By Jim Ellia on Aug 7, 2017 in Air Conditioning, Furnaces, Indoor Air Quality |

The air filter is a vital component of your HVAC system. Most people are aware of their existence, and they probably also know you’re supposed to swap it out on a regular basis. But what does that air filter actually do? Is its sole purpose to clean and improve the indoor air quality in your home? 5 Facts about Air Filters The air filter often looks like a flat cardboard box of sorts, with pleated or fiberglass materials throughout. Because they are out of sight and therefore out of mind, it’s not uncommon for us to forget about them altogether.  However, proper maintenance and care (in other words, regularly replacing) the air filter is key to the comfort levels, air quality and an efficiently-running HVAC system in your home. Here are five facts about HVAC air filters: Air filters improve indoor air quality. Air filters trap dust, dirt, pollen, pet dander and fur, lint, mold and mold spores and more. So, what this means is that these particles are less likely to get into your home’s duct work and into the air. Air filters keep your system working properly and efficiently. While the air filter helps trap the contaminants mentioned above from polluting the air in your home, it also keeps them from clogging up your HVAC system. It’s important to choose the right air filter for your system. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Values, and they are expressed on a scale from one to twenty. The lower the number, the lower the quality of the air filter. In general, most homes can utilize an air filter with a MERV rating of 3-10. In fact, filters with a MERV rating of higher than 16 are so thick and dense they may interfere with the airflow inside your system. Choosing the right air filter is key to getting the most out of your system. Stocking up on air filters for the year is a good idea. Buy an entire box of air filters the next time you visit your local hardware store. If you have a supply of air filters ready at all times, you’ll be more likely to replace them on a regular basis – and keep your...

By Jim Ellia on Jul 17, 2017 in Air Conditioning |

We’re right in the middle of summer in Northeast Ohio, and as usual, it’s been pretty hot and steamy. This generally means that your air conditioning has been running regularly, and sometimes, even a well-maintained system can experience issues during these peak months. For that reason, it’s important to learn about some of the most common air conditioning problems and the complaints we hear so you have a better understanding of how to deal with them. 5 Air Conditioning Problems that Occur in the Summer Keep your home comfortable, your family cool, and avoid issues leading to big, expensive problems with your air conditioner. Here are some of the top air conditioning problems you might face throughout the rest of the summer: Odd noises coming from your unit. The only sounds you should hear when your air conditioning turns on is the click of the unit starting up, the hum of air blowing, and possibly the motor running in the outside condenser. If you’re hearing rattling, banging, squeaking, clanging or bumping, these are often signs of problems with your system, or that it’s working inefficiently. A home that isn’t cooling down enough. If the air coming from the vents doesn’t seem as cool as it should, or your home isn’t getting comfortable while the air conditioning is running, the problem could be as simple as a dirty air filter or debris on the outside unit. However, if you’ve checked and corrected those air conditioning problems and your home is still feeling warm, it’s time to call for service as it might be an issue with the refrigerant. Your air conditioner is running constantly. Of course, on those really hot and humid summer days, your system is going to run a lot more than on a 75 degree day. However, if it’s never turning off, this is a sure sign something is wrong. First, make sure your thermostat isn’t set too low, that all your doors and windows are sealed and that the air filter is clean. If your system continues to run nonstop, a professional probably needs to step in and take a look. Or, your air conditioner keeps turning on and off. On the other hand, maybe your...

By Jim Ellia on Jul 3, 2017 in Air Conditioning |

One of the most common problems homeowners experience with their air conditioning units is leaking water, indoors and outdoors. In fact, nearly 90 percent of service calls over the summer months are in regards to leaks. Even if there’s not a large amount of water pooling around your unit, if you don’t take care of the leak as soon as possible it can easily cause a great amount of damage to your system. The Top 5 Reasons for a Leaky Air Conditioner While a small amount of condensation on or around your air conditioner is normal, especially on a hot, humid day when it’s working hard, if the leak persists for longer than 24 hours, it’s possible there’s another issue at hand. And, it’s fairly simple to do a little troubleshooting if or when you notice your air conditioning leaking water. Here are five reasons your A/C unit is leaky, and how to deal with the issue: The filter is clogged. We can’t stress enough how important it is to have a clean air filter at all times! A dirty, clogged filter causes a variety of problems with your system, including leaks. If the filter is dirty, the evaporator coils can freeze up, which causes excess water to spill over from the drain pan. There’s a hole in the overflow pan. If your air conditioner is getting up there in years, the overflow pan may start to rust, which leads to cracks or holes that water can spill right through. You can check the pan by shining a flashlight into it, and if you notice any sort of damage, it’s time to replace the pan. The condensate drain pipe is blocked. This is another fairly common reason water is leaking from your air conditioning unit. The drain line can get clogged with dirt, dust, or even mold, which causes the water to back up into your home. In this case, it’s worthwhile to call a professional to unclog the drain pipe. The refrigerant levels are low. If the refrigerant is low, pressure in your A/C system is also low, and the evaporator coil can freeze up, just like it would with a dirty air filter. As the coil melts, water...

By Jim Ellia on Jun 19, 2017 in Air Conditioning |

Everyone wants to stay cool and comfortable during these hot summer days. When you’re running your air conditioning and it keeps tripping your circuit breaker, not only is your family’s comfort at stake, but this could be a sign of a serious problem with your unit. 6 Reasons Your Air Conditioner is Tripping Your Circuit Breaker When in doubt, call in the professionals to take a look at your HVAC system, especially if you reset the unit and it trips the circuit breaker again. Only try to reset the unit once! If it keeps tripping, this is a sure sign that something is malfunctioning with your unit. These are a few of the most common reasons your air conditioner is tripping your circuit breaker: The air filter is dirty. We’ve mentioned before that it’s vital to replace the air filter on a regular basis. A dirty filter makes your unit work much harder, struggling to pull in air and using far more electricity than it should. Which, in turn, could lead to tripping the circuit breaker. The condenser coils need to be cleaned. Located in the outside unit, the condenser coils are designed to release heat from the inside of your home to the outside. When they’re dirty, they can’t function the way they should, and once again, your system has to work that much harder to cool the air in your home. Low refrigerant caused by a leak. If there’s not enough refrigerant in the system, you guessed it – your unit is getting overworked. Low refrigerant is often caused by a leak, which needs to be fixed by a professional. The fan is malfunctioning. If the fan in the condensing unit outside isn’t working as it should, your A/C can overheat. Again, you’ll need to call in a professional heating and cooling company to repair a broken fan. The capacitor and/or compressor are old or weak. The capacitor is responsible for starting your system, and when it’s gets old or goes bad, it starts pulling too much electricity and trips the breaker. Likewise, when the compressor in the outdoor unit gets weak, it will have trouble starting and once again use too much electricity to function as...

By Jim Ellia on Jun 5, 2017 in Air Conditioning |

When the heat and humidity rise, homeowners across Northeast Ohio will start turning on their air conditioning for relief. There’s nothing worse than sweltering away inside due to a faulty HVAC system! Luckily, there are a few things you can do to not only ensure your family’s comfort, but to also lower some of your summer energy bills. 5 HVAC Maintenance Tips for the Summer Keep your home cool and avoid emergency breakdowns over the summer by completing these easy summer HVAC maintenance tasks: Replace or clean the air filter. A clean air filter allows the air to flow evenly throughout your home, so checking the filter is the first task on your list this summer. This is especially important due to the fact that your HVAC system is about to kick into high gear and get a lot of use over these warmer months. Replace that dirty filter right away, or if you have a reusable filter, make sure to give it a good cleaning. Tidy up the outdoor unit. As you’re getting your yard ready for those summer barbecues, don’t neglect cleaning up around the HVAC system’s outdoor unit. Clear away dirt and debris from the top, and trim down any shrubbery and grass growing up around it. Seal up leaky spaces. Check your doors and windows to see if there are any places where that precious cool air could be escaping. Inadequate insulation around doors, windows, up in the attic can or even around air ducts will make your unit work that much harder to cool down your home. Plus, it can increase wear and tear on your system and possibly cause it to malfunction. Upgrade your thermostat. Do you still have an old-school thermostat that only allows you to set the temperature in your home to one setting? This could really affect your family’s comfort levels and increase your energy bills, as your system is not running as efficiently as it could. Install a programmable thermostat instead, which will allow your system to run only when you need it most. Schedule HVAC maintenance with the professionals. There are certainly several advantages to having a heating and cooling expert come out to your home to service...

By Jim Ellia on May 22, 2017 in Heat Pump |

Heat pumps got their name because they “pump” heat into your home throughout the cold months, and pump it out during the warmer seasons. They’re well known as cost-effective systems, especially for homes that utilize electricity for heating and cooling. In fact, Energy.gov estimates a heat pump can reduce energy usage in all-electric homes by up to 40 percent. As an added bonus, heat pumps are also more eco-friendly than a furnace because they do not burn fuel to create heat. A heat pump can also be utilized with a traditional heating and cooling system in order to ensure optimal results during frigid temperatures. Heat Pump Basics Heat pumps have been used for heating and cooling around the world for decades. In fact, refrigerators have long been using the same technology as a heat pump. So, how exactly do they work, and is a heat pump right for your home? There are two basic parts to a heat pump: an outdoor unit and an indoor unit. The outdoor unit resembles a standard central air conditioner in both appearance and size, and contains the compressor. The compressor is responsible for doing the bulk of the work; it’s the part that circulates refrigerant through the system. The indoor unit, called the air handler, looks just like a gas furnace. We mentioned that refrigerators work the same way as a heat pump for your furnace. Your fridge removes unwanted heat that builds inside when the door is opened or warm food is set placed on a shelf; think about how warm the heat feels coming from the exhaust fan. In a heat pump, there’s a refrigerant liquid that circulates between the indoor and outdoor units that absorbs and releases heat as it travels through the system. A heat pump pulls the warm air inside your home in the winter and delivers it inside to keep the air toasty. In the summer, the opposite occurs. The heat pump will extract the hot air indoors and push it outside to keep your home cool and reduce humidity levels. Now that you know how a heat pump works, should you consider installing one when you’re ready to upgrade your HVAC system? There are a few...

By Jim Ellia on May 8, 2017 in Air Conditioning, Furnaces |

No matter the time of year, you want your HVAC system to work reliably. Whether it’s a hot summer night and you’re trying to get comfortable to sleep, or it’s a frigid winter day that’s best spent indoors, your HVAC system is key to improving the comfort levels in your home. The Top 3 HVAC Problems In order to help you troubleshoot some of the issues you may be having with your system, three of the most common HVAC problems include: Your HVAC system is blowing lukewarm or semi-cool air. If you’ve got the heat or air conditioning running but the house is never quite warming up or cooling down, you might have a dirty filter. Don’t forget to change your filter on a monthly basis, as it greatly aids in helping your system run as efficiently as possible. If the filter was just recently swapped out for a new one, check your thermostat to make sure you’ve got it properly set to heat or cool. For air conditioning, if you have an outdoor unit, it could simply need to be reset; there may be a red button on the unit to push. Or, you might be low on refrigerant, and this is when it’s time to call in a professional. The HVAC system is leaking. Your indoor unit should never leak under any circumstances. But, if it is, this doesn’t necessarily indicate a major problem. When the air conditioning is on, sometimes condensation can accumulate on the evaporator coil. If you notice leakage in the winter months, sometimes today’s high efficiency furnaces have also been known to produce some condensation. When in doubt, get leaks checked by a heating and cooling company. The outdoor unit is making weird noises. Are you hearing thumping, humming, squealing, popping, banging or rumbling sounds? Some of these noises may indicate a fairly serious problem, like a loose blower wheel, broken motor mount, bad motor bearings, etc., and should be check out by a professional. This is especially true if any of the sounds get worse or louder and louder over time. Remember, the majority of these common HVAC problems can be addressed by scheduling your annual maintenance check. You can not only...

By Jim Ellia on Apr 17, 2017 in Indoor Air Quality |

Earth Day coming up this weekend on April 22, and ways to keep our air clean and pure are top of mind right now.  Earth Day started as a grassroots movement that ultimately led to both the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air Act, plus several other important environmental laws.   When you think of clean air, your first thought is usually of keeping the skies clear of the smog and haze that covers some busy cities. However, it’s also important to keep the air inside your home as unpolluted as possible to avoid a wide array of health risks that can arise. Air Purifying Plants for Your Home The products you use throughout your daily life can be taking a toll on the air quality in your home, especially some of the products you use to give your home a deep cleaning. For example, ammonia, which is found in many cleaning products is a known irritant to the eyes and throat. There’s also benzene, used in many detergents, which can cause frequent headaches. Plus, painting the walls or installing new carpets can also release air-polluting chemicals. Recent studies reveal a simple way to improve your indoor air quality: house plants. Visit your local nursery and pick up any of these options to naturally purify the air inside your home: English Ivy. The English Ivy has dense leaves that absorb formaldehyde, which is one of the most prevalent indoor air pollutant. It can also thrive in rooms with little sunlight and small spaces. Bamboo Palm. Bamboo Palms are effective at removing chemical contaminants like formaldehyde and benzene. Plus, they keep the air moist during the drier winter months. Peace Lily. The Peace Lily helps clear the air of benzene and can also absorb acetone that gets emitted by electronics, cleaners and adhesives. Just be careful if you have pets, as the Peace Lily is poisonous to your four-legged friends. Snake Plant. These plants are great at producing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide levels in the home. Plus, they are hardy and easy to grow for those without a green thumb. Like the Peace Lily, though, the Snake Plant is also toxic...

By Jim Ellia on Apr 3, 2017 in Air Conditioning |

Before we know it, the warm summer weather will be here and our air conditioning systems will be working hard to keep our homes cool and comfortable. Spring is the perfect time of year to perform some routine maintenance on your HVAC system to make sure it will be running in optimal condition when we need it most – on those muggy, hot, long summer days.   Keep Your HVAC System Healthy this Spring While some spring maintenance tasks can be handled on your own, others are left best to the professionals. Not only do you want to avoid your HVAC system breaking down during the summer, but you also want to make sure it’s running as efficiently as possible. Let’s discuss all the things you can do this spring to get your system ready for the hot months ahead. DIY Spring HVAC Tune-Up Tasks Here’s what you can do on your own to get your HVAC system ready for summer: Replace the filter. Your furnace filter should be changed often; it’s recommended to swap it out once a month, since a dirty filter will make your system work that much harder to properly heat or cool your home. Clear away debris. On the outside unit, clear away any leaves, sticks, dirt and other debris that may have collected around it throughout the winter. The compressor in your air conditioning unit requires proper air flow to work as efficiently as possible, so make sure shrubbery or trees are at least three feet away. Check for wear and tear. After the unit is cleaned off, inspect it for any damage like dents, cracks, leaks, etc. If anything appears to be broken, make a note of it to discuss with a professional heating and cooling company. Install a programmable thermostat. If you aren’t already using a programmable thermostat, there’s no time like the present to install one and get ready to start reaping the benefits, which include lower utility bills and more overall home comfort. Professional Spring HVAC Tune-Up Of course, calling the professionals to do your spring HVAC tune-up is actually an even better idea. An HVAC company knows exactly what to look for, plus will perform routine maintenance to...

By Jim Ellia on Mar 20, 2017 in Air Conditioning, energy efficiency, Furnaces |

When you’re getting ready to put your home on the market, there are often a lot of questions about how you can ask and receive the highest price possible. Many buyers today are looking for a house that’s move-in ready; updated kitchen and bathrooms, gleaming hardwood floors, and a fresh coat of paint tend to go a long way in increasing home value. However, there’s another thing to consider too: Upgrading your current HVAC system. How an HVAC Upgrade Helps Ensure a Quick Sale Generally speaking, if your current system is less than ten years old and is in fine working order, you don’t need to worry about replacing it to appeal to those potential buyers. Obviously, upgrading an HVAC system is major investment, and as the saying goes – “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” However, potential buyers do like to know that all the mechanicals in the home are working properly, and many buyers are also concerned with energy efficiency. If your current furnace and air conditioning unit are getting up there in years, there may be worries that they’ll have to replace it themselves in the next year or two. Plus, the system probably isn’t running as efficiently as today’s newer versions. Prospective homebuyers are well aware that HVAC systems are not designed to last forever. And, while you might be somewhat hesitant to make such a large investment in a home you’ll be leaving, remember that the cost of the new system can be built into the sale price. In fact, a study conducted in 2015 by the National Association of Realtors, called the Remodeling Impact Report, revealed that sellers can expect to recoup 71% of the cost of replacing their HVAC system. In other words, if the system cost $7,000 to replace, sellers will recover up to $5,000 of the costs when they put their home on the market. Another great reason to upgrade your HVAC system is to increase home energy efficiency, which as mentioned before is something a lot of potential buyers are looking for in a new home. Today’s homebuyers are more financially savvy than those of the past, and they’ll be not only evaluating the cost of your home,...