Thursday, February 12, 2015

Common Winter Heating Problems

It is COLD outside, isn't it? Nashville isn't ever supposed to be this cold! Brrrr! Well, if you're anything like me, you might rather die than be freezing in your own home! The Tedder Company in Nashville wants to keep your heating system up and running this winter season! We have 4 common winter heating problems that homes have listed below. If you experience any of these problems, contact The Tedder Company immediately!

A Sudden loss of heat
The first thought you have when your furnace suddenly stops is a power outage or surge. At least, that's what I hope happens when my furnace stops! If you haven’t lost power, check your fuse box to make sure that you still have power going to the furnace. A malfunctioning pilot light or ignition system could also be the issue. If that's the case, you definitely need a professional like The Tedder Company because this is not a job for an amateur - no matter how handy you are at fixing things around the house!

Cycling heat
A clogged, dirty filter or blower can cause inadequate air flow. This can cause your furnace to click on and off frequently at it shuts off after heating up too quickly. Another problem could be a faulty thermostat can also cause this issue. If you do not know your furnace components, have home heating experts inspect your furnace and resolve the issue of unwanted heat cycling.

Inconsistent room temperatures
These inconsistent room temps could be caused by 2 things: Draft issues and/or unbalanced air flow.
If your house is cold despite a continuously running furnace, a draft might be the problem. Leaking windows, drafty doors, and poor or damaged insulation are major heat losses. Check the most obvious places. A professional energy audit from your local utility provider can also help.

Another source of inconsistent room temperatures can be unbalanced air flow. Manually adjusting the vents may resolve this problem, however, air flow problems are often caused by dirty coils or filters.

Make sure to schedule routine air filter inspections with an HVAC professional like The Tedder Company. You can also prevent this issue by having a professional provide routine vacuuming of your registers and returns.

Carbon monoxide
Carbon monoxide is the most serious issue and a major risk for home owners. It is odorless, colorless and tasteless, giving it the nickname of “silent killer.” If your gas furnace is 10 to 15 years old, there is a higher risk of having a rusted heat exchanger. Tiny cracks in the heat exchange can leak carbon monoxide. Sometimes, these cracks can be very small or difficult to find.

If you have an older gas furnace, installing a carbon monoxide detector is a smart, safe idea. Be certain to have a professional inspect your HVAC for potential carbon monoxide leaks whenever you have these experts at your home for maintenance, repairs, installations or other work.

If you suspect any problems or complications with your HVAC system, call The Tedder Company today at 615-890-4515. We service all of Middle Tennessee including Nashville, Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Brentwood and more.

Be sure to visit us HERE to sign up for special offers and exclusive discounts!

Sunday, January 18, 2015

Thermostat Types

At The Tedder Company, we want you to make the best decision on what thermostat is right for you! We have over 40 years HVAC experience and are Middle Tennessee's leading HVAC company. We're here to help!

So. How do electromechanical, manual, and programmable thermostats differ?

Electromechanical - or manual - thermostats are the old-fashioned mercury units that have internal coils to expand or contract in response to temperature change. This type of thermostat is steadily becoming obsolete for two reasons: digital thermostats are able to more accurately register and respond to temperature changes plus the purchase of products containing mercury has been restricted or banned in many states. Disregarding those 2 "minor" details, manual thermostats remain popular due to their low cost, the familiarity of their controls' design, and the ease of their use.

Manual digital thermostats use an electronic temperature sensor to register changes in the room temperature that then compare these changes with the settings selected by the user. If there is a difference between the room temperature and the set temperature, a command is sent to the heating or cooling system that action is needed. For this type of unit, you will still have to physically adjust the setting of your preferences whenever you would like to adjust the room temperature.

Programmable digital thermostats are an upgrade from the digital manual thermostats (that I wish I had) as they are far more convenient and can help save energy costs. Once you program the thermostat to fit your lifestyle and schedule, all you have to do is relax and let it do all the work. To stay comfortable and save energy year-round, you simply must program the temperatures into the memory of the unit, along with the times of day that you would like the changes to occur. For example, you can set a thermostat to a comfortable temperature for when you wake up in the morning, have it go into energy-conservation mode while you are away at work, and then have a temperature set to go before you return home! You only need to program your thermostat once until you decide to change it up!

For the obvious reasons, programmable digital thermostats are most desirable. Depending on the model, a thermostat can be programmed in one of three ways:

5 - 2 programming: Maintains a set schedule for five days (weekdays), then switches to an alternate schedule for the other two days (weekends).

5 - 1 - 1 programming: Maintains a five day schedule (weekdays), then switches to first individual day (Saturday), then second individual day (Sunday).

7 day programming: Allows the maximum flexibility for those with frequently-changing schedules by allowing you to program each day individually.

Special features to look for:

Automatic switchover - This allows the thermostat to control both heating and cooling without requiring that you manually switch between the heat and cool settings. Most digital programmable thermostats have this feature.

Manual override - Lets you manually modify your settings on a programmable thermostat. Your changes will remain in effect until the next programmed setting begins.

Vacation override - This function temporarily overrides any preprogrammed settings while you are away, saving money on unnecessary temperature maintenance. When you return, you can go back to your original settings without reprogramming from scratch!

Keypad lock - This prevents any changes to your system once you have programmed the settings. Unfortunately, I learned my parents had this feature when I went home for the holidays. Who keeps their house at 65 in Nebraska?!

There are many other unique features to keep you comfortable! Call The Tedder Company in Murfreesboro today to learn more about how you can upgrade your thermostat! 615-890-4515. Be sure to visit us HERE for our special offers and discounts! The Tedder Company stands as the premiere full-service HVAC company in the Middle Tennessee area, committed to providing customers with the highest quality products and unmatched service.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Heating Systems

The Tedder Company are the experts in heating repair and installs and provide efficient service in the greater Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Nashville area. Residents and business owners alike trust The Tedder Company when it comes to indoor environments!

A lot of people don't understand that there are different systems that can be regulated by a thermostat. Here we'll discuss those different systems.

Single-stage heating indicates one gas or electric heating device for the system. It can consist of just a heater, or include an air conditioning device as well. Almost all systems that use natural gas are single-stage. Generally, a single-stage thermostat will need to accommodate five wires or less if the system handles heat and air conditioning. If the system is only for heat, only three or fewer are needed.

A multi-stage system will have both a standard gas or an electric heating device as well as an auxiliary and/or emergency heating device. The auxiliary or emergency heating will engage when the temperature drops faster than the main heater can maintain, or, if there is a problem with the main heater. The wiring of a multi-stage thermostat is connected to a W2 terminal.

Heating systems are either conventional (gas or electric) or use a heat pump. Heat pumps are unique in that they consist of a single unit that provides both heating and cooling. In the Midwest, where it is miserably cold right now, heat pumps are a popular choice for most households. If you know that your system runs both heating and cooling entirely out of one unit and features an auxiliary setting, it is likely that you have a heat pump.

Line voltage systems use direct current, and either use 120 or 240 volts for a household system. One telltale sign that your home can accommodate a line voltage thermostat is that wires are much thicker to handle additional conducted power. Line voltage, electric heat thermostats are common with older construction, especially where electric or baseboard heaters are present. Line voltage systems are not compatible with gas heating. The adjustment controls are usually mechanical, rather than digital programmable, and almost always have either two or four wires (single pole versus double pole).

If you're looking at replacing your thermostat, but aren't sure about your heating system, call the experts at The Tedder Company first. Our friendly staff is here to assist you in the best option for your home! You can reach us at 615-890-4515. Our office is located at 1531 Warrior Drive in Murfreesboro, TN 37128. Visit our website HERE and Like us on Facebook!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Installing a Geothermal Heat Pump

A geothermal heat pump installed from The Tedder Company can save you an enormous amount of money in energy costs while helping the environment.

How does geothermal heat pump work? A geothermal heat pump transfers heat from the ground to your house (or vice versa). It does this through long loops of underground pipes filled with either water or an antifreeze solution. The loops are hooked up to a geothermal heat pump in your home, which acts as both a furnace and an air conditioner.

During the heating season, the liquid pulls heat from the ground and delivers it to the geothermal unit and then to refrigerant coils, where the heat is distributed through a forced-air or hydronic system. During the cooling season, the pump removes heat from your house and transfers it to the earth.

Geothermal heat pumps use the constant temperature of the earth as the exchange medium instead of the outside air temperature.


The Tedder Company in Murfreesboro, TN can install a geothermal heat pump that is much more efficient than conventional heating systems. How, you ask? Basically, it doesn’t burn fuel to create warmth; instead it moves existing heat from one place to another. Since temperatures underground remain relatively constant year round, the geothermal system requires quite a bit less energy to cool your home than your conventional systems.

If you think a Geothermal Heat Pump is right for you and your home, call The Tedder Company today at 615-890-4515! We service all of Nashville, Murfreesboro and Franklin, TN.

Be sure to "Like" us on Facebook and click HERE for amazing special offers!





Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Top 5 Reasons Your Heating System Isn't Working Properly

This isn't 1800... sitting by a hot fire is a nice luxury in the winter... with the heater turned on. A fireplace used as your main source of heat isn't exactly ideal. The The Tedder Company, servicing the greater Nashville & Murfreesboro area, wants to keep you and your family warm this winter season! Is your heating system not keeping up? Not performing correctly? Here are the top 5 central heating system problems:

1. 100% Loss of Heat - If you turn on your furnace and get no response from the heating system, you need to figure out where the problem started. Is your heating system getting electrical power? Is the pilot light igniting? Is your thermostat on with a temperature high enough to activate your furnace? If you check these common areas & still find your heating system unresponsive, call The Tedder Company. We are the experts in heating repair and install in the Nashville area.

2. Partial Loss of Heat - If you notice that you are still getting heat, but the furnace doesn’t seem to be operating at it's highest efficiency, there could be other issues going on. Your ductwork could have possible problems with leaks or blockages. Your radiator (if you have one) could need bleeding to release trapped air. 

3. Ductwork System - Since ductwork system is so extensive throughout homes, there are many places where blockages can occur from issues like rodents or insects (ew!). A ductwork blockage will generally require the service of an expert like The Tedder Company. We can diagnose and fix the issue at hand. Ductwork leaks, resulting in heat escaping from the ducts and not expelling where you want it, also requires expert service to repair.

4. Malfunctioning Thermostat - If you notice that the temperature of your home begins to have crazy extremes - high temperatures one minute and freezing temperatures the next, your thermostat may be malfunctioning. This could cause your furnace to misread the actual temperature of your home and run when it shouldn’t or fail to run when it should. Call The Tedder Company to come out and recalibrate your thermostat. If your thermostat can’t be repaired, you might consider replacing it with a programmable thermostat that will help you reduce your heating bills.

5. Pilot Lighting - To properly work, the pilot light of your furnace must be lit continuously. If you don’t see it lit, you will need to reignite it. If the pilot light is on, check to assess its strength. The pilot light flame should be strong and blue – not yellow and weak. A weak pilot light could be a dangerous situation, resulting in high levels of carbon monoxide in your home, which could be fatal. Call The Tedder Company immediately if you see indications of pilot light problems.

The Tedder Company are the experts in heating repair and installs and provide efficient service in the greater Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Nashville area. Call us today for an estimate at 615-890-4515.






Saturday, November 29, 2014

Tedder Home Health Exam

With a plethora of HVAC companies in the Middle Tennessee area, you may be asking, "Why choose The Tedder Company?". Well, for starters, we have been in business for over 40 years! That's a LOT of experience! About 10 years ago, we began offering a unique comprehensive home evaluation that provided our customers with an in-depth look into their home’s health and efficiency.

This special evaluation gauges everything from air circulation and moisture levels, to identifying leaky air ducts and inefficiencies in your home’s construction. These problems can potentially cost homeowners thousands of dollars a year in lost inefficiencies and environmental illnesses. This service is unique to The Tedder Company and we like to refer to it as the Tedder Home Health Exam.

Tedder Home Health Exam

Do you have a repair service that needs to be performed? An emergency service? The Tedder Company can do that, too! All of our service technicians are certified by the North American Technician Excellence (NATE). Our technicians will not only respond quickly, but we will diagnose the problem and quote you your repair costs on the spot. We also offer a 24-hour emergency service as well. 

We pride ourselves on providing the best service possible, and the best service requires the best products. We proudly sell American Standard heating and cooling products along with Hydron Module geothermal systems.

Call The Tedder Company today at 615-890-4515. We're currently running a special where we will WAIVE your trip charge with the purchase of a repair service! We service all of Murfreesboro, Nashville and Franklin. 



When It's Time to Repair Your Heating Unit

If you are looking for the expert in heating repair and install in the Greater Nashville area, look no further than The Tedder Company. With over 40 years of experience, you can trust The Tedder Company with all of your repair and service needs.

With temperatures dropping, it's time to consider a tune-up or repair on your existing heating unit. Maybe it's time to install a new heating system? Either way, The Tedder Company is here for you!

While your fireplace is nice, don't be left in the cold with a non-working heating unit this winter!


How do you know when it's time to replace your existing heating unit? There are a few guidelines that can help you determine if you need a tune-up or if you need to replace the entire unit.


  1. Is your unit more than 10 years old? 
  2. Is your furnace or boiler more than 15 years old? 
  3. Are you paying for constant repairs on your existing unit?
  4. Are some rooms in your house cooler/hotter than others?
  5. Do you have humidity problems?
  6. Is your current unit loud and noisy?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's time to call THE specialist in Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin and Brentwood. We offer many different options to fit your budget. If you're not quite ready to install a new energy efficient system, but are having problems with your existing unit, call us today to get your heating system repaired quickly and affordably! 

The Tedder Company is located at 1531 Warrior Drive Murfreesboro, TN 37128. We service all of Murfreesboro, Nashville and Franklin. Call us TODAY at 615-890-4515 to get an estimate on a new heating unit or for any repair services! No job is too big or too small for us! 

We look forward to serving you!