Most people may not be aware of the crucial function the heat exchanger play in the operation of the furnace. The primary function of the heat exchanger is to move warm air through the duct system while also venting the toxic gases outside the home. Over time the heat exchanger may become cracked or even fail. When this happens the ability of the heat exchanger to vent gases is decreased and can even result in the gases being circulated into the duct work and throughout your home.
Archive for the ‘maintenance’ Category
Does My Furnace Need A Heat Exchanger Inspection?
Friday, September 3rd, 2010Water Heater Maintenance
Monday, August 30th, 2010Here are some useful tips from Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning for maintaining your water heater. Though often neglected draining the water heater is an important part of water heater maintenance and extending the life of your hot water tank. Most people fall into the trap of out of sight- out of mind. Most homeowners do not regularly check the temperature of their water heaters or remember to drain the sediment from the tank.
By draining the hot water tank you can help eliminate the build up of sediment in the tank. What sometimes happens is after a few years the build up of sediment may limit the amount of water available to be heated but also the sediment may cover the heating element and lead to it burning out.
Why May Is A Good Time To Clean Your HVAC System
Wednesday, August 25th, 2010May is National Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month! Which makes it a good time to clean your HVAC system to help improve your indoor air quality for those suffering. Here are 4 reasons why you should get your heating, cooling and duct system cleaned:
- If you have an air conditioner tune up performed it will do a better job of dehumidifying your home, plus save you money by operating more efficiently. Combined with regularly changing your filter and your are well on your way to making the air in your home cleaner. (more…)
Something We Can All Agree On
Thursday, August 19th, 2010When it comes to maintenance of your air conditioner and furnace we can all agree on one thing, it’s really important. If you’ve ever had to do without the comfort of heat in winter or cool air in the summer you know how unbearable it can be. Let’s be clear we are not talking about being spoiled, but rather the frustration of having to deal with equipment failures and repairs. More than likely you will be told that it could have been prevented with some simple, seasonal maintenance that would have determined the potential problem.
Since the topic is air conditioner and furnace maintenance let’s first discuss some simple ways to save energy and keep your HVAC system running properly. Change your filters every month. It sounds too simple but you actually have to remember which is the hard part. When you change your filter, write the date on the side of the filter so that weeks later you can have a more accurate gauge of when it’s due for a change. There are many different types of filters, some inexpensive filters and more costly filters. What you will find is the least expensive filters for your furnace allow more airflow but sacrifice on blocking the dust, dirt, dander and pollen that a better more costly filter will catch. The other aspect of a more costly filter is you may sacrifice some airflow it will do a better job of making sure your furnace does not get clogged with dust and dirt that then move across your heating and cooling system.
Changing Air Filters In The Summer
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010Many homeowners pay very little attention to their air filters during the summer. Perhaps because we think of summer as lasting only a few months, however it does not take very long for a filter to become dirty or clogged. Changing the filter on a monthly basis is beneficial not only because it will reduce the allergens such as pollen and dust within your home.
Energy Saving tips – Air Conditioning Season
Friday, August 13th, 2010Below are a few energy saving tips for the Air Conditioning Season, which will save money, keep you cooler and save money. If you have central air conditioning or a window air conditioning unit, you can cut your electric bills significantly, especially in very warm climates, by following these energy-saving cooling tips this summer.
- When buying a window air conditioning unit, more is not necessarily better. Base the size of the air conditioning unit on the size of the room, the other factors that affect the temperature in the room, such as how many windows it has and whether it faces south, north, etc. An air conditioning unit that is too big for the room will work harder and cost you more. (more…)
Importance of Air Conditioner Maintenance
Monday, August 9th, 2010An air conditioner is a very tough piece of equipment. It is engineered to withstand all sorts of abuse and keep on running. This is great in most respects, but it can lead to complacency about maintenance. Like a car, air conditioners need regular tune-ups to run properly.
Without regular maintenance an air conditioner looses about 5% of it’s original efficiency for each year of operation. This means that the 12 SEER unit that you bought just a few years ago may be functioning like a 9 SEER unit today! The good news is that you can recover most of that lost efficiency through regular maintenance. Studies show that with regular tune-ups a unit will maintain up to 95% of it’s original efficiency. This means that the cost of an annual tune-up is recovered very quickly in savings on your monthly electric bill and reduced repair costs. A properly serviced air conditioner will also do a better job of dehumidifying your home.
Call Four Seasons Heating and Air Conditioning and schedule your air conditioner tune up today!!
Benefits of A HVAC Maintenance Program
Thursday, July 29th, 2010There are many benefits to having a maintenance plan for your home heating and cooling systems. Most people do not think of their furnaces or air conditioners as pieces of equipment that require regular maintenance to operate. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Like other machines, such as cars, your furnace and air conditioner have lots of moving parts and often operate under extreme conditions. In order to maintain your system at it’s optimum level not only is regular maintenance necessary, having a maintenance plan will save you money. (more…)
Before You Install Your New Air Conditioner!!
Monday, July 26th, 2010Installation and Servicing your Air Conditioner
R-410A systems are only capable of delivering environmental and energy savings when properly installed and serviced. Make sure your contractor employs skilled technicians who are specifically trained and certified to work with R-410A systems.
System Matching
If you purchase an air conditioner that uses R-410A, your HVAC technician will need to inspect your indoor unit to see if it meets the performance requirements of the R-410A system. If the indoor unit is older, it will likely need replacing.
Retrofitting
R-410A cannot be substituted into existing systems designed to use R-22 refrigerant. Use of R-410A in any cooling system not specifically designed for this new refrigerant can damage the equipment or cause it to malfunction.
- MAD MAX
WHY INVEST IN A 2-STAGE FURNACE?
Friday, July 23rd, 2010WHY INVEST IN A 2-STAGE FURNACE? This is one of the most frequently asked questions to an HVAC professional, which is not surprising given the many misconceptions that are out there. The main advantage to the two stage furnace is the improved home comfort that is achieved through the reduced indoor temperature fluctuations that the 2-stage furnace delivers, NOT increased efficiency (a 90% furnace is 90% efficient, regardless of how many stages it runs in). (more…)