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4 Signs You Need to Replace Your Furnace or Air Conditioner

One of the biggest dangers in a home is using, or at least trying to use, a broken heating or cooling system. Below we discuss some of the biggest red flags that should alert you when you need a new furnace or air conditioner. With the gas that is used to keep these units running, it is for the safety of your home, family members, and neighbors that you replace your furnace or A/C unit when it has reached its end. Watch for these signs you need to replace your furnace or air conditioner this season.

4 Signs You Need To Replace Your Furnace or Air Conditioner

Your yellow pilot light turns on.

A yellow pilot light indicates that there is something wrong with the gas combination in your furnace. This can mean that your furnace is releasing gas, such as carbon monoxide. The ideal color of your pilot light is blue/purple. If you are seeing a yellow flame, then something is certainly not right.

Your electrical bill increases.

Paying attention to the amount you spend on your electrical bill will help you determine if your furnace or air conditioning units are working as efficiently as they should be. Your bill will vary throughout the year because you make your units work harder to keep your home a comfortable temperate during different seasons throughout the year. Noticing an abnormally high bill is a red flag that your furnace needs to be replaced or repaired.

You hear unfamiliar noises.

It is likely that you will constantly have some noise coming from your furnace. When the noise is consistently out of the ordinary, you will want to look into it. Hearing noises that can only be described as whining, banging, or groaning could mean that you need to make some repairs to the furnace. It could be a loose belt, a problem with the ignition, or a replacement of another part. Listening for issues with your furnace is just as important as seeing them.

Your Furnace or air conditioner requires frequent repairs.

One tried and true sign that your air conditioner or furnace needs replacing is if they are in need of constant repair. Pouring money into these units little by little can add up quickly, especially if you need to repair them often. The average life of an A/C unit is roughly around 10 years, whereas a furnace can usually last between 12-15 years. If your air conditioner or furnace is getting old, it might be time to quit nickel and diming the repairs and just replace the units altogether.

Keeping your home safe from potential serious issues with your furnace or your air conditioning unit is very important. Checking the pilot light, listening for unfamiliar sounds, and watching your electric bill are all great signs you need to replace your furnace or air conditioner. When your A/C unit or furnace are nearing their life expectancy, start thinking about getting them replaced instead of pouring money into countless repairs. This will keep your family safe and allow you to keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

How to Maintain Air Conditioners During Summer

If you have an air conditioning unit, the chances are you will have it on full blast during a hot summer. Maintaining your air conditioning unit is vital if you want to keep it in full working order. That’s without mentioning that regular maintenance will make your unit last for much longer. Learn all about how to maintain air conditioners during summer and enjoy the hot season just a little more.

How To Maintain Air Conditioners During Summer

Check your filters.

If you want to keep your unit in full working order during a hot summer, then you should first check the filters. Filters can often get clogged, dirty and blocked over time and this can reduce the airflow that is going through the system. You should try to do this as early as possible if you are expecting a hot summer because dirty filters can blow dirt throughout your home and this is something you want to avoid if you plan to have your air conditioning on for long periods of time.

Clean your coils.

Your air conditioner will have an evaporator coil. This can collect dirt if it has not been cleaned properly for a long period of time. The dirt will insulate the coil and prevent it from absorbing heat efficiently. For this reason, you should clean your coil if you want it to work properly in the summer.

Clean your drains.

Another thing you should do if you want to keep your air conditioner in full working order is to pass a stiff wire or prong through the plastic grid. This will help dislodge any dirt that may be trapped in the channel, not to mention that a clogged drain can increase the humidity in your home. This is obviously something that you want to avoid at all times during a hot summer. Excessive moisture may also discolor your walls so keeping your unit clean has more benefits than one.

What Your HVAC Contractor Can Do For You

As a homeowner, you should be careful when it comes to maintaining the security of your house. However, there are just some tasks that the average homeowner should not take on alone, such as maintenance, major repairs and-or replacing your HVAC unit. Many tasks should only be done by certified HVAC contractors. Why? It is because there are many safety risks involved with these systems. Using an HVAC contractor can also save you money on parts, systems and tools related to system repairs. Find out more about what your HVAC contractor can do for you below.

What Your HVAC Contractor Can Do For You?

He/she will provide safety.

The number one priority for any project is safety. HVAC specialists are well aware of the risks involved with HVAC systems and are equipped to get the job done in the safest possible way. No project is worth getting seriously hurt over, especially if it is caused by the lack of knowledge about the equipment being used. The average homeowner is not trained on how to handle leaks of carbon monoxide or other gases like a professional HVAC contractor is. These are serious issues that should only be handled by professionals because they can be a huge safety hazard to your household.

They will utilize the newest tools and equipment.

HVAC contractors stay up to date with the latest systems. Having the proper tools to fix your HVAC unit can be very costly. In addition to needing the right tools, lacking the proper knowledge of how to fix the unit can add additional costs and potential dangers. A professional is well-versed in the latest and most energy efficient systems on the market. A contractor is likely provide tips and tricks to help you save money in the long run.

They will save you money on HVAC parts.

By having a certified HVAC specialist do any and all repairs for your system can actually save you money. Because they are a contractor, they have connections to wholesale suppliers, thus getting you a better rate on the parts necessary for your system. This is even true when it comes to entirely new HVAC systems for your home.

Keeping your HVAC system up to date will be a highly energy efficient and safe decision for your home. Hiring a professional HVAC contractor will ensure that you will be getting just that. Highly trained professionals are educated on the latest technology for your home and how to solve potentially dangerous situations that could arise with an HVAC system. By using an HVAC contractor, you can save money on parts and tools as well.

For any HVAC related repairs, maintenance or questions, or to find out more about what your HVAC contractor can do for you, call Altemp Mechanical. We serve customers in the Minneapolis or St. Paul area, and are ready to help you. Call us at 651-275-9111.

Why Furnace Repair Is So Important in Minnesota

A non-functioning furnace in the winter is simply not an option during the sub-zero temps that we experience here in Minneapolis. Getting your furnace checked each year is vital to surviving the freezing weather. If you own a storefront business, being prepared for the inevitable will give you the advantage over others that may have furnace malfunctioning issues during the winter months. It’s much better to go into the winter season knowing that your furnace is good to go before it is required to work with full effort. Read on to learn why furnace repair is so important in Minnesota and prepare yourself for the upcoming season.

Why Furnace Repair Is So Important in Minnesota

Being prepared means performing a yearly inspection of your furnace. Many things can cause your furnace to malfunction. Taking advantage of this annual service for your heating unit may uncover small issues before they become big problems. If your unit needs minor repairs, it is much less expensive to fix the issue right away instead of waiting until it turns into a serious situation. This will cost you much more money and will likely leave your home cold in the middle of our harsh Minnesota winter. Having this inspection done in the offseason months will allow your service professional time to order parts if needed. This will give you time to get everything in order before you need to use your furnace in full force. The last thing you want in the middle of winter is to have a broken furnace leaving you stuck in the cold.

A regular inspection of your furnace will give you the opportunity to check on the efficiency of it. If properly maintained, furnaces can last up to 20 years. Hire a professional to clean, check connections and keep all of the moving parts properly lubricated. During the inspection, your heating professional will check the system’s controls to ensure that your furnace is operating at its maximum efficiency.

Contacting a home improvement professional who will visit your home to perform an annual furnace inspection is not only a good idea; it’s essential for the safety and efficiency of your home heating. Understanding why furnace repair is so important in Minnesota will set you up for a healthy and long life with a warm home or place of business. This will ultimately save you money and the stress of having furnace failure in the dead of winter.

To have a professional handle your Minnesota furnace repair, please give Altemp Mechanical Inc. a call. We offer emergency services to make sure that your heating system will be fixed right when you need it. Contact us at 651-275-9111.

The True Value of Efficient Residential and Commercial Heating in Minnesota

For those of us living in Minnesota, frigid cold weather during the winter months is nothing anyone is new to dealign with. In Minnesota, we appreciate all too well the true value of efficient residential and commercial heating during the winter. It keeps our homes and businesses comfortable, and your employees and shoppers happy while they work and shop. But there is a reason the gas and energy companies here in Minnesota offer payment plans to residents during the winter…

The True Value of Efficient Residential and Commercial Heating in Minnesota

Safety

Safety is a major issue when it comes to maintaining your home heating system. In addition to its warmth function, properly maintaining your heating system will remove the risk of it sending carbon monoxide (CO) into your home or office.

Energy

Properly maintained heating systems require less energy to run throughout the winter. Inspect the system for cracks in the ducts and ventilation system to ensure there are no leaks. Cracks force the system to use more energy, which means you pay more for energy each month, and your system wears down much faster than it should.

Temperatures

When temperatures are well below freezing for consecutive months, we need systems that not only can stand up to the strain of the winter cold; we need a system that will keep us warm without emptying our pockets. A heating system that is not functioning properly and is not cleaned properly will certainly break down due to overheating and end up costing you for the preventable repair and replacement.

The Solution – Altemp Mechanical

If you are having heating problems, look no further. Contact Altemp Mechanical if you require professional heating system maintenance or you simply have heating and furnace-related questions. Our experts are the highest qualified furnace and heating system experts in the Minneapolis-St. Paul region.

Preventive Maintenance Essentials for Your HVAC System

Keeping up to date with your preventative maintenance essentials for your HVAC system is vital for the Minnesota weather. Investing a small amount of money to get your HVAC system inspected by a professional on a regular basis will keep your HVAC system in good condition and save you from needing major repairs. Here are some things that should be inspected for the overall health of your system so that you prevent major HVAC repairs.

Preventative Maintenance Essentials for your HVAC System

Air Filters.

With the constant flow of air running through your air filters, they can get pretty dirty. These filters remove dust, soot and dirt from the air as it’s on the way to heat or cool your home and then it’s recycled back through the system. If the air keeps going through dirty air filters, the quality of the air in your home is lowered. With clogged filters, this also leads to less efficiency from your HVAC unit. Having regular maintenance on these filters performed will keep them clean and keep the airways open for maximum efficiency.

Condenser Coils.

Inside your unit are condenser coils. Like the air filters, they suffer from dirt buildup. When this happens, the condenser coils are not as likely to transfer heat and airflow through the condenser and that results in an ineffective unit.

Drive Belts, Electrical Relays, and Contactors.

General preventive maintenance inspections may include the replacement of the drive belts, contactors and electrical relays. Having a belt loose or broken can cause your HVAC to operate at a dangerously high temperature and that may cause permanent damage. This will cause you to need to repair or replace HVAC units.

Lubricants and Fluids.

With all of the rotating components and bearings involved in an HVAC system, maintaining the proper fluid and lubricants for the moving parts is essential for optimal efficiency. The rotating parts such as the bearing can last hundreds of hours if they are maintained and lubricated properly. By doing this, it will also improve the efficiency of the unit. This will help you save energy and money in electric or fuel costs. Without regular maintenance on these parts, they can eventually overheat, dry up or stop working all together.

The best way to defend your home or place of business from heating or cooling failure is to schedule a yearly check-up by a professional for your entire HVAC system. Preventative maintenance essentials for your HVAC system can save you from expensive repairs, which usually happen during the very hot or very cold seasons of the year. Don’t get stuck with a faulty system in the middle of the season. Having this yearly check-up on your HVAC will free you from the worry that you will be stuck in a house that is too hot or too cold.