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If you’ve had your furnace even just a couple of years, you’re likely well acquainted with what it sounds like when it is operating. So, if it starts to make loud or unusual sounds during its operation, it’s a good indication that something is amiss. You should call on a pro to examine your furnace and ensure that everything is working effectively and efficiently.
What kind of noises are we referring to? Read on as we uncover some of the most common sounds that warrant a call to our team.
We’re going to make an assumption here and say that if you’re reading this blog at the time of its publishing, you’re scrambling to find a new heater and don’t have any time to waste. The coldest of our weather is upon us, and all you want to do is rush out and get the most affordable heater you can find, and have just anyone install it so you can get your home comfort back, right?
Choosing to skip professional installation, however, can be a big mistake. Trusting an amateur or trying to do the installation on your own can lead to comfort issues, efficiency problems, and even safety hazards. One other problem that most people don’t think about because they don’t even realize it’s a problem is getting the wrong size furnace or heat pump. Read on to learn more!
Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a heating system that never experienced problems? Unfortunately, this will never be the case. Let’s face it, natural wear and tear is always going to be a factor, and eventually, you will need heater repairs.
That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t take steps to mitigate how severe these repair needs will be! Scheduling maintenance, for instance, is the #1 way to avoid heater emergencies. It also increases the lifespan of your heating equipment and helps the system work more efficiently. Our techs are able to fully inspect your system during maintenance, so we can alert you to small repair needs before they grow bigger.
What if you need repairs between maintenance sessions, though? Is there any way for you to know? Yes! Watch and listen for the following signs, and if you notice them, give our team a call.
Do you have your drains routinely cleaned? If not, you should be! Our plumbers will come to your home and use the best in currently technology, such as hydro-jetting technology, to comprehensively clean out the drainpipes throughout your home. This removes the buildup that leads to frequent slow drains and clogs, and also helps prevent pipes from suffering other damage as well.
“But wait,” you might be wondering, “can’t I just use liquid drain cleaner I bought at the store to treat clogs?”
You can, but this would only provide a temporary solution to the problem, and these drain cleaning chemicals are so caustic that they could be harmful to you and are definitely—perhaps even ironically—harmful to your pipes. The corrosive chemicals cause corrosion, leading to premature pipe replacement. The best thing to do is invest in routine drain cleaning, and also to know how to prevent clogs from forming to begin with, which we’ve delved into below.
If your home is like most throughout the Roswell area and beyond, then you use a furnace for your heating needs. Most furnaces in the Des Moines area are used for home heating, and our company has extensive experience serving Des Moines homeowners. In addition to furnaces, we also service a variety of heating systems to ensure your home stays comfortable year-round.
Given that gas is so widely available, it’s very likely this heating system is gas-powered. In fact, most furnaces in Des Moines homes are gas-powered due to the local climate and fuel availability. A gas furnace produces a large amount of heat, and it does so at less expense than using an electric furnace, since natural gas costs less than electricity per unit.
However, there’s a potential hazard with using a gas furnace. We aren’t saying that to scare you, gas furnaces are not inherently dangerous, after all, especially with all the safety features built into today’s models. But older furnaces or furnaces that haven’t been well cared for over the years have one specific danger that needs to be watched for, a cracked heat exchanger.
Furnace replacement is a vital step in maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient home, particularly in colder climates where reliable heating is essential. As gas furnaces and other heating systems age, their ability to efficiently produce heat diminishes, often resulting in rising energy bills and inconsistent comfort. Replacing an old furnace with a modern, energy efficient model can dramatically improve your home’s heating system, reducing both energy consumption and costs. With a variety of options available, including gas furnaces, electric furnaces, and heat pumps, selecting the right furnace for your home is crucial. An experienced HVAC technician can guide you through the furnace replacement process, helping you choose a cost effective solution that matches your heating needs and ensures your system operates at peak efficiency. Whether you’re dealing with an old furnace that struggles to keep up or simply want to upgrade to a more efficient system, replacing your furnace is an investment in comfort, efficiency, and long-term savings.
Surely, with the official start of winter just a week away, you’ve scheduled furnace maintenance, right?
If not, don’t worry, it’s not too late! In fact, it’s much better to schedule your furnace maintenance now, or even in the middle of winter, than to skip it altogether this year. This is particularly true if you have a gas furnace—skipping a tune-up in this case might not only leave your furnace at risk of operational problems, but expose you to safety issues as well.
Sure, it’s typically best to have this job done before temperatures drop to their coldest, and sometimes we can get cold snaps far before wintertime comes around, but if you’re reading this and haven’t scheduled your tune-up yet, please give us a call! In the meantime, read on to learn more about the importance of this service.
The very short answer to this is, “no.” But don’t worry, we’ll elaborate!
The air filter that comes standard with your HVAC installation is there for an important reason. Its function is to protect the HVAC system itself from dust, dirt, and other debris that can settle on its internal components and negatively impact the system’s efficiency and performance—costing you more money in the long run. This air filter certainly helps pull a little bit of dust and other contaminants from your indoor air, but this isn’t its intended purpose.
For more powerful air cleaning, you’ll want to consider the installation of a whole-house air purifier.
You already know how important it is that we all try to reduce our use of water. Our planet’s future depends on it! And, there are so many practical and surprisingly easy ways for us to do that.
So, here are seven really practical ways for you to conserve water in your home…
1. Monitor your water bills
Check your water bill each month and if it goes up try to figure out if there’s a good reason (filling the swimming pool). If it spikes and you don’t know why, you probably have a leak somewhere.
Seriously, the average home wastes more than 10,000 gallons of water a year from easily fixable plumbing leaks. It’s worth it to bring in a plumber if you suspect you have a leak but cannot find it.
2. Use the water meter to check for hidden water leaks
Go read your water meter and write down the number. Stop using water for two hours. Then go back to the meter. If it’s not at the exact same number, there’s a water leak in your house. If you can’t find it, call your home services company to send out a plumber.
3. Use every drop
Find ways to repurpose water so it doesn’t just go down the drain. For example, when you boil potatoes or pasta, pour that water through a colander and into another pot to capture the hot water. After it’s cooled, this water can be used for your household plants. You can do something similar whenever you run the tap and wait for hot water.
4. Use your dishwasher more
You might be surprised, but as it turns out washing dishes by hand uses a lot more water than running the dishwasher, and even more so if you have a newer more water-efficient model. Newer dishwashers will also adjust to use less water for smaller loads. (If you don’t have a newer dishwasher, see #7.)
5. Run full loads in your washing machine
You can adjust water levels to match the size of your load, but it’s even more water-efficient to run larger loads in your washing machine.
6. Cover your swimming pool
It takes a lot of water to fill your swimming pool and to keep it filled. In the summer sun, pools can lose an inch or more of water each week to evaporation. Getting a cover for your pool can save thousands of gallons of water each season. Make it a solar blanket and you can also reduce your heating cost. But this only works if you’re diligent about covering the pool when it’s not in use.
7. Install a new dishwasher
Newer dishwashers use as little as four to seven gallons per load—again that’s a lot less than washing by hand and much less than older dishwashers.
Summary
If we all work on conserving water, we can make a big difference. While taking these practical steps, be sure to contact a home services company if you need help finding a water leak or installing a new dishwasher.
Your home’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) system runs ‘round the clock, 24/7, all year long. You can’t expect it to last forever, but you can expect your furnace to last for about several years, depending on the model, you may get 15-20 years out of your furnace and 10-15 years out of your air conditioner. It’s a big investment to replace your furnace or air conditioner, so when the time comes, be sure to choose the right AC unit that fits your budget and cooling needs. Opting for an energy-efficient HVAC system with a high SEER rating, with a minimum of 15 SEER required in the southern U.S., can help lower your energy bills significantly. We have five tips for homeowners to extend the life of your HVAC system and cooling system. For more details on how long you can expect your furnace to last, read our guide.
Contact a home services company to give your furnace a tune-up in the fall and your air conditioner a tune-up in the spring. This preventative maintenance usually includes a thorough inspection, cleaning, lubrication, and any necessary adjustments. Regular annual tune ups improve system efficiency and extend equipment life. (Save $20 on a Tune Up)
Disposable fiberglass filters should be replaced every 30 days, but check your filter and furnace manual to see how often you should be replacing the filter. A dirty filter forces your HVAC system to work harder to circulate air, causing extra wear on the system and higher energy bills. Regularly changing your air filter not only extends your system’s lifespan but also helps lower your monthly energy bills.
Be sure to keep the return air vents clean and prevent the build-up of dust and debris. You might also want to have your ducts professionally cleaned so that your system delivers the cleanest air possible. Maintaining your ductwork is essential for system efficiency and improving indoor air quality throughout your house. Additionally, ductwork quality should be evaluated to identify leaks and ensure proper sizing and insulation for optimal HVAC efficiency.
Does your HVAC system really need to be running almost 24/7? Can you give it a break when you’re on vacation? On a cool evening, could you open the windows and give the AC the night off? You’ll be saving energy and giving the system a break, which reduces wear and tear on compressors and other components.
The better your home is insulated, the less your HVAC system will need to run to maintain the temperature. The first place to check for sufficient insulation is your attic. Proper insulation also helps control humidity and temperature throughout the house, making your cooling system more effective during hot and cold seasons.
Even if you follow these tips and take good care of your HVAC system, eventually it will need to be replaced. Homeowners in Des Moines should consider local climate factors, such as hot summers and high humidity, when deciding on a new cooling system. If you’re approaching the projected end of life for the unit, replacing it with a new HVAC system is a cost-effective choice because you will be saving money with the new, more energy-efficient replacement. Replacing a central AC unit that’s more than 10 years old could save you 20% – 40% on cooling costs. But if you want to prolong the system as long as possible, contract with a reliable home services company for your annual tune-ups and then ask the experienced HVAC technicians for their input on when to replace. They can help determine if furnace repair, heat pump services, or a full replacement is needed for your project. If you’re unsure, here are signs your furnace may need repair or even replacement. Be honest with them about the maintenance you’ve carried out on the unit, even if that means confessing that sometimes you didn’t replace the air filter for a season or two. Hopefully, you can build trust with the HVAC team to get the best advice on when to replace your furnace or air conditioner.
Take good care of your HVAC system and it may last longer than the average lifespan, but also know when to replace it before it becomes unreliable or so inefficient that it’s costly to keep running. Professional indoor air quality services and regular maintenance of your cooling system, compressors, and ductwork can extend system life and improve comfort in your house. Research federal, state, and local tax credits or rebates for installing energy-efficient HVAC equipment. If your system is already struggling, find out what to replace it with for optimal performance and efficiency. Don’t hesitate to request a quote or consultation for your next heating and air conditioning installation project or job, and remember that a professional installation by experienced technicians is key for the best results.
While regular maintenance is key to keeping your HVAC system running efficiently, several common issues can dramatically reduce its lifespan and lead to unexpected air conditioning replacement or costly repairs. One of the biggest culprits is poor system efficiency, often caused by neglecting essential maintenance tasks like annual tune-ups or timely filter changes. When your air conditioner or heating system has to work harder due to clogged filters or dirty components, it not only drives up your energy bills but also puts unnecessary strain on the equipment, increasing the risk of breakdowns and expensive repairs.
Another major factor is improper installation. If your AC installation wasn’t handled by experienced HVAC technicians, you could be facing a host of problems, from reduced system efficiency to frequent malfunctions. Professional installation ensures your air conditioning or heating system is correctly sized and set up to meet your home’s unique cooling needs, which is especially important in central Iowa’s ever-changing climate. An incorrectly sized or poorly installed system can lead to uneven temperatures, higher energy costs, and a much shorter system lifespan.
It’s also important not to ignore warning signs from your HVAC system. Strange odors, unusual noises, or warm air blowing from your vents can all indicate underlying issues that, if left unchecked, can cause serious damage. Prompt air conditioning repair by qualified professionals can help fix these problems early, protecting your investment and maintaining high indoor air quality.
Outdated or old equipment is another common issue. Older air conditioners and heating systems are typically less energy efficient and more prone to frequent repairs. Upgrading to a new HVAC system with modern, energy-efficient technology can be a cost-effective solution, especially when you take advantage of financing options and labor warranties offered by reputable service providers. Not only will you enjoy lower energy bills, but you’ll also benefit from improved comfort and reliability.
In central Iowa, where heating and cooling systems work hard year-round, it’s crucial to choose services that offer annual tune-ups, experienced technicians, and comprehensive maintenance plans. Whether you’re a homeowner or a business owner, investing in regular checks and professional care can help you avoid premature system failure, extend the life of your equipment, and ensure your home stays comfortable no matter the season.
By staying proactive and addressing these common issues, you’ll save money on repairs and replacements while enjoying better air quality, greater system efficiency, and peace of mind knowing your HVAC system is running at its best. If you notice anything unusual or think your system isn’t running efficiently, don’t hesitate to contact a trusted HVAC team for a thorough inspection and expert advice tailored to your needs.
There are some parts of the country where homeowners have never even heard the term “sump pump” let alone do they know what it is. They don’t need to know, after all—their home may be in a position where flooding is just not a concern.
Unfortunately, we’re not in that part of the country! Sump pumps are common in our area, and very often necessary. Winter and spring are times for heavy rains, and then as we get later in the year we also have tropical storm conditions to contend with—that can send floodwaters right into your home.
The question is, is your sump pump in good condition to handle this?
