Common HVAC Misconceptions and Myths

Given that most residents in the United States have a heating and cooling system in their house, it isn’t a surprise that a lot of misconceptions and myths have sprung up around these systems and how they operate. Unluckily, these misconceptions lead to homeowners experiencing installation problems, encountering system issues, and wasting energy.

Today, as a quality HVAC Daly City professional, we are going to talk about the most common HVAC misconception and Myths.

It’s a Lot Better to Have a Big System

Purchasing a furnace or an air conditioner is not the same as purchasing your home. It is like purchasing your clothes. Of course, when buying clothes, you always go for the ones that have the right fit, right? This can be applied to HVAC systems as well. The truth is that an HVAC system that’s extremely big for your house is probably going to experience a lot of efficiency and performance issues. The same can be applied for a system that’s extremely small for your house.

Setting the Thermostat to 50 will Make Your House Cool Quicker

All heat pumps, furnaces, and air conditioners have a maximum speed with which it can regulate your home’s temperature in any direction. Turning the dial all the way in a particular direction does not make any difference in how fast your house will heat up or cool down.

If you’ve got a smart thermostat, you can see the estimated time until your room reaches the wanted temperature. You will see that even minor adjustments require 10 up to 15 minutes on average.

Turn Off Your System Whenever You Are Away

This might make sense at first. However, it is really less energy efficient if you turn off your AC whenever you are away on a hot day. Nowadays, modern AC systems are quite efficient at keeping temperatures. However, they use a lot of energy whenever they have to greatly change the temperature of your whole house.

You Need to Close Vents to Save Energy

This isn’t the case. You are basically blocking the warm and cold air from getting to your room if you close registers and vents. But, your HVAC unit still has to work to heat or cool that space. It will still utilize the same energy as before. It might even use more.

There are also other impacts if you close the vents. First, your unit requires the right air intake to operate. It can lead to problems like frozen coils if you block off air intake channels. Next, you can negatively impact the comfort of your house.

It’s Optional to Tune-Up Your System

This is not the case as well. Yearly maintenance is vital. It helps keep your heating and cooling systems running efficiently and effectively. It can also help improve the lifespan of your unit. You are basically putting your heat pump, furnace, and air conditioner at risk if you don’t schedule yearly tune-ups.

A lot of professionals suggest homeowners schedule a tune-up during the fall season. This will help make sure that your unit is ready for winter.

Signs You Need to Clean Your Air Duct

There is nothing quite as satisfying as a clean house, so make sure that your windows and floor are clean, the walls spotless, and the air is purified – thanks to your HVAC. But what if we tell you that the areas you do not see every day, especially your air ducts are the most favorite spots of dirt, dust and other allergens? This is you need  air duct cleaning Birmingham, AL to make sure that your air duct is as clean as you want it to be.  

 

 

Cleaning your air duct is one of the house maintenances that you need to do. However, make sure that you ask for help from the professionals who know the process and knowledge about HVAC. Ideally, look for a certification of NADCA or National Air Duct Cleaners Association. But, how would you know that it is now time to call a service? What are the signs that your air duct needs cleaning? 

 

 

1. Your air duct has not been cleaned for several months

Summer has already begun, and this means a lot of dust, pollen, debris, and other contaminants. Your air dust is the one that keeps your house and your lungs free from these air contaminants. During hot times, you should not let your air duct uncleaned for more than two months. These debris, dust, and other pollutants accumulate in your air filter or in the air conditioner that negatively affects your appliances.  

 

2. You notice some dust on the vent covers and registers

Even if you perform cleaning once a week, dirty ducts would always find ways to reveal themselves to you, which will make you wonder if you have ever done cleaning at all. 

 

Pro tip: when you do weekly maintenance but still end up seeing dirt, it is advised that you choose the best quality air filter or air purifier.  

 

3. You notice some molds growing around or inside your HVAC system

Dirt, dust, and small debris accumulation is a normal case. You just need to clean and remove them. However, when molds are present, it is a different story. The molds can induce some respiratory problems and allergies. So when you notice them, it is now time to do some action. 

 

4. The system produces noise

The ductwork should not create any noise. If the noises are more than the motor’s blower, this is a telltale sign that you need to fix and clean your air duct 

 

5. The airflow is not consistent

When you notice that rooms in your house do not get the same level of airflow, you probably have some problems in your air duct that needs attention. All vents are expected to provide consistent airflow to any rooms in the house. 

 

 

Conclusion 

There are a lot of telltale signs of a dirty air duct. What we have provided above are the most obvious among the other signs. When you decide to clean your system, make sure that you let the professional do the work.

How to Remove Ice and Snow on Your Lawn Yourself?

During or after a harsh and long winter season, it is just right to look for ways to tackle ice and snow without overdoing it. If that’s what you’re searching for in this article, keep on reading as our professional lawn contractors Merced provide you some helpful tips on how to do DIY ice and snow removal. 

Plan in advance 

If your driveway is concealed with snow and you need to go somewhere, before you grab the shovel, get a coat, and run outdoors, you should think twice and stop for a moment. Keep in mind that removing snow is not a simple thing to do. Hence, a little planning and preparation will go a long way to keep you safe. It would be a great idea to be updated about the local forecast. For instance, once you’re aware that it will snow tomorrow, take advantage of this weather by spreading salt all over your driveway and sidewalk now. 

After the falling of snow, you should get ready by dressing warmly, particularly on your feet, hands, and heat. You should wear layers in case you begin to overheat or sweat as you shovel. Take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. Once you don’t own a snowblower, you can opt to buy a quality ergonomic shovel. Also, keep in mind to lift your legs and not your back. When you run into ice, a sprinkle of kitty litter and sawdust can help enhance traction. Also, if you begin to feel tired, it would be best to halt what you’re doing. You need to work smart, not hard in these situations. 

Eliminating ice dams 

The roof’s melting snow could freeze at the edges, which could cause possibly hazardous and damaging ice dams. Once you’re up to this challenge, here are the things you need to do: 

For a gently sloping or flat roof, it would be safe to utilize a shovel. If not, choose a roof rake from your local hardware shop and remove the last few feet of snow carefully from the edge of your roof.  

With calcium chloride deicer, fill your nylon pantyhose. Make sure to never utilize regular sodium chloride or rock salt since this can damage your gutter and roof.  

Conceal any plants or grass below the gutter with tarps. This can keep your vegetation from becoming damaged due to the ice melt. 

Vertically place the pantyhose over the ice dam. This will aid melt a tiny passage through the ice. To reiterate, you should be careful about doing this yourself.  

Keep your roof free of accumulation and your gutters clean after the snowfalls. This can help form the ice dams.  

 Those are only some of the many tips you can learn in terms of removing ice and snow on your lawn. And obviously, ice and snow are only a portion of winters in some areas. If you wish to learn more tricks and tips on lawn care, connect with the lawn experts at Lawn Care Merced,