5 Signs You Are Working With The Wrong AC Repair Services Provider

Posted on May 31, 2021 by HVAC

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As a homeowner, it’s vital that you hire the right AC repair services provider to fix your appliances.

Can you tell that a repair professional isn’t right for you or doesn’t know what they are doing? Apparently, you can, as they tend to do several questionable things. To help you out, here are telltale signs that the contractor might not give your unit the service it deserves:

The contractor doesn’t fix the problem on the first visit

Although sometimes the problem can be complex and the contractor has to visit the second time, it shouldn’t happen repeatedly.

If you have hired the repair contractor several times and every time they visit, they have to make a second visit, this is a sign they might not be experienced and don’t have the knowledge to make the correct diagnosis.

There are also chances that the contractor is careless and doesn’t take the time to thoroughly inspect and understand the problem.

If your AC technician has to make a return visit every time you hire them, chances are they are also harming your appliance, so it’s time to think about finding another contractor.

The contractor keeps adding refrigerant to the system

It’s common for an old air conditioner to lose cooling power, especially if the appliance is old. When this happens, how does your contractor fix it? Does he keep adding refrigerant to the appliance?

If this is the case, the contractor might not know enough as refrigerant leaks are rare, even in old appliances.

If your contractor keeps saying that the refrigerant is leaking every time you hire them, they might not be the right people to work with as they obviously are inexperienced, and there is no way they will keep your appliance in top shape if they don’t know what they are doing.

Remember, an AC contractor that keeps adding refrigerant to the AC is clueless and dangerous to your appliance. They are also dangerous to the environment as the regular exposure of the refrigerant chemicals to the atmosphere is against the EPA’s clean air act.

The technician doesn’t come with the right tools.

What happens when you contact the AC contractor? When they arrive at your home or workplace, do they always say that they have to go back to the shop to collect the tools? You are dealing with an unprofessional person that might end up damaging your appliance.

A technician serious with their work will always have their tools with them, and they should be able to diagnose and fix 99% of AC problems from their truck without having to go back to their shop.

The contractor doesn’t fix all the problems at once

When you hire a technician to fix a problem, do you then have to hire them to fix a problem they should have identified on the last visit and fix it? You might be dealing with a contractor that doesn’t like his job.

For example, if you recently hired a contractor to fix a leak in the AC, then after a day or two, the AC doesn’t work and the contractor tells you that you have an electrical short due to frayed wire, you have a reason to worry as frayed wires don’t happen overnight.

The contractor should have inspected the system the last time they were fixing the other problem and identified the frayed wires.

The technician can’t answer your questions.

As a homeowner, you own the air conditioning unit, and even when the system develops serious problems, and you can’t use it anymore, you will be stuck with it so you have every right to ask as many questions as possible to the contractor.

For example, if you have noticed your energy bills going up every month, you should ask the air conditioner repair services Stony Brook provider the reasons for this. Can they answer the question, or they keep telling you that they need to investigate it?

An experienced contractor should know the reasons for different AC problems, and they should be well versed on how to fix them.

If a contractor keeps ignoring your questions, you should also ignore their services and hire another person that knows what they are doing.

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Why Is My AC Blowing Warm Air In My Car?

Posted on May 22, 2021 by HVAC

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Imagine this. It’s hot outside, and you can’t wait to get inside the car to get away from the hot air. On getting inside your car and putting the AC on, instead of the air conditioner blowing the much-needed cold air, it blows warm air, and you wonder, why is my AC blowing warm air in my car?

According to Mitsubishi air conditioner installation professionals, the car AC will blow warm air due to plenty of reasons, with the common ones being:

Leaking refrigerant

When the refrigerant is leaking, the refrigerant isn’t pressurized in the compressor, and this causes it to turn into gas hence the warm air instead of the anticipated cold air. The unfortunate thing is that it’s hard to tell whether the AC is blowing hot air due to low refrigerant levels as the refrigerant turns into an invisible gas immediately it leaves the AC system.

To tell whether the problem is due to the low refrigerant levels, visit a professional with specialized tools such as UV detectors to help you figure out whether you have a leak.

If you are wondering why the AC will leak, it’s often due to plenty of reasons such as wear and tear and trauma, such as when you are involved in an accident.

Faulty compressor

It’s in the compressor where the car is getting cooled down, so the compressor is one of the most important parts of the car’s air conditioning system. The compressor’s role is to pressurize and circulate the refrigerant through the different AC stages, removing the heat from the car cabin.

Due to its work, the compressor is highly susceptible to wearing out, and when it gets damaged, the antifreeze doesn’t reach the condenser for cooling.

While the compressor can fail even when the car is working, most of the compressor problems come about when you go for a long time without using it, such as during the long winters.

To reduce the chances of the air conditioner’s compressor failing, consider keeping the AC active all year round by activating it under the defrost setting.

Malfunctioning condenser

The purpose of the condenser is to cool off the hot refrigerant back to ambient temperature once it passes through the compressor. Since it’s located at the front of the car, the condenser uses air the car passes through to accomplish the cooling.

Like any other part of the car, the compressor can break down, and when this happens, an unpleasant blast of hot air slaps you.

If the hot air results from a faulty condenser, you can tell it from looking through the grate. Are there holes? This might be the reason for the hot air.

You can also tell whether the condenser is the source of the problem depending on when it all started. Did the problem start after you had an accident that bent the bumper? A damaged condenser might be the cause of the problem.

Malfunctioning electrical system

Since most modern car systems are commanded using electronics, a problem in the car’s electrical system can cause the air conditioner to stop working. And the electrical problem can be as simple as a frayed wire or a blown fuse.

Unless you are an electrician, don’t try to fix the electrical problem by yourself. Instead, take the car to a professional who will undertake a complete visual inspection and fix any issue that might be present.

Failure of the blend door to close

The blend door is a small hatch inside the ventilation system that allows you to choose whether you want the air conditioning system to heat or cool down the car.

If you turn the cooling feature on, but warm air comes out, the system uses the heat from the engine instead of drawing in cool air. A stuck blend door often causes this, and you need to hire a professional mechanic to solve the issue.

Take good care of your car’s air conditioner.

Although air conditioner problems are bound to happen, you can reduce them from coming about by taking good care of your AC. Now and then, ask a professional Mitsubishi AC installation Plainview professional, or any other technician to look at your car’s AC and fix any issues that might be present.

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Is It Ok To Spray Water On Your Air Conditioner?

Posted on May 13, 2021 by HVAC

When it comes to cleaning the air conditioner’s outdoor unit, there is always the worry of being electrocuted due to the electrical wires running through it. Some homeowners are even worried that they will damage the unit by cleaning it with water. Due to this, you will often hear many homeowners asking, is it ok to spray water on your air conditioner?

According to air conditioner repair services providers, it’s okay to spray water on the air conditioner. In fact, spraying water on the unit comes with plenty of benefits such as:

You increase the appliance’s efficiency.

The air conditioner works by taking the hot air in the house and moves it outside. When you spray water on the unit, you lower the outside air temperature; hence, the air conditioner doesn’t work too hard. This significantly increases the air conditioner’s efficiency, which saves you a lot of money as you have a small energy bill at the end of the month.

You keep the AC clean.

It goes without saying that when you spray water on the AC, you get rid of dirt, grime and other materials that might give the AC a dirty, unpleasant look. By spraying the AC with water, you leave it looking clean and spotless, which not only keeps the AC looking spectacular, it also increases its efficiency, which significantly cuts your cooling costs.

You increase the lifespan of the air conditioner.

Like your car, the lifespan of the AC depends on plenty of factors, including how you use and maintain it.

When you spray it with water, you improve the AC’s efficiency, which reduces how hard the AC works. An appliance that doesn’t work too hard has a long lifespan.

Cleaning the AC also removes dirt, grime, and other materials that might eat on the AC, reducing its lifespan.

How often should you spray water on the air conditioner?

Now that we have determined it’s okay to spray water on your cooling system, the big question is, how often should you do it? Well, this depends on where the outdoor unit is located. If it’s located in an area covered with bushes and plenty of trees, you may need to spray it twice or more in a year. On the other hand, if it’s located in a clean area away from leaves, dirt and other debris, you can get away by spraying it once a year.

When it comes to the best time to spray the conditioner, you should do it in the spring before approaching summer. This is because you need the AC in summer more than any other time of the year so having it clean right before you get to the season you need it the most, you get the most from it then.

When you are hosing down the AC, you should pay close attention to more areas than others. For example, you should pay close attention to the condenser as a thoroughly clean condenser means a more efficient unit.

You also should pay attention to the fins. Ensure the fins are clean and in top shape. Before you hose them, use a soft brush to remove any dirt on them, then modestly spray them with the hose from the inside.

You also should give special care to the evaporator coils. Carefully hose them down and remove as much dirt on them as possible.

Does spraying water make the AC cooler?

Yes, it does, and this is the primary reason the AC works more efficiently and saves you a lot of money in the long run.

As mentioned above, the AC works by collecting heat from inside the house and dumps it into the air outside. Since the air outdoors is hot, the compressor has to produce a refrigerant that will carry the heat that is much hotter than the air outdoor since the heat flows from hot to cold or from hotter to hot.

When you spray water into your air conditioner, the AC dumps heat from hotter into not so hot environment, and this significantly improves the AC’s efficiency and capacity.

How long should you let the air conditioner dry after cleaning it?

To avoid rusting, let the AC dry thoroughly before reassembling it. AC repair services Port Jefferson providers advise you to leave the AC outside for a few hours for all the water to evaporate, but if you are in a hurry to reassemble the unit, use a towel to dry up the excess water.

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How Long Do AC Units Typically Last?

Posted on April 29, 2021 by HVAC

If this is your first time buying an AC, you must have realized that it doesn’t come cheap, and you aren’t looking to go back to an AC shop anytime soon, right?

If you are like other homeowners, the question you are asking yourself is, how long do AC units typically last? The cool thing is that well-maintained units have a long lifespan (usually 10-15 years).

According to air conditioner repair services providers, one of the most important factors determining how long the cooling units last is how you use them. Of course, when you have your unit on an entire day, it’s bound to last for a much shorter time than another you have at specific hours of the day.

How do you give your AC a long life?

As mentioned above, an AC doesn’t come cheap, so you should take good care of the current appliance, so it lasts for as long as possible. How do you do this? Here are tips on how to go about it:

Install the right air conditioner

Everything begins here. If you install the wrong unit, you will not only have a horrible experience with it, but the unit will also have a short lifespan.

One of the most important factors to consider when buying an air conditioner is the size of the unit. You should note that when you buy a small air conditioner it will overwork, and in no time, you will have to replace it. On the other hand, a large unit will overcool the house, not to mention the incessant cycling.

To avoid this, take your time when buying the unit and ensure that you buy the right one for your house. If not sure about the right one to go for, get the input of an experienced contractor.

The other thing you need to consider is the energy star rating of the appliance. Of course, go for a unit with a high energy star rating. Even though the unit will be a little expensive to buy, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

Give your appliance regular tune-ups

Regular tune-ups will keep your unit in excellent condition, so it has a long lifespan. You can do the tune-up yourself or hire a professional to help.

During the tune-ups, clean the ducts to ensure no clogs prevent the air from flowing as well as it’s supposed to. While at it, inspect the ducts to ensure that there are no leaks that will reduce the unit’s efficiency and increase your energy bill at the end of the month.

You also should inspect the air filters and clean them if dirty.

While you can tune up the appliance at any time of the year, the best time to do it is in the spring, right before summer, when the AC will be in most use.

If you will hire a contractor to do the tune-up for you, ensure the contractor is experienced and has been in the industry for a long time. The last thing you want is to hire someone that will damage the unit, and you are forced to replace it.

As a rule of thumb, avoid a contractor charging a much lower fee than what other contractors in the area are charging. This is because such a contractor is inexperienced and won’t give your unit the expert attention it deserves.

Use a programmable thermostat.

You must be wondering how a programmable thermostat will extend the life of your air conditioner, but according to HVAC repair companies Plainview, the programmable thermostat has a critical role in extending the life of the air conditioner.

As mentioned above, one factor that will determine how long the AC lasts is how you use the AC. With a programmable thermostat, you can set the AC to work less when you aren’t in the house, and as a result, your unit won’t work too hard when you don’t need it to. As you can guess, this extends the life of the AC as it doesn’t work all the time.

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How Many Hours Should AC Run per Day?

Posted on April 21, 2021 by HVAC

If you are asking, how many hours should AC run per day, you must have had your unit on for a long time that you are concerned, right? Well, the number of hours you should have the unit on depends on plenty of factors, such as your insulation, the outside temperature, the size of your house, how long you stay in the house, and many other factors.

While there isn’t a definite number of hours you should have the unit running, AC repair services providers highly discourage against keeping the AC running 24/7 as it comes with plenty of repercussions, with the major ones being:

Wasted energy: Air conditioners are one of the highest energy consumers in a standard home, so when you keep your unit running all the time, even after reaching your desired room temperature, you end up wasting a lot of energy.

High-energy bill: It goes without saying that when you keep your unit running the entire day, it consumes a lot of energy, reflected in the high energy bill at the end of the month.

Reduced lifespan: Like your car or any other appliance that you keep running the entire time, when you keep the AC running 24/7, you overwork it, which also reduces its lifespan. An overworked appliance also tends to keep breaking down.

How can you increase the efficiency of your air conditioner?

To reduce the amount of time the AC has to be on to cool the house, you should improve its efficiency. How do you do this? Here are tips to follow:

Service the AC before summer strikes

Before the cooling season strikes, get in touch with an experienced professional and have them come and inspect the appliance and fix any issues it might be having. The check-up by the professionals will uncover any issues that might impede proper functioning during summer.

Upgrade the insulation in your house

One of the factors that affect how long the AC runs is the insulation in the house. When the house is properly insulated, little cool air escapes, so the air conditioner doesn’t have to work for long to reach your desired temperature.

It’s a completely different ball game when the house is poorly insulated. Here all the cool air that the AC produces leaks into the outside, so the AC has to keep working to keep you cool and comfortable.

To increase the efficiency and working time of the AC, inspect the insulation in the attic and walls. If the insulation is deficient, consider upgrading it.

While at it, check the insulation in the ductwork. If you have exposed ducts in the utility room, basement, or garage, plenty of cool air will escape here, so to prevent it from happening, seal the ducts.

Make use of ceiling fans.

If you have had your AC on for a long time, switch it off and use ceiling fans. While the fans won’t produce the cool air you are craving, they will keep the air circulating freely, so you will feel cooler even though the AC isn’t on.

If you don’t have fans already installed in the house, work with experienced contractors to help you find and install the right fans for your home.

Keep your AC clean

Even though you should hire a repair professional at the beginning of the cooling season to inspect the unit and fix the faulty parts, you shouldn’t always wait for this wrong.

To keep the appliance in top working condition, make it a habit to clean it regularly. At least once a month, look at the filters, and if dirty, clean them. If too dirty or damaged, replace them.

You also should pay attention to the outdoor units. Are the units covered in tall grass, shrubs, or weeds? Cut them back. Also rake any leave piles that might have accumulated around the unit.

Install a programmable thermostat

The programmable thermostat aims to ensure the AC isn’t running when you don’t need it. You need to set the temperature at which you want the AC to start cooling and stop. The beauty is once you have had it installed, you don’t need the help of air conditioner repair services Woodbury providers to set it—you can do everything by yourself.

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What Does It Mean When Your AC Blows Out Hot Air?

Posted on April 12, 2021 by HVAC

The AC is supposed to blow cold air into the house to keep it nice and comfortable, so when it blows hot air, there is something wrong with it. What does it mean when your AC blows out hot air? According to commercial air conditioning repair services providers, the AC will blow hot air instead of cold air due to plenty of reasons. Here are some of these reasons and what you should do to fix them:

The air filters are dirty.

The air filters determine the quality of air getting into the house. When the filters are clean and in good condition, they allow clean air so you have a fresh, comfortable house, and the AC works at its best.

With dirty air filters, the air conditioner can’t properly move air through the system, and this strains the unit leading to plenty of issues, including the AC blowing warm air into the house.

Thankfully, fixing this issue is easy as all you need to do is clean the air filters. If the filters are too dirty or damaged, replace them.

There is no electricity in your split air conditioning system

If you have a split air conditioning system, both the indoor and outdoor components should run to complete the cooling cycles and deliver cooling in the house. When your home’s outdoor unit’s power is interrupted, you are left with the indoor components only working, which causes warm air to blow from your home’s vents.

Again fixing this issue is easy as all you need to do is check the outdoor unit and ensure it has power. You also should check your home’s electrical panel and verify the breaker hasn’t tripped, and reset it if necessary. Also, check the ON/OFF switch on or near the outdoor unit and verify it’s set to ON.

The refrigerant levels are too low.

Most air conditioners have a refrigerant whose work is to absorb heat from the air. If you have a leakage, the refrigerant will leak, and consequently, the AC will struggle to cool the air. A tell-tale sign you have a low refrigerant problem is ice forming on the indoor and outdoor unit.

To fix this issue, you need to find the location of the leak and seal it. Although adding the refrigerant is easy, don’t attempt to do it, especially if you have never done it before, as the refrigerant is dangerous and can hurt you in the event it spills.

The right way to go about it is to hire a professional AC expert to help you out.

To prevent the leaks from coming about in the first place, make it a habit of hiring AC technicians at least once a year to inspect your unit and fix any issues it might be having.

During the inspection, if the AC contractor notices the AC hissing, forming ice, or blowing even tiny amounts of warm air, move with haste and fix the issue before it worsens.

You have improper thermostat settings.

Sometimes you might panic that your unit is producing hot air, while this might be due to a simple problem such as wrong thermostat settings. Sometimes the AC might blow hot air due to the thermostat being set to “heat.”

If you inspect the unit and find out this is the case, flip the thermostat back to “cool” and see whether the AC blows the cool air again.

While at it, check the condition of the thermostat. Is it in top condition? Are the batteries working? Is the temperature set too high? You should make the necessary adjustments by following the instructor’s manual.

The condenser is faulty.

The condenser radiates or dissipates heat from the liquid refrigerant coming from the compressor. When the condenser is functioning optimally, it allows the liquid refrigerant to cool down a little to return to a gaseous state as it flows back through the rest of the unit.

When the compressor isn’t working, or there is a blockage, you are hit with a fistful of hot air.

Unless you are highly experienced and know what you are doing, you shouldn’t try to fix this issue. Instead, hire an experienced AC repair services Woodbury provider to help you out.

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Your Air Conditioner Not Draining Water? Here’s Why and What To Do

Posted on March 26, 2021 by HVAC

If you are looking for reasons for the air conditioner not draining water and what you can do, there are many reasons and how you solve them varies depending on the underlying causes.

But before we proceed, it’s wise you know that the air conditioner drains different amounts of water at different times depending on the amount of condensation that is affected by a variety of factors such as: air filter maintenance, outdoor air temperature, indoor air temperature and the condition of the air conditioner.

So, before you run to the conclusion that your air conditioner isn’t draining water, it’s wise you get in touch with an air conditioner repair services technician to help you find out whether the air conditioner is simply not producing a lot of water.

Why should you be worried when the air conditioner isn’t draining?

The obvious worry with experienced homeowners is that the air conditioner’s failure to drain will cause the drip pan to overflow and cause water damage.

Even if the drip pan doesn’t fill, there is the risk of bacteria and mold forming in your unit and damaging it.

In some cases, the appliance’s failure to drain is a sign of a bigger problem. For example, if the AC technician inspects the unit and concludes it should be draining a certain amount of water, but that’s not the case, this could be a sign of a larger underlying problem.

What should you do when your AC isn’t draining?

While the AC’s failure to drain might seem like a minor problem, it can lead to serious and expensive damages if you don’t fix them early enough, so you should always move with haste when you suspect it not draining properly or not draining at all. Some of the things you should do include:

Turn off the air conditioner.

Before you do anything, this is the first thing you should do. While the AC cools and makes the house comfortable, it has fans running at extremely high speed, and they can hurt.

Check the refrigerant

If your AC doesn’t have a refrigerant, there is no way there will be water to drain as there is no cooling or condensation taking place.

You should note that if the refrigerant is simply low, the suction pressure will drop to a point where the water will freeze to the evaporator coil. So, when you shut the AC, you will see the water as it melts.

Whether the refrigerant is out or it’s simply low, you shouldn’t be receiving enough cooling so the AC won’t be producing as much water to drain as before.

To fix this issue, you need to ask your contractor to inspect your unit and determine whether it has a refrigerant leak. The contractor should then proceed to fix the issue and refill the refrigerant and raise their levels.

Check the drain line.

Plenty of things can go wrong with the drain line that the AC stops draining. One of the issues you might be having is a disconnected drain line. Some connections might have gotten loose due to vibration or improper installation; hence water not reaching the lines for removal.

If this is the case, you simply need to connect the drain line and tighten things up, and the AC will resume to normal working.

If you don’t take good care of the drain line, it might get clogged by dust and debris. To unclog the line, you can use a wet/dry vacuum or flush the line with bleach. If this doesn’t work, ask a technician to help you out.

Check the evaporator coil.

One of the most common issues with evaporator coils is freezing. And when the coils freeze, water leaks instead of flowing through the drain line. To avoid water damage, you should move with haste and fix this problem.

In some cases, the coils might get dirty or damaged and, as a result, block the water from flowing to the drain line. Don’t attempt to fix a damaged evaporator coil and instead let an AC repair services Plainview provider do the work.

The cool thing is that the contractor will fix the problematic parts and inspect and fix any other problematic areas.

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How Far Does An Oil Tank Have To Be Away From The House?

Posted on March 16, 2021 by HVAC

If this is your first time installing an oil tank, you must wonder how far an oil tank has to be away from the house? Oil tank replacement experts recommend the tank to be at least 1.8 meters from the house.

The tank should also be 760 millimeters from boundaries such as wooden fences and 600 millimeters from any foliage.

When placing the oil tank, you need to be cautious and ensure you place it in such a way that it’s safe and easy to access.

Other than the distance from the house, there are plenty of other factors to consider when deciding on the best place to locate the tank:

The environment you are placing the tank.

You can install the tank indoors, outdoors, or underground.

Installing the tank indoors

When you store the tank indoors, you don’t have to worry about it being exposed to weather elements such as snowfall or high temperatures, so the tank is more likely to have a long lifespan. Storing the tank indoors also protects it from theft and vandalism.

The flaw of installing the tank here is that you must have a room large enough to fit the tank. If you don’t have a room inside the house, you have to construct one, which means you need to have a backyard large enough for the extra room.

If installing the tank in the house, you need to secure the tank to a support base with a drip tray to protect your house from potential spills.

Installing the tank outdoors

Installing the tank out of the house is always safer as the tank is away from your house and family members. You also have an easy time refilling or repairing the tank when problems arise.

Many homeowners are worried that installing the tank outdoors will mess their garden view, which is true to some extent. However, you can go around this by tucking the tank away at a less noticeable spot.

The disadvantage of installing the oil tank outdoors is that it’s exposed to all the harmful weather elements, which puts the tank at the risk of rusting and corroding, significantly reducing the tank’s lifespan. An outdoor tank also tends to have incessant leaks.

Installing the tank underground

An underground oil tank makes sense when you feel the tank will ruin your garden look. You can install the tank in the basement, utility room, or dig up a section in your yard and bury it there.

When installing the tank underground, you should note that the installation costs might be higher than the other options. It will also be hard to maintain the tank, and you will have a hard time controlling a spillage.

Ease of access

When choosing the tank’s location, you need to think about how you will be accessing it. Most families need at least two oil deliveries each year, and while most fuel suppliers will try their best to accommodate your location, make their work easy by placing the tank at an area they can easily access.

Placing the tank in an easy-to-access area also makes maintenance and repairs easy and less expensive.

Weather impact

Although the tank will eventually wear out, it’s wise you protect it from certain elements that might speed up the process. For example, place the tank away from guttering and water pools to minimize the risk of corrosion.

Avoid installing the tank flush against the wall, as this will allow leaves and debris to collect behind the tank, increasing the chances of the tank decaying and rusting.

Take good care of the tank.

Installing the tank at the right location isn’t enough—you also need to take good care of it. At least once a year, a qualified oil burner repair service Long Island technician or heating engineer should take a look at your oil tank and fix it if it has any issues.

As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to keep the tank free of debris and regularly inspect it for cracks, oil spots, and bulges.

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How Much Does It Cost To Replace An Oil Tank?

Posted on March 10, 2021 by HVAC

Oil tanks are built to last for 10-15 years, after which you have to undertake oil tank replacement. If your tank has come to the end of its life, you must be wondering how much does it cost to replace an oil tank, right? Well, it’s hard to tell the exact price as the cost varies depending on plenty of factors.

Factors affecting the cost of replacing an oil tank

Size of the new tank

As you can guess, the larger the tank, the more expensive it’s going to be. The tank will also be more expensive if you want to get a double-walled tank with a leak alarm or any other advanced feature.

If you are wondering what a double-walled tank is, this is a tank with a hollow space between the two layers to hold the liquid in the event it leaks. The alarm lets you know when there is any liquid in the space.

Home access

How easy is it to access where to install the tank? If you have a ramp, hatch, or oversize door that allows easy access to the tank, it’s cheaper to install it than when the contractors have to cut a hole in the wall or foundation to allow access.

Oil disposal

Does the old oil tank have any oil in it? Sometimes the company will charge you to dispose of the oil, which will add to the replacement cost.

You should note that you don’t always have to pay for the disposal. If your oil is not too dirty, get in touch with your local heating oil distribution company, and they might collect the oil and recycle it. Don’t expect them to buy the oil, so don’t ask for money for it.

The same way you need to think about disposing of the oil, if you don’t have any use for the old tank, you need to think about how you will dispose of it. Some companies will charge you for its disposal, while others will get it from you for free. It’s up to you to do your research.

Installation cost

The amount you pay depends on the complexity of the installation. If replacing the oil tank simply involves placing the tank on the existing pad or cradle, you will pay less than when the company has to construct a new pad and install the tank.

Refilling the tank

After installing the tank, you can’t leave it empty, can you? So you have to factor in the cost of refilling the tank.

How do you tell it’s time to replace the oil tank?

To keep your home in top working condition and avoid accidents, you need to know when to replace the tank. Signs it’s time to replace the tank include:

Age

How is your tank? If it’s more than 15 years, you should start thinking about replacing it as it’s only a matter of time before it starts leaking and developing other issues. Even if your tank isn’t showing any old age signs, you should budget for a new tank.

It will even be better if you can buy the tank so that when the oil tank starts developing problems, you simply need to contact the relevant company and ask them to deliver the tank.

Clear signs of tank damage

At least twice a year, it’s recommended you inspect your oil tank and look out for the presence of rust, corrosion, denting, discoloration, and other flaws. If you notice any of these, get your tank replaced as soon as possible.

You should note if there is clear damage on the outside of the tank, chances are the inside is worse. Get in touch with your oil burner repair service Long Island provider to undertake further inspections and replace the tank.

Broken or damaged oil tank components

The oil tank has plenty of components, and when the components start breaking down, it’s a sign your tank is coming to the end of its life. Some broken components also increase the risk of owning the tank, so you have to replace it.

For example, if your fuel gauge is faulty or damaged, you can’t tell the amount of oil you have, which significantly reduces the oil tank’s safety.

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Gas Furnace Inspection Checklist

Posted on February 28, 2021 by HVAC

furnace repair service

While many homeowners know they need to inspect their furnaces, most don’t know how to do it properly. Do you have a gas furnace? Here is a gas furnace inspection checklist as given by furnace service providers:

Check the igniter using an ohmmeter.

You need to measure the resistance through the igniter. If the furnace has a silicon nitride igniter, you should see 11-17 ohms, but if your furnace has a carbide igniter, you should see 50-100 ohms.

If the reading is outside these parameters, you should replace the igniter. For best results, test the igniter when the igniter is cold, and the furnace isn’t firing.

Check the flame sensor.

To check the flame sensor, you need to hook up your multimeter in series with the flame sensor and the sensor wire. You should then fire the furnace in a heat cycle. If the flame sensor is working properly, your readings should be 1.5-4 uA.

If the sensor tests less than 1 uA, your flame sensor is having issues, and it’s a matter of time before it stops sensing completely.

Inspect the heat exchanger for excessive rust, cracks, and holes

There is nothing that beats visual inspection, but you will need to be cautious when doing it so you can pick all the problems. To pick all the issues your unit might be having, don’t shy from using inspection cameras, dye penetration inspection systems, and other tools that will help you pick as many issues as possible.

Inspect the metal flue for rust or holes and move with haste and replace them if any is present. Remember, using the appliance with these defects, you will be putting yourself and your family at great risk.

Check the system’s static pressure.

Determine whether you are working on a system with a variable speed or non-variable speed motor. The cool thing is, it’s easy to tell. A system with a non-variable speed motor will have a maximum design total external static pressure of 0.50-in.wc. In contrast, a system with a variable-speed motor will have a maximum design ESP of 0.80-in wc.

Once you know the type of system you have, you can now set the correct static pressure.

Undertake a combustion analysis

Start your combustion analyzer while you are outside your home, so you have the correct calibration. When starting your furnace, measure and record the highest CO level during the first 60 seconds of operation.

The CO level will range from 100 to 400 ppm on a natural draft furnace and 100–1000 ppm on a 90% condensing furnace.

If your furnace is operating properly, the CO level should fall below 100 ppm within three minutes after starting the furnace. The operating CO levels should be between 0 and 99 ppm then remain stable.

If your CO climbs during the run cycles, it means you have a problem in your hands that you should address as soon as possible.

Check and adjust the gas pressure.

The best way to measure the gas pressure is to clock the meter to verify that the orifice is the proper size and set the correct gas pressure. The cool thing is most furnace manufacturers list in their installation manuals. For natural gas furnaces, the range is 3.2-3.8. wc.

Since it’s not easy to have the proper assortment of burner orifices, you can achieve proper combustion for maximum safety and efficiency by adjusting the gas pressure.

Inspect the furnace for gas leaks

Gas leaks are one of the most popular problems with gas furnaces. Thankfully, you can easily detect the leaks using soap or electric leak detectors. You should note that the leak detectors will produce false positives from certain pipe dope brands and soap bubbles, so be cautious when using them.

Work with an experienced contractor.

While you can do some inspections by yourself, it’s best, you leave the complex work to an experienced furnace repair service Long Island. In addition to the contractor inspecting your appliance, he will also repair the faulty areas and recommend ways to keep your appliance in the best possible shape.

One of the best places to find an experienced professional is from friends and relatives. If none of your friends know of a contractor, try your luck online.

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