Help your Heater run Efficiently this Season: Fall Heating Maintenance Checklist

Tired of over-the-top winter fuel bills? Putting a little effort into fall hvac maintenance could help you reap big rewards – and prevent the need for unexpected repair calls after winter weather sets in.

Never neglect annual pre-season furnace maintenance
Annual service is inexpensive – and always cheaper than waiting until your system breaks down to call for repair. You can attempt to do it yourself, but the difficulty level is high, and for those unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the territory, calling in a professional hvac expert is highly recommended.

What’s involved with annual fall furnace maintenance?
Basic fall furnace maintenance involves:

1. Cutting the power supply.
   Turning off power to the system, including electrical and fuel supply, is essential to furnace maintenance safety. The power switch is usually identifiable by a bright red switch plate near your heating unit, the fuel shutoff valve located near the oil tank or incoming gas pipe.
2. Cleaning the combustion chamber.
   The place where fuel and air mix and are ignited, buildup in the combustion chamber can cause your furnace walls to corrode. Loose buildup must be scraped out with a small wire brush, small bits with a shop vacuum, and chamber holes inspected for corrosion before replacing the cover.
3. Flue pipe inspection.
   Holes in the exhaust flue could result in carbon monoxide leaks, and damper adjustments effect efficiency. Patch small holes with foil tape – but if your pipe is corroded, it must be replaced for the safety of your family. Barometric damper adjustments are where a pro’s tools come in handy, as measurements can be taken and adjustments made to those dampers compromising efficiency due to excess draw.
4. Changing the air filter.
   The air your family breathes in the winter comes through your furnace filter. It is easily changed and should be – often.
5. Oil filter replacement.
   Oil filters remove small impurities that could result in misfires and system shut downs. Always remember to close the oil valve before removing and replacing the old filter, disposing of it according to local hazardous waste regulations.
6. Component inspection and adjustments.
   Belt wear and tension can affect the blower – and efficiency. Belts deflating more than 3/4inch when pressed firmly should be adjusted by sliding the blower motor slightly backward.
7. Burner adjustment.
   Burner tubes (in gas systems) must be vacuumed cleaned and air gates adjusted for the proper air to fuel ratio. A combustion analyzer, used by professional technicians, can measure this. Also, to properly burn fuel before it goes up the chimney, the oil nozzle, which atomizes fuel, should be checked and replaced if necessary. Flame color and shape at the igniter is a key indicator of proper combustion.
8. Vent cleaning.
   Pet hair, small toys, dirt and debris in floor vents ruin air quality and efficiency.

Feeling overwhelmed?
A clean, well-maintained heating system can save you money on fuel – and prolong furnace life. If you’re in over your head when it comes to meeting these fall furnace maintenance tasks, contact the furnace contractors at H&H Heating & Air Conditioning today.

Allergy season is here again: How to Allergy Proof your Home

Cool, crisp fall breezes have many Americans opening up their doors and windows after a stifling summer. Though the temperature may feel great on the skin, however, all that cool, dry air makes for an convenient transportation mechanism for airborne allergens that can wreak havoc on your sinuses. Is there any way to enjoy the best of both worlds?

Reduce the effects of allergens in your home with these effective air quality solutions:

• Time it.
  Opening up windows to boost air quality, especially in today’s tight homes, is a great idea. However if you or a family member is an allergy sufferer, do it by the clock – and by the weather. Check your local pollen and mold forecast, keeping windows closed when counts are high, especially between 10am and 3pm, and on dry, windy days.

• Leave it at the door.
  When you come in from enjoying a little time outdoors, ditch outer garments on the porch or in your laundry/mudroom – then take a shower. This keeps mold and pollen that have settled on clothing out of your home.

• Be average.
  Average humidity levels – around 50% - are optimal inside your home to keep mold (which likes moisture) and dust (which likes dryness) at bay.

• Keep it contained.
  An essential line of defense against bringing allergens into your living space is tightly sealed ductwork. When was the last time you inspected yours?

• Use your filter.
  Installing compatible HEPA filters on your existing HVAC system with the help of a hvac repair technician can help remove millions of particulates like mold spores, dust mites, pollen, and other harmful airborne contaminants. Just remember to clean them regularly, as dirty filters can do more harm than good – to sinuses as well as your HVAC system.

• Light it up.
  Used in conjunction with your heating and cooling system, an ultra-violet air purification system can further help eliminate mold, as well as harmful viruses and bacteria that can make you and your family sick throughout the cooler weather season.

• Focus your cleaning efforts.
  Though keeping your entire home as clean as possible is recommended, today’s busy lives may make finding time tough. If this is the case, concentrate efforts on bedrooms (dust mite heaven) and bathrooms (mold Xanadu). Proper moisture levels (ventilation fans, de/humidifiers) and careful cleaning are key. Consider upgrading to a vacuum with a HEPA filter, and don’t forget to damp mop shelving and floors regularly.

• Cut the clutter.
  The less stuff clogging up surfaces in your home, the fewer places for allergens to hide – and the easier it is to clean. This includes nick knacks on shelves as well as curtains, and high-pile wall-to-wall carpeting.

• Love Fido in the living room.
  Reduce bedroom dust mites and dander allergens by making your bedroom a no-fly zone for pets, washing bedding regularly to cut down on the buildup of substances you inadvertently track into your room.

Burnt out on sneezing your way through the season? Take a load off your sinuses (and loads of tissues off your tables) with the help of indoor air quality services from H & H. Contact us today.

Things You Should Know Before Calling an HVAC Contractor

With temperatures regularly breaking all known records, heating and air conditioning problems abound. When your system breaks down under these stressful conditions, you call an HVAC repair company in hopes of fast, professional repairs at a fair price. Is there any way to ensure the quality of service you and your system desperately need?

Protect yourself against incompetent or dishonest contractors
In just the 5 months from May through September of 2014, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) received over 700 complaints against commercial and residential HVAC companies. To ensure you are working with a trustworthy hvac repair technician, BBB offers the following advice:

• Before making a call, consult your owner’s manual.
  Your system – or some of its components – may still be covered under factory warranty.
• Hire a professional.
  This does not include your neighbor, a “friend-of-a-friend,” or yourself, wearing your DIY-hat. You should also avoid those offering rock-bottom prices, those that offer a firm estimate over the phone without looking at your system, or new-kids-on-the-block who are not yet proven and may go out of business before your replacement parts come in. Look for an established heating repair contractor with an upstanding BBB membership, whose technicians hold NATE certification and receive positive word-of-mouth from the community.
• Get references…
  From actual customers, not just their website or random message boards.
• Verify licensing.
  Contact your state licensing board and ask to see a copy of their current license before air conditioning or heating system repair service start.
• Compare prices.
  Shop around, gleaning quotes from at least 3 different companies. Ensure they are comprehensive, with a written description of all services offered and materials used so you can compare apples to apples.

Before you do call, make certain you have…

• Ensured your air filter is clean and properly installed.
• Checked the switch/breaker – including the on/off switch on the outdoor unit, which can occasionally get bumped. Ditto with gas: Is it on?
• Verified the thermostat batteries don’t need to be replaced.
• Triple-checked the setting on the thermostat, including the clock on programmable models.

Still not working? Have the following information on-hand:

• A thorough description of what your system is - or is not - doing.
• How long the probably has been going on.
• The age of the system, heater or AC brand, and system type (gas or electric; heat pump, AC, furnace, etc.).
• The last time your system underwent routine maintenance or repairs.
• Any strange noises your system makes during startup, shutdown, or operation, such as screeches, pops, thuds, clanging, or hissing, including if the system is overly loud when it runs.
• Any off-smells when the blower comes on.
• If you have rooms in your home that are frequently too hot or too cold.
• If the lights dim when the system turns on.

Don’t get burned by bad service. Get friendly, BBB certified, professional ac installation, replacement, repair, service and maintenance contractors. Protect your wallet and your system. Contact us today.

Some Common Air Conditioning problems

In recent years, record-breaking summer temperatures have been taking their toll nationwide, resulting in many whose air conditioners aren’t quite at their prime scrambling for service before they melt into a puddle of goo. In many of these cases, the problem can be simply or easily solved with a little detective work, most of which should take far less time than waiting on the repairman – and forking over for a repair bill.

Before you call for air conditioning repair service, see if you can solve these common AC problems:

• Poor airflow.
  This is almost always due to a dirty, clogged air filter, but is occasionally due to faulty blower motor. Nasty filters are probably the number one reason for service calls. Most air filters must be changed every 3 months at a minimum, and will get quite gross in that timespan. Air filter maintenance is a cheap way to prevent the untimely death of a system struggling to breathe and function. (And how embarrassing for you to pay for a repair over an inexpensive filter you forgot to replace!)
• System won’t turn on.
  Make sure the thermostat batteries don’t need to be replaced, then verify power to the heating and cooling system at the breaker box. Ensure the blower door on the air handler (the part inside your home) is closed, then check the “on” switch on your outside unit. Sometimes they get bumped.
• System cycles on and off repeatedly.
  Check for a dirty filter, then check the outdoor unit for debris. Blockage by grass and other detritus must be carefully and gently removed without damaging the fins. If those are not the problem, turn it down 5-10 degrees – you could be freezing the coil, and it needs to thaw. If it’s 100 degrees outside, 68 isn’t going to happen. Grab a fan and be happy it’s 78-80 in your home.
• System is not cooling properly.
  “Operator error” is a frequent cause of hvac system repair– so make sure your thermostat is set properly. Again, check the filter and the outside unit for blockage. Check that the drain line is not blocked by algae/buried in the dirt. Your system will also turn off when the condensate overflow tray needs to be emptied.

When to call a pro
Some situations are not meant for amateurs. Call trusted air conditioning contractors  if:

• You checked everything above and your system is still not cooling properly.
  This may indicate low refrigerant, coils that need cleaning, or system maintenance, which all require skills and tools you don’t possess.
• Your system went from turning on and off frequently - to not working at all.
  The compressor or fan may be worn out and need replacement.
• You heard a strange noise.
  Brief squeaks at startup maybe normal. However, hissing can indicate leaking refrigerant, which is bad for the environment. Also bad are clanking, bubbles, hisses, and screams, which could indicated everything from loose hardware to a bent fan or blown motor. Avoid the sharp and electrifying dangers housed within your unit – call a pro.

Don’t let your air conditioning problems boil over. Contact your local H & H Heating and Air Conditioning professional today.

Keeping your Home Smart - HVAC Options for You!

Is your smart home, smart phone, smart TV, and even your smart watch making your heating and cooling system seem a little unsophisticated? Many of the latest smart A/C technologies designed to make your life easier and your system more efficient continue to fly under the radar, despite customer interest.

Did you know about these innovative new “smart” HVAC technology options?

• Smart “learning” thermostats
  Installed by an HVAC company you can trust, smart “learning” thermostats from manufacturers such as Nest, Honeywell and Ecobee are perfect for both those who will never sit down and read a programmable thermostat manual - as well as the technology-phobic. Saving you as much as 20% on your home’s largest energy expense when used correctly, smart “learning” thermostats boost the efficiency of your air conditioner with little to no work from you. Learning models monitor your routine, self-adjusting temperatures based on your absence to save energy. On vacation or wish to override? Simply adjust settings manually or via a smart phone or mobile device driven app from anywhere in the world.
• Smart vents
  Smart vents by companies like Ecovent and Keen are easily programmed to do for individual rooms what smart thermostats do for your home, regulating airflow, customizing temperatures, eliminating hot and cold spots, and boosting efficiency. Forget the stepladder, app-driven smart vents open and close venting in each room separately based on pre-programming for occupancy, manual adjustments via your smartphone, or built-in temperature, airflow, and occupancy sensors. Mobile device and EMF interference a problem in your home? Opt for The RF Zone Control System for control of your multi-zone system remotely via radio frequency instead.
• UV light air purifiers
  Installed in your existing ductwork, UV light air purifiers are a superior weapon against poor indoor air quality that can impact your family’s health, and are especially beneficial to allergy, asthma, and COPD sufferers. Providing fresher, cleaner air, UV light air purifiers reduce microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, mold, mildew, and fungus, preventing them from replicating and causing infection. 
• The Green Vacuum
  The Green Vacuum prevents unwanted leaks, foul odors, and outside air from invading your living space by automatically purging your condensate drain line at regular intervals to prevent the buildup of dust, fungus, mold, and algae that can lead to issues. Operated manually or installed with an optional solar panel for pre-timed, maintenance-free operation, its simple installation requires no outlet or wiring.
• CirrusSense Sensor
  This wireless bluetooth pressure sensor replaces your manual manifold gauges to measure refrigerant pressure locally, communicating readings to any smart phone or tablet allowing for proactive planning of an air conditioning service call to avoid emergence repairs and keep your system operating at peak performance.

Is your home ready for a little schooling? The pros at H & H Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. are standing by to teach you a thing or two about the latest in smart HVAC technology. Contact us today.