Indoor Air Quality Considerations for Homes with Children

Breathe healthier air with Harris Comfort

When it comes to exposing our kids to outdoor air pollution, there is only so much we can do. Sure, if we get an alert about air quality not being great, we can change our plans for the day and minimize our time outside, but so many other variables are out of our control. Our indoor air quality, however, is a different story.

Yes, indoor pollution is indeed a thing and something that parents need to be conscious of. Keep reading to learn more.

Why Is Indoor Air Quality Important for Kids?

On average, both adults and kids spend about 90% of their time indoors, where levels of certain air pollutants can be two to five times higher than they are outside. This means that kids are constantly being exposed to and breathing in unhealthy air. It may go without saying, but this can play a big role in their overall health and well-being.

In fact, you have to be even more careful when it comes to children and air quality. Kids breathe twice as fast as adults do, which means they take in more harmful substances. Additionally, a young child’s brain, lungs, and other vital organs are still developing and are more vulnerable than the fully developed organs of an adult.

Unhealthy indoor air can make kids more susceptible to pneumonia, colds, bronchitis, and ear infections. It can also make existing asthma and allergies worse.

What Contributes to Poor Indoor Air Quality?

There are all sorts of unhealthy substances that contribute to poor indoor air quality. Of course, this includes tobacco smoke and secondhand smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. Then there are sources of indoor air pollution that you might be less familiar with, such as mold, mildew, pet dander, air fresheners, perfumes, and volatile organic compounds that can be found in plastics, art supplies, household cleaners, paints, and glues.

Harris Comfort offers a range of indoor air quality solutions that help you tackle your home’s polluted air.

Improve Your Indoor Air Quality with Harris Comfort

Here is a look at some of the indoor air quality services and products that home and business owners in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania, can find at Harris Comfort:

• The Aerus Air Scrubber: This top-rated air cleaning system helps get rid of allergens, mold, volatile organic compounds, and other indoor air pollutants. This scrubber reduces contaminants in your home’s air, as well as ones found on surfaces in your home.
• Duct sealing: If your ducts aren’t properly sealed, extra pollutants may be finding their way into your home. The technicians at Harris Comfort can use Aeroseal, an advanced duct-sealing solution, to improve your home’s indoor air quality and boost your HVAC system’s energy efficiency.
• Duct cleaning: In addition to sealing your ducts, we can also clean them. This helps remove any dust, pet hair, mold, and pests that may have accumulated over time.
• A whole-home humidifier: Not only do humidifiers improve comfort, but they also balance out a home’s moisture, which is key for your home’s humidity levels.

Contact Harris Comfort today and let us know how we can help you improve your home’s indoor air quality.

What Kind of Water Heater Is Best for Your Home?

How to figure out which is the right one for you

One could argue that a water heater is one of the most important parts of a home. It certainly falls on the list of essential items. Without a water heater, you and the other people living under your roof can’t take a hot shower, wash your hands with hot water, or use warm water to do dishes or laundry.

Considering just how essential this piece of equipment is, it is important to put some thought and consideration into the kind of water heater that you get for your home.

Let’s review the different types of water heaters that are out there and available on the market, as well as what you should consider before purchasing one.

What to Think About When Choosing a Water Heater

Here are some factors to keep in mind when it comes to deciding on a water heater:

• Budget: For many of us, price is a big consideration when we’re looking to purchase a new piece of equipment. Certain water heaters have higher upfront costs than others, but also require less maintenance over the years and last longer, which can make them a smarter long-term investment.
• Your fuel source options: Generally speaking, water heaters can typically run on propane, solar power, electricity, or natural gas. However, if your home doesn’t have direct access to a gas line, an electric water heater may be your best bet.
• Size: The size water heater that you need depends on your home’s hot water demands. A home that is occupied by multiple people who use hot water every day has higher hot water demands than a home with one person. You don’t want a water heater that is too small for your home because there won’t be enough hot water to go around. However, you also don’t want one that is too big, as this will waste resources and energy.
• How much physical space you’re working with: Water heaters come in a variety of sizes. For example, tankless water heaters are usually more compact than other types of water heaters, and they can even be installed on walls and not take up any floor space at all. Storage tank water heaters are larger and need more room.

The Different Types of Water Heaters

Here at Harris Comfort, we carry water heater options for all home types. This includes:

• Traditional storage tank water heaters: These types of water heaters are ideal for homes with steady and predictable hot water demands. They store hot water that is ready to be distributed throughout a home in a tank and are dependable as well as cost-effective for many homeowners.
• Tankless propane water heaters: Instead of storing hot water in a tank, these water heaters heat water on demand. They are able to provide a practically endless supply of hot water to a home and are up to 34% more energy efficient than traditional storage tank water heaters.
• Indirect-fired water heaters: These water heaters work directly with your home’s existing boiler and are a great solution for oil-heated homes. Even though they have low operating costs, they still produce significant hot water output.

Water Heater Services from Harris Comfort

Homeowners here in Bucks and Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania, can count on Harris Comfort for reliable water heater services. We can get one installed on your property and then repair it when necessary.

Contact Harris Comfort today for a free estimate on a water heater upgrade.

Propane Generators for Your Emergency Preparedness Plan

Stay safe with a generator from Harris Comfort

Arguably, one of the smartest things you can do for you and your family is to have some solid plans in place for any emergency situation that may arise. Preparing for any emergency can involve all sorts of different steps, such as stocking up on canned foods, coming up with an evacuation route, and keeping an easy-to-put-on pair of shoes by the front door.

The team at Harris Comfort highly recommends having a gas-powered whole-home standby generator on your property here in Montgomery or Bucks Counties, Pennsylvania, as part of your emergency plan. This will help ensure that your home is never without power, no matter what type of emergency arises.

If you are curious to know more about how a whole-home standby generator works, why it is important, and how Harris Comfort can help get you set up with one, just keep on reading.

What Is a Whole-Home Standby Generator and How Does It Work?

A whole-home standby generator is a piece of equipment that gets installed outside your home and then connects directly to your electrical panel. These generators can run on either propane or natural gas, and they can power an entire home or just specific rooms and appliances.

With the help of an automated switchover system, a whole-home standby generator is able to detect when your home has lost grid power. When it gets this signal, it automatically turns on. You don’t even need to flip a switch or press a button.

Why Having a Whole-Home Standby Generator Is Important

There are certainly appliances in all of our homes that are “extra” and don’t really have much actual importance. However, this is certainly not the case for all of the appliances we have throughout our homes.

Your refrigerator, security system, and the outlets where you charge your cell phones are more or less essential. When your appliances and equipment need electricity to be operational, you can find yourself in a tough spot when you get hit with a blackout. A loss of electricity could mean that the food and any medications that you have in your fridge go bad, medical equipment stops working and, depending on the season, you have no heat or air conditioning. Homeowners with a generator don’t have to worry about any of this.

Our power grids are becoming strained and, therefore, less reliable. No one can predict what inclement weather can do to power lines. All of this puts any home or business using electricity in a vulnerable position. Enlisting Harris Comfort to install a gas-powered generator on your property can most certainly put you in a better spot.

Be Prepared with a Whole-Home Standby Generator from Harris Comfort

Harris Comfort carries generators in a variety of power capacities that will help keep you safe and your home up and running in the event of an emergency. Our generator experts will partner with you to find the product that works for your needs and budget, and then we’ll handle the whole installation process.

Contact Harris Comfort today to add a whole-home standby generator to your emergency preparedness plan.

How Many Rooms Does A Ductless AC System Cool?

Keep your home cool with a mini-split from Harris Comfort

A ductless A/C (otherwise known as a mini-split system) is a great air conditioning solution for a homeowner who is looking for flexibility when it comes to cooling needs.

These systems support something that is called zoned cooling, which gives you the option of cooling only the rooms that you are actually using. Each room in your home can have its own compact wall-mounted unit that is controlled with an easy-to-use wireless remote that lets you keep each space at its own ideal temperature.

Mini-splits can be used as a primary source of air conditioning or as a supplemental source in rooms that don’t have vents. Additionally, they are a great solution for your home’s converted garage, basement or attic or for a space you have added onto your home.

If you are thinking about adding a ductless A/C to your home, you likely have some questions, one of which could be about how many rooms the system will cool.

Harris Comfort is here to answer that question and more when it comes to ductless air conditioners.

How a mini-split system works

Ductless mini-splits are ideal for homes that do not have ductwork. These systems have an outdoor compressor unit and one or multiple indoor air handlers. The indoor components are connected to the outdoor components with a thin line that is in a home’s walls.

Warm air gets drawn into a home through the indoor air handlers. Refrigerant is then used to get rid of and transfer this warm air outside. The cool air is pushed into your home.

The number of rooms that a ductless A/C can cool

The exact number of rooms that a ductless A/C system can cool depends on both the size and layout of your home and space. It also depends on your A/C system’s British Thermal Unit (BTU) Rating.

For example, if you live in a home with fewer interior walls you won’t need as many ductless A/C units as a home where most rooms are separated by walls and doors.

A single mini-split system is typically able to cool down multiple rooms as long as those rooms are on the smaller side and are not blocked by walls or doors.

Get your ductless mini-split from Harris Comfort

A ductless A/C is easy to install, compact, quiet, and can last for 20 years (and sometimes even more!) if they are well maintained.

If you are a homeowner here in Bucks or Montgomery Counties, Pennsylvania, who is ready to take advantage of everything a ductless A/C has to offer, Harris Comfort is here to help. We can install a mini-split system in your home and then handle servicing and repairs as well. Our technicians actually specialize in advanced mini-split technology. You can rest assured that the system we install in your home will be reliable and efficient!

Contact Harris Comfort today to get a free quote on a top-rated ductless mini-split system and learn about the air conditioning services we provide throughout the area.

Upgrading to Central Air Conditioning

Go from Window Units to Whole-Home Comfort

If you’re currently cooling your home with window air conditioners, you may be wondering if it’s finally time to make the switch to central air conditioning. For many homeowners, the answer is yes!

Sure, window units can get the job done, but they often come with a long list of frustrations. They can be noisy, block natural light, reduce your view outside, and cool only limited areas of your home. Every spring, they need to be installed, and every fall, they need to be removed and stored. The process can be inconvenient, time-consuming, and even risky when lifting heavy units into upper-story windows.

Central air conditioning ends those hassles while providing a higher level of comfort, efficiency, and convenience.

At Harris Comfort, we understand that investing in a new central air conditioning system is a major investment. That’s why our experienced team makes the installation process as smooth and stress-free as possible. We install some of today’s most efficient and dependable central air conditioning systems, and we back them with professional maintenance services and emergency repair support when needed.

What to Expect When You Replace Window Units with Central Air

Many homeowners who switch from window units to central air are surprised by how much their daily comfort improves.

For starters, central air cools your entire home evenly. Instead of relying on multiple window units to keep individual rooms comfortable, a central system distributes conditioned air throughout the house. This helps eliminate hot spots and temperature swings from room to room.

You’ll also enjoy a quieter home. Window air conditioners place the unit directly in the room you’re trying to cool, which creates a constant background noise. Central air systems run much more quietly, allowing you to sleep, work, and relax without disruption.

There are also practical advantages. With central air, there’s no need to wrestle with heavy units every season, no loss of window space, and no concerns about security risks created by partially open windows.

What If You Already Have Central Air?

Even if your home already has central air conditioning, upgrading an older system can provide significant benefits.

Today’s cooling systems are far more efficient than models installed 10 or 15 years ago. New equipment is designed to deliver better performance while using less energy, helping homeowners reduce their monthly utility costs.

Upgrading can also improve reliability. As systems age, breakdowns tend to become more frequent and expensive. A new system provides peace of mind and helps reduce the risk of being stuck without cooling during a summer heat wave.

Added benefits of upgrading include:

• Improved energy efficiency and lower operating costs
• More consistent indoor temperatures
• Enhanced humidity control
• Quieter operation
• Better indoor air quality through advanced filtration
• Smart thermostat compatibility and greater control over home comfort
• Increased home value and buyer appeal

For many homeowners, upgrading isn’t just about replacing equipment. It’s about improving comfort, reducing stress, and making a long-term investment in their home.

Central Air Conditioning Service in Montgomery County and Beyond

Whether you’re replacing window units or upgrading an aging central air conditioner, Harris Comfort is here to help.

Our experienced team serves homeowners throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties with professional central air conditioning installation, maintenance, and repair services.

We’ll help you select the right system for your home’s size, comfort needs, and budget, then ensure it’s installed properly for years of dependable performance. And if you don’t have existing ductwork in your home, that’s not a problem since we’re also experts in installing energy-efficient ductless mini-split cooling systems.

Contact Harris Comfort today to learn more about our central air conditioning services in Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania, including Yardley, Newtown, Langhorne, and Levittown. With the right cooling system in place, you can enjoy a more comfortable, efficient, and worry-free summer this year.

Choosing the Right Propane Appliances for Your Home

Power your home with propane from Harris Comfort

A propane appliance offers homeowners a level of versatility, convenience, effectiveness, and simplicity that other types of appliances simply cannot provide.

The good news is that almost any appliance that you can power with electricity or fuel with natural gas can be a propane appliance. Plus, there is no such thing as having too many propane-powered appliances within a home.

Here at Harris Comfort, we make having the fuel you need to keep a propane appliance up and running easy. Whether you are looking to power a whole-home generator, warm the water in your pool or ignite a non-wood burning fireplace, the propane that we carry can handle it all. There is a reason propane has a reputation for being such a versatile fuel!

For now, let’s take a closer look at some of the different appliances that can be a propane appliance and how you can go about choosing the right ones for your home.

Propane cooking ranges and grills

Propane can be used to fuel both indoor cooking ranges and outdoor gas grills. In fact, countless professional chefs choose propane ranges and grills over the alternatives.

Cooking with propane provides precise temperature control and even heat distribution. Both propane burners and propane grills heat up and are ready to be used almost instantly, which is a massive help when you’re in a rush.

How to pick the right propane-powered cooking equipment: When trying to select a stove, you should think about how many burners you need or if you need any specialty features such as a griddle.

Propane grills come in various sizes so it is important to take how many people you are cooking for into account when selecting one as well as how much outdoor space you have.

Propane water heaters

We all need hot water in our homes so that we can shower, wash our hands, and wash our dishes. Not only can propane power water heaters, but it can do so at a faster speed than electric models.

How to pick the right propane-powered water heater: A homeowner will need to choose between a tankless water heater and a storage water heater. You also need to focus on a water heating system that can meet your hot water demands.

Propane heating systems

A propane-powered furnace or boiler is an effective way to provide heat to your home here in Bucks County, Montgomery County, or a neighboring area.

Not only can propane be used to power central home heating systems, but the fuel can also power space heaters that are needed for both temporary and supplemental heating.

How to pick the right propane-powered heater: You need to make sure a heating system is the right size for your home and heating needs. If your current home has ductwork or a radiator system, make sure it is compatible with a propane heater.

Propane-powered generators

Homes that have a whole-home standby generator that is powered by propane never have to worry about their refrigerators, clothes dryers, or lights not working during a power outage. The generator will turn on automatically as soon as it detects that your home has lost grid power.

How to pick the right generator: Think about which appliances or systems you want powered during an outage, and our generator experts will work with you to find a product that fits your unique needs and budget.

What other appliances can be a propane appliance?

As we said earlier, just about any appliance that you can power with electricity or fuel with natural gas can be a propane appliance. This goes for fireplaces and fire pits, patio heaters, pool and spa heaters, and clothes dryers.

You can count on Harris Comfort for your propane needs

Whether your home has one propane appliance or ten propane appliances, Harris Comfort can get you the propane you need when you need it. We make fuel deliveries to households throughout Bucks and Montgomery Counties in Pennsylvania, including Yardley, Newtown, Langhorne, and Levittown.

Contact Harris Comfort to become a customer today.

Welcome to the New Harris Comfort Website!

Explore our updated design, helpful content and convenient features

For more than four generations, the Harris name has been associated with dependable home comfort and exceptional customer care. Our business began with one truck and a dream when Louis “Peewee” Harris started delivering heating oil and providing service work from his home in the 1950s. The company steadily grew as more families and businesses came to rely on the Harris team.

Over the years, Harris Comfort expanded into propane delivery and heating and air conditioning services, building a full-service comfort company with a highly trained team of technicians and installers. Today, thousands of installations and satisfied customers later, Harris Comfort continues to provide reliable heating oil, propane and HVAC services to homes and businesses throughout our region.

Our newly redesigned website makes it easier than ever to learn about what we offer and connect with our team.

What’s new on the Harris Comfort website?

Our updated site was designed to make finding the information you need faster and more convenient. Here are some of the features you’ll discover:

• Expanded details about Harris Comfort’s propane, heating oil, commercial fuel and HVAC services
• Information about installations of heating, cooling, hot water, generator and indoor air quality equipment
• A secure online portal where you can pay bills, request fuel deliveries or manage your account anytime
• Information about our financing, specials, loyalty rewards and other ways to save
• Helpful blog posts with tips on home comfort, energy efficiency and safety
• Convenient forms for requesting service, becoming a customer, referring a friend or applying for a job with our team
• A module to use to see if Harris Comfort serves your part of Pennsylvania or New Jersey.

We invite you to bookmark the Harris Comfort home page and check back often for updates. Take a look around the new site today — and let us know what you think!

Don’t Wait For A Breakdown: 5 Heating System Signals To Watch Out For

Your body sends signals when something isn’t quite right, and your heating system does the same. Catching these signals early could mean getting a repair or upgrading your system before a full breakdown occurs!

To help monitor the state of your heating and cooling system throughout the rest of this winter, we’ve put together our list of 5 signs that may indicate the need for an upgrade in 2025.

1. Higher-Than-Usual Fuel Usage
   An older heating system frequently uses more energy than a modern, more efficient model. If your delivery gallons have risen significantly in recent years, a heating system nearing the end of its lifespan may be to blame.
2. Uneven Temperatures Throughout Your Home
   Another common sign of an older, faltering heating system is the inability to evenly heat the entirety of your home. This may mean certain rooms or areas of your home remain colder than others, despite your thermostat setting.
3. Fuel Smell
   If you’ve noticed any strange smells while using your heating system, this may indicate an issue with your equipment. Contact us right away if you notice any signs or smells of fuel around your system.
4. A Noisy System
   If you’ve noticed unusual noises from your heating system, like banging or whirring, this may be another sign pointing toward an aging system with worn-out components.
5. Short Cycling
   Finally, another telltale sign of a heating system requiring an upgrade is short cycling—when your heating system frequently kicks on and off in short intervals. This may indicate a system struggling to maintain its set temperature.

Ensure Your Heating System is Prepared for Seasons to Come

If you’ve noticed any of the above signs this winter, it may be time for a heating system upgrade this year. Contact Harris Comfort today to schedule your heating system inspection!

How To Reduce Dust Coming Out Of Your HVAC Air Vents

Dust blowing out of your air vents can be a nuisance and a potential health hazard. The experts here at Harris Comfort have some tips on how to reduce dust in your HVAC system and improve your home’s indoor air quality.

• Change your air filter: This is the most important step – a clogged air filter can’t trap dust and other allergens, allowing them to circulate throughout your home. It can also increase your energy bills due to reduced airflow. We recommend changing your air filter monthly during the cooling season, and even more frequently if you have pets.
• Clean your air vents: Dust can accumulate on vent registers, so wipe them down with a damp cloth or vacuum them with a brush attachment regularly.
• Consider upgrading your air filter: High quality air filters can trap even the tiniest of particles, such as dust, dirt, and other debris. Contact us and we’ll recommend the filter that’s best for your needs and system.
• Vacuum regularly: Vacuuming frequently, especially carpets, rugs, and other areas where dust tends to accumulate, can help remove dust from your home before it gets sucked back into your HVAC system.

These are just a few do-it-yourself tips so you can reduce dust coming out of your HVAC air vents and improve the air quality in your home. In addition to these tips, regular maintenance of your HVAC system is also important for keeping those dust bunnies to a minimum, and Harris Comfort can help with that! We offer comprehensive duct cleaning services, home comfort system repairs, installations, and advice to keep your Bucks County home comfortable year-round. Contact us to schedule your duct cleaning today!

Propane Basics: Reading & Shutting Off Your Propane Tank

As a Harris Comfort customer, you likely already know that propane is one of the most versatile fuels available that has an excellent record of safety to boot! That being said, propane equipment can still be a tad bit intimidating for those who aren’t that familiar with it. You can use propane and still not be used to the equipment.

That’s okay! We’re here to help with some general knowledge from the Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) that all propane users should have!

Reading Your Propane Tank Gauge

When using propane, it’s important to know how to read your propane tank gauge so you can better avoid running out of fuel. Although it might seem intimidating, checking the gauge is easy!

• Open the lid of the propane tank to reveal the gauge.
  • Note: Since propane expands and contracts inside the tank as outdoor temperatures change, propane tanks are filled to about 80% capacity.
  • The numbers on the gauge express how full the tank is as a percentage. When the needle is on 80, you have a full tank. When the needle is on 40, the tank is half-full of propane.
  • If your tank runs out of propane, national safety code requires that a qualified professional inspect your propane system before the gas is turned back on.

Shutting Off Your Propane Tank

Knowing how to shut off your propane tank is crucial – even if you never end up using this knowledge, it’ll be good to have just in case!

• Open the lid of the propane tank to reveal the shut-off valve.
• Turn the shut-off valve to the right, or clockwise, to stop the flow of propane.
• If you have more than one tank, shut them all off the same way.
• Whenever the gas has been turned off, national safety codes require that a professional tests your propane system before turning the gas back on and re-lighting pilots.

We hope this information helps propane customers feel more comfortable around their propane equipment. If you ever have any questions about how to use your propane system, feel free to contact us online or call 215-968-7477.