Plumbing & HVAC Service Blog by AW Heating & Cooling

Air Conditioning SOS: When Your Cooling System Won’t Cool

May 25th, 2020

When it comes to assessing what’s wrong with a malfunctioning air conditioner, you’ll need the assistance of a trained and experienced professional. We understand how important it is that a broken down AC system be fixed ASAP in our area. Ideally, you had maintenance done, and you won’t have to deal with any problems this summer!

But chances are if you’re reading this particular blog post, you’re already in need of air conditioning repair. Our easy answer as to what to do when your cooling system won’t cool is, “give our professionals a call,” but this might not be good advice if it’s not actually an AC problem but something else going on. Read on as we uncover several reasons your cooling system might not be cooling, and whether or not you need a professional to take a look at your air conditioning system.

Why Professional AC Installation Is So Important

May 11th, 2020

First, let’s start by saying we totally understand the temptation to install your own air conditioner. It will save you money, after all, right?

Well, unless it’s a window AC unit or a portable air conditioner, we really do have to advise against this.

The thing is, there are intricate steps to successfully installing an air conditioning system, and if any of the steps are missed or done to quickly, it can lead to problems like a refrigerant leak, inefficient operation, and even a premature system breakdown. Overall, air conditioners are very complex and require a trained and experienced professional to handle.

Of course, if you’re shopping for an air conditioner now, when temperatures are already rising, we understand the sense of urgency. Rushing into a large purchase like this can leave you sacrificing comfort and efficiency. Keep reading as we outline a few of the main reasons you should only trust a trained professional for this job.

Does Ductwork Cleanliness Matter?

April 22nd, 2020

portion-of-ductwork-that-has-been-cleaned-out

The short answer to this question is, “yes!” Of course, we’ll go into more detail. Read on!

You probably don’t think about your ductwork too terribly often, right? We don’t blame you—your air ducts are pretty much hidden from plain view, traveling through the areas between your walls and attic, so of course, it’s only natural that you’d forget about them.

Here’s the thing, though—it would do you well to think about your ductwork every once in a while. Why’s that? Because problems with your ducts, even dirty ducts, will directly affect your comfort, your health, and even the effectiveness of your air conditioner and furnace systems.

How to Delay AC Repair Needs

April 13th, 2020

ac-technician-in-foreground-on-tablet-and-technician-in-background-looking-in-tool-bag-on-top-of-ac-unit

Wouldn’t it be great if you could buy an air conditioner, and never need to repair it? We wish this were the case for your sake, but the fact of the matter is that AC systems suffer from natural wear and tear just like any other appliance.

Of course, if you care for your system properly, you can certainly help avoid emergency repairs, and potentially even delay other repair needs. How so? By scheduling professional maintenance and by treating your air conditioner right. More on that below.

How to Improve Your Indoor Air Quality

March 30th, 2020

With home health being a hot topic, particularly now, it’s important that we all do what we can to ensure our indoor air quality is as good as it can be. Without the right products and services in place, however, your indoor air quality can actually be worse than that of outdoors. This is particularly true if you have a home that was built within the last few decades. Modern homes are built very “tightly” to allow for maximum HVAC efficiency, by not allowing any conditioned air to escape.

But while no conditioned air escapes, neither does allergens, pollutants, or even dust and dirt. This is especially lousy news for allergy and asthma sufferers! Even the healthiest person can start feeling pretty bad if the air quality in the household is poor.

“Scaling Doesn’t Affect My Tankless Water Heater, Right?”

March 16th, 2020

technician-servicing-tankless-water-heater

Tank water heaters are typically what most homeowners are familiar with when they think of water heaters. They’re large, noticeable, and sometimes even a bit noisy. Because of their prevalence, most people understand and suspect that they need service from time to time—particularly maintenance.

Scaling, after all—which is the buildup of hard water minerals that settles to the bottom of the water heater tank, can have significant consequences for a water heater. Scaling causes issues with water pressure, temperature, and even corrosion. The way to solve this is with flushing, as part of your maintenance session.

But tankless systems don’t have to deal with this, right? Well… actually… yes, yes they do. Read on to learn more!

Are You in Need of Boiler Repair?

March 2nd, 2020

A boiler system can only work as efficiently and effectively as it is meant to if it is properly cared for. This means it needs to be professionally installed and serviced by trained and experienced HVAC technicians.

One of these services is maintenance—yearly maintenance will help keep your boiler performing at its best and save you money in repair costs, among other benefits. Of course, even the most well-cared-for boiler may still have repair needs and eventually will succumb to age. What’s important for you to know is how to spot signs of a boiler in distress. We’ve covered the most important signs below.

Why Do You Need a Pro for Commercial HVAC Installation?

February 17th, 2020

There are likely a number of individuals out there who would be willing to do work on your commercial HVAC system, whether it’s your heating system, air conditioner, or indoor air quality setup. However, do they have any experience doing a job of this caliber? Sure, a general handyman hired by your commercial building’s manager may be able to tighten a loose component or fix a small plumbing leak from a drippy faucet, but they simply do not have the training and expertise that professionally trained commercial HVAC professionals do.

Fortunately, there are plenty of qualified commercial and industrial HVAC technicians, right here with our company! Our techs are great at what they do, and have the property training and skills to back that up—this just isn’t something you can expect from a general handyman or even a residential HVAC technician who has never worked with a commercial system before.

Read on as we uncover the traits present in a professional commercial HVAC technician from our team, and what you should look for before hiring someone for your commercial HVAC installation!

Don’t Let Your Furnace Suffer from This Dangerous Problem

February 3rd, 2020

If you’re like most homeowners in our area, you use a furnace heating system to keep your living space warm during the winter. Gas-powered furnaces are the most popular type of residential heating system across the country, after all.

They not only produce a large amount of heat, but they do so at less expense than electric furnaces because natural gas costs less than electricity per unit.

However, natural gas appliances do come with a risk. That’s not to say they’re inherently dangerous. But if you skip maintenance or don’t keep up on small repair needs, problems can grow and you can end up with a dangerous situation on your hands. One of these possible situations is a cracked heat exchanger.

Why You Shouldn’t Rush a Furnace Installation

January 20th, 2020

This is no time of the year to be stuck without a fully effective heating system—but if you’ve come across this blog post, it probably means you’re in need of one, now. We get it—you want to just go out and get the first one you can find and put it in, but you shouldn’t purchase just any system nor should you rush a furnace installation. Why?

Well, there are a number of reasons. There is a great deal of work that goes into furnace installation, and a job done right not only keeps you comfortable and impacts the effectiveness of your heater, but it also protects your safety. Keep reading as we go over the steps our techs go through during your furnace installation. Then, you’ll understand why you need a trained and experienced professional for the job.