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Tag: Air Conditioning

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air conditioning indoor air quality

How To Locate Your Air Filter in South Jersey Homes

Man replacing dirty air conditioning filter at home.

Man replacing dirty air conditioning filter at home.

The filter for your HVAC system plays an important role in protecting your equipment, promoting healthy indoor air quality, and ensuring system efficiency. That’s why routine filter changes are a critical part of regular HVAC maintenance.

In this article, the HVAC experts at Clay’s Climate Control cover how to locate your HVAC filter, along with tips for identifying filter size and an overview of the importance of frequent changes.

Common Air Filter Locations

Replacing dirty furnace filter in home

The location of the air filter in your South Jersey home will vary depending on what type of HVAC system you have. Follow this guide:

  • Central AC: The filter for your central air is usually in the return duct in the wall or ceiling’s return vent.
  • Furnace: To find your furnace filter, look in the blower compartment or in a filter slot located where the return duct meets your furnace.
  • Ductless mini-split: Filters for these systems are located inside the indoor air units that are mounted to your walls. They can be accessed through the front panel and may be a washable mesh screen instead of a disposable filter.

Tips for Identifying Your Filter Size

When changing your filter, it’s important to purchase a replacement that is the proper size. There are a few ways you can determine this:

  • Check the existing filter. It will often have the size printed on the frame.
  • Measure the length, width, and thickness of your current filter and round up to the nearest whole inch.
  • Check the HVAC manual or manufacturer label for recommended filter sizes.

Why Changing Filters Matters

HVAC experts tend to recommend filter changes at least every three months and up to every month for those who have allergies, asthma, or several pets. This is an important part of heating and cooling maintenance, as dirty filters can lead to a wide range of issues, including:

  • System malfunctions: Dirty air filters will restrict airflow to your system and can cause it to overheat, freeze up, or cycle improperly.
  • Shorter lifespans: Dust and debris buildup will cause your system to work harder than it has to, causing extra wear and tear and shortening its lifespan.
  • Reduced comfort: An HVAC system without proper airflow will create hot and cold spots throughout your home that negatively impact your comfort.
  • Increased energy bills: Dirty filters can cause energy bills to skyrocket as your system works longer or harder to keep your home at the ideal temperature.
  • Health issues: Continuing to use dirty air filters allows your HVAC system to recirculate dust and allergens that can cause respiratory issues.

Call Clay’s for Top-Rated HVAC Services in South Jersey

Schedule your next HVAC maintenance service in New Jersey with the team at Clay’s Climate Control. Our team of prompt and professional technicians is proud to offer comprehensive care for central AC systems, boilers, heat pumps, furnaces, and more to ensure your equipment is working properly.

Book your HVAC maintenance services today by calling Clay’s Climate Control in South Jersey.

Categories
HVAC

Waving Winter Blues Away: 3 Items to Check Off Your HVAC To-Do List For the End of Winter

Winter HVAC MaintenanceBefore the winter weather winds down, it’s time to think about which items you need to check off your HVAC to-do list. If your heating system kept you and your home comfortable all winter, that’s great, but that doesn’t mean that it will be able to work properly and efficiently throughout the warmer months. To help you avoid an increase in utility bills and decrease in comfort during the warmer months, the HVAC experts at Clay’s Climate Control are here with the top 3 HVAC things you should be inspecting right now!

Swap Out Your HVAC Filter

Spring will be here soon, and this change of season makes it the perfect time to change out your HVAC filter. When an air filter gets dirty, it can negatively impact the way that your system is able to perform, causing it to consume more energy and increase your utility bill. In addition to helping your HVAC equipment perform better, doing an air filter replacement will also improve the air quality inside of your home.

Give the Ductwork Some Attention

Just as a clean air filter helps your HVAC system perform better, so does having air ducts that are clean. By having your ductwork cleaned out, you will be ensuring that the air that flows through it more efficiently. So before the warm weather arrives, be sure to check your ductwork for signs of clogging (IE with debris and dust) or damage.

Give Your Thermostat a Once-Over

Over time, the batteries in your thermostat can lose power, and when they do, it makes your thermostat not able to operate the way it needs to. While this may not lead to safety or health issues, this will lead to discomfort issues, because it will reduce the comfort level inside your home. To avoid this, simply change out the batteries with new ones!

Whether you need help inspecting your ductwork, updating your air conditioner condenser or addressing any other HVAC concerns, the team at Clay’s Climate Control will help you check off your HVAC to-do list! Contact us today to schedule an HVAC appointment.

Categories
air conditioning heating HVAC hvac maintenance

“V” Is For Virtuosity: Here’s What It Takes to Be a Great HVAC Technician

With over 20 years in the HVAC industry and known for being a professional, reliable, and honest company, we know a thing or two about how to be a great HVAC technician—and we want to pass that knowledge on to you. The team at Clay’s Climate Control have come up with three things that will take you from being a good HVAC technician to a great one, so you can get the success you deserve

Stay Up-to-Date on the Hottest Trends

Knowledge is power, and when you’re up-to-date on the latest safety practices and techniques, then you’ll be one step closer to being a great HVAC technician. Whether you conduct your own research in your free time, participate in workshops or acquire new certifications, you’ll be taking the steps you need to in order to be the most successful technician you can be. Plus, when you know the latest practices and techniques, you can be sure that you’re staying safe at jobs, and your customers can be confident that they’re getting the best HVAC service.

Drill Down on Details

Just like in any career, how you deal with the details of a project is what makes a person good at their job or exceptional at their job. In order to do a high-quality job and provide exceptional service, it’s important to remember it’s all in the details, so be sure to do the following:

  • Go through each and every part of a procedure—no skipping a step!
  • Catch the smallest of details and address them
  • Record details from every visit and keep them on file for that client

By being detail-oriented, you’ll be able to do the best job possible and provide high-quality service to all of your customers.

Power Up Communication Skills and Customer Service

When it comes to being a great HVAC technician, your expertise and qualifications are one part of the equation, but how you talk to and treat your customers is the other—and to do this well, communication and customer service need to go hand in hand. Not only do you need to personable and polite, but you also need to be able to effectively communicate what needs to be done without using too much technical jargon. Additionally, each customer should feel like they’re your #1 priority (no matter how many client’s you’re working with) so it’s important to quickly address any questions or concerns they may have.

Whether you’re looking to join an HVAC team where you can take your skills to the next level, or you’re a homeowner looking for the best HVAC company in southern New Jersey, look no further than Clay’s Climate Control! From job inquiries to scheduling an HVAC appointment, contact us today.

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HVAC

Summer Rental: Here’s an HVAC Checklist for Rental Properties

If you’re one of the smart people who invested in a shore house and rent it out every summer then 1) congrats, and 2) keeping it in tip-top shape will ensure that you continue to get the rental price that you want. The HVAC pro’s at Clay’s Climate Control have come up with a helpful HVAC checklist that will keep your HVAC system operating efficiently, so your renters—and your wallet—will be happy.

Improve Air Quality With New Air Filters

Overtime, dust, pollen, allergens and other contaminants accumulate on air filters, and when the air conditioning kicks on, these all blow out into the air you—and your future tenants—will breath. To keep the air quality safe and healthy in your rental property, replace your HVAC’s air filters. Not only is this an easy and affordable task to check off, but it can make a huge improvement in the air people breathe.

Give Your HVAC System an Upgrade

Depending on the age of your HVAC system, you may want to consider replacing it with a newer, more efficient system. Most HVAC systems can last approximately 15-20 years, so if yours is getting close to that age, it’s time to give it an upgrade. With that being said, if an HVAC system hasn’t been well-maintained or it’s been exposed to harsh weather conditions—such as saltwater and snowstorms—these factors can age the system quicker. If your rental is close to the beach, and you think your HVAC system looks older than it actually is, contact an HVAC expert to diagnose your system’s condition.

Avoid Wear and Tear By Checking Belts and Bearings

Between the heat and humidity of summer, tenants in a beach house are going to want a beach rental that’s equipped with a powerful air conditioning system. To keep the AC in your rental property working properly—and to get longevity out of your system—it’s important to perform routine maintenance on its belts and bearings. If these components aren’t properly aligned or greased, they can grind down areas of your unit and wear down your system. You can easily prevent this by making sure the belts have straight edges and the bearings are well-greased.

Clean the Air Ducts for Cleaner Air

Similar to air filters, air ducts can also fill up with dust, pollen, allergens and other contaminants, impacting the air quality in your rental property. To ensure your tenants are breathing in clean air, it’s crucial that you routinely clean your air ducts. If you want to supplement your clean air filters and air ducts, installing an air purifier can drastically improve air quality.

Reduce Bacteria By Removing Standing Water

HVAC systems have drain pans that prevent condensation water from leaking into the walls and ceilings, but when these pans fill with standing water, it can attract bacteria and contaminants. In order to keep bacteria and contaminants at bay, it’s important to regularly clean out the water from these pans.

HVAC checklists are great, but their tasks are even easier to check off when you have a highly-qualified HVAC technician on your side! Whether you are looking to replace your HVAC system or want to have your system maintained, the experts at Clay’s Climate Control are here to help. Contact us today to schedule your HVAC appointment!

Categories
hvac maintenance

Five Spring Maintenance Tips for Your HVAC System

Spring is in the air, and with the hot weather on its way in, you’ll be cranking up your air conditioning system in no time! Don’t get caught unprepared – start on your spring maintenance early by following these tips:

Check Refrigerant Level
Your cooling system will not run efficiently if it does not have the correct amount of refrigerant. The additional strain on your air conditioner will cause it to wear out more quickly. This will cause it to break down more often, leading to expensive repairs! It will also increase your energy costs.

Replace Air Filters
Air filters become dirty and clogged if they aren’t changed on a regular basis. Dirty filters lower both the energy efficiency of your HVAC system and the air quality in your house. With allergy season approaching, it’s critical to change your air filters when you start using your air conditioner!

Clean Your Coils
Before you start your air conditioner, make sure the evaporator coils and condenser coils have been cleaned. This is especially important if your outdoor unit wasn’t covered during the winter. Dirt and dust buildup on the coils can inhibit your cooling system’s airflow and reduce its performance. Ensure that all leaves and other debris around your outdoor unit are cleared out.

Clean and Inspect Your Ductwork
Your HVAC system’s ductwork should be cleaned and inspected before spring. If you have leaks in your air ducts, your cooling system will be less energy efficient.

Schedule an Air Conditioning Tune-up
You can lower your cooling costs by up to 15% by scheduling routine maintenance on your HVAC system! A tune-up can save you money by catching problems early, before more expensive repairs are needed. It will also ensure that your air conditioner works when you need it most.

Schedule an appointment early with Clay’s Climate Control to prevent the inconvenience of an air conditioning breakdown during the summer heat!