Fall is a wonderful and even beautiful time of the year. The colours of the leaves are changing, the sun is bright but not scorching hot, and warm, comforting food can be made to make rainy days better. While it’s good to have a break from the summer heat, you need to remember that with fall comes a change in temperature, and in addition to that, a change is needed in the way we save energy.

Much like our summer tips on how to save energy, there are ways you can keep comfortable and warm without having to rely too much on your furnace (which can increase your energy bills). Here are our tips for you to stay warm during this cooler time of year.

Tip 1: Temperature

It’s recommended that you keep your thermostat either at or below 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit). When you’re not at home, i.e. you have to go to work or run errands, it’s recommended you turn back your thermostat by about 10 to 15 degrees; when you are at home, to set it as low as comfortably possible. That way, you can save 10 percent on your heating costs.

By setting the thermostat to the recommended 20 degrees, your furnace and other HVAC systems with have less work to do, thus both extending its lifespan and lowering your home’s energy consumption.

Tip 2: Vents

Vents throughout the home should never be covered up, whether it’s to heat up or cool down the rooms. Make sure there is no furniture such as couches or rugs laid on top of your ventilation sources. This will also help to make sure no dust bunnies or debris end up inside of your vents either, which can circulate throughout the heating system if you’re not too careful or you don’t clean the vents properly.

In addition, be sure to clean and vacuum around or near each ventilation opening surface. This will help keep dust bunnies, pet hair, and any other unwanted debris from entering the vents and contaminating the air quality.

Tip 3: Drafts

By drafts we absolutely mean there should be a lack of them in your house. If the heating is on and there’s still a draft, it’s likely coming from a hidden crack or crevice. These are also very difficult to detect if the A/C ran non-stop all summer long, and it could indicate that there are hidden leaks in your home. Before the temperatures really drop this fall, check all of the doors and windows in your home; a draft leaking through these will mean your heating will run non-stop too.

In the event you do find a draft, and it’s between the door and the floor, adding weather stripping to the bottom can help prevent excess heat from escaping. If it’s a window, use caulk. This, in turn, can prevent your heater from running and adding to your energy bills.

Tip 4: Sunshine

Sometimes the best way to get any heat into the home is through direct sunlight. It’s advisable to keep the blinds closed when it’s the summer season since the sun can heat up a room too fast too soon. However, the autumn sun is weaker than its summer counterpart, so the sunshine is actually beneficial rather than a hindrance to your comfort level. Once there’s been enough sunlight soaked up and it starts to get dark, close the blinds to withhold as much heat as you can.

Tip 5: Hot Water

Just like the temperature of the rooms themselves, you can save energy when it comes to hot water in fall too. One of the best ways to do so is to check on your hot water heater. If it’s been a while since you checked on it, maintenance may be needed; you can refer to our article on how to maintain your hot water heater.

If not, then you can do something very simple: change the temperature. It should be turned down from its hot setting to warm instead (48 degrees Celsius, or 120 degrees Fahrenheit). Not only will you save energy by doing this, you’ll also avoid scalding yourself.

Tip 6: Ceiling Fans

Did you know there’s a way to reverse the direction your ceiling fans are moving? It’s true, and it’s also very energy efficient. Switch the direction to clockwise once summer is over and you no longer need to cool down a room. This will help push warm air (which rises) back down, and it can help redistribute the warm air coming from your heating system too. This, in turn, can help prevent pockets of chilly air from settling into corners of the room. If you don’t have ceiling fans, it might be a good idea to get them installed (only for rooms you use the most often).

Tip 7: Your Furnace

Naturally fall is the time of the year when you’re most likely to want to switch on the furnace. Hold on before you do though! When was the last time you checked on it? If your answer is “A while,” then it’s time to change the filter in it before you do anything else. Afterwards, check on the rest of your furnace and if necessary schedule an appointment with your HVAC technician to double-check and ensure it’s in great working condition. The last thing you should want is to find out something is wrong!

Lastly, grab yourself a warm cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the autumn season knowing you’re saving both on energy and money this year!

If you need to schedule an appointment for tip seven, or need further advice from us on heating, let us know. 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!

For many of us, fall is a season best associated with tasty treats like pumpkin spice lattes or with warmer clothing like scarves and long coats. For us, it’s the best time of the year to maintain our HVAC equipment. Next to spring, fall is a slow season where maintenance and necessary repairs can be made to A/C units that are being shut off or furnaces about to be switched on.

We know the last thing you want to find is an HVAC unit that’s not working in peak condition when it’s frosty or snowing outside. So today, we’re going to look at some fall HVAC tasks you can definitely do now since it’s the best season for it.

Check the furnace

You ideally should be examining your furnace before the frigid temperatures kick in so you can stay comfortable during the entire season. If you want to go more in-depth about cleaning and maintaining your furnace, you can check out our previous post. If you’d simply prefer to get a good idea of what needs to be done, we’ll give you the basics:

• Power down the system before doing anything else. Find its power supply and switch off both the switch plate and fuel supply.
• Next, clean out the combustion chamber. Grab a wire brush, put on gloves and a mask, and scrape away the soot and corrosion that’s gathering up on the chamber walls. When you’re done, vacuum the debris away and put the chamber cover back on.
• Change the oil and air filters. This will help improve the air quality of your home or building and prevent premature replacement for the furnace, all while ensuring efficiency.
• Check for leaks or danger signs. The exhaust flue is where most carbon monoxide leaks can come from. You can cover small holes with foil tape, but if the flue is corroded, stop what you’re doing and call in a professional for their help. A corroded flue is not a DIY task.

Clean your A/C

These are some good steps to take now that you don’t need to keep the A/C turned on so much:

• Change the air filter. That way you can worry less about discovering no cool air on the first day of summer.
• Give it a cleaning. Focus on removing dust from the inner coils and outer casing, plus around the most frequently used controls. That way gunk doesn’t build up when the air gets chilly and causes any issues when the weather warms up.
• Schedule a maintenance check-up. That way you can be sure everything is working A-OK (plus maybe it’s been a year since you checked on it and it’s not!)
• Consider getting a new unit. Upgrading to a new model should be done when it’s not summer since you’re not getting a replacement out of necessity. Plus, it’s more likely to book an appointment with a technician that’s more accommodating to your own busy schedule.

Check the Thermostat

A faulty thermostat is one of the most common reasons to get help from an HVAC professional. You can check on your thermostat’s condition by turning it up by 5 degrees. Wait for a few minutes, and then you should be able to feel a change in the air coming out of the vents.

If there is no change, or the furnace or A/C doesn’t even switch on, that’s a sign of a faulty or broken thermostat. It’s best to leave that kind of fix to the professionals, so give them a call.

Stay toasty this fall when the temperatures drop, and don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need 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 for free giveaways!

Whether you run your own business and have to look after the comfort and health of other people, or you simply enjoy spending time in your home, having an HVAC system in place such as A/C or a furnace, or both, can be beneficial. However, there may come to be a time when replacing these systems is essential.

You may be thinking to yourself, “Well, this business has an efficient system, why don’t I just ask my technician to have what they have installed in my home?” To that we reply, wait a minute. There are actually some crucial differences between commercial HVAC and residential HVAC you are probably not aware of. That’s where our expertise comes in! So today, let’s look at some of the biggest differences between the two types of systems.

Needs & Purposes

A commercial HVAC system must often serve a greater number of people. This means the units themselves need to be expertly sized in order to keep both customers and employees comfortable during the business’s peak hours.

A residential unit in contrast is generally smaller and varies less when it comes to proper heating and cooling capacity (i.e. there are less people to be concerned about compared to commercial).

Placement

Because of the greater number of people that commercial HVAC serves, this means the systems in general are larger to the point where they need to be placed in a very specific place: the roof. This is the typical placement so that the system itself doesn’t take up too much space next to or inside of the business’s building. It also ensures the system is protected from vandalism.

In contrast, residential HVAC is generally placed on the ground with enough space surrounding the units so as not to negatively impact anyone or anything else nearby. This is an impractical placement for commercial systems, however. Plus, when a system is placed on the roof, it makes it easy for professional technicians to conduct system inspections and any necessary parts repairs or new installations, whether brand new or to replace a broken down unit.

The Systems Themselves

Time for a mini glossary lesson! There are two types of unit descriptions that is worth knowing the difference between: packaged vs. split. For residential places, an HVAC system usually consists of two units. One is the indoor evaporator, the second is the outdoor compressor. These are what we call split units. For commercial purposes, most HVAC systems in fact possess combined heating and cooling components into a single unit. This is what we call a packaged unit.

While packaged units are generally easy to access, they are also more complex to maintain and repair compared to residential split units. There are also more thermostats to worry about in a commercial system, since different temperatures must be maintained in different zones throughout the commercial building. In contrast, residential split units are easier to maintain and repair, and there’s only the one thermostat you need to worry about.

Another difference to bear in mind that involves the systems themselves are how they are designed. Residential units are what are referred to as standalone—i.e. they are self-contained, single units which cannot be modified or expanded upon. What you see is what you get out of them.

For commercial units, their sizes are flexible enough that we call them modular. This is because they can have modules added to or removed in order to expand on or reduce the amount of heat or cooling that is supplied. This makes it very convenient for business owners to accommodate changing the heat and cooling needs as their companies grow or shrink. However, the usage of modules means great responsibility and care is needed. A technician should have ample experience installing and maintaining these larger module units, otherwise they’re more likely to run into serious problems.

We hope this has helped you understand your current systems better! Whatever type of HVAC you need to have installed, repaired, or replaced, get a professional technician who can take care of both these types of systems. 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!

Don’t you hate it when you’re going about your day, but then you discover that something in your home’s HVAC has broken down and you don’t know why? Whether it’s the furnace going kaput or the A/C isn’t cool enough for you, heating and cooling can ruin a good day if a system is falling apart. You may be tempted to even fix the problem yourself. Don’t, though! There are a lot of reasons why your unit may not be working, and a few of those reasons may require an HVAC technician’s skills.

Did you know there are in fact professional HVAC technicians who are available 24/7? You may not think this is a big deal, but in fact it can be under certain circumstances. With this in mind, we thought it would be best to let you know the perks of having an HVAC 24/7 professional on your call list.

First, Convenience

The thing about HVAC systems is that they are built as complex at their best, with intricate and at times delicate parts. These parts are responsible for keeping the entire unit running in peak condition.

Education about these units may seem as simple as reading a blog post at first. However, to truly understand how to handle the more dangerous components such as electricity without causing yourself or others harm, it can take much longer to really get a handle on such concepts.

An HVAC pro is not only licensed to install and work with electrical components, but also knows the system unit in question both inside and out. They’re more likely to understand why a part of the machine isn’t working the way it’s supposed to, or when the time is right to make a simple repair versus a complete replacement. The best kind of pro knows how to install a system as well! All of this boils down to convenience on your part as someone who needs a unit either installed or repaired, but hasn’t got the time to learn about how to install it yourself.

Second, Protection

The best HVAC technician has prior experience when it comes to water heating, temperature heating and cooling, air conditioning, and working with various units. They already have been educated on reading blueprints, building codes, and reviewing schematics.

There is also both warranty protection and financial protection to consider. The manufacturer’s warranty on your current HVAC system may require you to hire a technician to repair it or install a new one. It’s crucial during the latter that you work with a professional so that the new system is the right size according to your home and its needs and that it’s installed precisely where it should be. A licensed pro is also the only one who has the insurance and bonding needed in the event any damage or harm occurs on your property, whether it’s done to your home or an individual.

Third, Emergencies

A licensed technician knows the ins and outs of HVAC equipment, meaning in the event of an emergency such as no heat or cool air when it’s mandatory, they’re who you want to have around 24/7. However, you don’t want an emergency to happen in the first place! That’s why we insist on performing regular maintenance (although some work on our part can help with that as well).

If you’re wondering why not DIY in an emergency situation, let us tell you. An HVAC technician doesn’t just know how to access a single part. They also know how to access all of the parts and how and where maintenance is required. They’re aware of how detailed the specifications are for these systems, meaning they can reset the parts all according to the manufacturer’s own specifications. Overall, even in a state of emergency, a licensed technician can ensure all the parts work together as they were originally designed to do, and this in turn will make sure your system lasts longer and its energy usage will almost always decline rather than increase.

Now you know there are some real benefits to hiring 24/7 professional help for your HVAC! Do you need some help with your units right now? Let us know! 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!

Being a homeowner comes with a lot of responsibility (perhaps more than you even realize!). As soon as you’re given the keys to your new home, you are responsible for everything within it: cleaning, maintenance, repairs, improvements—you name it.

With all these requirements comes a price, and many homeowners may find that the price of certain things, such as HVAC systems, are too expensive. The decision to hold off from paying for the repairs or installations you need is a bad one though! Doing so can increase your expenses including energy bills, rather than decrease them.

So what is a homeowner to do? For one, you can consider joining up with the SNAP Home Finance Corp. Here’s why.

What is SNAP?

SNAP is a consumer-friendly financial program designed to help you pay for any indoor air quality, heating, and cooling needs without waiting for it. The program is flexible and easy to use, and developed with homeowners and business owners in mind. It has been in use since 2006 to assist these businesses and homeowners afford expenses such as HVAC, water treatment, and more. Their payment processes are fast and fair to your financial needs.

Why Should I Get SNAP?

Anytime you need an HVAC system repaired or installed, it costs money—much more so if your current system is inefficient! Many homeowners tend to put off replacing their systems or getting a replacement, even if the signs are there that it’s wearing down. This can result in some expensive bills that you may not be able to afford paying for every month (especially if you’re already struggling).

With SNAP, however, you can secure financing for your repairs or replacements fast. Payments using SNAP are based upon your needs, rather than your budget. There is no down payment needed prior to signing up for it, and varying methods of payment are available such as low monthly payment programs and no interest no payment programs. Or, you can opt to pay off the entire loan at any time without incurring penalties.

You also don’t need to go to your bank to get this done. You can simply complete the secure credit application online if you decide to follow through with signing up for it.

What Else Do I Need to Know?

You can be eligible for applying to SNAP if you match all of the following:

• You are 18 years old, or older
• You have a chequing account
• Your source of income is steady

In terms of getting discounts on HVAC specifically, there are many additional tax rebates and financing programs offered by energy companies. These can also be beneficial to both homeowners and business owners who want to use HVAC daily while at work and home. The financing is available to both brick-and-mortar businesses as well as ecommerce. However, if financing needs to be received now rather than later, that’s not possible with some of these rebate programs. It can take up to a few weeks to receive your first cheque for funding when really you need the money sooner (especially if it’s an emergency!). With SNAP, it can actually take far less time to be considered applicable, so your funds are delivered fast.

Unlike the bank, which does require you to pay a fee if you’re behind in your payments, you don’t need to worry about that sort of thing with SNAP. The staff who work at SNAP have also been credited as being “incredibly friendly” according to some of their reviews. This makes usage and communication between you and staff incredibly convenient.

We endorse SNAP ourselves at Rep-Air, and you can sign up for it on our page. This is to ensure you get the best HVAC equipment on the market while also saving money and making sure payments for the systems are affordable and convenient.

Let us know if you have any other questions! 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!

Summer is drawing to a close, meaning a swing in temperature is gradually happening. The days are getting shorter and the air will change from hot to cool and eventually cold. It’s time to shut off your A/C and turn on the furnace.

Hold on, though! Before you flip that switch to turn the furnace on, ask yourself when it was the last time you checked on your furnace. If it’s been almost an entire year, or you can’t remember, it’s time to ensure it’s working properly.

Now that it’s almost the heating season, it’s a good time to get repairs or fixes made to your HVAC systems (autumn is considered an off season, meaning HVAC professionals aren’t nearly as crazy busy if you need them!). In this case, we’re going to focus on the furnace. Here are the steps you need to take in order to maintain and clean your furnace properly.

Before Getting Started

You need to understand that there is a difference between the types of furnaces requiring maintenance. Electric furnaces are often more expensive and expand a great amount of energy so they are less cost efficient. However, they are also fairly dependable and require less maintenance thanks to their Limit controller. This prevents the furnace from overheating and may shut off the system automatically if it needs to be fixed or cleaned, ensuring that no further damage is done to the furnace.

Gas furnaces, in contrast, are well-known for their cost efficiency and cleanliness, and they do require more regular, routine maintenance (typically every 2 years) so that their lifespan can be extended. Most of these furnaces use natural gas, which produces 1,000 British thermal units (BTUs) of heat per cubic foot burned. So in addition to maintaining your furnace, you need to be aware of how to ensure the natural gas is being used properly and not leaking.

Step 1: Check the Outside

The outside of your furnace should be clean and its surrounding areas free of dust, dirt, and debris. Depending on where in the house your furnace is located (usually in the basement), there should be no clutter or flammable objects such as cardboard boxes stored anywhere near or placed up against the furnace. If dust and dirt is around, you will need to vacuum and sweep the immediate outside before moving on to the next maintenance steps.

Checking on its power is also a good first step; you want to make sure it’s actually running properly. Look at the main entrance panel for any tripped circuit breakers or blown fuses. Depending on your furnace, there may be a separate power entrance usually located on a different panel near the main entrance one, or there are fuses mounted in or on the heating unit.

Step 2: Examine the Thermostat

You should always ensure the thermostat is working on your furnace before you go switching it on. Although it may not have nearly as many parts as the furnace, it is still a highly sensitive component and should be taken care of as well.

Sometimes it’s is the reason as to why heat is not being generated at all. A few reasons could include improper installation or, more commonly, dirt buildup which interferes with its calibration. Another problem with the thermostat could be corrosion thanks to loosened switches on the base and wires near the bimetallic element. These are easy fixes that your technician can check up on and clean up if your thermostat is the reason why your furnace isn’t heating properly.

Step 3: The Filter and Fan Belt

Make sure the electricity going to the furnace is switched off at the circuit breaker panel and the furnace switch before handling this task. You should typically clean the filter out every 3 months.

The filter is usually located near or at the blower part of the furnace held in with a clip. Gently remove the filter from its location and give it a proper cleaning with the vacuum cleaner and, if necessary, warm soap and water. Be sure if it needs to be washed that it’s fully dry before replacing the filter. Clean the surrounding area near the filter as well. After all, this component helps maintain the air quality in your home while it’s being heated up.

Perform an examination of the felt belt while also cleaning out the filter. Look at it closely to see if there are any signs of wear and tear or cracks forming. If it looks worn out, get it replaced. This step is only optional however since not every furnace comes with a fan belt built in. If yours doesn’t, you can ignore this step.

Step 4: The Pilot Light

Skip this step unless your furnace is a gas one. Check to make sure the gas supply is switched on and that the pilot light is lit or lights up. If the pilot light goes out, you will need to relight it. Follow the manufacturer’s manual on how to do this exactly. If instructions are not on hand, however, follow these steps:

• Find the pilot light assembly on your furnace. Usually this comes with a gas valve that comes with on, off, and pilot settings.
• Switch off the valve. Wait for three minutes. Then, switch the valve to pilot setting.
• Get a match, light it, and then hold it up to the pilot opening while also pushing the reset button on the control panel. Keep this button pressed until the pilot flame burns evenly and blue. Set the valve to on position once this flame burns steady.
• If the pilot flame doesn’t stay lit after these steps, it means the opening could be clogged. Turn off the gas valve, get a fine wire, and then clean the opening out using this wire. If even that doesn’t work, and you’ve made this attempt several times, it means the thermocouple—i.e. the safety device—is faulty. Do not continue attempting to fix it; instead, call in a professional.

If your furnace is electric, there will be no pilot light. Instead, the system uses an electrical element that heats up and ignites the burners. If these electrical parts stop working properly, do not attempt to fix them yourself; get a professional’s help.

Step 5: The Furnace Motor

Some furnaces come with a motor that requires oiling in order to keep it running properly. You need to make sure this motor is not overloading. To do so, wait for 30 minutes after switching the motor off and then press the reset button. Repeat as many times as needed until it’s running properly.

Oiling is required to ensure the motor works properly. Oiling points are usually located on or near the motor itself. Apply only 1-2 drops of the oil as advised by your technician or the manufacturer’s guide around every heating season (i.e. once a year). Try to avoid over-oiling the motor.

Step 6: Call a Professional for the Mechanical Maintenance

Some components of the furnace, especially the faulty thermocouple or the electrical parts of burners, should not be handled as a DIY project. These are moments when a professional HVAC technician should step in and ensure your furnace runs smoothly and efficiently again. Situations where a professional is especially recommended include the following:

• The furnace is making noise
• No airflow is coming or going through the vents
• Burning smells are coming out of the vents
• Poor air quality (too humid or dry), even after changing the filter
• A new and more efficient furnace model needs to be installed

They can also perform these tasks if you’re not comfortable doing them yourself at all:

• Tighten electrical components
• Clean the flame sensor
• Test the fan amperage
• Test the velocity and temperature rising
• Clean the burners

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!

If you’ve read the title to this post and rolled your eyes thinking “They’re going to say every building needs HVAC,” in a way you’d almostbe right. However, HVAC installation comes with a price; it costs a lot of money to get A/C or a furnace installed and, if you don’t use A/C or the furnace very often or you find ways to stay warm or cool without it, you’re probably better off not having it at all.

That situation we just described is a rare instance. The reality is that many types of buildings not only need HVAC installed, it’s also an absolute necessity to keep things going. We’re going to talk about these types of buildings today.

New real estate

HVAC can actually add a lot to the real estate you’re either looking to buy or trying to sell. However, you have to determine when having it installed is necessary. If the humidity levels are okay and air conditioning seems unnecessary, it won’t add value to the house. If the systems are already in working order, replacing it with a new one isn’t necessary either. The area surrounding the house also matters in terms of air quality and temperature; if both are adequate, then there’s no need for a new system.

However, if the ducting and systems are over 15 years old and you put in the effort to replace them, a new HVAC system can add value to the property you’re trying to sell. This is because it removes the burden of expense on the homebuyers’ parts to replace the system themselves, which is a more desirable thing to want from a new home than the opposite.

Restaurants

If you run a restaurant, you’re going to need HVAC to keep your business running smoothly. Commercial fridges, hot water tanks, A/C, ice machines—all of these systems work together to ensure a comfortable cooking and dining experience.

The dishes you serve food on should be clean and warm, the food you ordered should be properly stored and cooled, and you, your staff, and your customers should all comfortable when the heat gets to be too much or when humidity levels are high. All of this boils down to having properly maintained HVAC equipment around.

Grocery/Convenience Stores

It’s rare these days to find a grocery or convenience store that sells food but not the refrigerated kind. Commercial fridges are not limited to restaurants; they can add value to your grocery business by offering refrigerated and frozen products. After all, much of the food we buy requires heating and cooling systems installed to ensure we’re getting fresh ingredients as well as a brief respite from the hot or cold weather outside.

Elevated Homes or Buildings

In cities such as Abbotsford or Coquitlam where several of the houses are elevated or facing the mountainside, that means the temperature can be extreme on either side depending on the season! Add in the features of wide windows that can suck in direct sunlight in some homes, and you’re looking at a warm space that heats up fast. Central A/C or a portable air conditioner and heat pumps can make the difference from a too-warm-too-fast environment to one that’s more comfortable.

New construction sites

Believe it or not, an HVAC technician is in fact someone you want to have on site for new construction. A professional technician can help install equipment while construction is going on that is energy efficient, high tech, and properly sized to fit the new building’s requirements. Some technicians, such as our team, are also licensed to handle the electrical components during installation or replacement (depending on which is required). This will ensure that when the process is complete, it’s safe to use and ready to go once construction is finished.

Whatever the type of building or however big or small it is, if there’s HVAC equipment needing to be installed or replaced, let us know! 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!

You’ve done your part as a responsible homeowner or business owner and ensured regular maintenance and cleaning is done for your building’s HVAC equipment. However, something still seems off. Is there a funny smell coming from the A/C or furnace? Are you hearing things go bump in the night when there shouldn’t be? How’s your hot water situation? Is that a dust bunny in the corner?

Knowing when it’s time to replace your current HVAC equipment is as important as it is to regularly maintain and clean it. However, as great as these systems are, nothing lasts forever and that’s very much true for the case of HVAC. Here’s how to know when it’s really time to retire the systems and get new ones installed.

Age of the Machines

Knowing how old your current systems are can make a difference in energy bills. When was the last time you checked on how old the machines in your house or building are? If the answer is “I don’t remember”, that may be sign number one to consider replacing the equipment.

When maintained properly, an A/C unit can last up to 10-15 years, while a furnace should be able to last from 10-20 years and even beyond 20, in some cases. Unmaintained systems will only last from 8-12 years, however. If the age gap is past these numbers plus maintenance has not been applied, it may be time to retire the system for a new one.

Noises

Any sound that seems out of the ordinary to you is worth a closer look. You should trust yourself and your own judgment when it comes to noises from your HVAC, because in the first place you shouldn’t hear anything, or at least you should hear very little. Noises like knocking, grinding, or whining to name a few are all causes for concern. A noisy system can mean a few things; either the system’s evaporator coil has a problem, or the equipment in question is undersized (it’s too small to do its heating or cooling job).

Humidity

In the case of A/C, if there’s excess humidity arising from the unit itself or against the windows, or anywhere there shouldn’t be water droplets, that’s a sign the unit is wearing down. The air should not be too dry in the winter or too wet and soggy in the summer. If it is in both cases, it’s a sign you need to check for one or more of the following issues: dying equipment, poor installation work (especially if the system is newly installed), and inadequate insulation.

Dust

There should not be enormous amounts of dust flying up into the air when you have properly working HVAC equipment and ventilation. The ducts attached to your systems should not have excess dust clinging to them either. However, a leaking duct can draw out the dust from crawl spaces, attics, and basements and re-distribute it into other areas in the house or building.

Dust isn’t the only thing leaky ducts will pull either; pollutant air particles and debris may be pulled out as well! Usually resealing the ducts does the trick, but if these ducts are connected to your heating and cooling systems and the problem returns after sealing anyway, it’s time for a serious examination and potential replacement.

Repairs Happen all the Time

A system that needs to be constantly repaired after it continues breaking down means it’s definitely time to retire it! By applying repairs over and over instead, you’re basically throwing away what money you could be using to replace the system instead. It in fact costs less money to replace a system altogether than it would to repair it repeatedly (so long as the installation is done correctly in the first place).

Your Energy Bills Have Gone Up…Again

In addition to one or more of these points, your energy bills are really one of the main ways to find out it’s time to replace your heating and cooling systems. It’s one of the first indications something is wrong and also one of the most unpleasant! An efficient and newer system should not be raising the energy bills, but instead lowering them and keeping them at a low cost. If the bills are higher than they should be, and the cost is coming from your system, that’s a sign to replace your equipment.

Before you decide it’s time to fully replace your HVAC system, whether it’s the A/C or the furnace, consult with a professional technician. They can help figure out how old your system is, how well it’s been maintained, and if necessary the types of repairs that are needed. They can find out if it’s really time to retire the system or if it’s still got some years left. You won’t know unless you ask!

Perhaps we can 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 for free giveaways!

We all know about certain benefits of installing air conditioning or other HVAC systems in your home or commercial building. Having these systems around can allow you to change the temperature so that your environment is more comfortable, and some systems such as hot water heaters and commercial fridges are not only beneficial, they’re also necessary to keep our businesses running and our lives less complicated.

Did you know there are more benefits than those? It’s true! In fact, A/C and the other HVAC systems we install and repair at our company can offer some health benefits in addition to the temperature related ones. Learn for yourself what those benefits consist of.

Prevention

Getting too hot or too cold can result in some pretty bad illnesses! A fan or A/C is not only useful when there’s a heat wave. In the event you have caught a cold or are exhausted, feeling overheated or not warm enough while in these situations can be disastrous to your own health. Being able to change the temperature—and thus, having access to an HVAC system in the first place—can prevent you from feeling worse and speed up your recuperation time.

Indoor Air Quality

Everyone with an allergy knows how hard it is to live your life comfortably if there’s no way to lessen the allergens from affecting your day. With this in mind, many A/C and HVAC systems are now built with filters to help insects, parasites, pollen, debris, and dust from getting in the air and our lungs. Humidifiers are also available and can be attached to furnaces to improve air quality in the winter.

When it comes to keeping our indoor air clean, HVAC systems and A/C are definitely handy to have around. So long as the system itself is well-maintained and cleaned regularly, it can even improve the air quality that existed before.

Protection Against Dust Buildup

Dust is the #1 enemy that both computer owners and people with allergies must prevent from building up. This is why HVAC systems can be useful to have around. Not only will the ventilation in the systems take care of your computers’ health but also your own peace of mind. Installing HVAC systems such as A/C can protect a computer from overheating as well (not just yourself). For more information on this benefit, check out our previous blog post on the subject.

Comfort Levels

A/C and HVAC systems can keep us from sweating too much or freezing up, minimizing the risk of colds, infections, and temperature-related health risks such as hypothermia and heatstroke. Cool air is also known to improve productivity and physical activity in general, thus improving our own livelihoods.

Be sure the air isn’t too cold though! If it is, not only will that force the system to work harder than it should, but also it can dry out your skin.

Stay healthy and happy, and let us know if you need assistance with your current systems! 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!

Running your own business involves more than calling the shots on major decisions at work. It involves ensuring everyone on board, including yourself, is comfortable in their work environment, one that doesn’t negatively impact productivity or morale.

There’s something many business owners may not be aware of all the time though, at least not until the monthly bill arrives: energy costs. The cost of hydro, electricity, and water to name a few can become quite expensive if you work long hours, or if there’s an abundance of these energies throughout the work week.

Energy efficiency is the name of the game, so in this article, we’re going to help you out. Here are a few ways you can cut back on those high energy costs.

Analyze your current energy usage

You need to ask yourself the following questions before deciding to cut out or add any new energy features:

• Are the lights always on when you’re at work?
• How long are these lights on for?
• Is the heat always on in the winter?
• Is the A/C always on in the summer?
• Does your cooling and heating never feel like it’s enough?
• Are you already doing anything to cut back on using heating and cooling when it’s not necessary?
• What kind of environment are your staff comfortable with working in?
• Are there any alternatives to provide your staff with moving forward?
• Do the lights get turned off at the end of the work day?
• Are there backup security lights installed?
• Do you know how old your current equipment is (if applicable)?

All of the above questions and more are essential ones you need to ask if energy usage is a big expense. Once you’re answered the above questions and more, conduct a thorough analysis on your current utilities and see if you can pick up any patterns in the building’s energy usage. Knowing how and where your energy is being stored and used can help you understand where the biggest costs lie and how best to initiate solutions on saving that energy.

It wouldn’t hurt to speak to your staff either; they may know something about the building and its energy usage you’re not aware of, and it’s good to have alternative solutions to this sort of problem.

If the energy costs are coming from your HVAC equipment, such as A/C or heat pumps, there could be a few reasons for it. The age of the systems you currently have installed may be a factor, or it could be the model itself. Whatever the reason, there are ways you can both keep HVAC equipment if it benefits your business and not be forced to give up a comfortable working environment (if that’s what you still need).

Invest in Smart HVAC equipment

Smart HVAC equipment has an advantage over older models for good reason. One is that the controls are timer-based, so if you need to cut down on energy after the office has closed, you can set a timer and the system will automatically shut down instead of needing to be turned off manually.

Another advantage is that smart HVAC equipment is built specifically with energy efficiency in mind. It can ‘learn’ about how much heat or air conditioning is required for a room and where it’s required. The best thing about these newer systems is the programmable thermostat, which will spare you from having to fiddle with the temperature constantly!

Upgrading current equipment

Sometimes an HVAC system may be so old that it’s not even worth holding onto any longer. Your audit of energy usage should be able to help you identify if this is a task needing to be done. If you know how old your equipment is—and it’s over a decade old—then it’s definitely time to replace the old system with a newer one.

Don’t forget if and after you’ve installed this new equipment to train your staff on how to care for them as well. If necessary you can also ask the technician who installs your equipment to give everyone the advice you will need.

Updates aren’t limited to HVAC equipment either. Upgrading the lighting to LED or CFL, or even retrofitting your current lighting system, can go a long way in cutting back on energy usage without negatively impacting you and your staff.

If money is your concern about this step, that’s okay. Some local government programs and even public utility companies offer tax rebates and breaks for the sake of saving energy. This is worth considering in the event you need to upgrade to more energy efficient systems.

Practice good energy usage

Ensuring that energy is not wasted daily should not be your responsibility alone as the business owner—your staff should also be following your example. It’s a good idea if and when training new employees the routine of switching off appliances and lights each night after business hours.

These are some good practices to consider as well:

• Make it a habit to switch off equipment such as printers, scanners, microwaves, A/C, and lights during the weekends and holidays.
• Try switching your computers to hibernate mode, which allows you to save existing work and then pick up where you left off the next day.
• You can also try using the daylight to your advantage so that you don’t need to leave the lights on so often.
• Only use printers if it’s absolutely necessary. These devices can suck up a ton of energy too!

By following these steps, you may see an immediate positive change in your company’s energy bills as well as promote a healthy work environment.

Need help with getting new HVAC equipment installed at your building? 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!