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What do dogs and cats have in common (other than they’re both four-legged and furry)? They are pets! Homeowners can be pet owners too, and it’s these kinds of people we’d like to talk about today. That’s because homeowners who are pet owners not only have to take care of their fur babies, but also their homes – and in this case, the HVAC systems. Here are some of our HVAC maintenance tips for homeowners who are pet owners as well.

1. Clean Air Filters More Often

The thing about being a pet owner is, you get a lot of dog or cat hair floating around too, not just on your favourite clothes. A lot of that dander and fluff can float into the nearest air vent and accumulate together into one big hairy clog of a mess, meaning your HVAC systems are going to work harder than they should to provide proper heating or cooling. It means your energy bills are going to spike up in cost, too.

Pet owners will have to clean the air filters in their HVAC systems a little more often in order to achieve greater airflow and decrease the likelihood of unpleasant surprises when your energy bill arrives. Typically, homeowners may clean their filters every 3 months, but in the case of pet owners since pet dander does accumulate way more often, we recommend they clean the filter every month. That way you’re extending the lifespan of the HVAC in your home.

2. Groom Your Pets

Grooming your dog or cat is not only a good way to bond, but also it helps them shed less! Going back to the air filters tip, blockages don’t just affect the performance of your HVAC’s abilities alone. The accumulation of pet dander and fur in the vents can decrease the quality of the indoor air you breathe in tremendously, and this is bad especially if you or your family have allergies to be aware of.

Dispose of the fur each time you finish brushing or combing your pet properly, and if your pet is a long-haired breed then it’s wise to vacuum when you’re done also. This will not only improve the HVAC, but also the indoor air quality it’s supposed to help with.

3. Pets Deserve Comfort Too!

Anytime you need to leave the house and your pets must stay behind, it’s best to program the thermostat so that it’s set to a comfortable level. While pets may not need the same level of heating or cooling as humans too, nonetheless they deserve to be as safe and comfortable as you.

Wondering about ideal temperatures? Here are some suggestions. For the hours you’re away, from home should be between 23 to 25 degrees Celsius (75 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer, and between 20 to 22 degrees Celsius (69 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit) in the winter. You are free to adjust these temperatures slightly depending on your pet’s age, weight, fur coat length, and health, but don’t go any lower than 15 degrees Celsius (60 degrees Fahrenheit) in winter or any higher than 26 degrees Celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit) in the summer. Leave out water and a room to keep your pets cool when it’s hot, and a warm bed and open curtains for a sunny spot when it’s cold out.  

4. Invest in an HRV or ERV System

Either one of these systems can help pet owners get fresher, cleaner air in their homes without giving up comfort. The HRV, or Heat Recovery Ventilation, is designed to take warm, stale air to heat up the fresh air; the ERV, or Energy Recovery Ventilation system, uses humidity in a home to achieve that same process.

“Why not an air purifier?” you may be wondering. The answer is simple as we look at the two kinds. An air purifier will detox the air that exists in the room. The HRV/ERV systems are called exchangers, meaning they will exhaust the stale indoor air and replace it with fresh air from outside.

Air purifiers are considered supplementary to ventilation systems. In contrast, a ventilation system itself comes built with an air filter and both removes the particles likely to harm you and your pets and freshens up the indoor air. So, in the long run, a ventilation system may work best for your family and pets in the long-term. Of course, you have your choice in systems depending on your budget, the size of your house, and various other factors, so consider all of these before you make your choice.

For more information on HRV and ERV systems, you can refer to our previous blog post, “The Differences Between HRV and ERV Systems.”

5. Keep Pets from the Outdoor Units

The last thing you want is for your pooch to use your air conditioner’s outdoor unit as their bathroom! To avoid messy situations like this, or prevent further clogging thanks to your pet’s dander and fur, fence off any outdoor units you own for your heating or cooling systems.

Make sure the fence itself doesn’t interfere with the unit’s functions to draw in the air it needs as well. We suggest a clearance distance of 2 feet all around the unit. For multiple units, a clearance of 4 feet apart is recommended.

Get Some Help from Technicians You Can Trust

We love pets of all kinds and sizes and we want them to be as safe and happy as you want to be! If you’re struggling to keep up with cleaning the air filters, or you need help installing a ventilation system to improve your home’s indoor air quality, go ahead and give us a call. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

It’s been a soggy year for Vancouver and the Lower Mainland already! The rain just keeps on coming down, and some of you may be concerned about your HVAC in this weather. The good news is that most of the outdoor heat pumps on the market are built to endure harsh weather conditions such as rain and snow. However, rain (which we’ll focus on for today) can have its downside as well. For the sake of preserving your valuable heating and cooling resources, here are three things worth knowing about your HVAC systems and the rain.

1. Built to Last

The design of outdoor heat pumps or air conditioners is what we refer to commonly as a ‘split system’. This means there are two units specifically located inside and outside each. The indoor unit is where the evaporator coil and blower is located, while the outdoor unit features the condenser and compressor. Heat is pumped from inside of your home from the indoor unit and then expelled to the outdoors. These two units can also be used for cooling purposes.

What this all means is that because an outdoor unit is typically required to perform heating and cooling, it’s been built by design to withstand harsh weather conditions such as heavy rain, snow, hail, and sleet. This is done via sealing off all electrical components within the unit by using sturdy and corrosion-proof materials such as aluminum, plastics, and copper.

That being said, just because precautions have been made doesn’t mean your unit is completely invulnerable. Rain is not the only hazard to watch out for, but rather other components. We’re referring to things such as falling tree branches, flooding downpours of rain, salty air (which is also a cause of corrosion), and any wind-driven debris such as dirt. All of these when combined with rain can prevent your outdoor unit from performing its heating and cooling tasks efficiently. This is why we always recommend regular maintenance and cleaning of your units.

2. A Rule Worth Mentioning

This tip is more for us HVAC technicians than anything, but it’s basically a rule worth mentioning to our customers: we don’t work with HVAC in the rain. (find source) Our team at Rep-Air follows this rule as well for an obvious reason: it’s just not safe. Most HVAC systems that are located outdoors are powered using electricity, and we need to inspect that kind of resource in order to diagnose and create a solution to your current HVAC problems. Rain + electricity = electrical shock that could be fatal. Other accidents that could happen involve slipping and falling due to rain puddles and concrete. In addition, severe weather such as lightning and high winds are simply not safe for anyone to work in at all.

As a general rule, we don’t work in such conditions, however if it’s an emergency then we’ll make an exception. Always check with us first, but you should never be surprised if your technician has to wait for the weather to clear up before they can work on your outdoor unit, especially if it’s located on the rooftop.

3. Don’t Cover Your Unit

You may be wondering if it’s actually okay to cover the outdoor HVAC unit up so it’s more protected from rain and other weather hazards. The truth is, this is not something we recommend you doing and in general it’s not a good idea either. Your unit was built to withstand moisture and extreme temperatures outside, for one. For another, even if it’s miserable outside, proper airflow is needed so that your unit performs its job correctly. By covering it up, you’re in turn preventing the unit from heating up or cooling down, which can do more harm than good. Moisture when it’s allowed to evaporate is not a problem. It’s when the moisture gets trapped under a cover where problems can arise, such as corrosion and other damage.

NEVER stack anything on top of your unit either, especially when it’s running. Again, the unit needs air to flow in and out of it without hindrance. If you’re absolutely concerned about things falling onto the unit and causing damage, speak to a professional technician beforehand. They may have to relocate the unit for you to an area where it can function properly.

Need Help?

If you’re stuck with a faulty HVAC system or your outdoor unit is on the fritz, no matter what kind of weather you see outside we can help. If you’ve noticed any leaks or signs of water damage to your unit, then that’s when you need to call our technicians. Even if it’s raining out, we’re always a phone call away to guide you or serve you in case of an emergency. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

Trust is a tough thing to come by these days. That can be applied to just about anybody, but for some reason HVAC takes a big hit. Unsavory actions such as installing the wrong size of air conditioner or applying constant repairs to figure out why the heat’s not working are a couple examples…maybe you’ve had poor experience before and need a new HVAC company to help you out with your systems.

Finding the best company is easier than you may think. Before you take our word for why Rep-Air is a good choice, though, let’s build up some trust first. Here are some tips on how to make sure the HVAC company you choose going forward will be reliable.

1. Read the reviews

One of the easiest first steps you can take is to examine the reviews of the HVAC company you’re considering hiring. Really take your time with this step, because each customer’s experience depends on their special circumstances. For example, a 1-star rating could be made but the details involved the cost and that’s it. However, if all their reviews are 1-2 stars and their customers are unhappy in each review, you may want to look somewhere else.

A more reliable company will have not only stellar ratings but also in-depth and detailed reviews. Some customers who may have received terrible service before may be so happy with the reliable kind they leave a review about it. These are the kinds of feedback you want to find, especially online (where most HVAC companies are hanging out these days).

2. Investigate their backgrounds

A technician should always be properly licensed, certified, and trained in the ways of installing and repairing HVAC. They should be licensed specifically within your jurisdiction and perhaps even have electrician-based backgrounds. Since many systems are electric and not just natural gas, knowing how to fix both kinds of units is a must you need to look for, and if it’s not listed on their website, ask them.

The technicians you’re looking at should also know how to fix more modern systems that use advanced tech such as smart thermostats. After all, education doesn’t stop post-graduation from school—it comes with the job as well. Ask the company you’re considering if they have any experience with this kind of equipment, otherwise you could be hiring someone who is too inexperienced and new to a job that requires a professional touch.

3. Check for contact info

This one’s a no-brainer, and yet it’s surprising to see how some companies really don’t take the time to focus on this aspect. If you can’t find an HVAC company online, then it’s as good as non-existent; it can also be revealing to their customers that because there’s no website for them, there’s no interest on the HVAC company’s part with keeping up with tech you need fixing in this present day and age. A more reliable company knows the power of online presence and frequently updates their information, whether it’s posting new protocol in 2020 on their website, updating their phone number for a new office, or posting new tips about HVAC on their Facebook page. You should be able to find the company’s contact information with no problems whatsoever, and not have to flip through a phone book or click through several pages on a website to find what you’re looking for.

4. Compare Quotes

If everything seems very equal between the final two HVAC companies you’re looking at hiring, you can try using price quotes to make your last decision.

At this point, you should have quotes that the company has actually taken the time to provide you with. That means having come to your premises (while also using the social distancing and other safety protocols set up this year) and giving you an accurate, detailed quote themselves. General quotes over the phone don’t count; that’s because things and situations can change once a technician arrives for the job.

Keeping this in mind, you can then compare the companies’ price quotes and then choose the one with the most affordable options for your HVAC needs.

Rep-Air Ticks Off All the Boxes

You can find us online, by telephone, and on social media for any questions you might have about HVAC or if you need a new team to take care of your systems, no matter how big or small. We tick off all of the boxes when it comes to your service needs, so don’t hesitate to give us a call. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

There are tons of online articles claiming you can do-it-yourself (DIY) just about anything. There’s so much information on how to do it yourself that it’s overwhelming, from your car to your computer to your plumbing. HVAC is no exception to this onslaught of content. With everyone cooped up in their homes more so this year than any, it can be empowering to fix something you wouldn’t have attempted to otherwise. For most families, they don’t have the financial backing to do anything other than DIY fixes either.

First of all, put your phone down unless you’re calling us! There are a lot of good reasons why through the entirety of our blog at Rep-Air we always, always recommend calling in the professionals. We want every single one of our customers to be safe, and it’s tough to do that when you insist on DIY HVAC repairs yourself. So here are our top three reasons you need to hire professional HVAC technicians like our team and stop browsing through DIY articles right now.

1. Small Problems Are a Sign of Something Big

Furnace won’t heat up? A/C won’t produce cool air? Usually these signs of problems that seem like a simple fix, but the reality is they’re far from it. A small problem with your HVAC system can actually mean a bigger underlying situation, and the more you try to make repairs yourself, the greater the damage can become after the fact.

Our technicians have both the education and the experience to greater identify problems that are one sign of many that your system is failing. Plus, we’re able to understand the difference between when to improve a system that’s being inefficient and when to replace the whole thing, whether it’s due to age or the number of repairs being made already.

2. Danger at Every Turn

Another reason to avoid scanning the latest DIY article about repairing or servicing HVAC yourself and to leave it to the professionals is, simply put, you and your family could be seriously hurt, or worse. Electrocution is one example, supposing your HVAC is electric, but there is also great risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or even fire. HVAC systems are machines, and to understand their inner workings requires years of education—much longer time spent learning than surfing the Internet.

If your HVAC system’s current problems are something along these dangerous lines, in no way should you attempt DIY. Pick up your phone and call us instead.

3. Cheap Fixes = Expensive Installations

The idea of saving a few dollars here and there on repairs sounds tempting, but resist it with all your might because that way only leads to danger. Not only will cheap parts fail if you attempt to use them for repairing valuable ones in the HVAC system, but also it will cost you double, if not triple, to hire a professional and undo what you did if it goes wrong. And oftentimes, the damage done by DIY’ing it is irreparable, so you’re looking at having a new one installed whether you like it or not…just because you thought it would be nice to save a few bucks and do it yourself.

The actual expense behind ‘cheap’ fixes doesn’t stop there. It can cost you more to pay for individual parts than it would to replace an entire system. Especially considering most of the systems we come across in clients’ houses and buildings are way older than 10 years. That means the parts being made for repairs have long since been discontinued in terms of manufacture, so it’ll cost another arm and a leg for you to find the one part you need and order it yourself.

These aspects of HVAC repair and installation are discounted for us professionals. We’re licensed and certified, ergo qualified to receive those parts you may need at a fraction of the cost.

We Can Help

We care about all of our customers and their well-being and safety, now and when Rep-Air was launched. If you need an HVAC system properly installed, you’re tired of paying more for heat than necessary, or you have an emergency on your hands that just can’t wait, you know who to call. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!

Which Is Better For Your Home: A Gas or Electric Furnace?

We’re already in late fall and approaching winter fast. It’s around this time of year when people are igniting their furnace or fireplace to avoid getting too cold.

Times are a little different now compared to the years before, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the question that we ask: natural gas or electric for HVAC? In particular, we’re talking about furnaces. Both types of systems create heat using a forced air heating system, but they create said heat in different ways.

Whichever furnace you decide to have installed in your Abbotsford home, it has to be the correct size. Otherwise your home won’t be heated properly or you may be forced to have maintenance performed more often.

We figured now’s a good time as any to help you learn more about your furnace. Here are the pros and cons of both natural gas and electric furnaces.

Electric Furnace Pros

Electric furnaces use exactly what you think it uses to generate heat: electricity. They are generally less expensive to install and maintain compared to a natural gas furnace. For some homeowners, an electric furnace is the best choice for them especially if they can reap from the listed benefits:

• No need to use natural gas.
• If your home doesn’t have a gas line and you can’t afford to have one installed (which also adds on to costs), this furnace is more ideal.
• Electricity is all your home needs to heat up fully (depending on your area in the Lower Mainland).
• Carbon and air pollution is vastly reduced.
• With proper maintenance, these furnaces can last for up to 30 years.

Electric Furnace Cons

• Higher electricity bills are a given. It could actually cost MORE to heat your home with electricity than with gas, though it depends on several factors.
• Electric furnaces create original heat, but they can’t transfer it to other areas.
• If you need to heat your home fast, you’ll have to wait; electric furnaces take their time to heat up.

Natural Gas Furnace Pros

This kind of furnace uses natural gas as opposed to electricity to generate heat before distributing it throughout the home. With the recent increase of going green for our homes, you may be wondering why natural gas furnaces are still an option provided to Canadian homes. The answer is because these too have their slew of benefits:

• Your home is heated up fast compared to electric furnaces.
• Natural gas furnaces are best suited for colder climates, which is a given in Canada’s Lower Mainland
• They can lower your monthly energy expenses according to Fortis BC
• Operating costs for this furnace are actually lower than electric, so while installation may be pricey, the long-term costs won’t so much
• Though electric furnaces are technically more energy efficient, high-efficiency natural gas furnaces are becoming more widely available now so you can still reduce your carbon footprint.

Related article: Benefits of Natural Gas Furnaces for Homeowners

Natural Gas Furnace Cons

Naturally not everything about the gas furnace may suit your personal needs when it comes to heating your home. As we mentioned before, the type of furnace your home needs will depend on the factors of size and more. When and if you choose a natural gas furnace, expect the following downsides that come with the aforementioned perks:

• Carbon monoxide leaks are much more likely, which means you absolutely need to have a detector installed as well
• Installation and repairs are much more complicated (hence why you always should ask a professional technician for help)
• Without proper maintenance, this furnace’s lifespan may only be about 15-20 years
• The space required for a natural gas furnace is larger than an electric one.

Hire an Abbotsford HVAC Technician Who Can Handle Both!

Whatever type of furnace you’re looking at, you know you need to hire an HVAC team who can handle them all, whether for inspection’s sake or you need something fixed, or you need a new furnace installed. For all of these reasons and then some, you can’t go wrong with Rep-Air, so let us know when you need some help. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

It’s the time of year for sweaters, hot drinks, and warming up by the fireplace. It’s also the time when we have our furnaces and heat turned on, but did you know doing that comes at a cost?

According to research, heating accounts for the most energy usage in a home in Canada by 61.6%. It’s all thanks to our cold climate in the fall and winter months. No wonder finding energy savings matters so much!

We’re happier knowing that our customers are staying safe and warm during the colder seasons, without going broke or wasting energy in the process. To help out, here are some tips on how to save energy and reduce your heating costs whenever it’s fall and winter.

1. Schedule a Furnace Inspection

According to one study, it can cost from $3000 to 55000 on average to own a furnace, including installation costs. That’s a lot of money going towards your heating source, and you don’t want that kind of money going to waste.

The last thing you want is for this system to break down when you need it the most. It’s always easiest to have professional help inspecting your furnace because you just never know if its current problems are related to a quick fix or if the system is in need of a total replacement. Also, fixing a furnace only to schedule further repairs two weeks later will only extend the problem of needing a new one installed as opposed to fixing the real problem, which is what a scheduled maintenance inspection can help you figure out.

It’s best to start this step now, as opposed to later, for a lot of reasons. Winter is one of the busiest times of the year for HVAC technicians, whereas in fall things are quieter. Fall provides us with plenty of opportunity for us to really take a look at your systems and catch problems before they even occur. It’s a win-win for your wallet at the end of the day!

2. Double-check Your Home’s Insulation

Did you know? According to Energy Star, it’s possible to save 15% of heating costs (or 11% of energy) by insulating the attic. Perhaps all those drafts sending chills down your spine could be coming directly from there, because you haven’t spent the time needed to inspect the insulation contained within?

Insulating your home will ensure that all drafts are not let in, and that not all the warmth you’re spending hard-earned money on is being let out. So, double check all doors and windows, and don’t forget about the attic this time.

3. Look into Smart Thermostats

New thermostats, such as Nest, have rolled out smarter thermostats in the past few years that can tell you how much energy you’re using up and even alert you if something is amiss. Other good thermostats to check out for smarter usage includes Ecobee, Bosch, and Honeywell to name a couple.

What makes these thermostats worth investing in is that not only can they automate when to turn the heating on and off, but also in Nest’s case, the thermostat can identify potential heating problems for you. That being said, if these thermostats aren’t installed properly in the first place, or you went and DIY’d it, that’s going to be the costliest for you going forward. If you really want to get a smart thermostat installed, ask a professional technician to get that done right for you. Rebates are available for some of these smarter thermostats as well if you’re struggling with the cost.

4. Lower Hot Water Costs

We understand that this tip sounds impossible to do, given this entire year’s circumstances and how we need to approach washing our hands, staying clean, and keeping everyone safe going forward. But it is possible to reduce your hot water usage regardless.

First, examine the thermostat of your water heater. Around this time of the year, it’s recommended to keep your water heater’s temperature at 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). That way, you can avoid growing harmful bacteria in the tank such as Legionella. This temperature will also allow you to retain your hot water for handwashing and laundry day without scalding yourself or your family. Any hotter than this recommendation and you can actually increase your expenses as opposed to lowering them.

If you’ve been following our second tip on double checking insulation, the water heater is an excellent place to start. By insulating the tank and the pipes, you’ll be keeping the heat where it belongs, and no heat will be lost while the water is en route from the tank to your taps.

Another tip? Switch from a tank water heater to a tankless one (if you can afford to). Tankless heaters are both smaller and environmentally friendlier than the tank kind, and for some homeowners can be the better financial solution. For more benefits on switching to tankless, you can check out our previous blog post, and if you’re convinced to get an installation, let our qualified technicians know.

5. Invest in some Upgrades

We’re not just talking about upgrading your furnace (although if it’s showing signs of wear and tear, such as those outlined in our previous article, or it’s getting old and keeps falling apart, then yes now’s a good time to upgrade!). We’re talking about several aspects of your home where warmth can accidentally be compromised.

The water heater, we’ve already talked about. But did you know your own front door and pipes can work against you if you’re not careful? Even investing in weather stripping for the front door can save some much-needed heat! And again, insulating the pipes goes a long way in preserving energy and the heat for your water.

Help is available if you want to invest in some upgrades, particularly if it’s your furnace in need of one. Again, rebates are a good place to start, but there is also SNAP financing, which you can read more about here, and here.

If you need even more tips on how to save on costs and heating this year, you can also refer to our blog post about heating expenses here.

Need some help putting these tips into action? You can start now by scheduling an inspection of your furnace. Call our technicians—we know how to get the job done and done well! At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

It’s tough to learn about HVAC sometimes, especially when our lives are so preoccupied with other, more pressing matters. There’s COVID-19 this year, and how we’re continually trying to adapt in order to stop the spread of it; many businesses have temporarily closed and, unfortunately, some for good.

We fall under the category of businesses who have temporarily closed our doors, however that does not mean you should neglect HVAC or ignore the signs of a problem. Now is a good time to maintain your systems! If they’re already cleaned up though, you may be wondering how to best pass the time. Why not learn some interesting facts about HVAC? Here are some fun trivia and facts that maybe—just maybe—you didn’t know about before.

Before HVAC, We Had Evaporation

It’s a fact that the most basic form of air conditioning relies on evaporative cooling methods. Back in Ancient Egypt, people stayed cool amidst the heat by hanging water-soaked reeds on window sills. The water would evaporate when the wind would blow, making the air all around the space much cooler.

Egypt was not the only place to rely on ancient methods. Ancient Rome circulated their water from the aqueducts through the walls of certain houses, also for the sake of staying cool.

Of course, nowadays we have HVAC to help stay cool or even stay warm, thanks to a few certain inventors….

The Father of Air Conditioning

John Gorrie, a Floridian doctor in 1842, is known to be the father of air conditioning. The machine he developed made ice so that the air could be cooled down for his patients. Gorrie was granted a patent to create a similar model for homes and buildings. Sadly, he passed away before he could create one.

HVAC Becomes Reality

In 1902, John Gorrie’s machine was brought to life and then some. Willis Carrier created a genuine air conditioner for a publishing company he worked for in Brooklyn. He made it to keep the temperature and humidity levels low enough for the paper they used to keep from shrinking or expanding too much. This machine did not, however, become a widely available system for every home and building until much later in the course of history.

How Air Conditioning Got Its Name

Even though Willis Carrier made the very first air conditioner, the term ‘air conditioning’ didn’t really have a name until 1906. It was coined by a textile manufacturer in North Carolina after the technology improved the quality of the fabric being produced in the factory. It’s definitely a catchier, easier to remember term than air conditioning’s patent title for one of the first modern systems, which was “An apparatus for treating the air”.

HVAC: The Real “Summer Blockbuster”

Did you know that air conditioning is in fact the reason we have the term ‘summer blockbuster’? That’s because movie theaters were among the first public places to have air conditioning. This was their way to get everyone to come to the movies and out of their non-air conditioned homes at the time. The theaters would then release their biggest films in the summer with the air conditioning turned on all the while. Thus, the term ‘summer blockbuster.’

HVAC Saves the Day

Gorrie had the right idea to use air conditioning for his patients. Hospitals with A/C have helped prevent several diseases and even saved lives. A few examples include defeating malaria, advancing developments in surgery, inhibiting bacteria, and decreasing infant mortality rates.

If you know a thing or two about HVAC that we haven’t listed here, let us know! Our doors may be closed for now, but we are still available for online or phone consultations and estimates. Get in touch with us for all your HVAC needs! At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

The times we live in right now are uncertain; more people are working from home or self-isolating to stay safe. As of March this year, we’ve had to close our own doors indefinitely since a lot of our services include in-person repairs and replacements, to keep our own customers safe in these troubling times.

One thing we know for certain though is just because we’re not meeting one-on-one, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get good quality HVAC service. We’re in a low season right now and it’s too easy to tell yourself that you don’t need HVAC help, but that’s a dangerous assumption to make because it leads to all of the problems we’ve outlined in our blog that can happen: emergency breakdowns, problems when starting up the air conditioner or furnace, little to no heating or cooling happening…the list goes on.

We want you to stay safe and healthy during this concerning part of our current world’s history, so here are some tips we know you’re going to need right now. Here’s how to get good quality, honest HVAC service with no in-person contact to put you and your family at risk.

1. Phone or E-mail Your Technicians

Even though some of us are still technically not open, that doesn’t mean you can’t ask for help in case of an emergency! Calling your technician over the phone is one way to get guidance on emergency care tips or if you’re in need of a possible estimate. E-mail is another virtual way to get the help you need.

2. Take Pictures of Your HVAC

Sometimes describing the problems you’re experiencing over the phone are not enough to express the seriousness of your situation. The best thing you can do at this time is to grab your phone or any camera you have on hand and start recording what’s happening. Not only is it helpful to take photographs, but also you could record videos to capture the sounds that are part of the problem, such as hissing or loud banging.

3. Allow Your Technicians Entry

Supposing the estimate provided is acceptable, and your HVAC situation is a very urgent one, your technicians will have to come in person to fix the problem. That being said, you can make your appointment with the technician a contactless one. Leave the basement door unlocked if the issue is your furnace or hot water heater, and head upstairs or outside while we work inside. We can work outside and maintaining social distance if your problem involves an outdoor unit.

If for any reason you are under quarantine and can’t let anyone in, but you still require assistance, we can guide you over the phone on what needs to be done before you can allow anybody else inside. 

4. Stay Calm

If you’re facing any of the most common HVAC problems such as little to no airflow or heat, it’s disconcerting for sure. However, nothing will get done if you choose to panic at the first sign of HVAC failure. The best thing to do is to stay calm and follow the above tips for emergencies and contactless service. If you’re working from home temporarily or have time, now is a great moment to perform HVAC maintenance such as cleaning the air filter and the outside of your units. Feel free to check out our spring cleaning tips for HVAC and put them to good use while you wait for things to settle down.

Stay healthy and safe during these tough times, and know that your HVAC is still in good hands—even if you need to practice social distancing. We’ll get through this and be stronger on the other side for it! At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

If this is the year you’ve gotten a new home, congratulations! With homeownership comes a whole slew of responsibilities, however, and one of them includes HVAC maintenance. Other aspects you’re required to look after include the hot water heater as well.

You may be staring at this valuable resource right now wondering what exactly you need to do with it. If this sounds like you, don’t worry, we can help. Here are some basics on hot water heaters worth knowing as a new homeowner.

1: Yes, You Need to Clean It

Hot water heaters require cleaning and maintenance in order to do a few things: 1) heat up the water when needed, such as when washing the dishes, running the washing machine, and taking a shower; 2) keep the hot water clean and flowing throughout the plumbing. Just like HVAC, maintaining a hot water heater has its benefits: for one, you increase its lifespan and extend the number of years it’ll remain an efficient heater. For another, it makes certain you have the proper amount of domestic water running to your home.

A few tasks you can perform every so often are to clean out the tank and replace the anode rods. For more details on what anode rods are and how to clean a heater, please refer to our blog post.

2: Failure is Not an Ideal Option

It’s dangerous to leave aside the maintenance tasks for too long! Hot water heaters are built with a pressure and temperature controlled tank. If the water in the heater becomes overheated, the pressure will build to the point where the thermal expansion will blow out the bottom. This can cause the unit to take off through your home just like a rocket!

There are other risks you should always keep in mind with your water heater. There’s a chance the natural gas used to fuel the heater can leak out, and an explosion could occur. Carbon monoxide may also leak out from the fuel burn. A minor risk of electrical shock, if your heater is an electrical one, can occur if the heater was improperly installed.

Because these are such great risks to families, a hot water heater requires a permit for installation. The purpose of this permit is to allow a third-party to come and inspect the heater and make sure nothing was missed and the family living within the space is safe from harm. Our technicians at Rep-Air are licensed and equipped with the needed skills and knowledge of codes and safety procedures to inspect and maintain your water heater safely and efficiently.

3: You Have Two Options

By options we mean the type of water heater for your home. These two options are tankless and tank heaters. Tank water heaters are the most common type of heater you will find in homes. They store gallons of heated water at a time, and are an economical choice for some homeowners. There are lower up-front unit costs, for example, with tank heaters compared to the tankless ones.

Tankless, in comparison, heat your water on demand but don’t store water. What happens instead is the water will pass through a series of coils to and from the unit. Because of this, tankless heaters are a good choice for environmentally conscious homeowners, plus they take up way less space than tank ones.

As for fueling the heaters, you have two common choices there as well. Natural gas and electric hot water heaters are usually the kinds you’ll find in the marketplace within BC, the main reasons being they’re the most efficient to maintain, they’re some of the least expensive to purchase, and they’re the easiest to fix by a technician if something goes awry. Some companies may offer other fuel options, however they may not be the most environmentally friendly or the least expensive options if those are what you’re looking for.

If your new home comes with a heater that’s a tank, but you’d rather have a tankless one instead, you do have the option to replace it. Even better, rebates and financing options are available to homeowners who want to make the switch from tank to tankless.

Get a Licensed Technician to Help!

You will need to call in an expert if there are any signs that your hot water heater is having problems. These signs include but are not limited to having no hot water (despite it being cranked all the way up), your water is under or overheating, and the thermostat is faulty. For more details on the signs you can refer to our blog post on that subject as well.

Give our team a call for all your water heater needs. Our licensed technicians can also help you make the switch from tank to tankless, if you would like. At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram!

Sometimes it’s tough to feel like you want to take care of your home, especially the HVAC. After all, it’s not like you have nothing to do in the meantime. You may work long hours, you may be a parent raising your kids, or you may be struggling to make ends meet every month. Life happens.

That does not mean, however, that it’s a good idea to leave HVAC out of the picture entirely. As much as we don’t want to admit it, looking after HVAC on a regular basis is part of a homeowner’s life, whether you like it or not. If you’re wondering what will happen if you don’t take care of your HVAC, or you want to let the task of maintaining it slide for once this season, maybe reading this will help change your mind. Here’s what really happens if or when you don’t take care of your home’s HVAC.

1. Dirt. Dirt everywhere.

You know how electronics like the TV seem to naturally draw in dust when you’re not looking? Well, the same thing happens to HVAC: if you ignore cleaning and dusting off its components, expect to find dirt.

Lots of it. Everywhere.

Dirt isn’t the only thing to build up either. Mold, mildew, and yes, dust too can all pile up and get circulated throughout the home, leading to one messy house.

The filter, blower, and coils all work together to circulate air and heat up or cool down the rooms. Dirty components, on the other hand, require more energy to keep the air flowing and dirty coils are incapable of moving air of the proper temperature efficiently throughout the system. All this will lead to an inefficient HVAC system that will cost you hundreds of dollars over several years.

2. A ton of damage from air filters

You know how some people can’t stop sneezing whenever spring rolls in? Imagine not being able to stop. Now you have an idea of what happens if you don’t clean or replace the air filters in your HVAC.

Other than helping your HVAC heat up or cool down your home, one of an air filter’s roles is to filter out all of the airborne particles that could threaten your health and well-being. By refusing to clean the filter, pollen, allergens, dander, and dust are all more likely to circulate throughout the house and be breathed in by you and your family. You’re also going to experience twice the amount of dirt and dander thanks to your leaving the gunk build up.

You and your family will not be the only ones to feel worse either. All of that dirt and dust buildup can clog the heat or cold your HVAC is trying to circulate. By not bothering to replace or clean it, you are in turn reducing the lifespan of your HVAC dramatically. Worst case scenario, an extremely clogged filter will lead to a complete premature failure as your HVAC expends too much of its energy to function.

So, bottom line, not taking care of the air filter is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad idea.

3. Carbon monoxide poisoning

If your home has a furnace, it too can break down in several ones. One of the most dangerous consequences of failing to take care of this HVAC system are gas leaks. A furnace usually comes with a combustion chamber, which is where the gas is transferred and burned to generate heated air. This combustion process also releases carbon monoxide, which is a colourless and odourless toxic gas. A properly cleaned furnace will exhaust the carbon monoxide through the flue vent, leaving your home heated and, most importantly, safe.

However, if the exhaust becomes clogged from lack of maintenance, that’s when trouble can arise. If there’s no carbon monoxide detector in your home either, that’s also dangerous considering how difficult it is to detect carbon monoxide. A clogged exhaust will cause gas to backup within the house, and thus force the carbon monoxide to spread. This is exceedingly dangerous to everyone within if it’s not addressed immediately!

4. Leaks

Not only gas leaks, but also refrigerant leaks are going to be more frequent if you don’t take care of your HVAC. Leaks are one of the most common problems we encounter at Rep-Air, and they can happen for several reasons, from several common causes:

• Dirt and debris is blocking the drain’s hole
• The condenser pump has broken
• The seals on your HVAC unit aren’t tight enough
• The hose is blocked or clogged up with—you guessed it—dirt, debris, and other mucky particles.

Every single one of these scenarios can occur if you decide to not maintain your HVAC. Fixing the problem, as opposed to preventing them from happening, will only add to the cost of repairs.

5. Power problems

Like any mechanical equipment, there are components inside of your HVAC system that have a shelf life. This include power-delivering parts and wires that keep things running smoothly and efficiently.

Neglecting these components if there are smaller issues will definitely turn into expensive, big problems fast. Power fluctuations, frequent shutdowns, and ultimately a complete breakdown can and will occur. They start from the smaller issues we’ve outlined already such as a restricted airflow and lack of cleaning. That’s why we insist that regular maintenance, both on your part as well as by professional technicians, will not only prevent these major issues from happening but also ensures your HVAC’s lifespan is prolonged significantly.

Get the Service Your HVAC Needs!

If you’re experiencing one or more of these issues, give us a call at once. Delaying the fact that your HVAC system needs maintenance and tending to will only make things worse! At Rep-Air Heating And Cooling we provide our customers with many options that will best suit your needs from heating and cooling to refrigeration. Contact us today for your complimentary quote: 1-778-728-1476 or contact@repairheatingandcooling.com and don’t forget to take a look at our website: https://repairheatingandcooling.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for free giveaways!