May 8, 2018
With summer just around the bend, it can be easy to focus on all the fun things you plan to do and less on the more boring tasks at home. One thing a lot of folks overlook during warmer weather is home maintenance, and more specifically, keeping their air conditioners running smoothly.
Air conditioners, like any appliance, can break down over time. But an air conditioning maintenance plan can help ensure your unit stays on the job no matter how hot it gets outside. And a maintenance plan can benefit you in a few other ways, too.
Worry-Free Maintenance
Purchasing a maintenance plan for your air conditioner means you’ll always have scheduled maintenance visits on the books. If you’re the forgetful type, knowing that your repair specialist is already set up to come by can let you focus on the more important things in life. And regular AC checkups can help identify issues with your unit before they become something worse — and something far more expensive.
Lower Energy Bills
Who doesn’t want to save money? If your air conditioner has a problem, it could drive up your energy costs for months without you ever knowing. Regular visits through a maintenance plan can diagnose issues and correct them before your electric bill gets too out of hand. When your air conditioner is at peak performance, it can cool the air in your home more efficiently, and as a result, use less energy. And less energy is MUCH more friendly to your wallet..
Longer Lifespan for Your AC
What’s more expensive than repairing your air conditioner? Replacing it all together. Keeping your AC well maintained can extend its lifespan significantly, enabling you to spend money on other things around the house, or perhaps a nice vacation for you and your family.
Visit Commonwealth Heating & Cooling to learn more about our air conditioning maintenance plans or call (703) 436-8028.
Apr 19, 2018
The indoor air quality experts at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cite particulate matter as one of the most harmful types of air pollution in most homes and businesses. Modern air purifiers can remove particles from your indoor air to provide you with a healthier environment and to protect the health of your family members and employees. Here are some of the most important functions of air purifiers in the Alexandria, Virginia, area.
Reducing Particulate Pollution
Your indoor air can contain a large number of particles that can affect your health. These particles include dust, soot, pollen, dust mites and mold. Installing an air purification system can often eliminate these pollutants to provide a cleaner, safer indoor environment. Reducing the number of particles in the air can be beneficial for people with allergies or respiratory conditions and can reduce physical stress on older people, children and babies.
Battling Bacteria and Viruses
Modern air purification systems can also eliminate bacteria and viruses that could otherwise spread through your home or office spaces. These systems work hand-in-hand with your air conditioner and use advanced germicidal technologies to clean your indoor air in the most effective way possible.
Eliminating Odors
Your air purification system can also eliminate odors by cleaning your air effectively and trapping these pollutants in filters or destroying them outright. This can help you enjoy the freshest and most wholesome indoor air in your Virginia home or business enterprise.
The friendly and knowledgeable experts at Commonwealth Cooling & Heating, can provide you with professional guidance on the right solutions for improving indoor air quality. We are proud to be a Bryant Factory Authorized Dealer and to offer a wide range of solutions designed to suit your needs and your budget. To learn more about our air purifiers or any of our other indoor air quality solutions, call us today at 703-436-8028 to schedule an appointment with us. We look forward to the opportunity to work with you.
Mar 26, 2018
Rather than using words, your property uses other means to indicate when something is wrong. Heat loss is an evident problem when your energy bill is too high during the winter. Air leakage can happen through several means, but your doors and windows are two primary channels. While these structures can last for 20 years or longer, weather and other factors can make them age faster. Replacing the old and worn ones can reduce heat loss and lower your energy bill.
Installing New Windows
The way that modern, energy-efficient windows are made allows you to recoup the cost of replacing your old windows. When you select the right ones for your home or business, they can reduce your cooling, heating and even lighting costs.
Passive solar design strategies use solar energy to generate cooling, heating and lighting for buildings. The regional climate and location determine the best design strategy for your area. However, the goal is to maximize solar heat gain in the winter while minimizing it in the summer.
In addition, energy performance ratings continue to improve for windows. Glass and glazing technologies have advanced to the point where designers can specify certain types of windows based on building design, climate and orientation. How the windows operate can also prevent heat loss.
Getting New Doors
Old exterior doors can contribute to air leakage more than windows, especially when they aren’t properly sealed, installed and insulated. Although weatherstripping can reduce heat loss, sometimes it’s more cost efficient to replace the doors.
Modern exterior doors have better insulation and often fit better. One of the most common types has a polyurethane foam insulation, which is surrounded with a steel skin. The weatherstripping is usually a magnetic strip similar to that on a refrigerator.
Doors with glass in them lose more heat than other exterior doors, but sliding glass doors are the worst. It’s a good investment to replace them with doors that have multiple glass layers or that have low-conductivity gases or low-emissivity coatings between the layers.
Prevent Heat Loss in Other Ways
Do you want more ways to reduce heat loss in your home or business? You can find more on Commonwealth Cooling & Heating’s page about sealing air leaks, or call (703) 436-8028.
Feb 27, 2018
With warm temperatures right around the corner, your furnace is probably the last thing on your mind. But when it comes to heating maintenance, now is the perfect time to make sure all systems are still go. Even if you aren’t handy around the house, there are things you can do to keep your HVAC unit running like new.
Below is a checklist of the three most important things you can do to maintain your heating unit.
Change the Air Filters
Air filters are a central, but often forgotten a key component of your HVAC unit.
Clean filters are your first line of defense against allergens, such pollen, dust and pet dander. They trap these contaminants and keep them from circulating throughout your home. When air filters are dirty or clogged, the temperature sensors inside your HVAC system may not work properly. Excessive cycling shortens the lifespan of your unit and can even increase your monthly electric bill.
Seal Air Leaks
Air leaks around your home and ductwork cause your HVAC unit to work harder than it needs to. Seal any air leaks you find around the ducts and make sure they are properly insulated. In addition, look for air leaks around your windows and doors and repair if needed. Even small drafts can cause your HVAC to run more than it needs to.
Perform a Visual Inspection
Check your heating and cooling system regularly for potential issues. Catching issues early prevents expensive repairs down the road. Water leaks, frozen coils and or dirty evaporator coils definitely warrant a service call.
As a homeowner, there are a number of things you can do to extend the life of your heating and cooling unit. To schedule a service call to keep your HVAC running efficiently as possible, contact us today at 703-436-8028.
Jan 28, 2018
The flu is no fun, but improving the quality of your indoor air can help to keep flu germs, viruses, chemical contaminants, allergens and other indoor air pollution at bay. Poor indoor air quality is largely due to insufficient ventilation in tightly sealed Lorton, Virginia, homes. Whole-house ventilators can greatly reduce the presence of airborne contaminants by moving stale air outside and bringing fresh air inside, but there are other ways to clean up indoor air as well. Here’s how to make your Lorton home a healthier place this winter:
Supplement Your HVAC With an Air Cleaner
Air cleaners get rid of indoor air pollution by trapping contaminants in a built-in HVAC filtration system. The filters are installed between the air return duct and your furnace. As indoor air passes through ductwork, contaminants are trapped in the filter and removed from indoor air. Air cleaners are great at removing larger particles and allergens like dust, dust mites, pet dander and pollen. Air cleaners are good for your HVAC because they reduce the amount of dirt and dust that collects on your equipment and interferes with system efficiency.
Consider Adding an Air Purifier
It’s easy to confuse air cleaners with air purifiers. Both clean your indoor air, but they do it differently. Whereas air cleaners trap airborne particles in a filter, air purifiers zap contaminants with ozone, negative ions or UV lights. Like air cleaners, air purifiers are installed in ductwork; unlike air cleaners, they can get rid of very small airborne contaminants like spores, viruses, bacteria, cigarette smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and household chemical cleaners.
Install UV Lights
UV lamps are a type of air purifier that kills airborne contaminants as indoor air is circulated through the ductwork system. The lamps are particularly effective against biological pollutants like mold, mildew, spores, viruses, bacteria and other microbes that can grow in the moist environment of your HVAC and blow into your home. UV lights can assist your HVAC equipment by enhancing air flow and helping with system efficiency.
To learn more about eliminating allergens and pathogens that can compromise the health of your family, visit Commonwealth Cooling & Heating, LLC, or call us at (703) 436-8028 to schedule no-cost indoor air quality testing.
Dec 13, 2017
The sounds coming from your Lorton, Virginia, heating system can tell you when the unit has health issues. With new systems, you should hear a soft humming in the background. As heaters age, they may start to make a bit more noise, but if they make dramatic or uncharacteristic noises out of nowhere, it’s usually an indication that a repair is needed. Here are three noises you shouldn’t be hearing:
1. Clicking
Rapid, ongoing clicking at startup or shutdown usually means an electrical issue. It could be a defective relay or a problem with the controls or the thermostat. Worn bearings can cause clicking, and if the bearings go, you’ll need a new motor. Random clicking can mean gas issues or that the pilot light or wiring isn’t functioning properly. If you have an older, oil-burning furnace, clicking can mean a loose fan or dirt buildup on the fan blades.
2. Banging or Rattling
Noisy banging means that a part is loose or damaged. Loose parts like screws or bolts knocking around inside your heating system can cause extensive damage to other components. The blower, fan or motor mounts could be out of alignment or the blower assembly might be loose.
3. Whining, Screeching or Squealing
Shrill screeching or squealing during operation are usually caused by the blower system, blower motors or belts that have slipped their settings or are worn out. The blower wheel and housing will squeal if it’s malfunctioning or if there are motor bearing issues.
If your heating system is making distressing noises, turn it off and call an experienced HVAC service technician. Commonwealth Cooling & Heating, LLC, is always here for heating repair emergencies. Call us at (703) 436-8028 to schedule emergency heat pump or furnace service in Lorton, Virginia.
