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Tag: HVAC maintenace

HVAC maintenance in Lake Havasu City, AZ

Why HVAC Maintenance is Important

Written by Amanda Zink on . Posted in HVAC.

If you’re like most conscientious people, you get regular tune-ups for your car that consist of oil changes, tire rotating, fluid checks, etc. The same principle of preventative maintenance applies to your home’s HVAC system. Your heating and cooling units require routine maintenance so they continue to function and provide you with the comfort you need at home. Discover more about some of the main reasons to invest in HVAC maintenance in Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Prolong the System’s Life Span

Your HVAC system could last anywhere from 15-25 years. However, this assumes you’re having regular servicing of your air conditioner and heater. If you put off annual tune-ups thinking that they’re not needed as your system runs just fine, you’re risking the development of major problems.

During a tune-up appointment, trained professionals, like the ones at Air Control Home Services, can easily spot issues through an inspection. Technicians will look for things like loose or damaged components, leaks, low coolant for your air conditioner, and other concerns. When you get small problems fixed promptly, they won’t become worse with time. If you let issues fester, they’ll only get bigger and require a major repair to fix up. What cost you thousands of dollars could have been addressed much cheaper during a maintenance checkup.

Not only will repairs get more expensive if you ignore problems, but your HVAC system will also become more prone to breaking down prematurely. Cooling and heating devices that have to work harder will begin to suffer from all the extra strain. All that additional workload isn’t good for your comfort units. When your heating and cooling units break down entirely due to too much wear and tear over the years, you’ll have no choice but to get them replaced. A brand-new HVAC system installation is quite pricey. You can avoid this, though, when you get your comfort appliances regularly tuned.

Keep the Warranty Valid

Your HVAC has a warranty. Within this are terms stating that you must have routine maintenance performed on your cooling and heating devices. This servicing must be from a certified, trained technician. If you fail to schedule tune-up appointments with professionals, you risk invalidating the terms of the warranty. What this means for you is that you’ll end up having to pay, out of your own pockets, for any repairs that were the result of your non-compliance.

Another big reason you need to have maintenance done by a professional is you will also invalidate the warranty if you attempt any DIY work. If you do this, you’ll be in the same predicament of losing coverage and having to pay for repairs yourself. In the end, it makes the most financial sense to set up annual tune-ups with Air Control Home Services in Lake Havasu City.

Maintain System Efficiency

It’s fine, and necessary, to have repairs done to your HVAC from time to time, but you also should get it tuned yearly to keep it running efficiently. You’ll enjoy consistently cool air at home during the hot summers and pleasantly warm air during winter evenings.

Through maintenance service, your HVAC units will also run their heating and cooling cycles normally. When you set the temperature on your thermostat, your AC or furnace will run until it reaches the setting and then turn off. However, if your heater or cooling unit shuts off before it achieves the thermostat’s temperature, this is what’s called short cycling. With this, you’ll experience compromised airflow and inconsistent warming and cooling, among other problems. A tune-up will help address factors that might contribute to short cycling.

Reduce Your Monthly Utility Costs

You probably already expect your cooling costs to soar during the scorching summers in Lake Havasu City. If the jump in your energy bills seems way too high, though, you may have a performance issue or something else wrong with your AC.

It’s the opposite for the winter. The region experiences mild weather during the winter months, and you may not need to run your heater that much. But, if you notice your heating costs seem abnormally high, have your system checked out.

Through maintenance service, your AC and heater will run as they should. This will help keep your energy bills down and at manageable levels.

Help Ensure Your Safety

HVAC devices have tons of parts, both big and small, that work in concert to provide you with cooling and heating. Sometimes, wires may start to fray, or components may burn out. These can cause electrical shorts and even start fires. Parts can come loose and break off and end up stuck somewhere within the unit’s interior; a part firmly lodged inside your HVAC can hinder its performance and may shut it down if not found.

Leaking refrigerant is another concern. AC coolant is a dangerous and hazardous substance that can cause health issues when exposed to. Such a leak will also affect the ability of your air conditioner to cool down your home.

You may start smelling odd odors coming from your HVAC that can signal any number of issues. A musty smell can indicate you have mold growth somewhere within the system. If you breathe in mold spores that get circulated around your home’s air, you’ll soon become sick. If you have a gas furnace, be aware of a rotten egg smell. This means you likely have a gas leak.

No matter the seriousness of the issue, when you have a tune-up done, technicians can take care of problems as they find them. This goes a long way toward preventing such issues from happening in the first place. Keep your home and family safe via routine maintenance appointments.

Consider Our Maintenance Plan

At Air Control Home Services, we offer a Comfort Club Maintenance Program to area homeowners. Our plan comes with a number of great perks. We’ll come twice a year to tune up your cooling and heating system. You’ll also get priority service over non-members. We’ll also waive overtime charges, and we have a special concierge phone line dedicated to our program members. Also take advantage of repair discounts. Feel free to reach out to learn more about this incredible program.

Your HVAC Experts

At Air Control Home Services, we want to be your go-to service provider for all your HVAC needs. We offer AC repair, maintenance, and installation, and we do the same for heating systems. Look to us for heat pump repairs and installs. We also offer duct sealing and cleaning. We’re also the business you can rely on for plumbing and electrical services. Ours is a family-owned company established in 1990 and trusted by the community. We’re proficient with Trane, Lennox, and Bosch systems, but rest assured that we can service most major brands. For your peace of mind, we have financing options on approved credit for installations.

When you need HVAC maintenance at your home in Lake Havasu City, give us a call today at Air Control Home Services to schedule service.

HVAC maintenance in Lake Havasu City, AZ

When to Change Your HVAC Filter

Written by Amanda Zink on . Posted in AC Maintenance.

Your HVAC system’s ability to heat or cool your home effectively depends on its ability to circulate air. The air filter protects this function, capturing airborne contaminants before they can enter your system. The downside to that job is that you must replace them periodically. Use this guide to learn how to tell when it’s time to change your filter.

Average Filter Life

Leaving your filter in place for too long reduces your system’s efficiency, increases your heating and cooling costs, and adds strain and wear to your system. That’s why it’s important to change the filter regularly. How often you need to change it depends on the depth of the filter.

Smaller 1- and 2-inch filters are the most common and generally need changing every 30 to 90 days. Larger 3- and 4-inch filters may last from six to nine months. Filters that are 5- or 6-inches could last up to 12 months. Your air quality, the filter construction, and how you use your system will determine how often you’ll need to change your filter.

Ideally, check your filter every month, especially if you’re not sure how quickly it becomes soiled. You can extend your filter life by gently vacuuming the intake side of the filter when you change it.

The Air Filter Looks Dirty or Clogged

When you check your filter, look for evidence that it’s dirty or clogged. The filter itself will often look gray or brown. It could also have a thick layer of dust or pet hair when it’s time for a change. If the dust and other contaminants fall off when you remove it from the system, it needs to be changed.

Longer Heating or Cooling Cycles

Standard air conditioners run cooling cycles of 10 to 15 minutes and furnaces run 15 to 20 minute heating cycles. However, when the system cannot circulate enough air, it may take longer to bring your home to the desired temperature. This can also signal other problems, but a severely clogged air filter is a common culprit.

Less Air from Supply Vents

You likely don’t have the equipment to measure the air volume coming from your vents. However, you might notice that there seems to be less cool or hot air coming from your supply vents. A dirty air filter can cause this because it restricts the air from moving past the filter as it comes into the system. Less air coming in translates to less air coming out. It’s this restricted air that causes so many of the other issues associated with dirty and clogged filters.

Increasing Energy Bills

Keep an eye on your energy bills, including those for electricity and heating fuel. While what you pay is important for your budget, the energy you consume is more telling for your HVAC system. There are a few ways to look at your bill to catch when your system experienced reduced efficiency.

The first is the amount you consume each month, which will fluctuate based on usage habits and outside weather. More meaningfully, check how much you consume compared to the same month last year, which is usually available on your bill. If it is markedly higher with no other explanation, an airflow restriction like a clogged filter could be the culprit.

Excess Household Dust

Every home has some dust that needs to be cleaned periodically. However, when the air filter gets clogged, you’ll notice more dust because the filter isn’t removing it to the degree that it should. Keep an eye on the flat surfaces around your home to watch for excess dust. With a clogged air filter, the place you’ll most likely see this excess dust is around and in your ducts. Therefore, keep an eye on the floor around supply vents, on the vent covers, and just inside the vents. If you do notice this extra dust, be sure to clean it up when you change your filters to prevent recirculating these particles through your home.

Unusual Odors

Your HVAC system shouldn’t produce odors when it’s running properly. However, when the filter clogs, it could produce some odors. The most common is musty or moldy odors, especially if you have pets. This happens because bacteria and other contaminants get caught in the filter, which may produce the gasses that cause the odor.

Further, a clogged air filter can cause a burning smell, especially during the winter when dust hits the hot surfaces. Don’t ignore any unusual odor produced by your HVAC system, which could indicate potentially serious and dangerous problems, but could be as simple as a filter needing changing.

Increasing Allergies

Dust, pollen, and pet dander are just a few of the allergens in your home’s air. Your air filter works to help clear these out while the air circulates through your HVAC system. However, when it gets clogged, fewer of those contaminants get removed from the air. Further, those contaminants collect in a concentrated area, which can cause anyone who comes near the filter to have exacerbated allergic reactions. Further, those concentrated contaminants can get drawn into the system if there’s an air leak around the filter. This can create a hyper-allergenic environment throughout your home. If you notice anyone in your home sneezing more, with extra watery eyes or a runny nose, check your air filter.

Overheating Furnace

As your furnace produces heat, insufficient air moving through the system may cause the system to overheat. You may notice this excess heat simply touching the furnace housing. However, you are more likely to notice overheating because your system is short-cycling and shutting off prematurely. Even if you’re not paying attention to the length of the heating cycles, you will likely notice that your home isn’t getting to the desired comfort level.

Water Around Your AC Unit

Your air conditioner condenses moisture in the air due to the temperature of the evaporator coils compared to the due point of the air. When the AC works properly, this moisture, called condensate, drains away through a special drain in the drip pan. However, when there’s a problem, this condensate may spill onto the floor around the unit.

A clogged air filter is one problem that can cause excess condensate. The restricted airflow through the filter can cause the condensate on the coil to freeze. This becomes a compounding problem as the freeze itself further limits airflow through the system. When the coil thaws, there may be too much condensate to effectively drain, and it will instead spill out of the drip pan.

When property owners around Kingman need HVAC service they can trust, they’ve turned to Air Control Home Services since 1990. Our team takes pride in providing heating and AC maintenance, installation, and repair alongside indoor air quality solutions and a wide range of residential plumbing and electrical services. Call to schedule seasonal HVAC maintenance with one of our experienced technicians to help ensure your system continues operating at peak efficiency.

Air Control Home Services

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