HVAC Maintenance Tips

Noticing a burning smell coming from your vents can be quite unsettling. It’s a situation that no homeowner wants to experience, especially when you’re relying on your heating system to keep you warm. However, understanding the potential causes can help you address the issue promptly and ensure your home’s safety. Let’s explore some possible problems. Dust Burning Off Heating Elements One of the most common reasons for a burning smell is dust accumulation on your heating elements or heat exchanger. When your heater hasn’t been used for a while, dust and debris can settle on these components. Therefore, when you

Forced air heating systems are a popular choice for many homeowners. But like any system, they come with their own set of advantages and disadvantages. Are you thinking about upgrading your home’s heating system? Let’s dive into the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision. What Is a Forced Air Heating System? First things first—what exactly is a forced air heating system? In simple terms, it’s a system that uses air as its heat transfer medium. The system heats the air in a furnace and then uses ductwork and vents to distribute warm air throughout your home.

Poor air flow, ohhh no! Your air conditioning is on full blast, but you notice hardly any air blowing out of the vents. This lack of air can be frustrating, especially as the late summer heat continues. However, there are several reasons why this could be happening, and most of them have a simple fix. Weak airflow from your air conditioning system is a somewhat common issue homeowners face. However, with proper maintenance and timely repairs, these low-airflow problems are avoidable. Regular maintenance is the key to preventing issues; if you find yourself in this situation, there are a few

You should add a second air conditioning system in several situations and circumstances. It may seem counterintuitive, but adding a second system could save you money in the long run.  Balance & Temperature Control The main reason for adding a second air conditioning system is to balance out the temperature in a home. Two-story older homes are the prime candidates for unbalanced temperatures. The upstairs is traditionally hot, and the downstairs is chilly, making both uncomfortable.  While you continuously run an air conditioning system to try to cool down the warmer areas, the cool area just gets cooler, and the

As Winter turns to Spring and the days get warmer, the familiar household argument arises: when should you turn on the air conditioning? In homes across the country, couples, families, and roommates start to battle over the temperature control unit. Let’s put this disagreement to rest. The Ideal Time Before turning on your air conditioning unit, consider two factors: the temperature outside and the temperature inside your home. Switch it on too soon, and you’ll incur extra unnecessary expenses, but wait too long, and members of your household will have to live in discomfort.  The best option is to wait

What is a SEER rating anyway? SEER is an acronym for seasonal energy efficiency ratio. Not exactly a clear explanation. Let’s dig a little deeper. In simple terms it is a measure of how much electricity it takes to remove a given amount of heat, given a specific combination of system components. It is very much like the fuel efficiency of your car. Determining SEER Rating In order to determine the SEER rating of any given combination of equipment, a series of tests are performed by the AHRI (Air conditioning Heating and Refrigeration Institute). A SEER rating is then determined

Why you should consider whole house humidifiers? As we move into the colder winter months our home’s humidity begins to fall. Severe dryness can lead to itchy dry skin for us. Our home suffers contraction of the wood and leather products. Wallpaper can lose its adhesion, instruments will go out of tune. Don’t forget the stores of wine! Extended periods of time in dry air can compromise the corks! While the vast majority of us are not so concerned with the condition or our corks, our overall comfort is a concern. Thankfully we have the technology to amend the dry

Thermostats were once the simple and mechanical devices but are still the control center of our home’s heating and air conditioning systems. Older mercury bulb thermostats, the former mainstay of design, have been phased out long ago (2007).  This was because of  the environmental impact of Mercury waste in our landfills and waterways. Rest assured, if we at Fixed! HVAC Service replace any controls devices containing mercury they will be disposed of properly. Modern Thermostats With all things, technological development has improved and made our lives more comfortable and connected. Today’s thermostats come in a variety of types and varying

When we think of doing maintenance on our home heating and air conditioning system the first thing to come to mind is changing the HVAC filters. Changing the air filter in your heating and air conditioning system is, of course, a very important part of keeping your heating and air conditioning system running efficiently. Not changing your air filter for extended periods of time can, in some cases, not only diminish the performance of your equipment, it could cause damage to your system. Which HVAC Filters are Best? Now, lets talk about HVAC filters and how to choose the right

With the current temperature hitting 90 degrees and not even officially Summer yet, you need some home cooling tips. In Maryland your air conditioner will be getting a workout for a good 4 months or more. That’ll mean your electric meter will be spinning like a record player (geez did I just age myself – meters don’t spin anymore and the youngsters probably don’t know what a record player is?). So you may be looking for a few reminders on how to keep cool without having the cooling system running constantly. Here are a few home cooling tips for you