Category: Blog

How High Winds Affect HVAC Systems

Recently there have been surges of strong winds in the Olympia area, and these gusts can have unseen effects on your HVAC system and the quality of the air in your home.

Physical Damage

High speed winds can cause physical damage to your HVAC system. The wind itself can sometimes loosen parts of the system, but more dangerously objects and debris picked up by the wind can be thrown into your HVAC unit and cause more severe damage. While placement of the outdoor unit, quality of the system, and other factors can minimize this damage risk, it is still recommended that you examine your HVAC system for signs of damage or lodged debris after a period of heavy winds. If you notice anything abnormal, or if the system starts performing inconsistently, noisily, or not at all, contact the experts at Air Handlers for a service appointment.

Air Quality

When we have high winds, dirt, leaves, and other particulates can gather inside your HVAC unit or be blow inside your home. When your unit turns on, this accumulated dirt can be blown throughout your house, significantly impacting the air quality of your home. While maintaining a proper filter replacement schedule can help with some of this, heavy accumulations typically require more in-depth cleanings to remove.

Dust and Allergies

When winds blow dust and dirt inside our homes, that dust can be picked up and moved around by the HVAC system, causing the decrease in air quality already mentioned, but also causing a buildup of dust on your furniture and the rest of your home. This dust can wreak havoc on allergies, causing allergy symptoms to flare up and sometimes negatively affect your health. The best way to combat this in the short term is to regularly dust and vacuum your home, though in the long run this accumulation may build up within your vents and be harder to remove. Contact Air Handlers if you feel you may need your vents inspected and cleaned!

New Season, New HVAC?

When was the last time your heating/cooling system was upgraded? As we enter the warmer seasons, having an efficient and powerful HVAC system can significantly improve the comfort level of your home or office building. Whether you’re looking to have an HVAC system installed for the first time or wanting to schedule maintenance or an update to your existing one, the professionals at Air Handlers have you covered!

Benefits of an HVAC System

Having an efficient HVAC system for your home or building provides many perks, the first of which being able to control the temperature inside. Controlled temperatures help keep an area comfortable and fresh, as a suitable unit also helps filter the air and reduce allergens, dust, and other particulates floating around in the area.

Maintaining an HVAC System

Maintaining your HVAC system is easy with the help of the pros at Air Handlers. Whether it’s anything from connecting a thermostat to performing large scale maintenance or upgrades, we’ve got you covered! If you ever need to have your system serviced or checked for issues, simply contact us and we’ll send out a member of our team to take care of your system.

Easy Seasonal Care

Modern HVAC systems require very little when it comes to seasonal care as a homeowner. Historically, many heating and cooling systems would need winterized, covered, or otherwise protected/modified for the colder seasons, but with modern HVAC technology, many newer systems need little to no seasonal prep or changes.

Whether you already have an HVAC system that’s due for an upgrade or you’re looking to have a brand new unit installed, the experts at Air Handlers are up to the task. Give us a call to schedule your upgrade or maintenance, or to get more information on how we can take your home’s temperature control to the next level with a new system.

Spring is (Almost) in the Air!

As February nears its end and March is coming in quick, you may be wondering what is on the horizon for your HVAC system! There are a few things to consider when it comes to the transition of Winter and Spring, and depending on your heating/cooling system, there may be some updates or maintenance to be performed.

Remove Your Outdoor Cover

While not everyone uses a cover, and not all units need one, you should double check that your unit doesn’t have a cover on it before trying to fire it up in the Spring. Check the outside portion of your HVAC system and remove its cover if you put one on before Winter.

Replace Your Air Filters

If you haven’t done so recently, you should probably replace the air filters in your heating/cooling system. This should be done regularly, so including it as part of your de-winterizing is an easy way to make sure it gets checked off the list.

Clean Your Air Vents

It’s also a good idea to periodically clean the air vents inside your home, ensuring they don’t have a buildup of dust, debris, and other contaminants. Firing your HVAC system up for the first time in a while can kick up settled dust and allergens, and cleaning your air vents can help minimize this burst of sneeze-inducing particulates.

Clean the Area Around Your Outside Unit

Sometimes things can accumulate around the exterior portion of your HVAC system during the winter, such as branches, leaves, etc. It’s a good idea to clean the area around your system to ensure there is nothing leaning against it, blocking airflow, or otherwise touching/affecting it.

Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up and Inspection

Last but not least, you should contact your HVAC technicians to schedule a routine inspection and maintenance appointment. These experts will check your system for complications or potential upgrades and ensure you’re good to go for the hot Summer months that come soon after Spring. Air Handlers has many talented HVAC experts who would be happy to help prepare you for the new year, so give us a call and schedule your appointment today!

New Year’s Resolutions for your HVAC

As we enter the new year, people across the world are committing to new resolutions in an effort to make changes and improve their situations. People aren’t the only ones who could use some New Year’s spirit, as HVAC systems around the country could benefit from some resolutions and changes to their maintenance. Here are just a few New Year’s resolutions you can plan for your HVAC system that will help improve the health and efficiency of your home!

  • Change your air filters regularly. This resolution is simple yet incredibly important, as clean filters are essential to the proper operation of your HVAC system. Air filters help keep dust, dirt, allergens, and other particles out of your air system, which keeps you breathing easy and your system running longer. Some systems have different recommendations for filter changing schedules, but in general you should replace your air filters every 1-3 months depending on system usage.
  • Schedule routine maintenance checks. It never hurts to be prepared, and having a maintenance schedule planned out ahead of time ensures your system stays up and running with as few surprises as possible. When you schedule maintenance and checkups ahead of time, you not only eliminate having to book something last minute, you also avoid a large majority of crises that could have been caught before they became an issue. Contact Air Handlers to build a maintenance and checkup plan so we can take care of your system for you!
  • Upgrade your thermostat. If you are still running a manual thermostat, consider upgrading to a programmable one this year. Not only will this help lower your utility bill, but it’ll also keep your system running longer. Most manual thermostats keep the heating and cooling systems running far longer than needed, and they can easily be forgotten about or left on unnecessarily. A programmable thermostat allows you to automate the temperature control of your home, particularly by setting a temperature schedule so your heating/cooling system isn’t running at full blast all night long.
  • Clean your air ducts. It’s not uncommon for air ducts to become dirty, or even damaged, over the course of a year. When dust and dirt settles in your air ducts, that same debris is blown throughout your home every time you turn your system on. Most of this material completely bypasses the filters because it’s settled after the heating and cooling system, not before, and thus allergens and air pollutants can negatively affect the air quality in your home. You don’t have to clean your ducts every year, once every 3-5 years is usually sufficient. Just keep in mind that dirty ducts mean dirty air, so it’s best to be cautious and keep them clean.

At Air Handlers, we’re committed to keeping your air clean and comfortable. Contact us with any of your HVAC needs, and we wish you a fantastic new year!

Keep Your Furnace Hot During the Winter

The Winter Solstice is this Thursday, the 21st of December, and that means it’s going to be getting even colder outside, and for longer. While our homes protect us from the elements, freezing temperatures are one of the few things that can still make it inside and make us cold and uncomfortable. Your furnace is your biggest defense against this, so keeping it running warm and efficiently is essential to staying warm and cozy during these cold months. There are several things that can affect your furnace’s performance, and while some require repair experts to fix, some can be done by you right at home.

Thermostat Errors

The thermostat is one of the first places you should check if your furnace isn’t keeping your house warm. Sometimes the thermostat is simply not set correctly, and sometimes it is malfunctioning entirely. First, make sure your thermostat is set to keep your home to a comfortable temperature, and that the “heat” or similar setting is enabled. If your thermostat isn’t responding, the wiring may be faulty or the batteries could be dead, depending on the unit. Check your batteries regularly and replace them if they aren’t working properly. If the wiring is faulty, you may need to consult a repair expert to get it fixed, but sometimes it can just come down to a loose wire. If the wiring/batteries are good, then the thermostat itself may need to be reset or replaced.

Faulty Filters

Filters are one of the most forgotten yet essential components of your heating system. Filters will get dirty over time, no matter how clean the home is. The dirtier a filter gets, the less efficient your heating system will be. As a filter gets clogged with dust and other particulates, it prevents proper airflow to the furnace, which minimizes its heating potential. The easiest way to fix this issue it to replace your filters regularly. Each furnace will have different recommendations for filter replacement times, typically between one and three months, but the best way to go is to check your filters once a month and replace them if they’re dirty.

Mechanical Issues

If the thermostat or filters aren’t the problem, your furnace may have a more serious issue. There are a few other simple things to check, such as making sure the furnace’s breaker hasn’t flipped or that your heater vents aren’t blocked, but more serious issues should be worked out with a repair professional. Electrical, gas, ventilation, and others could be severely inhibiting your heating system, and could be dangerous to attempt to fix on your own. The safest and most effective plan is to contact an expert team, such as Air Handlers, to evaluate and fix your heater so you and your family can remain warm.

Winter-Proofing Your Home

With temperatures dropping as we near winter, it’s a good idea to prepare your home for the cold! Follow this checklist to make sure your home is prepared to stay warm and get through the cold weather.

Check Your Furnace: You do not want an under-performing furnace this time of year. Have an expert come out and check that your furnace is in good condition and ready to run!

Reverse Your Fan: Many people don’t realize that fans are meant to be used year-round! While fans normally push air down, cooling the room, most fans have a switch that reverses the direction they spin. Reversing your fan causes it to pull air up instead of pushing it down, which pulls the cold air up and allows warmer air to circulate through the room.

Reduce Drafts: Even just a little bit of airflow from a door or window can affect your home’s temperature. While your windows and doors are sealed properly is important, sometimes drafts can come in from the edges of windows or bottoms of doors. Rolling a towel up and placing it at the base of your door or windows can help prevent drafts and keep your home warm!

Update Your Doors and Windows: Some doors and windows are better at maintaining temperatures than others. For example, single-pane windows let allow much more temperature transfer than double-pane windows. If your home has outdated doors and windows, replaced them can significantly help your temperature control.

Close Your Interior Doors: If your home uses local heating systems for each room, such as baseboard or radiator heaters, keeping the interior doors closed will significantly help each room stay warm. Most of these units are meant to heat a small area, not an entire home, so closing your doors allows each heater to maintain a much smaller area.

Autumn Rain and Your HVAC

We’re experiencing more and more rainfall as we move further into autumn, and we can only expect more once we get into winter. Throughout the many heating and cooling systems available there are various ways of weatherproofing your unit, though not all of them apply to every system. In fact, your HVAC system is built to withstand some significant weather conditions, including heavy rainfall. So here are some things you should and should not do to keep your HVAC protected during heavy rain.

DON’T cover your HVAC with a tarp, rain fly, or other weatherproof covering.

If you’re planning on running your HVAC, covering it isn’t a good idea, and most of the time isn’t necessary. The vast majority of HVAC systems are built to handle significant downpour and other weather conditions, and covering them can cause problems if you run them. In general, your HVAC system will be completely fine in heavy wind and rain unless it becomes submerged. If water pools up around your HVAC system then the wiring and electrical systems could become damaged, though normal downfall will not affect them.

DO divert water around your HVAC system.

If you do have substantial rainfall and it does begin to pool around your HVAC, you can take measures to divert the water away in order to prevent your system from becoming partially submerged. Whether this is repositioning your gutter’s downspout, digging a small trench to divert the flow, or building up a protective barrier, these steps could help keep a pool from forming around yours system.

DON’T place objects or covers on top of or near the HVAC system.

Another potential solution some people may consider for weather proofing your HVAC is to set up a nearby barrier or cover, without fully covering the system. This isn’t advised either, as HVAC systems perform best with consistent and uninterrupted airflow. If you are trying to protect your system with a barrier against potential debris from the wind, for example, make sure it is at least two feet away to prevent airflow issues.

DO monitor your system for debris.

While wind itself doesn’t pose much of a threat to your HVAC system, dirt, leaves, and other debris can be blown into and on it which could cause issues. After a severe storm, check on your AC unit and look for potential damages. If there is damage to the exterior, there could be damage on the interior, and that should be resolved prior to running your system.

Overall, outdoor heating and cooling systems are quite weather resistant and shouldn’t need much interference to stay operational. However, it is always best to regularly check your system for obstructions or damages and schedule any needed repairs as soon as possible so you can get back to running your system!

Prepare for the Fall Season

Fall is just around the corner, and with it comes plummeting temperatures and other environmental changes. Staying warm during this time can be quite costly, but there are several tips that we can use to help keep our energy bills low and the cold outside.

More Ways to Stay Warm

There are more ways to keep warm than just running your heater. If your home has one, a fireplace or wood-burning stove can be a great way to keep the cold at bay without boosting your energy bill. If your home doesn’t have a fireplace or stove, you may have the option of having one installed. Installing a wood stove or fireplace may be expensive in the short term, but in the long term, it will save you significantly on your energy bills. Of course, we recommend that you always remain safe and alert when operating a fireplace, and if you are looking to have one installed, have a professional do it to minimize risk.

Keep Out the Breeze

Even the faintest of breezes can drastically affect the temperature of your home. A cold breeze can drop the temperature of a place by up to 30%, even if it just seems to be faint. Keep your windows and doors closed, use sealant to fill cracks or gaps, and cover up any other areas where air may be getting in or out.

Open Those Curtains

It may seem counter-intuitive to remove the insulating layer from your windows, but curtains block more than just light from the sun. Curtains that block sunlight also block its heat, and since the sun is a constant and effective heat source, keeping those curtains shut is preventing you from taking advantage of that free heat. Keep your curtains open when the sun is out and shining, and you’ll feel your house warm up as a result.

Cook a Hot Meal

While eating warm meals certainly helps keep the cold at bay, that part is actually secondary to this tip. By cooking nice, warm meals, you are using your stove and/or oven, which can help keep your house warm. It may not seem like much, but even just baking some cookies in the oven will have it running for long enough to help warm up your home, or at least the kitchen.

Saving Money on Energy Expenses

In the extreme heat and cold, keeping your home temperature controlled can become expensive. While maintaining a comfortable atmosphere may be essential depending on where you live and the current weather, there are other ways you can save money on your energy expenses to compensate for the climate control costs.

Before getting into the miscellaneous tips, the best thing you can do to cut down on climate control expenses is to upgrade your system to a high-efficiency one. While this has an expense itself, it can save you a substantial amount of money down the road. However, these next tips require little to no investment and can still help you save on your monthly bills.

• Adjust your thermostat farther from the extremes.

Your heating and cooling system can keep your home at a comfortable temperature without having to be set to extreme settings. If you are comfortable adjusting your thermostat a few degrees away from the extreme, that can help you save some money.

• Keep your windows and doors closed.

When your windows and doors are open, the climate-controlled air escapes outside and your heating and cooling systems need to work harder to maintain your ideal temperature. Keeping your windows and doors closed helps keep your home temperature controlled and reduces the wear and runtime of your system.

• Turn off your lights when you leave a room

One or two lights may not seem like a big power cost, but actively leaving multiple lights on adds to your monthly bill. Even if it only saves you a few bucks a month, that still adds up over time. You can also swap your light bulbs out for newer, more efficient ones, as that will also impact your costs.

• Set your thermostat to “Auto” and not “On”

When your thermostat is set to “On”, it is constantly running and increasing your utility costs. When you set it to “Auto”, it only turns on when the temperature of your home starts to get away from your thermostat setting.

• Change your furnace filter

When your furnace filter gets dirty, the efficiency of your furnace suffers. Changing your furnace filter regularly will keep the heat flowing properly. This doesn’t need done frequently, as depending on your furnace and filter size you only need to change the filter every 6-12 months.