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Monthly HVAC Maintenance Hauck Bros

Prevent Costly Repairs With These Monthly HVAC Maintenance Tips

By Maintenance

It’s no surprise that HVAC system repair and replacement can be costly. And when you’re in the middle of a hot, humid summer or frigid winter, the last thing you want is an unexpected breakdown.

To prevent frustrating, expensive repairs, a monthly maintenance check of various components of your HVAC system is recommended.

Here, we’ll go over a simple routine you can conduct each month to ensure your equipment runs smoothly over the long haul. We’ll also explain why it’s important to enlist a professional for regular maintenance checks.

Check your air filters

You likely already know that you should replace your air filters regularly to keep your equipment in the best working order. But if you’re like 82% of Americans, you’re probably not changing them often enough.

In general, your air filters only need to be changed about once every 90 days. But this can fluctuate depending on your region, the type of filter you use, the age of your system, and other factors like pets and allergies.

A monthly inspection for dirt and buildup allows you to change your filter right when it’s needed and helps avoid excess strain on your HVAC system.

Tidy the area around your outdoor AC unit

Since it’s exposed to the elements year-round, your outdoor AC unit can get grimy and clogged with debris like leaves, twigs, and dirt. These types of clogs can do major damage to the components of your unit such as the condenser coil and can even cause system failures.

To prevent rubble and litter from creating blockages, sweep the area around your outdoor unit frequently. A quick clean at least once a month is ideal. Maintaining a clean space of at least 2 feet around the unit at all times helps stop rubbish from getting inside and causing damage.

Inspect your refrigerant lines

A refrigerant leak is a common cause of problems with your AC, like weak or warm air. But it’s also a highly toxic substance, so it’s critical that you don’t touch or get too close to any leaks.

Instead, visually check your lines for any holes, ice crystal formation on your evaporator coil, or water gathering around your unit from melted ice. If you spot an issue, reach out to an HVAC professional immediately.

Test your batteries

It’s recommended that the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors be changed once every six months.

That said, a monthly test of your batteries is a smart way to make sure these critical devices are always working properly in case of an emergency.

Get professional maintenance

While these simple tips can help prevent damage, there are many more components of your HVAC system that should be inspected. From your AC to your furnace to your heat pump, a thorough examination of your equipment can spot and fix potential issues the moment they occur.

This way, you can maximize the performance of your system and prolong the life of your equipment. But due to safety and technical concerns, you should not run these checks on your own.

Instead, an HVAC contractor can perform these maintenance checks for you, with the knowledge and skills of a professional.

With a maintenance plan, you can ensure that your HVAC units are always in top condition to keep your home or business comfortable. It will also help improve your energy efficiency for lower utility costs, keep your warranties valid, and enhance your indoor air quality.

At Hauck Bros, we offer a number of residential and commercial maintenance plans starting at just $21/month to keep your HVAC system in the best working order possible.

Reach out to us to learn how our plans can help you prevent pricey repairs today.

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Why is your AC blowing warm air?

Why is Your AC Blowing Warm Air?

By Air Conditioning

When the summer heat is ramping up, the last thing you want is for your air conditioner to be blowing warm air into your house. Your home should be a comfortable sanctuary away from the heat. A malfunctioning AC can lead to higher energy bills and even health problems, not to mention the frustration of being uncomfortably hot.

There is a multitude of reasons your AC could be blowing out warm air, from simple issues with your settings to more complex problems. In this post, we will examine some of the most common causes and how you can resolve them.

Your thermostat is on the wrong setting

Check your thermostat to make sure you’re using the right settings. It seems obvious, but it can be easy to overlook or accidentally select the wrong option. Your thermostat should be set to “cool”, and your fan should be set to “auto,” not “on.”

If your fan is set to “on,” it will be blowing air through your home constantly, even when your AC is not producing cool air. Changing your setting to “auto” means the fan will only blow air through your registers when your AC is actively cooling your house, preventing warm air from being circulated.

Your refrigerant is leaking

One of the most common causes of warm air blowing from your AC is low refrigerant. Refrigerant cycles through your indoor and outdoor AC unit, absorbing the heat from inside your home and expelling it outside.

Your refrigerant lines are a closed system, so a low level of refrigerant indicates that there is likely a leak somewhere in your unit. If your evaporator coils are frozen over, but your AC is producing only warm air, that is a good sign there is a leak. Since refrigerant is a dangerous chemical, do not attempt to fix the leak on your own. Instead, reach out to a trusted HVAC professional to resolve the problem.

Your evaporator or condenser coils are dirty

Your system’s evaporator coils, on your indoor unit, and condenser coils, on your outdoor unit, can become dirty and clogged. Your outdoor unit is especially vulnerable to clogs due to outside dirt and debris. When that happens, air cannot flow freely through your system or effectively cool your house.

Regular maintenance checks are the key to keeping your AC coils clean and working properly. A professional technician can get rid of any dirt or grime that may be affecting your system’s performance. In addition, make sure to keep the area around your outdoor unit clean and tidy to prevent debris like leaves or grass from getting into your system and causing blockages.

Your air filter is clogged

A dirty or clogged air filter may not directly cause warm air to blow through your home, but it can lead to clogged coils. As mentioned above, if your system’s coils are blocked, air cannot flow properly through your unit to cool your home.

Checking your air filter regularly, at least every 30-90 days, is essential to keep your AC in good working condition. Regular filter replacements not only prevent your coils from clogging but help keep your indoor air quality (IAQ) levels high.

Your compressor is faulty

The compressor is one of the most critical elements of your AC unit. It helps move the air through your system and keeps it running efficiently. It turns refrigerant from a low-pressure gas to a high-pressure, high-temperature gas to release the heat it has absorbed from inside your home to the outdoors.

The older your AC unit, the harder your compressor must work to function properly. Over time, this increasing strain could trip your breaker and cause your AC to blow warm air. Blockages due to rust or other contaminants can also occur. Since compressor issues can be challenging to diagnose, enlist a professional to inspect your unit if you suspect your compressor has a problem.

Need help with your AC?

If your air conditioner is having trouble properly cooling your house, reach out to us at Hauck Bros. Our experienced HVAC technicians can diagnose and resolve problems with your unit, as well as provide routine maintenance services to keep your system in the best condition year-round. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you keep your home cool and comfortable.

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5 Reasons to Clean Your AC Condenser This Summer

By Air Conditioning, Cooling, Maintenance

5 Reasons to Clean Your AC Condenser This Summer

Your air conditioner’s condenser is a vital component of your AC unit. Keeping it clean and free of debris is essential to ensuring your AC is working properly and maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your home.

As spring turns into summer and your AC usage increases, it’s important to check your condenser for dirt and debris. Around this time, leaves and other plant debris, particularly cottonwood, begin to blow through the air and clog up your system. This can reduce your AC’s efficiency, increasing energy bills and potentially causing lasting damage to your unit.

Cleaning your condenser is a painless way to prepare your system for effectively running all season long. A clean condenser helps your AC stay energy-efficient and can save you money in the process.

What is an AC condenser?

The condenser is the outdoor unit of your air conditioning system. It is the part of your system that transfers indoor heat to the outside, or vice versa, depending on the time of year. During the summer, the condenser coil collects the heat from the inside of your home and expels it outdoors to keep your house cool.

Why should I have my condenser cleaned?

1. It optimizes your AC’s performance.

If your AC condenser is dirty, it must work harder to effectively cool your home. Heat can become trapped in the condenser coil, which reduces your energy efficiency and makes it more difficult to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. Cleaning your condenser allows your system to maximize its performance.

2. It reduces your energy costs.

An inefficient system can cause your energy bill to inflate. Your AC unit has to put in more effort when your condenser is dirty, and that leads to higher usage and costs. Once your condenser is free from dirt and debris, your energy bills will likely decrease.

3. It keeps your system in good shape.

Enlisting a professional to clean your condenser not only maximizes your system’s performance but also prevents frustrating, costly breakdowns. Debris that gets trapped in your machine can wear down your system or cause lasting damage, resulting in costly repairs or replacements. Regular cleaning of your condenser helps keep your unit in good condition over the long haul and extends the lifespan of your system.

4. It improves your indoor air quality.

When dirt and grime get trapped in your condenser, it can lead to the growth of mold, bacteria, and other toxins. Once they’re in your outdoor unit, they can move to the inside of your house and contaminate your indoor air, potentially causing health problems. By cleaning your condenser, you are preventing those harmful contaminants from entering your home.

5. It keeps you and your family comfortable.

Your family’s comfort in the summer months is a top priority. Without proper cleaning, you risk potential system damage or breakdowns. This can result in uncomfortable and potentially unsafe indoor temperatures in addition to poor air quality. Getting your condenser cleaned will help make sure that your family is comfortable all summer long.

How can I get my condenser cleaned?

While it is possible to do it yourself, we do not advise that you clean your condenser on your own. Due to safety concerns, we strongly recommend that you reach out to a professional. A professional HVAC company has the knowledge, skills, and techniques to clean your condenser efficiently and safely.

However, we do suggest that you clean the area surrounding your outdoor unit regularly to minimize the amount of dirt and debris trapped in your system. Clearing out debris around the unit reduces the risk of dirt, plant matter, or other debris getting stuck in the coils and causing damage.

Routine maintenance and cleaning are the keys to keeping your HVAC system in the best possible condition. Whether you simply need your condenser cleaned for better performance or your AC unit has completely broken down, Hauck Bros. can help. We offer residential and commercial maintenance services and plans to ensure your system is working optimally. Fill out our simple online form to contact us today!

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Cleaning Your AC Vents

Cleaning Your AC Vents

By Air Conditioning, Residential

How to Clean Your Air Conditioning Vents

As the cooler weather transitions into the warmer months, you’re likely getting ready to turn on your air conditioner for the first time in a while. Since it probably hasn’t seen much action recently, it’s the perfect chance to do a deep cleaning of your supply and return vents.

The supply vents are typically covered with registers that can be controlled by an adjustable damper.  These are usually rolling lever-type guides, or levers on the side of the vent, that open and close the damper to manage supply air flow from the supply ducts.  You do not want to close these completely, or the system may become unbalanced.

The return vents are covered with grilles, which are permanent metal coverings.  They are found in walls, ceilings, and floors.

Your vents can harbor a lot of hidden dirt and lint. By ensuring your AC unit and vents are clean from dust, allergens, indoor chemicals, and other debris, you can keep your indoor air quality levels high. This helps you and your family stay healthy and breathe crisp, clean air through the warm seasons.

Luckily, cleaning your vents is a simple and straightforward process. Ready to start? Follow these steps below.

Cleaning Your AC Vents

  1. Turn off your unit

Make sure your HVAC unit is turned off before you begin any cleaning. Both the furnace and the air conditioner should be off for safety purposes. We also recommend wearing a mask throughout the process to prevent breathing in dust and other particles as you work.

  1. Remove registers and grilles

In order to remove your air registers and grilles, you may need to use a screwdriver. If required, unscrew them, and then remove them from the walls or ceiling.

If they are high up on the ceiling and can’t be easily unscrewed, use a duster or a broom to reach them and remove as much dust and debris as possible.

  1. Dust off registers and grilles

Once the registers and grilles have been removed, use a duster, cleaning brush, or towel to get as much dirt off as possible. To prevent dust from dispersing into the air and recirculating, dust off the registers and grilles directly into a garbage bag.

  1. Wash with soap and water

After dusting, use a damp cloth to carefully wash them with soap and water. This helps to remove tougher grime, dirt, and particles clinging to your registers and grilles. Let them air dry completely after they’ve been washed.

  1. Replace registers and grilles

When the registers and grilles have fully dried, screw them in place if needed.

  1. Change your air filter

If you’re like most people, chances are, you’re overdue for an air filter replacement. The frequency that you change your filter varies depending on your usage and the type of filter you use, but if you’re just starting to use your AC again after winter, it’s likely time to switch yours out.

A clean filter will help keep your HVAC system in top shape and reduce the amount of debris clogging up your vents and ducts.

  1. Turn on your AC

Now that everything has been cleaned and your filter has been replaced, it’s time to turn on your AC.

Even if it’s not quite the appropriate weather for air conditioning, a quick test of your system to ensure it’s running properly is a good idea at this point. In case your system is having any issues, you have time to schedule a maintenance appointment before the hot weather starts to hit.

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Spring HVAC Maintenance Checklist

Spring HVAC Checklist

By Air Conditioning, Heating, Home Automation, Indoor Air Quality, Maintenance, Residential, Thermostats

7-Point Spring Checklist for Your HVAC System

With the beginning of spring on the horizon, there’s no better time to check on the state of your HVAC system. After a long, harsh winter that can put stress on your equipment, a good spring cleaning and maintenance check is the perfect way to make sure your system is ready for the warmer spring months.

Ready to start cleaning? Check out these 8 tips to prepare your home for spring.

  1. Change your air filter

If you haven’t changed your air filter in a while, make it a priority for spring. A dirty air filter can spread dust, dander, and bacteria throughout your house, causing health problems like asthma and allergies.

Additionally, a clogged filter restricts airflow, meaning your HVAC system has to work harder to heat and cool your house. Check and replace your filter to increase your energy efficiency and start circulating clean, breathable air in your home.

  1. Clean your air vents

Your air vents accumulate dust, pet hair, mold, and other debris, especially during winter. Remove the vents on your floor and ceiling with a screwdriver and use a vacuum to clean out the dirt.

Then, wash your vents with soap and water and let them air dry before replacing them. This helps to ensure that the dust and dirt on your vents don’t get blown around when it’s time to turn on the AC.

  1. Dust your ceiling fans

The blades of your ceiling fans are another place where dust and hair tend to collect. Since you don’t want that dirt to fling around the room once you turn them on, make sure to dust and wash your fans’ blades.

Use a ladder to reach all surfaces and a cloth or sponge to gently wash each blade. Just don’t turn the fan on before the blades dry – dust clings to damp blades.

  1. Install an air purifier

Spring is an ideal time of the year to install an air purifier. Air purifiers like ionizers can eliminate germs, mold, and allergens that have been lingering in your home all winter.

They also help to neutralize odors, get rid of harmful indoor chemicals, and improve your sleep. Air purifiers have even been shown to increase life expectancy by improving indoor air quality.

  1. Test and clean your air conditioner

As the weather gets warmer and you switch to using your AC, run a quick test to ensure it’s working properly. You don’t want to end up on a 90+ degree day with a broken or inefficient AC unit.

Also, make sure to clean the area around your unit outside. Debris like leaves, shrubs, and grime can accumulate and block airflow. There should be two feet of clear space around your unit for it to function properly, so remove any weeds and trim shrubs in the area. Clean the coils and the condenser with a soft-brush vacuum and a hose to wash away dirt. Once it’s completely dry, you can turn on the power.

  1. Upgrade to a smart thermostat

If you haven’t already changed to a smart thermostat, this spring is a great opportunity to make the switch. Smart thermostats can save you up to 20% a year on energy costs, so you’ll likely lower your AC bill after it’s installed. With the current rising prices on gas, food, and more, every bit of savings counts.

Plus, with a smart thermostat, you can adjust your home’s temperature from anywhere, anytime, from your smartphone. On a transitional spring day, you can turn off the heat and turn up the AC, all while you’re at work. When you get home, your house will be comfortable and cool.

  1. Schedule a maintenance appointment

Regular professional maintenance is essential to keeping your HVAC system running smoothly throughout the year. By scheduling a maintenance appointment for the spring, you can avoid the risk of working your system too hard once the hot weather hits.

Preventive maintenance can help keep your home’s air clean, lower utility and repair costs, extend the life of your equipment, and improve your home’s overall comfort. Reach out to our skilled technicians at Hauck Bros. to schedule your maintenance services today!

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Home Automation

Home Automation

By Home Automation

What Are the Benefits of Home Automation?

As the technology becomes more widespread and affordable, home automation is an increasingly popular way to manage your home’s many appliances and devices. From the convenience of your smartphone, you can control your lighting setup, thermostat, security system, and more.

Once considered a luxury, home automation is more accessible now than ever before. Here, we’ll describe the benefits of using smart technology in your home and how it can be tailored to your needs.

Energy efficiency and savings

Smart home technology increases your home’s energy efficiency by giving you the ability to monitor your systems and appliances at all times. You can easily power devices on and off when you’re not at home and set timers for specific appliances. Lights can be configured to automatically turn on when you walk into the room. A smart thermostat can be programmed with your schedule so that you can turn up the heat or AC at specific times. Most automation systems also provide data on your energy usage as well as energy reports and tips, so you can achieve greater control and efficiency over time.

Since home automation allows you to use power only when needed, you can save considerably on your utility costs. Smart thermostats have been shown to save up to 20% on utility bills every year. Additionally, automatic lighting and wall outlets can help cut your energy bill dramatically.

Security and safety

Home automation systems protect your home with smart sensors, cameras, and locks. Motion, window, and door sensors can detect unauthorized access or broken glass, activate an alarm, and send you an alert through your phone. Doorbell cameras let you view who’s at your door in real-time and record video on your smart device. Smart door locks let you control your locks with the tap of a finger.

In addition to standard security systems, automation can keep your home safe from the elements, like freezing temperatures or harmful gas. You can install water and freeze detectors to catch problems early with your water heater, condensate pump, or drains. If you’re out of town, an automated water shut-off valve can detect leaks and turn off your water. Smart CO2 and smoke detectors sound an alarm if they detect carbon monoxide or smoke in your home.

Convenience and ease

By setting up a smart home system, you can manage your home from the convenience of your mobile device. Smart home technology is typically controlled by an app. With a quick download and a few taps, you can adjust your home’s systems exactly to your liking. These apps are created with user experience at the forefront. Changing settings, viewing your energy data, and powering devices on and off is simple and painless.

Comfort and peace of mind

With smart home automation, you can gain peace of mind. In addition to the financial savings, you’ll save time, energy, and worry – no more running back home to make sure the lights are off and the door is locked. Instead, you can quickly check your devices and turn them on and off from your phone.

Smart home technology also increases your home’s overall comfort level. On a wintery day, you can set your thermostat to turn up the heat on your way home from work. Humidifiers, dehumidifiers, ventilators, and media filters can all be set to your specific preferences, and lighting can automatically change to different modes or scenes depending on the time of day.

Let Hauck Bros help with your home automation

With so many benefits and an increasingly affordable price point, more homeowners are choosing automation to manage their homes. At Hauck Bros., we can help you determine which smart devices will best suit your needs and provide maintenance services to keep your equipment performing at maximum efficiency. Devices can even be set up to send us an alert when your system is experiencing a problem, so we can fix the issue as soon as possible. Contact us today to learn more about how Hauck Bros. can help turn your house into a smart home.

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IAQ Winter Weather

IAQ – Winter Weather

By Indoor Air Quality

What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality in Winter?

The winter season usually means spending lots more time indoors, but if your indoor air quality is poor, you could potentially be damaging your health. Pollutants, chemicals, dry winter air, and more can all contribute to poor indoor air quality and lead to illness.

Luckily, there are actions you can take to solve these problems and protect your family’s health. Read on to learn more about some of the factors that can negatively impact your indoor air quality and how to fix them.

Dry winter air

Contrary to popular belief, dry air in the winter is caused by cold outdoor air, not the warm air pumped into your house via your furnace. Even with excellent insulation, cold, dry air in below freezing temperatures can enter your home and cause problems. Not only does dry air lead to cracked, dry skin, but a dry nose and throat can increase the likelihood of catching viruses like influenza.

To combat dry air indoors, a humidifier is key. Small units are available to humidify single rooms, if you’re only needing added moisture in a small space. Whole house humidifiers, on the other hand, can help you control the humidity of your entire house to ensure that your family stays healthy, while making sure the moisture level doesn’t get high enough to cause mold.

Insulation

Modern or newly renovated homes can be nearly air-tight due to improved insultation. While insulation is great for reducing drafts and lowering your heating bill, it can also lower your air quality. With no way to escape, contaminants like bacteria, viruses, mold, and dust mites build up within your home, which can cause illness and respiratory symptoms.

Opening a window can help with air circulation, but it’s not ideal during winter. Instead, ventilation units like heat recovery ventilators (HRVs) and energy recovery ventilators (ERC) can be installed to resolve the issues caused by insulation. HRVs transfer heat from stale, indoor air into cool, fresh air, while ERVs replace both moisture and heat with fresh air.

Pets

For pet owners, it wouldn’t be winter without your dog or cat snuggling at your feet. But pet dander and shedding can reduce air quality levels, especially in the winter months, when pets are indoors longer. Fur and dander buildup can cause itchiness, runny noses, and watery eyes, even if you’re not typically allergic to pets.

Fortunately, it’s easy to keep fur and dander problems at bay by grooming and brushing your pets on a regular basis. Cleaning your house frequently, especially vacuuming, is also important. However, if you’re still noticing a problem, air purification devices like ionizers or ultraviolet (UV) lights can also help filter out pet dander.

Dirt, dust, and other pollutants

Household air pollution is more common than you may think and can consist of a variety of factors. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including pollutants from paints, cleaners, and other household chemicals can build up in your home without proper ventilation. Dust and dirt particles can clog up your air filters, and smoke or particulate matter from your fireplace or wood stove can be harmful if they’re suspended in your household air.

To reduce the negative effects of these pollutants, make sure you’re changing your air filter every 30-60 days. You can also clean your vents with a damp cloth to get rid of dirt and debris. To avoid VOC buildup, ensure that your house is well ventilated when undertaking any renovation or remodeling projects.

The best way to improve your winter air quality

If you want to improve the indoor air quality of your home, enlisting a professional HVAC technician to help is the optimal way to do so. In the fall, schedule your HVAC maintenance to verify that your heating and ventilation systems are working properly. An HVAC technician can also assist you with determining whether an air purification or cleaning system could be beneficial to your home.

At Hauck Bros. Inc. Heating & Cooling, we offer exceptional HVAC maintenance services, and can help you with choosing an air purifier or filtration system that will work for you. Reach out to us today to learn more about how we can help keep your indoor air clean and healthy for the winter.

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water heater

Water Heaters

By Water Heaters

According to the Department of Energy, Water heaters are the second highest source of energy use in the home and account for about 18% of your home’s energy. The average home uses an average of 64 gallons of water per day. This amounts to $400-$600 that each household spends on water heating. The average water heater can last 10-15 years. With preventative maintenance, small problems that could lead to failures might get discovered hopefully preventing complete unit failure. If you are in need of replacement it might benefit you to know all your options available to you for replacement. Call Hauck Bros., Inc. today to schedule your water heater maintenance.

How It Works

A Hauck Bros Inc., we offer hot water tanks preventive maintenance. Depending on the model and fuel we check and clean the burner and pilot. We check the pressure relief valve to ensure proper operation. The gas pressure, heating elements, and anode rod are all checked to ensure proper operation and efficiency.  We also do a visual inspection for water leaks, rust, and any other problems that might cause you water heater to fail. Storage tank water heater maintenance is included in our Platinum Home Comfort Protection Plan. Learn more about how water heaters work here.

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Water Heaters

| Water Heaters | No Comments
According to the Department of Energy, Water heaters are the second highest source of energy use in the home and account for about 18% of your home’s energy. The average…
water heater

Water heaters

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Water heaters come in all shapes and forms; Storage Tank, Tankless, Heat Pump, Solar, and Condensing are the most popular. In the Miami Valley the majority of water heaters are…

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Winter Ready

How to get your House and HVAC System Ready for Winter

By Heating, Uncategorized

Here in Ohio, winter can be harsh. We can get extreme cold and extreme winds as we have seen in the past. We put this winter weatherization list together to help you ensure your heating costs stay as low as possible and help avoid costly repairs.

Check out our products here.

Protect Your HVAC system

  1. Change the Filter, depending on your system the filter may need to be changed monthly, bi-monthly or twice a year, check with us to determine how often is optimal for your HVAC system
  2. Turn the humidifier on and replace the pad making sure the humidity level is set correct on your humidistat or thermostat.
  3. Make sure the drains are not backed up while testing your system to ensure excess moisture leaves the house.
  4. Adjust the thermostat to heat and set to your comfort level, remember to set the heat set point lower while you are away from the house or at nighttime.
  5. Make sure your smart thermostat is programmed to make you comfortable and lower the heat settings when you are in bed or away. We offer smart Wi-Fi thermostats where you can check the HVAC system while you are away.
  6. Turn your furnace on to ensure it is operating, listen for any noises that do not sound ordinary, popping sounds and loud squealing noises should be looked at.
  7. Ensure the area around the furnace and your ductwork is clear of debris to ensure proper airflow, make sure no flammable products are kept near the furnace to ensure your household safety.
  8. If you have an air conditioning only outdoor unit, cover the unit to protect from ice, snow, and debris, we offer covers specially made for Bryant and Carrier.
  9. Check exhaust for furnace for any blockages, if in a chimney, ensure no corrosion
  10. If you have an Oil furnace, remove carbon soot and other debris, check the flue pipe, replace the oil filter, change the air filter, clean air vents, and have the burner adjusted if needed by a professional.

Protect your House

  1. Ensure gutters are clear of any debris to make sure ice doesn’t form
  2. Outdoor faucets should be shut off and drained of any water, make sure to put hoses away.
  3. Look for and fix drafts in your doors and windows to keep cold weather on the outside of the house.
  4. Check your sump pump and if you have a backup battery, ensure it is charged.
  5. Ensure your water heater is operating correctly and not making any popping noises to avoid
  6. Ensure the lawn mower is clean and empty of gasoline, make sure the snow blower is well maintained and ready to go.
  7. Make sure you have ice melt, preferably animal friendly, to help keep driveways and sidewalks clear of ice.
  8. Ensure your Carbon Monoxide detector is under 7 years old and check the batteries
  9. Make sure ceiling fans switch direction clockwise, which creates an updraft to help you stay comfortable.

Signs your furnace may need immediate service.

  • No Heat, ensure thermostat has power and if no power or no heat, call service to diagnose issue.
  • Energy Bills rise month after month, make sure the filter is new and if still no improvement, call service to make sure your heating system is running as efficiently as possible
  • Bad smell coming from registers, if you smell rotten eggs or unburnt gas make sure to call service immediately.
  • Carbon Monoxide detector goes off, open the windows, call the fire department, once cleared have service come repair the issue.
  • Furnace makes a loud banging noise, if any loud banging noises or other noises are coming from the furnace that seem odd, call our service to figure out the appropriate repair.
  • Raising the temperature on the thermostat and it doesn’t heat up, it could be the thermostat or the furnace, call service to determine the best recourse for repair.
  • Your pilot light is orange or yellow, when operating correctly the pilot light should be blue, if you see orange or yellow, call service for a tune up.
  • The furnace is older than 15 years, most furnaces last 10-20 years, if it is older than 15 years old, schedule service for preventative maintenance to ensure it’s reliability this winter.
  • The furnace seems to turn off and on a lot, this may depend on the furnace as newer modulating models are designed to run at all times but if your furnace seems to turn on and off a lot call service to determine the reason.
  • Cold rooms or areas, if you notice rooms or areas not getting up to temperature like they did in the past, call service to determine if any repairs are needed to correct the airflow.

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State of HVAC

State of HVAC

By Uncategorized

It’s safe to say that our industry, HVAC, has been in a state of change over the past few years. There is a lot going on in our industry that we have never seen before, as contractors. The purpose of this article is to let you in and see how these changes have affected HVAC contractors and our clients.

Help Wanted

There are two certainties in the HVAC industry when it comes to the workforce. The average age of employees is increasing and hiring new recruits is getting tougher. At Hauck Bros., Inc. we strive to be a leader in our community and offer our employees careers, not jobs. We provide sustained training, career advancement, benefits, competitive wages, and strive to make working conditions better. We embrace technology and energy efficient initiatives.

We take these measures to ensure our employees are professionals and can meet the needs of our clients and deliver an experience that our competitors cannot in a time when supplies are at an all time low and demand is at a all time high.

Equipment and Material Shortages

There have been a lot of reasons why raw materials are in short supply such as ships waiting in California, worker shortages in factories oversees and at home, COVID, truck staffing shortages, fuel costs, higher demand due to warmer weather, and a lot more reasons we won’t go into. The result is that equipment has been hard to make for most manufactures’ recently. Wait times to get equipment and materials in some cases have been over 4 months.

COVID and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

One of the reasons demand from consumers has increased vastly over the past two years is COVID-19. With more people than ever working from home there has been in increase in the use of HVAC systems throughout the day. HVAC systems have been identified as a solution to help stop the spread of COVID in households, multi family homes, office, and other applications. MERV 13 and above filters, Ionization products, Ultraviolet Lights, and other products have been tested and shown to be extremely efficient at eliminating COVID.

Price Increases

As mentioned in this article, labor shortages, material shortages and price increases, higher consumer demand, and other factors have caused the price offered to our consumers to increase. We strive to offer competitive prices as the price of goods increases.

Industry Standards

Now more than ever, it is important that consumers get the most for their money so that they get the best HVAC system for each unique consumer situation.  We want to make sure every current issue is addressed and that future potential issues be avoided. Staying up to date on trainings and certifications is imperative to ensuring our clients get the best customer experience as possible.  Our employees through manufacturers, school, in house workshops, and online programs do trainings year round. Our employees are certified by the EPA, NATE, OSHA, and the ACCA to ensure you, our consumers, are being taken care of by not just another amateur, but by a true HVAC professional.

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