Air Conditioning Services

In many states, it is necessary to obtain a permit when swapping out your heating or cooling systems, in order to avoid fines and additional work which may be necessary. The purpose of obtaining permits for these situations is so that local authorities can be sure that a new system is properly installed and is functioning efficiently. Authorities also want to be sure that any new system performs up to standards imposed by the Home Energy Rating System, and that it complies with energy efficiency standards adopted by that state.

Misleading contractors

In a great many cases, contractors either knowingly or unwittingly told homeowners that permits are not necessary for installing new HVAC units, even though all states make it perfectly clear when such permits are necessary. In one particular state, contractors were invited to give project bids for a specific construction operation, and at least 40% of these bidding contractors told investigators that it was not necessary to obtain a building permit.

In the state where this took place, it’s well-publicized that such permits are indeed necessary before HVAC units can be installed, and that all HVAC contractors must pull these permits. It’s also true that in many states, homeowners’ insurance policies can be arbitrarily canceled if the insurance company discovers that work has been done on the property without the appropriate permit.

Common areas of inadequate work

One of the areas associated with the installation of HVAC units which is most commonly installed poorly, is the duct work for air conditioners and furnaces. Many states require that there is no more than 15% leakage in this duct work, and yet they have found that leakage as high as 30% or more is discovered on newly installed ducts throughout a specific home.

This of course, is a total waste of energy, and will always result in higher utility bills for any home where such shoddy workmanship has taken place. When work like this occurs in most states, the HVAC contractor is obliged to pull the permit on that particular home, and that triggers an inspection after any work has been done. This inspection will ensure that all ducts are properly sealed, and in those cases where they are not, it must be repaired by the contractor out of pocket, with no additional expense incurred by the homeowner.

Rationale for obtaining permits

The rationale for most states in requiring permits to be installation for any kind of HVAC units, is to force contractors to comply with all building standards currently in effect, and to use certified HERS raters for inspection. This will guarantee that all HVAC installations will meet energy efficiency standards, and that the work will be done properly so it won’t be necessary to do re-work in the future, which will cost the homeowner additional funding. The point of all this is to ensure that homeowners will team up with state-licensed HVAC contractors, to make sure that all permits are honored and all energy regulations are complied with faithfully.

Reliable and reputable HVAC contractor

When you aren’t sure about a specific HVAC contractor that you’re thinking of working with, we recommend that you contact us at Right Now Heating and Air Conditioning, so that you can have total confidence in the reputation of your HVAC contractor. We are always aware of all requirements regarding building permits and other energy regulations imposed throughout the state, and we make a point of complying fully with all these requirements. To be sure that you don’t run afoul of state authorities when having HVAC equipment installed, choose Right Now Heating and Air Conditioning.

Checking and changing your air filters is an essential part of home maintenance which will help to keep your air conditioner running at its best, and will also avoid the possibility of re-circulating contaminated air throughout the home. When debris and dirt particles get stuck in air filters, they just keep getting circulated around the house, until the filter gets changed or cleaned.

This can be a problem for anyone in your house with a breathing problem, since it will contribute to poor indoor air quality, and worsen their symptoms. Then too, when your filters are constantly clogged, it can cause your air conditioner to work much harder, and that will not only degrade its performance, but it can shorten the effective life of your unit, if it happens often enough.

Where your air filters are located 

The first place to look for air filters is behind a return air grille, and these are generally found in the ceiling or on walls, because this location allows for easy access when you’re changing your filters. If this isn’t where your air filters have been located, you should then check in basements, utility closets, crawlspaces, garages, or attics to find the filters.

Vertical HVAC systems are more frequently found in smaller basements or crawlspaces where there is much room available. Horizontal systems are more frequently found in basements, attics, and garages, where the filter will be most likely positioned in a housing slot on one side of the unit.

Frequency of checking

It is advisable to check on your filters monthly, even if they don’t need to be changed quite that often. Disposable filters with a cardboard edge can simply be replaced if they’re dirty or clogged with debris. It’s not really worth your while to try to clean a disposable, because they are only meant to last for a single period before needed a change.

There are high-efficiency 1″ pleated air filters which have the capability to go three months or even longer before they need to be replaced, but you should still check on them more frequently during seasons of high usage. If you have the type of filters installed which can be cleaned, then take the time to remove all the dirt and debris, before reinstalling them back into their slots.

How to replace the filter

Since a good number of air filters are directional, meaning airflow is one-way through the filter, you will have to look for an airflow symbol or some kind of arrow which indicates that direction. This arrow will generally be oriented towards the air handler or the furnace. If the filter lacks any of these symbols, you’ll have to inspect both sides of the filter to see if one is rougher than the other, and that will be the side which collects dust, meaning the other side would actually face your HVAC unit.

When cleaning rather than replacing

While the thermostat is placed in the ‘off’ position, find your filter and remove it from its slot. Take it outside and, using a garden hose that has good water pressure, give both sides of the air filter a good cleaning, and repeat the process as many times as you need to, in order to get rid of all unwanted materials. Be careful not to use too much water pressure on the filter, because that could damage it or cause a tear in the fabric.

Once the filter is clean, you can shake off all excess water, and then let the filter sit outside to dry for a while before reinstalling it. When reinstalling, slide the air filter into the rack, paying attention to the direction of the airflow, and make sure it’s properly seated before closing the grille or the door which provided access. Reset your thermostat to its original position, and you’re all done until the next regularly scheduled air filter check.

If you aren’t a do-it-yourselfer 

Many homeowners simply are not the do-it-yourself type, and prefer to let the professionals handle maintenance and repair work around the home. If that sounds like you, contact the HVAC experts at Right Now Heating and Air Conditioning, and let them set up a regular schedule for changing your air filters. That way, you’ll never have any unpleasant surprises with regard to clogged filters and degraded air conditioner performance. You’ll have peace of mind about your cooling system, and you can look forward to top-notch operation all summer long.

Most homeowners probably realize that heating and air conditioning equipment needs to be serviced occasionally, but they may not know how frequently that service should take place. A good rule of thumb is that, regardless of the kind of heating or cooling system you have installed, it should be cleaned, inspected, and serviced at least once in every calendar year.

Ideally you should have your heating equipment serviced in the fall prior to winter, and you should have your air conditioning system serviced in the spring, before the warm days of summer arrive. Any equipment which runs on oil is a must for annual cleaning, and this should be done prior to each heating season.

Services included

Generally speaking, when you have annual servicing done for your heating or cooling equipment, a number of standard services are provided which will help to keep your HVAC equipment in good working order. First of all, it will be necessary to either clean or replace the air filters associated with your equipment, so they don’t become clogged and interfere with the operation of each unit.

Then both the indoor coil and the outdoor coil will need to be cleaned to ensure that they are ready for the upcoming cooling season. The condensate pump will also need to be cleaned and serviced, to ensure that it has not become clogged, and that it’s ready to go when the warm season arrives. A general visual inspection is always part of any annual service or maintenance, because a great many problems which may occur, are actually visible even to the untrained eye. For instance, it’s often fairly easy to identify parts which have become worn out and which require replacement.

Benefits of annual maintenance

In addition to the peace of mind you get from knowing that your heating and cooling units have been serviced and are ready to perform their duties for an upcoming season, there are several other benefits which accrue as a result of annual maintenance. Your heating and cooling systems will have increased dependability, because any issues which might have arisen, have probably been identified and handled already.

Any potential problems which might have arisen during a heating or cooling season will have been fixed and thus avoided. When your heating and cooling units have been serviced and things like air filters have been changed, your units can operate with maximum efficiency, and that will in turn cause a reduction of your energy bills. It’s also true that regular maintenance will extend the lifespan of your equipment, so that your original investment in a heating or cooling system gives you a greater return.

Annual maintenance also allows for safer and healthier operation of your heating and cooling units, because your indoor air quality will be better, and anyone who might have a breathing issue will not be negatively impacted. This will also serve to protect the environment, because your HVAC units are operating more efficiently, and will not degrade the outside environment. Finally, the chances of any kind of major breakdown are much reduced, and when you consider that such breakdowns could happen at very inconvenient moments, this can be a very powerful reason to undertake annual maintenance.

Have your equipment serviced by the experts

Most homeowners lack the expertise to service and repair heating and cooling systems, which means that you’ll need to call in the professionals to get the job done right. Contact Right Now Heating and Air Conditioning, and we’ll be glad to set you up on a regular schedule which allows for annual maintenance to your heating and cooling systems, so it’s something you will never have to worry about.

There are number of things you can do to help avoid sky-high energy bills during the hottest and coldest times of the year, and not all of them involve less usage of your air conditioning or heating systems. By doing some simple things that everyone in the household can be involved with, you can achieve an overall savings on your energy bills that will make even the warmest and coldest seasons more tolerable, because you won’t be getting an outrageous energy bill at the end of the month.

Use a programmable thermostat

This is one of the best steps you can take in order to achieve a savings on your energy bills, because it allows your air conditioner and furnace to work more efficiently in cooling the home. For instance, when children are at school and parents are at work, you can program your thermostat to allow the temperature to be warmer, since no one will be home to need cooled air. This also works for other time such as vacations, and even for night times, when people are asleep and don’t really need super cool air.

Use more insulation

Installing extra insulation in your home can be effective for both warm seasons and cold seasons, because it retains cooler air in the summer time and warm air in the wintertime. If you already have some decent insulation installed, you might want to consider upgrading your level of insulation so it can be more effective at retaining conditioned air in the household.

Wear appropriate clothing

This is a tactic that many people overlook, but which can have a serious impact on your level of comfort in either warm or cold seasons. In the wintertime, bundle up a bit when you’re home and wear a sweater or something else that keeps you warm. In the summertime, you can peel off more clothing and be comfortable in T-shirt and shorts. You’d be surprised at how this simple tactic can impact the level of heating or cooling used in your home, and thus impact your bottom line, which is energy bills.

Make sure air filters are replaced

Your heating and cooling systems will work much more efficiently if the air filters are kept free of debris like lint, pollen, and other pollutants. By checking and replacing your air filters regularly, you will allow your HVAC units to work more efficiently and not have to overcome clogged filters while operating.

Use appliances strategically

There are a few things you can do with regard to your appliance usage which can also have an impact on your energy bills. For instance, whenever you’re washing dishes, you should load your dishwasher to capacity instead of only partially filling it. This will make more efficient use of your dishwasher, and will ensure that energy is not wasted on smaller loads. On laundry days when you’re drying your clothes, be ready to insert loads for drying consecutively, so that warmth is not lost while waiting for the next drying load.

Lower the water heater temperature

Lowering the temperature on your water heater can save you almost as much money as any strategies which you use for your air conditioner or your furnace. Even by lowering the temperature on your water heater a few degrees, you can save significant money on your energy bill, without incurring any real inconvenience for your household members. Ideally, your water heater should be set at 120°F, and anything above that means you’re probably wasting money on your energy bill. You may also want to consider turning the water heater off entirely when the family is going to be on vacation, and out of the house for a period of time.

Energy efficiency with Right Now 

One huge impact you can make on your monthly energy bills is to install a new high-efficiency furnace or air conditioner. Contact Right Now Heating and Air Conditioning to find out which units would be best to install in your home, so you can achieve the kind of savings on your energy bills that you’ve always wanted.