Choosing a Cool HVAC company

Whether you’re building a new home or renovating it, your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning requirements will need to be handled by one of the qualified HVAC companies in Toronto. The trick now is to find it. Here are some questions to ask the prospects:

Are they experienced?

Have they been in business for long? Companies like Laird & Son have been operating for more than 60 years, so there’s no questioning their experience. Find out who their customers are and ask about the company’s quality of service to help your decision-making process along.

Maintenance Tips for Air Conditioners

As the country enjoys the summer season, some Toronto locals may want to consider regular maintenance of their air conditioning systems. After all, they will almost certainly see frequent use and it’s only fair to give them the tender loving care they deserve. Here are some tips to ensure their good condition:

Not Lighting up When You Need It

Gas furnaces have a complicated bevy of parts, with the igniter one of the most important of all. Your furnace may either have a manual or electronic igniter, but what if neither of them are working? A furnace repair specialist may have to be called in to fix it.

Why Entrust Ductless AC Installation to a Pro

You can find many DIY tips and guides on installing a ductless air conditioner from the Internet. While these sources are correct in saying that a ductless AC is easier to install than a packaged unit, they often fail to mention that there are still a lot of factors which make installation by a professional preferable.

For instance, a trained AC installer can determine the ideal location for an AC unit better than any homeowner. The pro’s experience can also help him accurately identify the correct AC size and capacity for a room. Additionally, he will know where to place the condenser outside the home to achieve maximum efficiency.

AC installation typically involves complex mechanical and wiring procedures that require professional skills. Using the correct sizes of wires and pipes, and installing the thermostat accurately are critical. Also, depending on your jurisdiction, such a project may require a government permit before commencing, something which the pro can acquire on your behalf.

Professional installers have the proper equipment and tools needed for installing a ductless AC, which you likely won’t have at home. Even if you do get your hands on these tools, there is no guarantee that you can use them as effectively as the pros can. Keep in mind that a simple mistake can have deadly consequences when electricity is involved. Entrusting AC installation to an expert is thus a worthwhile investment as it can better guarantee your home’s safety and energy efficiency.  

Regular Maintenance Will Keep Your Furnace Running

Every home needs heating during the cold days, which makes a well-functioning and well-maintained furnace important. To get the most out of your furnace, however, regular service visits by a professional HVAC technician is recommended. Besides these check-ups by service technicians, there are a few other things every homeowner can do to keep their furnace in good working condition.

• The regular replacement or cleaning of air filters is a simple task that can add to the unit’s lifespan. A clogged or a dirty filter inhibits the proper flow of air which decreases heating efficiency as it makes your furnace work harder. Replacement filters do not cost that much and cleaning them is a simple task.
• Cleaning the furnace unit itself helps improve its performance. A damp cloth should be applied to the blower assembly, pulleys, and belts to remove the dirt and grime lodged in these parts.

Check for blockages and obstructions in the vents and ducts. Unimpeded airflow is important to allow the hot air to move freely and out throughout the rooms.

Even with all of these steps, you need to have a professional HVAC service personnel to make sure your furnace is in fine working order. Have the HVAC expert come once a year to do check-ups and a tune-up for maximum efficiency of your furnace.

Save On the Oil for Your Furnace with These Tips

A furnace powered by oil has distinct advantages over one charged by natural gas. Oil furnaces burn cleaner and are less explosive, compared to natural gas and other alternatives. Fuel price is unpredictable and can get expensive, though; however there are ways to reduce your fuel consumption by maximizing the efficiency of your furnace.

Cleaning/Replacing Filters Regularly

It is advised that air filters should be either replaced or cleaned regularly. Clean or replace at the start of each month, as a way to get into the habit and to make sure that your unit’s airflow is not impeded at any time.

Block Gaps

A house that is constantly losing heat will have its furnace working constantly. This can be avoided by efficient weatherstripping, as well caulking cracks in windows, doors, and walls to maintain the temperature indoors.

Properly Maintain Airducts

A home is usually heated via a single furnace, with ducts and vents that carry hot air to various parts of the house. Heat can be lost by clogged or leaking ducts. Give them a once-over to ensure the material is intact.

Install a Better Thermostat

A modern thermostat ensures that a furnace is in operation only when it is needed. Choose a programmable one so that it can activate at specific times or when it is too cold.

Common Bad Habits of Shady HVAC Contractors

Your HVAC system ran into a gridlock and is in need of immediate servicing. If you’re not savvy enough yet to size up the kind of repairman you need for the job, before, there’s the possibility that you’ll come across a shady contractor who is looking out to take advantage of clueless customer. Wise up and arm yourself with some hiring smarts and know how to spot the shifty service technicians.

Making price quotes for system installations or major repair work on the phone.

Trust it when you’re told that no reputable contractor will give out a price estimate until the system in question is personally checked out by the company’s technicians. If the contractor you’re currently negotiating with does the same exact thing, release him without question.

Pricing that’s too good to be true.

Identifying this is easy if you already have a pre-determined list of HVAC contractors with their estimated pricing clearly indicated. If the repair rates are too low compared to those on your list, don’t risk it. HVAC repairs are very delicate jobs and cheap costs here often mean sub-standard workmanship. There is also a chance that this contractor is planning to unreasonably spike the bill up midway through the job with numerous hidden fees; notwithstanding using cheap or counterfeit parts which can further damage your system.

Rules by thumb.

Contractors which skip formal equipment sizing are just plain lazy. Instead of using recognized measurement methods, they only guess. Avoid them before it’s too late to back out.

Reasons Why Air Conditioners Freeze Solid

You turn on your air conditioner in the middle of a hot day, but notice that it isn’t cooling your home properly. Thermostat’s pointed to “cool” dial, the unit’s plugged in, but the air still isn’t getting any cooler. Chances are, the A/C’s own guts have frozen inside – but how does this happen?

One of the most common causes of a frozen A/C is a dirty air filter. Over time, dirt and grime accumulate on the filters and restrict airflow, thus keeping the cold air circulating inside. In turn, the unit’s guts freeze because the cold air can’t escape. Cleaning or replacing the filter can fix this.

Dirt and grime are not the only one that clog air filters. Improperly positioned furniture or any other items can block the A/C’s return air vent, or the opening where the air passes across the evaporator coil. Obstructive items can block overall air flow, so be sure to clear up the space near the air conditioner.

A malfunctioning thermostat is another culprit for internal freeze. If the thermostat dial isn’t working properly, the A/C will run continuously without turning off and on, even when the temperature’s set point is reached. This could definitely result in ice-covered coils.

Other reasons for the deep freeze may be an ailing evaporator fan or refrigerant leak. These fixes require a much more trained hand, so unless you’re trained to do air conditioning repairs, better call a service technician immediately.

When to Call for an Emergency Furnace Repair

You finally come home from a rough, icy drive on a cold, bitter night. It was freezing, and you’re looking to get comfy, so you reach out to turn up the dial on your thermostat and find your furnace has ceased to hum and won’t heat up. Your worst fear is unfolding in the midst of a freezing night. However, don’t hit the panic button just yet. Before calling for an emergency repair service, you may be able to check out and troubleshoot a few things yourself.

Check the basics—power supply, temperature, and gas supply (if unit is gas-powered). Check the main breaker to confirm if the power is on, then make sure the power in the equipment is turned on, as well. Afterwards, go to the wall thermostat and double-check the settings. If it’s set to heat, then it should be pumping out heat. If the furnace is blowing cold air, make sure the fan is set to auto, and not on. For gas-powered units, check if the meter is on, and verify that the tank is not empty.

If the furnace powers on but some rooms aren’t receiving heat, then the problem must be in the air ducts themselves. Check the filters within the ducts for clogs like dirt and grime, as these restrict air flow and overwork the machine. Clean them and put them back on.

If the abovementioned fixes do not work at all, then it is time to call for a 24/7 emergency furnace repair service.

Achieving Proper Airflow with Your A/C System

Airflow is a problem for many homes in Toronto, oftentimes without homeowners realizing it. If your air conditioner suffers from poor airflow, it will have a difficult time keeping your home cool and your energy bills low. Below are key points to understand how important good airflow is, and how to achieve it in your home.

Why is good airflow important?

Inside your body lies the heart. It supplies blood to the rest of your body, and it does so through the blood vessels connected to it. If your blood vessels aren’t working properly, parts of your body will experience problems even if your heart is working just fine. This is similar to what happens if your A/C system has airflow issues. Even if your A/C unit (heart) is working just fine, your home will still have cooling problems if your ducts (blood vessels) can’t effectively supply conditioned air (blood) to the different rooms in your home (body).

To ensure proper airflow, the following steps must be taken:

Keep the A/C’s air filter clean

A dirty air filter increases your air conditioner’s energy consumption, contributes to poor indoor air quality, and possibly damage your A/C system. Replace your air filter once a month to avoid such problems.

Have your ducts inspected by an HVAC professional

A certified HVAC professional can find and fix duct leaks, evaluate if your ducts are properly sized and installed correctly, and make repairs that will significantly improve airflow in your home.

Why Does a High Quality Contractor Cost More?

For many homeowners, cost is a main concern when choosing which air conditioning service contractor to work with. However, the up-front price is only the tip of the iceberg when you’re comparing quotes from various HVAC contractors. You need to spend your money wisely, so it pays to know why you should never choose a contractor based on price alone.

Low cost equals low quality workmanship

If a quote from an HVAC contractor looks too good to be true, it usually is. Very often, there will be a catch. For instance, some will come with many hidden fees. Some will provide you an extremely low quote on the phone only to add on hundreds—even thousands of dollars because additional work needs to be done or ‘unforeseen’ issues were encountered.

A high quality contractor will never give an estimate over the phone. Instead, he’ll send a team member at the location to review the jobsite and its needs.

Providing quality work costs more

The simple explanation that high quality contractors cost more is because providing excellent service costs more money. The only way a low cost contractor can stay in business is to hire less-skilled workers, rush through jobs, and find other ways to cut corners. Meanwhile, the money a high quality contractor gets goes to things like training and certification for their technicians, purchasing the best products, and having the proper licenses, accreditations, and insurance to run the business.

Ductless Air Conditioners: What are the Benefits?

Central air conditioners are the traditional appliances used for cooling in many Toronto homes. However, certain situations make it impractical to extend a central A/C system’s ductwork to the different parts of the home. For these and other different applications, it can be more advisable to use a ductless air conditioner.

So what is a ductless air conditioner? It’s exactly what its name suggests: An A/C system that operates without the need for ductwork. Although a ductless A/C mainly operates the same way as a central A/C, and both systems require an outdoor compressor unit to function, the main difference is that a ductless system’s air handlers are mounted directly in the room that is to be cooled instead of being connected to the outdoor unit like a central A/C’s.

In addition, the ductless A/C’s outdoor unit is comparably smaller. The cool air produced by this unit is then delivered to the air handlers (ductless A/C systems can come with up to four handlers) via a copper line set instead of air ducts.

Aside from not having any ductwork to deal with, other benefits of a ductless system include: a less complicated installation process, minimized energy loss, and the ability to regulate the temperatures in different parts of the home.

Ductless Air Conditioners: What are the Benefits?

Central air conditioners are the traditional appliances used for cooling in many Toronto homes. However, certain situations make it impractical to extend a central A/C system’s ductwork to the different parts of the home. For these and other different applications, it can be more advisable to use a ductless air conditioner.

So what is a ductless air conditioner? It’s exactly what its name suggests: An A/C system that operates without the need for ductwork. Although a ductless A/C mainly operates the same way as a central A/C, and both systems require an outdoor compressor unit to function, the main difference is that a ductless system’s air handlers are mounted directly in the room that is to be cooled instead of being connected to the outdoor unit like a central A/C’s.

In addition, the ductless A/C’s outdoor unit is comparably smaller. The cool air produced by this unit is then delivered to the air handlers (ductless A/C systems can come with up to four handlers) via a copper line set instead of air ducts.

Aside from not having any ductwork to deal with, other benefits of a ductless system include: a less complicated installation process, minimized energy loss, and the ability to regulate the temperatures in different parts of the home.

When Should You Let Your Furnace Go?

The furnace is a great invention that allows people to live in a city as frigid as Toronto. A good thing; summer temperatures barely hit double digits in April, and the highest average temperature the city experiences is 26 degrees Celsius during the summer. These conditions only mean that the typical household’s furnace will keep on running for almost the entire year.

Tips on Choosing an Air Conditioning Service

There are simple fact checks you should do before selecting a reputable HVAC contractor. You want to make sure that the prospective contractor is trustworthy and worth being paid every penny. Here are some questions you could ask your prospective contractors before choosing one.

Does the contractor have proper documentation? Check if the prospective contractor has all the necessary documents, including licenses, government certifications, and insurance policies (if any), before going any further. You wouldn’t want to invest in an illegally operated HVAC company, would you?

Why it’s Best to Have a Ductless Air Conditioner

Do you want to stay cool and comfortable on extremely hot days and not have to worry about the high power costs that usually come with the deal? Then you might want to replace your current air conditioning (AC) system with a ductless air conditioner from Toronto. This is simply the best heating and cooling system that you’ll ever have for your home.