Professional Heating & Air Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

What to Do When Your Heat Pump Won’t Start Up

Monday, January 5th, 2015

A heat pump is an efficient system for both heating and cooling, and many homeowners take pride in their money-saving investment. That’s why it can be so frustrating when a reliable heating system won’t seem to work. With regular maintenance, heat pumps should run into few problems over time, but unfortunately repair needs are always a possibility. So what can you do when your heat pump system fails?

If your heat pump runs into trouble, count on the trained experts at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for professional heating service in Covington.

Steps to Take during a Heat Pump Failure

If your heat pump won’t turn on, the very first thing you should always check is the thermostat. The thermostat communicates with the heat pump that it is time to turn on or shut off as needed. Check to make sure the settings you’ve programmed indicate that your heat pump is meant to switch on at that time. Most importantly, check to make sure it is in the proper mode: heating or cooling. Heat pumps have a reversing valve that allow them to easily change over from heating to cooling mode, and this valve must be activated for the  cycle to kick in. If one setting works but not the other, it could be a reversing valve that needs replacement.

Unfortunately, if this doesn’t solve the problem, there’s little you can do on your own. Any major repair is best left to a professional in the heating and cooling industry. Trained technicians can assess the trouble and recommend any number of solutions, from adding refrigerant to replacing the compressor.

How to Prevent Repairs in the Future

One of the best steps you can take in keeping this problem from occurring in the future is preventive maintenance. Most technicians recommend that you schedule maintenance once or twice a year so that technicians can clean coils, adjust settings and refrigerant levels, tighten electrical connections, and let you know of any minor repair needs ahead of time.

A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning offers a money-saving maintenance program for twice yearly tune ups and discounts on service fees. Call us today if you’re in need of maintenance or heating service in Covington.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on What to Do When Your Heat Pump Won’t Start Up

How Does a Heat Pump Heat?

Friday, December 19th, 2014

With the name “heat pump” the confusing thing can be how these devices offer cooling and not just heating. Plus, they don’t pump heat at all – they transfer it. So how do heat pumps offer your home both heating and cooling? It’s pretty simple and depends on a couple of key items, but first, it’s important to know how a heat pump works.

Moving Heat Around

As mentioned above, heat pumps work by transferring heat from one location to another; refrigerant helps facilitate this transfer process. During the summer months, a heat pump absorbs the heat in your home and transfers it outside; in the winter months, the heat pump absorbs the heat in the surrounding air, concentrates it, then distributes it to your living spaces. Heat pumps don’t generate heating or cooling, which is where they can be a little confusing to some. So why can heat pumps do this and air conditioners can’t? A component called a reversing valve.

The Reversing Valve

The reversing valve is a component that changes the direction in which the refrigerant in the system is flowing. When the refrigerant can change direction, the device can change between heating and cooling. The initiation of the mode change starts with pressing a button on your dual-mode thermostat. An electronic component attached to the reversing valve known as a solenoid begins the process of moving the sliding mechanism in the solenoid to the opposite side; once the slide starts moving, refrigerant flows into the valve, finishing the rest of the push to the other position. The positioning of heating or cooling within the valve is up to the manufacturer, so valves will differ. The important thing is that the valve slides from one position to another, otherwise it can get stuck.

“Stuck” Valves

One of the more common problems that can develop with a reversing valve is that it becomes stuck; the valve can become stuck in a mode or stuck in-between a mode. If the solenoid is the reason for the immobility, it can be repaired, but if the valve is stuck due to something like a refrigerant leak, it will need to be replaced.

Your heating is too important to be handled by someone inexperienced, so if you are having an issue with your heat pump, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule service for your heat pump service in Hammond with one of our heating experts.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on How Does a Heat Pump Heat?

What Is a Standing Pilot?

Friday, December 12th, 2014

A standing pilot is the standard ignition device for most natural gas burning heating systems, and has been for many years. It’s a continuously burning flame at the bottom of the heater, responsible for starting the burners that actually generate heat for the home. Though it’s a widely used technology, there are a few things that have given it a less-than-stellar reputation. Read on for an explanation of how a standing pilot works, as well as some common issues with it.

How it Works

A standing pilot light is actually fairly simple in design. A gas line terminates in a small burner, which creates the flame. A bit of composite metal wire, called a “thermocouple,” connects the burner to a valve in the gas line. When the pilot light is lit, the thermocouple registers the heat and generates an electric current. The current travels down the thermocouple to the gas valve and opens it. This is what keeps the pilot light burning. When the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple’s electric current stops and the gas valve closes. This is a safety measure to prevent gas from flooding your home.

Common Problems

The most common problem for standing pilot lights is the light going out. This tends to happen because the flame is unprotected from air currents or sudden draft. Though there is an ignition system on most heaters to relight the pilot light, there are other issues that can occur.

The thermocouple for the pilot light often wears out over time, eventually losing the ability to create an electrical current. This can occur from wear and tear, corrosion, becoming detached from the volt meter, or simply becoming bent way from the pilot flame. Regardless of the way that the thermocouple stops working, the effect is the same: the pilot light is unable to stay lit. If your pilot light seems to light without issues, but almost immediately goes out, it’s because the thermocouple is no longer keeping the gas valve to the flame open.

If you’re having issues with your pilot light, call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer professional heating services throughout Covington.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on What Is a Standing Pilot?

Reasons to Consider Upgrading Your Thermostat

Friday, November 21st, 2014

Sometimes it can seem that to really make strides in decreasing energy usage, big changes have to happen: the installation of a new heating system, drastically changing the temperatures you set or installing a fireplace for more supplemental heat. But there is one change you can make that doesn’t require an enormous amount of effort: upgrading your thermostat. Your thermostat controls when and at what temperature your home is heated, and having better control over your thermostat can help you have better control over your heating.

Types of Thermostats

Today’s thermostats have come a long ways since mercury-based dial thermostats and slide thermostats:

  • Digital – digital thermostats offer a level of precision you won’t get with a slide or dial thermostat. The numbers are exact versus being in a range. Digital thermostats are also more intuitive and have easier-to-use buttons.
  • Programmable – programmable thermostats have digital technology but take it to another level by giving you the ability to program your heating system for up to 7 days (you can loop the program to have it run continuously). Programming your thermostat allows you to set temperatures to accommodate for the daytime, the nighttime and for times when no one is home – you can even program for weekend and vacation times.
  • Smart – smart thermostats give you the ultimate control over your heating systems. By downloading a simple app and having access to Wi-Fi, you can program your thermostat, change settings and monitor your energy usage from any smart device.

Why Upgrade?

  • Better energy efficiency – the better you can control how, when and at what temperature you heat your home, the less heating you’ll use, which helps reduce energy usage.
  • Better comfort – the precision of an upgraded thermostat allows you to set an exact temperature, which can help improve comfort levels.
  • Less wear on your system – upgraded thermostats can reduce the amount of time your heating system operates, which reduces the amount of wear and tear on your system.
  • Convenience – being able to program your thermostat means you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn your heat up or down.

Can your heating benefit from an upgraded thermostat? If so, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule heating service in Covington with one of our experts.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Reasons to Consider Upgrading Your Thermostat

Is It Time for Furnace Replacement?

Friday, November 14th, 2014

If you’ve had your furnace for longer than a couple of years, chances are you’ve had to have some repairs done on it. The occasional need for repair is common, even in younger furnaces. Sometimes, things simply break. There are some times, however, that signal a need to replace your furnace. Below, we’ll outline some of those times, and how you can recognize them.

Short-Cycling

Short-cycling is what it’s called when your furnace keeps turning on and off rapidly throughout the day. This is caused by something causing your furnace to overheat. When your furnace turns on, the rapid increase in heat levels causes the furnace control system to think its overheating. The furnace shuts down as a safety measure. Then, once it’s cooled off, it starts up again and the whole cycle repeats. This can be a massive waste of energy, and shortens the life of your furnace even more. If you experience this symptom, turn your furnace off and call a professional.

Rise in Breakdown Frequency

As mentioned above, sometimes things just break and need repairs. As your furnace nears the end of its life, however, the cumulative wear and tear will cause parts to start failing in rapid succession or even simultaneously. This can be fought off for a while, through regular annual maintenance. Eventually, however, this problem visits all older furnaces that are ready to be replaced.

You could simply continue to repair and replace these parts as they fail, but you should consider the financial impact of doing so. Some of these parts, like the heat exchanger, are quite expensive to replace. If you try to keep a furnace alive for too long after you were supposed to have replaced it, you may have spent more money on parts than it would have cost to simply get a new furnace. Not to mention that at that point, most of your original furnace would probably be gone anyway.

If your furnace seems like it needs to be replaced, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. Our heating professionals cover all of Ponchatoula, LA.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Is It Time for Furnace Replacement?

How Can a Zone Control System Help With Heating?

Friday, November 7th, 2014

Staying warm and comfortable doesn’t necessarily go hand-in-hand with energy efficiency, but with the installation of a zone control system, it can. Fall offers a great window of time to upgrade your system, and the trained technicians at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning can help you install any upgrade to your heating system, quickly and effectively. Professional installation is the key to gaining the benefits of any upgrade, so call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today!

How Does a Zone Control System Work?

There are several steps involved with the installation of a zone control system. First, you will work with your technician to designate the zones in your home. Zones can be individual rooms, floors or a group of rooms. Once the zones are designated, motorized dampers are installed in your supply ducts. These dampers are connected to a main control panel that manages the opening and closing of the dampers. Each zone is equipped with a thermostat, which is also connected to the main control panel, so that the set temperature in every zone can be maintained.

How Does Zone Control Help with Heating?

  • Better energy efficiency – with a zone control system, you use only the heating you need. A zone control system allows you to turn heat off in areas where it’s not needed, and focus on heating only the areas where you do need it. This kind of control helps to reduce your energy usage, which results in better energy efficiency.
  • Customized comfort – instead of fighting over the thermostat setting for your whole house, you can set each zone’s temperature as you want it. This allows for better comfort throughout your home.
  • Less stress on your system – when your system has to work hard to achieve the temperature set on your thermostat, it uses more energy. With a zone control system, the heating is broken down into manageable zones, some of which may not need heat. Less operation of your system helps reduce the overall level of stress on your system.

Comfort and energy efficiency are always important during heating season. If you think a zone control system can benefit your heating system and home, schedule your heating appointment in Ponchatoula, LA with your A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning expert today.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on How Can a Zone Control System Help With Heating?

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on How Can I Keep My Heater as Reliable as Possible?

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Is a Ductless Mini-Split a Good Option for Heating?

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on Signs Your Heat Pump May Need Repair

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.

Continue Reading

Tags: ,
Posted in Heating | Comments Off on 3 Signs You Need to Schedule Heating Repairs