June 17, 2013
Ants and other bugs can cause your outdoor unit to stop working: Bugs love your outdoor unit, especially during the summer. They can cause it to break down by getting in the contactor, which is a switch that brings your unit on, and causing it to short. Remove plants, leaves, even pine needles from around the unit and use bug spray frequently or use a barrier insecticide.
- week of June 10, 2013 - Can I Put A Fence Around an Outdoor Unit? Yes, but if you decide to put a fence around the unit either to hide it or keep pets and children away from it, the fence should be placed at least two feet from the unit. A wide gate should be incorporated into the design to allow service personnel access. The fence should be designed to allow airflow through it. A solid fence could impede the flow of air to the A/C unit causing it to run more and be much less efficient.
- week of June 3, 2013 - Outdoor Units and Your Dog - your outdoor unit should not be accessible to your dog. Not only could they chew wires and drains causing expensive repairs, but dog urine has a very acidic content that eats away at aluminum, which is what your coil and fins are made of. Should a dog urinate on the unit, the fins and coil will start to deteriorate within a short length of time. If the unit is running at the time the dog urinates the urine will be sucked into the inside and swirled around causing faster deterioration. The eventual outcome is the replacement of the coil and fins or the entire unit.
- week of May 27, 2013 - Is your home properly insulated? Make sure your home has the appropriate amount of insulation in walls, attics and crawl spaces. Insulation is just as important in the summer as it is during the winter since it helps keep warm air outside.
- week of May 20, 2013 - Click the link below for information on A/C maintenance including quotes from Rob McClintock, President of McClintock Heating & Cooling. http://rismedia.com/2013-05-09/living-smart-air-conditioning-care/
- week of may 13, 2013 - Is your home properly insulated? Make sure your home has the appropriate amount of insulation in walls, attics and crawl spaces. Insulation is just as important in the summer as it is during the winter since it helps keep warm air outside.
- week of May 6, 2013 - Have you checked your air filter lately? Make sure to check your filter every month. If the filter looks dirty, change it. At a minimum, change the filter every 2 months. A dirty filter will slow down air flow and make the system work harder to keep you cool — wasting energy. A clean filter will also prevent dust and dirt from building up in the system — leading to expensive maintenance and/or early system failure.
- week of April 29, 2013 - Have your cooling system checked, cleaned and serviced every year. Just as a tune-up for your car can improve your gas mileage, a yearly tune-up of your cooling system can improve efficiency and comfort. Here are a few the items that McClintock Heating and Cooling checks, cleans and services when performing your air conditioning maintenance:
- Outdoor coil will be inspected for heat transfer loss and will be power washed
- Indoor coils will be inspected
- Fans will be inspected & cleaned
- Refrigerant checked for proper charge to assure no leaks
- Exposed ductwork will be checked for leaks
- Thermostats will be checked and calibrated as required
- Motors and bearings will be lubricated as required
- Controls and safeties will be tested
- Drain will be checked
- Relays and contactors will be inspected
- Unit wiring and electrical disconnect will be inspected
- Air filters will be inspected and replace if requested
- Advise of any abnormal conditions and make recommendations if necessary
- week of April 22, 2013 - I have a heat pump, does my system still need to be checked and serviced for cooling season? Absolutely! A heat pump system both cools and heats your home and it’s been running most of the winter 8 to 16 hours a day. A thorough check and servicing now will not only keep your heat pump system performing at peak efficiency; it can catch small issues before they become problems.
- week of April 15, 2013 - I just had my system checked last fall, why should I have it checked again this spring? Your a/c unit has been sitting idle since the start of heating season and the outdoor unit, especially the coil, needs to be cleaned of the dirt and debris that has built up during this especially cold and wet winter. A cleaning, tune up and check now, will help your system run more efficiently this summer, saving you money on your power bill as well as taking care of any potential problems that might cause breakdowns.
- week of April 8, 2013 - Don't just have your system "checked", have your system "checked, cleaned and serviced". Our seasonal tune up not only checks your entire system including all exposed ducts to make sure it's operating properly, we clean the coils and fans, plus service the system by tightening electrical connections, lubricating all moving parts, and adjusting thermostat calibration.
- week of April 1, 2013 - April is the beginning of the season for spring thunder and lightning storms, don't forget to protect your heating & air conditioning system with a system surge protector. You put surge protectors on your TVs, computers, appliances and small electronics... but don't protect one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in your home...Your Heating and Cooling System - find out more at: http://www.mcclintockhvac.com/Current-Promotions/residential-surge-protector.aspx
- week of March 25, 2013 - Great article from Angie’s List on choosing an air filter! - http://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-choose-hvac-air-filter.htm And remember to change your filter at least once a month!
- week of March 18, 2013 - Can an air cleaning system help allergy sufferers? Recent studies show that the Trane CleanEffects, a whole-house air cleaner, removes more than 99 percent of dust, pollen, dander and other irritants from the filtered air in your home. This means that a Trane CleanEffects can be a powerful solution for helping battle allergies at home, where you and your family may be exposed to irritants that circulate in the air you breathe indoors.
- week of March 11, 2013 - What problems can be caused by a too large or small system? An oversized system will cost more to install and because it will have a shorter run time, your home will experience improper humidity control and large temperature swings. However an undersized system will be constantly running so you will have higher energy costs, reduced comfort in your home and the system will have a shorter life.
- week of March 4, 2013 - Can ice and snow damage my outdoor unit? While you should always try to keep snow, ice, and leaves away from your outdoor unit, it is especially important if you have a heat pump. Anything on the top or sides of a heat pump can restrict air flow and possibly damage the unit. Look at the outdoor heat pump after bad weather for signs of ice or snow. If the heat pump is covered in ice or snow it should be removed for it to work properly. Turn the thermostat to Emergency heat or off and carefully attempt to remove the snow and ice. You can pour cold or warm water over the unit to melt the snow and ice. Do not use any sharp objects to pick or knock the ice off of the heat pump. This could cause severe damage to the unit. Once the unit is clear of snow and ice turn the thermostat back to normal heating, if the unit ices up again, call for service.
- week of February 25, 2013 - Why is a load calculation important? A proper load calculation is the key to customizing your comfort solution. Experts agree - there is no other way to ensure your family’s comfort, health, and safety. ENERGY STAR says - A good contractor WILL NOT size your equipment solely on square footage or assume your existing equipment was sized properly.
- week of February 18, 2013 - Why have outdoor units gotten so big, my new one is twice as tall as the one it replaced. Units are larger to be more efficient and cost less to run. A bigger unit houses a bigger coil with more surface area so it will cool more efficiently and need a smaller horsepower fan which draws less wattage. A lower head pressure means a lower compression ratio, so the compressor draws less wattage and doesn't work as hard. Less wattage used equals cost savings!
- week of February 11, 2013 - Why can’t I just get a quote for a new system over the phone? There are many variables in system replacement; including the age of your current system, the size and the energy efficiency of your home, your current duct system and your lifestyle. The best recommendations for your home’s system replacement will come after a comfort consultant visits your home and is able to provide you with a custom design.
- week of February 4, 2013 - What is “Zoning” and can it help me be more comfortable?
- Zoning is where “dampers” are used to direct heating and cooling from a single HVAC system to more than one area, as needed.
- Multiple HVAC units, each serving a different area or floor are not zoned; they are completely independent systems.
- Zoning your HVAC system can help save energy as well as make your home more comfortable. If you want to sleep in a cool bedroom at night, why should you have to cool the rest of your house, too? Bedrooms and living areas can be maintained at independent temperatures any time of day or night.
- Discuss the possibility of “Zoning” your air conditioning system with your Heating and cooling professional.
- week of January 28, 2013 - Select energy-efficient products when you buy new heating and cooling equipment. If you are considering purchasing a new heating and air conditioning system, an energy-efficient model could save you up to 50% on your utility bill for cooling. Your heating and air conditioning company should be able to give you energy fact sheets for different types, models, and designs to help you compare energy usage. For furnaces, look for high Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. The national minimum is 78% AFUE, but there are http://www.energystar.gov/" href="http://www.energystar.gov/">ENERGY STAR models on the market that exceed 90% AFUE. For air conditioners, look for a high Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER). The current minimum is 13 SEER for central air conditioners. ENERGY STAR models are 14 SEER or more.
- week of January 21, 2013 - Seal and insulate your home to save money on you energy bills!
- Apply silicone caulk to small cracks and polyurethane expandable spray foam to larger cracks.
- Install weather stripping to windows and doors.
- Check or have the insulation levels in your attic, walls and crawlspace checked. If necessary add more insulation.
- Many home improvement stores offer how-to clinics on this subject.
- week of January 14, 2013 - Have you changed your filter this month? A clean filter will prevent dust and dirt from building up on the system, which will not only help your system run better; it can prevent expensive repairs and early system failure.
- week of Januray 7, 2013 - The 2013 Energy Tax Credit Extension. As part of the recently passed tax bill, the 25C tax extension for residential high efficiency property improvements has been extended for another year. Homeowners may be eligible for a tax credit of up to $500.00* if they purchase certain types of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, or make other energy-related improvements to their homes between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013. *To fully understand how the tax credit may apply to you and what you can do to obtain one, you should consult with a tax professional for advice on tax preparation, as this tax credit is subject to IRS regulations.
