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

Heating Tip: Early Warning Signs of Heating System Problems

Monday, November 26th, 2012

Heating systems function best and last longest when they are well maintained. Homeowners sometimes wait until a break-down in the heating system of their home before addressing a problem.  These types of repairs are usually costly, and can weaken the overall functionality of a heating system.  By keeping an eye out for early warning signs that your heating system may be in need of maintenance or repair, you will save money and extend the life of the heater.

Here are early warning signs to look out for:

Heat Pumps

Proper air flow is essential for any heating system to work well, including heat pumps. If you believe there is an inconsistency in air flow from your heat pump, or you feel air leaks coming from ducts, it is a good idea to call a professional to inspect it. An HVAC contractor can check to see that the air is moving properly throughout the system. It is a good idea to have your coils cleaned on your heat pump, because if they are dirty or clogged it can prevent good air flow.

Boilers

There are a few early warning signs that your boiler may be in need of maintenance.  If you notice a decrease in heat being produced, something may have happened inside the boiler to reduce the hot water levels. You can check the pressure gauge, or call a technician to do so, to see if that is culprit. If there is a problem with the radiator within the boiler, you may hear a hissing sound or there may be a lack of heat if this is the case. Problems with the radiator will require an HVAC technician to fix it.

If you notice that your gas boiler’s pilot light has gone out that may indicate a gas flow problem within the system. Call an HVAC technician, who should be able to easily fix the issue. And if you notice any water leakage coming from your boiler, that can lead to problems with temperature control.

If you notice any signs of trouble with your heating system, especially early on, it is important to address them as soon as possible to help maintain your heater’s performance.  Call Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating at 301-670-0034 with any questions or to help address any concerns with the heating system in your Gaithersburg area home.

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5 Benefits of Heating Maintenance That You’re Missing Out On

Monday, November 19th, 2012

Think about how your car would run if you didn’t get the oil changed regularly. Now imagine how the heating system in your home will run without maintenance. Regular tune-ups and maintenance are a great way to positively impact the heating system in your home. To show just how beneficial regular maintenance can be, we’ve put together 5 benefits that you might be missing out on without it.

Reduced Repair Costs

One of the main benefits of regular maintenance is that it can potentially reduce the amount of repairs that are needed for your heating system. When you have a professional heating technician looking over your equipment on a regular basis, they can find small problems before they turn into larger, more expensive repairs.

Improved Efficiency

Over time, the efficiency of your heating system will start to deteriorate. This is just a natural part of life. Moving parts start to wear down and they cause the system to have to work harder to accomplish tasks. Regular heating maintenance is a good option for slowing that process down. During their maintenance visits, the technician will lubricate moving parts, replace worn belts and generally perform upkeep on the system. This may be able to improve the efficiency of the system.

Extended Life

Another benefit of regular maintenance is the potential to extend the life of your heating equipment. Your professional heating technician will be able to catch small problems before they can destroy your system completely. This reduces the chances that catastrophic issues will develop.

Safety

In some cases, regular maintenance might be able to improve the safety in your home. Some problems that develop with your heating system, particularly those systems that burn fuel, can be threatening to your health and your home. For example, if you have a furnace with a cracked heat exchanger, it might be leaking carbon monoxide into your home. This problem is very difficult to detect. But with regular maintenance, your professional technician will most likely be able to identify the symptoms and propose a solution.

Greater Comfort

With regular maintenance your heating system will probably work better. This will most likely result in a greater level of comfort in your home due to the proper operation of your heating system.

If you have any questions about the heating system in your home in Bethesda or the surrounding areas, contact the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve been providing comprehensive heating installation, repair and maintenance services in the Bethesda area for many years. Call us today!

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Central Heating Maintenance

Monday, November 12th, 2012

Do you change the oil in your car regularly? Most people do. Regular maintenance for your car is a great way to potentially reduce repairs costs and increase efficiency for your vehicle. That principle is also true for the central heating system in your home. Making sure that all of the components in your central heating system are working properly may be able to reduce the cost of repairs in the long run. Here are a few of the common maintenance tasks that your professional heating technician can perform when they visit your home.

Forced Air Systems

If you have a forced air system like a furnace or a heat pump, there are a number of different things that your technician can do to make sure that your system works well.

  • Check the air filter – The air filter on forced air system is one of the easiest parts to maintain. It is also the most common cause of problems that we see in Bethesda.
  • Check the flue – If you have a gas-fired system like a furnace, your flue is responsible for removing the harmful combustion gasses out of your house. If it starts to leak, it can allow carbon monoxide and other harmful contaminants. Making sure that the connections and joints in this system are properly fitted, are absolutely critical.
  • Refrigerant levels – If you have a heat pump, whether it’s air or water source, your technician will check the pressure gauge to make sure that the refrigerant levels are at the proper levels.
  • The fan – The fan is one of the most critical parts of a forced air system. It’s the part that actually pushes the air through your duct work. Checking the fan blades, the fan bearings and the belt are great ways to make sure that the fan works correctly.

Water Circulation

Water circulation systems include boilers and other radiant heating systems. Because these systems don’t use a series of ducts to move air, they obviously require different maintenance tasks.

  • Check water pressure – This is one of the most crucial parts of a boiler system. Near your boiler there normally is a pressure gauge that indicates the water pressure in the lines. Depending on the brand and type of boiler you have, the optimal levels can vary. A trained technician will be able to tell you exactly what that is.
  • Expansion chamber – This chamber holds heated water that is allowed to expand and produce pressure. Water or air leaks in this chamber can lead to poor performance of your boiler system.

No matter what kind of heating system that you have in your home in Bethesda, the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating can help make sure that it works well when you need. We are committed to our customers’ complete satisfaction and have experience working on all types and brands of heating systems. Call us today at 301-670-0034 to learn more about our maintenance program, the Ultimate Savings Agreement!

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Can Geothermal Systems Reduce Humidity?

Monday, November 5th, 2012

Geothermal heating systems are a great way to heat and cool your home dependably in a very ecofriendly way. In addition to transferring ambient heat from the ground or water on your property for use in your house, geothermal systems are also effective at reducing humidity levels in your home. At Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating we know that great temperature control is only part of the recipe to keep your home as comfortable as possible. The quality of the air in your home is just as important, and high levels of humidity create uncomfortable living conditions and reduce indoor air quality. If you are thinking about the installation of a new heating and cooling system and are also concerned about humidity levels in your home call the experts at Tuckers. We’ll help you decide if a geothermal heating and cooling system is right for you.

Problems Caused by High Humidity Levels

A little extra moisture in the air inside your home may not sound like that big a deal, but in fact excess humidity can cause some problems. In addition to uncomfortable, clammy air, high humidity levels can promote the growth of bacteria that thrive in damp environments. Too much moisture in the air can damage moldings and any wooden furniture or floors. You may also notice that the paint or wallpaper in your home is peeling away from the walls. Too much moisture can cause affect the adhesion of the paint and wallpaper to the walls, causing the separation. Even conditions that seem like minor annoyances, such as condensation on your windows, can cause damage as the water pools at the bottom of the window.

How Geothermal Heat Pump Systems Help

Geothermal systems keep humidity levels in the comfortable zone between 30-50%. High levels of moisture are removed from the air in your home, and it is condensed into a liquid and drained by the geothermal heat pump. This lowers the relative humidity level inside and helps prevents the problems that humidity can lead to discussed above. In fact, geothermal heat pumps generally do a better job at lowering indoor humidity levels than traditional air conditioning systems. They accomplish this by providing your home with very constant air conditioning performance and maintaining more level temperatures throughout the day.

If you have any other questions about the installation or operation of geothermal heating and cooling systems call the experts at Tuckers Air Conditioning & Heating at 301-670-0034. We’d be happy to answer any questions that you may have. We serve Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Germantown, and the surrounding areas.

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