Month: April 2022

When a heat pump functions correctly, it shouldn’t make loud or strange noises. These often indicate an underlying problem that you should address before it causes a system breakdown. Talk to expert technicians in Pasco County, FL for heat pump repair if you hear any of these strange noises.

1. Loud Metal Banging

Common culprits of a loud metal banging noise include fan issues, loose components or foreign objects that hit the fan blades. Turn off the system and call an expert to discover the cause of this strange noise. A licensed HVAC technician will inspect the heat pump and repair it if necessary to protect the motor, fan and other components.

2. Hissing Noise

A refrigerant leak reduces the refrigerant levels in your heat pump, causing a loud hissing noise. The issue requires a certified technician to fix the leaks and top up the refrigerant levels. It’s advisable to seek prompt repairs from an accredited heating pro if you hear a loud hissing noise.

3. Gurgling and Buzzing Sounds

Heat pumps produce a gurgling sound when they’re low on refrigerant. Faulty coils or contacts often produce a buzzing sound, while grinding noises originate from dirty motor bearings. Luckily, a trained HVAC technician can handle all these issues to protect your heat pump from a premature breakdown or high energy bills.

4. Humming Noise

While heat pumps make humming noises as they operate, the sounds shouldn’t be too loud. Common culprits of a loud humming heat pump noise include a malfunctioning fan motor, an electrical problem or a faulty component. Whatever the issue, an experienced HVAC professional can assist.

You can avoid most of these noises by scheduling regular maintenance. Our experts clean, inspect and tune-up the equipment for optimal performance. Call our professionals at Senica Air Conditioning, Inc. to help with maintenance agreements and repair services.

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This post appeared first on Senicaair.com

If you smell gas, there’s a good chance your home may have a gas leak. If you’re reading this because you’re worried about a possible gas leak, don’t take any chances. Head outside and call 911 — even a small amount of leaking gas creates a danger to your health and could lead to an explosion.

When it comes to gas leaks, prevention is better than any cure. The best way to prevent a leak is to regularly check your household appliances and keep up with your HVAC maintenance.

Signs You Have a Gas Leak

Here are a few tried and tested signs that can indicate a leak:

• The smell of rotten eggs

One of the first signs is an unpleasant smell — like the smell of rotten eggs. Natural gas is odorless, but the gas inside your household appliances, like your stove and furnace, contains a chemical called mercaptan. The mercaptan is what gives the gas the smell — horrid for your nose but excellent for detecting gas leaks.

• Plants suddenly dying

A gas leak can lead to reduced oxygen levels, which is bad news for plants (and humans). If all your plants start to die, your home may have a gas leak.

• Hissing sounds from the furnace

If you suspect a leak in your furnace, shut off the main power source and turn off the emergency shutoff valves. Then, listen for a hissing sound coming from the unit.

What to Do If You Think You Have a Gas Leak

If you think you have a leak, you need to act quickly:

• Evacuate your home or building

If you smell gas, leave your home or building immediately. Don’t turn off any appliances, and make sure all doors and windows are open on the way out. Do not use any electrical devices, phones, or light switches — do NOTHING that could ignite a spark. Get everyone out of the house as quickly as possible. You should NOT attempt to locate the source of the leak yourself. Leave that job to an experienced professional who knows how to handle it safely.

• Call 911 as soon as you can

Gas leaks are dangerous situations that require immediate help from professionals. Unfortunately, gas companies don’t have the resources and capability to respond to a leak straight away. The emergency services know how to react quickly and safely.

• Stay away until the problem is fixed

Don’t go back into your home or building until you’re sure the leak has been fixed. Instead, wait for the emergency services to tell you it’s safe.

The Consequences of an Untreated Gas Leak

If in doubt about a gas leak, always seek professional help or it could lead to the following:

• House fires and explosions

Reports from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) state that an estimated average of 4,200 home structure fires per year start with the ignition of natural gas. Even more worrying is that the report shows that most major gas incidents involved some type of leak. Therefore, regular maintenance of household appliances, like HVAC maintenance, is key in reducing these alarming figures.

• Major health issues

In addition to causing house fires, gas leaks can seriously affect your health. When inhaled, natural gas can deprive your body of oxygen and even cause death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that carbon monoxide is responsible for approximately 430 deaths each year in the U.S.

How to Prevent a Gas Leak

• Routinely book a HVAC tune-up and keep on top of HVAC maintenance

A simple way to avoid gas leaks is to schedule regular HVAC tune-ups to keep your home’s heating and cooling systems running smoothly.

• Check for Gas Leaks Yourself

You can check for gas leaks in your home yourself with a simple test. We recommend testing for gas leaks every six months to ensure your family’s safety. Grab yourself some soap and water. This is the most common method to test for leaks. Mix up soapy water and apply it to joints and other areas that could leak. If you spot bubbling, it indicates a leak. Better still, buy an electronic sniffer device. They’re easy to use and extremely sensitive to small amounts of natural gas. The downside is that they can be expensive — sometimes hundreds of dollars.

• Replace old gas fittings

If you’re unsure whether you have old gas fittings or not, it’s a good idea to look into replacing them no matter what. Your life (and your house) will be better off without the very real risk of a gas explosion. If you feel uncomfortable replacing gas fittings, hiring a professional plumber is the way to go. Any potential cost savings from DIYing it are canceled out by the dangers of amateur gas pipe tinkering.

Keep your family safe by speaking to the experts at Service Champions about all your HVAC maintenance needs.

There’s something fun about getting your home ready for spring. While spring cleaning is a task almost everyone can get behind, we’re here to remind you there are some things you shouldn’t do when going on your cleaning binge.

We all know that a well-maintained HVAC system is more energy-efficient and lasts longer than any neglected units. However, it’s easy for some homeowners to take it overboard; especially when it comes to the condenser.

Here at Service Champions, we consulted with our expert technician, Omar, and he gave us the rundown on how to clean an AC condenser. He tells us what you should do, and more importantly, what you should not do.

What to Avoid When Using Coil Cleaners

Most home improvement stores carry something called “coil cleaners.” While they look simple enough to use, we don’t recommend them.

Condenser coil cleaners that you can buy off the shelf are highly abrasive. When you don’t dilute the solution enough, or if you apply it during our hot Southern California summers in 110-degree weather, it can cause irreversible damage to the coils.

Dirty air conditioner? Its time for a service. [EI1]
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Most condenser coil cleaners are highly acidic. When your AC unit was made, the manufacturer put a coating over your condenser that helps protect it from dust, debris, and other organic matter. When used incorrectly, coil cleaners can strip away this protective coating.

One of the reasons we always say, “call a professional,” is because of things like this. Our expert technicians at Service Champions mix coil cleaner at a 10-to-1 ratio, depending on the solvent we’re using, and if it’s biodegradable. This protects your condenser and extends the life of your system.

Why You Shouldn’t Hose Down a Condenser

Elements such as dirt, dust, pollen, and other airborne debris, are naturally introduced to your AC system. You can thank mother nature for the Santa Ana winds she sends through Orange County.

Pollen is a particularly tricky substance to clean as it carries an oily residue. While we’re lucky to live in an area full of thriving pollinating plants, this can cause trouble for your condenser.

The floating debris is sucked into your condenser as it inhales air through the sides when running and sends it through the coils. Unfortunately, a simple exterior hose can actually make it worse.

While it looks cleaner outside, all that debris has just been shoved further inside. When a professional technician performs an air conditioner tune-up or cleaning, we remove the top of the condenser. This gives access to the inside, where the debris can be safely washed from the inside out.

Landscape Strategically Around Your Condenser

Condensers are hardly a work of art. This often leads homeowners to find creative solutions to improve the curb appeal by incorporating more appealing landscaping nearby. Here are a few things to keep in mind when you’re beautifying the area around your condenser.

Space to Breathe

How efficiently your air conditioner runs can be directly affected by the plants and barriers close by. If decor or plants are placed too close, it may obstruct the airflow feeding into your air conditioner. This means your system is working harder and harder to inhale and cool the air, resulting in rising electric bills and plummeting efficiency.

Plan for a minimum of two to three feet around every side of your condenser but be sure to verify the recommended distance in your owner’s manual. Our service professionals also appreciate that little extra space around your condenser to give us some elbow room when performing AC maintenance.

Condenser-Friendly Plants and Décor

Plants that grow skyward instead of outwards are preferred for this area. Sideways spreading plants have a tendency to take over and can eventually crowd your condenser.

Avoid this altogether by installing a mobile garden in pots or planter boxes that can easily be rearranged.

Create a windbreak by planting evergreens around your condenser. A windbreak helps with air conditioner efficiency as well as shade. The more shade your condenser has, the less it has to work. For shade above the unit, keep it at least five feet high.

Avoid any plants or flowers with thorns or sharp leaves or burrs that stick to clothing. This keeps your service techs happy and safe!

It may cost you unnecessary hassle and money to take AC maintenance into your own hands. Let’s chat about your air conditioner tune-up needs!

Life is full of hard decisions. Your air conditioner shouldn’t be one of them. We understand it’s hard to determine which is better, replacing or repairing your air conditioner.

When the time comes to invest in a new unit or fix the one you already have, there’s a lot to consider. This includes the size of your unit and your home, the cost of repairs, the condition of the unit, and its overall performance and efficiency.

The pros at Service Champions are here to help you make the best decision for your home and budget.

Important Considerations

How Long Are You Staying at the Specific Home?

If you’re planning to move in the next few years, replacing your air conditioning unit with a new one may not be the best investment.

A well-maintained AC unit could add value when you sell. You’re also going to want to get a unit that’s the appropriate size for your new home, so keep this in mind when you consider replacing your current AC unit.

That said, if you’re planning on staying in your current home for a long time, getting a new AC unit with an extended warranty – and no need for costly repairs – is worthwhile, especially if your unit is getting up there in age.

How Old is My AC Unit?

A typical air conditioning unit has a life expectancy of 10 to 15 years. If you maintain your AC unit well, you could get a few more years on top of that.

In general, if your unit is over 10 years old, the warranty is expired, or you’re needing constant repairs – especially expensive ones – purchasing a brand-new AC unit may be the more cost-effective choice.

However, if your AC unit is less than 10 years old, you’ve maintained it well, and it’s not having issues that need frequent repairs, you may be better off paying for small repairs to extend the life of your unit.

What Are the Costs of My Energy Bills?

Even with the best maintenance, an older air conditioning unit will run less efficiently than a newer system. All AC units have a SEER rating to determine energy efficiency. Units from the 90s required a SEER rating of at least 10, but this requirement changed in 2006 to 13, then 14 in 2015. Now, modern AC units must have a SEER rating of 20 or greater.

If you begin to see the costs of your energy bills going up, replacing your unit with a newer and more efficient one could be a smart investment.

Does My Current AC Meet My Needs?

The size of your AC unit plays a big role in the energy efficiency of the system and the comfort it provides. Ideally, your air conditioner should meet the needs of your home’s size as best as possible.

If you choose a system that’s too large, you will use more energy than necessary, and it will not properly dehumidify your home. Conversely, if the system is too small, it will run longer and harder than it should without properly maintaining the set temperature.

An AC unit that’s improperly sized for your home should always be replaced, even if it’s new and in good condition. Otherwise, you may wear out the unit while still struggling to maintain comfort in your home and reasonable energy bills.

A professional HVAC technician can advise you on the proper size unit for your home, doors, and windows, as well as the local climate and temperature extremes, to give you the most bang for your buck.

When You Should Repair Your Air Conditioner

If you have a newer AC, it doesn’t make sense to just replace it instead of making the necessary repairs.

Generally, HVAC professionals follow the “$5,000 rule.” This means you multiply the age of the unit by its repair costs. If the number is under $5,000, it may make more sense to repair problems as they come up, rather than springing for a whole new system.

When You Should Replace Your Air Conditioner

Remember that $5,000 rule? If your repairs exceed $5,000, it’s more cost-effective to replace your AC unit, rather than forking over money to fix a problem.

Another sign you should replace your unit is if it needs constant repairs. Even if the repair costs are low each time, they can add up quickly. If your unit is always running into problems you need to fix, it may be best to cut your losses and spring for a brand-new AC unit.

Whether you’re looking to upgrade your current AC unit to a more efficient model, or you need repairs to keep your older system running at its best, contact the pros at Service Champions!

If you just had a new heating and/or air conditioning system installed within the past year or two, chances are the installer recommended an HVAC maintenance plan. But do you really need preventative maintenance? Ideally, everything is in good condition so you should expect no problems for a while.  That’s partly true. In the first … Continued

The post Do you need an HVAC maintenance plan for a new system? appeared first on Arista.

Updated: April 27, 2022

Most homeowners appreciate the importance of having their HVAC systems working perfectly. Sadly, at some point, you may realize that your AC is working, but the central heat is not. You need to know that this problem is not unique to you. An HVAC contractor can fix this problem but before contacting one of these repair guys, let us first look at the common causes of this issue, shall we?

4 Reasons Why Your Central Heat is Not Working, But Your AC Is

A Faulty Thermostat

You need to start by checking if your thermostat is powered and working properly. Try turning on the thermostat and adjusting the temperature so that your HVAC is turned on. If it fails to come on, check the circuit breaker and ensure that the switch is functioning properly. If you find that it had tripped, turn it back on. This should fix the problem.

Clogged Filters

The HVAC has coil air returns which help in filtering the air coming into your home. You need to clean these filters at least twice a year. However, depending on the usage of the system, you may need to clean the filters more than twice in a year.

Pilot Light or Igniter Problems

If your central heating unit uses gas or propane, then it is essential to check if the pilot light or igniter is operational. If you discover that the heat does not come on even after you have reset the thermostat, you should then shut off the gas and verify if you have gas, then reset the igniter. If you have gas and the igniter still fails to light after the reset, you should consider replacing the igniter or calling an HVAC repair technician to help check your central heating unit.

Poorly Maintained Furnace

It is common to find that the central heating stops working abruptly. This is often caused by the furnace detecting some problems which can easily be corrected through regular maintenance by an HVAC repair technician. Routine furnace maintenance is necessary because it will ensure that:

• Motors spin with no resistance
• The furnace does not experience too much stress
• The central air system stays in perfect condition and gives you service for longer.

Speak to the Professionals

We at Howard Air are committed to ensuring that our clients’ central heating works perfectly. Our team of HVAC repair technicians has the expertise needed to handle a wide range of central heating-related problems. Contact us today and schedule a repair or routine maintenance.

Featured image: stefanolunardi on Shutterstock

The post My Central Heat isn’t Working, but the AC is… What Gives? first appeared on Howard Air Conditioning.

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After a long day at school or work, your home is a sanctuary for you and your family to rejuvenate and prepare for the next day. Better filtration, humidity control, and ventilation can improve indoor door air in a house and keep it comfortable. Read below to learn four reasons to take these steps to improve your home’s quality of the indoor air in Texas City, TX.

Improved Air Quality Improves Deep Sleep Quality

Deep sleep is a stage in the sleep cycle essential to feeling rested and staying healthy. Trouble breathing, which can be caused by poor indoor air, can make reaching this stage of sleep difficult for household members. An investment in improving the quality of air in your home will help ensure that family members get plenty of deep sleep, waking ready to have a great day at school or work.

A Cleaner Household

Dust, dirt and pollen build-up on the surfaces in your home is an indication of poor indoor air. Indoor air systems remove these particles from the environment in your house before they can settle on your furniture, floors and countertops, helping you keep your home cleaner.

Removal of Allergens from the Home

Allergies and asthma are two health issues heightened by airborne irritants in the home’s environment. When an indoor air quality system removes these allergens, family members suffering from respiratory ailments can get some relief. Improving the quality of air in your home is an investment in your family’s health.

Improved and Humidity Control

Too much moisture in the air makes breathing difficult, like taking breaths through a straw. On the other hand, insufficient humidity can make household members more prone to dry skin and nosebleeds. An HVAC system that balances the humidity in your home will maintain comfortable conditions for your family.

By taking the steps necessary to improve the quality of air in your house, you will be creating an environment that facilitates the health and success of your family. Contact Davis Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. today to learn more about how we can improve the quality of indoor air in your home.

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Think about your air conditioner. How many moving parts do you think there are that contribute to your system’s operation? The answers can range but there are certainly a large number of them. They aren’t the only important parts of your HVAC in Homestead–there are several parts in your system that don’t move that are highly important too.

One important part of your system that is often underestimated is the air filter. You may be a bit surprised to hear this but it is true! While the filter just sits in your return air duct, it does serve a highly important role that helps your HVAC system(s) run effectively and efficiently.

Let’s look at the details of why your air filter is so important and when you need to change yours out.

HVAC Air Filters Aren’t Filtration Systems

First things first, we want to provide some clarification. HVAC filters are not the same thing as an air filtration system.

An air filtration system sits in your ductwork and cleans debris out of the air being pumped into your home. Its job is to help improve indoor air quality.

The HVAC filter, which is what we are discussing today, sits in your return air duct. The job of this filter is to keep debris out of your HVAC system.

When Do You Need to Change Your Air Filter?

Air filter changes are a necessity to keep your HVAC system running properly. The question that a lot of people need the answer to is, “How often do you need to change that filter?”

You should change your filter every one to three months. We provide a range because the need for filter changes can vary based on your home’s individual factors such as how frequently you use your system use and your indoor air quality.

The Impact of Delayed Filter Changes

You may be wondering what the consequence is if you don’t change your air filter. We suggest regular changes for reason-better system effectiveness and efficiency-but is there a real drawback to putting off filter changes? The truth is that, yes, there can be. Issues like these can arise as a result of filters that go unchanged for too long:

• Poor airflow into the system: A clogged air filter will reduce the amount of air that can enter your AC to be cooled.
• Dirty build-up on the evaporator coil: Too much dirt on the filter may lead to dirt collecting on the evaporator coil more quickly. This can hinder the cooling process and strain your system.
• Increased energy usage: If your AC is struggling against a dirty filter it may use extra energy to try to make up for things.
• Your system short cycling: Short cycling can be due to a variety of issues and a clogged air filter is one of them. If no air is able to enter your system then the AC may shut off early to prevent damage to itself.

Filter changes are a quick and easy way to improve your system operation and protect it from dirty air. If you aren’t sure how to handle your filter change, our team is happy to show you. We also include filter changes as a part of our maintenance service.

Contact Air On Demand for any air conditioner service needs.

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