It may seem odd to consider, let alone perform, Ocean County air conditioner repair in the middle of winter. There are a few reasons, however, that make winter a great time of year to take care of your air conditioner. We have more time on our schedule, you have more time to save money for any necessary repairs, and when it comes down to it, letting a professional inspect your air conditioner in winter is better than not having an inspection at all.

Scheduling Air Conditioner Repair Can Be Easier in Winter

Even though we may be busy with emergency furnace repair in Ocean County during winter, if you call now, you can be one of our first appointments at the end of winter or beginning of spring. Not many homeowners think about scheduling their a/c inspection in winter. The earlier you think about taking care of your air conditioner, the sooner you can have your system inspected. Skip the stress of trying to squeeze in your air conditioner repair at the end of spring. Call us now to schedule your air conditioner maintenance.

Winter Inspections Give Time for Air Conditioner Repair

The sooner you get your system inspected, the more time you have to remedy any issues before you actually need to turn your a/c on. One situation you do not want to find yourself in is to discover that there is a major issue with your air conditioner and a heat wave is coming. Giving as much time as possible for scheduling your annual inspection and performing repairs is better for you and us. Whether it is winter, spring, summer, or fall, we are doing repairs and installations all over Ocean County. Don’t leave yourself with minimal time to find out that we need to fix a complicated problem.

Routine Air Conditioner Repair Saves You Money

Your HVAC system runs more efficiently and more effectively with proper, routine care. Efficiency means lower energy bills due to improved efficacy. In other words, your system is better able to either heat or cool the air to the desired temperature with less effort. What this also does in the long run is allow your HVAC units to last longer. Increased use and decreased efficiency both lead to a shorter lifespan for both air conditioners and furnaces. Repairing HVAC systems can be expensive, but replacing them is even more so. A/C and heating units should last about 20 years. If you need to replace them at 10 years and don’t change your habits, you’ll have to buy multiple systems in your lifetime instead of just a few.

Call Toms River Heating and Air Conditioning for Convenient Ocean County Air Conditioner Repair

We are available for maintenance appointments for both furnaces and air conditioners all year long. While some times of year may seem like a better time than others, attending to your air conditioner any time of year is better than not at all. Don’t wait until the last minute and be stuck waiting on availability for parts and appointments. For a more comfortable summer, call us now to schedule your Ocean County air conditioner repair.

It can be difficult to know when you need to call for Ocean County furnace repair. Some things that happen can seem disastrous, but may be perfectly normal. Other small, seemingly insignificant things may be a sign that repair is necessary. With everything that happens when a furnace gets switched on, it can be hard to know what is normal and what is a red flag. We’re here to help! Let’s discuss normal furnace functions versus warning signs that can indicate a problem. As always, if you ever have any questions about your HVAC, you can contact us.

Some Furnace Sounds are Normal and Don’t Require Ocean County Furnace Repair

Noises coming from your furnace while in use are unavoidable. There is always going to be some sort of sound coming from your HVAC. How do you know what is normal and what isn’t? Simply by paying attention. Spend a few minutes listening to your furnace when you know it is in perfect working order. The ideal time to do this is after a cleaning and inspection. Every system sounds a little different.  So, there isn’t a black and white description of what is normal for a heating system and what isn’t. Once you know what your system sounds like when it is running well, you can easily detect a change. Some normal sounds include rushing air, clicking sounds when the system turns on, the hum of electrical parts, and metal pings as the duct work expands and contracts under changing temperatures.

Abnormal sounds are usually much louder than “normal” noises and usually last longer. Screeching, whining, booming, and pounding sounds are all indicators of a problem. It is wise to have an expert investigate any out of the ordinary sounds that you detect.

What’s That Burning Smell?

Many times, the first time you turn your furnace on for the season, there is what homeowners describe as a burning smell. This smell can be totally normal. In most cases, the odor can last a few hours up to a couple days. Often, this stench is due to dust settling on parts of the furnace during the fall when most people in Ocean County are not using their HVAC systems. The number one way to avoid this is to have one of our qualified technicians perform a pre-season inspection and tune-up on your furnace before you turn it on.

When it becomes abnormal is if you notice a burning smell that continues well into the season. Electrical issues can result in a noticeable smell that is vastly different than the normal burn-off smell you notice when you first turn your furnace on. It is absolutely crucial that if you detect any electrical smells that you turn off your system and call a professional immediately.

Similar to electrical burning, the smell of burning plastic is another red flag. The odor of burning plastic is very identifiable. If this smell is ever noticed when your furnace is running, you should turn off your furnace and call us right away.

Your Energy Bill Looks Different

In most cases, if your HVAC use stays consistent, but your energy bill does not, there could be a problem. A shocking rise in your bill means your system is running longer than normal which almost always indicates an issue. If your furnace can’t seem to reach the desired temperature during a normal cycle, air flow, broken parts, or damaged ducts are all examples of possible causes. Since most of the issues that cause a furnace to become less effective are internal, contacting a professional to examine possible causes of rising bills is your best bet.

Items to Check Before Calling for Ocean County Furnace Repair

If you think your furnace has possibly been running a little longer than usual or might not be keeping your home as cool as it should, but you aren’t hearing, smelling, or seeing any other red flags, check these things before you call for Ocean County furnace repair

• Power – Make sure power switch is set to “ON” and that your circuit board doesn’t have any tripped circuits
• Air filter – Make sure your air filter is clean and clear of any obstructions
• Thermostat – Ensure the batteries are working and all settings are correct
• Pilot Light – Double check that the pilot light is bright and blue
• Air Intake Vent – Air flow is essential for a furnace to function properly; the air intake vent (located outside) needs to be free of any blockages

If you have trouble with any of the above steps or find something wrong within your system, give TRHAC a call!

Summer is certainly here! The temperatures are high and air conditioners are set low. Another thing that is high are energy bills. A bit of a rise in your energy bill is normal with increased usage, but there are things you can do to ensure your air conditioner is running as efficiently as possible keeping your bills low. If you find yourself in need of air conditioner service in Manasquan or the surrounding area, reach out today.

Clear the Area

Keeping your house clean is important to a degree in helping your air conditioner work stress-free. What is more important is keeping the space around your outdoor condenser clear of debris. Make sure to not plant bushes or shrubs or install fencing within three feet of the unit. This ensures proper air flow into and out of the unit which means your air conditioner can run without having to exert extra energy. Less energy used, lower electric bills.

Other things to keep clean are air filters. Most air filters need to be changed every few months, or once a season. Depending on your usage and home life, you might need to check yours more or less often. Just as reduced air flow on the outside can increase strain on the machine, obstructing air flow with dirty filters on the inside does the same.

Ignore the Myths

We’ve all heard the rumors. If you keep vents and doors closed in rooms where no one spends time, you’ll save money. The truth is, the opposite is true. Each HVAC system is designed specifically for the home it is installed in. This design takes into consideration each room. Therefore, if you close off the air flow to a section of duct work, it increases the load into other areas resulting in stress on your unit. Let your air conditioner do what it is supposed to do and cool your whole home.

Another thing people assume is that if you set your thermostat to a super low temperature, your house will cool faster. This is false. An air conditioner has to work at the same level to reduce the temperature 2 degrees as it does 20 degrees. The only thing that changes is the time your air conditioner has to run. So, instead, set the temp where you want it and let your a/c do its thing.

Increase the Temperature a Few Degrees

It seems obvious, but if you like your house really cool in the summer, you are going to have higher than average energy bills. The easiest way to change that is to reduce the amount of time the a/c needs to run and the way to do that is to change your thermostat. If, for example, you usually have your air set at 70°F, try it for a few days at 71°F, then at 72°F. Even a couple degrees can have an effect on your energy usage.

The #1 Way to Keep You’re A/C Running Smooth is With Air Conditioner Service in Manasquan

Even with the best preventative care, damages can happen. Annual air conditioner service in Manasquan, Toms River, and many other towns in Ocean and Monmouth Counties can help. Have your system inspected by a pro once a year. This ensures necessary repairs are made as soon as possible. Any time you hear odd sounds, smell weird smells, or see your energy bills spiking, give Toms River Heating and Air Conditioning a call. Never wait to fix issues with your air conditioner. It will only lead to more expensive repair bills or possibly having to replace the whole system.

The level of comfort that central air conditioning provides makes it hard to believe there can be anything negative about it. But, as with most things, if you don’t take care of your a/c, it won’t take care of you. Most of the adverse side-effects related to air conditioners is due to a lack of or improper maintenance. If it has been over a year since you scheduled a/c maintenance, you should call soon or you may be calling us for Monmouth County air conditioner repair!

Relief From Excessive Heat

One of the most obvious and sought after effects of air conditioning is the relief from excessive heat. Unless you live in cold environment, the heat of the summer months can be taxing. Without access to cool air during hot days, people and animals can suffer from heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Even though air conditioning is mostly a convenience, it can also be a necessity in some situations. Unless you want to find yourself sweltering with no air conditioning this summer, contact us to perform your Monmouth County air conditioner repair.

Improve Indoor Air Quality with Monmouth County Air Conditioner Repair and Maintenance

One of the key features of your air conditioner is the air filter. We’ve discussed air filters and how to choose the right one in a previous blog entry. These filters not only protect your system from damage from unwanted particles, they also improve your indoor air quality by trapping common household irritants. The circulation of mold, mildew, dust mites, and pet dander are all reduced with the use of a properly maintained air conditioner and air filter.

Air Conditioner Neglect Can Have Negative Impacts

Poor air conditioner maintenance can have negative impacts on your health. Escaping oppressive heat in an air-conditioned building is good. Spending too much time in cooled air, however, can actually diminish your ability to tolerate heat. A couple ways to avoid this are to not set your air conditioner too low and to spend time outdoors as well.

Sick Building Syndrome Happens When Monmouth County Air Conditioner Repair is Skipped

The air we breathe isn’t always up to us. Most office building employees have no control over the air they breathe while at work. A dirty system leads to incompetent ventilation and contamination from both indoor and outdoor sources. An overall feeling of sickness, lethargy, coughing, headaches, dizziness, and nausea are just a few symptoms of SBS.

Air Conditioning Can be Drying

 Any person with an affliction related to dryness such as dry eye or a dry skin condition should avoid staying in air-conditioned air for too long. Air conditioning can dry out your indoor air which can affect multiple systems and parts of your body. Dry, itchy eyes are a common complaint of people who spend a lot of time in air-conditioned buildings that do not also use a humidifier. One way to counteract this effect is with a humidifier.

Outdated Systems can Cause Pollution Even with Regular Monmouth County Air Conditioner Repair

Older air conditioning units use things called chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs. This type of refrigerant is detrimental to the ozone layer. The U.S. Clean Air Act is aimed at stopping the use of equipment that uses this refrigerant in the 1970’s, but unfortunately, some of these old systems are still in use.

A Clean Home is Not Possible with A Dirty A/C System

While an efficient, clean a/c system can reduce allergy symptoms, a dirty, unmaintained air conditioning can make allergies worse. The ductwork along with the cooling system itself can be an ideal for microbial allergens. This is just one reason why an annual inspection by a Monmouth County air conditioner repair technician is so important. Keeping your air conditioner in tip-top shape makes it easier to keep your whole home clean.