Serving the Monroe / West Monroe area
According to the EPA, Americans spend more than 90% of their time indoors. And unfortunately, the air we breathe in our homes is often full of contaminants, much more so than outdoor air. What can be done about our indoor air quality? Is an air filter enough? We’d like to tell you about another option: UV air purifiers.
Some parts of the country are still dealing with the last of the winter snow. Here in Louisiana, though, summer is not far away. And if your air conditioner struggled to get through the heat last year, you might be considering getting a replacement so you won’t have to worry that the old one will break down just when you need it most, on the first sweltering day of the season.
When you’re considering AC replacement options, you’ll notice that they all have SEER ratings. What does that mean? How will it affect your choice? The SEER rating requirements have changed recently, so you’re not the only one that could use some more information. Here is a breakdown of the facts for you.
The compressor is the heart of the air conditioner. It does the critical job of pumping the refrigerant throughout the entire system of evaporator and condenser coils, and your air conditioner can’t live without it just as you can’t live without your heart. Unfortunately, sometimes an air conditioner problem results in a broken compressor. What can you do then? Do you need a new AC unit?
We’ll talk you through the things most likely to cause compressor failure, what your options are once it’s happened, and some considerations to help you make the right choice about how to move forward.
If your heater is having a problem, we always advocate for prompt repairs. Getting something fixed right away can make the difference between a small repair (and a small bill) and major components being damaged and needing to be replaced (which means a much larger bill). But there are times when it just doesn’t make sense to pay for a repair. How can you tell whether you should keep investing in your old heater or get a new one? Let us explain the 50% rule.
If you need to plan, modify, or update an HVAC system in your commercial building for the first time, you probably have an understanding of HVAC systems that is based on your knowledge of how they work in residential settings. While there are definitely similarities, commercial HVAC systems are not just larger versions of residential systems. To help you understand the importance of having the right system for your building, we’ll go over what these differences are and what impacts they have.
Most people are experts in just one or two areas. Someone might be great at fixing cars but at a loss when it comes to computer problems. Someone might be brilliant at gardening but a terrible cook. No one should feel the need to be an expert at everything. That’s what experts are for! When it comes to your own home, you should feel empowered to learn some basics about the systems that keep it running.
While you should always leave the actual repair to the experts, you don’t have to stay in the dark about your own heating system. The most important thing to know is when to call in the experts.
How can you tell when your heater is working fine and when it’s in dire need of repair? Here are some clues you’ll spot if your heater is in trouble.
When your heater needs to be replaced, the installation is a significant part of the cost. It can be tempting to hire an amateur, someone with some home-improvement skills but no regular heater installation experience, and no specific training. They might be a cheaper option. Or, if you’re a DIY enthusiast, you might wonder if you can do the installation yourself.
What are the benefits of having a qualified technician install your heater, and what are the risks of amateur installation? We’ll give you a full rundown of the reasons why a highly-trained professional should be the only person installing heating equipment in your home.
We often talk on this blog about the importance of having repairs done promptly when any part of your HVAC system is experiencing problems. Delaying repairs can cause small problems to worsen, put strain on other parts of the system, or even cause damage to unrelated components.
The trick is knowing how to catch problems early, and one of the best ways to do that is listening to the sounds your furnace makes. Pay attention to the sounds you hear when all is going well. They should be steady and consistent, and not very loud. Once you’re familiar with the good sounds, you’re more likely to notice right away when strange sounds occur. What strange sounds might you hear when your furnace is having trouble, and what kind of trouble do they indicate? Read on to find out.
Sometimes, homeowners are reluctant to spend money on regular maintenance for a heating system that seems to be working just fine. They may imagine that they should save that money for when repairs are needed, or when their heater needs to be replaced. However, they are incorrect. We believe it’s important for our customers to be well-informed about all issues surrounding their home comfort systems, and information about how they can save money is definitely part of that. Heating maintenance will actually save you money in several different ways, and we’ll tell you all of them.
Gas furnaces have many components, and it can be easy to get confused about terms like “flame sensor” and “pilot assembly” and be unclear about just how critical a part is to your furnace’s ability to function. For simplicity’s sake, let us state for the record that without a heat exchanger, you don’t have a furnace. While other components are also very important to the function of your heater, and all problems should be addressed promptly by qualified technicians, a cracked heat exchanger is an emergency causing not only heating failure but also serious safety hazards.
So we’d like to help you understand what a heat exchanger is, how it works, why it might crack, and what to do if it does so that you can navigate that situation with the seriousness it requires.