Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Toronto. Show all posts
1

Furnace maintenance - Is it really important?

HVAC appliances are huge investments that we make. They are the appliances that are meant to suffice for our indoor heating & cooling comfort for years to come. Therefore it is wise to purchase appliances that are not only economical but are also durable and reliable. The unwise of all homeowners, however, are those that purchase costly appliances that too after extensive research and consultation but forget to maintain them. No wonder why homeowners complain about sudden appliance failures and when asked about how frequently they have been performing maintenance, they've no proper record primarily because no regular maintenance has ever been done. Maintenance is important for all types of appliances be they HVAC or any other but it is of prime importance for appliances like Furnace that are meant to operate for an entire season. Until and unless a proper and regular maintenance is performed, there is no way your Furnace will ever complete its lifespan. It is, in the given case, more expected to break down anytime with a few or no prior clues. So maintenance is important! Never doubt that. Here are more reasons why maintenance is important;


Boost efficiency - Perform maintenance!
To keep it simple, understand it like this; over time, the Furnace gets tired and dirty and needs to be cleaned thoroughly so that it could get a fresh start. This is what it gets through maintenance. As the maintenance is performed, the overall falling graph of unit's efficiency begins to rise again.  
Avoid serious repairs - Perform maintenance!
A regular maintenance reduces the possibilities for the Furnace to fall into the ditch of serious repairs from where hardly any Furnace comes back. That is because when a serious repair is needed, it needs a professional and the unit is often required to be opened. When that happens, only rarely the unit gets back into its actual position with the same efficiency. Another matter of worry is the dishonesty of the repairing professionals who intentionally leave loopholes in the unit when they're in the authority to do so. That is so that you could keep calling them and they could keep making money out of your Furnace unit.
Diagnose in time - Perform maintenance!
Did you know that you can save yourself from costly repairs by diagnosing the potential threats in time? That is only possible when a regular maintenance is performed and you peek into the unit every now and then. This can not only help you diagnose potential repair needs in time, it can also save you from the dangers those repairs could cause as in case of gas leakage, electrical issues etc.
Increase lifetime! - Perform maintenance!
As said above, regular maintenance increases the lifetime of the Furnace. Is it not just a lip service, it is indeed true and there are homeowners in Toronto that can verify the truth of it. People who keep their Furnaces maintained enjoy them for years longer than those who do not. Their units often times, successfully cross the lifetime limit and continue to operate with excellent efficiency.
There are convincing reasons why it is important to perform Furnace Maintenance. The next time somebody argues Furnace maintenance isn’t much important, tell him this.

While a DIY maintenance is a thing you are expected to do on a regular a basis, a professional maintenance is something you should consider at least annually. Professional tune-ups add further to the efficiency of the Furnace unit.

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Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

They say; ''Your Air Conditioner will stop working on the hottest Summer day''. Ah! how cruel of them to make such a statement. But in real, it seems that the same happens. Recall the last time you had an Air Conditioner breakdown, what time of the season it was? Most probably, a hot Summer day. Well, even though the bad wishes of someone may not come true for us, accidents are nonetheless accidents. They don't ask before taking place. So it is sane to equip yourself with some AC troubleshooting to use them in the hour of need. Ready Steady, Go!

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Air Conditioner Troubleshooting

No Air Movement

You must have experienced this problem at some point in life with your Air Conditioner when no air seems to move through the home. While the Air Conditioner itself is responsible for cooling the air, the fan circulates it and air handler moves it through the house. So when there's no air movement and the Air Conditioner seems on, check the fan if it is also operational. As a second resort, check the air handler to see if there's some problem with the air handler. Until a technician comes, at least make sure what problem is your Air Conditioner going through. You'd need to check for a tripped breaker if the unit doesn't seem to work at all.

No Air Cooling

Problem#1 talks about when there's no air movement at all. Here's problem#2, i.e when the air is felt circulating but is not getting cooled. What did we learn a little while ago? That, the Air Conditioner Evaporator is responsible for cooling. When the air is not getting conditioned, the possibilities are here under:
The evaporator coil could be accumulated with dust and debris making the process of heat exchange less efficient. Clean the evaporator coil. Also, check the inside as well as the outside unit to make sure they're operational. Don't forget to check the Thermostat to make sure it is set at the desired temperature.
Did it solve your problem?
Yes? Great!
No? Wait for the technician to come.

Overflowing Drain Pan

The drain pan is supposed to have water in it that builds due to condensation but remember that a little presence and an overflowing condition are different and hopefully, you're wise enough to differentiate between them. When the water starts overflowing in the drain pan, it shows that the drain lines are having some kind of blockage. Clear the lines and along with that, check also the electric pump that takes the water from the drain pan to drain line.

Constantly Running System

One of the most common issues faced by the homeowners, i.e system running continuously. When this happens, there are more than 80% possibilities that it is due to the wrong Thermostat settings or Thermostat malfunctioning. Quickly reset the Thermostat and wait to see if the problem persists. If it does, oh! The technician is on his way to your home. Please wait!

Bottom Line

Professionals are professionals, there's no denying the fact. But there are times when you have to help yourself by yourself either because a professional help cannot be afforded or cannot be sought right away due to one reason or the other. Therefore, it is good, in fact, important to learn some troubleshooting for your home comfort heating and cooling appliances. Hope our troubleshooting tips helped you out.

 

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AC Repair Guide for Homeowners

Although Air Conditioners are complex mechanical systems that have complex repairing needs too, you can always screw the minor AC repairs yourself which would save you money and restore the cooling right away. No matter how complicated the problem may seem, run through some basic AC troubleshooting before calling in a technician. Here are a few
  • Check the air conditioner’s power, check the indoors and outdoors switches and the breaker which powers the unit.
  • Check your Thermostat settings and adjust the temperature a few degrees below the room temperature.
  • Change your filter precisely, make sure it hasn’t collapsed into the air handler
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There are two basic AC problems that may need repairing

System blowing hot Air

This is a common AC repair complaint which can have a simple fix. Although there are many different causes the most common ones include:
Thermostat improperly set
This happens when you accidentally bump into the Thermostat settings and the button changes from “cool” to “heat”. Or this may happen when you change the fan settings from “auto” to “on”. This makes the fan to blow air when the system isn’t running. You can always change the settings to previous ones and the hot air issue will resolve.
Restricted Airflow
This happens when your filter needs changing. Change filters however you may need to call a professional if it doesn’t help even after the changing of the filter.
Electric issues
It’s possible that the circuit breaker has been tripped, fused or blown. As a result, outside components may lose power and inside components may push out warm air. Fix the electrical connections.
Refrigerant leak
Refrigerant line joints connections become loose which causes a leak in the refrigerant. Manufacturer’s fault is also a reason. If the appliance is still on warranty make use of it to replace or repair the appliance under that else call a professional help.
Dirty Outside Unit
Sometimes the outside condenser unit gets covered in weeds, sticks, bushes and leaves etc. Get set and clean the unit from all such things that are hindering its proper performance.
Compressor
Compressor problem will lead to the whole system to not work. Several things can go wrong with the compressor including electrical issues, overheating and refrigerant issues. You will need to call a professional help for this issue if you are not familiar with the minute details of compressors.

System ices over

If your air conditioner ices over, it will stop to operate properly. One of the most common issues is that the coils have iced over. As your air conditioner runs, condensation gathers on the coils and is frozen by the cold air circulating through them. To de-ice the AC, you’ll need the following:
Blow dryer
Towel
Air Filters

Follow the steps below to de-ice the AC

  • Turn off the AC from the breaker box of your house.
  • Turn off power switches.
  • Give your AC time to thaw out, allow at least one day or help it thaw out by the use of blow dryer on low heat setting
  • Check the unit to verify that coils have thawed out thoroughly.
  • Check pool water or condensation; if present, dry it out with a towel.
  • Turn the power back on at the breaker.
  • Turn on the AC: Use thermostat for this. Visually inspect to see that the fans are working properly.
  • Replace your air filter, this will improve the airflow from AC to your living areas.

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How to make sure your HVAC technician has performed the right job?

Ownership is such a great feeling. What a relief it is to realise that something belongs solely to you. No rent, no extra precautions, no worries or fine etc. Living in an expensive country like Canada and primarily in the Toronto, having the ownership of all home appliances is not easy. It is for this reason that the dealers offer appliances on rent, appliances on monthly installment and on loan. There are not too many people who manage to spend on home comfort heating and cooling appliances easily but if you're among the fortunate ones who do, you probably need to breathe deep for a while and feel super blessed if you own all your home comfort heating and cooling appliances with a one-time payment.

So, taken a deep breath? Now come to the point of importance. Actually, it is not about being able to spend, it is rather about spending where it actually benefits. While you purchase your favourite home comfort heating and cooling appliances, there comes a time when they need repair. Or else, a regular maintenance and tune-up, of course, remains the part of appliance keeping. The question is:
How certain are you that the technician who serviced your appliance performed all the necessary steps?

We can say with certainty that more than half of the Canadians are never sure whether or not the technician they paid for servicing their appliance performed the necessary maintenance steps or not. Let's resolve the problem. Here's a disclosure of what a technician on a maintenance visit is supposed to do. For now, we're highlighting the Furnace Maintenance. Stay tuned to our to our blog as we'll be providing you with more hacks.

7 ''to do's'' a professional technician will certainly do when performing a maintenance check of your home Furnace
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1. Danger-Danger, CO Leaks

With a gas Furnace at home, never forget that your technician on a maintenance visit is supposed to check your Furnace for CO leaks. If he doesn't tell you that you're breathing safe air or doesn't have any idea whether or not there are leaks, bid him a goodbye as soon as possible and call a professional because.....he's just another guy hired or may be a hoax.
 

2. Clogged chimneys

When your chimneys or vents get enough clogged with dust and debris, they begin to throw back the residual gases back into your home in annoyance. So don't overly annoy them. For that, when a professional comes to check your Furnace, see whether or not he gives a quick look (and of course quick cleaning) to the chimneys and vents.

3. Air Filter cleaning/replacement

Replacement of Furnace filters and duct filters is a must. Since you're not doing a maintenance on your own and have paid the technician for a complete maintenance check, let him do his job completely.

4. Checking Thermostats:

Did you know that sometimes the reason of a sudden breakdown of an appliance is not the appliance, in fact, the faulty thermostat? As the thermostat directly affects the operational activities of a heating and cooling appliance, thermostats need to be checked carefully to make sure they're performing the right function.

5. Cleaning Pilots

Coming to the inside of a Furnace, cleaning of the pilots is also a major maintenance check task a professional is supposed to do. Your Furnace pilot might be all okay if you are good at appliance keeping so your HVAC service provider will not have to do the cleaning but make sure he checks the pilot at least.

6. Analysing Motors and Fans

Your motor is important and so is your fan. Very important in fact! Who will blow the heated and treated air if there's no fan? And, on the first hand, how will your Furnace function without a motor? So, be sure, these two components are not left when having a maintenance check of your Furnace from a technician.

7. Cleaning burners and checking pipelines:

No burner, no heat. No heat no comfort. The burner is basically a must check on a maintenance check visit since its inappropriate functioning can turn everything upside down. Also, giving a proper check to the gas pipelines is extremely important and is, therefore, a highlighted 'to do' on the maintenance checklist of a pro.

Final Note
Not sure if you get tired of all those long details or found them useful for yourself. We're glad if you benefitted from the said. Next time when a technician comes for a maintenance visit, you'll know what to expect from him and how to make sure he's doing the right maintenance.

Till next time. Cya!


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Have babies and have a Fireplace? Do this

You have to be extremely cautious if you've little angels around you and have also a  Fireplace set up in your home. You know fire is dangerous, your 1-year-old does not. Since children like to explore new things and want to experience things on their own, a fireplace could be very fascinating for your child. While you cannot keep an eagle's eye on your crawling and walking child all the time, it is essential to take precautions so as to avoid any harm.
We've thought of some practical and powerful ways to baby-proof your gas fireplace


Set up a barrier


All your baby would want it to touch the blazing flames. Although many gas fireplace setups have freestanding screens, they are not safe. Even a toddler's slight push is enough to pull the screen down. And then, the fire is all there. Danger!
The right way to baby proof your fireplace is to install a barrier or moveable gate in front of the fireplace.


Make use of Child-proof fireplace locks


You might be using an enclosed electric fireplace or woodburning stove. In this case, use child-proof locks to make sure your baby doesn't get to the inside of the fireplace to explore it. Keep the fireplace locked when not in use.


Hide fireplace starters & remote controls
If your baby's quest to explore is really serious, he'll find them anyway but for the good of him and yourself, keep the fireplace starters or remote controllers out of the sight of children. As they say, ''out of sight, out of mind'', let's hope your baby will forget to dig out the fireplace secrets by not seeing fireplace related things and activities around.


Soften hearth
If you've a fireplace with a hearth structure around, it could be really dangerous for your child. The tiles on the hearth are usually very hard. Also, the hearth edges are extremely sharp. As the little ones go up and down the hearth, there are chances of serious accidents particularly by coming in an improper contact with the hearth edges. In order to baby-proof it, install foam tiles in the area surrounding the fireplace.


Regular Maintenance
Your Gas Fireplace could be leaking carbon monoxide and your baby's life could come under serious risk with him breathing near the fireplace here gas is being leaked. Play safe and install a carbon monoxide detector near your gas fireplace. Also, don't forget to call a professional HVAC technician (of course certified) for a regular checkup of your home appliances and your Fireplace in particular. Maintenance of gas fireplace from professional drastically reduces the risks of accidents. We'd strongly endorse that with baby's presence at home, do not try to troubleshoot things on your own else you might end up worsening the problems. Ask professionals for assistance.

Bottom Line
In every Winter, hundreds of children are taken to the hospital emergency due to the accident caused by not baby-proofing the fireplace. The accidents may sometimes cause causalities. We've mentioned simple and practical steps to baby-proof the gas fireplace. Let's hope if you've babies, this article was of help for you and you'll follow the mentioned steps to baby-proof your fireplace.
Happy Winters & be safe!


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6 Things to consider before purchasing a new Furnace

Whether you're purchasing a furnace for the first time or wish to replace the older one. There are things you need to consider in order to purchase the right thing for the comfort of your home. Consulting an HVAC service provider is always the best choice, we, however, would also like to help you learn the things to consider while purchasing a Furnace.


Efficiency:

Greater the efficiency, greater the price. A high-efficiency Furnace is nonetheless better than a medium of low-efficiency Furnace, it, however, has high prices and not everyone can afford it. When you're looking for a new Furnace, better not to choose for low-efficiency Furnace merely because of their low price because the relationship goes like; greater the efficiency lesser the energy bills. Purchasing a good quality product though costly saves on energy bills for a long run. So consider the efficiency of the Furnaces when buying one.

Brand:

There's a mistake that most homeowners do. In order to save money, they choose unknown brands or low-quality brands consequently face troubles of repairs and replacement later. It needs to be understood that well-known brands that sell products of high quality at relatively higher prices have made their name only after satisfying thousands and thousands of customers. Instead of taking a risk of purchasing unknown brands, it is better to choose a well-known brand of Furnace.


Size:

Size matters! Different homes have different requirements. Purchasing a large sized Furnace for a small home would only be a waste of money. Similarly, purchasing the small wrong size for a larger home will only require you to add more heating systems to satisfy the heating needs. It is, therefore, important to consult a reliable HVAC service provider before purchasing the new Furnace.


Quiet Operation:

And there are people who absolutely hate appliances that make noise. If you happen to be among such people, another thing important to consider for you is to check how quiet it is while it operates. These days, most Furnaces have a quiet operation, however, there are still some brands that manufacture noisy Furnaces. If you purchase mistakenly one of such brand, oh! you'll have to bear up with the noise for the next 10-15 years so make sure it's a peaceful Furnace.

Warranty:

A faulty appliance if stops functioning only after some time, or turns out to be damaged at the time of installation would cause a big loss. Warranties are there to make sure you face no such loss. That's why, at the time of purchasing a new Furnace, check whether or not the product you're buying offers a warranty.


Service Provider:

So, who are you going to take services from? Choosing a high-quality furnace is not enough. When you choose the Furnace, also make a wise choice to hire professionals to service and install it for you, else all your spent amount will soon be ruined. Taking quality installation services is as important as purchasing quality Furnace since the wrong installation will bring the need to repair.


Mentioned were the points to consider before purchasing a furnace. If you wish to make the right choice, it is important to consider these points so that your appliance functions efficiently for the longest possible time, money is saved and warmth is enjoyed.  

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How does duct cleaning contribute to a better indoor air quality?

This may or may not be a surprising fact for you but let us reveal;
The indoor air quality is not as much important as the outdoor quality. Oh yes! It is not as much important in fact, much more important than the latter.
Now have a ''How'' popping up in your mind? Here you go! Let's find out the hows and whys of the importance of indoor air quality and how does duct cleaning could contribute to a better indoor environment.


Ever wondered how much time (on average) do we people spend indoors?
Ummm 40?
Well.....60?
Last guess.....70?
No no no! All the guesses are wrong! Congratulations for guessing the same what the rest of the public thinks. The answer is, more than 90%.  Unbelievable!
The overall average may vary country to country, place to place but if you're living somewhere in the corner of the map, you do come under this 90% count. Canada? Yes, we're talking about the South and North Americans in particular.

While the time spent indoors is much much high than the time spent outdoors, shouldn't we bother to think what quality of air do we inhale while we're within the four walls? A house, as you already know always has inlets and outlets. While the inner pollutants may evacuate through the outlets (i.e the chimneys),  the outer pollutants may also jump in the house through the inlets, take, for example, the opening of the door every time you bade goodbye to someone or welcome to them. In addition to that, the carbon dioxide and pollutants that may form due to cooking, smoking, dusting, and pet keeping also contribute in polluting the inside environment. Consider also, heating and cooling appliances, particularly if they use harmful gases or coal and most importantly, the system that actually is responsible for circulating the air within the room. Duct? Oh yeah! We want to talk about duct cleaning.

Air duct - What does it do? 

The style of an air duct may vary depending on the architecture of the house, the system, however, is usually installed underground. An air duct takes the air from the house and circulates it through the system installed below. The system then heats up or cools down the air depending on the weather. The air, after getting the desired treatment, comes out of the registers (openings) on the wall of the house.
Clear about the process? Great! Let's now make it clear as well that cleaning and maintenance of every system is important, and so is duct cleaning.



When the air circulates within the house 5-7 times a day regularly, it is evident that it takes pollutants and dust particles with it as well. These particles, be they air born particles, asbestos or other, stick to the fan or walls of the air duct. Resulting in;
  1.  Reduced Efficiency 
  2. Continuous need of maintenance AND
  3. Circulation of low-quality air within the house 

Dirty Air ducts cause diseases - Yes or No? 

It is yet a matter of debate whether or not duct_cleaning helps in avoiding diseases particularly asthma however like the day is clear, it is clear that duct cleaning does help you inhale better air quality and it matter a lot since you have to be home alone or home to home for more than 90% of your life! Isn’t it then important to inhale freshness, inhale quality and inhale a better blend of Oxygen!

Duct Cleaning

What to do? 

To do is simple! Run to your air duct inlet/outlet. Try removing a register to see if there are dust and debris hugging the walls of the duct. If yes, you must have cleaned it last time when the Tv showed black and white pictures. So, run again. This time towards your phone and make a call to a reliable home comfort heating and cooling service. One of the best choices nonetheless is Cosmopolitan Mechanical Services.
Happy calling, Happy winters and Happy Duct Cleaning!

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