Tag Archive for filter

Kate Miller | February 26, 2013
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Keeping Furnace Efficiency at its Peak!

February may be coming to a close, but winter is still pounding most of the country. As we beg Mother Nature for a break, everywhere from Texas to Chicago is being coated in snow and ice. Though we may be wishing for warmer weather, winter is not showing any signs of coming to a close. This means that we still need to keep on top of the heating system maintenance for just a while longer. Now is not the time to take a break and sacrifice energy efficiency.

The Easiest Maintenance Step: Filter Replacement

The very least the every homeowner should be doing is changing the filter. Yes the filter protects the air quality in the home, but failing to change it could cause much bigger problems than dirty indoor air. Many homeowners don’t realize that a dirty filter can reduce the furnace efficiency by up to 60% and possibly even lead to a system breakdown. If you have noticed an increase in your energy costs, ask yourself when was the last time you changed your filter. Read more

Category: Air Quality, Heating, Maintenance, Money Saving | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | December 7, 2012
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Study Finds that Plants Reduce Air Pollution in Cities

It has been a known fact for ages that plants have a positive effect on our environment. The most commonly known benefit is their ability to take in our carbon dioxide waste and produce breathable oxygen. They also provide shade and aesthetic beauty to our neighborhoods, but if you live in a city, a new study has found that plants in your area can reduce air pollution by two major contaminants to a greater extent than was ever previously thought possible.

The Study:

The ACS journal, Environmental Science & Technology has found that liberal placement of plants like grass, climbing ivy, and trees in urban areas can reduce street level concentration of NO2 by as much as 40% and reduce particulate matter by 60%. Previous estimates only placed these numbers at about 5%. Read more

Category: Air Purification, Air Quality, Helpful Tips | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | February 6, 2012
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Filters Filling Up Too Fast

With all of the things that have to be taken care of around the home, we could all use a little help simplifying things if possible. When it comes to maintaining the furnace and air conditioner in your home, changing the filter is a simple task that will help the unit function properly. However, remembering to change that filter can become a bit of a hassle. Put it off for too long and suddenly the furnace no longer works properly.

Upgrading Your Filter

So, you go out of your way and spend more on a fancy filter that should last you 3 to 6 months instead of just one. You check on it after 30 days just to see how everything is working only to find that the filter is filthy and already needs to be replaced. Is there something wrong with that filter or could there be bigger indoor air quality issues at hand? Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Furnace, Home Services | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | November 30, 2011
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Why Does My Furnace Cycle On and Off Every Few Minutes?

The average homeowner is not a furnace repair expert, so when something goes wrong with our system we often rely on the pros to make it all make sense. However, it is difficult to just trust a stranger at their word especially if you have never used that company before. That is why it is smart to get at least a general idea of some of the potential causes of your problem. A popular problem that many homeowners face is called short cycling. If this is a problem in your home, you will notice that the furnace turns on and off every few minutes and the temperature set on the thermostat is never reached. This can be very frustrating and disruptive for the homeowner and there are several causes that could be contributing to this problem. Some of the more common causes of this problem include:

  • Filthy Filters: A dirty filter will stop the proper amount of air from getting into your furnace. This leads of overheating that will trip the furnace to turn off as a safety mechanism. Simply change the filter and you could be back in business.
  • Lack of Air Flow: Snow and other debris can block the ventilation system of a high efficiency furnace. If this is your problem, the harmful gases created by the furnace will back up into the unit and force a protective shut down which will look like short cycling. Clean away the obstruction and you may be able to restore proper operation. Read more
Category: Furnace, Heating, Repair, Safety | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | September 21, 2011
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Don’t Forget Your Humidifier!

When you start to think about keeping your home comfortable during the winter, the first thing that comes to mind is the furnace or in some cases the boiler. These units are the central component to home comfort during the cold winter months, but they are supported by another system that is often neglected when it comes to yearly maintenance and repairs. The humidifier adds to the comfort within your home, and if you haven’t had this system looked at in years, you could find yourself without it this winter season. As with most things, you don’t truly recognize their value until they are no longer working, but this can be prevented by having your HVAC contractor include this system in your fall furnace tune up.

The Value of Your Humidifier   

Some homeowners can see the value in having a system that adds moisture to the air, but others don’t see the need. We suspect that this is simply due to the fact that they don’t truly understand how their humidifier could help boost comfort and even produce savings during the winter months. It works on the basic principle that moist air can hold more heat than dry air. As the furnace runs, it can eliminate any moisture that may have been in the air leaving the home dry and uncomfortable. Read more

Category: Air Quality, Furnace, Heating | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | August 3, 2011
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Suffering Without Central Air

I finally got a chance to talk to a new neighbor of mine. Since
they moved in a few months ago I’ve seen him take his garbage out a few times, but today I got a chance to meet and talk to him. My curiosity got the better of me and I asked him why their windows were always open. His reply floored me. They didn’t have central air conditioning. I asked what was keeping them from getting an air conditioner installed. He said it was because they had hot water heat and they didn’t have any duct work in their home. He then answered my next question before I could get it out and told me that they couldn’t get window air conditioners because of the size of their windows. My reply was: it doesn’t matter!

You Can Get Central Air Conditioning Too!

Most homes that don’t have preexisting duct work can get a central air conditioning system installed for a reasonable price. The procedure is just a matter of putting an air handler in the attic to circulate the cold air and running flexible ducts to each of the rooms. There is no major carpentry or drywall work involved at all. Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Contractors, Helpful Tips | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Raymond S- HVAC Specialist | May 4, 2011
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Cartridge Filters Explained

The big topic nowadays is cartridge filters. Next time you’re at Home Depot, Lowes or what ever home center you use, look at the furnace filters. You may notice they sell filters with dimensions of 25” X 20” by 5” thick or 16” X 25” by 5”thick, this is the style of cartridge filter I have in my house. These filters do come in other sizes from 2” thick to 5” thick. The reason they are so desirable is the surface area they have available for air filtration. After looking at a few different MERV rated filters you will notice, the higher MERV rated filters will have more pleats per inch.  You might also notice the higher the MERV rating is the tighter the weave of the filter material. That is the secret of how they work. MERV ratings determine the size of particles that a filter will be able to capture. The higher the rating, the smaller the particles the filter can collect. Read more

Category: Air Quality, Furnace | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Raymond S- HVAC Specialist | April 26, 2011
4 comments

Why Does it Cost So Much to Clean an A-Coil?

Why does it cost so much to clean an A-COIL? The truth is it doesn’t have to! I was recently asked by a customer why we had to pull out the a-coil to clean it. The answer was because it had so much dirt packed in-between the fins of the coil we needed to power wash it. We don’t see them this bad that often, most of the time they can be cleaned in place, but every once in a while we see a coil that is so dirty there is no other way to clean it but to power wash it outside of the system.

10 Steps to a Clean Coil

There are 10 steps to cleaning a coil that is plugged badly. This repair is more involved because any refrigerant in the system must be removed before a major cleaning can be performed. This is a simple summery of how the repair may go, and an explanation of how the cost can easily skyrocket for this service: Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Money Saving | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | March 7, 2011
4 comments

Spring Filter Questions

Spring is a new season, and with the new season comes new questions concerning your HVAC system. As you being to bring the air conditioner out of hibernation, you may have some questions regarding the air filtration of the system. Filters are a vital part of your HVAC system all year round , and special care and attention needs to be paid to this component of the system during the spring and summer months as well. Hopefully these responses answer some of your filter questions:

  • Does the air conditioner even need a filter?

Answer: Many homeowners don’t even realize that there is a filter that needs to be changed during the summer months. They assume that because the furnace isn’t making heat, they no longer need to change the filter in it during the off season. However, the filter in the furnace is the same filter the air conditioner uses during the summer months. The blower on the furnace that disperses heat also disperses cooling. Failing to change this filter during the summer months could cause major problems for the air conditioner and your entire HVAC system.

Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Air Quality, Furnace | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | December 15, 2010
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Filter Confusion

Ever notice how your thermostat will occasionally will flash the word “filter?” If you have a digital thermostat, chances are your thermostat has this capability, and if you have been ignoring it, now is the time to pay attention to it! That flashing word is a maintenance reminder for you to check the filter on the furnace. Depending on the type of filter you use, you may have to change it more or less frequently than the reminder advises. However, neglecting to change the filter enough can cause serious damage to the furnace and to the air quality in the home. So how do you know how frequently to change it?

Unfortunately, there isn’t one clear cut answer to that question. You should check the recommended filter life on the manufacturer’s packaging, and consult a professional if you are not sure. However, there are many factors that could contribute to more frequent filter changes. These include: Read more

Category: Air Quality, Duct Cleaning, Furnace, Helpful Tips | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,