After sitting dormant for the summer and warmer days of fall, your furnace is going to begin to feel the pressure to perform as the winter chill sets in. Here we look at the symptoms that indicate your unit is in need of repair, as well as some tips for hiring a furnace repair professional.

It’s a good idea to always stay on top of your furnace repair needs, and the easiest way to do that is to know what signs to look for that indicate trouble. Have you noticed that your furnace isn’t generating as much heat as it used to? Or is the thermostat reporting inaccurate temperatures? If your pilot light or igniter is malfunctioning, you are a good candidate for gas furnace repair. Some other common issues in furnaces that call for professional attention include:

• Loud squealing or rumbling noises: This can indicate a problem with the blower belt or shaft bearings of your furnace, and you should definitely consider calling a professional to look into repairs.
• Not turning on at all: This one is pretty obvious–no one wants to be without a working furnace in the winter!
• Cycling on and off constantly: Your thermostat components may be dirty or your heat anticipator may be set incorrectly when the heating system is perpetually turning on and off. Constant cycling prevents your home from being heated thoroughly, so make sure you get your furnace repaired to keep the whole building comfortable when temperatures plummet.

When you’re dealing with a malfunctioning furnace, it’s probably a good idea to call in a professional. While some people are handy with DIY repairs, think about it seriously before attempting to fix your furnace. You could potentially damage the furnace even further or harm yourself in the process. Of course, if you get an assessment from a professional that indicates a single part needs to be replaced, you may be able to safely complete the repairs on your own for less.

On the other hand, calling a professional repair service is much less expensive than purchasing a brand-new furnace. Before you totally give up on your malfunctioning heating system, get a quote to compare the cost of repairs versus a new unit. When you receive quality gas furnace repair or electric furnace repair, your furnace will continue to run at peak levels for many years. You’ll save time and money with repairs instead of a new furnace installation.

If you’re handy with DIY repairs and only need to replace a single part or two, you may be able to handle the project on your own. However, calling in a professional furnace repair team will ensure that the source of your problem is diagnosed accurately and fixed to return your furnace to working order for the long term.

Rising energy costs and greater awareness of energy conservation are often factors that influence people to consider geothermal, air, or water heat pump options. These various types of pumps all utilize the same principles of heat exchange. To heat your home they draw warmth from exterior earth, air, or water. To cool your home they move warm air outside and deposit it in those respective sources. Because these pumps are not actively heating or cooling the air that is used to make your home comfortable, they can be an excellent way to offset your normal energy costs and usage. If your home is appropriately located to make a heat pump a viable option for you, installing one can make a huge difference in how much you spend in heating and cooling costs.

If you think that you might want to install heat pump infrastructure in your home, one of the first elements to consider is what type of pump would work for your location. Generally speaking, an air heat pump may not be the best choice for you if you live in a climate that experiences extremely cold temperatures in the winter. Because the pump draws warmth from whatever source it’s keyed to, if the air outside is extremely cold, it obviously won’t heat your home well. Other options besides air pumps are water-source pumps or geothermal (i.e. earth-source) pumps. Again, a water pump will not work if there’s not an appropriate body of water or groundwater source nearby. A geothermal pump will work almost universally, but is sometimes more difficult and expensive to install and maintain than the other options. If you’re interested in heat pump systems, finding the right type for your home, environment, and climate is essential.

In deciding if pumps are the best heating and cooling system for your home, you also need to weigh the overall energy cost and potential savings to see if installing a pump is truly the best option. The type of pump you choose will, to some extent, determine the efficiency of the system, but the size of your home and your energy consumption patterns are also factors that come into play in this equation. Before you decide one way or the other, you may want to contact companies or experts in your area who can provide you with more detailed information about how heat pumps will function in your particular domestic situation. Even if you don’t end up relying primarily on heat pumps for your heating and cooling needs, it’s possible that you can split your energy consumption between heat pumps and other forms of heating and cooling in order to offset your overall energy costs and consumption. If, at the end of the day, heat pumps will not be a cost-effective choice for you, then staying with your normal heating and cooling system is an entirely viable option as well.

Installing a heat pump can dramatically change how much energy you consume in heating and cooling your home, but you need to find the right type of pump for your environment, and determine whether you will experience an overall cost reduction by going the heat pump route. If you do, then installing a pump can be an excellent choice for your home.

Have you noticed that your heating and cooling registers are coated with dust and other gunk? Are family members suffering from repeated respiratory allergies and ailments? If you’ve noticed these symptoms of dirty heating and air conditioning ducts, you may need to have them cleaned. One of the most often overlooked cleaning tasks in any home, duct cleaning can have a major impact on your home’s indoor air quality. So if you suspect your ducts are dirty, act now for a safer, healthier home.

To provide your home with heated and cooled air, your HVAC system draws air in through the return air vents, conditions it, and then distributes it throughout the house. Unfortunately, as it pulls in air, it also sucks in dust, pollen, dander, and other allergens. Over time, that grime builds up in your ducting. This wouldn’t be a huge problem if all of these contaminants just stayed put, however, as your heating and cooling system continues to circulate air, some of these particles are swept along with it. In short, the air blowing out of your vents is then contaminated with all of these allergens and irritants, leading to degraded indoor air quality.

Air duct cleaning is the solution to this problem. By removing the pollutants from your ducts, you can reduce the impurities in the air and make it healthier and more comfortable to breathe. This can be especially important if your loved ones suffer from allergies, respiratory ailments, or compromised immune systems. Improved air quality can benefit every member of your family, though, so don’t wait to call for duct cleaning services if you suspect dirty ductwork is impacting your home and health.

Typical air duct cleaning equipment takes the form of an oversized, specialized vacuum. This implement is connected to your air ducts, creating a negative air system that sucks air toward the vacuum and its attached containment unit. The vacuum pulls high-powered air through your ducts, sweeping away the accumulated dirt, dust, and allergens and safely trapping them inside. The best air duct cleaning services are performed by vacuums with HEPA filters, which ensure that none of the allergens and other particles escape. Some vent/duct cleaning companies also use motorized brushes and other tools to remove stuck-on debris, helping your ducts get completely and totally clean.

Keep in mind that DIY duct cleaning isn’t wise for even the most enthusiastic and adventurous homeowner. That’s because you need specialized tools and expertise to safely and correctly clean out your HVAC ducts. If not done properly, you can actually decrease your indoor air quality by spreading all of the dust and allergens from your ducts into the rest of your house! So rather than attempting a do-it-yourself fix, call your local heating and cooling contractor or duct cleaning service to ask about professional cleaning. These experts have the tools and technical know-how to completely seal off your ducts to ensure no contaminants are spread into the rest of the building and to completely clean out the built-up gunk for clear ducts and fresh air.

If you’re one of the many homeowners that doesn’t think you need air conditioner repair or service, think again! Routine air conditioning service can help maintain your system in peak operating condition for maximum efficiency, safety, and life span. Here are just a few of the ways regular A/C repair and maintenance can keep your system working its best.

Refrigerant leaks: Many older air conditioners still use Freon as the refrigerant. This is perfectly safe, that is until the air conditioning system develops a leak. Freon is a chlorofluorocarbon and will damage the ozone layer if not handled properly. Routine air conditioner maintenance can turn up minor leaks before they become major problems–both for the performance of your A/C and the safety of the planet–while repairs can be done to fix the problem if a leak has already developed. Professional air conditioning contractors are qualified to safely handle Freon, patch refrigerant leaks, and replace the leaked coolant. So whether you’re due for regular maintenance or you need repairs done, bringing in a pro is the right answer when it comes to dealing with coolant.

Dirty evaporator coils: Think a little bit of grit and grime never hurt anything? Well, you might want to reconsider. That’s because dirty evaporator coils prevent effective heat transfer. Essentially, when dust, debris, and other gunk builds up on the surface
of your evaporator coils, they can’t generate cold air as efficiently, making your air conditioner run more to achieve the same cool temperature in your home. Regular A/C service and cleaning can help make certain your air conditioning is performing at its most efficient. Your air conditioning contractor has the specialized tools and skill to correctly clean debris and dust off your evaporator coils, getting them completely clean without damaging your cooling system. For the most efficient cooling–and the lowest energy bills–you’ll want to invest in evaporator coil cleaning on at least an annual basis.

Bent condenser fins: Air conditioner condensers are equipped with fins to radiate heat faster and make your A/C work efficiently. If they are bent, these fins aren’t able to work as well. Evaporators also have fins, but because your condenser is located in the exterior part of your A/C, it’s at greater risk of damage. Everything from fallen branches to hail storms and even animals can bend the fins on your condenser. As part of routine air conditioning maintenance, your service company will inspect and straighten any bent condenser fins to ensure your system can work as efficiently as possible. Keep in mind that condenser fins are rather delicate, and they can only be straightened with a special comb tool. For the long-term health of your A/C, it’s probably best to let the pros handle this routine air condition service.

It can be easy to forget about air conditioning service. After all, who doesn’t wish there were more hours in the day to accommodate our busy schedules. But it’s important not to skip your annual service or to skimp on A/C repairs. By bringing a professional air conditioning company out to look at your unit at least once a year, you’ll be able to maintain your air conditioner safely and correctly for optimal performance, longer life, and overall safety.

Having hot water at your fingertips is one of the many benefits of living in the modern age. However, that hot water does not just magically come with your house. It’s generated by an often forgotten, but essential, appliance–your hot water heater. There are two major types of hot water heaters: traditional models and modern tankless water heaters. Learn what the differences between the two are and which is best for you, your home, and your hot water needs.

A traditional water heater works by keeping a tank of water hot and ready to go. This type of water heater is also sometimes known as a storage water heater because it literally does store hot water for when you need it. The water is heated by means of a heating element powered most commonly by electricity or natural gas, but also sometimes by propane, oil, or even solar power. Although they often work very well, storage water heaters do have some downsides. If they cycle off to conserve energy, the water, obviously, cools down. This means that you have to then wait for the whole tank to heat back up when you need hot water again. Additionally, you can run out of hot water. Once you use all the water that’s in the tank, you have to wait for the tank to fill and heat up again. If you’re in the middle of your morning shower when this happens, it can be a less than pleasant experience.

The main alternative to a storage model can be found in the range of modern tankless water heaters available today. As the name implies, these units do not have a tank. Instead, the heating element is positioned so that it heats the water that you need as you use it. You don’t have to keep a whole tank of water hot (or pay for the energy it takes to do so), and you’ll never run out of hot water because it’s provided more or less instantaneously. Most new homes are being outfitted with this type of heater because it is more energy efficient and convenient than a traditional model. This does not mean, however, than you need to run out and purchase a tankless model right away if you still have a storage-style heater. If your traditional water heater is still working for you, go ahead and weigh your energy savings against the cost of buying and installing a new model. It may be in your best interest to wait until you truly need to install a new unit before you make the switch to tankless.

A water heater is an essential component of every modern home. Make sure you know what type of unit you have and consider the pros and cons of keeping a traditional storage model or upgrading to a tankless variety.

For many people, air conditioning is the only way that we are able to get through the summer. When heat and humidity levels reach a certain point in your home, it can be nearly unbearable. Luckily, we live in an age of energy and cost-efficient air conditioning options. Installing air conditioner units, however, takes a little pre-planning if you want to make sure you get the maximum benefit for the least expense. The primary question to consider is: will central air conditioning or window units be best for your needs and your space? Once you have that down, you can work out the other specifications that you need for your unit, and then start enjoying a blissfully cool home.

When it comes to window units versus central air, the main question in play is: how much space do you want to cool down? If you have a large home and you need to be able to cool a number of rooms at the same time, central air is probably your best bet. If, on the other hand, you only need to be able to cool a couple of rooms at a time, a window until might suit you better. The bottom line is, you don’t want to have to pay to cool down spaces you don’t use, especially when it’s possible to install air conditioner units that can cool and dehumidify only the rooms you want. You know your home, and how you make use of it, the best. When you’re in the market for air conditioning, think through your realistic cooling needs before you start shopping around.

Once you’ve decided what type of air conditioning system you want, then it’s time to get even more specific. If you’ve decided on a window unit, the next thing to do is to measure the room or rooms that you intend to cool. Different models of air conditioners are designed to cool different sized spaces. A unit that is too small for your space won’t cool it effectively. A unit that is too big might cool it too quickly and won’t dehumidify it well–it will also guzzle power that you don’t need to be wasting or paying for. Get the correctly sized unit, though, and you’ll be cool all summer long. If a window until won’t meet your needs and you’re more interested in the world of central air conditioners, the same general principle applies: these units too come in various sizes. Because they’re integrated into your home and your duct work, an air conditioner professional might need to help you figure out what size unit to get. It’s still up to you to make sure you ask the right questions though, so don’t simply assume that they’ll address this aspect on their own.

Air conditioning is a marvelous invention, but it’s not a “one size fits all” solution. If you want to cool your home without breaking the bank, find out if a central air conditioner or a window unit is best for your situation, and then make sure that you get the right size unit to best meet your cooling needs.

Knowledgeable DIYers are often loath to call in experts for household tasks. However, there are times when that is the best course of action. For the most part, furnace and air conditioning repair jobs require skills, knowledge, and tools beyond what most laypeople have available. If you’re experiencing heating or cooling difficulties in your home, or know that your system is due to be serviced, make an honest assessment of the situation at hand: Do you understand the issue thoroughly and have the time, experience, tools, and knowledge to handle it? If the answer to any aspect of this question is “no,” then your best bet is to call a furnace or air conditioning repair service. Otherwise, you run the risk of damaging your heating or cooling system, causing you and your family discomfort, and probably increasing the overall cost of the project in the long run.

Aside from major repair work, though, there are some basic heating and cooling system maintenance tasks that require only minimal involvement and are perfect for DIY fans to take on. Perhaps the most important of these is keeping the system clean. Before going in, make sure you turn off the power supply to whatever unit you’re working on! For a furnace, “cleaning” involves changing the filter on a regular basis (monthly is recommended). Not only will this help the furnace run better and more efficiently, but it will also increase the overall air quality in your home by allowing the filter to better catch any particles before the warm air gets pumped through the vents into your home. Consult your owner’s manual on how to change the filter (and what type of filter to buy), or consult a print or online DIY resource for further instructions. When it comes to air conditioning service and cleaning, the process is a little more involved, but is still within the capacity of an intrepid DIYer. You’ll need to remove the grille and clean the evaporator or condenser coils, which you can do by gently vacuuming them to remove dirt and debris. If you’re really ambitious, you can buy a fin comb from a hardware store to straighten any bent coil fins. Keeping your furnace and/or AC unit clean like this can make a huge difference in how they run and how often they end up needing more serious repairs.

When it comes to tasks beyond this type of regular maintenance, however, calling a professional heating and air conditioning contractor is highly recommended. This is because both furnaces and AC systems involve mechanical, electrical, and power supply elements, all of which have to work in concert in order for the system to function optimally and safely. If you attempt a repair job without being aware of even one little aspect of how all of the parts work together, you could damage the system. At best, this could cost you more down the line, and at worst, could endanger your or your family’s health. If your furnace or AC system isn’t pumping out hot or cool air as appropriate, is making strange sounds, or is cycling off unexpectedly, these are all issues that need to be looked into by a pro. Before you call, make sure you’ve checked all the basics first–that the thermostat is set correctly, the central unit has full power, and the circuit breaker is on. If all of those things are in place and you’re still experiencing a problem, a professional will be able to take the situation from there to determine what’s wrong and what needs to be done to fix it.

Air conditioning and furnace repair or service work should, on the whole, be left to the pros. However, regular maintenance and cleaning of your heating or cooling system can make a huge difference in how it works and can be safely completed on a DIY basis.