The quality of the air we breathe is important. There are websites like Air Now that monitor outdoor air quality and provide information. In addition to sites similar to that one, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection maintains 30 air quality control monitors throughout the state. These offer up-to-the-minute details on pollutant levels in the air outdoors. What is just as important as outdoor air quality is indoor air quality. Many people do not give significant thought to the quality of the air in their homes. There are many irritants that could be circulating through your home that could be decreasing your indoor air quality to the extent that you may suffer health problems. We’re here to tell you with a few easy steps including regular HVAC service in Toms River, you can improve your indoor air quality so you be breathing a lot easier at home.

We Install Whole Home Air Purifiers in Toms River

Whole home air purifiers are one of the easiest ways to improve your indoor air quality. Unlike room purifiers that only treat the air of the room where they are located, whole home air purifiers treat your entire home with one system. They may also be referred to as in-duct systems as they are installed directly into the air ducts of an existing HVAC system. This makes them very effective

 at treating all the air in your home. These systems not only remove airborne irritants, but colds, viruses, germs, and chemical odors also. In this way, whole home air purifiers not only improve indoor air quality to help you breathe easier, but keeps you healthy too. Learn more about whole home air purifiers in Toms River here.

Ensure You Have Proper Circulation with HVAC Service in Toms River

If you’ve read any of our past blogs, we’re sure you are aware that any blockage of air anywhere within your HVAC system is bad news. The best way to avoid this? Contact us to schedule regular inspections and service of your units. Just as it is helpful to clean often to reduce airborne contaminants, it is also advantageous to have a professional examine your heating and air conditioning units. We’ll look for damages and clean the units to ensure proper function.

Along with circulation, ventilation is important especially when using products with volatile organic compounds like paint or cleaners. The first step in reducing VOCs is to research alternate ways to accomplish your task using items that do not contain these contaminants. If that is not a possibility, purchase products that are labelled as containing low VOCs. Lastly, whenever using these types of products it is essential to use them outdoors or keep the windows open. It also helps to have a fan pulling air out of the space.

The Number One Way  to Remove Pollutants is To Eliminate Them

The best way to avoid breathing in harmful particles is to remove them from your home. One way to do this is to clean well and clean often. This greatly cuts down on dust, dander, and other allergens in your home. The truth is, a cleaner house does help improve your air quality indoors. For more a severe source, like asbestos, always contact a professional for removal of this dangerous substance. Another way to accomplish this we already discussed, and this is to clean the air. If a whole home air purifier isn’t in your plans, stand-alone units do a fine job of cleaning the air. Even a small addition of an air purifier can reduce the effects of poor air quality. Things like itchy eyes, runny nose, headaches, and fatigue can all by symptoms of “dirty” air.

HVAC Service in Toms River is Just One Step in Cleaning Your Air

Reducing allergens and irritants all together may be impossible. But we hope we’ve given you a few steps on how to improve your indoor air quality. With one phone call, we can help improve your indoor air quality by ensuring your HVAC system is running properly and efficiently. Even small damages or impairments can negatively affect the performance of these units. This is why annual HVAC service in Toms River is important. Give us a call today and get ready to breathe easier.

While a home HVAC system is most common, it is not the only way to heat your home. With that being said, most alternate heat sources are meant to be supplemental or to be kept on hand in case of emergency. Aside from a professionally installed furnace, many other heat sources only provide warmth to a select area. This makes them not great options for most homes as a primary heating source. However, when your furnace breaks in the dead of winter, having another way to keep your family warm is essential. A great way to avoid needing emergency heating solutions is to give us a call today to provide your home with expert heating service in Toms River.

Heat Your Home from the Ground Up

There are two notable ways to heat your home from the ground up. One is radiant heat flooring and the other is a geothermal heat pump. Radiant flooring is widely accessible and is a service that we offer as well. Geothermal pumps, also known as ground-source heat pumps or earth-coupled heat pumps, are less used.

If you are interested in learning more about installing radiant heat flooring in Toms River, contact us today. This type of heat uses either a water-based system or an electric one. The system is installed under your flooring most commonly, but there are also versions that can be installed in walls and ceilings. However, under the flooring is the most effective. It works by using the natural convection of heat (hot air rises) to circulate the heat. The floors can be set to temperatures over 100°F but are typically set to around 80°.

Geothermal heat pumps are something many people probably have never heard of. Even when air temperatures are below freezing, ground temperatures just a few feet below the surface may only get as cold as 45°F. Just as caves can be cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, heat pumps take advantage of this and exchange the air with the earth to warm or cool a home. Visit The Department of Energy to learn more about this alternate heating system.

Solar Heating Can Mean a Few Different Things

Many people will think of solar panels when someone says solar heating. This is definitely one definition of it. Another, is using the actual power of the sun with well-placed landscaping and windows to help add warmth to your home. The first definition is also known as active solar power and the latter, passive solar space heating.

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “Active solar heating systems have collectors for heating a fluid (air or a liquid) and fans or pumps to move the fluid through the collectors, where it is heated, to the interior of a building or to a heat storage system, where the heat is released, and back to the collector to be reheated.” Solar energy can be used for different zones in your home individually like using it only for hot water, or can be used to help heat your entire home. Installation is costly, but often pays for itself in less than a decade. After this time, owners enjoy free energy for the lifetime of the panels.

Passive solar heating is simply being smart about where you plant trees in your yard, where windows are located on your home and even installing skylights to allow as much sunlight into your home as possible. Sunlight beating through windows can add a considerable amount of warmth to a home when it is not diffused through a canopy of trees or blocked by window coverings.

Fireplaces and Wood or Pellet Stoves Are Effective

Fireplaces and wood burning stoves are very effective at heating rooms. It can be difficult to effectively spread that warmth throughout the home. Plus, it can only be used while someone is home. Most homes use this type of heat as supplemental and a way to decrease energy bills in the winter when possible. For smaller abodes, like winter hunting cabins, pellet stoves may be the only source of heat and in that case, can be extremely efficient and effective.

Heating Service in Toms River Keeps Homes Cozy

No matter what type of heating source you choose, proper maintenance is crucial. Fireplaces and stoves require annual chimney cleaning to remove dangerous creosote to reduce the risk of chimney fires. Even solar panels need regular cleaning and inspecting in order to keep them effective. For a majority of homes in Ocean County, an HVAC system is the preferred method for heating a house. With that, heating service in Toms River is essential to keep your system running smooth. Cleaning, inspecting, and repairing parts and systems is important to avoid major damages and loss of heat. Contact us today to provide you with heating service in Toms River to ensure a warm winter!

Anyone that owns a home in Ocean County is likely to have an HVAC system installed. This will include a portion for air conditioning and machinery for heating as well. As with most equipment found within a home, furnaces and air conditioners can break. When this happens, you and your family can be literally left in the cold. We’ve decided to review a few of the most common furnace repairs in Ocean County. Plus, we’ll give you some tips on how to avoid them.

A Scraping Sound is Usually Worn-Out Ball Bearings

Some furnaces make a lot of noise when they run even when they are in the best condition. Others may be much quieter. The key as a homeowner is to recognize what noises are normal for your furnace. This way you can easily identify an abnormal noise that may be a warning sign of damage. One of these noises that isn’t typical of any working furnace is a scraping metal sound. Most commonly, this is a sign of worn-out ball bearings in your blower. It is always best to refrain from turning on your furnace again until our repair technician confirms that this is the problem and replaces them.

During our yearly inspection, we’ll check all parts of your blower including the ball bearings for wear and tear. Anything identified as broken or worn can then be replaced before you have problems.

Your Energy Bill is On the Rise

Usually, the first few times you turn your heat on, it’s only on to take the chill out of the air. It turns on to raise the indoor temperature a few degrees and then turns off. As the weather gets colder and colder, you run your heater more and more. So, it is not uncommon for your energy bills to be higher as winter sets in. However, once your daily routine is set and the temperature on the thermostat isn’t changing much, your energy bill should plateau. If the outdoor temperatures have been steady and you haven’t changed anything on your furnaces schedule, but your bill is going up every month, there could be a number of things wrong.

An inefficient machine is an expensive machine. Save money with an annual inspection so we can keep your furnace running smoothly.

Your Furnace Blows Continuously

There is a part of your furnace that ultimately controls when it turns on and when it shuts off. This is called the limit switch. These are a common part to go bad in a furnace. You will almost immediately know if you have a bad limit switch because the blower in your furnace will blow continuously. Not only can this lead to our first problem because the blower is working too much, but it can also be dangerous. The limit switch knows to shut your furnace off when it gets hot enough. Without that trigger, your furnace can easily overheat. Not only can this cause extensive damage to your furnace, but these damages are potentially hazardous. When the furnaces temperature continues to ruse unchecked, it can crack the heat exchanger. This in turn can allow toxic byproducts to leak into your home.

Routine care by our professionals helps to ensure not only the efficiency of your HVAC, but the safety of it as well. Always be sure to have working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors in your home on all floors.

Lack of Maintenance is the Biggest Contributor to Furnace Repair in Ocean County

One of the biggest contributing factors to homeowners needing to call for furnace repairs in Ocean County is the lack of routine maintenance. All the repairs we’ve already mentioned can often be avoided with a regular visit from one of our technicians. A once-a-year inspection of your HVAC system can identify minor issues that we can then fix before they cause more damage. It is best to have your a/c examined in the spring and your furnace in the fall. This gives you the best chance at avoiding any breakdowns or emergencies. That being said, if you miss that window, it is still always better to schedule an inspection for any time versus not at all. Any maintenance is better than no maintenance at all when it comes to furnace repair in Ocean County so contact us today.

Buying a home is an exciting time. There is often a lot of information, tons of numbers, and lots of people involved. When all is said and done, however, and those keys are in your hand, that house becomes your home. This also means that the responsibility to take care of that home rests squarely on your shoulders. We’ve put together some tips relating to a homes HVAC system for all homeowners, but especially those who have recently purchased a home. Unfortunately, heating and air conditioning units are often missing from standard home maintenance task lists. This can lead to disastrous effects. The best thing you can do to care for your heating and a/c is to have a professional inspection by a technician experienced in heating repair in Sea Girt every year starting when you first move into the home.

Tip #1 is To Learn Your System

The most helpful tip we can give homeowners is to know some basic information about your HVAC system. Age of the system parts, what type of units are installed, and other details are important to know about your heater and air conditioner.

Location

First and foremost, it is important to know where your units are located and where the emergency shut-off switch is. This typically looks like a standard light switch but may be red and is usually right outside the area where your HVAC is located.

Fuel and Operation Type

It is essential to know what type of furnace is installed. Is it fueled by gas or oil or is it electric? Oil is the least likely option, but requires regular oil delivery which makes it essential to know this. It is also good to know how your furnace operates. Is it a single-stage, two-stage, or variable?  If you don’t know this information, don’t worry. When you schedule an inspection for your system after you move in, our technician will be able to give you all the information you need about your HVAC system.

Warranty

Another good piece of information that is good to know is if any parts of your heating or air conditioner are still under warranty. Repairs can be costly so it’s good to know when something may be covered. Be sure to get this information from the previous owner. Typical warranties cover a variety of parts and last about 5-10 years. Most HVAC unit’s lifetime is approximately 5-25 years. This information is important to know and will help you decide when it is time to replace rather than repair the hVAC system.

General Maintenance Goes a Long Way in Avoiding Heating Repair in Sea Girt

When you first move into a new home, it can be easy to forget that not everything in the house may be new. It is important to review some general items relating to your newly acquired HVAC system to avoid emergencies. One, it is always important to check the air filter in the furnace. It may not necessarily need to be changed, but it is important to know how close it is. Second, take a close look at your HVAC units and ensure there is adequate air flow around all parts inside and outside. Make sure there is at least three feet of clear space around all areas. Lastly, when you move into a home, make sure there are no vents closed in any rooms. Some people believe closing vents saves money, but we know that is just a common myth and can increase wear.

Your HVAC can be the Source of an Emergency

No matter what type of furnace or HVAC system your new home has, these machines can be the source of an emergency. Whether it is a broken belt leaving your home in the cold in the winter or a refrigerant leak in the summer, damages to HVAC units can lead to some dangerous situations. The best way to avoid any crisis is to have one of our experienced technicians in heating repair in Sea Girt inspect your system every year. This can be an important step for newly purchased homes as well no matter the age of the home. It is always best to know the condition of your heating and air conditioning system when moving into a new home. Even after a home inspection, a professional evaluation by a local HVAC repair company is a good idea.

Contact us today to schedule an inspection of your HVAC!

Living in and around the Toms River area means we get to enjoy all four seasons. Temperatures reach both ends of the spectrum ranging from extreme heat to extreme cold and everywhere in between. This makes our air conditioners and heaters very important to us. Our HVAC systems work really hard during summer and winter. One of the seasons when our systems get to take a little break is fall. After heavy usage of air conditioning in the summer and right before needing to turn your heat on for winter, fall is the perfect time of year to schedule your HVAC maintenance in Ocean County.

HVAC Maintenance in Ocean County is Important After Summer

This summer was a scorcher. Weeks upon weeks of higher than 90°F temperatures. The only relief found was in the comfort of your temperature-controlled home. With a properly, efficiently running a/c, you will stay comfortable every summer despite how hot it gets. The best way to care for your unit after a long summer is with a professional inspection every year. After heavy use and before letting it sit for the winter, a thorough cleaning will help your air conditioner remain in good shape and running efficiently year after year. Our technicians will ensure all parts of your air conditioning system are clean, damage free, and that there is proper airflow through the entire system. This includes checking and replacing the air filter where necessary.

HVAC Maintenance is Great to have it checked before heavy usage in the winter.

Just as it is a good idea to have your a/c inspected and cleaned before the off-season, it is equally important for a professional to examine your furnace to ensure it is in working order before you need to use it during winter. The inspection will check fluid levels, look for impairments, and ensure proper function.  The once situation you don’t want to find yourself in is one where you are calling us for emergency furnace repair. The best way to avoid this is to regularly schedule your HVAC maintenance in Ocean County during the fall season. Repairs may be unavoidable, but with regular checks, our professionals can diagnose any potential issues before they cause a problem.

Schedule Your HVAC Maintenance in Ocean County Today

A good maintenance schedule helps ensure your HVAC system runs as efficiently as possible during the summer and the winter. This translates into as low as possible energy bills. A dirty and inefficient HVAC system leads to rising utility bills. Therefore, save money year-round by ensuring your HVAC is running smoothly and breakage-free with regular visits from one of our professionals. Not only does maintaining your HVAC system help control your energy bills, it also helps keep you protected. By checking for leaks, cracks, and other damages, we can ensure your furnace is not just efficient, but also safe. Save money and protect your home by contacting us to schedule your HVAC maintenance in Ocean County today.

Air cleaners are often referred to air purifiers. Most people are familiar with the portable stand-up air purifiers. Not as many people are aware that you can have an electronic air cleaner installed in your home along with your HVAC system that easily treats the air throughout your home. These can improve your indoor air quality and can be advantageous especially in homes where people with ling illnesses live. However, having good air quality is important for every home. Breathing in low quality air for an extended length of time can result in any number of negative health consequences.  To improve the air quality in your home, contact us now to discuss the installation of an electronic air cleaner.

What to Know About Indoor Air Quality

Air quality refers to how clean the air is inside your home. This is especially relevant when using an HVAC system. To assess your air quality, ask yourself questions like how free of irritants and pollutants is your air? Does it irritate your lungs when you breathe? Do people with respiratory illnesses suffer more when they are in your home? If the answer is yes to any of those questions, your air quality may need to be improved. Common household air irritants are smoke, pet dander, mold, mildew, asbestos, lead, and ozone. Some of these can easily be removed or kept out of a home. Others, however, are harder to avoid. Owning pets, for example, is going to lead to pet dander. Even with the best cleaning practices, there will still be molecules in the air. This is where electronic air cleaners come in.

Why Does Air Quality Matter?

For those who have a respiratory sickness like asthma or COPD, and even those who don’t, what is in the air you breathe matters. We call the molecules found in the air that aggravate us irritants for a reason. Aside from breathing issues, there are many other negative effects that these particles can cause. Headaches, fatigue, heart disease, and cancer are all possible if your air contains many pollutants. There have even been studies that have found outbreaks of Legionnaire’s Disease among workers in buildings with poorly maintained HVAC units. Neglecting to schedule an annual inspection can be detrimental to individual parts and to the system as a whole. During the inspection, one of our expert technicians will assess the condition as well as the cleanliness of your HVAC units. Having this done every year helps to reduce the amount of irritants located in your air.

How Do Electronic Air Cleaners Work?

They are termed electronic not because they are powered by electricity, but because the filtering process itself is uses electromagnetism. You can think of the filter as one end of a magnet and the air molecules as the other end of the magnet. By using an electric field, contaminates get trapped and therefore removed from circulation within your home. This can work on particles like dust, mold, and dander, all common allergens. One positive aspect of an electronic air cleaner aside from their effectiveness is that they use reusable filters. Being able to cleanse and reuse your filters means you can save money over the lifetime of the unit on filters. Plus, you don’t have to remember to order or run to the store every few months to purchase a new filter.

Contact Us For More Information on Electronic Air Cleaners

If you are going to be researching electronic air cleaners, to know exactly how effective the air cleaner is, look at the MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value) rating. We recommend filters with a rating of 10 or above.  It is also important to make sure that the filter you choose does not produce ozone as a byproduct. This can be an unfortunate side effect of some electronic air filters. If you have any questions about the electronic air filters or want to have one installed in your home, contact us today!

Most homes in Ocean County have a furnace and most of them are gas furnaces. Although old gas furnaces were not known to be the most efficient appliances, newer gas furnaces boast much higher efficiency rates making them more attractive to homeowners. Additionally, the filter in your furnace helps to control the amount of airborne contaminates in your home. Oil furnaces are another common type of furnace found in our area. One advantage to an oil furnace is that they can last up to thirty years. Regardless of type, your furnace is one of the most important investments in your home. Furnaces of all types are expensive to install, repair, and replace. Thankfully, the common gas furnace is relatively inexpensive and easy to maintain. So, with these maintenance care tips and some routine care by us, you can keep those Ocean County furnace repair bills to a minimum.

You may be thinking “I don’t know anything about furnaces. What can I do?” While we certainly don’t recommend attempting repair of any kind on your furnace unless you are trained to do so, there are some simple at-home tasks you can perform to keep your furnace running efficiently. The more efficient your furnace, the less wear and tear and therefore, the less need for repairs.

Proper Air Flow is a Crucial Component of Efficiency

For forced hot air systems, the ability to distribute the treated air through the ductwork and then out the vents is the key to its function. One thing you can do to ensure your furnace has sufficient air flow is to keep the area around your furnace clear of dirt, debris, and objects.  Never store anything in the area immediately around your furnace.

Also, be sure that there is nothing blocking your vents in any room. Furniture placed in front of a vent prevents airflow and this can decrease the efficacy of your furnace. Plus, it makes the furnace work harder than intended and that usually leads to higher utility bills and more frequent calls for Ocean County furnace repair.

Similarly, it is not true that if you close off rooms and vents that are not occupied it will save you money. Each heating system installed in a home is chosen according to the dimensions and needs of that particular home. A system that is forced to push the same amount of air through less pathways and into a much smaller area can put undue stress on your furnace. The best advice we can give is to let your unit function as it was designed to.  

One final item to check routinely is the air filter in your furnace. On average, the filter should be changed every three months. If you find that when you check your air filter after three months, it is fully clogged, you should change it more frequently. The filter must allow air to pass through it freely in order to do its job and to allow the furnace to adequately do its job.  If you ever need assistance finding or replacing your air filter, give us a call. We can walk you through it.

Professional Maintenance is Important

Even with the most meticulous care by a homeowner, nothing can replace a professional inspection. Our trained technicians will check and clean all parts of your system. During this process, they will be looking for damages or signs of corrosion. Repairing minor imperfections as soon as possible helps you avoid the need for emergency furnace repair. Ideally, you should schedule an annual checkup for your furnace prior to the onset of cold weather. This will all but guarantee a winter of repair-free usage.

In the case that you do need service for your furnace, contact us right away. We can help you determine if it is appropriate to repair the problem or if it may be time to replace your unit. Typically, a gas furnaces lifetime is about fifteen to twenty years. Some signs that it may better to replace your furnace rather than fix it are:

• The furnace is over 15 years old
• The furnace is unable to maintain the temperature set by the thermostat
• There are strange noises whenever the furnace is running
• You are calling us much more frequently for repairs

If any combination of these statements is true, we can help you decide on what is the best next step. In any case that you need our assistance with your furnace, you can contact us here!

We get a lot of questions regarding Ocean County air conditioner repair. It can be a very confusing topic. There are a lot of parts and it is largely ignored by homeowners unless it’s broken. Ignoring both your heating and air conditioner is a mistake made by many. By allowing us to inspect your HVAC once or twice a year, you can avoid needing to call us for an emergency. A professional examination allows the technician to identify and fix small issues before they become big problems.

Q:  My HVAC is making a strange noise. What does it mean?

A:  No matter what the noise is, it’s probably time to call an Ocean County air conditioner repair team. Any noises that you notice outside of the normal sounds is a good indicator that there is something wrong with your air conditioner. Squealing noises could suggest a problem with the blower or fan, loud banging is usually a sign that something is broken or loose inside the unit, and a clicking noise could signify electrical issues. If you hear a high-pitched whistle, turn the power off to your A/C and call us right away. This could be a pressure problem within your condenser or a refrigerant leak. These are both very serious problems that need to be addressed immediately.

There are some normal noises that any air conditioner unit makes. You may hear the actual sound of air blowing through the duct work. It is also normal to occasionally hear some clicking sounds at the end of a cycle. If the clicking continues for a long time, however, that is not normal. Anytime you have a question about a noise coming from your HVAC, let us know and we’ll be happy to help you figure out what’s wrong or if it is a routine sound and nothing to worry about.

Q: Why isn’t my house getting as cold as I want it to?

A: This could be caused by a number of issues. The first step is to check your thermostat. Be sure it has working batteries, that it is set to cool, and is set at the right temperature. If everything with your thermostat looks good, it could be an indication that airflow is being blocked somewhere within the system. It could be a clogged air filter, debris in your condenser causing the fan to malfunction, or possibly an obstructed condenser coil. The air filter can be changed easily without having to call for repair, but, as always, if you have any questions about how to do it or what type of filter is best, contact us anytime.

One thing not to do if your air isn’t reaching the desired temperature is to lower the temperature even further. If the unit can’t reach 75°F, it certainly won’t be able to reach 65°F. All this does is force your unit to work harder and longer than necessary. All this will leave you with is a hefty energy bill. When you have your temperature set, but your air conditioner is unable to cool your home, give us a call. It could be a refrigerant leak which, if not fixed, could lead to much bigger complications.

Q: What Happens if I Neglect Routine Servicing?

A: Most items in your home that you look at regularly, use daily, or don’t involve lots of moving parts are taken care of better by homeowners. The same can’t be said for heating and air conditioning. These systems intimidate many homeowners. Plus, most parts of the system are usually hidden away in a closet where you don’t have to see it. Out of sight, out of mind is typical with HVAC. That is, until something goes wrong. Unfortunately, when HVAC systems break, it’s usually an emergency. This is because you wouldn’t know something was wrong unless you were trying to use it.

With an annual or biannual inspection by one of our Ocean County air conditioner repair technicians, you can avoid many, if not all, major emergencies. Of course, machines are bound to break, but that is why letting us take a close look at your HVAC system is so crucial. We’ll identify any red flags before they cause a complication. This saves you time, stress, and money.

When it comes to do it yourself maintenance, changing the air filter every three months is important. If that is all you do for your HVAC, it’s a necessary step. Clogged air filters make it harder for your air conditioner to reach temperature, raising your energy bill by the minute. Plus, the extra stress on the unit leads to early failure of many parts.

If you are ready to schedule an inspection for your air conditioner, give us a call anytime!

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.