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It’s never a good thing to have an appliance trip your circuit breaker, but having your heat pump or Air conditioner cause difficulties that disturb your home comfort is on Elevated Air’s list of “Bad Things.” If your heat pump / Air Conditioner is tripping your circuit breaker, it could mean you need a heat pump repair.

Elevated Air heating and cooling can help you find out what the exact problem is, but here are a few things we commonly see: overworked heat pumps and air conditioners, short circuits, wiring problems, fan obstructions and compressor malfunctions. No matter what is going on with your heat pump, if your circuit breaker is tripping, you must call in a professional.

Overworked Heat Pump and Air Conditioner

Heat pumps and Air Conditioners become overworked for many different reasons, but they’re typically preventable. Dirty air filters or outside units and blocked or closed vents are often to blame—and those problems can be easily identified and remedied during a preventive maintenance visit. If those aren’t the reason for your heat pump / AC trouble, Elevated Air can help you out by executing a heat pump repair.

Short Circuits

If you have a short circuit in your heat pump / AC, it will trip the breaker instantly when you turn it on. If you suspect you have a short circuit in your heat pump or Air Conditioner, contact Elevated Air Heating and Cooling right away for a heat pump repair. Short circuits can be very unsafe, causing fires or other serious damages.

Wiring Problems

Faulty installation or loose connections can cause your heat pump to short circuit and trip your circuit breaker. No matter how they got that way, loose wires can trigger your heat pump to overheat and trip your circuit. Your Elevated Air Heating and Cooling technician can find and tighten any loose connections and keep your heat pump operating safely.

Fan Obstructions

If the fan motor of your outdoor unit locks up, it might trip your circuit breaker. Sometimes this fan, which circulates air over refrigerant coils, will become congested or malfunction and could cause your circuit breaker to trip.

Compressor Malfunctions

If your compressor is older or starts to malfunction, it could trip your circuit breaker. This takes place when the compressor tries to pull in too much current to start itself up.If your circuit breaker is tripping, give

Elevated Air Heating and Cooling a call at 406.890.8531 right away. It’s important that you keep your Flathead Valley home and family safe and comfortable.

The cost to install a furnace in Kalispell typically costs around $5,500, but can range anywhere from $3,500 to $9,000.

Giving an exact price for your furnace installation is tricky because it will depend on multiple factors.

For example, the factors that impact a furnace installation include:

1. Fuel type
2. System efficiency
3. Added comfort features
4. Ductwork modifications
5. The company you choose

We’ll cover each of these factors in detail to help you better understand what to expect when buying a furnace.

Cost factor #1: Fuel type

Gas furnaces typically cost more to install than electric systems. However, gas is often a cheaper fuel source compared to electricity, which means while gas furnaces are a higher upfront cost, they also cost less to operate (i.e. you’ll get lower utility bills).

When choosing a furnace type, you’ll probably be better off going with the fuel type that your existing furnace uses.

But in case you’re thinking about switching fuel types, you’ll want to consider:

• Whether you have a gas line installed. If you’re thinking of switching to gas and don’t have a gas hookup, you’ll need to have a line installed for the furnace which will add to your installation cost.
• The size of your electrical panel. If you’re thinking of going with an electric furnace, you may need to upgrade your electrical panel so it can accommodate the added surge of the furnace. Otherwise, the furnace could overload the electrical panel.

Cost factor #2: Efficiency

You’ll pay more upfront for high-efficiency furnace systems.

That being said, a more efficient furnace usually means lower monthly heating bills, which could save you money in the long run.

Furnace efficiency is measured by its AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating, which measures how well a furnace can convert fuel to energy (heat).

For example, if you have a furnace with a 96% AFUE rating, the furnace can convert 96% of fuel consumed to heat and only wastes 4%.

The national minimum standard AFUE rating is 80%. High-efficiency furnaces have AFUE ratings somewhere between 90% and 98%.

For most Kalispell homes, we recommend an AFUE rating of 92–95% if you’re looking for a mid-efficiency furnace and an AFUE rating of 96–98% for high-efficiency furnaces.

Cost factor #3: Comfort features

Upgrading features on your furnace will add to the overall installation cost.

Comfort features include additions like:

• Variable-speed blower motor: Variable speed heating has virtually unlimited heating stages and can adjust the blower to provide more consistent, efficient heating.
• Modulating burner: These burners adjust heat in precise increments (usually within 1 or 2 degrees of the target temperature), allowing the furnace to keep your home at a more consistent temperature.
• Smart thermostat: Smart thermostats automatically raise and lower the temperature based on how you program it, offering more accurate indoor temperatures and lower energy bills throughout the year.

Cost factor #4: Ductwork modifications

Any kind of modification to your ductwork will increase your furnace installation cost.

If your home needs to have ductwork installed, you could be looking at another $1,000+ added to your installation cost.

If you have ductwork but haven’t had it inspected in a while, you may want to have your technician inspect it before installing your new furnace. An inspection will catch any cracks or gaps in your ducts that could decrease the efficiency of your furnace.

Cost factor #5: Company

The company you choose to install your furnace will have an impact on the following 3 price factors:

• Labor costs
• Special deals
• Warranty

To help you decide which company to go with, we’ll explain how each factor impacts your installation cost.

Labor costs

Higher-quality technicians will charge more for their labor.

When you get a furnace installed, you’re essentially paying for 2 things: the furnace itself and the labor to install it.

While the cost of the furnace system won’t range much from company to company, labor costs likely will.

Our advice: Don’t go with the cheapest offer.

A good technician will take care to install your furnace right. Improper installation could cost you more money in future repairs than it would have cost to pay for a quality technician.

Special deals

Some manufacturers will offer deals and discounts to companies that choose to become dealers of their systems.

For example, since Elevated Air is a Rheem Dealer, we get access to special deals on Rheem furnace systems that other Kalispell furnace installers don’t.

Warranty

The longer the warranty, the more you’ll pay upfront but the less you’ll pay in repairs after the furnace is installed.

Most furnace installations include 2 warranties:

1. Manufacturer (parts) warranty: This warranty comes from the manufacturer and covers the cost to replace faulty parts 5–10 years (depending on the manufacturer) after the furnace was installed.
2. Labor warranty: Most companies that install your furnace will guarantee their work for at least a year after installation. The labor warranty is meant to cover the cost of any repairs due to improper installation or manufacturer defect.
3. Heat Exchanger warranty: An additional manufacturer coverage is the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger in a furnace separates the combustion process from your breathing air. It is the heart of the furnace. This essential part typically has a warranty coverage of 10 to 20 years. Some higher efficiency models can carry a lifetime warranty.

Manufacturers warranty typically come with extended warranty options that require product registration to receive full coverage.

For example, at Elevated Air, we offer homeowners 2-year labor warranty and register all the equipment we install to make sure our clients are covered.

Need a free furnace installation quote?

Contact us at 406-890-8531 and one of our Irvine furnace technicians will lay out your furnace options with a no-obligation quote. We’re here to help you make an educated decision that works for your home and budget.

Install and/or replace clogged air filters

Not only do clean air filters help to keep your HVAC system operating as efficiently as possible, they’re also your first line of defense against unhealthy air contaminants circulating throughout your home.

Whether you’re concerned about inhaling wildfire smoke, vehicle emissions, or common household allergens such as pet dander, hair, dust, odors, and more, installing or replacing your air filters will help your family breathe cleaner quality air.

Standard air filters often need to be replaced about three months or so, while more advanced filters only need to be replaced about once a year. Depending on your air quality concerns and budget, the experts at Elevated Air can help you choose the right air filter for your home’s HVAC system.

Have your air ducts cleaned

With newer construction methods allowing for Montana homes to be increasingly energy-efficient and airtight, an unintended consequence is how they can actually trap more airborne particles inside them.

For this reason, in addition to installing or replacing air filters, you should also have your air ducts inspected regularly. Why? Because your air ducts are how the air gets circulated in your home, and if you have a buildup of dust, mold, pollen, or other common contaminants, you could be breathing in severely poor air— and not even know it.

Maintain a well-ventilated home

While it may seem counterintuitive, providing fresh air into your duct system will combat poor indoor air quality. Essentially, it’s important to let your home “breathe” by letting in fresh air and sending musty air out.

According to the EPA, proper ventilation can actually dilute your indoor air contaminants.

And with clean air filters installed, your HVAC system will be able to trap any pollutants that may come in through the outside air.

Invest in an air purification system

The best way to improve your Montana home’s air quality is with an air purification system that will remove harmful pollutants from your home’s air.

Installing a UV lamp in tandem with your HVAC system is an excellent option for killing toxic bacterial growth before it has a chance to spread. These work particularly well for eliminating mold spores that can frequently happen during the summer months (all the more if you live near the beach and frequently experience the marine layer).

Another great option is an ionic air purifier, which emits charged ions to bond with air pollutants, causing them to gain weight and then fall into a collection plate. Some can even dissolve toxic pollutants, eliminating them from your air completely. Depending on your budget, there are a number of ionic air purifiers on the market, including portable and whole-home versions.

Our family at Elevated Air is your family in the Flathead Valley for your heating and cooling needs. We look forward to serving our community with the upmost respect and integrity. Our goal is to provide a level of service that is above and beyond our clients expectations. We look forward to working with you!