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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
heating HVAC hvac maintenance

Ask the Expert: How can I be sure my furnace isn’t leaking out carbon monoxide?

Carbon Monoxide LeakThis is a great question, and one that requires the attention of homeowners as soon as the temperature outside drops low enough that the furnace needs to be turned on. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a furnace can pose a threat every winter. When furnaces are not properly maintained by an HVAC professional every year, there may be issues with the unit that can lead to the leaking of carbon monoxide—an invisible, odorless gas that is emitted from a damaged furnace and kills hundreds of people every year, while also making thousands sick.

Schedule Furnace Maintenance

To be sure that your furnace is working properly and is not emitting carbon monoxide, the first step is to schedule a furnace maintenance appointment with a heating expert. Once your furnace has been maintained, the next step it to make sure that you 1) have carbon monoxide detectors installed in your home, and 2) regularly maintain these to make sure that they are functioning properly.

Save Up to 10% a Year on Your Heating Bill

Not only will annually maintaining your furnace help you prevent a dangerous carbon monoxide leakage, but you will also enjoy the added bonus of saving up to 10% a year in your heating bill! This is because a well-maintained furnace will run more efficiently and effectively, so it won’t waste energy heating your home.

Being Proactive

Now, just because you are staying on top of your furnace’s maintenance every year does not mean that there are not other proactive steps you can take in between the yearly checkups! In addition to scheduling annual maintenance, you can also do the following:

  • Regularly replace your furnace’s filter.
  • Keep the fan compartment door tightly closed; this will prevent it from having to work overtime.
  • Look for burned or damaged wiring; using a flashlight will make this easier to see!
  • Check to see if the flue of your furnace is well-connected to the masonry or metal flue; this will keep carbon monoxide from escaping if there is a leak present.

Your furnace is there to make your home warm and cozy in the winter, not dangerous, and here at Clay’s Climate Control, we do everything we can to make sure your HVAC equipment can be easily and properly maintained—that is why we offer our 3C Maintenance Plan! If you live in Linwood, Atlantic County, or Northern Cape May County, NJ, contact the experts at Clay’s today to schedule your furnace 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.

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!

Categories
indoor air quality

Can the Air in my House Make me Ill?

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!

Categories
HVAC

HVAC Prep List for Cold Weather

Winter is quickly approaching, and while we’ve been fortunate to receive some fairly mild fall weather so far, we can expect to see temperatures in Northfield NJ, and along the shore drop soon. Before the cold weather hits, there are many important things to take care of around your home, especially as they pertain to your HVAC system and keeping your home comfortable and warm this winter season. Here is our prep list to ensure that you’ll be ready for the heating season this winter.

  1. Check weatherstripping: In an effort to keep the warm air inside your home and the cold air out, make sure that any weatherstripping around your doors is in good shape. If you notice a draft through the door or chill around the edge, it may be time to invest in new weatherstripping. Weatherstripping can go a long way to helping your system work efficiently and effectively throughout the winter.
  1. Replace air filters: Air filters should be cleaned or replaced during each new season. A new air filter ensures proper air flow throughout your home, which will help your system to pump warm air without too much effort, which can in turn result in energy savings.
  1. Upgrade your thermostat: If you don’t already have a programmable thermostat, it is a great option to consider as we move into winter. A programmable thermostat allows you to control the temperature of your home from anywhere, and can also determine your lifestyle and heating needs once you begin to set it, reducing heating costs while keeping your home at the right temperature for when you’re home, at work, or asleep. If you don’t have a programmable thermostat, make sure that you are setting it appropriately when you leave your home or go to bed.
  1. Switch your fans: Fans work well to cool down your home during the spring and summer months, but they can also help to move hot air into the living spaces of your home when their direction is reversed. Since heat rises, reversing the direction of your ceiling fans will help to push the warm air coming from your vents in your direction.
  1. Schedule maintenance and repairs: If you haven’t scheduled annual maintenance for your HVAC system or if you have repairs that need to be made, do not wait until the height of the winter season to call for help. Schedule maintenance with an HVAC professional sooner rather than later to ensure fast service and flexible scheduling.

For more tips on prepping your HVAC system for the winter season, contact Clay’s Climate Control today!