Hopefully last month’s blog helped demystify the inside of your HVAC system. This month, we’ll be focusing on the exterior parts. These pieces are just as important in keeping your home comfortable during the summer months as the inside parts are during the winter. Located outside, often on the side of a home, almost always out of sight, the air conditioning unit of your heating and cooling system is easily overlooked when it comes to home maintenance. Most chore lists are often missing key tasks. Especially those having to do with heating and air conditioning. However, there are some things that can easily be done by homeowners without the assistance of an HVAC repair in Manasquan company. By performing these tasks, one can often avoid phone calls to and even visits from their HVAC repair technician. When someone understands something, maintenance is often easier. 

The Main Unit is Called a Condenser

Just as the inside section is often universally referred to as a furnace, the outside is called the condenser. It is often located on the side or back of a home and is a large, louvered, metal box. Inside this casing is where all everything happens that helps to cool your home. This unit contains a fan, a compressor, and a condenser coil. There is one part of an air conditioning system that is located inside. This part is called the evaporator coil. Just as the interior parts, the exterior unit can be scary looking and intimidating when not understood. With a little bit of information on how to safely maintain a condenser though, it becomes a lot easier to deal with.

Basic Care That Anyone Can Do

One important thing every homeowner can do is to simply visually inspect the condenser unit. Ensure there are no branches, shrubs, flowers, or structures that are blocking air from freely flowing through the unit. Without proper airflow, just as can happen inside if you forget to change the air filter, damage and repair won’t be far behind. Impeded airflow causes unnecessary stress on the machine causing the need for HVAC repair in Manasquan. Visually inspect the outer casing and the fan blades to ensure there is no damage to the fins or the blades. Bent fins disrupt airflow so it is very important that if you are removing anything from the condenser to be careful not to damage any part of the unit. If at any point during the cleaning process, you have a question or run into a problem, give us a call.

The Fan Could be the Reason for HVAC Repair in Manasquan

Looking inside the cage of the condenser, you will see the fan. It is located at the top of the unit. The metal container around the fan helps to keep items from clogging the fan and damaging it. The fan and its motor are what keep your a/c working. Without the fan, there is no air conditioning. Just as it is important to make sure there is nothing blocking the air from flowing through the unit, it is essential to make sure there is nothing preventing the fan from turning. Even when visually inspecting your condenser, it’s best to shut off the power to it. Once you are sure the unit has no power and using a flashlight if necessary, peer into your condenser and make sure there are no twigs, branches, leaves, nests, or any other debris in the fan.

If you can obviously see anything that may get in the way of proper function of the fan, call us immediately. Do not turn the power back-on until we have fixed the issue. Allowing the fan to run with an obvious blockage can cause irreparable damage. Avoid the need to replace your whole condenser and call us to schedule your regular HVAC repair in Manasquan maintenance call.

A Critical Component of HVAC Repair in Manasquan is the Compressor

The compressor is the motor of the condenser. It has a cylinder and a piston, just like a motor. Its job is to force refrigerant through the AC unit in order to cool your home. The energy required to run your AC it is almost primarily the power for the compressor. As its name implies, its job is to compress the refrigerant. This process heats up the refrigerant and turns it into a high-pressure gas. This pressure is what keeps the refrigerant cycling through the air conditioner. The heating and cooling process of the refrigerant is what cools your home. Many things can go wrong with a compressor. It is important to call us if you hear any strange noises or notice anything abnormal about your AC function.

There are Two Coils You Need to Know About

After the refrigerant is heated up and pressurized by the compressor, it is forced into the coil located in the condenser. Called aptly the condenser coil, this part is where heat is released into the outside. The fan assists in cooling the refrigerant more quickly. This cooling process transforms the refrigerant back into liquid form. As this happens, it travels indoors and enters the second coil called the evaporator coil. Here, the refrigerant begins to take in heat from air in the home, cooling the air inside house, and heating up the refrigerant. This turns it back into a gas and it is returned to the compressor to start all over again. Ductwork then helps to spread the cool air through the home. As we mentioned last month, it is important to know where your damper is and how to use it. 

Read last months blog if you missed out!

HVAC Repair in Manasquan Information Helps Homeowners

Not only does a little bit of information help homeowners more comfortably speak with our associates, it helps HVAC owners see how important regular maintenance is. With system inspections performed twice a year prior to heavy usage in the spring and the fall, you can skip the repair calls all together! As with most things, maintenance is cheaper than repair. It certainly is cheaper than replacement. So give us a call today to schedule your routine service call.

HVAC repair can be a very confusing topic. There are a lot of moving parts and most people don’t know much about it. However, understanding just a little bit about the basic parts of your HVAC system can make it easier to maintain. Think how much easier it will be the next time you have to call us. If you know what part of your machine is making a noise or having a problem, repair can be rectified quicker. For anyone that isn’t a client of ours, we hope this can help all homeowners feel more confident when speaking to any HVAC repair company. With just a little bit of knowledge, anyone can feel secure knowing they won’t be talked into parts or repair that is unnecessary. This month we’ll discuss the indoor portion of the system involved in basic HVAC repair in Spring Lake.

Let’s Start with the Basics

The indoor portion of a heating and cooling system, called the furnace, controls the heating of your home. The outdoor portion, or condenser unit that we’ll talk about next month, does the cooling. Most homeowners know where the furnace is located and what its basic function is. However, there are many moving parts in a furnace which means there is a lot that can go wrong. Knowing just a little bit about each moving part of your furnace can help you, which can help us, determine what is going wrong with your furnace if you have a problem. By having a small amount of information about your furnace helps to make it less scary which allows you, as a homeowner, to take a little more control of your furnace’s maintenance. This helps keep it running more efficiently, lasts longer, and reduce your energy bills and repair bills.

Your Thermostat Talks Directly to Your Furnace

In the winter, your thermostat will send a signal to your furnace when the air in your home is detected to be at the level which you set. One of the most important and easy things a homeowner can do to ensure proper functioning is to change the batteries in the thermostat when you change all other batteries like a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector. A furnace does not “create” air, it simply treats and circulates the air that already exists in your home.

First, you set your thermostat to the temperature you would like the air in your home to be. When the air reaches that temperature, the furnace is triggered by the thermostat. This turns on the pilot light for the burner in the combustion chamber which starts the heating process. Then, it begins to pull in cool air through vents in your home called return registers into the large portion of the furnace called the air handler. This is what many people would identify as the furnace itself. It is inside the air handler that all the magic happens. 

One important thing to take notice of is that all your registers are open and clear of any obstructions like curtains or furniture. Also, it is not recommended to shut any vents in your home to “conserve energy” for the same reason. Check out Myth #3 in this article to learn why!

Air First has to Pass Through the Filter

Aside from changing the batteries in a thermostat, maintaining the air filter in your furnace is another easy step. Just as reduced air flow through vents can cause your HVAC to fail, a clogged filter can do the same. The purpose of the filter is to allow clean, dust free air to flow through the furnace. Without it, furnaces would shut down constantly from dirt and debris inside gears and electrical components. See our post on air filters to learn more!

HVAC Repair in Spring Lake Can Involve What Comes Next

Next, air enters the blower. This is a fan that pushes cold air through the furnace. It then helps to push that warm air all through your home. Cool air moves through the blower into the combustion chamber to be heated. As the air passes through this part, it absorbs the heat. Now it is ready to exit the system through supply registers. One last item that homeowners in a multi-story home should be familiar with is the damper. This is a door that directs warm and cold air to different areas of the home. In winter, for example, you want more warm air directed downstairs since warm air rises. Most non-manual damper systems will have a large lever with the labels “Summer” and “Winter.” Before you pick up the phone to schedule your HVAC repair in Spring Lake, make sure you have your dampers set right!

HVAC Repair in Spring Lake Doesn’t Have to be Scary

The more you know about the parts of your HVAC system, the easier it is to speak with a company who provides HVAC repair in Spring Lake. We not only assist Spring Lake, but many areas in Ocean County. We hope this has helped even a few people understand just a little bit more about their furnace. Be sure to check back next month when we go over the outdoor portion of an HVAC system!

As we talked about last month, strange noises coming from your HVAC unit are important and should not be ignored. There are a variety of things that can go wrong with your furnace. Many of these things will trigger a strange sound to be made whenever your furnace is running. Sometimes a noise doesn’t mean anything bad at all. Occasionally there are noises that happen rarely and you just may not have heard it before. Any time you hear a noise that strikes you as odd coming from your furnace, give us a call. We can help you determine if we need to take a look at your HVAC system or if everything seems fine. Our expertly trained staff will know whether the noise you are detecting is a normal sound or one to be concerned about. In order to avoid needing us for emergency heating repair Toms River, call TRHAC soon as something sounds off.

Let Us Set Your Nerves at Ease

Sometimes a noise is just a noise. A furnace shouldn’t be disruptive to your daily life when it comes to sound, but it will inevitably make some noises. For example, you may hear a click or pop when the furnace first turns on. Many times, the pilot light being ignited sounds like this and is a totally normal noise. Another example is that some homeowners will report hearing banging noises coming from their ducts. This can most often be explained by the metal of the ductwork expanding and contracting as the hot or cold air travels through them.

We’ll Tell You When to be Concerned

Even though we just explained than many noises that your furnace makes can be normal, we never want you to assume all the noises you hear are okay. It is always better to contact us about any noise and be assured it’s nothing instead of finding out it was something too late.

Grinding

You should always report any noise that sounds like a grinding to us as soon as possible. This is commonly an alert that the ball bearings in the blower motor need to be lubricated. During our inspection our technician will perform this task. However, if you neglected to call us for your Toms River HVAC maintenance, this may be a problem for you.

Squealing

This may sound similar to what you hear in your car if you have trouble with a belt. It is usually the same for your furnace. It is best to call us as soon as possible so you can avoid emergency heating repair Toms River bills. Most belts will make a noise before they fail. If you are paying attention to your furnace, you should be able to detect any strange sounds that could indicate a belt that needs replacing.

Scraping

A metal-on-metal scraping noise is great cause for concern. This could be a signal that your furnace blower wheel is damaged or having trouble operating properly. If you don’t attend to this red flag immediately, you could be left in the cold. It could be that the wheel is loose or may need replacing due to normal wear and tear.

Ignoring Signals Could Lead to Emergency Heating Repair Toms River

No matter what noise coming from you furnace you are concerned about, it is always better to ask us, the professionals to be safe. Some noises could be pointing to a problem with your pilot light or electrical. The danger of this is that it could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning. All homes should have at least one carbon monoxide detector per floor in their homes to protect themselves from this very dangerous occurrence. Just as the noises your in-home alarms make to alert you that there is something wrong, your furnace could be trying to tell you something is wrong. Don’t ignore it. Don’t overlook the first warning signs of trouble and find yourself needing us for emergency heating repair Toms River. As always, your best chance of avoiding a broken furnace this winter is to schedule regular inspections. Contact us today.

Winter is here to the delight of some and dread of others. But whether you enjoy winter or not, any home that has a heating system has it running at this point. The comfort and also safety of you and your family depends on it. With the amount of reliance that we place on many of our home devices, one would think owners would be constantly checking on and taking care of them. Many homeowners, however, can be intimidated by an HVAC system and avoid its maintenance all together. This is a leading factor in the need for emergency furnace repair in Toms River. The best way to avoid this is to perform some simple DIY maintenance tasks. Winter can be tough enough to get through without having to worry about a broken furnace.

What Can a Homeowner Do

Truthfully, the items that can be taken care of by a homeowner is not long a list when it comes to furnace maintenance. However, the things you can do are important and do a lot to keep your furnace running efficiently. Plus, these simple steps can do a lot to lengthen the life of your furnace, saving you money in the long run.

Change the Air Filter

Ideally, you should be changing your filter at least every 3 months. Certain households may need to do it more or less depending on the situation. The presence of shedding animals, home renovations that produce a lot of dust and debris, or if people living in the home have allergies are just a few things that may require the filter to be changed more frequently. Also, if you live in an area that has a lot of construction constantly happening, you should check your air filter more often.  Good air flow is crucial for your furnace to function at its best. A clogged air filter can wreak havoc on your entire system and can lead to costly repairs. If you need help finding, changing, or selecting a new filter for your furnace, give us a call today!

Check the Pilot Light

Whenever you remove the door to your furnace, be sure the power is shut off. After you remove the combustion chamber door, use a flashlight to take a good look around. First, turn the power back on and turn up your thermostat to trigger the furnace to go on. Look at the pilot light and ensure it is a steady blue flame. If the flame is yellow, you could have dirty burners. When inspecting the pilot, make sure you don’t breathe on the flame as extra oxygen can also make the flame turn yellow. If you notice anything wrong with the pilot light, please contact us.

Visual Inspection and Light Cleaning

We’re not talking about anything too in depth, but if you feel comfortable doing so, a visual inspection of the inside of your furnace can tell you a lot. After you are done checking the pilot light, turn the power to the furnace off again. If you notice any amount of soot, or fine black powder, in your furnace, this could be an indication of a combustion problem. On the exterior of your furnace, make sure there is nothing blocking any vents. Also, ensure the area around your furnace is clear of debris. If there is any part of your furnace you are uncomfortable dealing with, we can help. Give us a call anytime you need a hand and we’ll schedule a furnace repair appointment with you.

Listen to What Your Furnace is Telling You

While your furnace is running, occasionally listen closely to it. Any noises that are out of the ordinary could be a signal that something is wrong. Noises like squeaking, screeching, scraping, or banging can all be cause to give us a call. If you hear any odd noises, schedule your furnace repair in Toms River as soon as possible. Noises like these that sound like metal on metal or are abnormally loud can be the first indication that something may be off inside your furnace. By calling us as soon as you hear these noises, you can avoid being stuck in the cold with a broken furnace.

Professional Inspections

Possibly the easiest furnace maintenance task is calling us to inspect your furnace. We recommend at least one inspection per year, but two is even better. While the items we’ve just discussed are important and can do a lot to prevent an emergency with your furnace, there are things that only a professional can do. Our technicians are expertly trained and know just what to look for and how to address any issues. By allowing us to take care of your furnace BEFORE things go wrong, you are saving yourself a lot of time, money, and stress.

Don’t get left in the cold this winter. Avoid an emergency furnace repair in Toms River and contact us today to inspect your furnace.

When the topic of home emergencies in winter comes up, one of the first things everyone thinks of is a broken furnace. Being without heat in the middle of winter is far from ideal. Luckily, there is one super simple step you can take to limit the possibility of this happening. Requiring furnace repair Ocean County isn’t the only thing homeowners have to worry about during the cold months. Frozen pipes are an additional worry. There are many more concerns as well like chimney fires and power outages, but this month we’ll focus on furnace repair and frozen pipes. Avoiding all emergencies all the time is impossible. However, there are always things you can do that can help to prevent these occurrences.

Call Us for Furnace Repair Ocean County

Even better? Call us before you need your furnace repaired. The best way to avoid a heating emergency during the coldest days is to service your HVAC system every year. Each fall, as the weather begins to cool, put a reminder on your calendar to contact us to schedule your annual furnace maintenance. By having your furnace inspected every year, you greatly reduce the likelihood that your machine will break. Without a professional examination, furnaces can break seemingly out of nowhere. However, one of the main things our technicians will be looking for during an annual inspection is wear and tear on your furnace that could potentially cause a problem. With early identification and furnace repair Ocean County, major catastrophes can be evaded and you can stay warm and toasty all winter long.

In the worst-case scenarios, you may be without heat for days. Even if you have been a responsible homeowner and had your furnace inspected, it is always best to be prepared in case an emergency does happen. The most obvious thing to do if your heat goes out is to stay warm so start layering your clothes. Be sure to have plenty of blankets for everyone. It can also help to hang comforters or bedspreads over doors and windows to cut down on cold air coming in and warm air leaving. We do not recommend using your oven for heat. If you do decide to use an indoor heater, it should be attended at all times. Whenever you have an HVAC emergency, contact us right away! 

Frozen Pipes are a Big Winter Concern

The concern with pipes freezing in the winter is that as water freezes, it expands. This causes pipes to burst leading to much larger issues. In order to avoid this problem this winter, be sure to take the following steps.

• If you have sprinklers, it is essential to empty the pipes of all water. If you do not know how to do it yourself, call a professional.
• Assuming you won’t be using your garden hose anymore, drain it, detach it from the spigot and store it indoors. Close the valve inside that supplies each outdoor bib, but leave the outdoor valve open to allow any water left in the pipe to escape. This helps prevent bursting pipes.
• Inspect your yard and home for unused water supplies that need to be taken care. If there are little used water accesses, they may be easy to forget about. These are the pipes that will cause an issue so you need to find them first.
• Pipes that are located in colder areas of your home like under kitchen or bathroom sinks or in the garage should be insulated. Even if they are still used, these areas don’t receive the same amount of warm air the rest of your home does so you need to give them a bit of an advantage.

If you suspect you have a frozen pipe, you need to take action immediately. Leave the faucet on because even a trickle will help thaw the pipe and prevent it from freezing again. Heat up the pipe using any safe means necessary. Space heaters, hair dryers, and towels soaked in hot water all work. Continue this process until water flows freely. If you are unable to find the frozen area or can’t reach it, contact a professional plumber right away.

Professionals are Here to Help with Furnace Repair Ocean County and More

TRHAC is here to help if you find yourself in the terrible situation of needing emergency furnace repair in Ocean County. Our experienced technicians will be able to diagnose and prepare a plan to fix the problem. If you want to avoid having to call us this winter, it is best to call us for routine HVAC maintenance now. The sooner we identify problems, the sooner we can fix them. This not only keeps your system running more efficiently but saves you money on your energy bill. Plus, having a well-heated home helps prevent frozen pipes indoors. Outdoor pipes still need to be emptied and/or insulated depending of if they are still used or not. Opening cabinets under sinks to allow the warm air to circulate around them better is a good idea also. Call us today to service your furnace to avoid heating emergencies and frozen pipes this winter.

To many people, these words are interchangeable.  Homeowners believe one is the same as the next and all serve the same purpose.  However, these are in fact three very different items. While each do have certain things in common, what they do and how they do it varies greatly. Let’s take a look at each one individually to give you a better idea about all of them. The more homeowners understand about all their homes appliances the better. General knowledge can help identify potential problems, communicate with technicians, and take better care of their homes.

Water Heaters

With the exact purpose of the appliance in the name, water heaters do simply that. Unlike a furnace, water heaters do not provide heat to the home. They simply heat an amount of potable water for use in the home. When you take a hot shower, your water heater provides the hot water. When your dishwasher runs, a water heater helps to clean those dishes. There are two different types of water heaters. There are tank systems and tankless water heaters.

A water heater with a tank heats and maintains that container of water at a set temperature and can use either gas or electricity to do so. It is dispensed for use via pipes that run throughout your home. When you turn on your faucet, the water heater releases a certain amount of heated water. The more you turn your faucet on, the less cold water is mixed in. One brand we are proud to carry and service water heaters from A.O. Smith, a leading manufacturer of commercial and residential water heaters. We carry other products as well, so give us a call today to determine which one is best for you.

A tankless water heater, on the other hand, only heats water on-demand. When you turn on your tap, the tankless water heater heats up the water. It will continue to heat and supply hot water until the tap is shut off. We carry a range of tankless water heaters by Rinnai, the #1 selling tankless water heater brand in North America. 

Regardless of which type of water heater you have, this system will not heat your home in the winter. They simply serve to provide you with hot water.

Boilers

A boiler also heats water. However, this heated water is not intended for your personal use. This water is heated to the point that it becomes steam. This steam then essentially pushes heat throughout your home with the objective of raising the temperature in each room. A boiler is what is known as radiant heating. It does not use ductwork, but rather pipes instead. These pipes lead to another item such as base board heaters or radiators located in each room.

Boilers can be powered with gas or electricity. Natural gas boilers are supplied with their fuel from either a set of pipes connected to a main gas pipeline or occasionally from a large propane tank installed on the property when pipelines are unavailable. Electric boilers are very efficient and are popular due to the fact that they do not require the use of fossil fuels to run. Not only is this more environmentally friendly, but it also opens up many rural users who do not have access to a gas pipeline. The biggest downside to this type of boiler is that if you have no electricity, you have no heat. Electricity can also be more expensive than gas or oil as well.

Two brands of boilers that we are familiar with are supplied by Navian and Weil-McLain. We strive to provide and service the best products on the market. Contact us today to find out more! 

Furnaces

A furnace is a forced hot air system. In order to raise the temperature of a room, the furnace uses a fuel source to heat up the air and then distributes that hot air through a system of ducts throughout your home. Your furnace is powered on by your thermostat. As the air inside your home cools, the thermostat detects the drop in temperature. When it hits a set degree, the furnace clicks on and begins heating the air. The motor and fans then begin to force that hot air through your ductwork and all through your home.

Which is Best for Your Home

A lot of this decision is based on cost.  Homeowners need to take into account the up-front installation costs as well as the cost to run each of these systems. The function of each is important too. The style of home, monthly budget, and personal preferences, all influence the decision between a forced hot air system with a furnace or a radiant heating system with a boiler. Some people find a forced hot air system uncomfortable due to the fact that there is a certain amount of a breeze associated with this type of home heating system. Even though the air is warm, the movement of the air can create a draft which some find annoying. However, during the summer months, the slight breeze can help your home feel more comfortable.

This ability to effectively heat and cool is one major difference between a furnace and a boiler.  A boiler cannot cool your home. So, even if you choose to use a boiler system for heating your home, you will still need to install ductwork for a cooling system if necessary.

The best way to decide on what is best for your home is contact us. We can answer any questions you have on the function, cost, and repair of both furnaces and boilers. Our Sea Girt furnace repair and Toms River boiler repair technicians are factory trained and certified. If you need HVAC repair in Ocean County, give TRHAC a call!