Why Is There Ice on My Heat Pump?

December 7th, 2015

Heat pumps are common means of keeping out mild winters at bay here in Hammond, LA. They use the same basic design as a central air conditioner, but with a twist: the cycle can be “reversed” to heat your home in the winter as well as cooling it in the summer. Heat pumps work extremely well in towns that don’t experience a lot of freezing in the winter, and can save you a great deal on monthly bills. But like any other system trouble can crop up from time to time. Take ice, for example. You may notice that ice forms on the coils of your system, which might not seem like a big deal since it involves cooling. In truth, however, ice one your system is a big problem, and unless you deal with it swiftly, it can lead to lasting damage to your pump. Understanding why there’s ice on your heat pump can help explain why it’s a problem.

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Schedule Maintenance Sessions before Family and Friends Arrive

November 30th, 2015

With Thanksgiving over, you and your Hammond, LA household might be preparing for the next big round of the holiday season: Christmas. And with friends, relatives and other well-wishers heading over to your place for the Christmas season, the last thing you want is a big problem with your heater, air conditioner or indoor air quality system. Problems can crop up at any time, and while some can be spotted by an observant homeowner, others might catch you completely by surprise. If you haven’t scheduled a maintenance session for the various components in your HVAC system yet, you should do so now, before family and friends arrive.

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Things to Consider with a New Heater

November 16th, 2015

So you’ve decided to get a new heating system. Congratulations! If your old system isn’t doing the job anymore, you’ll be surprised at how much of a difference a new one makes, not only in terms of household comfort, but in terms of keeping your monthly heating bills under control. A good professional service here in Hammond, LA can install a new heater for you with efficiency and pride, as well as answering the countless questions and considerations you need to evaluate before scheduling the actual installation. Here are a few for you to think about.

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What Causes Your Furnace to Short Cycle?

November 9th, 2015

Short cycling is the tendency of your home furnace to turn on and off rapidly numerous times throughout the day, often without adequately cooling your home first. It’s a big problem because furnaces use far more energy starting up than they do simply running. A short cycling furnace is wasting energy – costing you more in monthly heating bills – as well as elevating the chances of a serious breakdown occurring in the near future. Hammond, LA features mild winters, but our nights can still get pretty cold and the last thing you want is your heater suffering a repair call just when you need it the most. The good news is that a repair technician can usually solve the problem. But what causes your furnace to short cycle in the first place?

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Common Misconceptions about Your Thermostat

November 2nd, 2015

Your thermostat is one of the most important components in your heating and air conditioning system, and yet despite its common use, many people hold popular misconceptions about the device. Those misconceptions can actually end up costing you money if you’re not careful, and here in Hammond, LA, monthly energy bills are nothing to take lightly. We’ve assembled a list of common misconceptions about your thermostat that we’re hoping to dispel, and put a little money back in your pocket in the process.

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Advantages of Heat Pumps

October 26th, 2015

A heat pump is a variant on the traditional air conditioner, but with a twist. Regular air conditioners cycle refrigerant through a closed system that cools the air in your Hammond, LA home, while releasing heated air as exhaust outside. Heat pumps simply allow that cycle to be reversed: releasing cool air outside while using the warm air to heat your home. They tend to cost more than other heating systems to install, and because they are more complex than others, repair bills can be more expensive too. So what’s the benefit to owning one? In point of fact there are a number, and they can easily offset the drawbacks. Here are some advantages of heat pumps that you ought to consider if you’re installing a new heating or air conditioning system.

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How Do Zone Control Systems Benefit Me?

October 19th, 2015

Fall has finally arrived in Hammond, LA, and as your air conditioner sees less and less use (and your heater more and more use), it’s time to think about repairs or upgrades to your system. In particular, consider the advantages of a zone control system, which can provide a number of tangible benefits to both your air conditioning and your heating system. Installing such a system now makes a lot of sense, since temperatures are milder and you can set an installation schedule at your leisure instead of rushing to get it finished in front of the next heat wave or chilly night. “How do zone control systems benefit me?” you ask. Here’s a quick breakdown.

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Signs of Trouble with Your Thermostat

October 12th, 2015

Your thermostat is designed to do its job without much fuss or bother, and because it doesn’t have a lot of moving parts, you can expect it to last for many years. But trouble can crop up when you least expect it, and your thermostat is no exception. When problems do arise, they can leave your Hammond, LA home without heating or air conditioning until it gets fixed. That’s why you should call in a trained technician the minute you spot signs of trouble with your thermostat. Here’s a short list of possible issues to help you make that determination.

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How to Tell if Your Heater is Inefficient

October 5th, 2015

Heating season is fairly short here in Hammond, LA, but that doesn’t mean it’s not important. We still get our share of chilly nights and while we may be paying less for comfortable heating than other communities further north, you should still watch for signs of inefficiency in your heating system. They mean that you’re paying more than you should for the privilege, and by letting them go unaddressed, you’re throwing money away that should be staying in your wallet. A good repair service can address the problems of an inefficient heater, but first you need to spot the signs. Here are a few ways to tell if your heater is inefficient.

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3 Common Problems with Your Fireplace

September 28th, 2015

Your fireplace likely hasn’t seen much use this summer, as our hot, humid weather in Hammond, LA has left people far more interested in air conditioning than heating. But fall is officially here and with cooler weather comes the need to open up those chimney flues and warm your home with a nice cozy fire. However, all those months sitting unused may have created problems with your fireplace or made existing ones more difficult. Before you use your fireplace this fall, it pays to schedule a maintenance session with a trained technician to look for some of the common problems.

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