Houston HVAC Company Addresses Heat Pump Maintenance & Their FAQ’s

Learn More About How Houston Heat Pump Maintenance Can Benefit You

We’ve been discussing in our blog all month that heat pump technology is rapidly evolving, and heat pumps are picking up in popularity in colder climates. In fact, you may be considering a heat pump yourself, if you’re interested in:

• Supplementing your existing heat system
• Replacing your existing combined systems with one combined solution
• Reduce your carbon footprint and boost your energy efficiency
• Reduce your regular energy costs and enjoy the heat pump tax credit

However, if combining heating and cooling into one system concerns you, especially when it comes to maintenance, you don’t need to worry.

This week, we’d like to go through the questions that we get asked most often, as well as offer some standard heat pump maintenance tips to help you feel more at ease.

Do heat pumps require service?

Like any other heating or cooling system, your heat pump will benefit from regular preventative maintenance. The difference between a system that is well-maintained and a system that is neglected can range from 10% to 25%, according to energy.gov.

Heat pump maintenance on a routine basis will help ensure that the system performs at its best. It will also help limit damage to the components, including the compressor, making sure that your expensive investment is well protected.

Routine service limits the risk of the heat pump needing unexpected and expensive repairs, as well as helping the system to run more reliably.

What does it cost to maintain a heat pump?

The cost of maintaining a heat pump will vary quite a bit, depending on where you live, how often you have the service performed, the age of your system, and who provides the service.

To understand why the preventative maintenance is worth the ongoing investment, let’s examine the difference between the cost of this important preventative measure and replacing a heat pump after it’s gone bad.

The national average cost for residential heat pump repair ranges from around $350-$1250.

The cost of preventative maintenance on the heat pump averages $170, making this service both cost-effective and a smart option. You can also save on the price of this routine maintenance if you sign a contract for ongoing service with the same HVAC provider.

Can I troubleshoot my heat pump on my own and do my own maintenance?

You should definitely keep an eye on your heat pump for specific issues that commonly develop so that you can prevent future issues.

For example, the defrost cycle will typically run when it is quite cold outside. However, if you notice that the defrost mode keeps coming on, or stays on for more than fifteen minutes, it may be time to call in a professional to evaluate your system.

You can also keep your heat pump running at its best by taking care of routine tasks like dusting around the vents and replacing the air filters.

The reality is that preventative heat pump maintenance is not a job that you can do on your own. If you’re not experienced and trained, it’s very dangerous to work with refrigerant and high voltage electricity. You could wind up doing more harm than good. In these cases, it’s important to turn to a skilled professional for ongoing HVAC maintenance.

How often should the heat pump service be scheduled?

Professional heat pump maintenance should be scheduled at least once per year.

If you use the heat pump for the main heating and cooling system, as opposed to a supplemental system, it may mean that you need to schedule this service twice yearly – once in the spring and once in the fall.

Contact us now or call us today for more information!

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How to Eliminate Bad Locker Room Smell Before You Lose Customers Part II

Have Houston HVAC Technicians Take A Closer Look At Your Gyms’ Bad Locker Room Smells Part II

Deep Cleaning At Least Once Every Week

If regular cleaning is not helping with the situation with the locker room, then you should consider deep cleaning because it can help go to the root of the problem. Scrub and sanitize lockers and benches at least once a week so that you will be able to reach spots that you miss when cleaning daily.

Removing The Carpeting

Have you ever seen someone put a carpet in the bathroom or kitchen? People don’t do this because it ends up getting stained, damp, and gross very easily. This is the same case with a carpet at a fitness center.

Carpets absorb humidity and this can result in the room smell. A gym is a place that has a lot of traffic and this makes it hard to keep the carpet clean. You should consider replacing the carpet with less absorbent options like a tile. This will help in eliminating odors and making it easier to clean the floor.

3 Ways Of Controlling Humidity To Lose The locker room smell

Improving Ventilation

Keeping humidity low is important if you want to control odor. This is because moisture in the air will lead to the odor lingering, so ensure you have humidity levels in check, and more importantly the locker room. Locker rooms are the most humid part of gyms because of people sweating and showering. Other high humidity areas are pools and steam rooms.

According to the International Building Code, moist air needs to be vented out instead of being recirculated. This will mean having a proper ventilation system that will be able to keep the room healthy, odor-free, and up to code.

Fitness centers have a higher risk of air quality issues like increased CO2 levels. Exercising results in a number of changes in the body, and these include faster breathing and elevated heart rate. Breathing faster will lead to a higher production of CO2. Breathing too much CO2 is unhealthy, and it will leave a person feeling tired and foggy, which is not something anyone wants to feel when they are exercising. This is a common problem in dance studios, weight rooms, and an enclosed space where classes are taking place. This is why it is important to ensure ventilation is there.

If you are still using an old system (you have not updated your HVAC), you should get it checked by an HVAC professional so it can work how it is supposed to. There are a number of things that can be done to increase the effectiveness of the ventilation system. Some features that can help with these include HEPA filters, which traps mold, bacteria, and small particles.

Duct Cleaning

The HVAC ducts are responsible for moving air around the gym and through the HVAC system. With time, they can start clogging with dust and accumulate moisture. When the air is traveling through these ducts, it will end up picking the smell then carry it throughout the building. If you have to deal with nasty odors inside the gym, then it is a good idea to have the ducts checked and cleaned by a professional.

When the ducts are cleaned, the HVAC will circulate fresh air.

Regular HVAC Maintenance

When the ventilation is working well and the ducts are cleaned, it is still important to maintain the HVAC equipment. This is because things such as blocked condensation drains, clogged air filters, and water leaks can all lead to smelly gyms.

You should consider getting maintenance services twice a year. This ensures everything is working well and prevent the gym from smelling. Regular maintenance will prevent breakdowns that can sometimes affect your business because of the lack of AC or heat. The cost you are to spend on maintenance is less than what you could have spent or repairs.

Clean air is important for any clean gym. There is no need to lose your customers because of issues like odor. You can schedule regular HVAC maintenance so you don’t have to worry about it again.

Visit the first part of this article by visiting here. Call or contact AC Man of Houston today with any questions that you might have!

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How to Eliminate Bad Locker Room Smell Before You Lose Customers Part I

Have Houston HVAC Technicians Take A Closer Look At Your Gyms’ Bad Locker Room Smells Part I

The New Year has started and what this means is more people coming to use the gym. It is normal to see a high number of people showing up in the gym at the beginning of the year. There are many new and returning customers looking to accomplish their resolutions. You should ensure your gym is a place where people will want to come back to. Having a bad locker room smell is the fastest way of ruining your first impression.

The good thing is that it is not hard to fix this problem. Below are some tips you can use to deal with locker room odor and keeping the air clean and fresh.

Let’s start by looking at why the odor is more than just a nuisance; it is also bad for health. This is not something you want in a place where people are coming to improve their health.

The Smell Could Be A Sign That There Is Poor Air Quality Indoors

Poor indoor air quality could cause the gym locker to smell bad. When there is odor around, then there could be pollutants and bacteria too. Odors are usually carried around by humidity, and when there is moisture in the air, it provides the perfect condition for bacteria or mold to grow. Spreading of germs in the gym is easy because there are many people entering and coming in contact with equipment. When you improve the air quality in the room, you will make the place a little healthier.

There are other causes of odors in the room. There was a study done and it showed that the gym has a high level of indoor pollutants like carbon dioxide, dust, VOCs, formaldehyde, and dust. If you notice a chemical smell, then that could be VOCs from the paint, carpet, and other building materials. This is more common in old buildings that have an outdated HVAC system. When you breathe in these substances over time, they will start causing health problems such as breathing difficulties, infections, rashes, nose, eye, and throat irritations.

When people are searching for a gym, they will look for a place that has a pleasant environment. You can easily lose a lot of customers because of the smell in the locker room of the gym and poor quality of air. This is why it is important to ensure there ventilation and quality air inside the room, or else you end up losing a lot of money. People going to the gym want to improve their health, and the last thing they need is the poor quality of air as they exercise.

There is a good chance you have tried different products to get rid of the odor but they don’t work. They will succeed in covering up the odors, and some will even absorb them. But they are not able to deal with the source of the problem. How can you get rid of this problem once and for all?

The Basics For Odor Control

Removing Used Towels Regularly

One of the biggest contributors to the nasty smell in the locker room is used towels. In order to contain the odors and humidity, consider using laundry baskets that have lids. The laundry baskets should also be emptied on a regular basis. You should also look out for any towels left on the stalls, hooks, and benches too.

Stepping Up Dialing Cleaning

You already have a system you follow when it comes to cleaning, but if you have not gone through the routine for some time, then the routine might not be working the way it should be. There are some areas that you will need to clean more regularly. Some of these areas include bathrooms, drains, showerheads, and saunas.

Emptying The Lockers On A Daily Basis

You should not wait for your customers to properly clean the lockers. If you don’t know what has been left inside, it could be contributing to the smell in the locker room. It is a good idea to empty them every day. You should tell the customers that anything they leave behind will be put in the lost and found or thrown out.

Find out more. Give us a call or contact AC Man of Houston today with any inquiries!

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Furnace Fussing? Houston HVAC Repair AC Man Has Your Back

Why Your Furnace Is Acting Up

A clanking furnace definitely can cause you to lose sleep, but it is also an indication that extra attention needs to be paid to your HVAC system. Think of those sounds as being symptoms. If you are running a fever, then you know your body is trying to fight an illness off; in a similar way, those strange sounds alert you to the problems within the inner workings of your furnace.

HVAC issues, in particular, are likely to arise in Houston during the fall and winter. If you own a heat pump, it probably isn’t used to having to work in reverse in order to heat your house, which makes it more likely for previously unnoticed problems to arise during the brief heating season here. The same is true for a furnace if you own one.

Fortunately for you, an experienced professional can provide you with a diagnosis of your HVAC system which is based on the noises that your heat pump or furnace is making. The following are the most common sounds that are an indication that your furnace has a problem.

Chirping, Screeching, and Squealing

If you hear a chirping, screeching, or high-pitched squealing sound, most likely the problem relates to the blower motor. That is the part of the furnace that powers the fan that distributes warm air throughout your home. when the blower motor is impaired there is less heat inside your house.

In this situation, there might be one of three issues that could be causing the blower motor to make loud noises.

• No lubricant – Without any lubricant, the blower motor gets subjected to additional friction that is unnecessary. Search for oil ports on the two sides of the blower shaft or blower motor. Then put two to three drops of oil into each of them, if your system does have them. It very important to not use all-purpose oil, but furnace-specific oil instead.
• Loose fan belt – It is on the motor pulley. If the belt has too much slack, the belt will need to be tightened in order to restore the tension. Also, if the belt is too worn it will need to be replaced.
• Motor bearing problems – Bearings make it possible for the motor to deliver the necessary force for powering the furnace and also reduce unwanted friction at the same time. You will have to replace any worn or broken bearing with new ones so that the functionality is restored.

Thumping, Scraping, and Clanking

If they are loud noises and they continue to persist even when the furnace is on, and not only when it is first starting up, there may be several potential things that are causing it.

• Broken or loose blower wheel – The blower motor spins this wheel, and it may move around and get loose, which can produce a loud metallic noise. Over time that may cause more serious damage, so the best thing to do is to tighten it right away. If it gets damaged you will need to replace it.
• Loose motor mount – At times, the motor mount may come loose, which will allow parts along the housing to clang and clatter.
• Unbalanced or rattling parts – Many parts are contained in the entire blower assembly that may come out of alignment. A professional will be able to asses which parts have to be replaced and which ones can be salvaged.

Banging Sound on Startup

If there is a banging noise only when your furnace comes on, then it is probably not a loose mechanical part. It is most likely one of the following problems.

• Delayed ignition – A chain of reactions runs a furnace. Based on the specific temperature chosen by the thermostat, a valve will open and allow natural gas inside of the combustion chamber. Then the igniter or pilot light ignites the burner, and your home is warmed by the heat that comes from the reaction.

At times the ignition doesn’t work immediately, which leads to gas building up. When it ignites finally, it results in a mini-explosion – which is the loud banging sound that you hear – and that can damage the heat exchanger to the point beyond repair eventually. The delay may be caused by improper gas pressure, an ineffective flame on the pilot light, faulty igniter, or dirty burner.

• Funky ductwork – If it doesn’t appear like the bang is coming from the actual furnace, then most likely it is a result of the ductwork expanding and then popping out. Your ducts might be rectangular or too small and may need to be replaced so that the noise issue is alleviated. The fix might also be as simple as getting more vents opened to relieve the pressure or double-check to make sure the air filter does not have any debris inside of it.

Other Sounds

There could be other sounds made by your furnace like clicking, rattling, rumbling, or humming. If only a humming or clicking noise is made by your furnace when it first starts up, then everything is probably functioning okay. However, although it is easy to fix some of those noises, you don’t ever want to place your family and yourself at risk for something that is more serious, such as carbon monoxide poisoning or complete loss of heat. Erring on the side of caution is the best thing to do, and get a professional HVAC technician to make an assessment of the condition of your furnace.

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Heating Tips From Leading HVAC Repair Contractor AC Man

Common Heating Mistakes Homeowners Make In The Winter

During winter in Houston, the days tend to be warm enough that no heating is required to maintain a comfortable temperature indoors. On the other hand, nights can be chilly after the sun sets, so you are not likely to think about how much turning on the heat will cost – you simply want your heating system to work. Unfortunately, your heating system could be costing more than you realize if you are not aware of steps you could be taking to save energy. There are some common heating mistakes that you may be making while keeping your home warm during winter, so you should take care to keep your heating system working efficiently so your home can be warm without unnecessary costs.

Do Not Turn Your Thermostat All the Way Up At One Time

When your heating system has been turned off for a considerable length of time, you may think of turning it up to a high temperature will heat your home quickly. While this will work, this puts to much stress on your heating system which will reduce its efficiency. This will lead to excess energy use since the unit is not running at top efficiency, and your energy bills will go up. It is much better to turn your thermostat up gradually to reduce the stress on the unit.

Do Not Close Your Curtains During The Day

While the nighttime temperatures in Houston can drop to 40 degrees, there is usually enough sunlight during the day that you will not need to turn up the heat. In addition, if your home is kept relatively warm during the day your furnace will not need to work very hard when you do turn it on after sunset.

Avoid Using Space Heaters

Some people who live in a relatively mild climate such as Houston make the mistake of running space heaters in an attempt to save money. This may work in some cases such as heating a small room like a kitchen or bedroom, but running several at once to heat the whole house can be expensive. Space heaters are high-energy appliances, so they really are not very efficient at heating from a cost perspective. There is also the very real concern that space heaters can be dangerous if not carefully monitored and house fires often are the disastrous result, so the use of space heaters should be avoided if at all possible.

Do Not Close Unused Vents

You may be tempted to close the heat vents located in rooms that are not used very often. It would seem logical that the heat will then be directed to the open vents and provide more heat to those locations. The ducts in most systems are specifically sized to provide heated air to every part of the home, so changing this balance could possibly increase the stress on your heating system. This could eventually reduce the efficiency and longevity of your heating system, so make sure you have all the vents in your home open.

Do Not Depend Entirely On Your Heating System

The heating system in your home is built to be powerful and efficient, but it cannot compensate for certain problems within your home. If you find it difficult to maintain a temperature above 68 degrees even though your thermostat is set at 70, the problem may not be with your heater. A home that has air leaks will be drafty and chilly even though the heating unit is working properly. Make sure you check around your windows and doors to detect any minute cracks or leaks where cold air could be entering.

Do Not Neglect Regular Heating System Maintenance

Too many times people are under the impression that their system is working fine so long as its heating their home. It is very important to have your system checked annually (ideally in the Fall) to make sure there are no unknown issues that could cause problems once cold weather arrives. Even if the unit does continue to produce all the heating necessary, it could be running less efficiently than possible and using more energy which will end up costing more in heating costs.

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Should I Cover My Air Vents?

The hot summers are bearable if you have air conditioning that works perfectly. You should not have to endure the heat of summer because you have a faulty HVAC system.

Of the many HVAC system problems we have been called to fix, we have discovered that the problem can be with the air vents that are blocked or close. As such, the homeowners will be quick to think that their heating and cooling system is on the fritz.

The issue of blocked or closed air vents can be accidental. It may happen when rearranging the furniture or when doing some general cleaning and fail to notice the vents. In other cases, people will close the vents with the intention of changing the room temperature around the house but will forget and leave them shut. If the vents are not open so that air can move around the house from the AC, then this increases the risk of damage cost repairs or a new HVAC system.

 

Why You Should Not Cover Air Vents

1. It interferes with your system’s airflow
   When the air from the HVAC unit is dispersed into the vents, it needs to flow freely so that the entire system can work properly. Shutting the vents forces excess air back to the AC unit that this leads to costly damages.
2. It wastes your money
   The restricted flow of air in the vent which can be due to blockage or closed pathways will force the HVAC to work double time to have the desired or set room temperature. In short, the unit will use up more electricity trying to attain the set temperatures, and this leads to a high utility bill.
3. You could damage your heat exchanger
   With air flow restricted, the eventuality is a buildup of air pressure in the vents that will cause problems with the heat exchanger. The increasing pressure will cause the heat exchanger to crack and possibly release carbon monoxide into the house.
4. It may trigger complications with your air duct system
   The blocked air will keep building up a press, and it will eventually force its way through the ductwork to escape. As a result, this weakens the duct system; and if the ductwork is old, then damages can be significant and costly.

So, as you think of a new HVAC system for your home, you should consult our experts to ensure that you make the best purchase. We have dedicated technicians ready to pick your call and help you make the right choice that will meet your needs.

Top-Rated Air Conditioning Repair Services

AC Man of Houston is your reliable air conditioning service provider. Our AC experts can help inspect, clean, repair, and replace the HVAC in your home or office. We have vast knowledge about all AC makes and models.

We offer our services to Katy and the Greater Houston, TX areas. Our years of excellent service delivery has seen as become the leading choice for all AC service issues. And since we know that there are many other contractors our there you can hire, we strive to go the extra mile to ensure that you are happy and satisfied with your services. AC Man will send qualified, skilled, technicians that are courteous and dedicated to their work. They will assess your home or business HVAC system and provide the best service solutions with a price quote for any repairs handed to you before work begins.

AC Man is a professional HVAC repair company in Houston, TX. We offer both commercial and residential HVAC services. Give us a call today to speak with a professional HVAC repair technician, or check our services.

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Shifting Your HVAC System To Green Technology Pt2

Reasons Why You Should Switch To Green HVAC Technology

Custom Cooling And Heating In Multiple Zones

If you are looking for the ultimate in cooling and heating zones, you should look at a Variable Refrigerant Flow system. This is green HVAC technology that uses small air handlers which are individually controlled but make up a full system. The VRF of the main system will detect the requirements for each zone and will control the amount of refrigerant that flows to each of the air handlers.

This type of system will be able to deliver green cooling and heating. In fact, this system could do both at the same time. Unlike other traditional systems, the compressor of these units will provide the right amount of cooling required for the conditions of smaller zones. This means that the system runs less frequently and at a lower capacity which is what makes it energy efficient.

The green HVAC technology which is used will also capture heat from the cooling process and redirect this to the areas in the property that require heat. The small indoor air handlers are also quieter than a traditional split system.

Readily Available Solar Power

Solar energy is probably the most well known green technology with rooftop-mounted systems and solar farms being prominent. Solar panels will contain photovoltaic materials which cover sunlight into electricity. This electricity can be used for lighting, heating, and cooling.

The installation of a solar energy system can be expensive, but there are tax rebates as well as other incentives which can be used to reduce the initial costs. There are also some less expensive systems which make use of liquid and air to absorb the energy of the sun and transfer it to the heating of a building.

Geothermal Is Not Just For Icelanders

Iceland is the pioneer of geothermal energy and this is no surprise when you consider their volcanoes and geysers. The country uses this type of energy in around 87% of buildings to ensure that they are heated. However, this is an energy source that is not only available for Icelanders and it is a viable option for people in the US as well.

Geothermal systems will take advantage of the constant temperature found a few feet below the surface of the Earth to provide heating and cooling. The system requires a geothermal heat pump and looping piping which is underground and contains either a refrigerant or water. In the cold months, the fluid in the pipes will get heat from the ground and transfer this into the air of the building. In the summer, the process will be reversed with the heat traveling out of the house and into the ground.

There is an added bonus to this system and that is the creation of hot water. It is important to note that these systems will use electricity, but they are still more energy efficient than other types of technology.

AC On Ice

A new green HVAC technology that you should know about is an ice-powered air conditioner. This will not only cool the air, it will also reduce the amount of energy you use.

The AC unit will freeze large amounts of water during the night. During the hottest [art of the next day, the ice will be used by the unit instead of a compressor to cool the refrigerant. This will reduce the electricity that is used by the cooling system. As the ice melts, the normal AC system will start to kick in while the water to reused and frozen overnight.

It is important to note that this AC unit will use electricity. However, the combination of the cooling and the cost saving is likely to make this green HVAC technology popular as it starts to become available to the general public.

Bringing Your Radiator Into The 21st Century

Heating systems which use hot water flowing through the pipes and providing heat are nothing new. However, a much better green technology will be the hydronic heating system.

This modern system will use a liquid, which could be antifreeze, water or another liquid, to run through plastic tubing. The tubing can run under the floors, through baseboards, radiators or another heating exchange. The heat will then be transferred via radiation, convection or conduction depending on the system design. The boiler used to heat the liquid can run on geothermal power or solar power instead of fossil fuels to make it greener.

AC Man is a professional HVAC repair company in Houston, TX. We offer both commercial and residential HVAC services. Give us a call today to speak with a professional HVAC repair technician, or check our services. Click here to proceed to the first issue of this article.

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