FAQs
COOLING / HVAC
Do I Need Regular Maintenance?
Regular maintenance and HVAC system inspections are essential to keeping your air conditioner and furnace healthy. Schedule professional maintenance for your air conditioner in the spring to verify it’s ready for heavy summer usage. Many people schedule a second maintenance check in the fall to determine how summer affected their air conditioners.
For your furnace, schedule annual fall maintenance right before winter. If scheduled efficiently, your HVAC technician could check the cooling and heating units during the same appointment.
How Often Should I Replace My Air Filter?
Changing or cleaning your filter every 30 days is best, though some can last up to 90 days. If you smoke, have pets, or live in a polluted area, check it more often.
To ensure your HVAC system runs efficiently, perform annual maintenance and regularly change or clean your air filter.
Why Is My Air Conditioner Freezing?
Your air conditioner shouldn’t have ice build-up while being used in the summer months. Ice indicates one of many issues. Here are two common examples:
- Dirty or clogged evaporator or condenser coils can freeze and damage the unit. Cleaning these coils usually resolves the problem.
- A refrigerant leak can cause low pressure, freezing the whole system.
Address these issues promptly to maintain your air conditioner’s performance.
What Are the Signs of HVAC Problems?
You can tell your HVAC system needs repairs or replacement when you observe one or more of the following signs:
- Unpleasant smells: Foul odors like mold, mildew, or burning can indicate issues, possibly caused by a dead animal or faulty components.
- Poor air quality: Inadequate temperature or circulation suggests problems within the system.
- Strange noises: Sounds such as banging, humming, or buzzing often signal equipment issues.
- Power problems: If the system won’t turn on, turns off unexpectedly, or cycles too quickly, it may have power-related issues.
Should I Clean My Air Ducts?
Over time, air ducts can gather mold, dust, allergens, and other pollutants that may affect the health and efficiency of your equipment.
It’s best to schedule a professional cleaning every three years, as DIY attempts can damage the ducts and lead to expensive repairs.
HEATING / PLUMBING
Does My Boiler Need a Tune-Up?
Boiler maintenance is essential for optimal heating performance. Winter is not the time to lose heat; a broken boiler could lead to icy conditions inside your home.
How Often Should a Boiler be Maintained?
Annual maintenance of your boiler and other heating sources is essential. Yearly inspections and cleanings ensure all components work correctly, allowing technicians to spot and fix issues before they lead to costly breakdowns.
Is it Time to Schedule Boiler Maintenance?
If you’ve seen a spike in your energy bills this winter, your boiler might run inefficiently and need a tune-up. Addressing this can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance safety.
A properly functioning boiler is usually quiet. If you hear unusual noises, have a technician check it. If you smell odd odors or your carbon monoxide detector beeps, turn off the boiler and call your local FIRE DEPARTMENT, followed by an appointment with Carl F Riedell & Son.
These are signs that it needs maintenance. Your heating system is a vital and costly resource, so regular maintenance is essential.
WATER
Why Does the Toilet Keep Running?
The usual cause is that the rubber flap at the bottom of the tank isn’t sealing properly. To check, remove the tank lid and flush the toilet while watching the flap. If it doesn’t close completely, water will leak out, preventing the float ball from triggering the stop-flow mechanism. This is why jiggling the handle can temporarily fix the issue—jiggling repositions the flap, allowing it to seal better.
Why Do We Run Out of Hot Water so Quickly?
If you’re not getting enough hot water, here are a few examples as to why:
- Electric water heaters have two heating elements—top and bottom. If the bottom element fails, only the top heats water. If the top element fails, there will be no hot water.
- A tripped reset button can also stop the water heater from working, indicating a problem that needs attention.
- Gas water heaters have a pilot that can go out occasionally due to an old thermocouple. This inexpensive part can lead to a costly service call, so we recommend replacing it during your annual maintenance.
Is There a Difference Between Hard Water and Soft?
Yes, poor water quality can harm your home and health. You might notice damaged clothing, excessive soap use, pipe scaling, fixture deterioration, skin issues, or sour taste and odors in your water. If so, it’s a sign of a water problem.
ELECTRICAL
Why Do My Light Bulbs Blow Out Frequently?
This issue may arise for a few reasons, with overheating particularly dangerous. Constantly replacing light bulbs can be a significant inconvenience and a fire hazard. Consider having an electrician inspect your light fixtures if your bulbs keep blowing out.
Why Do My Lights Flicker?
Lights may flicker due to an outdated electrical system requiring replacement panels or wiring. Other causes include loose wires, insufficient power, or appliances drawing too much power. It’s best to have a licensed electrician inspect the issue.