HVAC Repair Tips for Homeowners

This morning started out just like any normal day.

I thought this was going to be an easy going, nothing can go wrong sort of day, but I was wrong.

When I got to the office, I knew this was going to be a long day. My cleaning crew was there to meet me as I walked through the doors. I was always the first person there, and they wanted to tell me the air conditioning had quit working sometime through the night. As if the day could get any worse, I had two people call off work. I had a deadline to reach, I was down two people and no one worked well when the air conditioning wasn’t working. I went on into my office and called the HVAC company. I told them what was going on and how I needed to have air conditioning if we were going to be productive. Since the HVAC company was one of my clients, they were quick to get a technician to the building. While the HVAC tech was on his way to the building, he had an accident and had to go back to the HVAC company and get a new service van. Instead of my regular HVAC tech, they sent a new one who wasn’t familiar with our HVAC system. As if this day couldn’t get any worse, I tripped on the stairs and broke my ankle. The next time I think I’m going to have a good day, I hope someone slaps me. I don’t ever want to have another day like this one.

 

 

heating maintenance

When I was growing up, I didn’t know what HVAC was.

• We lived on an island where there was a constant breeze coming off the ocean.

The temperature seldom went below seventy-two, and the daytime temperature held steady in the low eighties. When there was a storm, the humidity went up, but it didn’t last long. When I graduated high school, I went to the mainland to go to college. I loved the area I was in, but I couldn’t get used to the cold weather. They had HVAC units in every room, but getting used to using it was a difficult thing to do. I either had the thermostat so high that I couldn’t sleep, or it was so cool that I was shivering. When summer arrived, the heat and humidity was so intense that I wanted to cry uncle and go back home. I chose to stick it out and finish medical school. I hoped that I could go back home and do my internship at the hospital on my island. I really didn’t want to have to live on the mainland any longer than I had to. I didn’t like the climate of this area, and learning how to use a thermostat was harder to understand, learning how to do a heart transplant. If I had to stay here to do my internship in one of the mainland hospitals, I would need to learn more about HVAC systems and how to use them. You’d think that after six years, it would be easy now, but I had a roommate who was always the last one out of the house, and the first one in. He controlled the thermostat.

Click for more on heating

My furnace is just about an antique.

• It was already installed when we purchased the house.

We have now lived here almost twenty years. We expected to replace the heating system within the first couple of years. Some other project always took precedence. The house needed a new roof and new windows. We decided to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms. The water heater ruptured and flooded the basement. We wanted a sectional couch and a new television. The furnace has continued to operate year after year. Every winter, it usually requires some minor repair. Every fall, I schedule professional maintenance for the system. The contractor always warns me that the heater is reaching the end of its service life and suggests that I invest into a new model. I’ve researched the latest innovations in furnaces. There are options on the market that achieve a 98% AFUE rating. They include cost-saving and convenient features such as adaptable-speed technology, zone control and wifi connectivity. My husband and I realize that a new furnace would reduce our utility bills, improve comfort and provide healthier indoor air quality. It’s just such a big investment. We keep putting the project off for another year. I am worried that our furnace will quit in the middle of a winter blizzard and not be worth fixing. We will suddenly be without heat when the temperature is down to twenty below zero. Instead of taking our time and choosing the ideal heater for our needs, we’ll be forced to accept whatever model is available. I have decided that we need to schedule a furnace installation this summer. I know we won’t regret it.

 

It’s time for a new furnace

Living in the northeastern part of the country means cold weather for the majority of the year.

The spring and fall seasons are chilly, windy and rainy. The winter conditions are downright brutal. We expect long months with temperatures below freezing and aren’t surprised by sub zero readings. The wind chill makes it dangerous to spend any length of time outdoors. The snow accumulates in feet and the air becomes especially dry. My house is equipped with a forced air gas furnace that is powerful enough to handle the local weather. The furnace sends hot air through the ductwork that is concealed inside the walls and ceilings, and there are supply and return vents in each room. The only problem with this type of heating system is that it makes the problems with overly dry air much worse. Because air that lacks sufficient humidity tends to feel colder than properly moisturized air, it can be tempting to turn up the thermostat. The furnace is then required to run longer, work harder and consume more energy. I end up paying higher utility bills and the house still feels uncomfortable. The dry air also pulls moisture out of furnishings, such as wood floors, antiques and musical instruments, causing them to crack. The dry conditions irritate symptoms of allergies, asthma, psoriasis and eczema. A lack of humidity can be blamed for static shock, chapped lips, frizzy hair, headaches and difficulty sleeping. After putting up with these problems for several years, I finally invested into a whole-home humidifier. It has made such a big improvement in the comfort of our home. It also protects our furnishings and helps with indoor air quality. The savings on my heating bills contributes to paying for the humidifier.

furnace/heater repair