Why You Can’t Ignore Late Summer Air Conditioner Problems

Summer is winding down. Within another week or two, the kids will be back at school. Autumn is right around the corner. This means we have just a few more weeks of heat before temperatures begin to cool and the leaves change colors. It also means that some of you, whether you admit to it or not, are ignoring some type of problem with your home’s air conditioning system. There’s a strange noise coming from the unit. Some rooms aren’t cooling as well as others. Something just isn’t right and you know it.

You also know you’re putting it off. You’re justifying it for one reason or another. Perhaps money is tight. Or you might just be thinking to yourself, “Why schedule an AC repair now when I’m just 2 to 3 months away from possibly having to turn the furnace on?”

Well, there are a few reasons you shouldn’t shrug off an air conditioner problem this time of year – here are several.

The Hot Weather Isn’t Over Yet

Pittsburgh weather isn’t predictable. A stretch of July or August-like hot temperatures in September or October isn’t out of the realm of possibility. Needless to say, if your air conditioner isn’t optimally performing, there’s a very good chance it’ll fail you when you need it the most. Why take that chance? At the very least, if you suspect a problem, rather than cover up the unit for the winter; subsequently kicking that can down the road until May or June, why not get your yearly AC tuneup in September instead of next year? This way, it’s ready for that surprise stretch of hot weather around Halloween and primed for the Spring.

Small AC Problems Get Worse the Longer They’re Ignored

You really shouldn’t run an air conditioner if you sense any type of problem whatsoever. Any type of fault or malfunction will get progressively worse if you ignore it and continue to run the AC. There’s often a chain reaction effect when one component of a cooling system wears down. You may think you’re saving money by putting off a late summer AC repair, but you’re likely making that inevitable repair a far more expensive one by the time you call.

Higher Utility Bills if You Continue Running Your AC

If you run an air conditioner while it has a mechanical or electrical problem, the extra strain placed on the system drains more power. This results in a higher utility bill. Nobody wants to go into winter’s high gas bills with unnecessarily high electric bills in the late summer or fall.

Why not head into the fall knowing your air conditioner is ready for action whenever it’s needed again – even if that’s not until Spring? If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and you detect even the slightest potential issue with your Ac right now, get a top-notch tuneup from one of the best air conditioning contractors in town!

Why Is My Furnace Leaking Water?

The cause of your furnace leaking water can be due to a multitude of reasons. We will list the possible causes and solutions below.

furnace-leak

Was Your Furnace Installed With the Correct Flue Pipe Size?

standard-efficiency furnace has a metal exhaust pipe that should not have condensation. If it does, the flue pipe may have been incorrectly sized. The wrong sized flue pipe could allow the the exhaust to cool down and cause condensation in the pipe, then drain back to the furnace and leak out.

Small Leaks can Signify Bigger Leaks to Come

If your house is heated by hydronic baseboard heat, then you may need to close off the valve feeding the heat system so the amount of water available is limited. If this is let go, the water leak will get worse. If this is your issue, give Top Notch a call to assess the issue before it turns into a bigger issue. We likely drain and repair the system, unless the damage is too far along and we need to replace the system.

Did Your Furnace Leak Water While Running the A/C?

Clearing a clogged condensate drainIf you are running a high efficiency forced air furnace then check the drain hose and make
sure you don’t have a clogged condensate drain tube. Condensation from outside air and air conditioning coils contain bacteria and can form slime and clog the condensate pan drain tube.
To clear the slime and prevent the coils can getting clogged again take the following steps: Remove the drain tube and fitting.  Then buy slime prevention packages (Example: AC-Safe Air Conditioner Pan Tablets) and follow the directions. Then install a larger tubing structure. This should permanently eliminate the clogging issue.

condensate pump

You May Have a Faulty Condensate Pump

If your heating system is a multifunction heating, ventilation, and AC, then your leaky HVAC may simply have a broken condensate pump. A new condensate pump is minimal in cost. Before replacing it try pouring water into the pump to see if it turns on, then attempt to turn it on. If it does turn on but the level of water does not decrease, then your tubing is clogged and then it may be clogged and need replaced.

10 Energy Saving Tips to Heat Your Home Most Efficiently

Heating and cooling amount to 47% of the energy costs in your home. Improve your home with this list of energy saving tips to heat your home most efficiently this Winter, and simultaneously prep your home to keep cool air in this upcoming Summer.

  1. Stop Drafts From Electrical Sockets. Oftentimes, the insulation around and behind your electrical sockets is not placed properly, creating drafts through the electrical sockets in your exterior walls. Stop letting air in through and around your sockets by removing the cover plate, and filling in small gaps with acrylic latex caulking, or foam sealant for bigger gaps.
  2. Replace Worn Weatherstripping. Worn and torn weatherstripping allow warm air to escape through the cracks. Proper sealing and insulation can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs, or up to 10% on your total annual energy bill,” according to Katie Cody, Lowe’s Spokeswoman.  “Air leaks from windows and doors are easy to find by moving your hand around the frame. Applying weather stripping and caulk to these areas will help cut down on drafts.”121458_R_Z001
  3. Insulate your Water Heater. Wrap your hot water tank in a cozy 80 mm jacket. Water heater insulation blankets can cut heat loss by 75 %, and you’ll recoup the cost of it in less than 6 months! Also, turning down the temperature of the water heater to the “warm” setting (120 degrees F) to keep water warm, but not scolding, to save energy in the meantime.
  4. Get your Furnace inspected annually. Annual furnace or boiler inspects ensure that your systems are functioning properly. If your Furnace isn’t functioning properly and for example, your filters weren’t cleaned or replaced right and theres a blockage in your ventilation, then your heating system will have to work harder all winter, and your home could be filled with air that isn’t filtered properly as well. Make sure your system is in proper working order by getting your furnace inspected every year.
  5. Get a Humidifier for Your Home. Low humidity often makes us feel more cold than you would with the proper amount of humidity, causing you to turn up the thermostat. Get a humidifier and spend less on heat bills this cold season.
  6. Insulate your Doors. Stop energy loss from poor door insulation. Fit draught excluders or sealant strips around all exterior doors, and interior if needs be. Sealant strips can be bought cheaply from DIY stores and are very easy to fit – just like applying sticky tape. Don’t forget to get a brush trim for letter boxes, bigger gaps and the bottom of doors.The Vent in the Home Wall. Air Condition Vent
  7. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat. The programming power allows you to set when your heat kicks on and off, making it so you
    can turn off your heating at night or when you leave the house, and set it to turn back on only 30 minutes before you get home.
  8. Close your Vents. Close the vents to any unused rooms during winter so you aren’t heating rooms your not in.
  9. Insulate your Windows. Insulate your drafty windows with a Window Insulator Kit. Help keep warm air in through wrapping your windows with heat shrink window film.
  10. Get a Storm Door. Reduce your homes energy loss up to 50 percent by purchasing a storm door made with low-emissivity glass or coating.

Furnace Air Filters Pittsburgh – Start Breathing Better By Improving Indoor Air Quality

We can’t see it, but it’s all around us. It’s a critical component to our day-to-day lives, yet it’s all too easy to never think of it or completely take it for granted. We’re talking about the air we breathe – both outside and indoors.

The air we breathe impacts both our health and overall quality of life. We feel better and healthier when we’re breathing in air that is pure and clean. Nobody gets any relief when they step outside for a breath of fresh air only to be smacked in the face by emissions from a passing truck, bus, or a nearby factory. Yuck.

Nobody knows this more than life-long Pittsburgh residents who still remember a time when today’s “Most Livable City” had the dubious distinction of being known as the “Smoky City.” And, if you’re new here, or too young to understand, all it takes is one look at an old black-and-white photo of a downtown Pittsburgh street so smoky that its street lights are on in the middle of daylight. Need further proof? Look at the still soot-stained old buildings in downtown Pittsburgh for further evidence.

But air quality isn’t something that only affects us when we step outside. It’s also something we have to consider when we’re at home or our workplace. Newer buildings today are airtight because they’re built to be energy efficient. This means fresh air outside can’t get in and bad air indoors stays inside. This is why it’s important to consider the quality of our indoor air, too. There are a number of air filters and cleaners available that significantly reduce pollutants and improve indoor air quality.

Limiting indoor pollutants is especially important if anyone in your home suffers from respiratory ailments, allergies, or similar illnesses that complicate breathing. Make sure any air conditioning or furnace unit has good filters. There are even UV lights that can be installed that purify indoor air, improving indoor air quality tremendously.

Call TopNotch Heating and Cooling at 412-381-0598 or 724-693-0598 if you’d like to hear about our solutions for improving indoor air quality.