The importance of detecting noxious gases in your home cannot be overstated. Carbon monoxide is a particularly harmful gas that can enter a home from the heating system. The risks associated with carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, nausea, and fatigue for mild exposure; confusion, blurred vision, and chest pains for moderate exposure; and respiratory failure, coma, or death for severe exposure. The source of carbon monoxide can originate from any fuel-fired device in your home, but it often comes from the furnace. Common causes are a failed heat exchanger, damaged flue pipe, or improperly installed flue pipe.
During your heating maintenance, our technicians use specialized tools to identify carbon monoxide levels in your air supply and at your furnace. Any amount of carbon monoxide is unsafe and will be reported immediately upon discovery. Additionally, every home should have one carbon monoxide detector per floor and one within 15 feet of each bedroom. Our technicians can test your carbon monoxide detectors and offer replacements for any detectors found to be faulty.
Contrary to popular belief, filters are not intended to provide filtration for indoor air quality. Their sole purpose is to protect indoor HVAC components. Filters should be replaced every 2-3 months to ensure optimal system performance. Failure to change filters can lead to reduced airflow, clogged drain lines, frozen evaporator coils, and even water damage. Our service includes ensuring filters are in good condition and replacing them if you have filters available or providing them as an add-on with prior notice. We can also Service your Electronic Air Cleaner if you have one installed.
UV treatment devices can improve indoor air quality by reducing bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and allergens on your equipment and in the air. UV light targets the evaporator coil to eliminate existing growth and prevent future buildup. Advanced air quality devices can also purify the air inside your home. Our technicians are knowledgeable about these systems and can answer your questions without pressure.
Returns are the largest vents in your home responsible for drawing air into the indoor evaporator coil located in your furnace or air handler. Registers supply airflow to each room. If the system cannot take in enough return air or expel sufficient supply air, it will not function correctly. We inspect all returns and registers to ensure they are open and properly directed for optimal airflow.
The thermostat controls the set temperature of your home. Most thermostats can be programmed to adjust temperatures at different times of the day to meet demand. A thermostat may go blank due to an open safety switch, blown fuse, faulty transformer, depleted batteries, or other low voltage issues. Proper diagnosis is required to determine the cause of failure. Our technicians can identify the issue and recommend an appropriate solution. We will test and calibrate your thermostat to ensure it functions correctly, providing replacements if necessary to ensure consistent cooling and heating, avoiding increased energy expenses.
Ductwork supplies conditioned air throughout your home and returns it to the furnace or air handler. The insulation value ("R-value") determines how well ductwork retains the temperature of conditioned air, with R-8 being common in modern homes. Properly sized and installed ductwork is crucial for HVAC system efficiency. Issues like restricted airflow can arise from closed, disconnected, or damaged ducts, often leading to comfort loss in specific areas. We offer airflow assessments and address inefficient system performance caused by damaged or poorly insulated ductwork. Our services include examining ductwork, identifying leaks, and verifying proper installation. Duct replacement services and load calculations are available if necessary.
UV treatment devices target the evaporator coil to eliminate existing growth and prevent future buildup. Advanced IAQ devices can significantly improve your home's air quality by reducing bacteria, viruses, mold spores, and allergens on your equipment and in the air. Our technicians are knowledgeable about these systems and can answer your questions.
Your HVAC system depends on dedicated high voltage circuits. Each component has specific wiring and breaker requirements, usually located in your electrical panel. Breakers act as protective devices, shutting off power during overloads or short circuits, while disconnects isolate circuits manually for maintenance. It is essential to label and know the location of these devices. When a breaker trips or there is a power loss to your HVAC system, a qualified technician should examine the cause. We inspect high voltage wiring, verify system connections, and ensure everything is in good condition. Replacing a faulty transformer can prevent further damage to your system.
This component manages various functions including furnace ignition for heating and fan operation for cooling, and serves as a hub for all low voltage connections between the thermostat, furnace, and the outdoor condensing unit. We will inspect for signs of moisture damage, overheating, dust accumulation, and physical damage, ensuring that all connections are secure and the board is operational during both seasons. (This does not apply to most heat pump/air handler systems.)
If you have a zoned system that supplies comfort to multiple areas of your home, you will also have a zone board that controls two or more thermostats and accompanying zone motors that make the system function. We will ensure that the system is properly configured and check for issues that might indicate failure. A malfunctioning zone board can cause various problems, including loss of airflow, blank thermostats, and other symptoms. Should your zone board fail, we are able to replace it and will confirm that the new one is accurately programmed for your system to ensure effective and safe operation.
The zone motors in a zoned system are responsible for directing airflow to specific areas in homes as each thermostat requests cooling or heating. They open on demand from each thermostat until the set temperature is reached, at which point they close to prevent unnecessary airflow. These motors are a common point of failure in zoned systems, often failing in the closed position and causing a complete loss of airflow to the area they supply. Our technicians can identify weak or failing motor function and replace the failed component on the same day.
When a system is installed in an attic or mechanical room within the home, it must be placed over an emergency pan. The purpose of the pan is to protect the home from potential water damage in the event of a system failure. Our technicians will inspect the condition of the pan to ensure that it is level and will inform you of any issues and recommend appropriate actions to safeguard your home against possible water damage.
Safety switches are essential features of your system, located on the drain line, evaporator coil, and drain pan. In the event of a clogged drain line, frozen evaporator coil, or backed-up condensate line, these devices will halt system operation to prevent water damage to your home. Our technicians will test each switch to ensure functionality, providing replacements as necessary to maintain uninterrupted service.
As mentioned, drain lines are crucial components responsible for directing condensation from your air conditioner outside your home. Clogged or damaged drain lines pose a risk of water damage. Our technicians will flush and treat the drain lines to mitigate this risk. Should any clogs be irreparable, we are prepared to replace the drain lines to ensure optimal performance throughout the summer.
Maintaining a clean evaporator coil is typically managed by your filter. However, if filter replacements have been missed, our technicians are available to assist. They will thoroughly clean the evaporator coil to prevent the accumulation of dust and debris, which can obstruct drain lines, restrict airflow causing the coil to freeze, and potentially lead to premature failure of the evaporator coil.
These pumps work hard to expel water produced by your system year around. Not all systems require a condensate pump, but if your system does, we will clean and test the pump, removing algae build up and making sure it will purge water appropriately.
The blower motor in your furnace or air handler circulates conditioned air throughout your home, essential for heating and cooling. It uses ECM or PSC motors with fan blades that push air through the system. The housing secures these components. We will check each part for proper mounting, balance, damage, current (Amp Draw), and capacitor functionality. Same-day replacement options are available if needed.
The purpose of a capacitor is to increase voltage while filtering out excessive current so that a motor can operate properly. If it is out of tolerance (-/+ 6% in most cases), it cannot effectively filter out the high current flowing into the motor, causing the windings to overheat and potentially leading to motor failure. Capacitors perform an essential function and need to be replaced regularly for a motor to operate effectively.
A contactor is an electromechanical switch. When the low voltage coil receives 24v, it completes the high voltage circuit powering the compressor and condenser fan motor. They are also used in some air handlers to power heatstrips. The low voltage power comes from the furnace control board or air handler. If a 24v coil fails on the contactor, it can blow fuses at the furnace or air handler, causing the thermostat to go blank or lose functionality. Contactors are tested for resistance and visually inspected during maintenance. If any issue is identified, it can be replaced the same day.
This crucial component is the brain of high-efficiency condensing units. A high SEER condenser cannot operate without it. If the board fails, repairs are not possible on-site. Our technicians will discuss replacement options and timelines with you. Though rare, failures can occur and require manufacturer approval for a new inverter board.
The compressor is the heart of all systems. This crucial component is responsible for circulating refrigerant throughout your system, ensuring the removal of excess heat from indoor air during summer and reintegrating it during winter if you possess a heat pump. Most residential compressors operate 240 volts and necessitate a capacitor to function optimally. Ensuring the capacitor is correctly sized and within tolerance is essential for the preventative maintenance of your compressor. We will conduct tests on your compressor's electrical system and refrigerant pressures to verify proper operation and address any issues by providing appropriate solutions.
This measurement indicates the temperature difference between supply and return air, helping us determine if your system has the appropriate refrigerant levels.
This measurement gives our technician an understanding of the amount of pressure your blower motor must overcome to provide airflow throughout the house. If the static pressure is too high, it can cause several issues that will prevent your system from not working properly. Our technicians will take pressure readings from the return and supply ducts to determine if your blower motor is being overworked and if your system is running efficiently.
Sometimes called the “Line set” are the set copper tubing lines that facilitate the travel of refrigerant between the condensing coil and the evaporator coil. The smaller of the two lines is called the Liquid line or High side while the larger diameter line is the Suction line of the low side. It is important for the refrigerant lines to be properly secured at both ends of the system and for the Suction line to be fully insulated to maintain system efficiency. We will check to make certain that your refrigerant lines are correctly sized, secured and insulated.
This test requires a skilled, certified technician familiar with the refrigerant cycle. The pressures indicate if the system is properly charged, identify any restrictions, and assess the condition of components like the compressor, condenser coil, line set, and evaporator coil. A low charge suggests a leak that must be fixed to repair the system. During the heating season, pressure is only tested if there is a heat pump. If a leak, restriction or other issue is identified, technicians will explain the issue and assist in making an informed decision for repair or replacement depending on the situation.
This check is performed alongside checking pressures. It indicates how much refrigerant is in the condenser coil and assesses the system's ability to remove heat from indoor air. Lower than expected subcooling may indicate a leak, while higher subcooling could suggest that the system is overcharged, a restriction is present, or there are airflow issues that need to be addressed to prevent compressor damage.
This is another check to verify your system's charge. It tells us whether your refrigerant is completely in vapor form as it enters the compressor. If liquid refrigerant enters your compressor, it can cause overheating and failure of the compressor.
Wet bulb measures heat load and efficiency, aiding in determining target superheat. Dry bulb/ambient temperature affects system performance, requiring monitoring.