Displaying items by tag: HVAC system Myrtle Beach
Friday, 04 December 2020 15:12
Top 7 Common Cold Weather Heating Problems
When the temperature drops, your HVAC system goes to work keeping your home warm and comfortable. But how can you tell if there is a problem brewing? Whether you have a furnace or a heat pump, there are a common set of issues that can crop up when the temperature drops. Here are the top 7 most common cold weather heating problems and possible causes.
1. Dirty filters - Dirty filters restrict airflow, add to wear and tear, make your HVAC work harder and lose energy efficiency and can cause damage to various components over time. Ideally, it's best to change your filter every other month or monthly if you have pets. This is one of the most common causes of cold weather heating problems.
2. Cracked heat exchanger - The most common cause of a cracked heat exchanger is a lack of regular maintenance of the system. A cracked heat exchanger can also result in a carbon monoxide (CO) leak that can cause serious illness or death. While this is a costly repair, it's important to have it taken care of immediately because of the CO danger.
3. Cycling too frequently - Cycling too often can be a result of a dirty or clogged air filter, most commonly. If the air filter is new, the problem is more likely to be an issue with airflow or a faulty thermostat setting.
4. Loud bangs or sounds during the heating cycle - Loud noises most often indicate airflow problems. If airflow isn't the issue, it could also be a clogged burner. In either case, a visit from a professional is required.
5. Air continuously blowing - The most common cause of an HVAC system that is constantly blowing, whether or not the heating element is producing heat, is a faulty limit switch. This is a repair you'll need an HVAC professional to perform for you.
6. Faulty pilot light - There are a few ways the pilot light can be faulty. It should be a small, bright and blue flame. If the flame is another color such as yellow or orange, or doesn't burn brightly or not at all, the most likely cause is a dirty or damaged flame sensor. Sometimes this issue can be remedied by cleaning the flame sensor while other times, it requires a new flame sensor.
7. Frozen pipes - Just like regular plumbing pipes in your home, some HVAC systems can experience frozen pipes and coils during especially cold weather. Also like your plumbing, frozen pipes and coils can burst or crack. The most common way people notice this problem is if their HVAC isn't keeping up to the set temperature. Calling in a professional ASAP can help prevent cracks or breaks in the coils or pipes inside your HVAC system.
Your HVAC system works hard in both the hot months and the cold months to keep your home comfortable. Knowing about these top 7 common cold weather heating problems helps you quickly recognize when there is an issue and call in a professional to help fix the problem before it becomes a major breakdown.
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Monday, 31 August 2020 10:41
Prep Your HVAC for Fall
1. Change air filter - Air filters should be changed bi-monthly or monthly if you have someone with allergies or asthma in your home. Use this opportunity to make sure you have a fresh air filter in your HVAC unit. Dirty filters hinder airflow and make your HVAC work harder, which uses more energy and costs you more money, plus adds wear and tear to your system.
2. Change thermostat settings - As the weather turns colder, you'll want to adjust your thermostat settings to be cooler when you are not home and to warm up when you normally arrive home. This way you save money and energy without sacrificing comfort.
3. Clean the coils - Clean the condenser and evaporator coil on the outdoor unit. Brush away dirt, grime, leaves, lawn clippings and other debris from the coils.
4. Clean away debris from the exterior unit - Clean the exterior and around coils to remove gunk and debris that can hinder airflow. Also make sure trees and shrubs are trimmed back away from the unit to avoid impeding airflow from growing foliage.
5. Insulate pipes - Use foam pipe covers to cover pipes and electrical wiring from the unit to your home. Secure it in place with duct tape. This will help prevent freezing and cracking pipes during the colder months.
6. Test the heat - Test the heat to ensure it's working before you actually need it. It might have a slight burning smell for the first hour or two as the unit burns off any dust that has collected inside. If the heat doesn't work, you can call a pro to look at it before you actually need it on a cold day or night.
7. Have your system professionally cleaned and inspected - Having a professional out to service your system includes lubricating motors, checking belts for tightness and wear and tear, inspecting and tightening electrical connections, testing for and sealing duct leaks, verifying proper operation of the system, testing airflow, calibrating the thermostat and checking the refrigerant levels. It's ideal to have this professional service in the fall before you turn on the heat and in the spring before you fire up the A/C.
Fall is just a few short weeks away. Take some time now to prep your HVAC system for the cooler fall weather so you don't end up with no heat on a cold day or night. A little preparation now can save you money from an emergency service call later.
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Tuesday, 30 June 2020 12:10
Keeping Your Home Cooler This Summer
When the temperatures rise, you need every tip and trick in the book to help keep your home cool and comfortable. Here are 8 tips to keep your home cooler this summer.
1. Heat reducing window film - Install heat reducing window film on windows to help block between 70-90% of the infrared heat and UV rays from the sun. This helps prevent your house from getting warmed up by the sun while still allowing you to enjoy plenty of natural light.
2. Close the blinds - Closing the blinds reflects the sun's rays back out of the window and prevents those rays from warming up your home. If you can't afford window films (tip #1), this is a good alternative, though it does restrict natural light.
3. Use your ceiling fans - First, it's important to remember that fans cool people, not rooms. It's the airflow moving across your skin that cools you down when sitting under or in front of a fan. Using your ceiling fan can help you feel as if the room is four degrees cooler.
4. Use a programmable thermostat - If you are gone most of the day, use a programmable thermostat to conserve energy and operate at a higher temperature when you are not home, then gradually cool down to your desired temperature by the time you normally arrive home. This keeps you comfortable and cool when you are home while saving you money during the day.
5. Install a ductless unit - If you have a particularly warm room or rooms that the ductwork doesn't reach, a ductless system is a great option. It mounts on the wall and cools the room down with a low carbon footprint. It can save you money while keeping the desired room cool and comfortable.
6. Plant trees - Trees and shrubs create shade and shade helps block some of the sunlight reaching your home. Less sunlight reaching your home is less sunlight to warm up your home by the sun's rays. A shaded home is a cooler home.
7. Cook outside more - Use your grill or outdoor kitchen to cook more of your meals. This keeps the residual heat from cooking outside. You won't be artificially heating up your home with the stove or oven with indoor cooking.
8. Keep inside doors open - To allow for the best airflow through your home and an overall cooler home, keep your interior doors open.
Summers in South Carolina can get really hot. We hope these 8 tips to keep your home cooler this summer help you ride out the heat in comfort.
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Tuesday, 30 June 2020 11:50
Prepping Your Bryant System for Summertime
Summertime is here and so is the heat and humidity. If you haven't already done so, now is a good time to prep your Bryant system for the sweltering summer.
1. Clean or replace air filters - Dirty air filters restrict airflow and cause your system to work harder. Also, dirty indoor air circulating through your home can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms.
2. Have your system cleaned and inspected twice per year - Once per year is the minimum but twice per year is the recommendation. You should have your system cleaned and inspected in the fall for your furnace and again in the spring for your air conditioner. This will keep your system running as optimally as possible and help you reap all the benefits of a well-maintained system.
3. Remove debris from around the outdoor unit - Regularly inspect and clean away debris from your outdoor unit such as leaves, twigs and grass clippings. It's also important that your outdoor unit have a good amount of space for airflow around it. Make sure any shrubs or bushes are trimmed away from the unit to allow a two-foot clearance between the plant and the unit for proper airflow.
4. Install a smart thermostat - Bryant's Homewise smart thermostat helps your system run more efficiently. It can sense when no one is home and automatically adjust itself to an away temperature or you can use your smartphone to adjust your home's temperature while you are on the go. When all of the great features are used, this smart thermostat can save as much as 20% on your utility bills.
5. Keep vents open - Check and make sure at least 80% of the vents in your home are fully open. When more than 20% of the vents are closed, it creates strain on your Bryant system that can cause a breakdown or lead to additional wear and tear on your system. This can shorten the lifespan of your Bryant system.
6. Set ceiling fans in the right direction - While not directly related to your system but a tip that will help your system keep your home cooler, make sure your ceiling fans are going in the right direction. During the summer, you want the downdraft to help circulate cool air so fans should run counterclockwise. During the winter, you want an updraft to pull cooler air up and force warmer air down so fans should run clockwise.
Summer has begun here in South Carolina with much warmer and more humid days yet to come. If you haven't already prepped your Bryant system for summer, now is the time to do so. Keeping your Bryant system prepped and maintained will keep it working hard all summer long to keep you cool and comfortable.
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Monday, 01 June 2020 10:31
The Benefits of Bryant's Variable Speed Technology
In a standard system, there is generally only one speed so your system is either cycled off or cycled on full speed. When the temperature drops or rises and triggers the HVAC system to turn on, the system must ramp up to the one full speed and run until the temperature reaches the desired level before cycling off. Bryant has variable speed technology. What this means is that the speed your HVAC needs to ramp up to for a cycle can vary. Your system's speed only ramps up as far as is necessary to keep the comfort level steady to heat or cool your home. Let's take a look at some other benefits.
1. Your system doesn't work as hard or as long - Because variable speed allows for speeds below the "full speed" of most other systems, your system doesn't have to work as hard to get to a lower speed. Lower speeds don't require as long to cycle fully on and then fully off so your system also doesn't run for as long when you have variable speed options.
2. Maximizes comfort - Creates more interior temperature sensitivity and also better humidity control when your system can react more precisely to fluctuations in temperature. This means your temperature stays more steady and constant and you stay more comfortable.
3. Energy efficient - By only ramping up to the speed necessary to maintain comfort, Bryant's variable speed technology is energy efficient. A slower speed, faster cycle with a Bryant system uses less energy than a full speed, complete cycle with a standard system. Any time you are saving energy, you're also saving money on your utility bill.
4. Quieter operation - Because the system can use slower speeds, it operates at a quieter level than a standard system at full speed. Slower speeds aren't as loud and noisy as traditional systems with only one speed. You can enjoy maximum comfort with the quietest operation necessary to keep your home at the right temperature.
Bryant's variable speed technology can be found on many of the Evolution line of comfort systems and the Preferred Geothermal Heat Pump as well. To explore the different variable speed technology can make for your home and comfort, call Carolina Comfort Systems to learn more.
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Friday, 24 April 2020 13:14
Hot Spots in Your House? Consider a Bryant Ductless System
Does your home have hot or cold spots? Are there rooms in your home that just don't seem to ever be the same temperature as the rest of your home? Have you adjusted your vents to no avail? Then a Bryant Ductless System might be right for you. Let's take a closer look at the benefits of a ductless system.
1. Great for unheated/uncooled spaces - Ductless systems are great for spaces that are unheated or uncooled by your home's primary HVAC system. This might include the attic, basement, enclosed patio or sunroom, garage or shed. Because a ductless system doesn't rely on existing ductwork, you can install one just about anywhere you need more comfort.
2. Can be used for one area/zone or part of a multi-zone system - A Bryant ductless system can be used as a single unit or coordinated to work in concert with your home's multi-zone system. So, it can address that hot or cold room in your house as part of your home's comfort system.
3. Saves energy - Bryant ductless systems are energy efficient and Energy Star certified. They can achieve up to a 42 SEER rating. Being Energy Star certified, there might be additional rebates and savings you might qualify for when you buy a ductless system.
4. Can go anywhere - Because a ductless system doesn't require any ductwork, it can literally be installed in almost any space or room where you need better comfort. Extra ductwork to connect a room with your existing duct system is costly and can add wear and tear on your HVAC system to accommodate cooling or heating the extra space.
5. Quiet operation - With Bryant's Inverter Technology, your ductless unit will run whisper quiet indoors and the outdoor part of the unit is similar in volume to a refrigerator hum or a dishwasher running.
6. Comes with a 10 year warranty - Your Bryant ductless system comes with a 10-year limited warranty on the overall unit and a 10-year limited warranty on the compressor.
For an energy efficient solution to the hot or cold spots in your house, consider a Bryant ductless system. Carolina Comfort Systems is your authorized Bryant dealer on the Grand Strand. Give us a call to discuss how we can make every space in your life more comfortable.
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Monday, 28 October 2019 10:41
Signs You Might Need a New HVAC System
The last several years have been some of the warmest on record. Super hot and humid summers and extreme temperature shifts due to climate change can really take a toll on your HVAC system. Here's how to tell if you might be ready for a new HVAC system. - Repairs - The repair bills start adding up. When major components start to go, such as the blower, coils or motor, the cost of those repairs will add up quickly, making it more economical to consider replacing the system.
- Age - If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, you're going to need to replace your system sooner rather than later. While you might get a couple more years out of it if you were very diligent on regular maintenance, the average lifespan is about 10 years.
- Maintenance - If you haven't kept up with regular maintenance of your system, that can add serious wear and tear to your system. It also increases the risk of total system failure as regular maintenance not only keeps things running smoothly but also helps find small problems before they turn into big and expensive problems. There could also be safety issues with your system such as loose connections, frayed wires or cracks in components.
- Noises - Loud noises that are new or worsening are a sign you might need a new HVAC. Listen for louder humming coming from the blower, groaning or banging from the furnace, new or louder noise coming from the outside unit and loud noises before the A/C turns on. All of these noises indicate wear and tear on the system and that it's only a matter of time before a breakdown.
- Running Longer - If you notice your system running for longer and longer periods of time (other than the hottest days of summer) or struggling to reach and maintain the desired temperature, your system is on borrowed time.
A new HVAC system is a big expense for many people and one you don't want to hit unexpectedly. Keep an eye and an ear out for these signs that you might need a new HVAC system so you can be prepared and avoid being blindsided by a big bill.
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Monday, 27 January 2020 14:55
Signs You Might Need a New HVAC
If you think your HVAC isn't working like it should or like it used to, you might be due for an HVAC replacement. How can you tell? We've got a list of the signs you might need a new HVAC system. 1. Loud Noises - HVAC systems normally get louder with age but some loud noises are a signal that your HVAC is reaching the end of its lifespan. Noises to listen for include: blower humming louder, furnace banging, noise before the AC starts up and loud noises coming from the outdoor unit.
2. More Frequent Repairs - When the costs of repairs and parts start adding up, it's time to consider replacing the unit. This is especially true if the coil, motor or compressor goes out. In those cases, it makes more sense financially to replace the unit than to continue to pay for costly repairs to the existing unit.
3. Increasing Running Time - If you've noticed your HVAC has been kicking on more often and/or it runs for much longer to reach the desired temperature, this increased running time indicates the system is starting to wear out and needs to be replaced.
4. Your HVAC is More than 10 Years Old - The average lifespan of an HVAC system is about 10 years. If you have been very diligent with regular maintenance, you might get a couple more years out of the unit than average. In many cases, beyond 10 years you will start to have major system repairs needed that make more sense to replace the unit. Plus, the technology from 10 years ago is nowhere close to the technology we have today in terms of energy efficiency and cost savings.
5. You Haven't Kept Up With Maintenance - If you haven't been keeping up with regular maintenance and servicing, your system could be a serious emergency waiting to happen. Frayed or worn wires and conduits are a fire hazard. Without having had regular consistent maintenance and service, your system could also have a bunch of small problems that will add up to a major breakdown.
Buying a new HVAC system is a major expense but can often be worth it rather than fixing lots of problems along the way that add up to a big repair bill. These are some of the signs to watch and listen for to help you tell when it is time to replace your HVAC system.
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Sunday, 04 August 2019 13:00
Preparing Your HVAC for Hurricane Weather
As we head into the peak of hurricane season, it's important to know what to do to prepare your HVAC system should a major storm come our way. Here is a list of how to prepare before the storm and how to proceed after the storm to protect your HVAC system from damage or failure.
Tighten bolts on your outside unit and components. - Invest in hurricane straps to help hold your outdoor unit in place during high winds.
- Protect your outdoor unit from damage caused by flying debris by covering your unit with a plywood box or tarp.
- If you are in a flood-prone area or your unit is in a low-lying spot, elevate the unit with concrete blocks or cinder blocks to avoid water damage from flooding or pooling water. (Note: if you need help with this task, call in a professional.)
- Before the storm arrives, close windows, blinds, curtains and doors. Then drop the temperature on your HVAC unit a few degrees until the storm arrives to trap as much cool air as possible in the home.
- When the storm is approaching, turn off the power to your HVAC unit and unplug it. This will protect your system from power surges caused by lightning strikes and intermittent outages on your electricity grid that can damage your HVAC system.
- After the storm, if you've lost power, wait until power is fully restored before turning your unit back on. Once power is on, plug the unit back in and turn any power switches or breakers back on. You'll want to do this as soon as possible to prevent mold growth from the moisture produced by the storm.
- If power is intermittent, wait until it is fully restored without further outages before you turn on your HVAC system. This avoids damage caused by power surges as the electric grid comes back online.
Being prepared for a hurricane is an essential part of living in the Myrtle Beach area. While you might know how best to prepare a hurricane kit with food, water, medicines, first aid, flashlights/lanterns and battery-powered radios and fans, many people don't even think about preparing your HVAC system for the storm. Not preparing your HVAC system can result in serious damage or breakdown. If you have any questions about preparing your HVAC system for hurricane season, give Carolina Comfort Systems a call.
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