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The Importance of Planned HVAC Maintenance

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With the fall and winter chill quickly approaching we strongly advise having professional maintenance done to your HVAC system, if you haven’t already done so this year.

It’s important to safeguard that your air conditioner is prepared for long hibernation as well as waking up your heating system without any problems. The last thing you want is to have your heating system break down in the middle of winter; and although breakdowns can’t always be prevented, it’s still important that you don’t give up on doing all that can be done to take the precautionary steps to try and avoid it.

Having that said, you should have your heater checked at least once a year. Continual HVAC maintenance is similar to getting your teeth cleaned at the dentist, as it doesn’t need to be done before or after you eat, just every six months to a year.

Another way to think about it is getting your car’s oil changed. This task must be done to keep the engine running at peak performance but it doesn’t need to be done before a long road trip, for example; every 3,000-5,000 miles is suggested.

Okay, back to HVAC! With the benefits of planned maintenance noted below, we hope to hear from you with any questions and/or planned maintenance requests that you might have. It’s always our pleasure to keep you well informed on all things HVAC related.

  • Increased efficiency: Having a routine HVAC checkup will help to better ensure that your energy bills are low and that your system is working as efficiently as possible.
  • Improved indoor comfort: There’s another important advantage of maintaining your furnace… Your comfort! A well-maintained furnace will deliver optimal performance throughout the colder months, which means you can expect to stay warm all winter long with far less of a chance of encountering any furnace problems. Additionally, a well-maintained furnace may also help to improve indoor air quality and humidity levels for added comfort.
  • Consider the age of your unit: No HVAC system is meant to last forever; and the older the system, the less efficient it is. If it’s time to purchase a new system, give us a call and we can help you make an informed decision and purchase a system that’s designed to be long-lasting.
  • Get a professional inspection: The team here at Clay’s Climate Control will help to make sure that your system is working as it should. Also, we will perform a full inspection to check all elements of your system and fix any issues that arise.

Contact us to get your HVAC system tuned up today!

Why Ductless Climate Control is a Groundbreaking Development

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Most people have heard of ductless heating and cooling systems, and they have probably seen them, on walls in homes, restaurants or office buildings, but most people don’t really understand how beneficial ductless systems can be. A ductless system mounts on interior walls and is connected to an outside condensing unit through a refrigerant line. These ductless systems stay cool and clean all year round, and will save you a lot of money on energy bills. Unlike room air conditioning units, they are permanent fixtures and they don’t let in humid air within the areas surrounding the unit, as room units usually do.

Ductless AC systems will save you on overall heating and cooling costs because they are designed to cool one room or one area of your home, not the entire house like central air conditioning. Ductless systems function on less power as they are smaller than traditional window units; also, you’ll save on efficiency because it allows you to control temperatures room-by-room so there won’t be wasted energy on rooms that aren’t occupied.

In addition to saving energy and money, a ductless AC system helps to improve your indoor air quality with its efficient filtering system. Traditional HVAC systems’ air ducts have to be cleaned by a professional on a regular basis; and even after a cleaning, dust and particles can be left behind. A ductless system’s multi-stage filtration significantly reduces the amount of particles and allergens that end up in the air of your home.

Ductless systems are quick and easy to install, and the team here at Clay’s Climate Control can help you achieve maximum indoor comfort. Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to schedule an installation.

What is an Energy Savings Calculator and How Does it Work?

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We’re all looking for ways to increase the energy efficiency of our homes and small businesses in order to save ourselves some money in our back pockets. As many of us may already know, a calculator has always been a trusty gadget at hand; we’ve used calculators since elementary school up until good old taxes season.  But what is an energy savings calculator exactly? How is it different than your trusted hand held calculator?

Well, for starters, an energy savings calculator estimates how much money you can save by using your thermostat’s energy efficient features. Heating and cooling can account for about half of a home’s total utility bill… did you know this? Given that, it’s certainly something you’ll want to keep your eye on as it can add up. By upgrading to a high-efficiency system, you can cut your energy costs while keeping your family comfortable all year long.

Reducing energy use in your home is important because it saves you money, increases energy security, and reduces the pollution that is emitted from non-renewable sources of energy. Here’s a quick tip:

To improve the performance of your AC unit, make sure to clear any debris, leaves or obstructions around your unit, so that you get better and more efficient air flow.

The efficiency of air conditioners is measured by their SEER ratings: the higher the SEER rating, the better the energy performance, and the more your save! We encourage you to check out our energy savings calculator to see how you can increase your efficiency to increase your savings.

If you have any questions about a high efficiency air conditioner, or if you’d like a cooling system serviced or installed in your home, contact us at Clay’s Climate Control today!

House at the Shore? Here’s what you should know about Dehumidification

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If you own or rent a house in South Jersey including Egg Harbor Township, Northfield, and surrounding areas of the NJ Shore region, humidity is an important concern. Humidity in your home can cause a great amount of discomfort during the scorching heat in the summer months. Even worse, humidity in your home can also cause serious health hazards because of the excessive moisture in the air.

Moisture allows mold and rot to grow and flourish, which poses significant health risks when you’re breathing in that air. Your air conditioning will work persistently to reduce your humidity to a more comfortable level, but there’s an additional step you can take to reduce the amount of humidity in the air: get a dehumidifier.

A dehumidifier removes the moisture from the air inside your home, eliminating the risk for mold to grow and increases indoor air quality. By dehumidifying the air, you make the conditions of your home feel cooler. Therefore, you can increase the temperature of your AC and save money.

Here are some additional benefits of installing a dehumidifier in your home:

  • It will reduce odor, musty and rusty smells caused by mold and mildew.
  • It helps you to breathe in clean air easier by eliminating the irritation of the respiratory system and skin.
  • High humidity in a home makes your air conditioner work harder because it has the double function of cooling and removing moisture. This will increase your energy bill because the harder your air conditioner works the more energy it consumes.

If you’re ready to eliminate high indoor humidity and improve indoor comfort, give us a call today to schedule a consultation!

What Causes my Air Conditioner to Freeze Up?

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An air conditioner freeze up can be frustrating, but it is not an uncommon problem. Your air conditioner can freeze up for a variety of reasons that we will discuss within this blog post. This is a problem that can turn a beautiful summer day into a scorching hot one in minutes so it’s important that you know what exactly can be the cause of it. Here are some common causes for your air conditioner to freeze up:

Blocked air flow

If your air filters are really dirty, then air flow is restricted throughout your house as a result. When air flow is restricted throughout your house, there’s no air moving through your AC system to keep the condensate from freezing.

Refrigerant leaks

If your AC unit is leaking coolant, it’s best to get it fixed immediately or invest in a new unit. This depends on the age of your current system, which a professional HVAC technician can assess. A leak causes a drop in pressure, allowing the coolant to expand too much and become too cold.

Cooler nights

Air conditioners are designed to function in a very specific temperature range. When summer nights are colder than the optimum temperature threshold in your AC unit, the pressures inside of your system will drop. This can cause a freeze up of your air conditioner.

At Clay’s Climate Control, we fix all types of HVAC problems for businesses and residents, including AC freeze-ups. We know that the summers in southern New Jersey can be quite warm and will respond quickly for any HVAC repair – contact us today!

Signs that Your AC is Broken

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When it’s hot outside, the last thing you want to deal with is having your air conditioner repaired or replaced. This can make it miserable to live in your home during the warmer months and can actually be dangerous in some situations. In order to avoid this situation, it is best to watch for the early signs of needing your air conditioner repaired.

Like most things in your home, an air conditioner will probably require a couple of repairs here and there. When minor repairs are not addressed, it can lead to bigger, more expensive repairs. If you are wondering how to know when your air conditioner is broken and needs a repair or a replacement, check out these telling signs:

  • You are hearing odd sounds. When your AC unit isn’t making the typical humming noise it usually makes, and instead you hear things like clanging or grating noises, it’s a good sign that your unit needs to be looked at. Hearing these noises often means that a part inside of the unit has become loose or is breaking down. It’s best to call a repair professional right away to catch this problem before other things in your unit begin to break.
  • Your house isn’t feeling as cool as you think it should. This is one of the most obvious signs that something is wrong with your AC unit. When you can tell that the unit isn’t blowing air out powerfully enough or the air doesn’t feel very cool, something is not operating as it should. To fix this problem easily and enjoy colder temperatures again, have a repair professional inspect the AC unit and ensure that what needs to be repaired or replaced has gotten the attention that it deserves.
  • Increased humidity in your home. One job of your air conditioner is to reduce the amount of humidity in your house. If your house is more humid than usual, even with the air conditioning on, the unit may need repair.
  • The thermostat does not work properly. You might notice that your air conditioner runs for a short time before turning off—or it doesn’t turn on at all. Your thermostat might be malfunctioning. You should have a technician check this as well.

If you’re experiencing any of these issues, your AC may be broken. Call Clay’s Climate Control today to make an appointment for an AC repair!

AC Tips for Spring

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Spring is here again, and that means that many people throughout the Southern New Jersey area will be cranking up those air conditioners soon! You want to ensure that your system is up and running all season long with no surprise breakdowns, while operating at its highest efficiency. Before we reach higher temperatures, it’s important to ensure that your HVAC system will be able to properly serve you and your home throughout the warmer seasons ahead. Here are some tips to take into consideration when you’re giving your HVAC system a well needed cleaning and getting it prepared for the spring and summer months ahead:

  • Clean clutter around your home. If there’s too much clutter around your house, dust can accumulate which can aggravate allergies and lower indoor air quality. Having more things lying around your house means having more places for unwanted dust and debris to collect.
  • Stay cool and stay green. You can install a programmable thermostat in your home to save money on energy costs. This is one of the most cost effective ways you can save money on your air conditioning this season. Programmable thermostats automatically adjust the temperature in your home to your presets, increasing your home’s efficiency and saving you money!
  • Check your refrigerant levels. If you have a central air conditioner, there is typically a visible gauge that can quickly let you know the refrigerant levels in your system. You want to make sure that your system always has the proper amount in it because too much or too little refrigerant will cut into your system efficiency, increase energy costs, and overall shorten its lifespan.

Regular HVAC maintenance is an important part of caring for your air conditioning system and keeping it running efficiently! If you have any questions about your HVAC system, give us a call at (609) 653-2295 or click here to visit our website.

HVAC Check-List for Spring

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Spring is finally here, which means the weather is starting to get warmer! While that doesn’t mean it’s time to crank up your air conditioning full blast just yet, it does mean that you should take some time to make sure your unit is in good working condition and is prepared for the warmer weather ahead.  A properly maintained HVAC system is one that’s going to last for a long time, so make sure you’re prepping your unit for the upcoming seasons.

Spring is the time of year when you don’t necessarily need to use your air conditioning or heating, which makes it the perfect time to do a little maintenance to make sure it’s running properly. Here at Clay’s Climate Control, one of our professional HVAC technicians will inspect and clean the wiring of your unit and much more. We’ve outlined a full spring HVAC checklist for homeowners in our area of New Jersey:

  • Check the functionality of all HVAC units. Test out all of your HVAC system’s units by turning them on to make sure they’re working properly. If your system isn’t cooling your home to the temperature you set, then this could be an issue with your thermostat or your HVAC system in general. If you need help, you can always give us a call!
  • Remove any debris surrounding the unit. Your HVAC technician will inspect your outdoor unit, removing any debris such as pollen, twigs, and leaves. Too much debris surrounding the unit could prevent your system from operating properly, so it’s important to keep it clean for maximum efficiency. One of our technicians will also confirm that the outdoor unit starts, runs and shuts off correctly.
  • Replace your air filters. When your air filters are dirty, it slows down the process of cooling your home and can also negatively affect your home’s indoor air quality. You should typically change your air filters once a month if they look dirty or brown.
  • Make an appointment with Clay’s Climate Control! We will work to tighten your electrical wiring, replace your filters, and check safety controls. We will also check your refrigerant levels to make sure that your HVAC system can properly cool your home.

We are proud to serve the local residents of New Jersey as the trusted experts in all things HVAC! Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to schedule a spring HVAC maintenance checkup.

Can the Air in my House Make me Ill?

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People spend most of their lives inside of their homes, so clean indoor air is extremely important for everyday health. Purifying the air in your home requires a dynamic, multi-faceted approach that is unique to each household. Here at Clay’s Climate Control, we offer air purifier installations. Air purifier systems filter the air in your home removing all airborne particles like pollens, dust and cleaning supplies. This investment will greatly improve your indoor air quality and will keep you from constantly rubbing your eyes.

There are a few different ways that the air in your home can be making you sick. By addressing these three signs, you can ensure a healthy living space where you’ll love spending your time.

  1. Check your heating and cooling systems – Your HVAC system is probably the biggest culprit of spreading pollutants in your home. When your air conditioning cools your home, it leaves traces of water in the ducts that become the perfect breeding ground for mold and other bacteria. This can be the cause of respiratory issues such as asthma, allergies, and coughing. Although this doesn’t happen to everyone, some members of your family may become symptomatic. In order to avoid this happening, you should have your ducts professionally cleaned at least every couple of years.
  2. High humidity – A house with high humidity levels can attract mold and let it spread easily. Levels of high humidity can also affect the drywall in your home and create an environment where mold spreads behind the walls. Certain species of mold can cause serious health issues, so you want to be sure to lower the humidity in your home. You can do this by running vents when showering and cooking, or purchase a dehumidifier to extract some of the moisture out of the air. Low humidity can also cause problems such as bacteria, viruses, respiratory infections, allergies and ozone production as well. We offer humidifiers to help with that.
  3. Tightly sealed homes – The air in our home needs to be ventilated so that the toxins inside our homes are filtered out by fresh outdoor air. The air we exhale and the gas our appliances give off can potentially cause a huge health problem for you and your family. By simply opening a window or a door, you can get some natural ventilation and remove the toxins in the air from your home.

If you want cleaner, healthier indoor air, Clay’s Climate Control services installs the latest air filtration systems, purification systems, and dehumidifiers. Give us a call today and start breathing easier!

The Benefits of Ductless Systems

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When it comes time to update your heating and cooling system, the amount of options on the market can make it difficult to know what choice is best for your home. More and more, customers are leaning towards ductless heating and cooling systems and reaping the many benefits over time. If your heating and cooling system is in need of a replacement in 2018, consider a ductless system installation in your home. We’re sharing with you a few of the reasons why we love ductless systems.

  • Energy efficient: The small size of ductless systems allow for greater energy efficiency inside your home. An energy efficient system operates more effectively and keeps your home at a comfortable temperature without exerting any extra effort, meaning that it will stay in better shape over time. A ductless system is also better for the environment than many other systems out there.
  • Money savings: Since your ductless system will be far more energy efficient than many other options on the market, you’ll notice a decrease in your energy bills following installation. Because your system won’t have to work as hard to heat and cool your home, you’ll be saving in energy costs and repair and maintenance costs over time.
  • Easy to install: While a traditional heating and cooling system can take weeks to install in a home and will require contractors to have access to the entirety of your house, a ductless system is comparatively very easy to install. Your new system can typically be up and running in as soon as one day, which also means that keeping up with maintenance will be a breeze moving forward!
  • Improves indoor air quality: Traditional systems require duct cleaning on a regular basis. Since many homeowners are unable to keep up with a cleaning schedule, ducts easily become cluttered with dirt, debris, and allergens, which can negatively affect the indoor air quality of your home. Ductless systems, alternatively, offer multi-stage filtration that can help to reduce common allergens and keep your home a healthy and happy environment.

For more information on ductless systems, visit our website.

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