Glen J., AAA Heating & Air Conditioning Senior Technician
Q: We recently moved into a newly built house and noticed that our furnace turns on and off frequently. It will quickly get the house to the temperature we want it and shut off, but then turn back on again shortly afterward to start heating again. Is this something we should be concerned about? — Samuel Z., Maple Valley
A. It is possible that the furnace the builder put in the house is improperly sized. Quite surprisingly, many homes, both new and old, have furnaces that are too large or too small for the space. If the furnace is too small, it will run constantly because it is trying to keep up with the demands for heat that are put on it. However, if a furnace is too large, it heats the home quickly and then shuts off quickly. Because it is an inconsistent heat, the temperature falls soon, and the furnace is forced to come back on briefly to put out more heat. It sounds like that could possibly be the problem at your home. I would recommend scheduling a service technician to perform a full diagnostic on your furnace to determine if that truly is the cause or if there is more to the issue. I would be happy to come out and take a look at it for you. Just call our Kent Heating and Air Conditioning office at 253-630-9224 and they can set up an appointment for you.
If you have a question for Glen, our knowledgeable Senior Technician, submit it using our communication form and you might just be featured on our blog!
Because AAA Heating & Air Conditioning cares about helping our customers save money and improve the environment, we wanted to help you make sense of the ENERGY STAR® program and what it means for your heating or cooling system. This is Part 6 of a 9 part series on the subject that is published every other Thursday. If you missed our previous posts, you can find them here: AAA Heating & Air Conditioning ENERGY STAR blog posts
If you are looking to replace or install new ENERGY STAR high-efficiency heating or cooling equipment, you need to find a good company to work with. Reputable companies will:
- Perform an on-site inspection of the work you want completed and provide a detailed proposal in a timely manner
- Demonstrate to you that the company is licensed and insured to repair and install heating and cooling equipment
- Have many years of experience as a business in your community
- Provide examples of quality installation of energy-efficient heating and/or cooling equipment work, with names of customers you can contact
- Complete and submit warranty information on your behalf
- Leave all equipment manuals and provide documentation of installation procedures, such as an AHRI certificate
- Clearly explain the benefits of regular maintenance and help you set up a schedule to keep your system operating at its best
Next week in our series on ENERGY STAR: Energy Star Quality Installations
Source: www.energystar.gov
It’s about time for Spring Cleaning again this year. It can be a daunting task (and not always the most fun one either) so we wanted to give you some suggestions to help you organize your cleaning so you can finish it quickly and feel great about the results.
- Make a list of each room and what needs to be done in it. You will feel great checking things off as you go along.
- Add to your list anything that might not reside in a specific room—changing your furnace filter, sweeping your porch, changing the batteries in your smoke alarms, etc.
- Make sure you have all your cleaning supplies on hand. There is nothing worse than starting a project and then having to run to the store for something you forgot!
- Listen to upbeat music as you clean. You’ll go faster and can dance along as you’re scrubbing. Trust us, it makes it much more fun.
- Tackle one room at a time and work first on the room that will make you feel the best once it’s done. Work from top to bottom in each room to ensure maximum cleanliness.
We hoped this helped get you jump started on your spring cleaning. In a few weeks, we’ll also share some simple homemade cleaners you can make to replace the toxic ones you have in your cupboards.
Look at these crazy facts we just came across comparing the cleanliness of various forms of heat. The chart below is from burningissues.org and illustrates just how dirty heating sources such as wood boilers, wood stoves, and oil heat are.
If you take a look at the numbers of how much pollution is being produced, it is staggering. The typical gas furnace produces 0.00005 pounds of pollution an hour. Compare that to an oil furnace at 0.001 pounds an hour, a pellet stove at 0.127 and all the way up to a wood stove at 0.825! The numbers show that gas furnaces reduce pollution emissions significantly.
Chimney cleaning, or “sweeping,” can be a messy task, but it’s important because buildup of soot can lead to intense and dangerous chimney fires. Fire safety experts at the National Fire Protection Association say that you should have your chimney checked or cleaned once a year. We still have a few months of heating left, so you still have time to do it before the season is over.
Here at our AAA Heating & Air Conditioning office, the rain is coming down fast and furious, which reminds us of the possible flooding in our valley. We know the threat of flooding from the Green River Dam is close to passing, but we wanted to pass on the link to the King County website that talks about preparedness. It’s great info to have and keep in a safe place until the next flood season hits us. Check it out at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/safety/FloodPlan.aspx
Because AAA Heating & Air Conditioning cares about helping our customers save money and improve the environment, we wanted to help you make sense of the ENERGY STAR® program and what it means for your heating or cooling system. This is Part 5 of a 9 part series on the subject that is published every other Thursday. If you missed our previous posts, you can find them here: AAA Heating & Air Conditioning ENERGY STAR blog posts
If you have tried all of the other steps shown in our previous posts and you still continue to experience problems, or if your heating or cooling system is over 10 years old or not working, you might want to consider replacing your equipment with a high-efficiency unit that has earned the ENERGY STAR. Here are some facts to help you in your decision making.
Furnaces
Furnaces are the most commonly used heating system in the United States. Those that have earned the ENERGY STAR have a higher AFUE rating, which is the measure of the efficiency. Most furnaces that can qualify for the ENERGY STAR will be the condensing furnaces where the transfer of heat is so thorough that water or condensate is a byproduct of combustion. Systems that are over 90% efficient have earned this distinction.
Central Air Conditioners
Most residential central air conditioners are called split-systems because they have an outdoor component and an indoor component. It’s very important to replace both of these units at the same time to maximize efficiency and prevent premature failure of the system. ENERGY STAR qualified central air conditioners have a higher SEER rating, which is the measurement of efficiency.
Heat Pumps
Heat Pumps provide both heating and cooling in one integrated system. They use the difference between the oudoor and indoor air temperatures to cool and heat. ENERGY STAR qualified heat pumps have higher SEER ratings than conventional models. They also have a higher Heating and Seasonal Performance Factor (HSPF), which measures the heating efficiency of the heat pump.
Next week in our series on ENERGY STAR: Working With A Heating & Cooling Contractor
Source: www.energystar.gov
Glen J., AAA Heating & Air Conditioning Senior Technician
Q. We often feel cold air coming out of our vents, even when our furnace is on. What is causing this and how can we fix it? –Gina M., Burien
A. It is possible that the duct work has disconnected somewhere in your crawl space. You will want to check it to make sure that all connections are secure and that there are no holes in it. Sometimes rodents or other animals will tear up the duct work and create holes, which allow the cold air from your crawl space to get into your house. Essentially, you end up heating your crawl space instead of your home. If you feel comfortable going under your house, take a flashlight and inspect each length of ducting. Look for any holes or disconnected and sagging duct work. If you want an opinion from a professional heating & cooling company, we are always happy to come out and take a look at it for you. Just call us at 253-630-9224 to get that scheduled.
If you have a question for Glen, our knowledgeable Senior Technician, submit it using our communication form and you might just be featured on our blog!
Did you know that heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires each year? You can prevent them by following these tips from the National Fire Protection Agency:
- Portable space heaters need to have a 36-inch clearance between them and anything that can burn. They also need to be turned off every time you leave the room or go to bed.
- Only use a licensed heating contractor to install new furnaces or heat pumps in your home. They will be able to install them with the correct ventilation according to code, which will prevent fires.
- Do not use your oven to heat your home
- Have your wood & coal stoves, fireplaces, chimneys, and furnace or heat pump inspected annually by a professional, and cleaned as often as is suggested.
- If your power goes out, avoid using candles. Use flashlights instead.
- Make sure your fireplace has a sturdy screen to prevent sparks from flying into the room.
- Test your smoke alarms monthly and install a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside of each sleeping area.
