HVAC Tips For Homeowners

Save energy and reduce heating & cooling costs with these helpful tips:

Your Furnace Life Expectancy

How long can you expect your furnace to last? According to information compiled from various consumer resources, trade associations, and a study completed by the National Association of Home Builders entitled The Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components, a gas furnace that's properly installed and maintained can last up to 20 years.

ERVs & Indoor Air Quality

Evidence suggests that traditional ventilation methods, such as opening a window or using an exhaust fan, may not be enough to control indoor humidity and airborne contaminants in recent tightly constructed and insulated homes.

Is Your Furnace Ready?

Don't wait until the first cold snap to make sure your furnace is ready for the season. Here are a few minor tasks you can perform, plus things you can ask your dealer to do, to ensure your furnace will keep your home warm and comfortable all winter long.

Thermostat or Control?

Unlike a thermostat, a control does more than just monitor and adjust the temperature settings in your home. Newer controls, like the Infinity Control, can accomplish amazing feats.

Phasing Out Freon

If your indoor home comfort system contains Freon R-22 refrigerant, it's an endangered species. Once the industry standard for air conditioning applications, Freon R-22 is an ozone depleting substance and is being phased out under the Clean Air Act. In response to the phase out, we pioneered the introduction of a chlorine-free, non-ozone depleting refrigerant called Puron in 1996, six years before other manufacturers caught up.

Beat the Summer Heat

Why consider two-stage cooling? The technology supports longer cooling cycles that help to eliminate hot spots and maintain a more even, consistent temperature throughout your home. In general, two-stage cooling will deliver more comfort for the least amount of energy this summer.

How's the Air Inside?

Home sweet home...unless the air quality inside your home is causing sneezing, stuffiness, headaches, fatigue or dizziness. If your health problems are the result of exposure to indoor air pollution, turn to us  to help improve your air quality and increase your comfort with a complete line of indoor air quality products.

Two-Stage Makes Sense

Why consider two-stage cooling? The technology supports longer cooling cycles that help to eliminate hot spots and maintain a more even, consistent temperature throughout your home. In general, two-stage cooling delivers more comfort for the least amount of energy.

A/C Maintenance Saves Money

Did you know that 90% of all air conditioner breakdowns are the result of little or no maintenance? Or that an air conditioner loses roughly 5% of its original efficiency each year it operates without upkeep? If you haven't had a clean and check performed recently on your air conditioner system, it's probably not operating at optimum efficiency. That means the 12 SEER unit you bought just a few years ago may be functioning like a 9 SEER unit—causing your air conditioning unit to work harder to cool your home and also increasing your energy bills.

 For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Have A Happy & SAFE Thanksgiving

Turkey fryers can be dangerous and present numerous safety hazards to consumers. If a turkey fryer absolutely must be used, the Santa Barbara County Fire Department urges people to be careful and to follow these basic safety tips:

-Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors at a safe distance from buildings and any other flammable materials.

-Never use turkey fryers in a garage or on a wooden deck.

-Make sure the fryers are used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.

-Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you do not watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.

-Never let children or pets near the fryer even if it is not in use. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot hours after use.

-To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.

-Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles, long sleeve shirt, long pants and closed shoes to protect you from oil splatter.

-Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water do not mix, and water causes oil to spill over causing a fire or even an explosion hazard.

-The National Turkey Federation (NTF) recommends thawing the turkey in the refrigerator approximately 24 hours for every five pounds in weight.

-Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. If the fire is manageable, use your all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call the fire department for help.

The use of turkey fryers by consumers can lead to devastating burns, injuries, and the destruction of property if not used correctly.

Source: Santa Barbara Fire Department

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

In recent years deep-frying turkeys has become increasingly popular. The cooking method requires placing the turkey in three gallons or more of oil, heated by propane. We warn that cooking with deep-fat turkey fryers can be very dangerous as they have a high risk of tipping over, overheating, or spilling hot oil. That could lead to fires, burns, or other injuries.

Dangers of Frying a Turkey

Here are 5 dangers associated with deep frying a turkey:

1.   Units can easily tip over, spilling hot cooking oil over a large area.

2.   An overfilled cooking pot or partially frozen turkey will cause cooking oil to spill when the turkey is inserted.

3.   A small amount of cooking oil coming into contact with the burner can cause a large fire.

4.   Without thermostat controls, deep fryers have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.

5.   The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles can get dangerously hot, creating severe burn hazards.

If you decide to do it anyway, these precautions should be followed.

 

If You Fry a Turkey

Fryers should always be used outdoors, on a solid level surface a safe distance from buildings and flammable materials.

Never use a fryer on a wooden deck, under a patio cover, in a garage or enclosed space.

Do not overfill the fryer.

Never leave the fryer unattended because, without thermostat controls, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.

Never let children or pets near the fryer when in use or after use as the oil can remain hot for hours.

Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts and wear long sleeves and safety goggles to protect from splatter.

Make sure the turkey is completely thawed before it is placed in a fryer.

Keep all-purpose fire extinguishers nearby.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

PART II

Air Handler Maintenance

• Examine ducts around air handler for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might leak air.

• Replace your air handler filter once a month to reduce airflow restrictions and wasted energy.

Air Conditioner Maintenance/Heat Pump Maintenance

• Clean dust or move objects away from the grates that supply air into each room. Do the same to the large return grate, usually in a hallway, to ensure proper air flow.

• Clear leaves and debris from the systems outdoor condenser unit grille. If the interior unit is dirty, contact your contractor to perform a power wash that will not bend the fins of the grille.

• Examine ducts in attic or crawl space for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might leak air.

• Trim shrubbery to allow at least two feet of clearance from the unit.

• Set the thermostat mode to cooling (and heating for heat pumps) to make sure it is working. Contact the dealer for service if you hear any unusual noises.

• Replace your air handler filter once a month to reduce airflow restrictions and wasted energy.

• Make sure condensate line is clear to allow liquid runoff.

• Set up annual checkup of your system.

Gas Furnace Maintenance

• Confirm that the furnace runs completely through a normal cycle from start-up to shut-down. Look at the thermostat reading to confirm that the system shuts off when reaching the high temperature setpoint. (If otherwise, you have a short cycling problem requiring a service call.)

• Clean dust or move objects away from the grates that supply air into each room and the large return grate, usually in a hallway, to ensure proper air flow.

• Make sure obstacles are cleared away from the furnace and the safety switch on the furnace door.

• Check the vent connections for the exhaust pipe and chimney for rust or gaps.

• Make sure your CO2 monitor is operating properly and that it has fresh batteries.

• Replace furnace filters annually.

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

PART I

Maintenance Tips

Enjoy the full potential of your York product and extend its useful life with these helpful maintenance tips.

Although mechanical heating and cooling equipment is complex, there are some basic preventive maintenance procedures that you can perform to keep your system running at its best. (If your air conditioner or heat pump is more than 10 years old or your furnace is more than 12 years, call your York Dealer to see how much you can reduce your utility bills with more energy efficient equipment.)

Indoor Air Quality Equipment Maintenance

• Follow manufacturers instructions for changing (or cleaning) air filters in air handlers/furnaces and other home comfort equipment. Some air cleaners require only an annual filter change, while others need more frequent replacement.

• Maintaining proper humidity levels can greatly reduce airborne allergens. Make sure pans and coils of humidification/dehumidification unit are clean and free of debris.

• Regularly clean your return grills to prevent dust and debris from accumulating in ducts and clogging filters.

• Examine ducts around air handler for holes, loose tape or separated sections that might allow air infiltration.

• Make sure air system is balanced to avoid negative air pressure from pulling pollens and allergens into home. Consider using a dedicated ventilation system to introduce filtered outside air to create positive pressure with clean air.

Learn more about our heating & air conditioning preventative maintenance plan.
 
For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com

Before each cooling season, it is recommended that central air conditioners get a professional tune-up. This is the biggest step to preventing major malfunctions in an AC unit.

Probably the most important step that can be done by a homeowner is to clean or replace the air filter every month. Electrostatic filters are the best. Do not run the unit with the filter removed. Check the owners manual for filter cleaning procedure. Let a washed filter dry completely before reinstalling it.

Every month, especially during the summer months, remove any leaves or debris from outdoor condenser units.

Help keep the outdoor condenser fan running efficiently by cleaning the fan blades and the coils before each cooling season. (Always turn off the power before attempting anything other than superficial cleaning). Remove the fan grill and the fan blades. Gently brush off debris from the blades. Then uncover the condenser coils and gently brush the dirty side. Then hose water from inside the unit, using plastic bags to protect the motor and other components. Also check the base pan (under the unit) and remove any debris that has accumulated there as well.

If the condenser fan makes a clicking or grating noise it may indicate that the blades may be striking an obstruction. If a blade becomes bent, do not try to straighten the blade. A straightened blade may become unbalanced and can loosen the fan motor or hit the condenser coil. Replace a bent blade with a new blade. After replacing a blade, make sure the fan blades rotate freely and do not wobble. If fan often becomes loose, apply a drop of thread-locking compound.

Keep vegetation at least 2 feet away from outdoor units on each side and above. Aim grass clippings away from the unit when mowing the lawn. During the fall, keep the fan grill free of leaves.

Lubricate the condenser fan motor once a year if it has oil ports. (They are usually plugged with rubber or metal caps). Use non-detergent lightweight SAE 20 oil and add no more than 10 drops per port.

If possible, shade the outdoor compressor unit. Air in shaded space is typically 5 to 6 degrees cooler than the surrounding air. Proper shading can be up to 10 percent more efficient over a cooling season.

During the winter months, protect the condenser unit with a form-fitting cover. To avoid damaging the compressor, do not operate the unit when it is below 60 degrees F outside.

A dirty indoor evaporator coil will hinder the unit's ability to cool the air moving through the unit. To clean the evaporator coil, remove the front panel of the air handler/ furnace to expose the coil. Ensure that the coil is dry. Use the soft brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner to gently remove any dust or debris from the coil. Check and make sure that coil fins are straight. If not, straighten them with a fin comb available from refrigeration supply dealers.

Warm indoor air contacting the evaporator coils will condense causing moisture to collect and drip. In most units, a plastic pipe carries the water outdoors or to a floor drain. Algae and bacteria growth can clog the pipe. When this happens, backed-up water can puddle, causing rust or other damage. To clean the evaporator drain, remove the plastic tape holding the trap to the pipe elbow. (It may be necessary to saw through the pipe at the elbow). Flush the trap with water from a hose, and then disinfect using 1 tbsp of chlorine bleach. Reattach the trap to the pipe with new tape.

Raise the temperature settings. Each degree of temperature can represent up to 9 percent savings in cooling costs.

 

For more information visit www.evenflowmechanical.com