Maintenance – Air Handlers Inc.

HVAC Maintenance Tips for Fall: Preparing Your System for the Cooler Months

As autumn arrives and the days grow Cooler and shorter, it is essential to ensure that your HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is ready to transition from cooling to heating. Proper fall maintenance can help avoid unexpected breakdowns and ensure your system operates efficiently throughout the colder months. Here’s a comprehensive guide to preparing your HVAC system for fall.

Schedule a Professional Inspection – Before the cold weather hits, scheduling a professional inspection and maintenance check for your HVAC system is a good idea. A certified technician can:

Inspect and Clean the Furnace: They’ll check for any issues, clean components, and ensure everything works.
Check Thermostat Calibration: Ensuring your thermostat is accurate can help maintain comfort and efficiency.
Inspect Ductwork: Look for leaks or obstructions affecting airflow and efficiency.

2. Change or Clean Air Filters – Dirty or clogged air filters can reduce the efficiency of your HVAC system and compromise indoor air quality. In fall:

Replace or Clean Filters: Depending on your filter type, either replace it with a new one or clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
Check Filters Monthly: During the heating season, check the filters monthly and replace or clean them as needed.

3. Test the Heating System – Before the cold weather sets in, it’s crucial to ensure your heating system is functioning correctly:

Turn On the Heater: Test the system by turning on the heat to ensure it starts up and heats your home adequately.
Listen for Unusual Noises: Any strange noises that could indicate a problem.

4. Inspect and Clean Vents and Registers – Ensure that your vents and registers are clean and unobstructed to promote proper airflow:

Vacuum Vents: Dust and debris can accumulate in vents and registers. Use a vacuum to remove dust and debris.
Check for Blockages: Ensure furniture or other objects are not blocking the vents.

5. Inspect the Heat Exchanger – The heat exchanger is a critical component of your furnace. A cracked heat exchanger can be dangerous due to the risk of carbon monoxide leaks:

Check for Cracks: Have a professional inspect the heat exchanger for any signs of damage or wear.

6. Ensure Proper Ventilation – Proper ventilation is essential for indoor air quality and overall HVAC efficiency:

Check for Obstructions: Ensure that vents and outdoor air intakes are clear of obstructions like leaves, debris, or snow.
Maintain Good Airflow: Proper ventilation helps to balance the indoor air quality and efficiency of your system.

7. Seal Drafts and Insulate – To improve your home’s energy efficiency and ensure your heating system doesn’t have to work harder than necessary:

Seal Drafts: Check windows and doors for drafts and seal any gaps with weatherstripping or caulk.
Insulate: Ensure that your home’s insulation is adequate to keep warm air in and cold air out.

8. Program Your Thermostat – Adjusting your thermostat settings can save energy and reduce heating costs:

Set Up a Schedule: Program your thermostat to lower the temperature when you’re away or asleep and raise it when you’re home.
Use a Smart Thermostat: Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat to learn your schedule and adjust temperatures automatically.

9. Clear the Area Around Your Furnace – Ensure that the area around your furnace is clean and free of clutter:

Remove Obstructions: Keep items such as boxes, cleaning supplies, or other objects away from the furnace and vents.
Ensure Proper Airflow: Adequate space around your furnace helps maintain proper airflow and reduces fire hazards.

10. Prepare for Emergencies – Having a plan in place for HVAC emergencies can save you time and stress:

Know Your Emergency Contacts: Keep the contact information for Air Handlers, Inc. HVAC repair service handy.
Have a Backup Heat Source: In case of a furnace failure, having an alternative heat source, such as a space heater, can be helpful.

Conclusion

Preparing your HVAC system for fall ensures comfort and efficiency during the colder months. By following these maintenance tips, you can help extend the life of your system, reduce the risk of breakdowns, and keep your home cozy throughout the fall and winter seasons. Regular maintenance and timely inspections can also lead to cost savings on energy bills and repairs. Call Air Handlers, Inc. and make an appointment to get your HVAC system ready, and you’ll enjoy a warmer, more comfortable home all season long.

New Year’s Resolutions for your HVAC

As we enter the new year, people across the world are committing to new resolutions in an effort to make changes and improve their situations. People aren’t the only ones who could use some New Year’s spirit, as HVAC systems around the country could benefit from some resolutions and changes to their maintenance. Here are just a few New Year’s resolutions you can plan for your HVAC system that will help improve the health and efficiency of your home!

Change your air filters regularly. This resolution is simple yet incredibly important, as clean filters are essential to the proper operation of your HVAC system. Air filters help keep dust, dirt, allergens, and other particles out of your air system, which keeps you breathing easy and your system running longer. Some systems have different recommendations for filter changing schedules, but in general you should replace your air filters every 1-3 months depending on system usage.
Schedule routine maintenance checks. It never hurts to be prepared, and having a maintenance schedule planned out ahead of time ensures your system stays up and running with as few surprises as possible. When you schedule maintenance and checkups ahead of time, you not only eliminate having to book something last minute, you also avoid a large majority of crises that could have been caught before they became an issue. Contact Air Handlers to build a maintenance and checkup plan so we can take care of your system for you!
Upgrade your thermostat. If you are still running a manual thermostat, consider upgrading to a programmable one this year. Not only will this help lower your utility bill, but it’ll also keep your system running longer. Most manual thermostats keep the heating and cooling systems running far longer than needed, and they can easily be forgotten about or left on unnecessarily. A programmable thermostat allows you to automate the temperature control of your home, particularly by setting a temperature schedule so your heating/cooling system isn’t running at full blast all night long.
Clean your air ducts. It’s not uncommon for air ducts to become dirty, or even damaged, over the course of a year. When dust and dirt settles in your air ducts, that same debris is blown throughout your home every time you turn your system on. Most of this material completely bypasses the filters because it’s settled after the heating and cooling system, not before, and thus allergens and air pollutants can negatively affect the air quality in your home. You don’t have to clean your ducts every year, once every 3-5 years is usually sufficient. Just keep in mind that dirty ducts mean dirty air, so it’s best to be cautious and keep them clean.

At Air Handlers, we’re committed to keeping your air clean and comfortable. Contact us with any of your HVAC needs, and we wish you a fantastic new year!

Landscaping and HVAC

Other than your mower, the most visible piece of machinery on your property is likely your air conditioner. As you are landscaping, it’s a great time to also perform some HVAC equipment maintenance. To ensure optimal performance, make sure to trim shrubs, bushes, or branches back allowing clearance around your outdoor unit. Also, clearing away any grass clippings, leaves, foliage, and other debris will prevent possible airflow obstructions. Finally, double-check to make sure your HVAC unit is resting level on its concrete pad.

Additionally, if your unit is not already obstructed from view, there are many different plants that can help your HVAC blend into your landscaping more seamlessly. If maintaining the pruning of plants around an outdoor air conditioner seems like a daunting task, you can always build a decorative, gated enclosure to hide it from view.

Ready for Summer?

Spring is a time to throw open the windows and shutters, and breathe deeply as we air out our homes after a cooped-up winter. But summer heats up quickly, and it won’t be long before you need to close those windows again and crank up the AC. Before you do, call Air Handlers to ensure that your system is ready for the summer heat!

Ready for Warmer Weather?

Spring is here (technically, despite what the weather has decided to do of late). Still, warmer weather will be here sooner than later so now is a good time to make sure you’re ready for it! Many homeowners jump into action with some spring cleaning. In 2020, more than three-quarters (78 percent) of households did a little tidying up, according to the American Cleaning Institute. Homeowners prioritized the bedrooms, closets, and kitchens, eliminating dirt, odors, or asthma and allergy triggers like mold and dust.

From deep cleaning to a quick spruce-up, you can take some steps now to welcome the return of warm weather and prepare your home for rising temperatures. Here are a few ways to get your home back in shape well in advance of the season’s first heatwave.

1. Inspect Your Weather Stripping

Winter can take a toll on your house. Look for any post-winter gaps in the weather stripping around your doors and tighten any hinges that may have loosened in the shifting temperatures.

2. Gear Up For Time Outdoors

As the weather warms up, homeowners often head outside to enjoy the pleasant temperatures. If a backyard cookout is calling your name, make sure your grill is in good working order and positioned at least 10 to 15 feet away from your home. Check your deck, patio, and porch for anything that may have been damaged over the winter. Before your kids join the fun, check to make sure treehouses, trampolines, and playsets are stable.

3. Address Your Attic

Take some time before the weather heats up to inspect your attic. Look for signs of animals that may have found their way in and seal any holes. Check your insulation for any wet spots, which may indicate a leak, and consider adding additional insulation for the warmer season ahead.

4. Get Your Cooling System Ready

When temperatures begin to rise, an efficient AC system is crucial to maintaining a comfortable home environment with good indoor air quality. Pair your system with a smart thermostat like the iComfort^® S30 to monitor the air quality and pollen levels in your area. Be sure to check your system’s vents inside and outside for any blockages and test it to make sure it’s working properly. Now’s also a good time for preventative maintenance to prepare your HVAC system for the cooling season ahead. Call Air Handlers to schedule an inspection for your system before the temperatures start climbing.

5. Let The Sunshine In

Wash away the remnants of winter’s snow and ice by thoroughly cleaning your home’s windows. Use a multipurpose cleaner on your frame, windowsill, and hardware, and wipe clean. For a streak-free finish, use a microfiber cloth or even a newspaper. Just make sure to wash your windows on a cloudy day. Otherwise, the sun may dry your solution too soon, leaving your window with streaks.

A Special for Spring 2022

Spring is going to be here before you know it. Will your system be ready for this change? If not, we have a special Spring special to share with you! Your home should be a comfortable place and deliver energy efficiency.

Curious yet? We thought you might be. You could get rebates up to $1,000 on a new system or financing for as low as $132 per month! Check out our Specials page for more information.

The Spring Corner is Approaching!

Time seems to fly faster all the time. It’s almost Spring! That means that you should be making plans to perform Spring maintenance on your system.

Now, it isn’t quite to the point that we can turn off our furnaces. The evenings and nights are still fairly chilly. However, there are a few small things you can check ahead of the next weather change.

Check your filters – Yes, we know we hammer this one home, but it really is important. If you check/replace your filters regularly, that’s good! If not, you should at least plan to do so between seasons. This can help your system run more efficiently in any season.
Check for drafts – You’ve probably done this already. However, if you’re noticing that your rooms don’t always hold heat the way they once did, a good thing to do is check your windows for any drafts. The easiest way to do this is to (carefully) use a lit candle and move it around the edges of your windows. This will work best when there is some wind outside, but the flame moving means you may have a draft.
Clear the area – The last tip on this short list is to make sure that there is no debri surrounding your unit. With the wind and rain we get here in the Pacific Northwest, limbs and other debris can easily gather around your unit and cause problems.

Energy Saving Tips

Utility bills can be scary, especially in peak seasons. They shouldn’t be. There are things you can do, large and small, that can help you reduce your energy costs in your budget. Big things, like investing in high-efficiency heating and air conditioning equipment, are going to have the largest impacts on your monthly statements. However, these bigger changes are not the only way you can save. Some smaller adjustments don’t require any expense on your part.

Here are some smaller things you can do to help lower/control your monthly expenses. Some of these we’ve probably told you about before (possibly more than once), but they’re all good practices!

Turn off the lights when you aren’t in a room.
Lower or raise the temperature your thermostat is set at (depending on the season).
Keep all your vents and registers open.
Keep the windows and doors of your home closed.
Change your furnace filter.
Switch to high-efficiency light bulbs.
Operate your ceiling fans correctly for the best distribution of air – clockwise during the winter and counter-clockwise during the summer.
Seal your windows and doors.
Set your thermostat to “AUTO” instead of “ON.”
Wash your clothes in cold water.
Take shorter showers.
Open or close curtains depending on the season.
Unplug items like televisions, kitchen appliances and more when they aren’t in use.
Layer up before turning up the thermostat during the winter.
Have a timer for your lights.
Take cooler showers.

Enjoy the Winter Weather in Comfort

Winter has arrived and the holidays will be wrapping up soon… not to mention that the new year is nearly here! In all this time of relaxing, celebrating with family and friends, and enjoying the warmth of your home, the last thing you need is for your furnace to quit. To prevent a situation that would leave you stressed and require expensive emergency services, we want to re-post a list of things to look out for to determine if your home furnace has a problem. We also provide some simple fixes you can try on your own for minor challenges. It should be stressed that if you suspect a major issue with your home furnace, you should get help from a qualified professional rather than going at it on your own.

Thermostat malfunctioning

Your thermostat is an integral part of the safety features of your home furnace. It shuts down the furnace when it exceeds the maximum temperature specified to conserve energy and prevent accidents. This operating temperature varies from furnace to furnace. Your thermostat may be malfunctioning if it continuously shuts down before it even reaches this specified temperature. This continuous shutdown can make your living area very uncomfortable, and a simple fix for this is to check the battery of the thermostat and replace it to get your furnace working at its optimum. The thermostat setting should also be reviewed to prevent inadequate heat production by the furnace or total shutdown.

Lack of maintenance

If you fail to maintain your furnace properly, you should not be surprised when it breaks down. To cut down costs which arise from a total breakdown, you should plan for annual tune-ups and maintenance by qualified professionals.

Faulty Filters

Filters are very essential, but often overlooked components of the furnace system. They are built to remove unwanted particles from the generated airflow. A build-up of dust and dirt over time leads to a clogged filter. During the process of dust and dirt by passing air through the vents, a clogged filter puts more pressure on the furnace. A clogged filter may even lead to a total shutdown of the furnace as the heat exchanger might stop working due to overheating caused by an over clogged filter.

If your environment generates a lot of dust and dirt, ensure that you change your filters regularly. Most furnace manufacturers specify between a month to three for a change of your filter. A filter change is essential if you have a child-friendly environment so that your air filter does not become an air pollutant.

Size issues

When your furnace does not heat enough, it may be a pointer to the fact that your furnace is the wrong size for the space provided. To solve this problem, get a professional to estimate your needs and help you determine which furnace system would be the perfect fit for the space provided. Ensure that you are guided by professional advice from picking a furnace up to its installation.

Gas

If your furnace is not starting up, a simple solution is to check the gas valve and carefully turn it o if it was turned off. If you suspect a gas leak, leave the affected area immediately and contact the fire service.

Vents and Pipes

In gas furnaces and high efficiency condensing furnaces, vents are very vital to maintain because they take emissions outside the building. Most times, these emissions are combustible, and it is essential that they are not covered to prevent fire outbreaks.

There is also the danger that the pipes leading to the vents will become clogged with ice leading to serious problems. To prevent clogging from ice, exhaust vent pipes need to be shortened. When the pipes are too long, a build-up of moisture might occur because the force pushing out the exhaust is not enough to go the length of the pipes. This makes it more likely for ice clogging when the exhaust finally reaches the outside. To prevent these problems, ensure that the outside units are clear and clean before it becomes too cold. In screening pipes and vents you should use materials that will not inhibit the flow of exhaust.

Electric ignition

Furnaces come with an igniter which automatically lights up gas when switched on. If the furnace fails to light up, the usual suspect is the ignition wire which should be inspected. If the situation persists, you should turn off the igniter and reset it. If it is an electronic igniter, it is not wise to attempt to light it manually as it is a highly complex system which should not be tampered with.

Noise

Continuous rattling, screeching and other unwanted sounds are often early indicators of a more serious mechanical or electrical problem. These noises also arise due to wear and tear and a trip to a qualified professional would get all issues cleared up.

It is essential to be proactive as a home furnace owner and to deal with issues as soon as they arise to ensure that your furnace is always in good condition

How Does Rain Affect Your HVAC System?

It’s no secret that we live in a rainy environment. In fact, as we post this, the drizzle is falling in Olympia. So, how does this weather affect your heating and cooling system? Well, here’s the short answer: rain isn’t harmful to your unit. Here’s a more in-depth explanation:

Your outdoor unit is made to withstand most weather patterns.

Average seasonal rain patterns will not have a negative impact on your AC unit. In fact, some rain can help remove vegetation or debris that could otherwise remain lodged in the unit.

Your unit’s hardware is designed for durability, from the materials it is made from to the way the AC unit actually works. But the system is not at peak performance when it’s burdened with leaves, dirt, or other buildups. This means that if your area has been short on rain during the spring and/or fall months, you may want to spray the unit down with a hose. Don’t worry about getting the electrical components wet — any electrical wiring, such as those used in the condenser coil, will be insulated from wet or rainy conditions.

What about more severe weather?

Severe weather conditions, such as flash floods, are a different story. Any water that submerges the outdoor condensing unit could result in a short circuit, ultimately damaging the unit. This can also be a concern when lightning is present and poses a risk of striking the unit directly.

Storm Damage:

Even though heavy rains cannot damage your AC unit, the winds accompanied by the same rain can leave dirt, leaves, twigs, and other debris to damage the condenser fan grille. Even objects falling on your unit, such as tree branches, from the storm can cause damage. It is important to note that if there is damage on the exterior, the interior might be at risk too. Therefore, it is necessary to inspect both the exterior and interior of the unit once the storm subsides.

Flooding:

Central AC units are built to withstand different weather conditions. Although, if your area is experiencing heavy rains with floodwaters exceeding 15 inches, it is advisable to get your unit inspected by a professional contractor.

Corrosion:

Many homeowners prefer to cover their AC units for the winter if their internal parts are exposed. Avoid covering your unit with plastic wraps or garbage bags because the moisture from the condensation can stay trapped inside rusting and corroding metal parts. It is advised to use a covering that allows ventilation. Lack of ventilation or proper openings in the cover can increase the growth of mold and mildew causing further damage to the unit.

It’s good to know that you won’t have to worry about your AC unit withstanding normal weather conditions. But, when facing a more severe forecast, these simple precautions can go a long way. Of course, if you need to get your unit serviced, contact Air Handlers today!

Are you ready for the snow?

Snow is coming to the South Sound. Regular maintenance is important for the proper care of your HVAC system. As always, major furnace maintenance should be handled by a licensed HVAC technician. But there are some steps you can take on your own that can result in a more comfortable winter:

Power down

Turn off all power to the unit before performing any maintenance; wait for the blower to stop.

Replace filters

Replace air filters at least once every three months. Dirty filters can cause your system to work harder, resulting in lower efficiency.

Run a sound check

Turn your unit on, and check for unusual sounds, like banging or rattling.

Look for signs of moisture

Check for moisture on windows, or rust or dirt accumulations on the vent pipe. This can indicate improper operation.

Assess the room temperature

Check your thermostat’s temperature while the unit is on to ensure rooms are reaching their full comfort potential.

If, during your basic checklist rundown you discover any unusual noises, excess moisture, or other signs your unit is not functioning properly, call Air Handlers to schedule an appointment.