About Getting Maintenance For A Gas Furnace
Do you find that you have to reignite your gas furnace pilot on a regular basis? Unless your furnace is old and damaged, the solution to the problem might be to invest in professional maintenance. It is actually in your best interest to get into the habit of making sure that your furnace receives periodic tune-ups. Professional maintenance can keep your heating system efficient and make the furnace more durable. In this article, you will learn about the areas of your gas furnace that will likely be examined when maintenance is performed. 1. Gas Line The gas line to your furnace is one of the most important parts that must receive maintenance because an explosion can occur if it is damaged. A contractor can make sure the line does not have any cracks in it that allow gas to leak out into your house. The fittings on the gas line will also be inspected in case they are loose or need to be replaced. A leaking line can cause a pilot to constantly go out due to it receiving only a small quantity of gas. 2. Pilot Orifice A contractor will inspect the pilot orifice to make sure it isn’t clogged up. Basically, the orifice is the area of the pilot in which the flame comes out. Dirt can create a blockage in the orifice that prevents a flame from igniting. Getting the orifice cleaned is the best way to make sure fire can come through it. 3. Gas Valve The gas valve is vital because it determines how much gas is released into the burner. During maintenance, the valve will be inspected to make sure it isn’t broken. A broken gas valve can easily be replaced by a contractor without you needing to replace the entire furnace. 4. Pilot Burner The pilot burner will be inspected to make sure it isn’t dirty. It is necessary for the burner to be cleaned every now and then so gas and fire can easily ignite a pilot flame. Rust is another thing that can lead to a pilot burner malfunctioning. It is possible that a replacement burner is needed if rust is present. 5. Thermocouple A thermocouple is a part that must be in good shape in order for a pilot to remain ignited. The gas valve must receive a signal that the pilot is ignited in order to release continuously gas, which is the job of the thermocouple. A contractor will inspect the thermocouple to make sure it isn’t damaged. Reserve a date for a contractor to perform maintenance on your gas furnace. You can learn more about furnace maintenance services by checking out a site like...
read more3 Ways To Avoid An Air Conditioner Repair
Being able to remain cool in summer can be a real challenge. Usually, the most efficient way for you to do so is by working to properly maintain your AC unit, reducing the possibility of expensive repairs. By knowing some of the things you can do that will help keep your air conditioning in good working order, these can be helpful for you. Remove debris One of the first things you will want to do is to take just a few minutes and clean your outside unit. You should look for any debris around the unit and remove these things. For instance, during the fall months, you may have leaves that clutter around your air conditioning unit and may prevent it from functioning properly. On the other hand, when the weather is warmer, you may have weeds and grass that gets high that should be trimmed. Be sure to keep your unit as clean as possible and even unscrew the fasteners and get rid of debris on the inside of the unit occasionally to keep it running smoothly. Clean the evaporator coil It’s ideal to keep the key components of your unit as clean as possible, and one of these is the evaporator coil. This item is usually located on the inside blower door. You will want to keep the evaporator coil clean to prevent the need for any repairs at a later date. You can use a soft brush to clean the coil itself, and this will remove dust and debris that may have built up on it. Clean the drain pan One part of your air conditioning unit you will want to keep clean is the drain pan. This can become full of water from your unit over time, and it’s ideal to prevent this from overflowing and to do a thorough cleaning of this pan. Most experts agree that a mixture of 50% water and 50% bleach poured down the drain will up prevent any clogs and maintain the cleanliness in this area. Being able to avoid expensive air conditioner repairs is ideal and will take some work and effort on your part. It’s important to understand what maintenance to do in order to get the best results. However, if you are faced with an air conditioner that quits working, be sure to give your HVAC contractor, like those at Absolute Air Conditioning & Heating, a call...
read moreSummer Is Coming: 3 Steps To Safely Put Your Heater To Bed Till Winter
When the weather starts to turn warm, your mind automatically turns to your air conditioner. Not so fast, though. Before you switch your air conditioner on this summer, you should make sure that you bid a proper farewell to your heater. You may think that simply turning it off for the summer is good enough. Unfortunately, that could leave you with a rude awakening next winter. Here are four steps you should take to put your heater to bed for the summer. Clean the Motor and Fan While your heater was busy keeping warm during the winter, it was collecting dirt and dust. Those contaminants built up on the motor and fan. Unfortunately, if those contaminants remain on your heating unit during the summer, they can cause serious damage to your heating components. To get your motor and fan ready for summer, you’ll need to grab a shop vacuum. Begin by removing all the dirt and dust from around the motor housing. Once you have that area clean, move on to the fan. Be sure to clean each blade. Check for Safety Issues Once you’ve cleaned the motor and fan, you’ll want to inspect your heater for safety issues. Some of the safety issues you should look for include the following areas. Leaks in the gas lines. Holes in the furnace fire box Scorch marks around the thermocouple or ignitor switch. If you notice any of the problems mentioned above, you should notify your heater technician as soon as possible. You’ll need to have those issues repaired before you turn your heater on next winter. Change the Filter You might think that the filter won’t affect your heater since it won’t be operational during the summer. Unfortunately, that’s not correct. Using your air conditioner with a dirty filter will still deposit dirt on your heater, since the ducts in your home filter through both systems. Before you shut your heater down for the summer, be sure you replace the filter. This will ensure that both your heater and your air conditioner are protected during the summer. A good rule of thumb is to change the filter at the start of each new season. This will ensure that you switch your filter at least four times each year. Now that it’s time to put your heater to bed for the summer, you want to make sure you do it properly. For more information, contact D & W Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. or a similar...
read moreTwo Tips To Keep In Mind When Getting A New HVAC System Installed
Whether you’re moving into a new home and getting the heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) system installed, or you’re replacing the unit you have in your current abode, you want the work to be done with quality and expertise. Depending upon the square footage of your home, you can pay upwards of $12,000 dollars for a new HVAC system, a sizable sum that you want to invest in the right company. When you’re getting a new HVAC system installed, use these tips to ensure that the job is done right. Pay Attention To The Warranty If you’ve already consulted with an HVAC installation contractor who told you that there is a warranty available, you may believe that you’ve found the perfect person. However, it’s important to pay attention to the kind of warranty being offered, because there are differences. There are typically two different kinds of warranties: The manufacturer’s version and the contractor’s version. The manufacturer’s warranty is usually going to strictly cover the parts themselves, so that if one or more of the components on your HVAC system starts to malfunction, they can be replaced. If this is the only kind of warranty being offered, there could be a problem. You need a worker that also offers a contractor’s warranty. This one will cover the labor. So, if the contractor happens to install one of the parts incorrectly, they will come back out within a stated period of time to make the appropriate changes. This is important, because some manufacturer’s warranties will not cover parts that were not installed according to company specifications. Insulation Should Go Hand-In-Hand With Your HVAC System Another consideration you should make when you’re getting a new HVAC system installed is the effectiveness of your home’s insulation. Failing to make sure that you have a sufficient amount of insulation in your home is almost equivalent to letting money slip right through your fingers. It doesn’t matter how much money you invest in that top of the line, energy efficient HVAC system if your home has poor insulation. More of your indoor air will seep outside, causing your system to have to work that much harder to maintain the intended indoor climate. When you’re getting your new HVAC system, take the time to call in an insulation professional as well. They can check the walls, attic and even the basement of your home to make sure that they are properly insulated. Getting a new HVAC system doesn’t have to be a stressful process if you know what to do. The next time you’re getting one installed, keep these tips in mind so you can have a satisfactory...
read moreWhat You Should Know About Maintaining Your HVAC System
When you purchase your first house, you may find yourself unsure about a great deal of the maintenance tasks that you need to perform. As a previous renter, you had a landlord and a maintenance service that helped you whenever you needed heating and cooling services or had plumbing or other issues. Now, your HVAC system is entirely your responsibility, and you may not know what steps to take to keep your heating and cooling systems running as smoothly as possible for as long as possible. Get to know some of these steps to take and get started as soon as possible. Have Your Heating and Cooling Systems Professionally Inspected Annually One of the best ways that you can be sure that your heating and cooling systems are functioning as well as possible is to have an HVAC professional inspect your systems regularly. It is best to have two appointments a year. Have your furnace and heating ducts inspected in the fall and your air conditioning unit both outdoors and indoors inspected in the spring. These inspections will ensure that your systems are clean and in good working order before they need to be used on a regular basis. Change Your Air Filters Seasonally or Monthly Because your heating and cooling systems are largely responsible for the quality of the air that is circulating throughout your home, you need to be sure that that air is as clean and free of contaminants as possible. To make this happen, you need to frequently check and change your system air filters. Generally speaking, your air filters will need to be changed seasonally at the very least. However, many HVAC specialists recommend that you change your filters once a month or once every couple of months. In addition to changing your air filters frequently, you may also want to purchase a high-efficiency air filter that is designed to trap allergens and other particles. While these air filters are a bit more expensive than standard filters, they provide you with the best possible air quality. With these tips in mind, you can better maintain and care for your heating and cooling systems in your new home. With professional assistance and regular filter changes, you can keep your system running as smoothly as possible. You will also want to be sure that you keep the areas around your HVAC systems clean and clear of debris so that you can easily access them for repairs and maintenance. For more information, contact Blue Ridge Services or a similar...
read more3 Tips To Keep Your Home Allergen-Free This Fall
If you are like many people, you might suffer from fall allergies as the temperatures start to cool down. Although you might enjoy the cooler temperatures and the pretty colors of fall, you might not enjoy the discomforts of your allergies. One great way to combat your fall allergies is by keeping your home as allergen-free as possible. Luckily, doing so is easier than you might think. These are a few things that you can do to improve your indoor air quality during the autumn and prevent allergy symptoms among you and your family members. 1. Keep Walking Surfaces Raked and Cleaned Even though you might love how the fall leaves look in your yard, it’s best to keep them cleared away from your walking surfaces. Take the time to rake, sweep or blow away leaves that might linger on your porch, driveway, walkway and other walking areas. This will help prevent allergens from sticking to your shoes and your pants when you walk in the door. 2. Set Up an Outdoor Rug Keep a nice outdoor rug by your front and back doors. Make sure that you keep them outdoors rather than inside; then, when you wipe your feet off to get rid of any potential allergens, you won’t have to worry about them being inside of your home. 3. Take Good Care of Your Heating and Air Conditioning System During the fall months, it isn’t uncommon to run your heater and your air conditioner at different times throughout the week. Make sure that both are in good condition and that your air filters are changed regularly. It’s a good idea to have an HVAC professional from a company like Bill’s Heating & Air Conditioning come out and take a look at your HVAC system in the fall anyway; then, not only can you ensure that your system is filtering the air in your home properly, but you can also ensure that your heater is in good condition and is ready to keep your home warm and toasty this winter. Also, changing your air filters a little more frequently — and using a filter that is designed to help trap home allergens — can be a good idea if you want to keep home allergens to a minimum this fall. The last thing that you probably want to deal with in your home this fall season is allergy symptoms. Luckily, if you follow these three tips, you can help keep your home...
read more3 Ways To Reduce Issues With Cold-Weather Condensation In Your Home
When the cold weather sits outside your home, you will be firing up your home heating system and enjoying the warmth that it provides. However, if you have issues with cold-weather condensation, there is a pretty good chance you will unfortunately be dealing with moisture problems on your walls and windows. To eliminate issues with cold-weather condensation, you have to understand what the problem is, where it comes from, and why it is an issue in your home. So, where does cold-weather condensation come from? If you live in an area where the temperatures dip well below freezing, the internal temperature of your home will not fare will against cold that is seeping in through the walls of your house. This interaction will actually cause the walls to sweat condensation, which can drive humidity levels higher and even cause issues with water damage. In most cases, this is a sign of a home that is not well insulated. However, you might only see small spots affected by condensation where there is not enough insulation, such as around electrical fixtures or plug-ins. Insulation prevents the different air temperatures from coming in contact with each other, which will prevent condensation from forming. What is the easiest way to eliminate the problem with condensation in your home? To get rid of excess condensation, it is best to have a professional come in and make sure your home is appropriately insulated. If the insulation is not the issue, your home heating system may need to be fitted with a dehumidifier unit that traps moisture in the return ventilation and eliminates it from the air in the house. This will dramatically reduce the amount of moisture in the air and keep condensation at bay. Why is condensation more of an issue in upper levels of the house? The upper levels of your home are often more prone to condensation because they may be more exposed to colder temperatures in the atmosphere outside. If your home has an outdated heating system, heat may also be less likely to be distributed appropriately throughout the home, which will cause warm air to rise to higher levels of the house. Even if your home heating system is working well, if you have issues with cold-weather condensation in the winter months, it is best to have a professional HVAC expert, such as Avery Heating & Air Conditioning, come out and take a look. The longer you deal with the issue in your home, the more your house will be susceptible to water...
read moreTroubleshooting Your AC
There are few things worse than being caught in a blazing summer without a working air conditioner. Therefore, you should know how to troubleshoot any problems that your AC has. To help you out, here’s a rundown of some of the most common problems with air conditioners and how you should deal with them: AC doesn’t work at all If you turn on your AC and it is not working at all, then you will first want to check the circuit breaker and the thermostat. If the circuit breaker has been tripped recently (such as due to a power outage), then the solution might be as simple as flipping the breaker. Similarly, the thermostat settings might simply not be set correctly to engage the air conditioner. If neither of those resolve the problem, then there is probably a serious mechanical problem within the air conditioner. The fan or the compressor might be broken, and neither are easy to fix on your own. At this point, hiring a professional air conditioner service technician might be your best bet. AC isn’t cooling as much as it should There are a couple of main reasons that your AC could be operating at partial effectiveness. First, you might just need to clean out your air conditioner. To do this, you must turn disconnect the AC from the power grid and then carefully remove the outer plating. You should be able to see where cleaning is required. If this does not resolve the problem, then you might need to add more coolant. This is not something that an amateur can easily do, so it is recommended that you call an expert. AC is only cooling certain rooms In this case, the problem is likely in your ventilation rather than your air conditioner. Check the vents in the rooms in question to see if you can identify the blockage. You will need a flashlight and a screwdriver in order to remove and see into the vents. If you are lucky, the blockage will be visible and easily accessible. Otherwise, you might need to hire a pro to clean out your ventilation. If you are having difficulty in determining which rooms are being deprived of AC, you should close all the doors and windows and then let the AC run for a couple hours. Check each room, and you should be able to easily tell which rooms are getting AC and which are...
read moreFour Things You Will Want To Know About The Maintenance Of An Evaporative Cooler
If you live in a warm, dry climate, an evaporative cooler may be the most affordable and efficient air conditioning solution for your home. These are cooling systems that work with the evaporation of water. They also require more maintenance than a conventional air conditioner. You may want to do some of these chores yourself. If you want to keep your evaporative cooler efficiently cooling your home, here are four things that you will want to know about the maintenance needs of evaporative cooling systems: 1. Preparing For The Cooling Season With Routine Maintenance Before you start your cooler, you will need to do the annual maintenance. This includes removing the cover, checking the parts and changing the filter. Over the winter, things like pipes and small parts can become damaged. You will want to start your system and look for any leaks that need to be repaired. In addition, move any moving parts to make sure they are not fused in place due to mineral deposits. 2. Checking The Water Levels To Ensure Your Cooler Does Not Go Dry Throughout the cooling season, you will need to check the water levels in the reservoir. If you have to add water manually, you will need to do this regularly. For evaporative coolers with central HVAC, low water can be a sign of other problems such as clogged lines or bad float valves. If the float valve is stuck, try moving it up and down until it floats in the water and moves freely. Clogged lines can sometimes be cleaned, but may need to be replaced if they have too much debris in them. 3. Removing Mineral Build Up From Parts Due To Hard Water Mineral build up can be a major problem with evaporative coolers. It can cause parts to fail and your cooler to not work. To clean these parts, you can use a descaling solution to spray and scrub the parts to get all the mineral deposits off. After you have cleaned the parts, you can add grease to any moving parts to ensure that they move freely. 4. Changing The Filter Medium Or Cleaning To Ensure Efficient Cooling Another thing that you may need to do often is change the filter medium. This will need to be done when air does not flow through the wet filter freely. There are also filters that can be cleaned, but if you have hard water, you will also want to descale them when you do your regular maintenance to your cooler. After doing this, make sure to thoroughly rinse them so there is no descaling solution left on the filter because it can be corrosive to the filter and metal parts in your system. These are some of the things that you will need to do for the regular maintenance of your evaporative cooler. If you need help with the installation, repairs or maintenance of an evaporative cooler, contact an HVAC contractor like Winters Heating Cooling & Indoor Air Quality and ask them about some improvements that can be done to make your air conditioning more...
read moreHeat Pump Isn’t Cycling Properly? Clean Your Air Handler’s Evaporator Coil
If your heat pump won’t cycle off and on properly, you may think that it’s broken or damaged in some way. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, problems can occur in other areas of the cooling system that affect the performance of your heat pump, including the air handler or indoor unit. The easiest thing to check and change first is the air handler’s air filter. If the air filter is clogged or covered with dirt and dust, the heat pump won’t cycle off and on properly. However, if you change the air filter and the heat pump still won’t cycle correctly, clean the air handler’s evaporator coil. How Does a Dirty Evaporator Coil Affect Your Heat Pump? One of the most common reasons for a heat pump that doesn’t cycle off and on is a blocked evaporator coil. If dirt, dust, ice, or mold covers the evaporator coil’s surface, air can’t flow through it. As a result, your heat pump can’t send cool air through to the home. Your heat pump can eventually break down and require servicing from a professional HVAC technician. But if you feel comfortable or confident, you can clean the evaporator coil yourself to see if it improves your heat pump’s performance. Can You Clean the Evaporator Coil Yourself? Before you clean your evaporator coil, turn off the heat pump’s power source at the breaker box or on the thermostat. You want to avoid electrical shocks during the cleaning. Next, remove the covering over the evaporator coil and set it aside. The evaporator coil is the large, triangular-shaped apparatus found near the opening of the air handler. Tiny, thin fins cover the entire surface of the coil, so be careful when cleaning them. The metal fins can cut your fingers, as well as break under pressure. After you remove the unit’s covering and expose the evaporator coil, follow these steps below: Place a tarp beneath the air handler to protect your flooring from water and debris during the cleaning. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and warm, soapy water to gently remove any residue you see on the evaporator coil’s fins. Avoid applying pressure or using force on the fins, even if some areas of the coil seem too clogged or covered with debris. Use a spray bottle filled with 1 cup of white vinegar and several cups of warm water to rinse the stubborn areas. If possible, soak the areas thoroughly with the solution for 15 minutes to see if they clear up. You can place a small fan in front of the evaporator coil to help it dry. Otherwise, wait at least 30 minutes for the water on the coil dries on its own. Replace the cover and turn the unit back on. If the heat pump cycles off and on, you fixed the problem. If not, then contact your HVAC contractor and have your heat pump inspected. If you don’t feel comfortable about cleaning your evaporator coil yourself, be sure to schedule an appointment with your HVAC technician (such as D & R Service Inc) right...
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Hi, my name is Howard, and welcome to my blog. Through the years, I have spent a lot of time studying, researching and learning about HVAC systems. While searching online, I have been unable to find lots of technical information so I decided to make a blog about HVAC questions and answers. In this blog, I plan to explore everything from how to build an HVAC system from scratch, to how to make your current system more effective, to how to clean your system, to how to hire the best contractors and more. If you have a technical question or concern, please explore this blog and learn as much as possible. Thanks for reading!