HVAC Maintenance Tips

It is important to examine your HVAC unit a couple times a year to make sure that everything is running smoothly. A Naples FL AC Repair professional has shared these reminders and tips to make sure your unit is running fine.

• Repair exterior damage. If there are any cracks or holes in your HVAC unit, these should be sealed immediately. If the damage is not repaired, your system may not be able to keep air contained which will make it difficult to produce cool air. 

• Check electrical components. All electrical components and controls should be checked for wear or damage. Any electrical malfunction will likely develop into a more serious operational issue down the line, so be sure to handle repairs as soon as possible.

Heating Tips and Tricks

The heating bill can account for a big portion of your utility bills. Thankfully, there are some other ways to keep your home cool without keeping your heat on full blast throughout the winter. A Fairfax VA heating company has been nice enough to share some tricks to keeping your home warm and we wanted to share them with you.

• Try adding some area rugs to prevent heat from escaping. According to the National Energy Foundation, floors can account for as much as 10% of your home’s total heating in East Setauket NY loss if they are not properly insulated.
• The fans in your kitchen and bathroom pull hot air out of your home. Avoid turning these fans on unless absolutely necessary to limit how much energy is lost this winter.
• Your ceiling fan can help circulate warm air in your home, bringing warm air that has risen back down to the lower levels of the house. During winter months, make sure that it is rotating clockwise and is running at the lowest possible speed.

Keep up with your HVAC Maintenance

Even though the temperature has cooled off and you may not be using your air conditioning as much, it is important to keep up maintenance year round. Here are some reminders and suggestions for keeping your HVAC unit in great shape.

• Replace the blower filter. In addition to regular monthly cleaning, your blower filters must also be replaced at least two times per year. It is a good idea to replace the filter before the start of each cooling and heating season.
  
• Make sure your dryer is working well. One of the most common issues we see with dryers is that the vent is blocked. Therefore, air cannot circulate and clothes cannot dry. Make sure you have a regular dryer vent cleaning in Hawaii.
  
• Be aware of moisture. Your system’s evaporator and condenser coils may begin to retain some moisture, and must be cleaned periodically. If you notice any sign of mold or mildew inside, this must also be cleared immediately.
  
  
• Check the electrical connections. The electrical components of your HVAC unit are critical and must be protected from any damage caused by faulty wiring. When inspecting these connections, be sure to pay close attention to the current on motors and measure voltage.

 If you have any questions or need help with your system, look into air conditioning repair in Alamo Heights TX.

Misc. AC Tips

In most of the country, winter has arrived and brought chilly weather with it. Some of the country even experienced the first snow storm of the year. However, for some parts of the county such as Florida and other southern states, the weather is still warm.

We certainly haven't forgotten about you warmer states. We still want to keep you informed about your air conditioning and how to stay cool. Thankfully, a Pembroke Pines FL AC service has provided these tips and reminders.

• Change your filter. Dirty filters can have a significant impact on an AC’s efficiency. In the summer months, when your AC is being used more frequently, it is recommended that you install a new filter each month. If you have washable filters you can simply remove the filter and clean it in the sink.
  
  
• Consider the location of your thermostat. In order to ensure accurate temperature readings, all heat-producing appliances (light fixtures, TVs, etc.) should be kept away from your thermostat. It is also important to protect the thermostat from direct sun exposure, so be sure to keep blinds shut during the day.
  
  
• Protect your HVAC unit from sun and debris. Consider covering your system with an awning to provide shade. This will shield your unit from direct sun exposure, and effectively reduce energy consumption.

Inspecting your fuel nozzle

A furnace generates heat by igniting a combination of air and gas that have mixed together inside of the combustion chamber. The gas passes into the combustion chamber through the fuel nozzle. This component has an important job to play. Beyond simply providing a means of entry, it also atomizes the incoming fuel. This helps to disperse it more evenly, thus ensuring that as much of the fuel as possible is combusted.

As time goes on, however, the fuel nozzle tends to accumulate a problematic layer of buildup. Eventually, this unwanted gunk will start to affect the nozzle’s ability to properly introduce and/or atomize the fuel. As a result, your furnace’s efficiency will start to plunge. A trained furnace repair person or a Willowick OH heating installation professional can thoroughly inspect your fuel nozzle, and clean or replace it if necessary.

Clean out your burner tube

Many cling to the mistaken idea that furnaces require very little in terms of annual maintenance. Unfortunately, this belief often leads to the need for expensive and time consuming furnace repairs. If you would like to learn more about what it takes to keep a home’s heating system running strong, read on.




Combustion itself is carried out by the igniter flame inside of a furnace. Over time, the igniter mechanism is subject to the same sorts of buildup that can negatively impede the fuel nozzle. Thus a furnace technical will often perform an inspection of the igniter flame. By observing the color and/or shape of this flame, they will be able to glean information about the cleanliness of the igniter. Then, if necessary, they will extinguish the flame in order to clean out any debris from the burner tube.

If you have any questions, reach out to a Bakersfield CA furnace contractor.
 

Be More Efficient with a Clean Dryer Vent

Have you ever noticed that your dryer is working as well as it normally does? Maybe it's taking more than one cycle to dry your clothes or your clothes are still somewhat damp when you take them out? This can be frustrating, especially if you have to spend more time doing laundry than you originally anticipated.

This can be cause by a number of different things. When this happened to me, it ended up being caused by the dryer vent. The vent had gotten squeezed between the dryer and the wall and started to cave in on itself. Since air flow to and from the dryer was diminished, the dryer wasn't able to perform efficiently and our clothes were coming out damp.

We ended up having to get a new dryer hose and boy did we notice the difference. No longer were me and my roommates arguing over laundry time since the amount of time it took us to dry our clothes was cut in half. I'm glad we finally reached out to somebody to get it fixed.

If you have any issues with your dryer, look into dryer vent cleaning in Hawaii.

What You Should Know About the Thermocouple in Your Furnace

To most homeowners, the furnace is just one more appliance whose inner workings are shrouded in mystery. Unfortunately, this means that many easily diagnosed problems are often overlooked. If you would like to improve your HVAC knowledge, read on. This article will discuss everything you should know about your furnace’s thermocouple.

Basic Idea

The furnace component known as the thermocouple has a vital role to play where safety is concerned. Its job is to control the flow of gas coming out of the pilot orifice. So long as the pilot remains lit, the thermocouple keeps the gas valve open. But if the flame should suddenly go out, the thermocouple shuts off the valve, thus preventing raw, dangerous gas from entering your home.

Thermocouple Problems

It’s important to know how to recognize the signs that your thermocouple may not be working correctly. The most common symptom is that your pilot light won’t seem to stay going, no matter how many times you relight it. This may be caused by either a thermocouple that has been jarred out of place, or one that has failed mechanically.

In the first case, the problem can often be solved by making an adjustment to the position of the thermocouple. You see, it needs to be close enough to the pilot flame that it receives an adequate amount of heat. This causes two pieces of metal near the tip of the thermocouple to generate an electrical impulse, thus keeping the gas valve open.

If repositioning the thermocouple still doesn’t fix the problem, and your pilot light continues to go out, chances are the thermocouple has become excessively worn with age. Here the best option is to replace it entirely. Fortunately, a new thermocouple isn’t too expensive.

If you have questions, reach out to a Miller Place NY heating expert to get their opinion or have them check out your system.