Does Your Home Need to Be Rewired?

January 6th, 2020

pencil-drawing-lightbulbElectricity is one of those home comforts that is pretty easy for any of us to take for granted nowadays. After all, we’ve had it available to us in our households throughout our entire lives—it’s always there! But… taking things for granted often means we can forget about the dangers involved if we don’t properly care for them. And electricity can certainly pose such a danger.

Keep reading as we dive into some of the warning signs that you might notice if your electrical wiring is in trouble. These warning signs are not all indicative of an emergency situation by any means, but any resolutions with any type of electrical system problem should always be addressed swiftly.

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The Problem with a Cracked Heat Exchanger

December 23rd, 2019

natural-gas-jets-of-furnaceWintertime is the time of year when our heating systems are truly put to the test. Because of the strain they go through this time of year versus in milder weather, it tends to be when problems arise. Since you need your system to function at its best this time of year, this is obviously not ideal. It pays to ensure you schedule routine maintenance each year, and to keep a watch for signs of trouble with your heater.

There are few furnace problems more insidious than that of a cracked heat exchanger. If your furnace shows signs of this problem, it’s likely that it needs to be replaced altogether, as this tends to only happen in older furnaces. Repairs are often not worth the cost even if they’re possible. So, what is a heat exchanger and why is it such a problem if it cracks? Read on to find out!

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Can a Dirty Air Filter Hurt Your Heater?

December 9th, 2019

man-holding-air-filterIf you’ve followed our blog from the beginning, you’ve likely seen it in writing many times that we recommend you change your HVAC air filter every 1-3 months. We aren’t just throwing this out as a suggestion—we are offering this advice as a way for you to get the most effective and efficient use from your heater (and air conditioner) as possible.

Considering how much we’ll be using our heaters this winter, don’t you want to do everything you can to prevent emergency repair needs?

There is one way to do so—by performing one small maintenance task on your own—changing out your air filter. You might be surprised by just how important this small HVAC component is. IT’s about more than protecting your indoor air quality. In fact, that’s not even the purpose of this air filter—your furnace’s air filter is in place to protect the actual furnace itself. More on that below!

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Signs You’re in Need of Heating Repairs

November 25th, 2019

furnace-jetsFall is trekking right along and the official start of winter is less than a month away. Chances are, you’ve begun running your heater on a daily basis already… and more cold weather is on its way. This means if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to check your heating system for any signs of trouble. Problems from last year won’t have gone away this year without professional care—and this can be compounded by lack of use over the months. Running your system on a regular basis when it’s not performing at its best will only end in frustration—and probably a broken down heater.

There’s good news, though! There are some common signs you can watch out for that indicate your heater is running into issues, and if you know what to look for, you can usually spot these issues fairly easily. Remember though, you shouldn’t attempt a formal diagnosis or any type of repair on your own. Heating systems involve a number of components that could become dangerous in the wrong hands—like natural gas. If you notice your heating system isn’t performing the way it should, the best thing you can do is call a pro. In the meantime, watch and listen for the following signs that indicate a heating system problem.

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If You’re Putting Holiday Lights Up This Season, Consider This!

November 11th, 2019

string-of-lights-outdoorsThe holiday season is just about here, and if you’re like many homeowners in our area, you might be decorating your household, inside and out. Many times, this includes putting holiday lights up and around your home.

One of the most common calls our electricians get this time of the year is in regards to certain outlets not working throughout the property. This might include bathroom outlets, garage outlets, and outdoor outlets. And those holiday lights might be to blame! What happens is that they trip the GFCI outlet or circuit breaker.

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Noises You Should Never Hear Your Furnace Making

October 28th, 2019

woman-covering-her-earsWhen it comes to your comfort, it’s hard to ignore some signs that your HVAC system is struggling. For instance, if it’s in the middle of winter and your vents are blowing out cool or lukewarm air, you’ll likely give our pros a call right away for repairs. For other problems though, such as funny noises, you may be tempted to wait on calling in a pro, or you may decide to ignore the sounds altogether, shrugging it off as a normal part of furnace operation.

Please don’t do this. We want you to protect yourself and your family, and one way to do so is to alert a trained HVAC pro when your furnace system is making unusual noises—noises that may indicate a hazard. Keep reading to learn some of the noises you should never hear from your furnace—and give us a call if you do!

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How Does a Dirty Air Filter Affect Your HVAC System?

October 14th, 2019

changing-air-filterOftentimes, homeowners think that the only reason they should worry about their HVAC system’s air filter is due to the indoor air quality threats present in their home. This is partially correct, but not totally.

Even if you aren’t suffering from allergies at the moment and don’t notice any obvious air quality problems, you should still be changing this air filter every 1-3 months. The reason isn’t so much for your air quality, but rather to protect the HVAC system itself.

The purpose of this air filter is to protect the inside components of your air conditioner or heater. Read on to learn more, and to discover just how a dirty air filter impacts your HVAC system.

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Is It Too Early to Schedule Heating Maintenance?

September 30th, 2019

technician-working-on-heating-systemWith temps still in the 90’s, it may seem pretty odd to even be talking about our heating systems. But, there’s actually no better time to start thinking about scheduling heating maintenance! In fact, fall is the best time since weather is usually milder and you don’t have to worry about being without your HVAC system while your tune-up is performed.

Professional maintenance allows our technicians to do a thorough inspection of your heater. This is important for a number of reasons—we’re able to check for safety issues as well as anything that could be causing performance and efficiency problems. We also clean the system inside and out, and check for any signs of small repair needs before they grow into bigger, more costly emergencies.

If that’s not enough to convince you, keep reading to learn the many benefits of having professional heating maintenance done.

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Now Is No Time to Neglect These Air Conditioning Repair Needs

September 16th, 2019

outdoor-ac-unit-with-tools-on-topSummer is almost over, “officially” speaking. Your air conditioner has gotten quite the workout, and as such if you have any repair needs, now is the time to take care of them. After all, the last thing you need is a sudden breakdown when you still need the system, or even worse—a broken down air conditioner when you go to use it the first time next summer.

The good news is, most AC repair needs give out symptoms well before they cause your system to breakdown. And while you shouldn’t try to formally diagnose or repair a faulty air conditioner on your own (they contain dangerous components like refrigerant that requires formal training and licensing to handle properly), you can still do your part in spotting the signs that you are indeed in need of AC repairs, and give us a call from there. Without further ado, here are some of those signs:

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Malfunctioning AC Compressor: Should You Repair or Replace the System?

September 2nd, 2019

compressorThroughout the years, there are a number of problems that can crop up with an HVAC system. Especially in the case of an air conditioner, which goes through a lot of work during our long summers!

You might find yourself facing issues like refrigerant leaks, failed capacitors, or even damaged ductwork. Fortunately, most of these are relatively easy to have repaired, and in many cases are possible to prevent.

There is one air conditioner problem, though, that’s particularly unpleasant to face and doesn’t have an easy solution, and that’s a broken down or damaged compressor.

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