Month: January 2022

Did you wake up in the middle of the night to find there is no heat in your house? This is a heating emergency. You might think it’s not a big problem, but it could lead to something worse. With no heat, your pipes could freeze and break, causing water damage. It can also create a dangerous situation for you and your family if temperatures dip well below freezing.

Luckily, Novak Heating, Air & Duct Cleaning is here to help with 24-hour emergency services. We won’t let you be left out in the cold for long. Call us right away for emergency HVAC repair.

Signs You Need Emergency Furnace Repair

Furnaces seldom stop working at convenient times. No one likes to call for an emergency heating repair in the middle of the night, but we get these calls all the time. That’s why the heating team at Novak is standing by to help. When you don’t have heat, our first priority is to get you warm again, no matter what time of day. If you’re experiencing any of the following issues right now, call for heating emergency services from Novak. 

No Heat

Not having heat is a big problem, especially in the middle of winter. If you have no heat, check the breaker box first to make sure there isn’t a tripped breaker. Check your thermostat too.  If your furnace is getting power, but not producing heat, turn off your furnace and call for help. 

You Smell a Burning Odor or Natural Gas

This is a big sign that your furnace needs help and fast! Burning odors are a common sign of electrical issues. Turn off your furnace at the breaker to make sure everything is alright there. If the smell persists, call for help.

If your heating system runs on natural gas, you could be at risk for a gas leak. If you smell anything like rotten eggs, you need emergency heater repair right away. 

Carbon Monoxide Alarm Is Going Off

If you don’t currently have carbon monoxide detectors, now is the time to get them. If an alarm goes off, it’s a sign you have a CO leak and need emergency repairs. This odorless gas is incredibly dangerous and can cause serious health problems. If your carbon monoxide alarm is going off, turn off your furnace and call for help. This is an issue that cannot wait. 

Strange Noises Coming from Your Furnace

It’s normal for your furnace to make some noises when it starts up for the first time. But if you’ve been running your furnace for a few months now and suddenly you hear banging, clanking, and screeching noises, then you might have internal issues, and you should contact an HVAC company for emergency HVAC service.

How to Avoid Emergency Heating Services

Emergency heating services can be costly, so it’s a smart idea to maintain your furnace to prevent these kinds of calls. Maintaining your furnace is key for its performance. Change your furnace’s air filter every 90 days, or according to the manufacturer’s guidelines. You can buy most furnace filters at your local hardware store. It’s also smart to keep the area around your furnace clean to prevent dust accumulation.

The best way to avoid emergency heating services is to have your furnace serviced once a year. Make an appointment with the furnace technicians at Novak in the early fall before you begin to use your furnace on a regular basis. Our team will get your furnace working properly and let you know if any repairs are needed. This is a preventative measure that keeps your furnace and your family happy and healthy. 

Sign Up for Novak’s Worry-Free Maintenance Contract

If you always forget to schedule your annual furnace tune-up, that’s ok. Novak can schedule your regular furnace maintenance for you when you sign up for our worry-free maintenance contract. We’ll take care of your furnace and air conditioner, while you enjoy saving money in your comfortable home. Call Novak today to learn more. Contact the heating and air conditioning technicians at Novak today for emergency repair services.

Winter weather means dry air in Cedar Rapids, IA. Dry air is what causes static electricity and chapped lips. Many viruses and bacteria thrive in low-humidity environments, so if you’re having trouble shaking a winter illness, dry air could be to blame. Dry air in the winter is caused by a lack of moisture, and it can affect more than your skin; it can also cause humidity sleep problems. Individual room humidifiers can help, but they need to be refilled and cleaned often.

A whole house humidifier could be the answer you’re looking for to solve your humidity sleep problems. A whole house humidifier can keep you comfortable at night while improving your indoor air quality. The right indoor humidity level can make a big difference in your sleep schedule. Contact Novak Heating, Air & Duct Cleaning today to learn more about the humidity levels in your home.

How Does Humidity Affect Sleep?

If indoor humidity levels are too high or too low, you’ll notice this imbalance while you sleep. Air that is too dry can make it harder to breathe at night by irritating the airways in your nose and throat. Low humidity can also cause eye and skin irritation. High humidity can make it uncomfortable to fall asleep and receive good sleep quality. Sweating a lot is a common sleep problem caused by humidity. Molds, dust mites, mildew, and other allergens thrive in moist, high humidity conditions. Humidity sleep problems caused by these allergens are worse for those with increased allergy or asthma symptoms.

High and low humidity can disrupt your sleep cycles in a number of ways. When you sleep, your body goes through four distinct stages. The third stage, or the “slow-wave” sleep stage, is incredibly important for a restful night’s sleep. This is when your body temperature, heart, breathing rate, and brain wave activity all reach their lowest point. This stage is important for tissue repair, bone and muscle recovery, and a healthier immune system. According to the Sleep Foundation, high humidity sleep problems can increase wakefulness and make it difficult to reach this important third stage of sleep. If you wake up and you don’t feel rested, check the humidity level of your bedroom. 

What Is the Best Humidity Level for Sleeping?

Humidity is often measured by relative humidity. Relative humidity is the ratio of water vapor in the air to the amount of vapor that can exist in the air at any given temperature. Warm air can hold more moisture than dry air. That’s why it’s much more humid in hotter temperatures.

Your indoor humidity should be around 60%. You can use a humidistat to find out how humid your home is and how you need to adjust. Most people also enjoy sleeping at a slightly cooler temperature. Set your thermostat to 65 degrees at night to keep comfortable.

If you’re still having humidity sleep problems, consider putting a humidifier in your bedroom. A humidifier can help with the moisture content in the air and create the perfect environment for sleeping. 

Benefits of a Whole House Humidifier

A whole house humidifier is ideal for families. Instead of having a humidifier in each bedroom, now you can have one humidifier that can help the humidity in every room. A whole house humidifier is installed in your ductwork and controlled by the thermostat. Your whole house humidifier will automatically drain and refill, which eases the work you need to do to maintain it. It should be inspected every year along with your furnace.

After you have a whole house humidifier installed, you may notice a decrease in your heating bills too. This is because when the air is more humid, it feels warmer. Your furnace needs to kick on less frequently because it’s easier for your home to maintain a comfortable temperature. 

Learn More about Humidity from the Indoor Air Quality Experts at Novak

Not sure if your home is too humid, or not humid enough? The indoor air quality experts at Novak can help! If you’re experiencing chronic sleep issues during the winter, a whole house humidifier may be the perfect solution for your humidity sleep problems. Call us today to learn more.