. Clogged Air Filters Can Cause Fires Your air filter needs to be changed as frequently as every month. How often you need to change the air filter depends on your furnace’s make and model. Check the manufacturer’s details to know how often...

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3 Things to Do Before Turning On Your Furnace

September 16, 2019

When temperatures start dropping in the fall, it’s time to fire up the furnace to keep your house warm. Before your furnace is ready to face the intense cold weather of winter, it needs a little TLC. Here at , we’ve worked with furnaces for over 35 years and know exactly how to whip it back into shape for the frigid Peoria winter. Before you turn on your furnace for the first time, be sure to do these three things: 1. Test the thermostat and replace batteries The thermostat is the little wall-mounted device that tells your furnace how warm you want your house. Most thermostats are battery-powered and, like other devices that run on batteries, need to be freshened up every once in a while. Turn up the thermostat and listen closely to make sure your heating system kicks on. If you don’t hear anything, there’s a chance the batteries have gone dead. Ideally, you should change the batteries every six months. 2. Change the Filter Inside every furnace is a screen that keeps the air in your home clean. It does this by catching dirt, dust, and other pesky particles that you wouldn’t particularly care to breathe in....

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Fritch Heating & Cooling is Participating in the Feel the Love™ Program

August 13, 2019

How important is it to feel comfortable in your home? Many of us take this for granted because we don’t have to worry about it. We turn on our heating and cooling systems and fully expect them to operate successfully because that’s what they do. However, there are unsung heroes in communities all across the country who don’t have that luxury. The Feel the Love™ program aims to fix that. What Does the Program Do? Created by Lennox, the Feel the Love™ program is meant to provide a little help to the people who deserve it most. People who always seem to be out and about making their communities a better place and never asking for anything in return can often use some love and assurance that their needs will be met. Nominations are submitted, and a select few are picked to receive a new heating and cooling system for free. Last year, almost 3,000 heroes were nominated! That’s a lot of people who are changing lives. How Do We Help? Lennox provides the product, but it relies on partners to donate the time and labor to make it all happen. That’s where is proud to step in and show...

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3 Secrets to an Energy Efficient Home

July 16, 2019

Summer in Peoria, IL means sun, sweltering heat, and intense humidity. During the rest of the year, winter brings freezing temperatures and snow. The only place you can look forward to having a steady temperature is in the comfort of your own home. While there’s simply no way to have your heating and cooling system run all year for free, implementing a few energy efficiency tips can seriously cut down on how much energy your home consumes. Our professional HVAC technicians at recommend these top three ways to make your Peoria home more energy efficient. 1. Insulate Your Doors and Windows Doors and windows are a major source of home heat loss, especially when they’re older and the seals aren’t as strong as they used to be. To help insulate your home from unwanted drafts, simply add weatherstripping around the doors and windows. This additional layer of insulation means your heating and cooling system won’t have to work as hard to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. 3. Routine Heating and Cooling Tune-Ups Routine maintenance will ensure your HVAC system is functioning at peak performance. provides thorough tune-ups where one of our expert technicians cleans the HVAC components and...

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Benefits of Keeping Your Air Ducts Clean

June 10, 2019

If you care about breathing clean, healthy air, then it’s important to keep your ducts clean. Dirt and pollutants gather in your ducts and eventually find their way into your home when the heating or cooling system runs. Keeping your air ducts clean will not only improve indoor air quality but also limit dust buildup in your house and increase the efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Increase Efficiency of the Heating and Cooling System You may know that you need to change the air filter and have the internal components cleaned to keep your heating and cooling system operating efficiently. What you may not know is the ducts need to be kept clean to maintain efficiency too. If you haven’t had your ducts cleaned in three to five years, then they’re due for a cleaning. Limit Dust Buildup in the Home Have you ever wondered where the dust in your home comes from? One place that dust comes from is the heating and cooling system. When there are dust and dirt in the ducts, it blows into your house when the system runs. The dust gets into your bedding, floors, furniture, and other items. Improve Indoor Air Quality...

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Does My Home Need a Humidifier in the Winter?

January 25, 2019

According to the EPA, indoor humidity levels should be between 30 and 50 percent for maximum comfort and to prevent conditions that can lead to mold and mildew formation. Keeping humidity within these levels in your home throughout the winter can help you avoid some of the common complaints associated with dry air, such as: Dry skin Dry, itchy eyes Static electricity in clothes, hair, carpets and upholstery Respiratory ailments Finding the Right Humidity Balance As with many things in life, getting the humidity inside your home just right for everyone who lives there is all about balance. Too much humidity and you may have some uninvited guests (in the forms of mold and mildew). Too little and you might feel like you’ve developed a shocking new superpower when it comes to generating static electricity. Purchasing a hygrometer allows you to continuously monitor the state of humidity inside your home, which lets you determine if you need to add a little moisture into the mix. Why Is the Air So Dry in Winter? Illinois winters are not widely known for having high relative humidity. Even on the most humid days, the air inside homes heated with gas heaters (which is...

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