Determining The Best Time To Replace Your Air Conditioner

Determining The Best Time To Replace Your Air Conditioner: The hot summer sun and heat wave can make your home really uncomfortable. This is especially so when you depend on the air conditioner to keep your family comfortable. The heat also tends to put a lot of strain to the hair conditioner resulting in higher energy bills, or too hot a house. You however never have to put up with a hot and uncomfortable home anymore, Novel Care can help ensure your air conditioner's efficient enough.

A high-efficiency well-maintained air conditioner can keep your home cool and comfortable through the summer season. We at Novel Care can help you identify/choose the right conditioner for your specific needs to match any competitor's price in GTA, Toronto, and the York Region.

Dealing With Air Conditioner Repair In Your Family's Home

If your air conditioner breaks down in the middle of summer, you will then have to deal with the increased temperatures indoors. Most family members will resolve to leave the house and take refuge in cooler more comfortable areas, or at a friend's house. You however may not be able to escape the heat if the AC breaks down in the middle of the night.

The good news however is that you can get 24/7 air conditioner service and repair with Novel Care. All you have to do is call us at any time of the day to have the AC system (ducted or ductless) fixed in no time. A technician will be dispatched immediately upon receiving your call. This thus ensures you keep your family comfortable through the night.

At Novel Care, we only hire well-trained, knowledgeable, and experienced technicians capable of servicing/repairing any air conditioner regardless of the make and model. With 30 years' worth of experience in the AC industry, you can be assured of quality service each time you need it. We have been servicing air conditioners in the York Region, Toronto, and the entire GTA area for years hence tried and tested over time.

Consider A/C Maintenance To Avoid Emergencies

Having your air conditioner serviced and maintained regularly gives it a better chance to function optimally while reducing the risk of an air conditioner emergency. You could book regular maintenance appointments with us to avoid such inconveniences. You also get to choose between annual and semi-annual maintenance as well. The technician will make arrangements to inspect, service, and even repair the air conditioner on the agreed terms. This should not only help keep the air conditioner in the best condition possible but also leave your home cool and comfortable while saving you lots of money in the process.

It's worth noting that, having the air conditioner serviced regularly improves its reliability, efficiency, and saves you money. Whether you had the air conditioner installed recently, or several years back but aren’t sure of its condition or efficiency, you can contact a Novel Care repair technician in Toronto to check the system out. The technician should be able to run diagnostics to assess the system's performance, among other factors. He/she should give you a free estimate for pairs or maintenance. The technician will also advise you accordingly on whether to have the air conditioner repaired, serviced or if you need a replacement.

Affordable Ductless Air Conditioning Systems

As the name suggests, ductless air conditioning systems circulate cool air throughout the space or home – hence doesn’t need ductwork. That said. These systems are very common in most homes in Toronto. Ductless air conditioner systems are a better and affordable alternative to central heating and ventilation (HVAC) systems. HVAC systems rely on a network of ducts to circulate fresh air in the house and are more expensive to run. Ductless AC systems are also more efficient than the smaller window air conditioners, easier to maintain too. Other reasons why people prefer ductless air conditioners is the fact that they are affordable, highly efficient, and very reliable.

Unless you live in a new house with ductwork installed, installing a central air conditioning system in an old home can be quite a task, and expensive. The process of installing an HVAC system is quite complicated. You not only need to have the condenser unit installed outside, but lay the ductwork all around the house. This means tearing through walls and other construction needs. The hassle is much more than merely investing in a ductless air conditioner.

Advantages of Ductless Air Conditioning Systems

1. It's easy to install: Installing a ductless air conditioner is relatively easy. The fact that you don’t need to tear through walls makes the installation process even easier. While it would take HVAC technicians several days to get the system up and running, only a few minutes are needed to install a ductless air conditioning system.
2. Compact size: Ductless systems are much smaller, consisting of only an internal unit and an external condenser. These components are connected by tubes and a series of wires creating an independent system. The two parts take up a tiny space in your home and are hardly noticeable.
3. Easy to operate: These systems come equipped with a remote control that makes operating the air conditioner really easy. You can use the remote control to change the airflow, control temperature, and even maneuver through other settings while seated on your favorite couch. Think of it like operating your TV screen with a remote, only this time, it's your air conditioner.
4. It's affordable: Unlike the energy-guzzling central HVAC systems, ductless systems are affordable to both acquire and run. The system will also save you lots of money in the process, considering it is more energy efficient too. As an added benefit, you can turn off conditioners in hardly used spaces, and only have the ones you need running. The ability to turn off each air conditioner individually translates to more energy savings. This is unlike HVAC systems that run all the time, cooling/heating places you hardly use.
5. They run silently: Ductless air conditioning systems hardly produce sound when in operation. This means you can sleep with the systems on, and never notice they are even turned on. Ductless air conditioners are designed to keep your home cool during the hot weather while ensuring nothing disturbs you. Both the indoor and outdoor systems run silently, one of the reasons many homeowners in Toronto prefer them to noisier ones. If you prefer a silent-running air conditioner, this should be your go-to option.

Guide to Avoiding Tragedy: How to Know When You Need Emergency Furnace Repairs

Ontario’s fire codes and safety regulations require the installation of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors in all homes, but no regulations state how often a heating system should have professional maintenance. Often heating and cooling systems go unattended because most people do not actually believe a home emergency will ever happen.

These regulations exist, however, because the dangers of living with a furnace or HVAC system that is not properly maintained are very real. Old or unmaintained furnaces are often responsible for house fires. In addition, studies estimate that over 300 individuals each year in Canada perish from carbon monoxide poisoning, with CO-related deaths in Ontario second-highest in the country. Thankfully, it is not necessary to wait for an emergency like carbon monoxide poisoning or a fire to know when your furnace needs emergency repairs because there are a few indicators that can be detected before a disaster occurs.

Recognize When You Need an Emergency Furnace Repair

Every mechanical object will undoubtedly experience problems from time to time. As a homeowner, however, it’s important to be able to tell the difference between a minor problem and an emergency.

Strange Odors

A musty odour could simply indicate a dirty air filter or air ducts, but the smell of smoke, gas, chemicals, rotten eggs or burning plastic can indicate a serious problem with combustion gases, the heat exchanger or electrical wiring. These types of odours indicate the furnace problems which are often responsible for house fires and carbon monoxide poisoning. The furnace should be shut down and repairs should be ordered as soon as possible.

Low or No Heat Output

If a furnace puts out no heat, the thermostat, pilot light and breakers should be checked. If the furnace puts out minimal heat, it could be due to a minor problem like a clogged air filter. Whether or not this is an emergency depends on the temperature outside and whether or not you have another source of heat in your home. During the winter, a completely broken down heating system or a furnace blowing cold air into your home could necessitate an emergency repair service.

Yellow Pilot Light

A healthy natural gas furnace’s pilot light should be blue. If you notice a yellow pilot light, then your furnace could be leaking deadly carbon monoxide gas. Turn off the system right away and contact a repair technician.

Excessive Dust

Since furnace systems pull air from the outside to heat, some dust accumulation is normal. Excessive dust or quick accumulation, however, can indicate that a furnace is about to go out for good. In the winter months, this could quickly cause an emergency.

Carbon Monoxide Alarm

If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds in your home, this indicates that your heating system has a major problem with heat combustion. The heat exchange might be damaged or the flue could be blocked. Turn off the system and call for an emergency repair.

Unusual Noises

Tapping noises caused by an old fan belt or clanging from loose ductwork can typically wait until a repair service’s normal business hours. Other sounds, however, like the loud banging of improper combustion or a screeching blower motor could be cause for concern. If uncertain what types of noises a furnace is making, a homeowner should always err on the side of caution and call in an emergency repair.

What to Do If Your Heating System Needs Immediate Furnace Maintenance

No matter the time of day or night, if you notice any signs of an emergency situation with your heating system, you should take action right away. Shut down your system completely. Then, move your family and yourself to a safe location outside of your home and contact a repair company to order emergency furnace repairs as soon as possible. Be ready to describe the situation and your furnace’s make and model number, if possible.

Avoid the Emergency – Schedule Regular Furnace Maintenance Appointments

When you call Laird & Son Heating & Air-Conditioning for an emergency furnace repair, you can rest easy knowing that help is on the way – day or night. You can, however, avoid these types of emergency situations which put your home and your family at risk by scheduling regular maintenance for your heating system. This type of upkeep ensures your furnace continues running safely and smoothly for the long-run, without any major hiccups along the way.

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Sources:

1. Air Experts. (2017, January 26). Do You Need to Call for Emergency Furnace Repair?
2. Cohen, I., Garis, L., Rajabali, F., & Pike, I. (2017, October). Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Hospitalizations and Deaths in Canada.
3. Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs. (2017, July/August). An overview of smoke and fire alarm requirements • July-August 2017.
4. Schmunk, R. (2018, December 07). An ‘insane’ week: B.C. experiences rash of carbon monoxide poisonings | CBC News.
5. Swan Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. (2017, October 29). How To Determine If You Need Emergency Furnace Repair Service.
6. Toronto 311 Knowledge Base. (n.d.). Safety and fire prevention – smoke alarms – carbon monoxide alarms – alarms sounding.

9 Risks of Ignoring Furnace Repair and Maintenance

12 Furnace Repair and Energy Efficiency Hacks to Do Before Canadian Winter Hits

When Your Air Conditioning System Is The Perfect Fit

Air conditioners work hard when temperatures start to climb in the middle of the summer. Unfortunately, the more you run your AC unit the higher your electric bill will be. Can hot weather affect your AC in other ways? Read on if you want to learn more about how hot weather can affect your air conditioning.

When the weather is hot, AC systems are put to the test because they have to keep up with the demands of providing cool air. With that said, there are a few things you should know about running your AC in hot conditions. Let’s go into more details about the what and why…

Which Air Conditioner Is Right For Me?

Central AC systems are supposed to be designed to suit the size of your house and the amount of air that is required to heat or cool your home. The condenser and the size of the AC unit should be efficient for 98% of the average high temps in the area you live in. For that other two-percent, your AC will actually not be big enough.

If you were to install a larger system (which is a common mistake), then your system would be inefficient over 90% of the time. This is not a good thing. This is because a larger system will have no issues with pumping out a lot of cool air on very hot days.

When Air Conditioner is Not Cooling

Your AC runs more often during the hot weather and this means it is subjected to more wear and tear. You can alleviate this issue by performing regular maintenance on it, and this is why you should follow a regular maintenance program. By doing this, you can bet your AC will run at optimal performance once the hot months arrive.

However, you should understand that heat places another kind of stress on your AC. This can make it harder for it to move hot air from inside your home to the outside. An AC absorbs thermal energy from inside the home and then it sends it outside. Remember, an AC is actually a heat exchanger.

If the temps outside are really high, then ejecting heat becomes more difficult. This extra stress can make your AC work harder. Not only that, but the extra heat could end up making its way into the interior of the home.

Problems With The Component

The good news is high heat won’t really affect the internal parts of your AC unit. In fact, AC units are designed to withstand extreme temps. However, capacitors could end up suffering.

Capacitors may need to be replaced when the heat is excessive. If you turn your AC on and you notice a clicking sound coming from it, then it’s time to have it looked at. This is a major sign that you should have it fixed or replaced.

Juicing More Efficiency Out Of Your Air Conditioner System

You might need to do something to your AC if you want it to work reliably when the temperatures reach 100 degrees or higher. There are actually a lot of things you can do. Feel free to research a few tips to learn what you can do to save energy in relation to your AC.

In short, you can do things such as turning up the thermostat by a few degrees. Also, if there are rooms you aren’t using, then close them off when the AC is turned on. Make sure you close all doors and vents as this will keep cool air inside the rooms.

Another thing you can do is shade windows on the part of the house that the sun hits. You shouldn’t use the dry cycle on the dishwasher too. Instead, let them air dry. And on the hottest part of the day, you shouldn’t run your clothes dryer.

Book a service call or speak to an expert from Laird and Son today.

Furnace Air Humidifier Protects Dangers of Dry Winter Air

As Torontonians, we are well aware that our city’s cold can drop low and pierce any article of clothing. Warm homes during those months are a must for us to live our lives. However, the heat we receive comes at a price, and that is winter air that’s dry.

For most people, it’s the scalp, skin, and hands that become driest during the winter months. Also, some people experience sore throats and “perpetual colds.” In fact, the dry air of winter can exacerbate asthma, dust allergies and even contribute to nosebleeds.

A drop in the humidity level is often seen when cold weather appears.

You may want to purchase a freestanding or small tabletop humidifier. However, the right way to deal with such a problem is to install a furnace humidifier. It’s the one true way to alter the humidity level of your entire house all at the same time.

Why is my furnace air dry?

The truth of the matter is that most furnaces contribute to lowering the humidity levels. They are not working to “dry out the air.” What they do is draw outside air, air that is typically less humid than the air inside, into a home

What is Atmospheric Combustion?

This is what atmospheric combustion furnaces do, the standard of older furnace models. This type of heater operates with an open combustion chamber. It pulls the air in a home to activate the burners. As the air is drawn from the house, a vacuum fills with outside air. If the air outside is drier than the air inside “often the case in winter” it leads to a drop in relative humidity. Cold drafts are also created.

Sealed Combustion Furnaces

Many of the new furnaces don’t have the problem due to their sealed combustion. This is a furnace with a combustion chamber closed off to the rest of the home. Air from the outside is pulled in through piping. Therefore, no forced exchange of air is operating with the outside air. It not only prevents indoor air from getting too dry, but it also works at a higher energy efficiency that doesn’t lose heat through the open combustion chamber.

10 Signs That Your Furnace Needs Repair

As Labour Day approaches, it is always a good time to be considering furnace maintenance during the Fall months. Your furnace system is one of the essentials for maintaining a comfortable internal temperature inside your house during the colder months. When you have an efficient heating system it will make your life much more content and bring longevity to the infrastructure of your home.

Whenever there is a problem with a heating system, most people believe that it will be very expensive to hire a professional furnace repair service. However, that is not true!

A professional furnace repair technician is the key to making sure the heating system in your home continues to function correctly. They will also provide you with quality repair services. Having maintenance scheduled on a regular basis is critical to keep the heating system in your home running efficiently, reliably, and within any warranty terms that are applicable.

Expert furnace repair technicians must have the right certification and proper training in order to keep your worries of receiving bad service under control. They should have hands-on experience in their field and know how to do things safely and properly. A ‘Do It Yourself’ job may result in making problems worse and also end up costing you more money.

Hiring a Laird & Son professional furnace maintenance and repair expert can save a lot of money on your home energy bills in addition to making sure that your furnace runs efficiently all year long.

10 Signs That Your Furnace Needs To Be Repaired

A furnace’s average lifespan is around 15 years. However, even if you end up trading in your old model before its time for a newer model, it won’t have trade-in value. What that means is that it is not only wise but vital to keep your furnace properly maintained. It is definitely worth running your furnace until it has reached its maximum lifespan. Listen and watch for signs that your heater might need to have a tune-up. That will enable you to identify problems before the lifespan of your furnace is shortened.

Sign No. 1. You Have Neglected Or Ignored Your Furnace For At Least A Year

Figure out when was the last time that your furnace was checked by a professional HVAC technician. If it was a year ago or longer, then you are overdue for having annual maintenance done on your furnace. You should at least have your filter replaced, considering it should actually be done once a month. A majority of HVAC repair companies provide monthly services for that, in addition to being able to automatically schedule regular annual check-ups. Make sure to put it on your calendar and create a new habit to keep your furnace healthy.

Sign No. 2 There Are Pools Of Water Surrounding Your Furnace

It is possible for your furnace to leak two substances: water and gas. A water leak is much less dangerous compared to a gas leak. However, it still needs to quickly be addressed to keep your house warm. This problem can easily be identified by checking for any water pooling under or close to your furnace. Usually, that is caused by having a clogged condensate line. It is better to have a professional handle this type of problem since it requires HVAC expertise to repair it.

Sign No. 3 You Smell Gas

Unlike water, you can usually identify a gas leak when there is a smell of gas. If that is the case, then you should immediately shut your furnace down. Then open the furnace, and shut the gas supply valve off. Don’t turn on lights or light matches in your house and be sure to contact us as soon as you can.

Sign No. 4 There Is A Bang, Scrape, Or Thump During The Night

A strange noise is one of the most obvious red flags and signs that your furnace is in need of repair. When you hear a bang, scrape, or thump, that means there’s something wrong with the HVAC system. A trained technician can determine whether or not the noise will go away on its own.

Sign No. 5 The Air Is Blowing Weakly

If the heater in your car has ever been broken then you already know that air can go quickly from freely flowing to barely blowing out of the vents. There are several reasons why that can also happen with your furnace. It can range from minor issues with fans up to major problems with motors and belts. The bottom line is that our HVAC technician needs to come out and look to see where the system needs to be repaired.

Sign No. 6 Your Thermostat Stops Working

When your thermostat becomes ineffective you need to turn your heat up higher to keep it warm. That is definitely a sign that your furnace is in need of repair. The main job of the thermostat is telling your HVAC system the amount of heat that it should produce. When it stops doing this, you need the problem to be addressed by a professional. Quite often these kinds of malfunctions are caused by electrical problems such as tripped circuit breakers, loose wiring, or blown fuses. Due to the risk of shock, it can be dangerous to try to fix them if you don’t have formal training. Instead, you should call us and we will send out our HVAC professional.

Sign No. 7 Your Utility Bill Increases Unexpectedly

If your heating bill skyrockets without having a corresponding increase in use, that is another strong indication that your system needs to be repaired. There are a couple of things that might be wrong, including ductwork problems, and it is often very hard to determine what the problem is.

Sign No. 8 Your Furnace Is Blowing Cold Air

If your furnace is blowing cold air rather than hot air, this is obviously not good. The most common causes are problems with the pilot light or thermocouple, which are both complex components that must be evaluated by a specialized expert. Do not try to solve the problem yourself.

Sign No. 9 There Is Constant Or Frequent Cycling

If the furnace is repeatedly turning on and off, that indicates that it is probably over cycling, which means that it is running more frequently than it should. A clogged filter might be causing the problem, issues with the thermostat, or improper air circulation.

Sign No. 10 Your HVAC Is Getting Old

Is your furnace getting old? As previously mentioned, a furnace has an average lifespan of 15 years, meaning it could live to be 20 or die when it is 13. quite often, regular maintenance can make a big difference in how long your furnace lasts.

You know those cold nights that you decide to curl up and watch a movie? What makes these nights possible is your furnace, or at least they make them a lot more pleasant than they otherwise would be. So should at least keep it running smoothly to pay back your furnace.

One of the most effective and best ways of doing this is keeping a regular maintenance schedule. Every fall, get a preventative check-up and consider getting one mid-way through the season, especially during a demanding winter. This is an excellent way to reduce the odds of having problems to begin with.

No matter what, you need to stay vigilant and watch for all of the signs mentioned above. One common thing that you might have noticed is that most of the problems should be handled by professionals. Whenever your HVAC system needs some care, the best thing to do is to call us and make sure your furnace is treated right. You definitely won’t regret it since it can add a few years to your heater’s life, and a few bucks in your pocket.