It’s well-known that information is power. If you are armed with the correct information, you can make smart decisions on anything. On the other hand, false information can result in poor choices and complex issues down the line. The bad news is that misinformation is everywhere. A lot of people believe in myths that stop them from seeing the truth. This is prevalent in all topics, may they be mundane or profound. Homeowners are usually victims of myths. For instance, they often hear wrong information regarding their HVAC system care or heating and air conditioning services that lead to them making bad decisions. This article aims to set some of the HVAC service myths straight.
Read on to discover several heating and cooling concepts that are generally misunderstood.
A few people might think that replacing their HVAC filter once a year is enough. However, air filter replacement should be done quarterly or even monthly. This way, the heating and air conditioning system can function smoothly.
The air filter significantly impacts your indoor air quality. It traps unwanted airborne particles, like pollen, pet hair, dander, and dust, among others. This way, you and your family breathe healthier indoor air. With a dirty air filter in place, you will experience bouts of illnesses, such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and other respiratory problems. However, air filters have limitations. You need to replace it when its surface has developed a considerable layer of dirt. If you don’t, you and your family’s health will suffer. The system will also be inefficient because of poor airflow.
Many people typically think that bigger is better. Massive cars and big homes are the usual indicators of success. Therefore, it isn’t a surprise that some believe that getting the largest HVAC system they can afford is the best way to go about it.
Heating and air conditioning size is a crucial factor when choosing an HVAC unit. However, it doesn’t mean that bigger is the better choice. A bulky heating and cooling system might be excessive for a small room. It will result in short cycling, which causes faster wear and tear. The system also can’t reduce indoor humidity. Consult a professional HVAC technician to ensure proper HVAC sizing. They utilize a scientific approach to determine the proper HVAC system size. This calculation helps avoid issues, such as frequent heating and cooling repairs and, ultimately, premature HVAC replacement. Therefore, be sure to have an HVAC contractor perform this calculation before an HVAC installation takes place in your home.
All homeowners want to lower their household expenses. It is necessary to be mindful and use the correct strategies to save money because using the wrong ones might backfire. For instance, homeowners tend to ignore their HVAC system’s maintenance needs as long as the unit is working as it should. They think it is needed only when their heating and cooling unit or its components are broken.
However, the opposite is true. Regular HVAC maintenance is necessary to prevent expensive heating and cooling system breakdowns. Remember that HVAC maintenance is cheaper. Also, manufacturers are likely to void the warranty if the prescribed maintenance schedule isn’t adhered to. Be proactive in preventing system failure if you really want to save money. At the very least, have a professional HVAC technician conduct yearly maintenance.
An HVAC system uses a lot of energy to change the indoor temperature per your preference. However, air leaks waste much of these efforts. Air can escape through unseen gaps, holes, and cracks. Therefore, your heating and air conditioning system will overwork to compensate for these leaks. It is best to find all air leaks and seal them. It might sound easy, but it’s not. You could spend the whole day searching for them without much progress. Your best bet is to hire professionals to find the leaks and seal them for you. They are equipped with specialized tools and have the training and experience to spot leaks across the HVAC ductwork and around your home.
Thermostats have a sensor that senses the ambient temperature and regulates the operation of your HVAC system. All you need to do is input the settings you want, and the thermostat will take action to make it happen. Thermostats are typically reliable, but, in some cases, they can behave oddly. For instance, it could have false readings that affect the heating and cooling unit’s operations. The thermostat also can’t do anything if your house is poorly insulated or there are any air leaks. The thermostat’s best efforts might be inadequate to achieve the temperature setting. Have a qualified HVAC technician conduct HVAC maintenance regularly to ensure optimum comfort and performance.
Lack of understanding of how many devices work results in the formulation of myths. Learning more about HVAC systems means you are less likely to fall prey to these myths. You can examine everything closely so that you can spot which ones are fallacies. You can also consult your local, trusted HVAC technician to get some advice whenever you are unsure.
Tower Energy provides high-quality HVAC services in Hartford County, Connecticut. We hire only professionally certified heating and air conditioning technicians who offer excellent heating and cooling tune-ups, installations, replacements, and repairs. Each of our friendly techs has years of experience and extensive knowledge to conduct accurate services on your HVAC system at all times. We can provide practical solutions to increase the efficiency of your system, improve your air quality, and enhance your comfort.
Our company offers highly competitive HVAC service prices in the area. Our maintenance services can extend your HVAC system’s service life and reduce your energy costs. We can also recommend the best solutions for your HVAC repair and replacement system needs while staying within your budget. Your satisfaction is important to us, so all our work comes with a guarantee. Give Tower Energy a call today to book a service appointment. We offer free, in-home estimates.
Contact us now or call us at (860) 677-7347 to find out more.
Everyone wants to live in a comfortable home. A very large part of the comfort that people know and expect comes from the ability to maintain even indoor temperatures. The temperature of any single room shouldn’t vary significantly from the rooms and spaces around it. When dealing with hot and cold spots in house, however, discomfort and unease ensue.
The good news is that central HVAC systems are capable of providing stable and balanced temperatures throughout all of the rooms in a building. When HVAC systems aren’t able to accomplish this, many people are eager to find out why and resolve the problem.
Does your home have unpleasant hot and cold spots? Following is a quick look at what hot and cold spots are, and the factors that are responsible for them. We’ll also share a few tips on regulating the temperature of your home.
Several issues can be responsible for hot and cold spots. Understanding the cause of these problems can help you determine the underlying cause and the best ways to eliminate hot and cold spots. The following are a few common causes of indoor air balancing issues and their associated solutions.
If the overall design for your home makes proper airflow difficult, certain areas will be more likely to have warm spots. Likewise, certain areas will be more prone to feeling cool. It might be that your home isn’t zoned, which can help quite a bit in keeping temperatures consistent and even throughout specific areas.
When you create zones, you get far better control over indoor temperatures. You can raise or lower temperatures in select zones independently, which is a very effective way to meet everyone’s comfort needs.
Ductwork plays a major factor in determining how well your home can be heated or cooled. There are two cases in which ductwork can be blamed for cold and hot spots throughout the building:
In each of these cases, homes are usually older, and thus, their ducts might not have the ability to meet the demands of new HVAC technologies. Also, they may not be energy-efficient.
If you’re looking for ways to balance out the heat in your multi-story home, you certainly aren’t alone. Even if your home HVAC system is high-performing and highly efficient, you’ll still have uneven temperatures throughout the hours if the airflow is restricted or if any air vents have been blocked. Anything keeping warm or cool air from flowing smoothly will result in areas that feel cooler or warmer than they ought to.
Although you might diligently and regularly maintain your home heating and cooling system, you can still have hot and cold spots throughout the building as the result of solar heat. Solar heat gain occurs in spaces that get ample amounts of sunlight. Homes that have old, low-efficiency windows or windows that are damaged tend to let considerable amounts of heat and light in. As a result, solar heat gain has an impact on the HVAC system’s ability to keep the space at a comfortable temperature.
If you have a thermostat installed in an area that receives direct sunlight, the sun’s heat is going to affect this unit’s ability to read temperatures correctly. Due to this fact, the thermostat will adjust temperatures incorrectly. This is also true for thermostats that are installed in drafty areas or that are routinely exposed to heat from lamps or other heat sources.
Air leaks are known for causing hot and cold spots throughout buildings. Holes, cracks, gaps, and issues at ceilings and walls can let the indoor air outside, which can result in dramatic changes in room temperatures.
The sizing of your HVAC system refers to its ability to heat or cool your living space according to size. If an HVAC system is improperly sized for the environment, this means that it is too large or small to do its job. In either case, extreme inefficiency will result. Moreover, you will likely have problems with lower indoor air quality, short cycling, increased humidity, and uneven temperatures throughout the home.
The good news is that hot and cold spots aren’t an irreparable issue. More importantly, many remedies are both low in cost and easy to use. Following are several simple solutions that you can use.
Check air vents in all rooms throughout your home. Verify that there aren’t any obstructions over or in front of them. Solid items such as plants and furniture can impact the airflow and will keep cooled or warmed air from being properly distributed by the system. This is also the case when the vents are closed. Keep all of your HVAC vents open. Relocate, remove, or simply reposition items to ensure free airflow.
Homeowners wind up spending hundreds of extra dollars in energy each year as the result of drafts. Cracks, holes, and gaps throughout the home allow inside air to seep out, which wreaks havoc on the HVAC system. Look around for drafts in windows, doors, and joints, and then have these things repaired.
If you have outdated insulation or a fairly old home, think about scheduling an inspection to find out whether either of these factors is creating fluctuations in temperature. Certain types of insulation don’t last as long as their alternatives, which could be the reason why basement temperatures are different from temperatures on the first floor, or why your kitchen is cold and your living room isn’t.
One very effective way to eliminate hot and cold spots is through zoning. This allows you to raise or lower temperatures in a specific area. This will allow everyone to enjoy an environment that balanced to suit individual needs. Speak with an HVAC company about your options in zoning. Make sure to ask about ductless, mini-split HVAC systems. You should additionally install a smart thermostat that can help automate adjustments in temperature.
A lot of homeowners make the mistake of ignoring HVAC maintenance until their home heating and cooling equipment starts malfunctioning. Have your system inspected once each year to identify possible problems early on so that they can be resolved.
If your home feels much colder than the thermostat reading implies, or if there are warm spots in spaces that are supposed to be cool, then your HVAC system might not have enough airflow. One very common cause of insufficient airflow is a dirty, clogged filter. Check your filters once each month and then replace or clean them as necessary. Clean air filters will help regulate indoor temperatures and they’ll also limit the number of pollutants being circulated throughout your home.
The easiest and least expensive way to get rid of hot and cold spots is by using window treatments. Blinds and curtains help moderate the amount of sunlight that enters the living space. As such, your HVAC system won’t have to work harder than it’s meant to create and maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
Eliminating hot and cold spots throughout your home does not have to be a frustrating and overly complex task. More often than not, the underlying cause of these issues isn’t as serious as many people believe. Just a few simple steps can be all that it takes to resolve this common problem. Maintaining a good indoor air balance, particularly when it comes to temperature, airflow, and direction, will ensure consistent temperatures and ongoing comfort for all residents.
Tower Energy has a long-standing reputation for providing superior HVAC services throughout the area. Our technicians are all NATE-certified and can offer truly remarkable HVAC installations, repairs, tune-ups, and full system replacements. Furthermore, our techs have ample knowledge and industry experience for meeting your HVAC needs perfectly. Our team is also able to identify the right home comfort solutions for your living environment.
When you hire Tower Energy, you can be sure that you’re in excellent hands. Our HVAC service costs are the most competitive in the region, and our work is always backed with a solid guarantee. When we provide you with one of our heating and cooling services, our top priorities are always helping our customers maintain high levels of energy efficiency, optimum indoor air qualities, and undeniable comfort. To schedule a home visit, call our office now and receive a free, in-home estimate.
Contact us now or call us at (860) 677-7347 to find out more.