Here in Covington, LA, we’re used to relying on traditional centralized air conditioners to keep us cool during our sultry summer months. They’re an efficient and reliable system, but they’re not the only kind of air conditioner out there, and in some cases, an alternative type can be a better fit for your home. In particular, consider the benefits of a heat pump, which acts as both a heater and an air conditioner in one. It works in a manner very similar to traditional air conditioners, but with a few twists that can provide significant advantages to your home. Here’s a quick primer on how.
Professional Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Covington’
Benefits of a Heat Pump
Monday, June 20th, 2016How to Protect Your Home from Allergens
Monday, May 16th, 2016Summers in Covington, LA mean more than just high heat. They mean high levels of humidity as well, plus a heaping fistful of allergens from pollen and similar sources. If you or someone in your family suffers from allergies, you home needs to be a haven from everything Louisiana can throw at you, and the cleaner you can keep your air, the better. there are specific steps you can take to help keep your home clear of allergens. If you’re interested, now is the time to implement them before the summer set in in earnest.
An Overheating Air Conditioner? It Could Happen!
Monday, March 14th, 2016It sounds like a paradox: your air conditioner, designed to keep things cool, runs into trouble when it overheats. But just like any other piece of complex machinery, stress and overwork could lead to certain components overheating, and all the cool air it generates won’t do a bit of good when that happens. Luckily, most air conditioners have an automatic shut-off system to prevent damage from such an occurrence, but that still leaves the issue to be resolved, and with temperatures already climbing here in Covington, LA, an overheating air conditioner could turn into a big problem very quickly. Here are a few potential causes of an air conditioner overheat for you to be aware of.
Ways to Tell You Need Duct Sealing
Wednesday, March 11th, 2015Is a small break along the ductwork in a home’s ventilation system really that major a problem? How much of an issue can a small hole be?
You’d be surprised. Any loss of the airtight integrity in the ductwork attached to a residential air conditioning and heating system can have significant consequences: it will lower comfort, place extra strain on the AC and heater leading to higher bills, and create indoor air quality issues. Studies have shown that leaky air ducts can result in an increase of 30% on heating and cooling costs for a home. If your house has damaged air ducts, you need to call on professionals to seal the air leaks. (No, you can’t do the job with duct tape. Don’t even think about it.)
For excellent duct sealing service in Covington, LA and throughout Southeast Louisiana, get in touch with A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer a number of quality services to take care of your ventilation system—so that it takes care of you.
Because you can’t see most of the ductwork in your home, you will need to watch for warning signs that will tell you the ducts have air leaks:
- Low airflow from the vents: Leaks in ducts will cause the air pressure inside the ventilation system to drop, which will cause a reduction in the airflow from the vents. If you notice that a room feels too cold or too hot, check on the vent register in the room. If the airflow from it feels sluggish, the issue may be damaged ductwork.
- Elevated heating and cooling bills: It’s difficult to miss a 30% increase in how much it costs to heat or cool your home. When your monthly bills take an unpleasant upswing, there is something wrong with the HVAC system, and one of the likely culprits is a loss of integrity in the ventilation system. Call for professionals to find the cause and take care of it.
- Musty smells from the vents: Since the ductwork runs through enclosed parts of your home that have musty air and dust inside them, gaps in the ducts will cause this air to enter the ventilation system. If you notice musty and moldy odors coming from the vents, you may have trouble with ductwork damage.
As we mentioned before, don’t think about using duct tape to fix the problem yourself. Not only is duct tape ineffective on ducts (yes, duct tape is a misnomer), but you will have trouble even locating or accessing the duct leaks. Take the easy route: call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning and let our experts handle duct sealing in Covington, LA to restore your ventilation system.
Signs That It’s Time to Replace Your Heater
Thursday, February 5th, 2015No one likes to hear that their heater is at the end of its life. Unfortunately, that eventuality claims all heating systems. No matter how well you maintain your heating system, you will eventually see a day where it has to be replaced. Are you prepared to recognize that day when it arrives, however? Let’s examine the signs that indicate it’s time to replace your heater, instead of repairing it.
Repairs Increase in Frequency and Cost
Even a newer heater will incur repair needs on occasion. The odd faulty part or unusual circumstance will arise every so often that requires professional attention. As your heater gets closer to the end of its lifespan, however, these occurrences will begin to become more and more frequent and costly. It will begin to seem like your heater breaks down at least every other month, and the cost of each repair will steadily grow as replacement parts stop becoming available. Once this begins happening, it is very likely that your heater needs to be replaced.
Rise in Heating Bills
If your heating bills begin to show a consistent rise month after month, it’s a sign that something is wrong with your heating system. Normally, there should be slight variations in your heating bill as your need for heat fluctuates. As the heater gets older, however, the various parts in the system begin to wear down. This slowly decreases their efficiency, lowering the system’s heat output until it has to stay on for much longer in order to heat the same sized space. If your heating bills are getting more and more expensive for no apparent reason, you should consider replacing your heater.
Age
Age is often the number one indicator of whether or not you should replace your heater. The older a heater gets, the harder it gets to keep it in good condition. Parts go out of production, and advancing efficiency in newer systems vastly increases the benefits of replacing the old heater with a new one. If your heater is older than 10-15 years old, even if it seems to be working fine, it might be a good idea to start looking at replacing it.
If you think your heater may need replacing, schedule an appointment with A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We provide heating services in the Covington area.
What to Do When Your Heat Pump Won’t Start Up
Monday, January 5th, 2015A heat pump is an efficient system for both heating and cooling, and many homeowners take pride in their money-saving investment. That’s why it can be so frustrating when a reliable heating system won’t seem to work. With regular maintenance, heat pumps should run into few problems over time, but unfortunately repair needs are always a possibility. So what can you do when your heat pump system fails?
If your heat pump runs into trouble, count on the trained experts at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for professional heating service in Covington.
Steps to Take during a Heat Pump Failure
If your heat pump won’t turn on, the very first thing you should always check is the thermostat. The thermostat communicates with the heat pump that it is time to turn on or shut off as needed. Check to make sure the settings you’ve programmed indicate that your heat pump is meant to switch on at that time. Most importantly, check to make sure it is in the proper mode: heating or cooling. Heat pumps have a reversing valve that allow them to easily change over from heating to cooling mode, and this valve must be activated for the cycle to kick in. If one setting works but not the other, it could be a reversing valve that needs replacement.
Unfortunately, if this doesn’t solve the problem, there’s little you can do on your own. Any major repair is best left to a professional in the heating and cooling industry. Trained technicians can assess the trouble and recommend any number of solutions, from adding refrigerant to replacing the compressor.
How to Prevent Repairs in the Future
One of the best steps you can take in keeping this problem from occurring in the future is preventive maintenance. Most technicians recommend that you schedule maintenance once or twice a year so that technicians can clean coils, adjust settings and refrigerant levels, tighten electrical connections, and let you know of any minor repair needs ahead of time.
A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning offers a money-saving maintenance program for twice yearly tune ups and discounts on service fees. Call us today if you’re in need of maintenance or heating service in Covington.
What Is a Standing Pilot?
Friday, December 12th, 2014A standing pilot is the standard ignition device for most natural gas burning heating systems, and has been for many years. It’s a continuously burning flame at the bottom of the heater, responsible for starting the burners that actually generate heat for the home. Though it’s a widely used technology, there are a few things that have given it a less-than-stellar reputation. Read on for an explanation of how a standing pilot works, as well as some common issues with it.
How it Works
A standing pilot light is actually fairly simple in design. A gas line terminates in a small burner, which creates the flame. A bit of composite metal wire, called a “thermocouple,” connects the burner to a valve in the gas line. When the pilot light is lit, the thermocouple registers the heat and generates an electric current. The current travels down the thermocouple to the gas valve and opens it. This is what keeps the pilot light burning. When the pilot light goes out, the thermocouple’s electric current stops and the gas valve closes. This is a safety measure to prevent gas from flooding your home.
Common Problems
The most common problem for standing pilot lights is the light going out. This tends to happen because the flame is unprotected from air currents or sudden draft. Though there is an ignition system on most heaters to relight the pilot light, there are other issues that can occur.
The thermocouple for the pilot light often wears out over time, eventually losing the ability to create an electrical current. This can occur from wear and tear, corrosion, becoming detached from the volt meter, or simply becoming bent way from the pilot flame. Regardless of the way that the thermocouple stops working, the effect is the same: the pilot light is unable to stay lit. If your pilot light seems to light without issues, but almost immediately goes out, it’s because the thermocouple is no longer keeping the gas valve to the flame open.
If you’re having issues with your pilot light, call A-Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer professional heating services throughout Covington.
Why Is Professional Duct Sealing Important?
Friday, December 5th, 2014Ducts are one of several parts of your home’s infrastructure that you probably never think about. They’re largely invisible, serve a fairly simple purpose with no moving parts to malfunction, and are just generally unobtrusive. It may come as a shock, then, when we tell you that ducts are actually responsible for some of the biggest wastes of energy and money regarding your heating system. Let’s dive into the evidence supporting this claim, and why you should employ professional duct cleaning to solve for it.
Heat Loss
The US Department of Energy estimates that forced air systems lose between 20 and 30% of their heat on average to duct leaks. That means that almost a third of the energy that your heating system spends on heating goes completely wasted. You’re still paying for that energy, however, which means that your heating bill is often substantially higher than it should be. This is the primary reason for professional duct sealing. A lot of these leaks are not noticeable without close inspection, which drastically lowers the chances of a homeowner spotting and sealing one on his or her own.
Uneven Heating
In addition to wasting a great deal of money, duct leaks hinder the ability of your heating system to evenly distribute heat throughout the house. This creates uncomfortable cold spots in your home, some encompassing multiple rooms, depending on the size of the leak. Professional duct sealing can return equilibrium to your heating system, ensuring that you are comfortable and warm no matter where you are in your home.
Contaminants
The dark ductwork in your home can be a prime habitat for all sorts of harmful organisms. Viruses, bacteria, and mold are among the most common contaminants found in a home’s ducts. Many of these organisms are prevented from gaining a foothold in your ducts by a lack of easy entry. It only takes a small duct leak, however, for these contaminants to begin thriving and multiplying. They can then be circulated throughout your house by your forced air system. Professional duct sealing makes it harder for contaminants to enter your ducts, making it a good way to improve your air quality.
If you haven’t had your ducts sealed in a while, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. Our heating professionals cover the entire Covington area.
Reasons to Consider Upgrading Your Thermostat
Friday, November 21st, 2014Sometimes it can seem that to really make strides in decreasing energy usage, big changes have to happen: the installation of a new heating system, drastically changing the temperatures you set or installing a fireplace for more supplemental heat. But there is one change you can make that doesn’t require an enormous amount of effort: upgrading your thermostat. Your thermostat controls when and at what temperature your home is heated, and having better control over your thermostat can help you have better control over your heating.
Types of Thermostats
Today’s thermostats have come a long ways since mercury-based dial thermostats and slide thermostats:
- Digital – digital thermostats offer a level of precision you won’t get with a slide or dial thermostat. The numbers are exact versus being in a range. Digital thermostats are also more intuitive and have easier-to-use buttons.
- Programmable – programmable thermostats have digital technology but take it to another level by giving you the ability to program your heating system for up to 7 days (you can loop the program to have it run continuously). Programming your thermostat allows you to set temperatures to accommodate for the daytime, the nighttime and for times when no one is home – you can even program for weekend and vacation times.
- Smart – smart thermostats give you the ultimate control over your heating systems. By downloading a simple app and having access to Wi-Fi, you can program your thermostat, change settings and monitor your energy usage from any smart device.
Why Upgrade?
- Better energy efficiency – the better you can control how, when and at what temperature you heat your home, the less heating you’ll use, which helps reduce energy usage.
- Better comfort – the precision of an upgraded thermostat allows you to set an exact temperature, which can help improve comfort levels.
- Less wear on your system – upgraded thermostats can reduce the amount of time your heating system operates, which reduces the amount of wear and tear on your system.
- Convenience – being able to program your thermostat means you don’t have to worry about forgetting to turn your heat up or down.
Can your heating benefit from an upgraded thermostat? If so, call A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning today and schedule heating service in Covington with one of our experts.
Signs Your Heat Pump May Need Repair
Friday, October 17th, 2014Your heat pump is an efficient heating and cooling system that works year round to keep you comfortable. But because the unit runs throughout the year, there may come a day that it stops working, leaving you without any cooling or heating and a costly repair bill. You cannot assume your heat pump will last forever, but you can fix the problem quickly if you call a professional as soon as you notice any of these problems.
When you run into problems with your heating system, call the experts at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning. We offer 24-hour emergency service in Covington, LA, for any heating repair needs.
Common Heat Pump Problems
- Trouble Switching from Cooling to Heating Mode: The reversing valve is the component that allows your heat pump to switch into heating mode when needed. If you don’t feel any heat from the vents this winter, it could be due to the thermostat, or it may mean that the reversing valve needs replacement.
- Unusual Noises: Strange noises from your heat pump could indicate a variety of problems. A rattling noise, for example, could point toward a loose screw or it may mean there is trouble with the compressor, particularly if the heat pump is old and may soon need replacement.
- High Heating and Cooling Bills: Heat pumps are extremely efficient heaters and air conditioners, but they still account for a large portion of your energy bills. If you notice higher-than-average energy bills this season, there is a good chance that a component of your system has worn down and your unit is working hard to compensate, ultimately driving up your energy bills.
Schedule Service Early
Because your heat pump runs throughout the year, you should do everything you can to keep it in top shape and prevent any problems from occurring. This includes scheduling regular maintenance with a technician so that your system can be thoroughly cleaned, adjusted, and inspected for problems early on.
You should also call a technician at the first sign of trouble so that problems do not worsen over time. As it moves into the heating season, you need a reliable system that won’t fail when you need it most. Call the experts at A–Professional Heating and Air Conditioning for professional heating repair service in Covington, LA.