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.
Right now, as fall and winter weather approaches is the optimal time to have your HVAC professionally tuned-up and serviced. Regularly scheduled tune-ups keep your HVAC system working as effectively as possible and also helps prevent a breakdown by finding small problems before they become major issues. Check out some of the core services your HVAC tune-up includes.
HVAC Tune-Up
Your HVAC tune-up will include an inspection of several areas and servicing of many moving parts. Here are just a few of the things that take place during an HVAC tune-up.
A professional tune-up improves the function of your HVAC system and increases energy efficiency which can reduce your utility bills and the cost of heating or cooling your home. Proper maintenance also helps reduce wear and tear by keeping moving parts lubricated, your system clean and all switches and connections tight and secure. A regular maintenance schedule for your HVAC tune-ups also helps increase the lifespan of your system. If you haven't scheduled your HVAC tune-up yet, give Carolina Comfort Systems a call and we will take care of all of your HVAC tune-up needs and give you the peace of mind that your system is in good working condition for the winter temperatures.
The average lifespan of an HVAC system is about 15 to 20 years. The key to having a long lifespan for your HVAC is regular professional maintenance. You'll also need a few tune-ups and repairs along the way. But how can you tell when your HVAC's time is done? Here are the factors to consider when you're deciding whether to repair or replace your HVAC system.
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.
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.
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.
The summer heat is right around the corner so now is the time to prep your A/C unit for summer. Here is your checklist to get your system ready to keep you cool when the hot and humid gets going.
While our winters might be short here in the Grand Strand, they can get mighty cold. These 8 tips can help you save money on your heating costs this winter.
You've likely heard of zoning or zoned systems before but perhaps you weren't quite sure what it meant or why anyone would choose a zoned system. We're here to solve the mystery of what is zoning and how it can be beneficial for your home.
HVAC zoning or a zoned system is a professionally installed control system comprised of a damper unit and a thermostat for each zone or room in the house. The control systems from each zone are then wired into a central control panel. This central control panel receives information from the thermostat in each zone and uses that information to control the dampers (and thus the temperature) for each zone.
As a comparison, many home HVAC systems are controlled by one thermostat that determines the temperature through the entire house. A zoned system has a separate thermostat for each zone that controls the temperature of just that zone. An easy analogy is to think of the lighting in your home. Instead of having one light switch that controls the lighting for your entire house, each room has its own light switch that controls the light in that room. This is similar to the difference between a non-zoned system and a zoned system.
HVAC zoning offers several benefits over non-zoned systems.
Could HVAC zoning be a good fit for your home? Call Carolina Comfort Systems today to learn more about how zoning can work for you.
It has been a hot and brutal summer so far here in the Grand Strand. Many people are seeing large increases in their utility bill as their cooling system kicks on more frequently to combat the high temperatures. We've got some tips to help you keep your cooling costs under control this summer.
1. Use fans - Box fans, pedestal fans, ceiling fans... just about any kind of fan will help keep you cooler. In fact, running a ceiling fan is shown to help it feel as much as 4 degrees cooler. Fans cool you down by creating air current that flows over the surface of your skin and helps cool your body. So, keep in mind that fans cool people, not rooms and be sure to turn off fans in rooms you aren't using.
2. Avoid generating cooking heat - Avoid using your oven, stove or any indoor small appliances that generate heat. These appliances will increase the heat inside your home and make your AC work harder to keep things cool. Instead, opt for grilling outside.
3. Upgrade your AC/cooling system - If your cooling system is more than 10 years old, it's possible that newer models with a higher SEER rating will work more efficiently at keeping your home cool while using less energy to do it. This is especially true of EnergyStar systems. At the very least, keeping your current system well-maintained with professional cleaning and inspection at least once per year (preferably twice) will help the system you have work as efficiently as it can.
4. Get a programmable thermostat - A programmable thermostat lets you set it and forget it in terms of your home's temperature. You can set it to a warmer temperature for the hours you'll be away at work and set it to come to your desired temperature when you normally arrive home. You'll stay cool and comfortable when you're home and save energy when you aren't.
5. Change your air filter - During the summer months, it's ideal to change your air filter at least monthly. Your cooling unit is running overtime and a gunked up air filter will make it work harder and for a longer period of time to reach the desired temperature. Keep the air filter fresh and clean and your system won't have to work as hard and won't consume extra energy.
6. Keep all vents and intakes clear and unblocked - Similarly, your air vents and intakes help your cooling system run at its most efficient. If vents are blocked by furniture, clogged up with debris or otherwise not able to operate clear and open, it makes your HVAC work even harder to reach and hold the desired temperature.
7. Block sunlight - Use blackout curtains, blinds or even invest in window films that reflect out UV and infrared rays from the sun. Reflecting away the sun's energy keeps your home cooler and prevents sun-related heat-up.
8. Replace leaky windows - If your windows have seen better days, you might want to have them checked for air leaks. Windows with drafts or air leaks let hot air in and cool air out. While new windows can be an expensive upgrade, the money you'll save from new energy-efficient windows will have you wondering why you didn't have them replaced sooner.
As you can see from the top 8 tips here, there are a number of things you can do to help your cooling system work more efficiently this summer. As a bonus, when your HVAC works more efficiently, it uses less energy and keeps your utility bill under control.
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