How To Trim Your Heating Costs
Upgrade your equipment
If you’re running an old furnace, chances are you’re burning more energy than you need to. According to the US Department Of Energy fuel efficiency ratings on newer high-efficiency heating systems can run from 90 to 98.5%, as opposed to older low-efficiency systems at 56 to 70%. With electricity prices getting more erratic recently, now might be the time to make the investment a priority.
You might also look into different ways that you can heat your home. We mentioned all-electric systems supported by solar panels above, but there are also heat pumps instead of furnaces. Heat pumps transfer heat from outside, so they tend to be a popular consideration in more temperate climates.
Turn down the thermostat
We’ve all likely heard this advice. However, it bears repeating since it’s the easiest and most direct way to save on energy costs. It might feel nice to keep the home toasty so you don’t have to bundle up as much. But the US Department Of Energy states that you could save as much as 10% annually on heating costs by turning down the thermostat to 7 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit for eight hours per day.
The beautiful part of turning down your thermostat is that you might do it while you’re not home during the day so you don’t even notice the difference. You might also consider lowering the thermostat at night. According to sleep experts sleeping in colder temperatures might even aid in our body’s natural temperature drops at night and lead to more restful sleep. You might want to try keeping your house cooler at night, and if you find you don’t mind it or even like it, you just found an easy way to save on heating costs this winter.
Today’s new smart thermostats even make it easier than ever. You simply set a prerecorded schedule for when you’d like the house to drop several degrees and when to rise several degrees. Set the heat to go up a bit before you tend to get up in the morning, and your house will be warm when you need to get out of bed.
Check your home for air leaks
An incredibly important part of making sure your home isn’t basically leaking money in the winter is to make sure your home has no air leaks. Call your Green Apple Mechanical professionals to check for any air leaks in your home; they’ll likely perform a blower door test.
You might also want to insulate and seal your home against energy or heat loss yourself.
Green Apple Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the New Jersey area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priorities. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC needs call Green Apple Today toll-free at 888-611-7191
Has Your Home Thermostat Aged out?
Proper installation is of the utmost importance in order for your thermostat and heating or cooling system to work together properly.
Why You Need To Keep An Eye On These Furnace Problems
When everything is going well with your home’s furnace, it is able to keep the temperature indoors at a comfortable, cozy level. You might not even notice it operating in the background when there are no issues. While your furnace is designed to have a long, useful life, there is a chance that something will go wrong with it. In a lot of instances, a furnace problem is relatively easy to fix. A well-trained Green Apple Mechanical technician can correct the problem quickly, or a homeowner might be able to do some troubleshooting on their own.
Understanding what some of the most common furnace problems in cold weather are can help you know what to look for and what to do to fix up your furnace.
Some furnace issues happen more often than others. In some cases, what seems to be a major problem with your furnace might actually be something that is easy to fix. Take a look at some of the most frequently-occurring furnace concerns.
1. Your Furnace Is Not Producing Heat
Your furnace really only has one job: to distribute warm air through your home, so that you and anyone else who lives there can be comfortable when it is cold outside. If a furnace is not producing heat, it is often a cause for alarm, but in many instances, it might not be that big of an issue. One of the reasons your furnace might be blowing air but not producing heat is if there is a fan setting on your thermostat. When the fan setting is turned on, the furnace will blow air through the home, but the air will not be warmed up.
Another reason your furnace might not produce heat is if the thermostat is not turned on or set to “heat,” or if the temperature setting on the thermostat is too low. If you are concerned about your furnace, one of the first things to do is take a look at the thermostat to make sure it is turned to the appropriate setting.
Your furnace’s air filter prevents dust and debris from traveling through the ducts and blowing into the rooms of your home. Ideally, you will replace the filter regularly, at least once during the winter season or monthly, if you have pets or a large family. When the filter does not get replaced often enough, it can become clogged. The buildup of dust and debris restricts the airflow from the furnace, making it seem as if the equipment is not producing any heat. Replacing the air filter might be enough to fix the issue.
One additional reason why a furnace might not produce heat is if there is no flame to ignite the fuel and warm the air. The pilot light in a furnace is responsible for igniting the fuel. Older models have a continuously lit pilot light, and there is a chance that the flame will go out. Newer furnaces often have electronic ignition, which ignites the pilot light when the furnace cycles on. If there is an issue with the ignition, the flame might not catch, and the furnace will not be able to produce warm air.
If you have ruled out a problem with the thermostat or air filter, the issue might be connected to the pilot light. In that case, your best option is to call in a Green Apple technician to look at the furnace and make the appropriate repairs.
2. Your Furnace Keeps Turning on and Off
As a furnace heats your home, it typically cycles on and off, trying to maintain the temperature set on the thermostat. Depending on the programmed temperature and the outdoor temperature, a furnace might cycle on, heat the room or home to the desired temperature, then cycle off again several times an hour.
If a furnace starts short cycling or turning on and off frequently, without ever reaching the set temperature, that is usually a sign that something is wrong. During a short cycle, the furnace will only run for a couple of minutes before it turns off again. Often, the cause of a short cycle is a lack of airflow in the furnace, which causes it to overheat. Furnaces have safety switches built-in that will shut down the system if the temperature gets too hot.
A clogged air filter can restrict airflow, leading to overheating and the safety switch going off. If you notice that your furnace is turning on and off frequently or is only running for a couple of minutes at a time, never heating up to the desired temperature, your first step might be to check and replace the air filter. If replacing the air filter does not resolve the issue, you will need to call a Green Apple Mechanical technician to take a closer look.
3. Your Furnace Is Not Turning on Automatically
When everything is working as it should be, your furnace will switch on and produce heat once it gets the signal from the thermostat. But if you have noticed that it is not turning on and it is getting a bit chilly in your home, there might be something wrong. As with other furnace issues, the problem might be a quick fix or it might be a sign of a larger concern with the heating equipment.
For example, your furnace is not going to turn on if the circuit breaker is turned off. If the equipment is not working, take a look at the breaker box and try to flip the switch labeled “furnace.” That might be all you need to do to get things started again.
Another thing that might keep your furnace from turning on is the thermostat. If the temperature on the thermostat is too low, your furnace will not kick on until it registers that lower temperature. If your thermostat is set to “off” or “cool,” the furnace is not going to turn on. Take a look at the thermostat and adjust it as needed to see if doing so gets your furnace to work.
Other reasons your furnace might not turn on automatically include:
- Clogged air filter
- Faulty ignition or pilot light
- No fuel
4. Your Furnace Stopped Working
Your furnace has recently started a cycle when it suddenly shut down before the room reached the set temperature. As with other furnace problems, a furnace might stop working because it tripped the circuit breaker, there was an issue with the pilot light or ignition, airflow was restricted or some issue triggered a safety switch that shut down the system. If your furnace has shut down and you cannot figure out why your best option is to call in a trained Green Apple Mechanical technician to take a look at it and diagnose the problem.
5. You Have a Noisy Furnace
Most furnaces make some noise as they operate. You might hear clicks when the thermostat reaches a certain temperature and sends a signal to the furnace, and you are likely to hear a “whooshing” noise as the air travels through your ductwork. The blower on some furnaces is louder than others.
But some noises can be a sign that something is up with your system and that the equipment needs to be inspected, repaired, or potentially replaced. For example, if your furnace is making a knocking noise or the furnace is making a rattling noise, that could be a sign that something has come loose and needs to be tightened or adjusted. If your furnace is making a loud rumbling noise, there might be fuel left in the combustion chamber after the system has shut off. In either case, you will want to turn off your furnace and call in a Green Apple technician to take a look at what is going on.
6. Your Furnace Is Leaking Water
Certain types of furnaces can develop condensation leaks, which cause water to pool around the base of the furnace. If you have a high-efficiency furnace that most likely has a cool exhaust feature. High-efficiency furnaces often have PVC exhaust pipes, rather than metal pipes. They also have condensation pipes, which route the water produced as the combustion fuel cools to a drain. If the condensation pipe becomes clogged or otherwise develops a leak, water can pool around the bottom of the furnace. If that happens, your best option is to call in a Green Apple Mechanical technician to investigate.
Troubleshooting Your Furnace Problems
Although there are instances when a furnace problem needs attention from an experienced Green Apple technician, in some cases the problem might be something you can solve on your own. If your furnace is not turning on or is not producing enough heat, you can run through a few simple oil or gas furnace troubleshooting steps to see if it is an issue you can fix on your own:
- Check the circuit breaker: Your furnace needs electricity to operate. There are cases when the circuit breaker will have tripped, turning off power to the heating system. Take a look at your breaker box to see if the furnace’s breaker is flipped in the opposite direction of the other switches in the box. If so, try switching it back on. If it stays and the furnace powers up again, you should be fine. If the switch will not stay on, do not try to force it. Instead, call in a Green Apple technician to take a look.
- Green Apple Mechanical are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the New Jersey area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priorities. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC concerns call today toll-free at 888-611-7191
Is A New Home Thermostat Upgrade Worth It?
A smart thermostat enables you to have complete control over your home heating and air conditioning system no matter where you are in the world.
How To Care For Your HVAC System When The Seasons Change
The best way to save you money and keep your HVAC system working throughout the year is with annual check-ups on your heating and cooling systems.
When Is The Last Time You Checked On Your HVAC System?
A number of factors contribute to HVAC decline, including a decrease in the fluids, dirty vents, and degrading parts like the condenser coil.
Streamline Your Home Thermostat
As thermostats age and wear out, they begin to experience similar problems as older heaters or air conditioners.
Help Out Your HVAC System During Extreme Weather
Keep your thermostat set at a consistent setting until the weather warms back up to normal temperatures for this season.
How Long Can Your HVAC System Go Before Being Replaced?
All good things come to an end. Sooner or later, you will need to replace your HVAC system. An old, inefficient, and noisy HVAC unit may indicate that you need to replace it. An HVAC system is one of the major investments you’ll make in your home. With that in mind, it’s logical that you want to get the best out of it. However, regardless of timely ac maintenance and ac repairs, your HVAC system will still need to be replaced at one point.
Ideally, your unit will last anywhere between 10 and 15 years before ac repair costs start to creep in. Keep in mind that sometimes the age of your system and how long it has been working hard may necessitate a replacement. To continue enjoying good indoor air quality, ensure that you get timely ac repairs and maintenance. Below are some of the reasons why you should not wait to repair or replace your unit.
An old HVAC unit consumes more energy
Do you remember when your AC system was installed?
According to the Department of Energy, you should replace your HVAC system every 10 to 15 years. While most units are durable, most of their major components deteriorate after the first ten years, depending on how they’re used, repaired, and maintained. Receiving a high utility bill once or twice may not be a cause for alarm. But if you receive high bills that don’t come down, then your AC may be the culprit, and you might need to get a new system.
High repair costs
Because replacing an HVAC unit can be an expensive investment, you may be on the fence on whether to repair or replace your unit. However, if your system is old, a new unit may be a better investment. You will need air conditioning repair from time to time. But, if your unit needs repairs that are more than half the value of a new unit, it may be a good time to replace your old or worn-out air-conditioning system.
Inconsistent temperatures
If you have an old AC unit, it will work harder to maintain a consistent indoor temperature. This may be caused by different reasons, including an inaccurate thermostat, a damaged thermostat, clogged filters, motor damage, or clogged filters.
Inconsistent indoor temperatures may mean that your HVAC system is struggling to supply warm or cool air throughout your home. Keeping such a unit will result in increased energy bills and uncomfortable indoor space. However, air conditioners aren’t created equal, and your home size, layout, and location can affect the performance of your unit.
Coolant leaks
In 2010, AC manufacturers stopped using R22 refrigerants because it’s harmful to the environment. By 2020 all manufacturers stopped manufacturing it. Therefore, if you have an HVAC unit that is more than ten years old, it most likely uses the R-22 refrigerant. This refrigerant is now outdated and very expensive to recharge. You should consider upgrading to a newer AC unit to reduce your carbon footprint and also cut down your monthly utility bills.
Accumulated dust inside your home
Have you recently noticed that your home is still dusty even after cleaning it? Where does this dust come from? If you see dust settling on your furniture a few minutes after cleaning your home, then your AC unit could have an issue. Although your air conditioning unit is designed to clean the air inside your home, your unit could actually be making your home dusty. Here are a few ways that you can solve this problem:
Clean or replace the air filter
To determine if your HVAC is causing your dusty home, first, check the air filter. HVAC filters should be inspected regularly and cleaned or replaced when dirty. In case you have a shedding pet or a dusty home, you should replace your filters more often. The dust you see in your filter is trapped during the circulation of air in your home. However, when the filter gets clogged, the system is unable to clean the dust efficiently, and more dust is left inside your home. When replacing your filter, you may want to consider filters with a high MERV rating. These filters are able to trap even the smallest particles, and they can last longer.
Plug leaks in your ductwork
Dust in your home could also be a result of leaky ductwork. If you have an old air conditioning unit, small gaps may develop in dusty areas in your home, like the basement or attic. These gaps may cause dust to flow past the filters and into your home. Therefore, it’s important that you also inspect for leaky ductwork.
If you have an old air conditioning unit, it may not be powerful enough to cool your home and keep the indoor air free from dust. If this is the case, you should highly consider replacing your HVAC unit.
Unusual smells
Normally, you may determine that you need air conditioning repair services if you notice some strange smells coming from your unit. If you notice a rotten egg smell, an animal may have died near your condenser. Other smells like urine, stale socks, or ammonia may indicate the presence of mold in your system. In case of such smells, a Green Apple repair technician can help repair your unit.
There are other smells that may indicate that you need to replace your unit. The two main scents are gunpowder and sulfur. These smells signify electrical problems. For instance, something may have blown out or got fried. Therefore, if your unit fails to turn on and you get a whiff of these scents, you will need to contact a Green Apple technician to replace your unit.
Strange sounds
Your HVAC system will normally produce a soft sound as it forces air through the vents. However, there are other signs that may indicate that you need to contact a professional Green Apple HVAC technician to provide maintenance or repair. Some of the sounds that you should watch out for include:
Banging, rattling, and cranking sounds
You may hear these sounds if your unit has a problem with the motor or blower assembly. A rattling sound can also indicate that a certain component is coming loose. If this is the case, you should get the problem repaired as soon as possible before the part disconnects or breaks completely. In case you hear a loud banging noise when you switch on the blower, you should immediately switch it off and reach out to a professional because something may be disconnected or completely broken.
Clicking sound
Normally, you will hear a clicking sound when you turn your unit on and off. However, in case the clicking sound comes from outside the compressor or control panel, most likely, a relay is defective. Sometimes, an electrical control can cause the relay to fail.
Screeching noise
A screeching or squealing sound coming from your blower may be a sign of a motor bearing issue or a damaged belt. While belts aren’t expensive to repair, you should have them replaced before they break. If you wait for them to break, your unit will not turn, and you may incur expensive repairs.
Increased efficiency
An ineffective HVAC system does more than just reduce the indoor air quality and make your house hot; it will also end up costing you a lot of money over time. So, repairing your HVAC as soon as possible can help save a lot of money on your electricity bill every month. And instead of the system working overdrive to maintain good indoor air quality and keep your home warm, it will easily reach the needed temperature.
Preventive maintenance of the system will ensure you avoid any HVAC emergency at tiresome times. And while it will help ensure that your home is comfortable every time, it will save you money, time, and the headache that comes with emergencies. Therefore, it is essential to hire an experienced person who has the knowledge and training to repair your unit.
Smart device integration
The HVAC units have existed from as early as the 1800s, but later, new standards were set for minimum energy efficiency of building designs. The standards set were considered a significant milestone in the history of HVAC units.
The new heating and cooling systems can solve more problems than the traditional systems cannot. For instance, building owners will not have to waste their time fiddling with the unit to know where or how much air can be brought to every house section. Also, these systems have intelligent sensors that can expansively regulate outside sources and inner functionality for the system to maintain its efficiency.
Long-term savings
Everyone loves saving money, but did you know that you can save a lot of money every year by properly maintaining your HVAC unit? The HVAC unit of your home uses almost half the energy in your home to function. So, it perfectly makes sense to maximize its efficiency.
An inefficiently running unit uses more energy to function than one that is working perfectly. Therefore, you might want to repair any system that is not functioning correctly if you’re going to lower your electricity bill and save money.
Additionally, if you are waiting for your unit to be repaired, it means that you are tying up your money in extra expenditures that you are incurring on the repair. Unfortunately, the problem is only getting worse the more you wait, and it will even cost you more. Therefore, you must get any problem fixed as soon as possible to free up the money you are tying up and use it somewhere else. You can maybe save that money towards a home improvement project to increase the value of your home.
Increased home value
Investing in and properly maintaining your HVAC unit can ultimately increase the value of your home. According to many pieces of research, most homebuyers prefer a house that has a properly functioning HVAC unit. And if your home has a low functioning system, it means that the future homeowner will have to pay a lot of monthly bills for electricity.
With a properly functioning unit, you can save up to twenty percent on electricity bills. So, with this type of improvement, you will increase the value of your home and its chances of selling fast.
Improved Health
Your HVAC might be an essential part of your home; however, it can sometimes pose a significant health threat if not well maintained. Problems can come up, including rapid temperature changes, increased humidity as well as carbon monoxide
Therefore, to make sure you reduce the health risk associated with an inefficient HVAC unit, it is essential to maintain it properly. HVAC unit problems that can impact your health are faulty ducts, dirty filters, and strange smells.
HVAC equipment shortage
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a significant shortage of HVAC parts and equipment. This is because manufacturers were affected in one way or another. For instance, some of the raw materials used in the manufacture of this equipment are currently unavailable. This includes things like motors and control boards from India and China. Raw steel, copper, and raw aluminum from different parts of the world are also difficult to source. Therefore, if your unit isn’t performing optimally and you can’t find original parts to repair it, you may consider replacing your system to improve indoor air quality.
The bottom line on replacing your HVAC Unit
If you have recently noticed that your HVAC unit may need repair or replacement, contact a team of professional Green Apple technicians. Keep in mind that your unit can last for a long time, and you can prolong its lifespan by getting regular ac maintenance. Therefore, as you go to the warm weather, ensure that you get a quick tune-up to replace worn-out parts and make minor fixes.
If you’re unsure if you should replace or repair your HVAC unit, your experienced Green Apple technician will inspect your unit and give you a detailed assessment. This will help you to make an informed decision.
Green Apple Mechanical NJ are the experts you can trust. We have been serving the New Jersey area for years with professionalism and expertise. Customer service and care are always our number one priorities. If you have any questions or concerns regarding any of your HVAC needs call us today toll-free at 888-611-7191
Make Your Life Simpler With A New Home Thermostat
Smart thermostats learn from your climate control habits over the first few weeks of using one.