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Heating and AC repair is a basic need for your Chattanooga, TN home, and it can serve you well in the coldest of winters and the hottest of the summer months. And with most of us staying in due to outer circumstances well beyond our control, it pays to be able to enjoy a smooth, even, and comfortable indoor climate at an affordable cost to you.
Yet there are many instances that call for immediate heating and AC repair, one being that your unit may suddenly wink out without even a single warning. Imagine what it must be like to turn on your AC only to find that a steady stream of warm air comes out. If you’ve had it on the highest possible setting for a few minutes and nothing appears to happen, it could be anything. A dirty or clogged filter may be the primary culprit, or you could have unit coils that are riddled with dirt or debris. Whatever the issue may be, know that you can always count on the professionals at Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air of Chattanooga, TN to resolve your issue immediately.
Indoor air quality is key when using the heating and AC unit of your choice. Sometimes, particles of dust or other fragments can infiltrate themselves in the atmosphere of your home, thus causing breathing and other allergy-related problems for you and others in your household.
Having your air filter checked should be a routine part of your heating and AC repair service. Dirty filters often allow too much biological matter to escape into your home, such as allergens, viruses, dust mites, and pollen. Even animal dander from domestic pets can be an issue for those who have mild or chronic asthma and suffer difficulty with breathing and other related problems.
Your cooling coils could become moldy and may need to be cleaned or replaced. There are many times when any type of bacteria is so tiny that it can be easily inhaled without much warning, thus leading to other medical issues. Those who have pre-existing health conditions should consult with their doctors about getting the right equipment for assistance, but a call to a professional can absolve any mechanical difficulties with your heating and AC repair.
Having your air ducts routinely inspected and cleaned should be a major part of your heating and AC repair service. In fact, any type of dirt or mold build up will not only cause major breathing problems but can harm the quality of indoor air by restricting the flow in and out of your home. Not having access to air at the right temperature can hurt you in any season, so working with a contractor should become a good habit to get into.
Some signs abound that point to the remote possibility that having your air ducts professionally cleaned needs to be done as soon as possible. Since indoor duct work is tricky, intricate, and complex, this is something you should always ask a professional to do rather than attempt it yourself. Any DIY remedy could backfire, as you may not have the knowledge or skills needed to do the job right.
One sign that your air ducts need cleaning is the presence of mold and mildew within your furnace or heating and AC unit. Those living in humid climates will most likely face this challenge, as the combination of heat and water intensifies mold growth exponentially.
Asking for proof of mold growth should always be done when the technician reports it. You can even ask to be shown the exact location of where it was seen so that you can get an idea of what should be done next. Although this may serve as no guarantee that your ducts have been affected, you might wish to opt for a thorough cleaning of your HVAC system when going for heating and AC repair service.
Homes that were recently built, whether it’s your own or someone else’s, may run the risk of leaving dust and debris lurking within your duct work. Unfortunately, this happens no matter how fastidious or careful construction contractors are, and having all of your duct work properly inspected for anything that lingers should be the very first priority right after a major home renovation. This is especially true of asbestos as a part of the job that was just completed.
No one enjoys dusting their home, but doing so must be done on a regular basis as part of routine house cleaning. However, there may come a time when you dust areas of your home, such as your dining room table, for example, then come back minutes later only to find that more dust has made its way back onto the surface.
Sometimes your Chattanooga, TN heating and AC costs may rise due to a tax hike or rate increase, and that’s normal. Typically, there would be some form of advanced notice, and when there isn’t, you may need to look into having your duct work checked for blockage. The air that goes in and out should be doing so effortlessly, and when that fails, you can start to see your bills rise exponentially over the next several months. This means that your unit is forced to work harder than ever just to help you maintain a temperate climate inside your home, and that is all the more reason for you to call for heating and AC repair service.
Even leaking ducts can cause sudden rate hikes in your bill, and having the work checked for punctures or holes can allow you to have the peace of mind in knowing what should be done next. Ductwork can be fixed or replaced, and it’s always advised to have it done by a professional as soon as possible.
There are many types of duct work available for home installation, and the type you choose should reflect your home’s needs and your desire to save time, money, and energy costs. Some duct work is relatively flexible and simple to have installed, while other forms may take more time and personal investment.
One type of ductwork is durable and made of galvanized piping, and this brand is known as sheet metal air ducts. Some are also made of aluminum that is typically doubled to avoid punctures or tears during the installation process.
Sheet metal air ducts are more commonly used than you think, and this is due primarily to their propensity towards being low maintenance and easy to keep clean. In fact, hardly any mold or mildew ever gets trapped inside, so heating and AC repair costs can be kept to a bare minimum all year long.
Fiberglass air ducts are coated with a thick ply of insulation that keeps your home even in temperature regardless of how hot or cold it could be on the outside. It even provides a protective sound barrier, which means that you should be spared the whooshing noise that accompanies your HVAC when it turns on. Although fiberglass ductwork is ideal for office and other commercial settings, it can be installed in your home as part of heating and AC repair and installation.
The only drawbacks to the fiberglass brand is that mold and mildew may get trapped inside the duct work, which can pose a health risk for those with breathing conditions. Plus, the fiberglass itself can release its own particles, which makes the air inside your home difficult to breathe at times. So if you have any type of chronic asthma or other related health concerns, you should first consult with your primary care doctor before having fiberglass duct work installed.
Flexible air ducts may be the second most affordable system to have installed, but they have the capacity to seriously restrict the flow of air, which can raise your monthly utility costs without keeping your home at a temperature that’s right for you. They are composed of compressed resin and other non-organic materials, but are coated in a protective layer of foil that tries to guard the air flow and reduce water vapor at the same time. Although this type of ductwork is highly affordable and easy to install, it can pose the risk of growing mold or mildew in damper or more humid climates.
Making a choice in the type of duct work should be done right before you call a heating and AC repair specialist, as this can allow them the time needed to simply get the job done. But if it’s something you’re not sure of, reviewing your options might be something you’d wish to do prior to getting a work order in.
There are other types of heating and AC repair services for Chattanooga, TN residents to consider, and choosing the option that’s right for you and your budget can be quite tricky, to say the least. Any sensible AC repair specialist will gladly help you review your options and choose what’s best for you.
A malfunction within your thermostat can be the root cause of a heat pump gone bad, and the heating and AC repair specialists know that having a home without heat during the winter is no fun. Freezing inside should not be anything that anyone should ever have to suffer, and getting your heat pump inspected needs to be your top priority.
Once your heat pump starts to lock on you, it may fail to deliver the right temperature to keep your home hot or cool during times of extreme weather. You could try checking the thermostat and possibly resetting it, but this may only do part of the trick. If this doesn’t work, then you could be facing a faulty wiring issue, which is something that should be addressed by a heating and AC repair specialist.
In fact, a new heat pump can be installed if the old one somehow fails to work or it happens to be the wrong device. The filter should be checked and changed as needed when you seek routine heating and AC repair. Annual maintenance of all of your heating and AC repair needs should become a good habit to adopt.
Furnace tune-ups should be included as a normal part of annual heating and AC repair. They should be done along with other basic tasks, such as pulling out the burners and cleaning them thoroughly and checking to see if the igniter is on and working properly. Other items on this list need to include cleaning and checking the pilot assembly, checking the pilot orifice, and making sure the sensor is in good, working order.
Getting these done by a heating and AC repair specialist is key, and this needs to be completed right before the winter months set in. Having a home without heat is a drag when it comes to keeping yourself and your loved ones sufficiently warm in the middle of winter. The best time to get this done would be around the end of August or early September so that your home will be ready to stay warm regardless of the intense cold.
Other services that can help keep your home at a steady, moderate temperature are included as a vital part of the deal, and there’s none more vital than that of an annual safety inspection. If anything, this can be a major part of routine, preventive maintenance which serves to keep the entire system up and running.
Annual inspections should be done by a licensed contractor and need to include the following: air filter cleaning and replacement,, vent and condenser coil inspections and cleanings, and general system tune ups designed to optimize system performance and minimize the possibility of breakdowns.
There is so much that a heating and AC repair specialist can do to suit your home needs. Although cleaning your heating and AC system can be considered a DIY endeavor, it is something that is best left to the professionals at Metro Plumbing, Heating & Air. Simply call or visit their website to schedule a time today.
