Professional Heating & Air Blog: Archive for October, 2014

How Can I Keep My Heater as Reliable as Possible?

Friday, October 31st, 2014

Having heat on the coldest of days of winter is one of the things you expect from your heating. While there’s no way to guarantee that you’ll never experience issues with your heater, there are a few things you can do to help retain the reliability of your system throughout the winter season. Knowing you have help on hand 24/7 can go a long way toward relieving worries around potential heat loss, so if you do experience problems with your heating this winter, call the people you can rely on: A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning.

Ways to Keep Your Heat Going

Here are some suggestions on how to keep your heating as reliable as possible this year:

Schedule Annual Maintenance

Every season that your heater operates, a layer of dirt and dust accumulates, along with other general wear and tear. Without annual maintenance, this layer of dirt and dust, along with other issues, continues into each season afterward, reducing performance, energy efficiency and the lifespan of your system. Scheduling annual maintenance is an easy way to make sure that your system runs optimally each season, and for a long time.

Make Needed Repairs

Are you ignoring the signs of problems with your system, such as strange sounds and odors or poor performance levels? Making needed repairs as soon as possible allows your system to operate as it was made to; not making repairs forces your system to work under stress, which can lead to even poorer performance quality and a potential breakdown. Operational problems worsen with time, so make needed repairs when they occur.

Take Care of Ductwork

Your ductwork is an important part of your heating system, and when it is faulty you can experience high energy bills, poor indoor air quality and decreased comfort. It is recommended that ductwork is cleaned every 3-5 years, and if you see any signs of faulty ductwork, you may want to consider duct repair, replacement or sealing.

No one likes ineffectual heating, and by using some of the suggestions outlined above, you can help yourself and your heating system this year. Have questions? Call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning and schedule your heating service in Ponchatoula, LA with one of our HVAC experts.

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Is a Ductless Mini-Split a Good Option for Heating?

Friday, October 24th, 2014

That depends entirely on what you’re looking for. Ductless mini-split systems have a few pretty good advantages over more traditional systems, but they also aren’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Read on to find out if a ductless mini-split is right for you.

Distinguishing Features

Unlike a lot of other heating systems, ductless mini-splits are installed on an outer wall. The outside part of the unit absorbs thermal energy from the surrounding air, while the inside unit circulates warm air into the room. Essentially, ductless mini-splits are heat pumps. The difference between them and other heat pumps is their lack of ductwork to distribute air. A ductless unit will only heat the room that it is currently installed in.

Advantages

The first advantage you should know about ductless mini-splits is that they are remarkably energy efficient. The unit only has to heat one room, so it doesn’t have to waste a great deal of energy heating up the rest of the house before reaching the target temperature. This can save a lot of money on heating bills.

By eschewing ducts, the ductless system also avoids losing any of its heat in transit from the unit to the room. Duct systems lose between 20 and 30% of their heat on average to duct leaks, so avoiding that issue is a significant advantage.

If you’re using multiple ductless systems in your house, you will have the unique ability to set different temperatures for each room. Each ductless mini-split is operated by its own thermostat, allowing each member of your house to set a temperature for their room that is most comfortable for them.

Disadvantages

The biggest strength of ductless systems is also their greatest weakness: you can only heat one room at a time per unit. If you have a smaller space you want heated, or you plan on using multiple units, this isn’t really a problem. For larger houses, though, it’s something you should consider.

Ductless systems also tend to be very prominent, needing a lot of wall space for installation. Some may find this an eyesore.

If you’re looking for someone to install a ductless mini-split system for you, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We install heating systems throughout Ponchatoula, LA.

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Signs Your Heat Pump May Need Repair

Friday, October 17th, 2014

Your heat pump is an efficient heating and cooling system that works year round to keep you comfortable. But because the unit runs throughout the year, there may come a day that it stops working, leaving you without any cooling or heating and a costly repair bill. You cannot assume your heat pump will last forever, but you can fix the problem quickly if you call a professional as soon as you notice any of these problems.

When you run into problems with your heating system, call the experts at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer 24-hour emergency service in Covington, LA, for any heating repair needs.

Common Heat Pump Problems

  • Trouble Switching from Cooling to Heating Mode: The reversing valve is the component that allows your heat pump to switch into heating mode when needed. If you don’t feel any heat from the vents this winter, it could be due to the thermostat, or it may mean that the reversing valve needs replacement.
  • Unusual Noises: Strange noises from your heat pump could indicate a variety of problems. A rattling noise, for example, could point toward a loose screw or it may mean there is trouble with the compressor, particularly if the heat pump is old and may soon need replacement.
  • High Heating and Cooling Bills: Heat pumps are extremely efficient heaters and air conditioners, but they still account for a large portion of your energy bills. If you notice higher-than-average energy bills this season, there is a good chance that a component of your system has worn down and your unit is working hard to compensate, ultimately driving up your energy bills.

Schedule Service Early

Because your heat pump runs throughout the year, you should do everything you can to keep it in top shape and prevent any problems from occurring. This includes scheduling regular maintenance with a technician so that your system can be thoroughly cleaned, adjusted, and inspected for problems early on.

You should also call a technician at the first sign of trouble so that problems do not worsen over time. As it moves into the heating season, you need a reliable system that won’t fail when you need it most. Call the experts at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for professional heating repair service in Covington, LA.

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3 Signs You Need to Schedule Heating Repairs

Friday, October 10th, 2014

In Mandeville, LA, there are only a few months out of the year that you get a lot of use out of your heating system. Because of this, it may be difficult to recognize the signs that your heating system is damaged. Of course, you know to call a professional when your heating system breaks down entirely. But what if there is only a small problem? Can you wait to call for heating repairs?

In general, any problem with your system requires immediate heating repairs. An issue with your heating system may only be a nuisance to you, but the extra wear and tear on your system that goes along with a damaged heater may cause your unit to fail eventually.

Here are some of the signs to look out for.

  • Reduced Heating: If you’ve had your unit for a while, you likely know how long it takes to heat your home. If it suddenly takes hours to get your home to the proper temperature, or if there never seems to be enough heat coming from the vents, it may be time to call for repairs. This could be a problem with the blower motor, dirty filters, a clogged burner in a gas furnace, or low refrigerant in a heat pump. No matter what the problem, be sure to get it fixed quickly so that other parts don’t suffer as a result.
  • Strange Sounds: Sometimes, unusual noises don’t seem like a particularly pressing issue, especially if you do not use your heater very often. However, noises can indicate that a fan or the motor is not working properly, and without the proper amount of airflow, components of your system may begin to malfunction. With a heat pump, strange noises could indicate compressor damage among other major complications.
  • High Bills: High utility bills may also indicate damages. If something inside of your unit has failed, other components may be working overtime to keep up, using a large amount of energy to do so.

When you need heating repairs in Mandeville, LA, you want dependable experts with years of experience in the field. For exceptional service, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning at the first sign of problems.

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What to Check Before You Call for Heating Repair

Friday, October 3rd, 2014

Waking up in a freezing cold house is not the way anyone wants to start their morning. Your first impulse may be to call your technician for help, but there are a few things you’ll want to check before making that call. Why? There are some situations that may not require the help of a technician, and you want to rule out these options first. This does not mean that you should take on a repair yourself; any repairs to your heating system in Hammond, LA should always be handled by an expert. However, there is a small checklist of items to go over before calling for your A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning experts.

Checklist Before Calling for Repair

Following are some basic things to check for before scheduling a heating repair appointment:

Check the Thermostat

A thermostat can cause your heating system to turn off for a few reasons:

  • Batteries have died (for those that use them)
  • System has been switched to “off”
  • Program has been changed (for those thermostats that are programmable)

Check the Air Filter

When was the last time you changed your air filter? A dirty air filter can wreak havoc on a system, sometimes leading to breakdown. It’s recommended that you change your air filter every 3 months to ensure it works properly.

Check the Circuit Breaker and Switches

Sometimes weather events or other minor issues can cause the circuit breakers in your electrical box to trip. If you see that the breaker has turned off, you can turn it back on – however, if you encounter resistance, don’t force the breaker. Switches, like your furnace switch, can be accidentally turned off, so check all switches that are part of your heating system to make sure they are on.

Blocked Vents

Furniture, clothes, drapes or anything else directly in front of a vent can block it, creating issues with your system’s air flow. Make sure all vents and registers are open and clear of objects.

Make Sure There’s Fuel

Systems that use propane or oil will have separate holding tanks – make sure there is fuel in the tanks before calling for help.

Following this simple checklist can help you rule out some repair possibilities. If you find that you need to schedule heating repair service in Hammond, LA, call the people you can trust: A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning.

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