Cooling System Tune-Ups
Identify possible refrigerant leaks and potential problems with your A/C system before you need it with a seasonal tune-up every year. You’ll also avoid dirt buildup on your condenser coils and expensive capacitor issues. You can destroy your A/C motor trying to run the unit with inoperable capacitors. A tune-up also includes a thermostat calibration. Improper calibration can spike your electric usage, your bill, and your temperature.
Dirty, Clogged Filters
Don’t fall victim to mold and its associated illnesses by using a filter past its usefulness. Check and replace your A/C and furnace filters regularly to prevent these and other problems. Ignore this simple maintenance, and you run the risk of lowered HVAC efficiency and higher utility bills due to airflow blockage.
Heating System Tune-Ups
Don’t just power into the winter season without scheduling a tune-up for your furnace or boiler. Failure to perform this seasonal task can lead to costly breakdowns and a lot of discomforts. You may also be risking the danger of carbon monoxide leakage.
Preventative Steps During Storm Season
When the weather turns, it’s smart to be prepared. Blowing debris can wreck your outside A/C compressor. You should routinely check for hazards that may blow into the unit and cause damage. Aftercare is equally important. Mold is one common concern. You should also test your equipment to identify any problems the storm may have caused.
Individualized HVAC Options
We will work with you to find HVAC solutions that fit your heating and cooling needs. We will provide you with a full consultation to explain all your available options so that you can choose the system that’s right for your home or business.
Now offering discounts for pre-season Air Conditioning Installations.
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We serve both residential and commercial clients and offer a variety of money saving solutions. We combine our use of the highest quality parts and equipment, and our dedication to delivering exceptional service to provide you with top quality service.
10-Year Manufacturer Warranty
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Provided with New Furnace and Air Conditioning Replacements.
Perhaps you’re trying to figure out how much time your current residential HVAC system has left. Maybe you want to know how long a new system will last. Either way, you’re here because you’re curious about the life expectancy of an HVAC system for your home. “How long will it last?” is a common question we hear a lot. That’s why we know you won’t be crazy about the answer – it depends. But the good news is that you can make a difference. That’s because maintenance is of vital importance in lengthening the lifespan of your system.
Average HVAC System Life expectancy
Generally, you can expect your HVAC equipment to last anywhere between 15 and 25 years. Regular maintenance, tune-ups, and efficient use can put you in the 25- to 30-year category. With no maintenance, you may only get 12 to 15 years of use from your system. Infrequent maintenance is likely to land your system in the middle ranges.
Other factors include the following:
- Whether your furnace and A/C are sized properly for your home
- The type of HVAC system you have
- Whether you use additional methods to heat and cool your home
- Daily run-time hours – how much you use it
- Geographic location
- Indoor and outdoor environments
All things considered; the average range is around 15 to 18 years of service. But you will shorten that timeframe if you fail to maintain your system.
Don’t Shorten the Lifespan of your HVAC System
Proper use, regular maintenance, and timely repairs will help extend the life of your HVAC components. But the following issues will impact their performance and ability to function properly.
- Improper use: Read your user manuals and direct any questions to your HVAC service professional to ensure you’re using your furnace, A/C, and other HVAC equipment properly.
- Overuse: Don’t expect your A/C and furnace to do all the heavy lifting. You’ll wear out your equipment much faster if you run them extensively and use very high and low settings during extreme weather conditions.
- Seasonal Tune-ups: Minimize premature wear and tear and help prevent costly breakdowns with A/C tune-ups before warm weather months and heating tune-ups before winter hits. This smart TLC can extend the life of your system.
If your HVAC system is on its last legs, our knowledgeable technicians at D.K. Sledzik Heating & Air Conditioning Inc. can help. We’ll size your home and discuss your heating and cooling needs to choose the right equipment for your residence. Then, we can take care of the installation with skill and efficiency. Give us a call to schedule an HVAC consultation.
It’s hot outside, but you have the A/C running and the ceiling fan wafting cool air over you. Then you walk outside to get the mail. And you notice water puddling under your A/C condenser. Oh no. Should you be worried? It depends. Normal condensation is okay. But what are the signs of an A/C leak? Get the facts with this helpful overview.
Basic A/C Operation
Air conditioners use refrigerants and fans to cool the air in your home. Your A/C system pulls in hot air. It moves over your system’s evaporator coils. Liquid refrigerant changes to gas as it draws in the hot air. The compressor and a fan expel the heat outside. Finally, the condenser transforms the gas back to cool liquid. The liquid refrigerant flows back into the home, and the process repeats. This cycle cools the air indoors.
In humid conditions, your A/C also works as a dehumidifier. It draws water vapor from the air as it passes over the evaporator coils. This is responsible for most of the condensation that drains out of your unit’s outdoor condenser. An overflow pan in the condenser should catch most A/C condensation, and the water is then drained away. But faulty operation or equipment can cause leaks that alert you of a problem.
Signs of a Leaking Air Conditioner
Often, homeowners don’t realize their unit is leaking, or they assume it’s normal condensation. But some common air conditioning leak symptoms can help you recognize when you have a leaky A/C unit that requires professional service. These include:
- Water dripping from indoor A/C vents
- Reduced cooling power
- Vents blowing warm air
- Hissing or gurgling noises in the unit
Common A/C Leak Issues
Your unit may leak inside or outside your home. Both situations should be addressed. But indoor A/C leaks can cause extensive damage to your home, highlighting the need for fast action. It’s also important to repair your A/C unit quickly to reduce the chance you’ll require more expensive repairs or a unit replacement.
The following defects are responsible for indoor and outdoor A/C leaks:
- Faulty condensate pumps can’t expel water, causing drips and leaks.
- Clogged condenser drain lines prevent water from draining.
- Damaged drip pans leak or overflow.
- Frozen evaporator coils are usually a sign of low refrigerant. This may be due to a refrigerant leak.
- Clogged air filters block air flow. This disturbs the refrigerant cycle and can cause you condenser coil to freeze. Your A/C drips water when they thaw.
Call in a pro for these serious problems. An HVAC tech has the experience and knowledge to safely troubleshoot your issue.
Leaking A/Cs are responsible for most cooling-related service calls. Fortunately, they’re usually an easy fix for a professional and are available 24/7 to troubleshoot your cooling system issues. if you notice a worrying A/C leak in your home or a reduction in your unit’s efficiency.
You may be thinking of buying a new air conditioning system and you’re searching how to calculate air conditioning requirements. You may also want to learn how to size a central air conditioning system. This information can help you choose an A/C with the right amount of cooling capacity for your home.
An experienced A/C pro is your best source for sizing information but doing your own research will help you understand what the tech is talking about. Learning some relevant A/C sizing terms is a great place to start.
Helpful Common HVAC Terms
We have provided a list of common terms that are available here for your reference.
You may think that bigger is better for cooling your home. But too much power runs the risk of creating uncomfortable humid conditions indoors. The right-sized unit extracts moisture from the air while cooling. Frequent cycling is another potential side effect of using an A/C that’s too large for your living space. It’s a costly waste of electricity.
The optimal temperature setting for your A/C during hot summer months balances comfort with energy savings. Start with the most efficient setting. Energy.gov recommends 78 degrees while you’re at home. An increase of 7 to 10 degrees, while you’re away, can save up to 10 percent on your cooling bills.
Maintaining the smallest difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures provides the most savings. Weather is often unpredictable. But with a smart thermostat, you can change your A/C settings from anywhere. Adjust your A/C temperature with your smartphone when outdoor temperatures change unexpectedly.
How to Boost Your Comfort Level
If you’re not used to a 78-degree A/C setting, it may feel uncomfortable at first. Resist the temptation to lower your A/C temperature. Instead, apply some cost-effective methods for keeping cool. These ideas can help cool you down for less:
- Install insulating window film. Some films can save homeowners up to 30 percent on cooling costs.
- Change your bedding. Choose natural moisture-wicking fibers, such as linen and cotton.
- Run your ceiling fans counterclockwise when you’re in the room. It forces air down and makes you feel cooler through a wind chill effect.
- Use LED light bulbs in place of CFL, fluorescent, or halogen bulbs. LEOs don’t put out heat.
- Grill more and keep the cooking heat outdoors as often as possible.
- Add awnings over windows to block heat.
- Insulate your doors and windows with tighter seals. It helps keep hot air out and cool air in.
- Improve A/C efficiency with recommended maintenance.
Maintain Your Air Conditioning System
You rely on your A/C to stay cool in the summer. Give it the TLC it requires for top performance. Replace the filter as needed. This may be monthly during summer use. A good rule of thumb is to examine it once a month over 12 months. Note when it needs replacement. Use that info for your future replacement schedule.
An annual tune-up provides important professional A/C maintenance. Schedule in the spring to make sure your unit will work properly before you need it. Plus, your HVAC technician is more likely to be available before peak A/C season for an A/C Tune-up to help your A/C run smoothly all summer.
With winter in full effect, you’re likely looking for the best way to heat your home efficiently and cost-effectively. Start by avoiding the following common home heating mistakes
Adjusting Your Thermostat Too High or Too Low
Homeowners often allow their schedules and extreme outdoor temperature changes to dictate their thermostat settings. You turn the thermostat all the way down while you’re away from home and then crank it up when you return.
Unfortunately, these extreme temperature fluctuations make your furnace work much harder than it should and spike your energy bills. Use small adjustments, between 7 and 10 degrees, instead. Maintain a comfortable setting while you’re awake at home and turn the heat down when you go to bed or leave the house. And don’t make the mistake of turning the heat up higher than normal, thinking it will heat your house faster. You’re not making your furnace run “hotter”, just making it run longer.
The most effective way to implement these changes on a consistent basis is with the use of a programmable thermostat. This allows you to set the thermostat for warmer temperatures just before you wake up and prior to returning home, enhancing your comfort. Consider installing a programmable Wi-Fi thermostat for even more control.
Closing Off Vents
Are you closing off the vents and heat registers in rooms that you rarely use? This is a common practice that needs to stop. Your system is designed to heat all areas of your home. It continues to push out the same amount of heated air for your entire house whether all the vents are open or not. But that pressure pushing up against closed vents can lead to damage and costly air leaks. It also forces your system to work harder and decreases its efficiency. If optimizing your home for different heating and cooling requirements are important, consider a zoned heating and cooling system.