Eugene, OR residents know how hot and humid it can get in the summertime. And with the temperature rising higher every day, now is the time to schedule a repair or maintenance session on your air conditioning unit, to ensure that it’s functioning properly by the time warm weather hits. Most maintenance sessions include recharging the system’s refrigerant to its proper level, which helps your air conditioner run at peak efficiency. But what happens when refrigerant levels run low in your AC? How does that affect your system?
Comfort Flow Heating Blog:
Archive for April, 2015
What Happens When Refrigerant Levels Run Low in My AC?
Monday, April 27th, 2015How Air Sealing Benefits You
Monday, April 20th, 2015When you run your air conditioning or heating system, you most likely close all of your windows and doors in order to save some energy. While you may believe that closing up all of the entryways to the house solves this problem, there may be more issues of which you are unaware: air leaks. Air leaks, which are small holes and cracks in your home, allow air to leak out or move into the house. These leaks may be around windows and doors, or there may be minor cracks in the walls or ceilings that need caulking. Even the smallest cracks can really add up, contributing to quite a bit of energy loss for which your HVAC system has to compensate. But instead of forcing your HVAC system in Eugene, OR, to work harder, you can schedule an air sealing appointment with a Comfort Flow Heating technician.
Is It Time for Heater Replacement?
Monday, April 13th, 2015Our daytime temperatures are finally starting to climb, but our nights are still cool enough to warrant the continued use of our heating systems. Spring is a great time to assess your home’s needs, and if you found that you were struggling with your heating system this winter, it may be time to consider a replacement system. Most people think of replacement as something that occurs when your heater finally kicks the bucket, but it’s always a much better scenario to replace your system before you are completely without heat. Here are some ways to help tell if it’s time to replace your aging heater in Eugene, OR:
Does My Heat Pump Need Spring Maintenance?
Monday, April 6th, 2015Heat pumps are durable devices, lasting, on average, about 20 years. One thing homeowners tend to forget about their heat pumps is that these devices work twice as much as a traditional heating or cooling system because heat pumps can both heat and cool your home. As such, it’s important to schedule your heat pump system maintenance bi-annually instead of just annually. Has it been more than 6 months since your last heat pump maintenance appointment? Then it’s time to call the specialists at Comfort Flow Heating and schedule an appointment.
Why Is Maintenance Important?
When a technician performs maintenance on your heat pump, it is a full tune-up of the system. The main aspects of any maintenance appointment are:
- Thorough inspection of the system
- Cleaning
- Adjusting
- Lubrication of all moving parts
- System checks
- Performance testing
All of these tasks contribute to the overall benefits of maintenance, which include the following:
- Better energy efficiency – your heat pump was made to operate at a certain level of energy efficiency, but will have a very hard time doing so carrying several seasons’ worth of dirt, dust and wear and tear. The process of maintenance allows the system to operate at peak efficiency so that you can achieve better overall efficiency from the system.
- Prevents repairs – the thorough inspection the system undergoes during a maintenance appointment helps the technician detect existing or developing problems and get ahead of them before they can blossom.
- Extends life of the system – maintenance keeps your heat pump in good working order year after year, which helps reduce the potential for premature aging.
- Increases comfort levels – it can be difficult for a heat pump weighed down by wear and tear to achieve your set temperature; maintenance allows your heat pump to functional optimally so that it can easily achieve your desired temperature.
Spring offers a window of opportunity to get your heat pump system in great shape for the coming summer. The professionals at Comfort Flow Heating are here to help with all of your heat pump needs, so if it’s time for maintenance, call us today and schedule an appointment.
What Is Short-Cycling, and Why Should I Worry About It?
Friday, April 3rd, 2015Have you ever noticed your furnace behaving strangely? Shutting itself on and off every couple of minutes, for example? If you have, you’ve got a pretty serious problem. That behavior is one of the most damaging things that can happen to heating systems, known as “short-cycling.” So what is short-cycling, really? What does it do, and why should you care? Read on to find out.
Causes of Short-Cycling
There is one major cause of short cycling when it comes to furnaces: clogged air filters. The air filter is a fiber mesh that is inserted into the air return duct of the furnace. It is designed to protect the furnace against any particles that may blow in from the ducts, such as dust and dirt. The air filter captures these particles, while allowing the air to flow through it and into the furnace. While this works fairly well under normal circumstances, the air filter has no way to actually get rid of the particles that it captures. That means that sooner or later it will need to be cleaned or replaced. If this is not done, the air filter will become so clogged with particles that it will restrict the air flow into the furnace.
When the air flow into the furnace is obstructed, its internal temperature will begin to rise. Eventually, it will rise high enough to activate the limit switch, which is designed to shut down the furnace if it is in danger of overheating. This is only a temporary fix, however, as the air filter is still restricting the air flow into the furnace. Once the furnace starts back up, it will overheat again and be shut down again. This process will continue as long as the air filter remains clogged.
The Results of Short-Cycling
If not fixed immediately, short-cycling will start to inflict severe damage on the furnace. The startup sequence of the heating cycle is the most stressful, and also happens to be the part that the furnace becomes trapped repeating. This constant repetition of the most stressful part of the heating process puts the system under much more strain than it was designed to handle. A furnace often has its lifecycle severely shortened if left to short-cycle for a long period of time, and will have an increased chance of breaking down.
If you suspect that your furnace may be short-cycling, call Comfort Flow Heating for our comprehensive heating services in the Florence, OR area.
