How to Prepare Your Air Conditioner for Fall

Many homeowners understand the importance of preparing their air conditioner for spring, but what about the fall? Your unit has spent all summer working hard. Therefore, all the components that affect efficiency and air quality need to be looked at. At the very least, the elements of your air conditioner need cleaning and regular maintenance adjustments. However, the fall is the best time to identify issues, replace worn parts, and ensure the unit is properly sealed. 

Your Fall Checklist

Replace Filters: During fall maintenance, replacing the air filters will boost efficiency and assure good airflow. Moreover, dirty air filters can reduce efficiency by up to 15 percent, increasing energy usage.

Clean Debris: Clear away any buildup of grass trimmings, leaves, and twigs, and trim back any overgrowth. This can clog your unit, but also gives rodents a place to build a nest.  

Clean the Coil: It’s the evaporator coil that circulates refrigerant which cools your home. Condensation is produced on the surface, attracting dirt and debris like a magnet. Additionally, mold can become a problem on the coils and fins.

Inspect Ducts: Of course, this is not technically part of your air conditioner; however, leaks can reduce efficiency by 40 percent. Moreover, it can cause uneven cooling within the home. Now is a great time to fix duct leaks and damage.

Turn off Power: The best way to protect your air conditioner, from someone inadvertently changing the thermostat setting, is to turn the power off to the unit. Just remember to turn it back on when the weather starts to warm up again in spring!

Cover Unit: Use only a manufacturer approved cover to protect the unit from the elements. However, do not use a run-of-the-mill plastic tarp. These can trap moisture.
  

If you would like to talk about how to prepare your air conditioner for fall, or need more information, contact your local Sanford FL air conditioning service.

What Are The Three Important Questions You Need To Ask Your Heating Repair Contractor?

Before any work is done on your HVAC system, a few questions need to be asked of any heating repair company. You might have many questions, but several will make sure you are focusing on the right questions to ask. So then, what are the three important questions you need to ask your Mount Laurel NJ heating service?

How Experienced is the Technician Doing the Work?

You may have already received quotes for service and are looking to schedule a repair, but it is not only necessary to get multiple quotes but to also inquire about the technicians doing the work. Once you have determined the company you are going with, speak with the customer service assistant and ask about years of service, seniority and certifications of your repair technician. If the customer service rep is unable to help you, then ask to speak with someone in sales and service that can help you with that question. Following the chain of command up until you get your question answered will give you the results you need.

What Options Do I Have With My Repair?

Sometimes a unit needs to be replaced, but often there are options and cost saving alternatives. Be sure to ask the technician for every option that is possible, and look at the yearly cost savings of each option. If you must go with the cheapest alternative, don't be afraid to state that upfront, remember the technician is a normal person just like you with bills and budgets as well. They will understand where you are coming from, and will look for cost saving approaches from the first visit, if they are informed. Sometimes a cheaper option today is all you can do, but a yearly cost savings will benefit you more in the long run. Make sure you ask about all of the different possible outcomes and understand what it will mean for you and your home.

Is My Technician an Employee or Sub-Contractor?

This may seem a bit odd, and it is no reflection on either technician type, this just helps clarify some things in case a repair goes south. Ask if the repair technician is a W-2 employee or sub-contractor. If they are a sub-contractor, ask if there are any guarantees or warranties with the work. If not, you may want to insist on some before you agree to the repairs. If the technician is a W-2 employee, find out if they are paid hourly or by piece rate. Piece rate is becoming more and more an industry standard and it pays on a task completed rate scale, rather than by the hour, so the incentive for the technician is to work fast and complete more repairs, which can cause unnecessary failures in the repair.
 Understand, other questions will come up and be sure to note everything your unit is doing so the repair company can assess the right scenario for you. If you have any further questions or concerns or would like to discuss specific needs your HVAC unit has, please contact us today and let us partner with you on all your HVAC needs.

Three Reasons to Schedule Heating Service in the Fall

Autumn is nearly here. The humidity levels are dropping, and the nights are getting cooler. Before you know it, you'll be turning off your air conditioner and turning up the thermostat in your home. Don't wait until your family is layering on the sweatshirts to schedule your heating service. Following are three reasons why there's no better time than now to make an appointment with an HVAC professional.

It's Comfortable Outside

Your family is no longer cranking the AC for relief from the intense summer heat, but they aren't freezing in their beds at night either. The mild weather in the fall makes it the perfect time to prep your home's heating system for winter. If any problems are detected, they can be dealt with well before winter.

You're Having Your Air Conditioner Serviced

Is an HVAC professional already coming to your house to perform annual maintenance on your central air conditioning system? Why not make it a dual-purpose appointment? If you're having your AC serviced anyway, it could be a convenient time for furnace maintenance as well.

Peace of Mind

Imagine the following scenario: Temperatures suddenly dip below freezing, and your home is very cold. You reach for the thermostat to turn on the heat, but nothing happens when you flip the switch. Don't get caught in the cold -- make sure your furnace is functioning optimally! Scheduling an appointment for heating service will give you peace of mind before winter's arrival.
Regular maintenance can help extend the life of your heating system and keep your family comfortable for the long haul. If you're ready to schedule heating service for your home, make an appointment with your local heating installation Burke VA today!

Why Is Your Air Conditioning Unit Constantly Running?

During the heat of summer, you rely on your air conditioner more than ever. Should you be concerned if your air conditioning unit is always running?
It's normal for your air conditioner to run continuously during hot weather. However, if your A/C constantly runs but your home never gets cool, it's a sign you may need air conditioning service. Here are some common causes.

The air conditioning unit is the wrong size for your home. When it comes to your air conditioner, size matters. If your A/C unit is too small for your home, it has to work harder to keep it cool. This will eventually lead to breakdowns and costly repairs. If your unit is too large, it will not remove moisture from the air effectively. It will also use more energy, leading to higher bills.

The thermostat is not working properly. It's possible that your home has reached the proper temperature, but the thermostat doesn't know to turn off. You can check this by placing a thermometer near the thermostat. Check the thermometer after about an hour. If the reading shows the desired temperature, but the A/C is still running, the thermostat may be the culprit.

Your home has air leaks. Air leaks are common around doors and windows, and also in your home's duct-work. Leaks allow cold air to escape your home, leading the air conditioner to run more often. Seal any air leaks to keep the cool, conditioned air inside.

The evaporator coil and/or condenser coil may be dirty.  A dirty evaporator coil makes it difficult for the A/C unit to absorb heat from the air. A dirty condenser coil blocks heat from escaping. Either will cause the unit to run more often as it tries to cool your home.
If you're having trouble with your air conditioning, contact your air conditioning contractor today to schedule an inspection.

 Contact your local air conditioning Bonita Springs FL with further questions!

These Sneaky Little Tricks May Help You Get One More Year Out Of Your Aging Air Conditioning System

As a homeowner, you know that various repairs and upgrades will eventually need to be performed on the various systems in your home that help keep your home a comfortable place in which to live. With the help of your local company for air conditioning in Brandon FL, some small repairs can be done with a few Uncle Benjamins and a free weekend. Other projects, like replacing your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, require much more knowledge, time, and capital. If you are aware that your current system is soon going to need to be replaced, there are a few sneaky little tricks that may help you get just one more season of use out of your aging air conditioner.

• Let it breathe. Remember when you were a kid, and wore that sweaty Halloween mask while running through your neighborhood, filling your pillowcase with as much candy as you could? Remember how hard it was to breathe because the mask blocked adequate airflow, even with air holes? Your old air conditioning system may be feeling the same way. Changing the filter will allow it to breathe easier and put less stress on its various hardworking components.
• Keep it clean. While a fresh filter is supposed to remove dirt, hair, and grime from entering the system, junk is still able to build up inside the air ducts over a long period of time. If you are trying to eek one more summer of use out of  your current system, you may wish to have your air ducts cleaned to allow for maximum airflow.
• Check the drain lines. Drain lines help usher away condensation that is removed from the air during the cooling process. Like the air ducts, the drain line can become blocked with grime and sludge. Due to the constant presence of moisture in the line, mold and algae can grow inside the line, to the point that the pipe becomes clogged. This causes the condensate to pool somewhere in your home, and not only creates more stress on your aging system, but probably gives you a decent amount of stress as well!

Are these tricks sneaky? Yes. Are they little? Certainly. Will they help you get just one more season out of your current air conditioning system? While we can't look into our crystal ball and give you a definitive answer, we do believe that these three little tricks may give you a few extra months before having to replace or upgrade your entire system. So does it matter that they are sneaky and little? Not at all.

Common Heating Misconceptions

Thanks to a couple common misconceptions, a lot of homeowners end up increasing their monthly heating bill. Thankfully, experts in heating repair in Lincoln NE have helped identify some of these misconceptions.

Closing Heat Registers Keeps your Heating System Efficient

Closing registers in seldom-used rooms of your home is supposed to increase airflow to other rooms and cause less stress on the heating unit. In reality, it can actually create more problems than it solves. Closing registers increases pressure in the system and can affect the performance of the unit on the entire house.

Bigger Means Better

When installing a new heating unit, it is crucial to purchase a unit that is appropriately sized for the home. Over-sized (or under-sized) units waste energy and are inefficient when maintaining consistent comfort.

If you are looking for the best in home heating installation, contact us. We will help you navigate through the myths of energy efficiency and find a product that best suits your home and your needs!

Home Heating Myths

As energy costs continue to rise, people are constantly looking for ways to make home heating more economical. Experts for heating in New Providence NJ have identified common myths that homeowners tend to believe. Misconceptions about home heating can cost you money, especially if you find yourself getting caught up in these popular heating myths:

Myth #1 – Cranking the Thermostat Heats the House Faster

The thermostat does not dictate how warm the air will be that is produced by the furnace; rather, it provides an indicator of how long the furnace should run before the room reaches the desired temperature. The furnace produces heat at the same rate regardless of how high the thermostat is turned up.

Myth #2 – A Fireplace is a Suitable Replacement for a Home Heating System

While a fireplace creates a nice ambiance in your home, it cannot replace your furnace. Wood burning fireplaces are notoriously inefficient because heat can easily escape through the damper. Gas inserts require more resources than other house-wide systems and only heats the area close to the fireplace.