HVAC Archives - Barlow's Aire Force One Heating

March 20, 2017 by Aireforce1

Annual A/C Inspections

Saving yourself time and money with A/C costs starts with routine inspections and maintenance of your A/C unit by a licensed HVAC professional. Scheduling an annual inspection and maintenance check can drastically reduce your cooling costs every month and keep your A/C unit healthy for a longer period of time. It’s always a good idea to have your unit cleaned, inspected, and serviced annually. What better time than spring? Include in your spring cleaning schedule a check-up on your unit.

Every time your unit is turned on, it gathers dust and other particles that can adversely affect the efficiency of your air conditioning system. It can be easy to overlook minor issues with an air conditioning unit if you don’t know what you are looking for. A professional HVAC expert, like the ones at Barlow Air Force One Heating, are highly trained and licensed to know what to look and listen for so that your unit stays safe through the duration of the season.

Annual A/C inspections include assessment of your unit’s motor, coils, temperatures/pressures, connections, coolant levels, and more.

Do-It-Yourself Annually to Help Your Annual Maintenance Costs

Throughout the year, there are a number of things you can do to help with your annual inspection. This should not replace professional services, but it can definitely help ensure a longer life-span of your unit.

Preventative Maintenance: Perform a Visual Inspection

Warning signs! Leaks, dirty or frozen coils, strange odors, poor air flow….all of these are signs that a professional’s help is needed. Having small problems inspected and checked throughout the year can really save on things that can turn into major and costly problems later on.

Changing air filters regularly will help your A/C system’s performance. Dirty filters are clogged and can make it hard for air to move through the system. This makes your system work extra hard to do what it is made to do. When your system works harder, wear happens and your unit ends up with more problems.

Bi-Annual Tuning

Aside from your DIY maintenance, there is one more step that can keep your system operating at top capacity. Bi-annual tune ups are your system’s best friend. Just like a car needs tune-ups, liquid top-off’s, and oil lubrication, so does your A/C unit. Have a licensed HVAC professional tune up your system twice a year and save thousands of dollars by not having to replace your entire system very often.

Hiring an HVAC Professional

HVAC professionals are licensed to perform annual inspections and routine maintenance of your A/C unit. Shop around for a good HVAC company like Barlows Aire Force One. Ask for recommendations and pay attention to the reputation of a company. Always double check to make sure the contractor that you hire has his/her license and use your gut instinct. If your unit has been working fine, blowing cool air, and isn’t making strange noises, but your contractor suggests many and/or expensive repairs, get a second opinion.

In reality, air conditioners can have a life-span of approximately 15 years. If you keep yours maintained and cleaned properly and consistently, yours should last a long time.

December 14, 2016 by Aireforce1

Improve the Energy Efficiency of Your Home

It’s common sense that most people wouldn’t choose to throw money away, but it might surprise you how much money you could be losing due to the inefficiency of your home. So how do you know if you’re throwing away money, due to the inefficiency of your home? Here are a few tips to help get your home and wallet functioning efficiently.

Energy Efficiency Audit

If you have an older home or a newly built energy efficient home, hiring a professional to examine your home can be an effective investment. These auditors have the knowledge and tools to find problem areas in your home that could be costing you money, and offer solutions to help make your home run more efficiently and affordably.

Windows & Doors

Having leaky windows or door frames causes the hot air in your home to escape and make for a cold drafty house. If you have old single pane windows, replacing to a more energy efficient window may help your home run more efficiently. If you’re not ready for a total home window replacement, installing storm windows could be another solution. Storm windows are installed over the existing house windows and are better wind and weather resistant offering protection and insulation to normalize the temperature of your home. Additionally, you can limit the amount of air escaping from your home by sealing leaks and cracks with caulk and weather stripping.

Properly Insulated Walls and Attic

If you have an older home, chances are, it’s poorly insulated. Keep comfortable all year round by adding insulation to your home. Having effective insulation in your home slows the flow of heat entering or leaving your house, each season, consequently impacting how much energy is required to heat or cool your home. If your attic is unfinished or your walls have empty cavities, consult a professional, with the information found in your energy efficiency audit, for solutions on where to add additional insulation.

Upgrade your HVAC Unit

If your heat pump or AC unit is over 10 years old or your furnace or boiler is more than 15 years old, and in need of frequent repair, it may be time to consider upgrading to a more energy-efficient system. Energystar.gov reports that, “an Energy Star high-efficiency unit can save you up to 20% on heating and cooling costs.” Saving on energy costs shouldn’t be the sole factor in upgrading your system. If your unit has leaks, needs duct repair or insulation, look to see the best options for saving you time, hassle and money. A technician can give you the best options to extend the life of your current unit or advise you on an energy efficient system.

Tax Incentives

The Federal Government offers tax incentives for repairs and upgrades made to your home. By going to www.energy.com, you can see the options for rebates that you can apply to your taxes. For instance, the state of Idaho will cover 100% of the cost of materials and labor for energy efficiency improvements made to your house. Depending on the year your house was built, adding additional insulation, upgrading and/or weather stripping and caulking your house windows can be covered. Furthermore, you can qualify for an incentive by upgrading your current heating and air conditioning system to an energy efficient unit. If you plan to make any repairs or upgrades to your home, discuss your options with a professional and research for tax incentives that you may qualify for so you can take advantage of the money saving opportunities.

January 3, 2016 by Aireforce1

Air Conditioning Frozen Up

Now that the temperatures have dropped in Pocatello, here are some useful tips to help prepare your AC unit for the winter weather. When the temperature starts dropping, check your AC unit frequently to make sure ice has not built up on your system. If you leave ice built up on your AC unit, you could end up with permanent damage and might have to replace your AC unit. With years of experience, our heating and cooling service at Barlow’s Aire Force One, can help your Pocatello home with your frozen air conditioner and let you know what you should do if this happens to your AC unit.

Frozen AC Unit – What to look for

The most common time to see ice or frost on your AC unit is usually when the air conditioner is running. The most common places to see ice or frost are on the lines going to and from your AC unit. When the gas expands and the pressure goes down, it will cool anything around it. Having ice appear on your air conditioner is not uncommon, and it does not mean that your AC unit is permanently damaged or broken. However, if this does happen, you should contact an HVAC contractor. If your AC system isn’t moving as much air as it should or needs to, this may lead to having your system be chilled. If the airflow is restricted, the cold air will stay in the unit causing the temperature to drop in your AC unit. If this happens, you could risk having frozen parts in your AC system.

AC Frozen Up?

If you realize your AC unit has frozen up, you should first turn off the air conditioning. This will help prevent any more damage from happening. Always check to see if your filters are dirty or clogged up and check to make sure all your vents in your home are open. These simple steps might end up solving your problem. However, if you notice your AC system freezing frequently, you should have your ducts cleaned out by a professional.

If you leave your system iced over a lot and never go out to check on it, you could risk having permanent damage to your unit. Getting a recharge or a tune-up is a lot cheaper than having a new air conditioner replaced in your Pocatello home.

Get Help with HVAC Issues

You should always give your HVAC contractor a call if you happen to notice frost or ice on your AC unit. An HVAC pro can notice if your unit has dirty filters, vents in your home closed, a dirty evaporator coil, blocked return grills, or if mechanical parts need to be replaced. A good sign should be that if your air conditioner is working properly, then you should not have it freeze up or have ice build up on it. Barlow’s Aire Force One can diagnose the issue and let you know what is exactly wrong with your AC unit and help get your AC going again properly.

December 1, 2015 by Aireforce1

Winter is Coming! Pocatello Heater Repair

Like it or not winter is on its way and here in Pocatello you can’t afford to let your heating systems stay low. As the weather gets colder without that added heat the pipes in our homes will start to freeze.

If your heater is in need of repair we highly recommend that you hire a licensed professional to diagnose and treat any problems that your heating system may be having. The professionals at Aire Force One can save you money by quickly locating all of your heater’s issues. If you don’t mind getting your hands a little dirty you can utilize this basic guide to help fix any minor issues like a faulty thermostat or dead batteries.

Regular and routine maintenance can keep your heating system from needing repair for the entire winter season in Pocatello. Our professionals can spot any potential problems and failures before they can become disasters. They can also give you advise on needed resources and the decision making process regarding the health and safety of your heaters.

What should you do if your heating system decides to take a vacation this winter? First, you will need to pinpoint the issue your heating system is suffering from. What is the most immediate problem?

Are you Suffering from:

Partial loss of heat? If your heaters are keeping your house moderately warm and runs all day, your problem might be an air flow issue. Air flow issues occur in the duct work and in restriction from air filters or fan motors. Your heaters may even be overheating because there is one or more restriction in the air flow causing intermittent operation.

Total loss of heat? When you turn your heaters on are you getting cold air? Or no air at all? If you feel cold air this may be the result of a couple of issues. Start by checking your fuel supply and your electrical systems.

Perform These Quick Checks:

Heating System Thermostat

Erratic and intermittent temperature issues are usually the result in a thermostat malfunction. Installing new batteries may resolve this issue. Make sure you turn the power to your heating system off at the main electrical panel before you replace your batteries. If you pull your thermostat off and notice that batteries are not included, you may have low voltage power coming from your furnace. Put your thermostat back together and look for your electrical system.

Older thermostats may be manually calibrated, if your thermostat falls into this category, contact Aire Force Once and we will send over a professional to provide this service. You may want to consider replacing your old thermostats with a newer model.

Bonus Tip!

While you’re installing new batteries in your thermostat take a moment to check your smoke and CO detector batteries as well!

WARNING: Do not attempt to fix your heating system if your breaker trips immediately after turning it back on! Call the professionals at Aire Force One in Pocatello immediately!

If you are in need of some heater repair services in Pocatello look no further! Stay warm this winter!

September 26, 2015 by Aireforce1

3 Reasons to Inspect your Furnace Before Fall

Fall is quickly approaching and before we know it we’ll be drinking hot chocolate, eating pumpkin pie, and buying more pairs of gloves and coats than imaginable. In order to prepare for this wonderful season, it’s important to think about your home. Usually overlooked in typical fall preparations are furnaces. However, furnaces are critical to maintaining your holiday season excitement. Honestly, how fun is a malfunctioning furnace?

In order to prevent unwelcome interruptions to your holiday season, we recommend servicing your furnace at least once a year. Almost every HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) company recommends annual inspections. However, many individuals omit this critical step due to forgetfulness or cost issues. Taking this preventative measure will save you hassle and money in the future. Here’s why servicing your furnace is recommended:

1. Ensure safety

A large portion of accidents involving furnaces are caused by faulty or malfunctioning parts. While cranking up the heat during fall seems innocent, there have been fatal accidents. Harmful poisoning can occur when your furnace emits too much carbon monoxide for a certain space.
Another safety concern is the potential of a house fire. House fires are the most common result of furnace issues. When natural gas builds up in the home, an explosion can occur because of the volatile nature of gas. Regardless of the likelihood of an explosion, even the presence of natural gas in the air can cause extreme sickness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.
Having a professional inspect your furnace will guarantee a safe environment for you and your family. Carbon monoxide poisoning is the last issue you’ll want to deal with during your holiday season. Professionals will also perform a thorough inspection for flammable dirt and debris.

2. Increase Efficiency

One of the advantages of having your HVAC unit checked annually is increased efficiency. As you probably know, fuel for heating is very costly. An inspector can analyze the efficiency of your system to see that your HVAC system is burning fuel at an economical rate.

3. Invest in the Future

Although it may seem like a headache now, employing the knowledge of a professional technician will lead to lower bills and less fuel consumption. Spending a small amount of money on prevention will save you a large, heartbreaking bill in the middle of December. Make sure that yearly service is performed before winter to confirm the reliability of it during the cold winter months.

There are specifically outlined steps for a HVAC technician to follow while inspecting your furnace that will ensure a worry-free cold season. Although it may seem unnecessary, it’s like going to the dentist. You may not think you need it, until something goes wrong. Invest in a happy holiday season with a furnace inspection. You’ll thank yourself later! Always remember that Aire Force One is available for any of your furnace needs. Give us a call at (208) 240-6719 today.