Is Annual Furnace Inspection in Phoenix Important?

You have likely heard about the need for annual furnace inspections. Most furnace manufacturers will tell you that you should have your furnace inspected every year. It's printed in the manuals, and your contractors will mention it to you when they install it. Is it essential to book someone to come out every single year? The answer, as with so many other topics, is "it depends." In Phoenix, despite the usually warm to hot weather, it is a good idea to take good care of your furnace.

New Furnaces Are Quite Resilient

The way that the manufacturers word their recommendations makes it sound like if you don't have your furnace inspected every single year, then the warranty will be void. This is not necessarily the case. It's best practice to have your heater checked on a regular basis, but it isn't always necessary. In most parts of the country, you would probably get away with having a new furnace checked out every two years. When your heater is over ten years old, it starts making more sense to have it checked every year because there is more wear and tear and more potential points of failure.

Phoenix is a particular case, however, because the dusty desert air is more likely to clog filters and do damage to the unit. Since the unit is under more stress, it starts making sense to have it maintained on a regular basis. That's the other thing that you should consider - the difference between a simple inspection and a full annual maintenance check-up.

What Do HVAC Technicians Do In an Inspection?

Inspections and maintenances checks can vary massively in what you get out of them. Some companies will do a quick inspection that will determine whether or not the unit is safe to use. If you're a landlord, then it makes sense to have one of those checkups performed on all of your properties quite regularly. They're inexpensive, and they can save lives.

If you are currently a homeowner and you want to make sure that your furnace is running well, then it's a good idea to have a more comprehensive check performed. Things that might be checked include:

• Wiring: to make sure it is not corroded or damaged


• Air intakes: these should not be blocked or obstructed


• Blower access door: does it form a tight seal at the furnace?


• Heat exchanger: this must be free from rust and corrosion


• Burners: these should ignite adequately and have a clean flame


• Blower wheel: as a part of the inspection this should be checked for debris and then cleaned. Doing this properly requires the wheel to be removed entirely.


• Filters: any filters must be monitored, and cleaned or replaced if needed. This should be done between inspections to suit the schedule of the manufacturer.

Other checks can be performed as well. The above items are a few of the basic, but useful, checks that should be a part of a standard inspection.

Is It Possible To Do A DIY Inspection?

Each of the above tasks sounds simple enough, but they are skilled jobs, and they are hard to do well. Some things are simple, such as replacing user-serviceable filters, and you should be doing those as and when required. A full service is a more complicated task that does require some industry expertise.

Furnace inspections are preventative maintenance, and they can save you a lot of time and money in the long run, so it's worth paying a flat fee for a regular maintenance check, instead of hoping for the best and then ending up having to shell out for an emergency visit late at night on a public holiday.

Common Signs of Furnace Problems

If you haven't had a maintenance checkup in a while and you're wondering whether your furnace needs one, the answer is most likely that it does. There are a few common warning signs that you should look out for though. If your answer is a solid "yes" to any of these, then you should seriously consider booking an inspection sooner rather than later.

- Age: If your furnace is more than ten years old then you need regular maintenance. The average life expectancy of a furnace is just 16-20 years. Most people replace their heater around that time. If you have the desire and can afford to do so, then start shopping for a replacement. You might be handy enough to do your own furnace replacement. But it is better to take good care of your furnace and have a good heating company service it from time to time to extend its life.

- Rising Bills: As your unit gets older it will likely become less efficient. You will notice that your utility bills start increasing. That's a sign that your unit is beginning to break down.

- The flame is yellow instead of blue: A yellow flame is a sign of poor ventilation. If the flame is flickering, that is a bad sign. Streaks of soot around the furnace are another warning sign, as is excessive rusting on the flue pipe. Your furnace could be producing carbon monoxide - an odorless, colorless, and deadly gas. Stop using your unit immediately and call in an expert to check it out. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be fatal, so this is something that you should not ignore.

- Strange noises: If your furnace is creaking, banging or squealing then this could be a sign that the blower is working too hard or that there is a fault somewhere else in the system.

- Dry, dusty air: One common problem, especially in Phoenix, is that the furnace struggles to produce moist, clean air. If your home feels stuffy, or people have problems with dry throats and dry skin, then this can be a sign that the furnace is struggling. You may notice that your plants struggle to thrive and that you get more static shocks than usual. These conditions are all indications that you should get your furnace checked out.

A furnace checkup could save you a lot of money in the long run, and may even alert you to potentially dangerous issues. It's not a lot to pay for peace of mind.  Early autumn is a great time of year to have Icon Mechanical come out and service your furnace.

Contact us today for a furnace check-up!

623-386-7804

What Types Of Air Conditioners Are Good For The Phoenix AZ Area?

In a market where companies have to innovate to remain competitive constantly, we now have numerous air conditioners from which business owners and homeowners can choose. That being said, you should note that some air conditioners are ideally suited for specific environments and uses while others are not. There are different units better suited for homes, businesses, or apartment complexes.  But, all should be installed by an expert.

For instance, for home air conditioning, the ducted central air conditioner is the preferred air conditioning unit owing to its incredible efficiency in conditioning a large house. This unit is able to condition an entire home by supplying conditioned cool air to the house and drawing warm air out of the house.

Alternately, homeowners have the option of using the ductless mini-split air conditioners. These units are designed to condition the house in zones, whereby each zone can be regulated using its own thermostat. This means while the house uses a single outdoor compressor/condenser unit, you can have as many as four indoor handling units for different sections of the house. Other air conditioning units suited for homes include hybrid units and geothermal heating and cooling units.

As for apartment complexes, the most efficient means of air conditioning is a distributed heating and cooling system. However, in buildings that lack such a system, individual apartments can use portable air conditioners and window air conditioners. These units are easy to install in individual apartments.

In the case of a business, it all depends on the location of the company, the size of the premises and the types of business. The air conditioning needs of a small restaurant are not the same as a small to medium-sized office and are markedly different from the requirements of large office space. When businesses are operating out of small spaces, the split system air conditioner is the preferred choice. However, as the space that has to be air-conditioned increases, businesses usually opt to use the packaged system for its efficiency.

Split Air Conditioning Units vs. Package Units - Which Is Best For Arizona?

Aside from considering issues of which unit is better suited for a particular use, you also need to consider where you live. In Arizona, most homeowners and business owners tend to choose between the split air conditioners or the package air conditioners. However, understanding how each unit functions and the advantages that each unit yields to its user is crucial if you are to choose a unit that is perfect for use in Arizona.



In a package unit, every part of the air conditioner is placed inside the outdoor unit. That is, the evaporator, the condenser, and the compressor are housed inside one unit. As such, there are no components that take up indoor space. Due to their space economy, the packaged units are perfect for use on Arizona business premises. Many business premises in Arizona tend to have a low slope roof, where the packaged air conditioner unit perfectly sits in a single unit. Therefore, you do not have parts of the air conditioner occupying indoor space.

For homeowners, the split air conditioner tends to be the best choice. In a split air, the air handler is installed inside the house while the noisier compressor and condenser are located outside. In doing this, homeowner benefits from a longer lasting evaporator and air handler system as they are not exposed to the elements. Furthermore, with these components being located indoors, it becomes easier to change the filter as advised by the manufacturer frequently. This in turn makes extends the overall life of the system.

What About Heat Pumps?

Heat pumps are increasingly becoming popular across Arizona. For starters, they operate using the heat exchange mechanism. In this regard, they transfer heat from one place to another (either indoors or outdoors) depending on whether it is in heat mode or cooling mode. During the summer months, they are very effective at air conditioning the indoor space. However, unlike traditional air conditioners, they tend to be far more energy efficient, thereby lowering the cost of air conditioning a home.

 

If you need help determining which type of AC you need then contact us today: iconmechanicalinc.com

Why Is My AC Leaking Water?

A common issue that homeowners experience with their air conditioning units is AC leaks. If you are experiencing leaking water, the main thing that you are going to want to do is completely shut off your AC's thermostat to avoid further damage. To understand what is happening with your AC unit when dealing with a leak, you will want to fully understand the common causes, differences between leaks inside and outside, how to fix the leaking, and potential issues that could occur if you are not able to pinpoint a leak in time.

Common Causes Of Leaks:

1. Clogged Condensate Drain Line.

If you are experiencing an AC unit leak, the leak might be caused by having a clogged condensate drain line. This is the most typical reason you might begin to experience leaking. When your drain line gets blocked with anything, the water ends up getting backed up into your home.



How To Solve: If you are experiencing a clogged condensate drain line, the best way to solve it is by unclogging it. There are various way you can employ when looking to unclog the drain line. The most effective way is typically the use of either a wet or dry vac directly on the condensate line itself. The more sure way to deal with a clogged condensate drain line is by hiring a professional to handle the problem for you. They will be able to utilize professional equipment to effectively remove and unclog whatever is blocking the line in the first place.

2. Broken Condensate Pump.

If your furnace and AC unit is installed anywhere in your basement, you have a condensate pump that works to pump the water outside. The problem occurs when the pump malfunctions or breaks and the water cannot then be pumped outside.

How To Solve: If you are dealing with a broken condensate pump, the only way you are going to be able to fix it is by either repairing or replacing the pump. This is going to require professional assistance as any repair or replacement needs to be done by a professional AC repair technician for something like this.

3. Damaged Drain Pan.

Another issue that might cause leaking with your AC unit is a damaged drain pan. This is very common if you are dealing with an old AC unit that might have rusted over. A lot of the times your drain pan can either get damaged or rusted to the point where it doesn't function properly. In these situations, the water typically falls through during operation which can result in AC leakage.

How To Solve: To fix this issue and stop the leaking for a damaged drain pan, you will need to replace the pan altogether.

4. Dirty Filter.

This is another prevalent issue that can result in your AC unit leaking. A dirty air filter can contribute to leaking because it can cause inconsistencies with the entire unit. It ultimately blocks the airflow which forces the evaporator coil to get insufficient air to warm it. This alone causes the evaporator coil to freeze. Thus, it eventually drips excess water that the pan is not capable of containing. The end result is leaking from your AC unit.

How To Solve: Dealing with a dirty filter is typically the easiest leak problem to solve. Typically, you will only need to replace the filter and change it if it is too clogged up. You should be consistently changing your air filters a minimum of once per every three months to keep it as clean as possible to avoid this problem from ever occurring in the first place.

5. Low Refrigerant.

Another big issue that could be contributing to a leaking problem is having low refrigerant. When you are low on refrigerant, the overall air pressure of the AC system goes down to unstable levels. This ultimately results in your evaporator coil getting too cold and freezing over. As a result, when it produces excess moisture from it freezing over, the excess water is too much for the drain pan to handle and ends up leaking from the AC unit.

How To Solve: You will likely be able to tell whether or not you are low on refrigerant because you will notice that your AC unit is not properly cooling efficiently. Along with this, you might even hear a hissing noise stemming from your unit. Depending on the problem and how bad it is, you might be able to repair it. If not, you might need to have the entire unit replaced.

If you are dealing with any sort of AC leak, you want to get it resolved as soon as possible. Not only can it lead to mold growth, but it can cause your entire AC unit to underperform and minimize your system's cooling efficiency. Having a professional HVAC company fix any leak you might be dealing with is preferred because they will be able to diagnose your exact issue and figure out the best way to solve the problem. Along with this, having a professional HVAC company handle the routine maintenance of your AC unit can keep your unit performing optimally for a long time which can help you prevent future potentially costly repairs or replacements. Call us today to schedule preventative care for your AC unit.

https://iconmechanicalinc.com/

Are Programmable Thermostats Worth It? Let’s Find Out

If you are looking to control the temperature of your home, consider a programmable thermostat. With a good programmable thermostat, you can save $100 per year on energy bills, and some smart thermostat manufacturers claim the savings can soar to $200 or more. Before intelligent thermostats came into the market, non-connected, programmable thermostats were used to provide energy savings, and they still do today.

For many years, however, the problem has been that they have been difficult to program for the average consumer. This meant that a homeowner had to manually change the thermostat settings, which lead to inconsistencies and eventually escalated energy bills. Programmable thermostats are also referred to as smart thermostats because they are designed to control the temperature of your room or house through a series of programmed settings. And since these settings can kick in at different times of the day, you will eventually save on your energy bill in the long run.

Also, a device such as these can be linked with your home’s heating systems, and it will work through turning off/on the furnace when temperature tumbles or rises above the specified temperature. This means that the right temperature will be maintained all through the day so that you enjoy comfortable living conditions.

Attributes To Consider When Picking A Thermostat

When it comes to selecting a programmable thermostat for your home, there are numerous elements that you need to take into account. Here are a few aspects you should consider:

1. Type & Options

A majority of thermostats offer common programmable options that you could choose from as follows:

7-Day Model: This type of programmable thermostat is a perfect choice if your daily routine is continually changing. For instance, if you often have to come home late in a few cases, you should go for this thermostat type because you could easily input different temperatures for each day of the week.

5-2 Model: This thermostat lets you program the same temperature for two different phases. For instance, you could schedule a constant temperature from Monday all the way to Friday and a different temperature for the weekend.

5-1-1 Model: This type of thermostat is similar to the model mentioned above only that it provides a different schedule for the weekend.

Smart Model: This type learns your behavior and determines the best times to regulate the cooling and heating to meet your schedule. So, if you get home at 6 PM, it might keep your home slightly warmer (or colder depending on the season) all day until about 5 PM and then start working to get to your desired temperature when you are home. They can even tell when you are away, so if you don’t come back for a few days, it will go into economy mode and use less energy. They can be difficult to install, so you may want to have one of our residential AC service techs help you do it.

2. Compatibility

The Equipment: When it comes to selecting a thermostat, you will need to choose one that correctly links to your heating and cooling systems. Most thermostat models will work correctly with an array of furnace and AC systems. You will also need to establish the number of stages by looking at your old thermostat or the manual for your equipment. The more stages your thermostat has, the better its efficiency, and based on your cooling and heating stages, you should get a thermostat with a matching number of stages.

Your House: Position your thermostat where you can conveniently access it.

3. Remote Access

When choosing a programmable thermostat, you need to determine whether there is the need for you to monitor the temperature of your home when you are not around. If you need to remote control your thermostat, you will need to ensure that your gadget is compatible with your home’s communication setup, such as the landline phone or the high-speed internet through Wi-Fi.

4. Ease of Installation and Use

Another aspect to consider when buying a thermometer is how easy the gadget can be installed and used. You want a thermostat with which you can navigate between the various settings. You do not want to go the manual every time you need to adjust your thermostat settings or replace something. While some thermostat models are quite easy to install, it is best that you seek professional assistance if you need to do something that is more than a simple replacement.

Are Programmable Thermostats Worth It?

Yes, if you want to save a lot on your monthly energy bills without compromising your comfort. These gadgets have a track record of cutting down your energy bills effortlessly. Advanced smart thermostat models offer features ranging from keeping good track of your daily schedule to facilitating remote operation and alerting you when your cooling or heating system needs some attention. Here are some other reasons why programmable thermostats are worth every penny:

• Automatic temperature adjustment: Remembering to change your thermostat every time could add an unwanted task to your schedule, and you could quickly forget about it. Having a gadget that does all this for you will simplify your life while reducing energy consumption in your home.


• Lower energy bills: Irrespective of the programmable thermostat model you go for, you will end up saving a lot on your energy bills if you program and utilize the unit in the right manner. Maintaining constant temperature in your home when you are away uses more energy as opposed to adjusting it automatically for your absence or when you are asleep.


• Consistent temperature: Another reason why programmable thermostats are a worthy investment is that they can aid in maintaining the right, consistent temperature through your home. Rather than cranking your air conditioning unit on high when the heat wave is at its highest, your programmable thermostat will run at a constant level. And during the chilly winters, your heat can remain constant since it follows a pre-programmed temperature schedule.


• Optimizing your HVAC system: Before you can install a new HVAC system, most experts will have few recommendations to make before you can commit to such a considerable investment. If your HVAC is old or inefficient, pairing it with a smart thermostat could help it accomplish its tasks effectively.

Contact Icon Mechanical today to see how you might be able to save money on your energy bill.

623-386-7804