Why You Should Enroll in a Maintenance Plan

December 30th, 2019

animated-checklistHere in the Lawrenceville area, we tend to give a lot of attention to our air conditioning systems versus our heaters as far as HVAC issues go. This is understandable—after all, we need our air conditioners to help up combat the high heat and humidity we deal with for so long each year. But this doesn’t mean that the heater in your home is any less important than your cooling system.

When temperatures drop—and they’re already doing so—you’ll be just as thankful for your heater as you are for your air conditioner in the summertime.

That said, there is one very important thing that your heater and air conditioner have in common, other than the fact that they both keep you comfortable throughout the year. They both require annual maintenance! Maintenance is key to boosting system performance and increasing efficiency. Read on to learn more.

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Could a Faulty Thermostat be Bad for Your Furnace?

December 16th, 2019

old-thermostatWe are pretty fortunate in our area that we don’t have to deal with the severely cold temperatures that homeowners contend with throughout other parts of the country. As a result, you don’t have to worry about your heating system too much, right? However, even if our heater usage is relatively brief, don’t you want to do everything possible to save energy, and subsequently, money?

A faulty thermostat, or even how you use your thermostat, can play a big role in this—not only as winter approaches and we start using our heaters but also during the cooling season. We’re here for you when you do need expert service and advice, but in the meantime we’d like to help you understand a bit more the relationship between your thermostat and HVAC system, so you know when to call our team for help.

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Furnace Noises You Should Never Ignore

December 2nd, 2019

woman-covering-her-ears-on-white-backgroundWouldn’t it be nice if someone could create an HVAC system that was completely noiseless? Trust us, if they invented this we’d be first in line to install them! But the fact of the matter is, you’re going to hear your furnace making noises. You’ll hear the ductwork fluctuating as temperatures change, and you’ll hear your furnace cycling on and shutting off, plus the whoosh of air coming through your vents.

Of course, there are some noises you don’t want to hear. Truthfully, anything outside of what you normally hear day-to-day should be cause for alarm. There are 4 noises, in particular, you should never ignore, which we’ve listed below.

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Does Size Matter When You Get a New Heater?

November 18th, 2019

jets-of-a-furnace-firingIf you’re looking for a new furnace this time of year, then you understandably have a lot on your plate. And with options to consider like what fuel type to use, the AFUE vs. HSPF ratings, whether to go with electrical or gas, etc. you may be tempted to go with the first furnace that fits your budget just to get the process over with.

However, we really do not recommend rushing into this type of purchase, for quite a few reasons. The most important of these reasons is—size matters! If the furnace system you have installed in your home is either too large or to small, you’ll be unpleasantly surprised by how quickly things will turn sour for you.

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How You Can Tell When Your Furnace Needs Repairs

November 4th, 2019

Technician looking over a gas furnace with a flashlight before cleaning it.Are you worried that your furnace system might break down at any moment? If you skipped maintenance this year, and/or you don’t know the signs that your furnace needs repair, then we understand the worry.

It’s never fun to schedule heating repairs, but it’s even worse if you’re heater has broken down completely and requires you to make an emergency call, which can cost you even more monetarily and time-wise.

Our trained professionals advise that if you do discover you need furnace repairs, you get them on your schedule ASAP, to avoid sudden system breakdowns. Additionally, the sooner you repair your system, the lower your monthly bills will be, and the longer your system can last. Keep reading to learn the signs that you have a heater in disrepair.

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Improve HVAC Efficiency with These Simple Tips

October 21st, 2019

HVAC-return-register-ventWhat if we told you there was a way to increase your home comfort while also lowering your heating and cooling bills? There are actually a variety of simply steps you can take to boost your HVAC system’s efficiency, and with winter coming up we’re sure you’d love to know how to save on heating costs.

After all, as hot and humid as our summers are, we still do need our heaters—while our winters are brief the contrast in temperature requires a fully functioning system—but if it’s not operating efficiently, is it really functioning to its full capacity? Keep reading for the aforementioned steps.

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Have You Scheduled Your Heating Maintenance Appointment?

October 7th, 2019

technician-working-on-furnaceOkay, it was still in the 90s last week… so why, exactly, are we talking about heating?

Because preparing for the heating season is the best way to ensure you get through it as comfortably as possible, without any costly surprises from your furnace or heating system.

One of the best things you can do for both your home and budget is to ensure your heater receives proper maintenance. Keep reading to see why it’s so important for the health of your system and for your comfort.

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“Do I Really Need to Change My Air Filter Between Maintenance Sessions?”

September 23rd, 2019

man-holding-air-filterWhether we’re talking about your forced-air cooling system, furnace, or heat pump, you need to change your air filter. This is an important part of maintaining your HVAC system and should be done every 1-3 months depending on the type of air filter and the level of contaminants in your home.

But, why? More on that below!

In the meantime, keep in mind that professional maintenance should always be done by a trained and licensed technician. We encourage and urge you to handle the air filter on your own, and even keep the area around your outdoor unit clear of debris. But a thorough inspection, comprehensive cleaning, and any component adjustments should only ever be done by trained professionals.

We digress, though—why is it so important that you change your air filter between maintenance sessions?

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Heed These Common End-of-Season AC Needs

September 9th, 2019

outdoor-ac-unitsThe official end of summer is near, and while you may be ready to welcome cooler temperatures outside soon as well as the chance to stop using your air conditioner as often, this is no time to forget about your air conditioner, or its repair needs.

Hopefully, you had maintenance done at the beginning of the season and didn’t experience any major cooling system catastrophes over the summer. If you didn’t schedule maintenance this year, not to worry, it’s not too late! It’s only too late if you have an aging system that’s completely broken down and has no hope for repairs.

That said, whether you had professional maintenance done or not, there are some needs that can crop up at the end of the season that require your attention. They include the following:

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No, Your Cooling System Shouldn’t Make THAT Noise

August 26th, 2019

woman-covering-her-earsHave you ever heard someone say that it’s okay for an air conditioner to operate louder on a muggy day, because it’s “working harder?” Unfortunately, even if it was an HVAC technician that told you this, it’s just not true. Nor does a grinding noise mean that your system is just “warming up.”

Take our word for it, these silly claims are not right.

Air conditioners are built to operate as quietly as possible. In fact, the only sounds you should hear coming from a functional air conditioner is the sound of the air “wooshing” through your vents, and the hum of the compressor outside. True, these not be “quiet” sounds to you, but in relation to the noises that we’re about to describe below, they’re pretty minor.

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