Tuckers Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Blog: Archive for March, 2012

Bethesda Literary Festival

Friday, March 30th, 2012

April 20th-22nd is the annual Bethesda Literary Festival. The festival “will host an array of local and national authors, journalists and poets, as well as writing contests and poetry contests” and will feature “fascinating literary personalities who will read their work, talk about their craft and take part in discussions with other writers and audience members. All of the events are free and are held throughout downtown Bethesda”.

Tuckers Air Conditioning and Heating is proud to provide top quality service to the resident of Bethesda Maryland. If you live in Bethesda, MD, Tuckers is the place to come for all of your heating and air conditioning needs. Whether you’re in need of emergency repairs or you think you’re in the market for an entirely new system, we’ll work with you every step of the way. If you want to make sure your home is as comfortable as possible all winter long, give us a call today.

From the initial inspection, I didn’t feel pressured or oversold.

– Sandra F. in Bethesda, MD

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Heat Pump Question: Why Won’t My Heat Pump Start?

Thursday, March 29th, 2012

If you are having trouble with your Germantown heating system, or more specifically your heat pump, you may be surprised to learn that it is probably not the heat pump that is to blame.  That seems counterintuitive, but it’s true: the heat pump can be in perfect working order but still not turn on.

The good news, then, is that your heat pump is fine and you won’t have to pay an arm and a leg to fix or replace it. Still though, these types of problems can very frustrating to diagnose and correct. There are four common culprits when a heat pump won’t start.

  • A common problem is no power to your Germantown heat pump, which is certainly going to cause it to stop working. You should check your breaker box to make sure that the circuit breaker was not tripped. If your heat pump is wired to a switch, check to see if that switch is turned on. While this might seem obvious, its an important first step to take when troubleshooting.
  • Another quick check any homeowner can make is to see if the heat pump is set to the right mode. You want ‘heat’ mode on during the winter and ‘cool’ mode on for the summer. Again, this might seem obvious, but you should always check the mode before deciding that your heat pump needs a professional repair.
  • If you have recently replaced your home’s thermostat, it might not be communicating properly with your heat pump. Some thermostats don’t work well with heat pumps, so you should always check the model’s compatibility before installation. Incorrect wiring may also cause a problem. While you probably need a professional to fix this issue, it is relatively simple to resolve.
  • The last problem that commonly occurs is the heat pump’s own circuit breaker is tripped. Check your unit to see if your unit has its own circuit breaker to determine if that is the problem.

If you exhaust these problems and the problem persists or recurs – for example, if the circuit breaker trips again – call a Germantown heating and air conditioning contractor to work on your heat pump. There may be something larger at work that is causing problems in the electrical system that controls your heat pump, and that requires some expertise to properly address.

If you are having any problems with your heat pump, give Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating a call today!

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Signs You Should Replace Your Heat Pump

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

The decision to replace major equipment can be a difficult one. How do you know when to call it quits on a part of your heating and cooling system that is as important as the heat pump?

Here are some signs that you should replace your heat pump:

  • If your heat pump is making significantly more noise than it used to, it can be sign of major mechanical distress. Many times, replacement is the best solution.
  • Some components of a heat pump cost as much or more to repair as the whole unit does to replace. These components may include the compressor, the outdoor coil, the accumulator and the reversing valve. Once one of these goes, you are often better off replacing the heat pump than the broken component. Additionally, when repairs become so frequent as to no longer be cost effective, it’s a good time to replace the equipment.
  • A malfunctioning heat pump can cause problems with the humidity in your home. This is not a definitive indicator, but if you notice the humidity level rising in your home, you may need a heat pump replacement.
  • Any time your energy bill rises without a significant increase in usage, faulty or failing equipment is one of the top suspects. Your heat pump could very well be the culprit.
  • If you notice a cooling imbalance, such as rooms being too warm while others are too cool, your heat pump may be close to breaking.
  • Finally, if your heat pump is ten or more years old, replacing it is a good idea, even if it seems to be working fine. A new model will be much more efficient and chances are that the old one is headed for a major breakdown soon.

Keep in mind that these are not always definitive signs that your heat pump is done for good. Also, some of these may occur in combination. For example, you may have an old heat pump that is making a lot of noise and causing humidity problems.

Consult with Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating for full diagnostics before making the decision to replace any major household equipment.

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Heating Guide: How to Monitor Heat Flow from Furnace Registers

Wednesday, March 14th, 2012

Of the many kinds of heating systems, forced air furnaces are among the simplest in Rockville and monitoring the flow of heat is as simple as checking the registers and feeling the flow.

The Basics of Hot Air

At the furnace, usually in the basement or a central location, air is heated to a temperature set by the thermostat.  Once large and dominant, over the years, technological improvements have enabled furnaces to be much smaller and fit into closets.

With a fan, the warm air is circulated through a system of ducts and distributed at registers or grates usually in the floor.  A second grate takes the cooler air back to the furnace to be heated.

Going With the Flow

While a forced air system tends to fluctuate between cycles, temperatures should be consistent throughout the home from room to room.  As heat is distributed, rooms get quickly warmer, then cool several degrees as heat dissipates until the thermostat setting starts the cycle over.

If there is poor circulation, the efficiency of the system is greatly reduced.  The furnace runs more often, adding strain and cost to the heating of your Rockville home.  Some rooms remain comfortable while the rise and fall of temperatures in others may be more radical or remain too cool.

Monitoring the Flow

By turning the thermostat higher, the furnace will engage and begin to force air to the registers.

Most registers have adjustable slats that can be rotated to allow more or less flow.  Checking to make sure all are fully open is the first step.  There is usually a lever or gear in obvious view.

Make sure all registers are free to allow air movement and not blocked by furniture or carpets.

After testing with your hand to see if there is adequate air flow, using an infrared or dial thermometer will more accurately identify if there are differences from register to register which could indicate a blockage of some sort in the vent or a problem with the system at the furnace.

Solutions

Furnaces should be maintained on a yearly basis by contracting with a company like Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating who can regularly change the filters, inspect the internal elements and ensure proper and efficient functioning of this most important part of your Rockville home.

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Purify the air in your home with the Air Knight

Friday, March 9th, 2012

Kill bacteria, mold, and odor  in every square foot of you home. Now the same technology used by the US Government, hospitals, cruise ships, and restaurant chains is brought to your home by Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating through Carrier Enterprises. The Air Knight’s Ultra-Violet Light technology works to purify the air in your home, noticeably increasing indoor air quality. This PHI Cell technology provides, “low energy air purification that has been proven to kill mold, odors, bacteria, and 88% of an airborne sneeze at three feet. Also VOCs, viruses and up to 99% of MRSA, H1N1 and the Norwalk Virus, to name a few”.

 

You probably know that there’s plenty of pollution in the air outside. But did you know that there could very well be even more in the air trapped inside your home? In fact government agencies from around the globe have named indoor air pollution as one of the major health risks we all face today. There are many reasons why your indoor air quality may be compromised, but there is something you can do about it.

If you live in the metropolitan Washington, DC area, investing in one of the many indoor air purification systems that Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating carries is a great way to start improving the quality of the air your family is breathing in every day. You may not have noticed that the quality of your indoor air was poor to begin with, but you’re sure to notice the difference when you have one of these systems in place to improve it.

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Kensington HVAC Question: What Is Air Purification?

Wednesday, March 7th, 2012

The air around us is getting more and more polluted these days in Kensington, and people are trying to do more and more to combat it. Cars come with ratings like “ultra-low emission vehicle” and windmills generate power from moving air rather than burning coal. No doubt, these efforts help, but if you want to take an active role in improving the quality of air in your own home, consider an air purification system.

Simply put, air purification is the process of removing contaminants and pollutants from the air. There are a number of devices on the market that can purify the air in your Kensington home. While anyone can enjoy the benefits of cleaner air, they are of particular utility for people which suffer from asthma or allergies, or who live in areas with higher concentrations of outdoor air pollution.

There are three main kinds of air purifiers, categorized by the kind of technology they use:

  1. HEPA filtration
  2. Negative ion generation
  3. Electrostatic precipitation

HEPA filtration purifiers simply filter the air that passes through them using a sieve-like filter or series of filters. Depending on the efficiency of the device and the filter, some of these purifiers can trap not only solid and like particles, but also gases and odors. One advantage of this type of purifier is that the HEPA filters can last for years before they need to be changed.

Negative ion generation and electrostatic precipitation models are more complicated and technical because of the technology they use. Consult with a professional to choose which kind of technology is best for your needs, depending on the air quality problem you are experiencing. Some air purifiers can trap bacteria, viruses, fungi or chemicals, so there is bound to be one that will suit your needs.

After deciding on which type of technology you need, you will also have to choose whether you want a portable air purifier unit or a central system that covers the whole house. Obviously the former works well if you are only concerned about the air in a room or two, while the latter is better if you have chronic asthma or a more widespread air quality problem.

If you have any questions about how to improve the air quality in your house, give Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating a call today!

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Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show

Friday, March 2nd, 2012

Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating will be exhibiting at this year’s Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show. The show runs March 9th, 10th, and 11th at the Discovery Sports Center at Maryland SoccerPlex in Germantown (Boyds). The Home Show is an excellent resource for anyone looking to update, remodel, or build their dream home. Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating will be in booth number 121. Stop by and learn about our new 15 year Warranty Program. Our booth will have all of the latest Amana equipment on display and running, Home Show specials, and information for all of your heating and cooling needs.

Suburban Maryland Spring Home Show
March 9, 10, 11 2012

Discovery Sports Center at Maryland SoccerPlex
18031 Central Park Circle
Germantown (Boyds), MD 20841

Friday, Match 9, 11am-8pm
Saturday, March 10, 10am-8pm
Sunday, March 11, 10am-6pm

Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating, LLC was founded in 1995 dedicated to residential air conditioning and heating problem solving. Tuckers Air Conditioning and Heating proudly serves Montgomery County, Maryland and vicinity.

The mission of Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating is to provide high quality, efficient and professional services in an innovative manner that exceeds the expectations of our customers and surpasses all others in the HVAC industry. Our mission is exemplified by our motto: “Customer Service is your Right and Our Commitment”

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