Have you noticed some nasty mold growing in your bathroom or perhaps in your basement? Your first step should be to determine the source of the problem and make sure it’s not a leak somewhere that is causing the problem because then it’s only going to come back. But once you have a handle on the situation, it’s time to eradicate the mold. If it’s especially bad, you might want to hire an HVAC contractor who specializes in mold remediation.…
As you get older, you may find it has become challenging to cut and haul wood every year for your wood stove. If you have spent several years heating your home with a wood stove, you know how hot it can get in the room with the stove while remaining cooler in other areas of your home. You may run electric space heaters for many hours at a time in the rooms farthest from your wood stove for maintaining an even temperature.…
Ensuring that you are getting the most from your home’s air conditioning system is essential for keeping your home comfortable without paying more than necessary in energy and repair expenses. Sadly, it can a common issue for new homeowners to not have a thorough understanding about avoiding common problems and sources of energy waste when dealing with these systems. To help you get the most out of this appliance, you should be aware of these basic tips.…
Your air conditioner and furnace both have a motorized fan that plays a key roll in the heating or cooling process. If the motor experiences operational issues, or stops working completely, your HVAC system efficiency and indoor comfort will both suffer.
There are a few signs that can point towards a fan motor problem being the culprit behind your heating and cooling woes. If you can’t narrow down the problem, call in an air conditioning services company to examine the system.…
The efficiency of your furnace depends on a number of important factors. Of course, if your furnace is not functioning, there are certain things that you won’t be able to fix unless you are an HVAC professional. However, one of the best do-it-yourself furnace maintenance jobs is cleaning the pump. This article explains how to safely access and clean your furnace pump.
Shutting Down Your Furnace
It is very important that you properly shut down your furnace before working on it.…
There are times when the thermostatic expansion valve becomes faulty or gets clogged with dirt. When this happens, it usually creates conditions that make evaporator coil icing unavoidable. Here is what you should know about why your air conditioner’s thermostatic expansion valve is to blame for your evaporator coil icing problems.
Malfunctioning thermostatic expansion valve and coil icing
The refrigerant-regulating role of the thermostatic expansion valve usually involves it letting only as much refrigerant as the evaporator coil can handle to pass through.…
A gas furnace relies on the presence of an igniter that provides a spark of heat to start the combustion process. If the furnace doesn’t sense the igniter, the gas won’t come out since the unit thinks it isn’t time to heat. So a broken gas furnace igniter can prevent the furnace from operating at all.
If you need to replace a broken igniter, consider installing a new universal igniter, which requires little maintenance and operates more efficiently than old pilot light style igniters.…
If you’re like most people, you probably don’t spend much time thinking about the toilets in your home. But like everything else in a house, toilets will eventually wear out and need to be replaced. Being proactive can ensure that your toilet is replaced before major problems occur. A few of the signs that it is time to call a plumber to install a new toilet include:
Leaky Tank
Over time, the tank of a toilet can develop cracks and begin leaking water.…
Unless you are experienced with HVAC systems, determining when it is time for a new one can be challenging. What you might not realize is that your system will give clues that it might be time to talk to your HVAC professional about replacing the unit. Here are some clues to look for if you suspect your unit is on its last legs.
Unexplained Moisture
As it operates, some condensation will appear at various parts of the HVAC system.…
Air conditioning maintenance doesn’t start and end with changing or cleaning the air filters. While you can hire an air conditioning services company to conduct an annual pre-season deep cleaning, you can perform some of the cleaning maintenance tasks yourself with a little bit of effort and a few supplies. Keeping these areas adequately and regularly cleaned can improve cooling efficiency—and prevent your unit from suffering significant damage.
What are the two key areas of your HVAC system that you should clean—and one you should leave up to the pros?…
