Thinking of Replacing your AC next Summer? Fall is Actually the Best Time!

With fall on its way, holiday shopping is likely at the forefront of your mind. In addition to your Black Friday purchases this year, we suggested adding a new air conditioning system to your list. If your air conditioner struggled through the summer, leaving you sticky and uncomfortable, or you’re tired of the frequent maintenance and repairs your older system requires, fall is the ideal time to make an upgrade. With warm weather winding down and several more months before its return, why consider a new system now?

You Can Take Your Time Shopping

In the fall, when sweltering weather isn’t right around the corner, you can take all the time you need shopping for a new system, considering different brands such as Amana, Rheem, Lennox, and Bryant air conditioners. You may also wish to consider a different system style, such as ductless mini-split systems. Today, there are many more options for climate control than there used to be, offering more flexibility of use and long-term energy savings opportunities. Be careful when searching online, as the glut of information out there can be overwhelming. Instead, book a consultation with your local heating and air conditioning experts, who can help you reduce research to find the right air conditioner and accessories to meet your needs.

You’ll Get A Better Deal Off-Season

Lower demand for air conditioning systems in the fall means a greater selection and lower prices. Talk to your local heating and air conditioning contractor, who has a direct line of contact with air conditioning system suppliers. They can quickly help you find the best deals from the industry’s leading manufacturers. You can often get a significant fall discount from manufacturers stocking systems that didn’t sell over the summer that they need to move to make room for new models come spring.

You’ll Suffer Less Construction Delays & Costs

With the moderate climate this time of the year, it is also an excellent opportunity to get your new quiet air conditioner installed, before inclement weather puts a damper on any needed remodeling/construction. Replacing your system in the fall before freezing weather sets in, and before next summer, when living without an air conditioner could leave you sweating it out until a replacement can be scheduled during “busy season,” is ideal timing. If you wait until weather is warm again, you’ll be in line with everyone else who suddenly realized they’d better hurry up and schedule an installation to ensure a cool, comfortable home this summer, and you’ll pay much more.

Shopping for great deals this holiday season? Investing in a new air conditioner in the fall offers tremendous opportunities. Contact H & H Heating & Cooling today to learn more about available deals on a new system and energy efficiency upgrade incentives today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/thinking-of-replacing-your-ac-next-summer-fall-is-actually-the-best-time/

How to Reduce Indoor Air Pollution In the Fall When Trapped Indoors

This year, with the COVID pandemic, reducing the levels of the pollutants in the air circulating throughout your home is crucial. Research has shown air trapped inside residential homes is significantly more polluted than outdoor air. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from cleaners, off-gassing of furnishings, allergens like pollen and pet dander, and mold, bacteria, and viruses can quickly buildup in your home, creating an unhealthy environment. How can you protect your family from these contaminants and breathe easier?

5 Ways to Combat Indoor Air Pollution (IAP)

1. Eliminate sources of pollution.
   The EPA identifies one of the most effective ways to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in the home is to eliminate these potential pollutants at the source:
   • Cleaning chemicals and air fresheners, which produce VOCs.
   • Tobacco products, which emit carcinogens, toxic metals, and other poisons.
   • Combustion appliances that burn oil, gas, kerosene, and wood as a fuel source, which can leak deadly carbon monoxide into the home without proper maintenance.
   • Pressed wood/particleboard and laminated furnishings, which continuously release formaldehyde.
   • Pesticides, which are inherently toxic.
   • Wet furnishings and building materials, which serve as a breeding ground for toxic mold.
2. Boost ventilation.
   Open windows to flush out indoor pollutants and circulate clean, fresh air throughout your home whenever possible. Talk to your local HVAC pro about incorporating mechanical ventilation to bring fresh air into your home in the winter.
3. Upgrade your air filtering equipment.
   Add a few bells and whistles to your heating and air conditioning system to remove dangerous particles from the air in your home:
   • Upgrade your home air filter to remove more pollutants from the air.
   • Add a UV light air purifier to your HVAC to kill dangerous viruses, bacteria, and mold.
   • Kill up to 99% of airborne and surface viruses, bacteria, and mold with the revolutionary Air Scrubber by Aerus.
4. Install a whole-house humidifier.
   Winter air is dry, causing particles like pollen, dander, bacteria, and viruses to disperse and remain suspended in the air. Using a whole-house humidifier in the fall and winter quickly solves this problem. These devices operate in conjunction with your central heating system, monitoring humidity levels. When air is dry, humidifiers add moisture to the air, distributing it throughout your home with conditioned air.
5. Have your home heating system regularly inspected.
   Maintenance is about more than a well-functioning, quiet air conditioner. It’s about safety. An inspection in the fall, before winter weather extremes put your system under duress, ensures peak performance. This maintenance is especially crucially for combustion appliances, identifying faulty equipment that could lead to potentially deadly carbon monoxide leaks.

Stand up to the pollutants that put the health of your family at risk. Ensure a safe, healthy home throughout the cold-weather season with the help of H & H Heating & Air Conditioning. Contact us to learn more about making your home safer in the COVID era today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/how-to-reduce-indoor-air-pollution-in-the-fall-when-trapped-indoors/

Did You Know? Early Fall is the Best Time for Gas Heating Maintenance

It’s easy for time to get away from you, especially with the heavy workload you are hauling due to COVID. Scheduling maintenance for your gas heating system is no exception. However, winter weather will be here before you know it, and the last thing you want is to end up with a heating system that is down for the count during a winter storm in these uncertain times. Fall is the ideal time for gas heater maintenance, giving you ample opportunity to address any system issues before frigid winter weather arrives.

Schedule Professional Maintenance

Regular maintenance offers many benefits, from reliable, efficient performance to quiet operation and safety. Routine preventative care at the start of the cold weather season ensures your system will run as smoothly as possible. An HVAC professional can check your gas furnace for issues you cannot, inspecting for dangerous carbon monoxide leaks, verifying wire conditions and electrical connections, and identifying worn parts and other mechanical issues that could cause your system to break down in winter weather extremes.

Verify The Condition Of Your Gas Heating System

Test your gas heater now, making sure it starts up and shuts down as it should. This is the time of year when you’ll likely be switching between heating and air conditioning. It will also help you verify the conditioner of your system and its capacity to last the upcoming season. While you probably don’t relish the thought of replacing your gas heater, if you must, NOW is the time to address it, before subzero temperatures set in. If you stall and your system gives out in you, you’ll be in line behind everyone else who hoped their system would make it through “just one more” season.

Start Fresh With A Clean Air Filter

Don’t leave in that dirty, dusty filter from last season. Now it’s more important than ever to ensure clean, healthy air within your home. Swap out your old filter for a clean, new one. While you’re at it, talk to your local HVAC pro about things you can do to improve your home’s air quality, from upgrading your air filter to integrating a UV light air purifier or Air Scrubber to your HVAC system.

Reconsider Thermostat Settings

Reset your thermostat with cooler fall temperatures and energy usage in mind. Simplify the task with a programmable thermostat, reducing energy usage while you’re away so you’re not paying to heat an empty home. Change settings to a minimum temperature of 56 degrees F while you’re out, and you can achieve annual savings up to fifteen percent while still enjoying a warm, comfortable home.

Consider An Energy Audit

Consider an energy audit to identify air leaks and insulation issues that can impact system performance and home comfort.

Stay warm and healthy this winter. Make sure your gas heater is in tip-top shape with the help of H & H Heating & Air Conditioning. Schedule fall maintenance for your system today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/did-you-know-early-fall-is-the-best-time-for-gas-heating-maintenance/

5 Easy Things You Can Do to Keep Your HVAC Running This Fall

Another year is behind us and we are facing an even tougher fall and winter than in season’s past. COVID concerns and weather extremes mean prepping for the season has never been more important. Ensure a comfortable home and peak heating system performance with these tips.

Get Off To A Fresh Start With A New Air Filter

Don’t let your system struggle to push air through a dirty air filter. Reduce energy bills and ensure fresh, clean air with a new air filter. This season, consider an air filter upgrade to remove even more pollutants from the air, such as dust, pollen, dander, mold, bacteria, and viruses. Throughout the season, be sure to change your air filter every 30-90 days, at a minimum, for optimum performance and air quality.

Clean The Area Around Your Outside Heat Pump Unit

Clear away any grass and weeds that may have grown around your outside unit over the summer. Keep a clear zone of at least two feet surrounding your system to reduce the likelihood of pest infiltration, as well as fire hazards. Keeping this area clear dramatically impacts performance, preventing your system from struggling to operate and extending its lifespan.

Adjust Thermostat Settings For Cooler Weather

Now that summer is over, adjust temperature settings to a tolerable winter temperature to avoid astronomical heating bills. Consider upgrading to a smart thermostat for additional savings. Smart thermostats have come down considerably in price in recent years. They are easy to operate, learning your schedule and altering temperatures so that you aren’t paying to heat your home while you’re away. Learn more.

Put A Stopper In Leaks

Do you know that old joke about heating the whole neighborhood? Properly insulating, including sealing leaks around windows, doors, and pipes, keeps more of that warm, conditioned air where you want it – in your home.

Plan For Annual Preventive Maintenance Before The Winter Rush

Avoid the need for repairs during extreme weather conditions. Prep your unit for winter now to ensure low energy bills, quiet air conditioner operation, and dependable winter performance. Now is the time for a tune-up before emergency calls lead to extended wait times.  Remember, routine maintenance is key to preserving the warranty on a newer heating system.

Schedule A Professional Evaluation If You Rely On An Older Furnace For Heat

If your system is older, it’s a good idea to have your system evaluated for safety and performance before freezing winter weather arrives. An HVAC pro can let you know in advance if your older system is likely to last another winter. They can also ensure it’s running safely, cleaning it, checking electrical connections, testing airflow, and inspecting it for issues that could lead to dangerous carbon monoxide leaks.

Stay warm and save money this winter. Contact H & H Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule fall heating system maintenance today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/blog/5-easy-things-you-can-do-to-keep-your-hvac-running-this-fall/

3 HVAC Maintenance Tasks That Can Be Safely DIY

Are you considering DIY HVAC maintenance? Regularly maintaining your system plays a significant role in your monthly energy costs and the lifespan of your system. However, your air conditioning and heating system is an expensive, complex machine, so it is essential to know what you are doing when performing maintenance tasks. Fortunately, there are a few maintenance needs that can be safely performed by homeowners to ensure efficient operation and safeguard system life.

What HVAC Maintenance Tasks Can I Perform Myself?

• Regular air filter changes.
  Replace your home air filter every 30-90 days, at a minimum. Homes with children and pets, and areas under construction could require more frequent changes. To change your filter, be sure to turn off your system, taking out your old filter and inserting a new one before turning it back on. To improve indoor air quality and catch more dust and debris, talk to your local HVAC technician about upgrading to a high-efficiency air cleaner. Find high quality home air filters here.
• Cleaning vents and registers.
  Vacuuming slats with brush and wiping down the surface of vents and registers removes dust and debris, ensuring efficient airflow and keeping the air in your home cleaner.
• Clearing weeds and debris around the outdoor unit.
  Grass and weed overgrowth, as well as trash and foreign objects piled around your outdoor unit, can dramatically impact performance, causing your system to work harder. It is essential to keep at least a 2-foot zone surrounding your unit clear to eliminate fire hazards and ensure proper airflow.
• Check and replace thermostat batteries.
  This quick and easy task can prevent the need for an emergency run for replacement batteries. We recommend changing them on a schedule with the batteries in your fire alarm and carbon monoxide detectors. Is your thermostat so old it doesn’t have backup batteries?  It’s definitely time for a thermostat upgrade.
• Keep an ear open for strange noises.
  Strange noises indoors or out could indicate trapped debris, loose hardware, and electrical issues that could cause system damage. If you hear anything unusual or new, calling your local HVAC service professional sooner, rather than later, could prevent the need for more extensive (and expensive) repairs.

Tasks You Should NEVER Perform Yourself

These HVAC maintenance tasks are dangerous – either for your lifespan or your system’s – and best left to a pro like H & H:

• Anything involving electrical.
  Your system is high-voltage, operating between 220-240 volts and requiring a dedicated circuit to run. This amount of voltage can injure or even kill someone with insufficient electrical experience.
• Project requiring specialty tools.
  If you don’t own a multimeter, leak detector, or refrigeration system analyzer and know how to use them, you should leave maintenance tasks requiring them to the pros.
• Anything involving refrigerants.
  Refrigerants are hazardous to your health and the environment. They can also be explosive.

Maintain your warranty and keep your heating and air conditioning system operating a peak performance with the help of H & H Heating & Air Conditioning. Contact us to schedule your routine annual maintenance today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/3-hvac-maintenance-tasks-that-can-be-safely-diy/

6 Reasons Why Your AC is Not Controlling Indoor Humidity Well

Is your home sticky and uncomfortable? With today’s COVID concerns, it’s more important than ever to maintain proper humidity levels in your home. COVID and other viruses and bacteria thrive and spread in both very low and very high humidity conditions. Keeping relative humidity levels in your home between 40-60% is best to safeguard your family’s health. How can you improve the performance of your air conditioner, gaining control of moisture levels in your home?

Change Speeds

Old or “economy” systems that offer only one fan speed (on or off) can experience the same problem as a system that is too large to offer effective humidity control, running at full blast in temperature is achieved, then cycling off again. When it’s time for a new air conditioner, consider upgrading to a modulating/variable fan system for more precise, efficient performance and improved comfort humidity control. Your wallet will thank you.

Use Different Thermostat Settings

While the movement of air in your home can make you feel cooler, using your “fan on” setting on your thermostat will not remove excess humidity. Instead, it can make humidity issues worse, blowing moisture your unit is trying to remove back into your home.

Add Whole House Humidification And Dehumidification Protection

Whole house dehumidifiers and humidifiers, added to your central comfort system, ensure ideal relative humidity in your home year-round. Dehumidification in the summer prevents the proliferation and spread of dangerous microorganisms. Humidification in the winter also reduces the incidence of airborne virus, bacteria, dust, and other irritants which easily spread in dry air.

Address Air Pressure Issues

If you feel a whoosh of air every time you open a door or window, your home could have negative air pressure issues. In this scenario, pressure attempts to equalize, drawing outside air into your home through every open door, window, crack, and crevice. In the summer, when humidity levels are high, this includes muggy air. If you fear your home is affected by this phenomenon, talk to an HVAC pro regarding ventilation system changes that can help you correct this issue.

Purchase A Smaller Unit

Improperly sized systems, specifically those too large for your home, are ineffective at removing moisture, and often struggle to maintain temperature. A telltale sign is a system that turns off and on frequently. In this case, the air conditioner never runs long enough to remove moisture from the air. Talk to a licensed, experienced HVAC technician – not a builder – to ensure a new system that’s a perfect fit.

Upgrade Your Aging Unit

Aging systems, particularly those over 10 years old, don’t run as efficiently as they did when new. When maintenance has been neglected, wear can increase exponentially, leading to inconsistent temperatures, inadequate cooling, and poor humidity control. If your older system is struggling to handle your home comfort needs, and preventative maintenance and a coil cleaning does not fix the issue, it may be time to invest in a new system.

Don’t sweat humidity issues in your home. Contact H & H Heating & Air Conditioning to schedule a system consultation today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/6-reasons-why-your-ac-is-not-controlling-indoor-humidity-well/

AC Not Blowing Cold Air? Here's What May Be Wrong

What’s wrong with my air conditioner? If your air conditioner is not blowing cold air – or not blowing air at all – it may not mean the end of your ac unit. In fact, in many cases, this problem has a simple fix.

Why Isn’t My AC Blowing Cold Air?

• Reasons For AC Blowing Warm Air

  • Improper Thermostat Setting
    If your AC is alternating between blowing warm and cold air, check to see if your thermostat fan is set to “on.” In this setting, your system will blow air constantly – even if it is not cooling air. Simply switch your thermostat to the “auto” setting and the problem is solved.
  • Dirty Air Filter
    If your system is outfitted with a filthy home air filter, it can thwart proper circulation, forcing your system to work harder and impacting performance. If your air filter is very dirty, replace it and see if this addresses the problem.
  • Outside Unit Smothered by Vegetation or Debris
    Your unit needs breathing room to perform properly. Check for and clear weeds and detritus around your outdoor unit, ensuring ample circulation. If you notice your fan is not working, contact your local AC repairman for a professional assessment here.

• Reasons No Air Is Blowing From Supply Vents

  • Improper Temperature Setting
    If your system isn’t blowing air at all, make sure the temperature setting is at least 5 degrees cooler than the air in your home. Also, check and make sure other family members haven’t altered thermostat settings, turning the unit to “heat” or “off.”
  • Dirty Air Filter
    If your system has operated with a dirty air filter for a long time, or the filter is so dirty it has completely blocked air flow, it may have a frozen coil. In this case, after you change your air filter, you may have to turn your system off and wait a while – up to several hours – for the coil to thaw to verify proper operation.
  • Electrical Issues
    There are a number of ways electrical issues could impact air conditioner performance. A unit that has experienced a surge could trip a circuit breaker, cutting power to the unit. If this is not the problem, check the power switches at the outside unit and the air handler (inside unit). There are a number of scenarios in which they may have been turned off. If you are able to get your system back in operation, and this problem repeats itself, your air conditioner may be overheating. In this case, fast emergency repair service is highly recommended to prevent damage to the system.

Are you still puzzled as to why your AC is not blowing cold air? Get down to the source of the problem quickly, reduce snowballing repair costs, and safeguard your system’s lifespan. Contact H & H Heating & Air Conditioning for a system inspection today.

This blog was originally posted on https://www.delcohvac.com/ac-not-blowing-cold-air-heres-what-may-be-wrong/