Month: March 2021

HVAC

How to Prepare Your HVAC System For the Spring

Post author By claysclimatecontrol.com
Post date March 7, 2021
No Comments on How to Prepare Your HVAC System For the Spring

Photo credit: Shutterstock

Now that springtime is here, it’s time to start thinking about spring HVAC preparation. The team at Clay’s Climate Control is certainly ready for the warmer weather. With the change of season, it’s the perfect time of year to plan your HVAC spring maintenance checklist and we can certainly help you out with what to include on your list!

When it’s still chilly outside, most people are not thinking about the need to prepare their homes for the warmer months, but the truth is, warm weather will be here before we know it and there are lots of things that homeowners can do to ensure their homes are ready!

Change Your Air Filter: This is one of the easiest things to do that too many homeowners do not do often enough. Air filters should be changed out every 30 – 90 days depending on usage. If you’re using your HVAC system often, it’s a good idea to change out the filter more often. If it’s not clean, that means your air is not clean. This can also lead to issues with your HVAC system because it acts as a filter for your air and the buildup of dust and other contaminants can cause the machine to work harder, thus expending more energy which can become costly and cause issues within the system itself.
Consider Duct Inspection: It’s important to have your air ducts inspected by a professional every 3-5 years to check for long-term wear and tear, leaks, or other damage. It’s believed that as much as 20-30% of your heating or cooling can be wasted due to cracks or gaps in your air ducts. That’s a large percentage of air that could be wasted. Clay’s can install a custom ductwork solution and we also do reconstructions, repairs, and replacements.
Clean Around Your Unit: Your outdoor condenser unit should be free of anything touching it so that the system can work to its optimal speed and efficiency. It’s a good idea in the spring to check around the unit to see if anything fell around it over the winter months that could be blocking airflow. This should be checked inside as well as around your vents. Nothing should be blocking the airflow
Consider A New Thermostat: Thermostats that are programmable allow you to set the temperature for different times of the day depending on your usage. This is especially helpful to ensure that you are not overusing the heat or cool air (depending on the time of year) at different times of the day when you may not need certain temperatures such as when you are sleeping. You can set the temperature lower while you are asleep, but set it to start warming up at the time of the morning that you wake up.
Time To Tune-Up: Your HVAC should get a bi-annual tune-up. Tune-ups should be done by a professional and include everything from checking your thermostat to checking the electrical and doing some routine cleaning of the system. This is important for both the longevity of your system as well as the efficiency of how the system performs.

Clay’s Climate Control Is Ready To Answer The Call

When you’re ready to take on your HVAC spring maintenance checklist, rely on the experts at Clay’s Climate Control. We are here to assist with all of your spring HVAC preparation needs. Schedule system maintenance today by calling 609-916-1106!

air conditioning

Signs You Need to Replace Your Air Conditioning System

Post author By claysclimatecontrol.com
Post date March 7, 2021

Photo credit: Shutterstock

There comes a time with every air conditioner that it’s time to invest in a new unit. When it starts becoming expensive with repair costs, you know it’s time to begin to think about replacing your system. How long do most air conditioners last you may wonder? Most good quality air conditioners can last between 10-15 years, however, salt air can drastically shorten that time. We always recommend purchasing quality products so that you can depend on them for a longer period of time. They may cost a bit more upfront, but end up saving you money in the long run because of their durability.

The experts at Clay’s Climate Control have put together a list of signs your air conditioner needs to be replaced below.

Age Of Unit

As we mentioned above, most good quality air conditioning units should last up to 10-15 years. However, if your primary residence or vacation home is located along the Jersey shore and is exposed to salt air, the longevity of your unit will be affected and will typically deteriorate much faster.

Noises

Certain noises are common with air conditioning units such as a little pop when it turns on. You know the sounds of your home that are common and your air conditioning unit is one of them. When you start to hear other noises such as loud pops, grinding, squealing, or scraping, these could all be signs that your air conditioner is nearing its end.

Odd Smells

An air conditioner that is working well should release neutral-smelling air that you do not really notice. If you start smelling something smoky or musty, this could mean that something is not functioning properly within your air conditioner. What can happen is a buildup of mold or mildew within the machine. As you can imagine, this is not good! If you begin to smell any of these smells, you will want to get a professional expert from Clay’s Climate Control out to your home right away!

Energy Bills Creeping Up

One of the most telling signs that your system is not functioning properly is your energy bill starting to creep higher and higher. Well-functioning units should not cause your energy bill to continuously increase. In fact, that is one of the biggest benefits to purchasing a new machine as newer systems are made to be more energy-efficient and therefore can make your bill go down as opposed to up.

Air Quality

The amount of dust and humidity in your home actually can be a result of your air conditioner as it provides ventilation for your home. If it’s not working properly, the air quality will undoubtedly go down which can cause countless other issues in your home as well.

If you’re experiencing any of these signs that your air conditioner needs to be replaced, call the air conditioning replacement contractors that you can rely on at Clay’s Climate Control. We can answer any questions you may have about how long air conditioners last to what type of air conditioning unit would make the most sense for your home.

When you’ve got questions about your air conditioner, give us a call at 609-916-1106!

water heater

Reasons You Shouldn’t Self-Install A Water Heater

Post author By claysclimatecontrol.com
Post date March 3, 2021

Photo credit: Shutterstock

There are many projects that make perfect sense to take on yourself. Do you want to paint your living room? Go for it! Do you want to stain your own hardwood floors? It’ll be a big job, but we’re confident you can handle it. One of the DIY home projects that we would never recommend taking on yourself is to install a tankless water heater or any water heater for that matter on your own. It is a much bigger job than most homeowners realize and there is just so much that could go wrong. Only a licensed technician should handle your hot water heater replacement.

Take a look at some of the classic mistakes we’ve seen when untrained homeowners try to take on one of the largest plumbing jobs below.

You May Not Really Need a New Hot Water Heater

A licensed technician from Clay’s Climate Control will be able to run diagnostics to determine if a new hot water heater is needed or if you just have a repair that is needed. To an untrained eye, it could be hard to tell and the mistake could be a costly one.

Determining Which New Hot Water Heater To Purchase

Just like anything in a house, there is a range of hot water heaters to choose from. Big box stores carry less expensive models that homeowners may think would be fine (and they could be), but chances are you will have more issues with them and they may not last as long as hot water heaters that a licensed technician from Clay’s Climate Control would recommend due to how they’re made.

Getting The Wrong Size

Our technicians will know exactly what size water heater you need for your home. An amateur plumber or homeowner could end up purchasing the wrong size for their space, which can lead to many problems that could be avoided. It’s important to purchase the right size water heater for your space. Smaller homes with one or two occupants require smaller water heaters. On the other hand, larger homes with multiple family members require larger water heaters to be able to handle usage. It’s not uncommon to see more than one water heater in large homes. For all of your systems to run correctly, you need to have the right size for your space.

Venting Is Important

When installing a gas water heater, it is imperative that proper venting is in place. A licensed technician from Clay’s Climate Control knows exactly how space should be ventilated to ensure the safety of the homeowners. This is very important so that toxic gasses like carbon monoxide are forced outside. The build-up of toxic gasses can cause serious health implications – even death.

Have We Convinced You Not To Take On Your Own Hot Water Heater Installation?

As we said, we’re all about taking on certain home projects that could save you money and allow you to put some sweat equity into your home. Installing a tankless water heater or water heater in your home is just not one of those projects. If you need a hot water heater replacement, give us a call today at 609.916.1106 so that we can get you set up for an appointment to have one of our expert technicians make the job seamless for you.

609-653-2295

info.cly@acehomeservicescorp.com

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