When brushing snow off your car this winter - do yourself and your wallet a favor - brush off the ou
When Old Man Winter touches down, accompanied by arctic gusts, freezing temps, and snow, most of us are primarily concerned with the interior state of our HVAC system. That is, as long as toasty air is blasting indoors, and we can go about in relative comfort, all is well with the HVAC unit. The condition of the exterior portion of the system rarely gets a second thought. However, this is no time to get complacent about the outdoor elements of your heating system; especially
Why Isn’t My Heater Heating?
Sleigh bells are ringing, Jack Frost is nipping at your nose, and you are freezing your behind off! Unless you’re literally sitting in a snowbank, this means the heater ain’t working. So, after you put on a couple extra sweaters, but before you call the HVAC professional, there is a host of usual suspects to check off the list of probable malfunction causes. Troubleshooting and fixing some common problems regarding the furnace is not out of the realm of possibility; it’s not
“You're hot then you're cold, You're yes then you're no, You're in then you'
An old, temperamental heating and cooling system can be a pain in the neck on so many levels. It’s inherently inefficient which puts a hurt on your wallet. It’s an inconvenience, in that one minute you feel on the verge of hypothermia, and the next minute you swear you’ve been relocated to a sweat lodge. These old units, with their “bangs” and “clangs,” are jarring. They can also be tremendous space hogs where square footage is coveted. The best way to overcome all these issu
Rake Leaves, Check. Clean Gutters, Check. Central A.C. TLC, Check (or should be).
Now that Autumn is in full swing, and crisp, cooler temps are the norm it’s time to devote some TLC to your air conditioner. In less than an hour you can fully prep your outdoor air handler so it can easily withstand harsh winter weather; not only will it be shielded from snow and ice, it will also thwart potential rust and corrosion. Here are some simple steps that anybody can undertake to safeguard their HVAC investment. First, hit the kill switch on the exterior power to t
“Heatless in Seattle” or How to Avoid a Furnace Breakdown This Winter
Take a second and mentally fast-forward to that first prolonged cold front that will arrive in your area. It’s inevitable. And it’s not far off. This is the exact moment when you DO NOT want your heating system to quit. Realistically, however, this exact scenario is what prompts the most calls to HVAC techs come winter. That first cold snap. Due to the constant output required by your heater to ward off the freezing temps the risk of a breakdown increases. This is especially
Duct Cleaning: Scam, Sham, or Legit?
Chances are that if you talk to a friend who recently had the ductwork in their home cleaned out, they’ll babble incessantly about all the benefits to be recouped by undergoing the process. “I can breathe so much easier!” “The house smells fresher.” “My allergies have practically disappeared!” Etcetera, etcetera. Well, all those benefits could be figments of your friend’s imagination. In other words, there are opposing factions of HVAC professionals who debate the efficacy of
Fido: Family Friend & HVAC Foe
For millions of Americans, pets are part of the family; they help transform a house into a home. However, most pet owners are probably unaware of the extra strain that their lively little pug or beloved Burmese cat can incur on the home HVAC unit. Indoor air quality can be compromised and system efficiency may be impaired by these friendly furballs. Here are some simple methods to make sure a house’s heating and cooling aren’t hampered by pets. Maintenance Check your HVAC fil
Venting is Good for Mental Stress … and Attics
For some homeowners, most unfinished attics receive the “out of sight, out of mind” treatment. Besides storing holiday decorations, old college textbooks, and grandmother’s antique steamer trunk, an attic tends to get a good leaving alone. As long as the roof hasn’t sprung a leak and there are no critters running roughshod up there, some people figure if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However, the attic does play a pivotal role in terms of HVAC efficiency and home comfort. To
Sweater Weather is the Best Time for HVAC Checkups
September. The days become shorter, the air gets crisper, and the leaves start to wither. The two things on everybody’s mind come autumn: kaleidoscopic panoramas of Fall foliage and the furnace in the cellar which has sat dormant for months now. (Well, at least everyone in the HVAC biz thinks of those two scenarios.) Aside from the leaves that will eventually require raking, you should also schedule an annual HVAC inspection by a licensed professional. Autumn is an opportune
