Category: HVAC

Why Spring is the Best Time for an HVAC Tune-up

Most people try to take great care of their vehicles. Between oil changes, repairs, simple maintenance, fluid checks, and part replacements, your vehicle gets a lot of love. Routine maintenance is an important part of making sure that your car works properly and it also helps you prevent more costly repair needs further on down the road. Now think about how often you use your air conditioner. Don’t you think this important home comfort system deserves some love too? Spring is the perfect time to schedule a seasonal maintenance visit for your HVAC system. Showing your air conditioner a little love before the biggest cooling season of the year is the best way to ensure that it treats you well this summer. 3 Reasons You Need a Spring AC Tune-Up It’s important to keep up with routine maintenance to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently so that it can help keep your family comfortable year-round. Here are just three reasons why spring is the perfect time to schedule an AC tune-up: 1. A tune-up can help increase your HVAC system’s efficiency. When was the last time your HVAC system was cleaned and inspected? Your air conditioner tends to get

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What to Consider When Choosing to Replace Your HVAC Unit

Your HVAC systems come with an average lifespan of generally 10-15 years. Continuing to run them beyond that limit can mean higher utility costs and occasional breakdown and costly repairs. Yes, we understand that HVAC replacement can be costly, but it can also save you money in the long-run. When Should You Replace Your HVAC? If you are not too sure about whether it is really time for a replacement, you can always ask for a specialists’ advice from an HVAC professional like us. Sometimes, a repair may get you above the water and make your system run smoothly for another couple years. At other times, however, a repair will only add up to the expense while only delaying the inevitable, not to mention the massive utility bills you will need in the meantime. So, when is the time you should go for a replacement? As we said, an HVAC professional will be able to advise you on this. There are, however, some pointers which will convey to you the need to go for a brand new system. So, when you see that your unit is leaking fluid regularly; is making unexpected noises on a frequent basis; is making your

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Three things to do before you replace your furnace

If you are noticing that your furnace is not performing as well as you may want it to, it is important for you to invest in a new one as soon as possible. Purchasing a furnace replacement will ensure that you are prepared for the colder season, without having to worry about putting the task off too late. A good furnace should always be purchased with a few considerations in mind in order to make the most of furnace efficiency. To begin the purchasing process, look into your heating capacity and think about what type of furnace will best suit your needs. This involves performing a check of your house in order to take a few things into consideration, such as the size of your home, the occupants, and the placement of the windows. HVAC professionals can help make this process simpler and more effective. Investing according to fuel efficiency can be another good way to make the most of your furnace’s functions. All furnaces come with a fuel efficiency rating that you can use as a measurement system to determine which ones will be right for you. Usually, the closer that the number is to 100%, the better its

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Top Benefits of Using a Smart Thermostat

You’ve probably heard of the smart thermostat. You may even know someone who uses this device in their house. But do you really know how it can benefit your home? It’s about more than just keeping your home at a comfortable temperature. In this post, we’ll discuss how using a smart thermostat can benefit you and your home comfort. Smart Thermostat Benefits So you’re thinking about switching to a smart thermostat? Here are just a few of the benefits you can enjoy with this: Save energy One of the greatest benefits of switching to a smart thermostat is the energy savings! Depending on your current home comfort habits, using a smart thermostat to manage and automate your home climate can help you save a significant amount on your monthly energy costs by helping you use your HVAC system more efficiently Stay comfortable A smart thermostat makes it even easier and more convenient to keep your home comfortable. These easy-to-use devices make programming your home climate to fit your schedule simple and stress-free. You can even adjust the temperature from your smart device to account for any fluctuations in temperature throughout the year. Analyze your energy usage Many smart thermostat devices

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Top HVAC technologies for the coming year

Technological advances are continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in every industry. Businesses that revolve around HVAC as well as the end users would do well to keep an ear on the ground so that they don’t get left behind. Here Are Some Of The HVAC Technologies That Will Be Available In 2016: Mobile Apps for Maintenance People are demanding more from their appliances than ever before. Manufacturers need to create better features every time they release models out to the market. The march towards greater complexity makes units harder to master and troubleshoot. Technicians require more rigorous training to be able to provide the level of service expected of them. Mobile apps are now being developed to help them in this regard both in practice and in the field. These apps make maintenance work a lot easier as they capture important data for decision-making and guide users on the appropriate steps to take in any situation. Smarter HVAC Systems HVAC systems are known for being reactive to the environment. They have sensors that detect the current temperature and they use the information to adjust their work rate. Nowadays, there are thermostats that can actually learn how the environment

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The Difference Between Manual Thermostats and Electrical Thermostats

A thermostat is a temperature–sensitive device that turns HVAC systems on and off when the temperature of an environment reaches a preset level. Essentially, it turns on the air conditioning when it gets too warm, or the heating when it gets too chilly. Thermostats control the workings of comfort systems by directing energy to the appropriate system when needed. When selecting a thermostat, property owners can either go for simple manual thermostats or sophisticated electronic thermostats that provide improved functionality and highly efficient operations. Thanks to the easy to understand packaging and universal compatibility, choosing a thermostat is easy. Systems that Use a ThermostatSingle–stage heating systems have one electrical or gas heating device, which may consist of a heater or an AC device as well. Most units that use natural gas provide single–stage heating. Usually, a single–stage thermostat should have room for three wires if the system handles heating only. However, if the system handles heating and cooling, the thermostat will have to accommodate five wires or less. Multi–stage systems have a standard electrical or gas heating device as well as an emergency and/or auxiliary heating device. The emergency or auxiliary heating kicks in when temperatures drop faster than the

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Hvac zone control problems

Zone control systems allow easy control over a centralized heating and air conditioning system. To become a zoning system, the unit is fitted with mechanized or motorized dampers, allowing occupants to customize individual room temperatures. Such complex systems occasionally encounter problems. Knowing how to recognize them will help you address the problem in a timely manner, with the help of a certified technician. How Does It Work? A modern centralized HVAC system is fitted with a series of dampers, which basically work like individual “faucets” that control the airflow per room or “zone”. Each damper is connected to and controlled by a panel and a motor. Each room can also have individual sensors and/or thermostats that let the occupant change the airflow without leaving the room. The more connections it has, the more complicated the system gets and the more difficult it is to repair if it develops problems. Common Zone Control System Problems Thermostat Malfunction – The most common and fixable zone control system problem is a thermostat malfunction. If restarting it doesn’t work, try cleaning it as instructed by the care and maintenance guide. If the front panel is removable, clean the electronics and contacts and make sure the panel is properly

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Why You Should Care About Maintaining Your Home’s HVAC

Did you know that your HVAC should be inspected about twice a year? With spring right around the corner, you’ll want your AC to be checked out so you and your family can be as comfortable as possible once the heat hits. Once the colder months of the year roll back around, it is important to make sure that your home’s heater is in proper working order. Neglecting regular maintenance for your HVAC can cause you to run into some costly problems. Be wary of these serious issues that you can run into: Bad air quality in your home It is much more likely that you will experience more sick days during the winter than you would in the summer. This is due greatly to a lowered immune system in the colder months. However, if you are breathing in dirty air due to a heater that isn’t working properly, this will not help you in your efforts to stay healthy. If you regularly maintain your heater, you will have much cleaner air to breathe in your home. Costly repairs that could have been avoided If you were to never change the oil in your car, you would eventually have to invest in a whole new

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Why Is SEER Used for Rating Heating and Cooling Devices?

People using any type of cooling device should know what is SEER. Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio or SEER is used to rate cooling appliances. The rating is based on energy efficiency performance of systems like HVAC, air conditioners and heat pumps. The rating is calculated taking into account an appliance’s cooling output for a given unit of energy that it consumes. Higher rating is given to systems that output more cooling while consuming less energy. The benefit of using such devices is that it results in lower electricity bill. Such a device is eco-friendly because it releases less green house gases. Rebates are available to users who use systems with high energy efficiency. Devices that have higher SEER ratings provide greater efficiency. Federal government has made it mandatory for central air-conditioning equipment manufacturers to sell only those units that have minimum SEER-13 rating. Buyers should know that air-conditioning equipments with SEER rating of 18 or even 23 are available. An air-conditioning system having a minimum of SEER-16 rating should be installed to realize the advantages of using energy efficient system. Users who want to calculate their savings can easily do so by using Cooling Calculator. The calculator can be used

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Making the Right Choice: Replace or Repair My Equipment?

The act of replacing or repairing your air conditioner is not one that should be taken lightly. It is very important especially because it relates directly to the quality of life you lead. There are essential questions to ask when contemplating on whether to repair or replace it. Has it exhausted its useful life? How much have I spent so far on its repairs? For how long have used this air conditioner? Consult an expertMost experts especially those you have heard long working relations with will give you an excellent report on things as they stand. This will enable you make the right decision on the course of action to take. An expert will be able to determine the extent of damage to the equipment and the probability of lasting for a certain period after a repair. AgeAs equipment ages its level of inefficiency increases and should therefore be replaced. The machine may have exhausted its useful life and all it does is break down. When a machine is constantly in need of repair, then it is high time you replaced it. If it is just few times, then it can be repaired and used for a while. Cost of

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