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We’ll regularly post energy saving tips, how-to’s on troubleshooting your systems, and breakdowns on even the most complex industry related terms and concepts.
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As Florida temperatures begin to drop, homeowners can expect to begin using their heating systems. Before turning the heat on for the first time this season, look out for strange smells or noises that could indicate a need for heating maintenance or repair. At AC Designs, we’re here to provide all the information you need to keep your home comfortable all winter long.
There are a few key tips to keep in mind this winter to ensure that your home is heated safely and efficiently. Test your system and thermostat controls ahead of time to make sure that it still functions properly from the previous winter season.
Turn your heat on for a minimum of one hour and monitor your thermostat. If warm air doesn’t blow from your vents, contact your HVAC technician to troubleshoot. When it’s finally time to turn the heater on for good, gradually adjust your thermostat until you reach your desired temperature.
Sudden setting changes can overwork your HVAC unit and cause harmful wear and tear. Instead of switching from cooling to heating overnight, start out on the lowest setting for maximized efficiency. You should also practice other ways to maintain efficiency throughout the winter.
Keep your curtains and blinds open during the day to allow sunlight to naturally heat your home and reduce strain on your unit. Homeowners should also keep all windows closed to prevent heat from escaping the home. This can overwork your heating system and significantly raise your energy bill.
An initial burning smell coming from your heat pump is normal after turning it on for the first time in months. This smell can be caused by a build-up of dust on your unit’s heat strips when the heating has not been used for an extended period of time.
However, if strange smells persist after the heat has been in use for multiple cycles, consider calling a professional HVAC technician. AC Designs will send one of our highly trained professionals to diagnose the smell and ensure that your unit is functioning properly.
Strange sounds coming from your heater can also be a normal part of turning your heating on after an extended time period. However, some sounds may indicate the need for a professional inspection. One common sound to look out for comes from the defrost cycle.
This cycle occurs when the coil on your outside condensing unit becomes covered in ice or frost. This prevents the unit from functioning properly, causing it to go into the defrost cycle to thaw. Frost covering your unit’s coils is normal, and can sometimes cause a loud whooshing, grinding, or even sizzling sound. In some cases, steam may also appear.
Although they may be loud and alarming, these sounds are a normal part of the cycle as your unit’s coil defrosts. It is important to refrain from disrupting cycling by letting the system run and finish its process without interruption. Once the cycle is complete, your unit should be back to running efficiently.
Noises from the defrost cycle should only last 25-45 minutes around twice a day in colder temperatures. Other noises like whistling or squealing may indicate an airflow blockage or more severe problems with the belt or motor.
Loud banging sounds coming from your unit after turning it on could indicate ductwork issues. While this noise may require loosening your ducts or adding thicker metal around them, banging noises are easy to remedy with the help of a certified HVAC technician.
If your furnace or HVAC unit is making booming noises, contact your AC technician right away. These sounds could be caused by a gas build-up inside the unit, which can result in an explosion without a proper fix.
Squealing noises typically indicate problems with your unit’s belt or motor. Although unpleasant, these sounds are no cause for concern and typically only require minor repairs.
If your unit is making a rattling or vibrating sound, this could be an indication of loose ductwork. Tightening the screws is a quick, simple fix to stop the rattling and readjust your ducts.
Rumbling can be caused by issues within your unit’s burner as oil or gas uncontrollably burns. If a rumbling noise persists after your furnace is turned on, turn your unit off and immediately contact your AC technician. Continuing to run your unit can emit dangerous carbon monoxide into your home.
Whistling sounds may be caused by airflow blockage and can often be fixed by changing your air filters and cleaning out your ductwork. If the whistling persists, contact your AC technician to further assess your unit.
If strange noises persist, contact AC Designs for professional help from our technicians. We encourage homeowners to join our preferred maintenance program for priority scheduling, replacement, and 24-hour emergency service to address issues with your unit as soon as possible
Turning your heat on for the winter can result in many strange sounds or smells as your unit adjusts. Keep these tips in mind as you turn your heating system on this season so you know when it’s necessary to call a professional for HVAC assistance. Schedule an appointment with AC Designs for all heater repair and maintenance needs.
Christmastime is one of the most wonderful times of the year — and it is also the time of year when the most energy is used around the home. Heating bills go up as temperatures drop, and that’s compounded by frequent visitors coming through your doors. Here’s a list of tips and tricks to help cut down on energy usage during the holidays.
Essential Tips for Saving Energy This Christmas
It’s good to save money year-round, but at Christmastime in particular, you could use some extra savings in your pocket — and energy savings are a key way to do that. Reduce your energy usage in the following ways:
Contact A/C Designs to Help You Save
There are other ways you can save, too, such as zoned heating and cooling systems that allow you to use less energy in areas of the home that you aren’t actively using. If you’re looking for services concerning air conditioning in Jacksonville, Florida, contact A/C Designs and let us help you figure out ways that you can get those energy bills lower.
Your HVAC system can help your Jacksonville home feel cooler or warmer as needed. However, you might notice that certain areas feel warmer or colder than others. Knowing how this might happen and what you can do to prevent it from occurring can help you keep your home feeling much more comfortable this season.
Replace HVAC Filters
Preventing hot and cold spots in your home might be as simple as changing your HVAC filter. The filter in your HVAC system traps particles and stops them from getting into your home’s indoor air. This results in HVAC filters that are covered with dust and other particles over time. When filters are coated with these particles, they aren’t able to work as well. This can cause your HVAC system to run more often or work harder at keeping your home warm in winter, which can result in more wear and tear. Replacing your current HVAC filter with a new one helps ensure that your HVAC system can work more efficiently and heat your home more evenly.
Check Your Airflow
Air should be able to go through vents, ducts, and registers without any blockages. Clogged or damaged ducts can affect airflow, which makes it harder to maintain even temperatures throughout your home. Having furniture or other large items in front of vents and registers can also make it more difficult for air to move without any obstruction. Ensuring that you have good airflow in your home can help lower the risk of ending up in spots that are too hot or too cold.
Add Insulation if Needed
Insulation helps your home stay warmer in winter. If certain areas in your home feel colder than they should, check to see if you have enough insulation. You might need to add insulation to areas that tend to get colder than others, even when the heat’s running. Keep in mind that proper insulation can help you heat your home more efficiently all winter long.
Double Check Your HVAC Size
Is your HVAC system the right size for your home? If parts of your home feel colder than others in winter, you might have an HVAC system that’s too small for your heating needs. Have a professional HVAC expert help you determine if your HVAC system is properly sized for your Jacksonville home. Keep in mind that zone control systems are an option that allow you to better control the temperature in different parts of your home.
Use Ceiling Fans
Ceiling fans aren’t just for staying cooler in summer. You can turn ceiling fans on so that they run clockwise in winter. This helps distribute heated air more evenly in rooms, which can eliminate hot and cold spots.
Contact Us A/C Designs
If you need help balancing the temperature throughout your home, we can help. Contact A/C Designs today for all of your HVAC needs. Our team offers timely and reliable repairs, maintenance, and installations in and around Jacksonville.
As temperatures slowly get cooler in the Jacksonville area, you can expect to start using your heater soon. Before using it for the first time this season, though, you should make sure it’s in good condition. This helps ensure that you’ll have efficient heating in your home all fall and winter long.
Don’t Switch From A/C to Heat Suddenly
If possible, you should avoid having your air conditioning turned up high and switching over to your heating system later that day or the next. Doing this could make it hard for your HVAC system to work efficiently. Gradually change your indoor temperature over time, so that you’re not going from a very cool temperature to a very warm one. Turn up your thermostat a degree or two while you’re still using your a/c. As the weather gets cooler, stop using your a/c and put your heating system on low when you first use it. You can slowly adjust your thermostat so that the interior of your home stays warm enough on cold days. Taking this approach prevents excess wear and tear on your HVAC system.
Test Your HVAC System
Since your heating system hasn’t been on for months, it’s important to test it before using it regularly. Turn your heating system on for about an hour just to test it and make sure it’s working right. This also helps you check to see if your thermostat is functioning properly. Your heat should come on without any problems and blow heated air out of your vents. Keep in mind that you’ll need to have your heating system checked if it’s blowing cool air from your vents, not coming on at all, or turning on and off frequently.
Set Up HVAC Maintenance
HVAC maintenance is among the most effective ways to make sure your heating system is all set for winter. Having professional maintenance done can also help identify any issues your a/c might have after running for several months. You can have these issues handled now so that you won’t need to have repairs done next spring when you turn your a/c on again. During a routine HVAC maintenance visit, technicians can do a thorough inspection of your heating and cooling equipment. In addition to looking for possible problems with your HVAC system, technicians can clean equipment, adjust or tighten components as needed, and do other tasks to ensure that it’s in good condition and able to work properly.
If you need to schedule HVAC maintenance this fall or winter, contact A/C Designs today. We provide high-quality HVAC maintenance and other services in the Jacksonville area.
Winter is here and with it brings chilly homes, high heating costs, and leaving people to wonder if there are any money-saving steps they could take. The key to improved home comfort (and more money in your pocket) is understanding common heating mistakes you might be making and how to fix them.
Did you know that your heating and air conditioning unit will need to run through a defrost cycle at various times of the year? This important feature is designed to help your unit work properly throughout the cooler winter months. In fact, without the defrost cycle, and the regular maintenance provided by trusted professionals, your HVAC won’t be able to operate properly.
A heating and air conditioning system is one of those pieces of equipment that we all take for granted and expect to be working to cool or warm our home whenever we need it. However, like all pieces of equipment, HVAC systems are susceptible to issues every now and again. One of the more troublesome problems that homeowners may face is a lack of adequate heating. To further complicate matters, this lack of heating may occur after a summer season where the air conditioning worked just fine.
Florida weather — contrary to what the rest of the country believes — is not always sunshine and warm breezes. In spite of our region’s reputation for hot weather year round, the reality is that Florida weather is very inconsistent. This inconsistency can cost you a lot of money as you adjust your thermostat to stay comfortable indoors.
