Troubleshooting Common Issues With Heating and Air

One day a heating and air system will be invented that will run forever without the slightest problem. Until that time, we have to make do with what we have. Let's face it, though: what we have is pretty good. As long as you can afford to install a decent system and pay the electric bill, you never have to spend a single night sweltering from the heat or shivering in the cold. That is, until that precarious system stops working. Then you have to scramble to get a professional out to fix it. Before you do so, here are some troubleshooting hints that may allow you to get things working again a bit more quickly.

Unit Not Working It's a bad feeling when your unit stops. You wake up an hour or so before your alarm goes off in the morning, wondering why you're suddenly so hot. Or maybe you come home from a dinner out to realize your house is a bit colder than you would have preferred. You walk over to the thermostat and realize that your heating and air system isn't working at all. Here are some things you can check before you head to the phone. First, make sure electricity is getting to the system. Check your circuit breaker box (or fuse box) to see if anything has been blown. Check to make sure the thermostat is set correctly and has power.

No Heat When the weather starts kicking up a cool wind outside, you want to make sure your heating and air system can provide you with warmth when you walk through the door. If your system isn't providing heat, here are some things you can check. Start with the thermostat. Someone may have changed your preferred settings or turned it off altogether. If there is a reset switch, you may try pressing it. If it is snowing outside, make sure snow has not accumulated against the outdoor unit, preventing it from working properly.

No A/C If the unit itself is working, but you're not getting cold air out of the vents, there are a few things that could be wrong that are easily fixable for the average homeowner. First, if cool air is coming out but your home isn't improving its temperature, make sure it isn't escaping through open doors or windows. Once again, check your thermostat and make sure it is set correctly. Take a look at your filter and see if it needs to be changed. If it is clogged, you may not get the efficiency you need out of your heating and air system.

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Heat Pumps Vs Solar Water Geysers

Heat pumps and Solar Water Geysers have been created for the same purpose of maximizing environmental resources and reducing electricity bill while providing heat to a home or an office space. Heat pumps use the heat from an outside source to transfer it to an inside space while consuming very little energy in doing so.

A Solar Water Geyser on the other hand provides for hot water using a free source of energy - the sun. If you're wondering what would be the best one to purchase for your home, read on to gain a few more insights in helping you making a choice between the two.

Heat pumps transfer heat from the air, ground or water into the house using a certain amount of electricity that is used to enhance the heat. Solar water geysers use the sun's heat absorbed from panels installed on the roof. Heat pumps use electricity, while solar water geysers do not use any at all. Both systems have been proven to save energy but savings from using a solar water geyser is proven to be higher in comparison to using a heat pump.

However, savings for the heat pump is more consistent compared to the solar powered heating system and this is because sunlight hours vary, therefore it's not able to provide 100% of its function all the time. In the summer, solar water geysers can function perfectly, but during winter when there is a difference in the solar irradiance and when people need more heat, they are unable to function as perfectly.

Heat pumps can be used day and night and is not weather dependent while this might not be applicable to solar water geysers whose main energy source is the sun. Backup electric heating features are installed on solar water geysers to compensate for this problem but of course this affects its energy saving potential.

In terms of the cost for putting up either system, it may depend on the size and quality of the device a person wants. Solar geysers are basically made of simple materials so they are quite cheaper compared to the cost of heat pumps. The price of installation for the solar geyser may be higher considering that the solar panels have to be installed in multiple locations all over a house and it might even require some renovation to be done.

Heat pumps are easier and faster to install and there's no need for renovation or major changes. Even if you want to cover a large area, you just might need to install another unit and that's it. In choosing which heating system to install, the size and design of the house should also be considered to determine which unit and what type would be most suitable, also because solar water geysers may not be fit for any type of roof.

Solar panels are susceptible to damage from freezing and other weather conditions as they are usually placed on the roof. They are presumed to have a shorter life-span compared to a heat pump which has an average lifespan of 10-15 years. Either system would be a good investment and would serve the purpose of providing heat, helping preserve the environment, and reducing electricity consumption.

In deciding which one to install on your home or office, consider the following: the size of the home/office, the capital you have for the initial purchase and the estimated or projected savings that is expected to get afterwards.

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The Big Deal About Ground Source Heat Pumps

Ground source heat pumps are being discussed frequently around the water coolers at work, and in the clubs when people are enjoying casual conversation, and just about anywhere that people gather to socialize. What is the big deal about ground source heat pumps, and why are so many people talking about them?

Energy is created under the ground when matter that is in the soil decomposes. Some of this matter is from plants and some of the matter is from animals. The sunlight shines on the ground and increases the temperature of the dirt beneath us. The ground is like a huge electric blanket that holds the heat it has in and does not let it escape quickly. This means that the temperature beneath the surface of the earth stays pretty close to the same all year round. It rises a few degrees and lowers a few degrees, but basically the temperature is constant.

This constant temperature means that there is a constant source of heat below the surface of the earth's crust. All we have to do is install ground source heat pumps to enable that warmth to be transferred from beneath the surface and into our homes.

The big deal about these items and using them to heat our homes in the winter and cool our homes in the summer is that the warmth they provide to our homes comes at no additional cost. If you have a gas burning boiler you must buy supplies of gas to power that boiler. The boiler needs a steady supply of gas to function.

Some companies make their living selling the gas that the boiler will need to the consumer that wants it. Sometimes gas is piped underground through the town and the customer connects to it by paying the company that takes care of the pipes that carry it. There will be a meter at the customer's location that the gas company comes to read once a month in order to determine the amount of gas the household used. Sometimes the gas is delivered to the homes of the customers in large trucks. The truck has fittings on it that allow it to transfer gas from it to a smaller tank on the property of the customer.

The warmth beneath the ground occurs due to natural processes and therefore, it does not cost the person that uses it any money. The installation of the equipment necessary to extract this heat from the earth and transfer inside the home is slightly expensive. You have to remember that once you have everything installed you will not have to pay anything else to have heat inside your home. This also works for the cool air you want in the summer time. The process is reversed where the air temperature inside the home heats the fluid inside the pipes and when the fluid flows through the sections of pipes that is under ground the fluid is cooled. When the cooler fluid comes back into the home it cools the air temperature.

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Are There Any Problems Associated With Underfloor Heating Systems?

Lately, there has been an increase in the popularity of underfloor heating because many homeowners have realised how effective these systems are at keeping their homes warm. Making the decision to install this type of heating, however, often causes homeowners to ask a number of questions about its effectiveness. One of the more common questions surrounds the occurrence of problems with the underfloor system. There are actually a number of things that could go wrong, and they have been outlined below.

Insulation: If your home has been properly insulated and has had the correct underfloor heating system installed, you should be able to effectively save energy. If your home hasn't been properly insulated, however, you may find that your electricity costs actually increase and that you experience moisture problems (even mold growth if you're really unlucky). This is especially prevalent when being installed in floors with absolutely no insulation. Flooring: Before making the decision to install underfloor heating in your home, you should carefully look at the types of materials that you have used to cover your floors. Parquet flooring, for example, will actually block the warmth from entering the room above. Timber floorboards are known to crack over time because the heating dries it out. If you don't have hard and heavy materials (like natural stone and ceramic tile) you might find that your system is lacking. Life Expectancy: If your underfloor heating system has been properly installed by a professional, it should last for at least 30 to 40 years, and maybe even longer. Some parts may need to be replaced after about 15 years, but this should be fairly inexpensive and easily completed. If your heating system has not been properly installed, however, you might find that it only lasts a short amount of time. You could also find yourself spending extra cash on repairs.

Whilst there can be no denying that there are a few problems associated with underfloor heating, it should also be noted that these problems will only occur if you don't choose the correct system for your home or you don't have it installed properly. Providing that you contact a professional and ensure that your flooring is not a porous material, you can rest assured that your underfloor system will be able to provide your home with the warmth and comfort that you have long desired, as well as helping to save you money.

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The Importance of Heating Oil Tank Maintenance

As the nights begin to draw in and the temperature drops to an uncomfortable level, the attentions of the many that warm their house with heating oil turn to stocking up. However before making that call to your favoured supplier, it's important to ensure that your heating oil tank is serviced and properly maintained. In this article, we'll take a closer look at why it's important to maintain your tank before the winter sets in.

They say that time is a healer, however for many operational products, it's the complete opposite. Time, usage and the weather all combine to increase the probability of operational problems and reduced efficiency. Fuel tanks are no different and neglect will lead to an increased chance of something going wrong. However when handled the right way, noticeable decline in a tank's performance can be easily avoided.

Running an annual service on your heating oil tank is the obvious way to maintain its performance. While fuel tanks are designed to last a number of years, the peripheral parts that are in regular operation have a shorter shelf life and are prone to wear and tear. This servicing will pick up any signs of parts coming towards the end of their life, thus preventing future breakages or faults occurring. Often, the cost of replacing a worn part is less than locating and fixing it, should an issue occur caused by it being non-functional.

Ensuring that all parts are operating as intended will improve efficiency and guarantee you receive full performance. The service industry has reported a growing problem with heavy winters and wet summers corroding tanks and their lines, resulting in lost and spilled oil. As much as 5% of a tank's contents can be lost in this way, which equates to a sizable amount of money, given the price rises in heating oil.

Alongside the personal expense is the potential cost to the environment. Spills have resulted in contaminations that have affected local soil as well as rivers and ultimately drinking water. It is an owner's responsibility to ensure that spills don't occur and if they do, they are liable for its cleanup. Failure to do so can result in large fines and potentially the removal of the tank.

The best time to run servicing on your tank is when it's low on heating oil, often towards the end of the summer months. This is when you get better access to the working parts and can really test the lines for signs of leakages or damage. If the tank is external, it's best to carry out maintenance before the leaves fall from the trees, as this is all too often a cause for blockages and problems. During this season it's important to remember to clear away debris and ensure lines are clean and free from obstructions.

Similar to a car engine, a heating oil tank's efficiency will decline if it's not looked after, so careful maintenance will extend usage and reduce the chances of problems occurring as they begin to age. The small cost of an annual service will prevent larger costs occurring in the future.

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How To Choose The Best Furnace Repair Contractor

Though the furnace is an important part of the house we seldom give it much thought until we are in need of furnace repair. Most of the times, it is an emergency situation which could mean no heat on a cold night and you are left with no option but to settle for any contractor who is willing to take on the work at the earliest. Unfortunately a hurried choice could mean that you end up either paying more or choose a contractor with substantial work ethics. To avoid this you can ensure that your furnace is periodically checked. The other thing to do would be to do some research and select the contractor beforehand.

Ways to choose the furnace repair contractor:

Tip #1 - Study the problem - It helps to know a bit about the problem so that you cannot be taken for a ride. Spend some time to learn the basic mechanism of the furnace yourself. This way when the contractor comes in, evaluates the problem and gives you a report you will know whether he is an honest mechanic or just out dupe people.

Tip #2 - Check for licenses - A certified furnace repair contractor will come armed with the necessary state required licenses and registrations. These are produced readily if the customers ask for verification. The easiest way to ensure that you are getting an experienced and verified contractor is to choose them from the local directory or association.

Tip #3 - Get references - Once you have shortlisted the contractors ask for references of past jobs. You can make some calls to find out how good they are at their jobs and if they are fit for your budget and need. Those who have the strongest word of mouth publicity make the best and safest choices.

Tip #4 - Study the process - One way to know if you have the right guy is to see how he works. Any contractor who takes ample time to study the problem and work out a solution is a serious mechanic. Someone who is too busy and hurriedly takes a look will not just do a hurried job but will also be overpriced. In the end you will just get a few months respite before your furnace breaks out again.

Tip #5 - Compare prices - One very important criterion is the price. Instead of opting for the first furnace repair contractor who makes his bid, accept bids form several and compare their prices as well as service offerings. This does not mean that you choose the cheapest option. Weigh the price against their service record and references before you decide on one.

Tip #6 - Sign a contract - Never go ahead with a job without first signing a contract. This way both parties are liable to abide by their words. In case a problem arises in the job - whether it is bad service or late payments, no action can be taken without a signed contract.

Tip #7 - Comfort factor - Strange as it sounds, it pays to choose a furnace repair contractor you feel most comfortable with. Of course, he needs to be a thorough professional and do a good job. But you are letting a stranger into your home so you have every right to choose someone who feels safe and trustworthy.

Benefits of Running the Air Conditioner   Dynamic Issues of Air Conditioner Repair   Some of the Top Reasons Why Your AC Can Go Bad   Winter Strain on Heaters and Wallets   Why In Floor Heating Should Be Preferred To Forced Air Systems