Is a Ductless Mini-Split Right for Your Home?

Couple relaxing with their dog beneath a wall-mounted ductless air conditioner

In the Pacific Northwest, we are lucky to escape the intense, summer-long heat waves that hit other parts of the country. But as anyone living in the Skagit Valley knows, we still get our share of uncomfortably warm, humid summer weeks, and our winters can be damp and chilly. For many local homeowners, installing a…

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Thermostat 101 Basics

Two people using a wall-mounted smart home control panel in a kitchen

You can trust our team at Foss Heating & Cooling to always add value and comfort to your Washington home or business throughout the year. We offer practical solutions designed to extend the service life and operating efficiency of your HVAC system—including your thermostat.

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Why Buying a Heat Pump Instead of a Furnace Makes Sense

Person holding a jar labeled “Savings” filled with coins

Under the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, the federal government offers generous rebates and tax breaks to homeowners who buy heat pumps. The financial incentives aim to wean consumers away from fossil fuel-based home heating, such as natural gas furnaces, and steer them to efficient and environment-friendly electric heat pumps.

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Duct Cleaning

Inside view of metal HVAC ductwork with circular air vents

Is your home’s air making you sick? Dust, allergens, and even pet dander can build up in your air ducts, leading to poor indoor air quality. This can trigger allergies and asthma attacks and even contribute to respiratory problems.

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How an Air Handler Works

Armchair beside glass vases filled with dried flowers in a bright living room

Air handlers work in conjunction with your heating and cooling equipment to produce the perfect indoor temperature. They have four main components with important duties.

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5 Tips to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality This Fall

Sticky notes spelling IAQ for indoor air quality

Get ready for cooler weather here in Mount Vernon—fall is around the corner! When the outdoor temperatures start to drop, you probably will spend more time inside your home. Be sure to focus on enhancing your indoor air quality (IAQ) so that you can boost your overall home comfort and enjoy the autumn season to its fullest.

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Why Is the Furnace Pilot Light Going Out?

Blue gas burner flame in a dark setting

This issue happens more often than not with older furnaces, and it could be a sign you are ready to upgrade your Anacortes home’s heating and cooling system with a new model. At the 10-year mark, furnaces start to lose efficiency and begin breaking down more frequently.

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4 Important Heat Pump Maintenance Tips

HVAC technician inspecting internal furnace components

How often do you schedule a maintenance visit for the heat pump in your Burlington home? Taking proper care of your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is the best way to ensure it will function efficiently and reach its full service life potential.

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What You Should Know About Air Handlers

Little girl in a patterned dress dancing playfully on a bed.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air handler unit, or AHU, may resemble a furnace in appearance, but its purpose is very different. It conditions and circulates both cool and hot air, depending on what time of year it is.

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6 Ways Your Furnace Keeps You Safe

Person replacing an HVAC air filter in a residential furnace system

Your fuel-burning furnace has a number of mechanisms allowing it to run safely and effectively. These features prevent fires and protect your indoor air quality (IAQ). They also work to prevent internal errors from damaging large portions of your furnace.

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Does an AC Kill Mold?

Mother giving her child a piggyback ride on a bed

Your air conditioner (AC) can do several things––keep your Washington home’s indoor air cooler than outdoor temperatures, help to keep indoor airborne allergens at bay, and help keep your home’s humidity low. But one thing it can’t do is kill mold.

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Going Ductless

Couple relaxing on a sofa beneath a wall-mounted air conditioner

Typically, you spend up to 30 percent less to cool and up to 60 percent less to heat when you upgrade your AC, according to ENERGY STAR®.

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5 Common AC Problems

HVAC condenser fan spinning behind a protective metal grille

Foss Heating & Cooling is always eager to educate our Anacortes
area customers on heating and cooling home care. Whether you have an AC, furnace, heat pump, or ductless mini split, we want you to get the most out of your investment.

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Think HVAC During Your Home Remodeling

Three people reviewing paperwork together at a kitchen counter

Congratulations, you’re planning to remodel your Anacortes home! Breathing new life and comfort into your charming older home is a grand adventure, and you can count on our team at Foss Heating & Cooling to be there every step of the way to help however we can.

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What You Should Know About Air Handlers

Woman opening a window to let fresh air into a bright room

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air handler unit, or AHU, may resemble a furnace in appearance, but its purpose is very different. It conditions and circulates both cool and hot air, depending on what time of year it is.

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5 Ways to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

Father helping a young child water potted plants indoors

The reality is airborne contaminants, such as dust, dirt, and pet dander, can negatively impact the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your Washington home. At Foss Heating and Cooling, we want you to breathe in fresh air, which is why we offer maintenance to keep your HVAC in top shape.

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Why Do I Need a Humidifier?

Woman sitting indoors with eyes closed and breathing calmly

Winter is right around the corner and with it comes freezing temperatures, frequent illness, and dry indoor air. If you struggle with discomfort during the winter in your Anacortes home, you may benefit from investing in a humidification system. 

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Benefits of Using a Humidifier in Your Home

Child standing beside a humidifier releasing visible mist indoors

If you don’t have a humidifier in your Anacortes home, then you may not be aware of just how useful these devices can truly be. Humidifiers are particularly handy in the winter but can be helpful during any season because they offer a significant number of benefits, including providing better indoor air quality (IAQ) for your WA home.

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Thermostat Settings: On vs. Auto

Digital thermostat displaying indoor temperature and cooling settings

Your preferred setting can depend on several factors, from cost savings to improving your indoor air quality (IAQ). Here is some basic information from our team at Foss Heating & Cooling to get you thinking about a strategy that works best for you and your loved ones.

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Why Won’t My Furnace Stop Running?

Man talking on a phone while standing by a bright window

Is your furnace blowing air without pause? If so, you’re probably feeling a bit concerned. First, your Burlington house most likely feels like an oven. On top of that, your utility bill will be considerably higher with your furnace constantly running. Believe it or not, this is a fairly common problem our professionals at Foss Heating & Cooling see frequently, so you don’t need to worry.

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Confused on How to Set Your Programmable Thermostat?

Hand placed over an air conditioner or heater vent testing airflow

With all the options available for setting your programmable thermostat, it’s easy to get confused. Of course, this defeats the purpose of a programmable thermostat––it’s designed to for you to “set it and forget it,” making your life easier here in Mount Vernon. 

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Transitioning Your Heat Pump

Woman smiling while holding a cat by a window

Instead of purchasing and maintaining a separate furnace and air conditioning system, you can simply transition your heat pump from the heat setting to the cooling setting and vice versa as seasons warrant.

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Air Duct Cleaning

Vacuum hose inserted into a floor air vent for duct cleaning

Your air conditioner might be in jeopardy if you let your ducts become ridden with dust bunnies. Additionally, harmful airborne irritants like mildew and mold or pest droppings can diminish indoor air quality (IAQ).

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What to Know About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Smoke detector mounted on a ceiling in a modern living room

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is known as the silent killer for a reason—it can easily go undetected and cause illness and even death. It’s critical to learn how to prevent carbon monoxide leaks in your Burlington home—as well as what the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning are in case you are exposed.

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How to Determine Heat Pump Efficiency

Outdoor central air conditioning condenser unit beside a house and deck

If you are in the market for a new heat pump, efficiency is probably a key factor in your search. The Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) has a universal ranking system for heating and cooling units that serves to help.

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Video – What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide molecule illustration labeled “Carbon Monoxide”

Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, odorless, tasteless gas. It is formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon, or the incomplete burning of natural gas and other things that contain carbon. It can often be mixed with other gasses with odors. Carbon monoxide can result from the burning of any of these, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, wood and other things. It is also a byproduct of an internal combustion engine.

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Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

Illustration of a woman feeling cold beneath an air vent

There are a few things to check in your home in the case that your furnace is blowing cold air, such as your thermostat settings, air filter, and your home’s ductwork. If you can’t figure out the issue, give us a call at 360-336-1517 and we will inspect your furnace.

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Video – Why Does My Heat Pump Smell Like It’s Burning?

Illustration of a woman with brown hair and a neutral expression

You turn on your heat pump, and you smell something burning. What should you do? Who should you call first, the fire department or your HVAC technician? First assess what the smell most likely is, and you may not need to call anyone. Of course, if you’re still nervous because you just don’t know, turn off your heat pump and give one of our highly trained technicians a call at 360-336-1517 to come out to diagnose the smell for you.

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How a Whole-House Humidifier Keeps You Healthy

Woman relaxing with hands behind her head on a gray couch in a cozy living room.

There are many advantages to adding a whole-house humidifier to your Washington home. Adding a humidifier can increase the comfort level in your home and lower your annual energy expenses. Proper humidity levels can allow you to maintain indoor comfort levels at a lower temperature which uses less energy for heating.

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How Can You Manage Your Home’s Humidity?

Condensation droplets covering a glass window surface

Indoor humidity is a drag. It makes relaxing extremely difficult—after all, you are sweating inside your home! It can affect your health, triggering asthma attacks and flaring allergies. It tends to put everyone in a sluggish mood—even the goldfish. Let’s zap that excess moisture right out of the room, and look at ways to manage your Washington home’s relative indoor humidity.

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Spring Money-Saving Tips

Hand pulling open a sheer white curtain to reveal a green garden outdoors

If you can reduce that usage in Mount Vernon, you will be able to make a difference in our environment and save yourself some money as well. Take some of the following ideas from our professionals at Foss Heating & Cooling to heart and make some money-saving resolutions today.

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What Is Short Cycling?

Thermostat dial on a wall being adjusted by hand

Our team at Foss Heating & Cooling wants you to understand the concept of short cycling, why it can be harmful and costly, what causes the problem, and what you can do about it.

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Everything You Need to Know About Boilers

Hand using an adjustable wrench to tighten a pipe fitting among metal pipes and valves.

At Foss Heating & Cooling, though we haven’t been working with boilers since 1300 BC, we know a thing or two about them. Our highly trained and experienced heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals regularly install and work on them here in Anacortes.

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Heat Pump Versus Furnace

Person adjusting a wall-mounted thermostat control

Looking to install a new heater in your Mount Vernon home? Your two most popular choices are a heat pump and a furnace. Each one has advantages and disadvantages when compared to the other.

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Fall HVAC Maintenance

Technician using a screwdriver to inspect or repair a residential heating furnace.

Fall is the ideal season to schedule a much-needed checkup. For starters, your heating equipment has been hibernating all summer. Once you switch off the air conditioner (AC), your heater needs to be primed so that your Burlington home stays warm and cozy this winter.

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What Does AC SEER Mean?

Outdoor air conditioning condenser unit mounted on brackets against the exterior wall of a house.

When it comes to your air conditioner (AC), a common term used in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) business you are likely to see everywhere is your air conditioner’s SEER. But what exactly is SEER? 

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Why Is My AC Blowing Hot Air?

Hands placing a white HVAC air vent cover onto a gray wall.

It’s the first really hot day of summer in Anacortes when the floor fans and the open windows just don’t cut it anymore. You head over to your thermostat and select “air conditioner” and wait for that refreshing icy air to start blowing out of your vents. When you check a few minutes later, you feel only hot air. Why?

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Video – Energy Saving Tip 1

Hand using a spatula to grill sausages and burger patties on an outdoor barbecue.

It is no secret that your oven will toast your house up and cooking on a cold day is nice sometimes, but on a hot day it will warm your house up in an unnecessary way. Try to utilize the opportunity you might have to cook outside.

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Video – Reduce Allergies with Air Duct Cleaning

Woman sitting on a sofa wrapped in a blanket while talking on the phone and holding paperwork

Your home’s air ducts connect to your heating and cooling system, which carries all the air in your home. When you are breathing your home’s air, it is optimal for the traveling air to be as clean as possible, because it carries particles or debris that will settle in the ducts and carry it straight to you. Having clear air ducts is one of the primary things that contribute to good indoor air quality (IAQ), which the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states is a prime concern in relation to pollutants in the home.

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How to Eliminate Dust in My Home

Person showing a dusty fingertip after wiping a dirty wooden surface.

It’s rampant everywhere around the country and has become the subject of a lighthearted, frequently repeated myth at both the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Officials at these agencies understand farming does not occur without creating dust. So the EPA and USDA “have never proposed tightening rules on farm dust. And they have told Congress and the American people that they won’t propose stricter standards.”

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AC Maintenance Checklist

Gloves holding a yellow sprayer to clean the coils of an indoor air conditioner unit

Here’s a comprehensive air conditioning maintenance checklist, courtesy of our professionals at Foss Heating & Cooling, to help keep your system in excellent working order.

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What Are Zone Control Systems?

Woman relaxing on a sofa with a warm blanket and a cup of tea.

At Foss Heating & Cooling, we always look for ways to improve the comfort, health, and safety of homes and businesses in Anacortes and surrounding areas. Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is a significant purchase—a big part of our job is to help ensure you get the maximum value from this investment.

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Geothermal Basics

Diagram of a home geothermal heating and cooling system with underground piping

In this day and age when everyone is concerned about the world’s limited resources and the impact of energy usage on the environment, it’s encouraging to know sustainable solutions are being developed and improved upon. Geothermal heating is one of those technologies that holds the potential to significantly change the way you heat your Burlington home.

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What Does Indoor Air Quality Have to Do With Allergies?

Woman resting on a sofa under a blanket while blowing her nose into a tissue.

Did you know the average American spends nearly 90 percent of life indoors? That’s why it is increasingly important to ensure indoor air quality (IAQ) is clean and healthy. If your Oak Harbor home is facing air-quality issues, you may be suffering anything from minor discomfort to significant allergy or health problems. Our team at…

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Why Do I Need a Humidifier in the Fall?

Ultrasonic humidifier releasing a thick cloud of cool mist indoors

That’s why we at Foss Heating and Cooling recommend a humidifier for your home, especially for the cooler months. It helps to maintain the necessary humidity in your Burlington home, making everything, including you, run as it should.

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Improve Your Home’s Indoor Air Quality

Metal standing fan operating in a modern bedroom next to a neatly made bed.

Stand outdoors on one of those days when the weather feels perfect, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the fresh air. Later, take another deep breath—only inside your Washington home. How does it compare? Improving the indoor air quality (IAQ) at your Anacortes home or business makes sense on so many levels. Consider your…

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3 Health Benefits for Using Your AC While Sleeping

Woman sleeping peacefully on her side in bed

At Foss Heating and Cooling, we understand that depending on your air conditioner to run efficiently is crucial to helping you get the good night’s sleep you deserve. We also know how critical sleep is to everyday life, so we make it a priority to provide our customers in the Mount Vernon, WA, area a cooling system that ensures the utmost comfort all hours of the day or night.

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Video – Energy Saving Tip 2

Hand pulling the chain on a ceiling fan with light fixtures turned on

Turn on your ceiling fan when you’re home while raising the temperature on your thermostat to save energy costs and keep your Mount Vernon, WA home feeling cool. Make sure that your fan is rotating counter clockwise to blow the air straight down and therefore feel cool.

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What Accessories Can Help With My Indoor Air Quality?

Woman relaxing on a sofa beneath a wall-mounted air conditioner while holding a remote control.

In modern society, average adults spend nearly all their time indoors at work or at home. In fact the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports this amount of time reaches upwards of 90 percent for most people. That puts the importance of good indoor air quality at a whole new level. Our Foss Heating and…

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Our Policy Regarding COVID-19

To our clients: As a company that mainly delivers in-home service, we feel it is important to keep you informed of our evolving policy to lower the risk of spread of the COVID-19 Coronavirus while we continue to provide you with the high level of service you expect from us. We are following the World…

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How Can Your HVAC Equipment Help Protect Against Coronavirus?

Woman holding a sign that reads "How Is The AIR QUALITY IN YOUR Home?" while wearing a surgical mask

The spread of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has all of us greatly concerned in Washington. At Foss Heating and Cooling, our top priority is the health and safety of you and your loved ones. We take great pride in selling indoor air quality products to Mount Vernon homes and businesses that are energy efficient, environmentally…

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Why Is IAQ Important?

Modern living room with exposed HVAC ductwork and a central fireplace

Energy-efficient homes are more common than ever. Although they provide many benefits, including reducing overall energy usage and a smaller carbon footprint, they come with some disadvantages as well. What Disadvantages? The most significant disadvantage is poor indoor air quality. Tightly sealed Anacortes area homes prevent heated and cooled air from escaping as easily, but…

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What Is a Heat Pump?

Illustration of a home HVAC system showing indoor and outdoor airflow

A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one place to another, from inside your home to outside or from outside to inside. In the winter a heat pump works like a heater, extracting heat energy from outside and transferring it inside. In the summer the process reverses and it will remove heat…

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Leaky Ducts and You

Circular ceiling air vent with concentric rings

Though it’s a hidden element in your home, ductwork is crucial to your home comfort. It’s the system by which warm or cool air circulates throughout your home. And all your conditioned air, whether it’s warmed or cooled, has to travel through these ducts. As such, it’s essential to have a well-maintained duct system in…

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Are Wi-Fi Thermostats Cost-Effective?

Woman in sunglasses using a smartphone outdoors in backlighting

Why are you heating and cooling your home when you are not there? Being able to control your thermostat when you are away is one of the most cost effective energy improvements you can make in your home. Contact us today to learn more!

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Furnace Filters 101

Clean pleated HVAC air filter with reinforced mesh frame

Your furnace filter is the unsung hero of your furnace. It quietly does its job without any fuss and allows the rest of the furnace to do its job. It’s not a complicated item, but there are some basics we at Foss Heating and Cooling think you should know to help it do its job.…

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What Should I Do If My Water Heater Is Leaking?

Illustration of a leaking water heater tank with a puddle of water on the floor

Is your water heater leaking? Here’s what you need to do: First, find the location of the leak. This will be helpful for you and your service technician. Turn off the power supply by switching the water heater circuit breaker to “off” for an electric water heater or by turning the dial to “off” on…

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7 Furnace Maintenance Tips

Person replacing an HVAC air filter in a furnace system

It’s understandable that maintenance tasks often fall by the wayside. Many Sedro Woolley homeowners follow the mantra of “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Everyone is busy and many seemingly more important priorities tend to creep up every month to consume time and money. However, the last thing you want to worry about when…

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5 Reasons to Schedule a Fall Furnace Clean and Check

HVAC technician inspecting and repairing an open furnace unit

Once the cooler weather hits here in Mount Vernon this fall, you are going to want the inside of your home toasty and comfortable. This means turning on your furnace. Long before the first night you’ll want to use it, you should have your furnace cleaned and checked by a professional from Foss Heating and…

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Video – Replace Your Air Filter

Text reading “Don’t let your air become a health hazard” over a textured background

Change your Mount Vernon HVAC filters regularly, as recommended, which is usually at least every three months. A good HEPA filter will catch the particles before they reach your lungs. There’s so much floating in the air our eyes can’t see, and changing your filter as recommended makes all the difference.

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Fall Indoor Air Quality

Black coffee cup on a windowsill overlooking autumn trees and mountains

With fall now upon us in Hood River, cooler temperatures are here to stay. This transition from one season to another most definitely affects your home’s indoor air quality (IAQ). And your indoor air quality directly affects your comfort in your home.

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Does My Air Conditioner Eliminate Mold?

Two outdoor air conditioning condenser units installed beside a house

At Foss Heating and Cooling, we’re often asked, “Do air conditioners kill off mold?” This is a common misconception. A properly maintained and functioning air conditioner (AC) can decrease the likelihood of mold growth.

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Improve Indoor Air Quality During Wildfire Season

Wildfire burning through a forest with heavy smoke rising over the trees

Wildfires plague the Pacific Northwest, particularly during the hot, dry summers. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), 1.3 million acres of land were directly affected by wildfires in 2018. Besides the physical damage they directly cause to the affected areas, wildfires can negatively affect air quality in communities miles away. “Wildfires also emit…

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Does Your AC Help With Allergy Symptoms?

Woman sneezing into a tissue outdoors

Seasonal allergies are a burden for many. Air conditioners, or ACs, when properly maintained, can noticeably reduce symptoms for allergy sufferers. Air filters catch pollen, dust, and other irritants, producing higher-quality air. Air conditioners also act as humidity regulators, easing allergy symptoms. Foss Heating & Cooling is proud to help you here in Bow, WA, breathe easier.

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Video – Should I set My Thermostat to ON or AUTO?

Thermostat illustration asking whether to set the fan to ON or AUTO

On most thermostats, you can choose between On or Auto for your fan setting. On tells your HVAC unit to run its fans all the time, even when the air isn’t being heated or cooled. Auto means the fan only runs when your air is being treated. It might be a good idea to try…

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4 Things You Need to Know About Your AC

Outdoor air conditioning condenser unit installed beside a brick house

Air conditioning isn’t exactly a stimulating topic to bring up at parties. It’s not something most people think about too excessively. But at Foss Heating and Cooling, we’re obsessed with it! We want to share with you some things that you may not have known about your air conditioner (AC). We’ve made this list to help you become an informed consumer and get the best out of your purchase.

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What Is a Boiler?

Two mugs wrapped in a knitted blanket beside a burning fireplace

If we mention the word boiler, do you know exactly what we mean? Or are you thinking of a furnace? Or of a hot water heater? Or are you not even sure? If you are confused, rest assured you are not alone. Our Foss Heating & Cooling technicians run into many people here in the…

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Why Is My Thermostat Blank?

Man adjusting a wall-mounted thermostat while holding a smartphone

It’s an “Oh no!” moment when you approach your home’s thermostat and see its screen is blank. Is it serious? Does it mean your furnace, heat pump, or air conditioning is broken? Not necessarily. In fact, most of the time, it’s something minor and can be easily fixed. Here are some of the most frequent…

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What Is a Heat Pump?

Two-story suburban home with landscaped lawn and illuminated front porch

A heat pump is a device that transfers heat from one place to another, from inside to outside or from outside to inside. In the winter a heat pump works like a heater, extracting heat energy from outside and transferring it inside. In the summer the process reverses and it will remove heat from your…

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Why Is My Furnace Blowing Cold Air?

Man wrapped in a blanket while sitting on a bed and feeling cold

Did you finally turn your furnace on this winter only to have cold air blowing out of your vents? Did your furnace stop working just when you started to need it most? There are a few reason that your furnace may be blowing cold air and there a few things to check before you need…

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Why Is it Important to Replace Air Filters?

HVAC filters and the late comedian Rodney Dangerfield have a lot in common. They both can tout, “I don’t get no respect!” Most people don’t realize how pivotal the HVAC filter is to both their homes and their HVAC system. Here in Mount Vernon, WA, you may only think about your filter when the seasons…

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What Is the Value of a Geothermal Heat Pump to My Home?

Any time a CITY homeowner is considering a major investment in a new system or major appliance, it’s natural to wonder what the overall value of the investment will be. Our professionals at COMPANYNAME suggest you look at value from a few different angles to determine the answer: the initial cost and installation; the ongoing…

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