Air Conditioner/Heat Pump
- Why does my equipment need regular check ups?
- How can an unchecked problem cost me in the long run?
- How unsafe can my equipment become if it is not checked?
- How does my heat pump/air conditioner lose Freon?
- What would happen to my equipment if it runs low on Freon?
Gas Furnace/Wall Heater
- What is backfiring or roll out?
- What is carbon monoxide?
- What would cause my furnace to put out carbon monoxide?
- How do you test for carbon monoxide?
- What if my furnace has a natural gas leak?
Air Conditioner/Heat Pump Questions
Why does my equipment need regular check ups?
Many air conditioning manufacturers recommend that even new equipment be inspected twice a year. Doing so can increase the life of your equipment by finding problems before they become major problems. When we check your equipment, we will check all factors that may affect the equipment’s energy efficiency including Freon levels, motor conditions, thermostat calibration and coil cleanliness. A regular checkup can also prevent unexpected repair costs at a time when the equipment is most needed (on a hot summer day or cold winter night). When completing a checkup we will check for conditions that could be potentially dangerous, insuring the safe operation of your equipment.
How can an unchecked problem cost me in the long run?
Equipment running low on Freon will run more than it has to, thus increasing utility costs and lessening the life of the equipment. Airflow restriction from dirty coils or a clogged air filter can also lessen running efficiency. In addition to our regular battery of tests, we will check the damper on your evaporative cooler (if equipped) to see if any of the baffles are stuck open. If so, valuable conditioned air could be escaping through the evaporative cooler before it ever reaches your house.
How unsafe can my equipment become if it is not checked?
If your equipment does not have a breaker or fuses in good condition, a loose electrical connection could cause damage to the major systems in your equipment or even a fire. On a gas furnace, clogged or dirty burners could cause backfiring or excessive carbon monoxide output. Your equipment contains many additional safety controls to prevent unsafe conditions only if they are operating correctly. We will check all safety devices when we inspect your equipment.
How does my heat pump/air conditioner lose Freon?
Constant vibration and age can cause leaks to develop in the Freon lines of your equipment. When we inspect your equipment, we will measure the Freon pressure to see if any has leaked and visually check the lines for noticeable leaks. If your equipment continues to run low after being refilled, we can inject a phosphorescent dye into the system that will stay in the equipment for its life. At anytime thereafter, we can use a special detection light to find even small leaks and repair them or we can also use an electronic leak detector.
What would happen to my equipment if it runs low on Freon?
Equipment running low on Freon will increase its running time and cause increased utility bills. In addition, low Freon levels will cause the compressor to run longer and harder, which could cause it to become damaged.
Gas Furnace/Wall Heater Questions
What is backfiring or roll out?
If furnace burners become clogged with dirt, are improperly adjusted, or there is inadequate venting of flue gases backfiring occurs. Backfiring means that the burner flame will ignite out of the front of the furnace opening rather than up into the heat exchanger. That could cause a fire inside the equipment.
We will check for backfiring when checking your equipment. To see a list of the conditions we check, go to the service page.
What is carbon monoxide?
Carbon Monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that is created from incomplete combustion of fossil fuel. If you inhaled carbon monoxide, it could cause illness or death. At levels up to 35 ppm carbon monoxide can cause headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. At levels in excess of 200 ppm, carbon monoxide can cause death.
We will check for carbon monoxide when servicing your furnace.
What would cause my furnace to put out carbon monoxide?
The dirtier the furnace burners are the more carbon monoxide will be produced. Normally these gases are vented through the flue pipe. If there is a crack in the heat exchanger (which can happen with age) then these dangerous gases can escape into the home.
We will check for carbon monoxide when servicing your furnace.
How do you test for carbon monoxide?
We test for carbon monoxide with a sensing meter, which will tell you exactly what levels of carbon monoxide your furnace produces and could get into your home.
We will check for carbon monoxide when servicing your furnace.
What if my furnace has a natural gas leak?
With time, a cock valve, flexible gas line or gas line inside your furnace can get a leak. A natural gas leak is extremely dangerous, needing only one spark to cause an explosion or fire.
We will check for natural gas leaks when servicing your furnace.
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