Don't Delay! Get a Head Start on Fall Heater Maintenance

Prepare the Heater With Professional Maintenance 

Summer is almost over, and that means cooling bills will be dropping. Homeowners look forward to these few months of reprieve before heating bills start rising. What is the best way to ensure that heating bills stay reasonable? Fall heater maintenance. 

Heater maintenance is a great investment for families looking to keep the budget in check this year. Heater maintenance saves money and gives homeowners the confidence that their heater is ready for winter. Here are a few tips from local experts to encourage homeowners to schedule fall heater maintenance. 

Perks of Heater Maintenance

heaterHeater maintenance is critical for homeowners looking to get better performance from their heaters. Performance can be broken down into three categories: 

  • Efficiency: Better efficiency means lower heating bills. Heater maintenance ensures that heaters run at peak efficiency, so savings don’t compromise comfort. 
  • Reliability: Heaters that are regularly maintained are more reliable, meaning they have fewer problems. They will also last longer, meaning homeowners will have to replace their furnaces less often. 
  • Cost: Cost not only covers the money saved with increased efficiency. It also covers the savings of not having to pay unnecessary repair bills when things go wrong. Heater maintenance is a service that pays for itself over the heating season, so deciding to schedule it is a no-brainer. 

What’s Covered in Heater Maintenance?

filterHeater maintenance is a comprehensive program that covers every aspect of the heater. Some of the things an HVAC maintenance professional will cover during a heater maintenance visit are: 

  • Clean and inspect the burner to ensure good operation
  • Inspect and clean the blower for efficient air movement 
  • Check electrical connections
  • Inspect visible ductwork
  • Verify the operation of the thermostat
  • Lubricate moving parts
  • Clean air filters and coils

Once heater maintenance is done, homeowners can expect their heater to last through the winter with no problems and reasonable energy bills. 

Is It Too Early? 

Nope. It’s not too early unless you have a heat pump system. This time of year is perfect for heater maintenance. HVAC maintenance should take place twice per year. Once in the spring and once in the fall. Spring maintenance prepares the AC for the upcoming summer and tunes up the heater, while fall maintenance ensures the AC can finish out the season and prepares the heater for the winter. Having a professional do fall maintenance on the heater is the best investment a homeowner can make in ensuring their heater will be problem-free all winter.  If your unit is a heat pump system, we cannot perform maintenance until the temperatures cool down into the 60s.

Why is the end of summer/pre-fall the best time? Heater maintenance technicians reach a lull at the end of the summer. Most of the problems that keep them busy during the summer have already been taken care of, and no problems have manifested in heaters yet, so they have plenty of time. This time allows them to thoroughly care for heaters scheduled for maintenance and take care of any potential problems. Getting ahead of the rush ensures that heaters are maintained and given a clean bill of health before the weather changes. 

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions has been in the business of energy conservation since the 1970s. They provide flat-rate pricing, financing, and fast, friendly service. Call them today for an award-winning heater maintenance and repair service in Austin, TX.

Find the Right Heater Repair Service

Person in plaid shirt and blue overalls carrying a toolbox in doorway, representing practical HVAC and home repair services.

3 Things That Identify Great Heating and Cooling Companies

When searching for the perfect home heating and cooling company, researching is the best way to avoid being conned out of hard-earned money and key to finding a heating service that fits the family’s needs without breaking the bank. Trusting the home to a repair company is a huge step and takes a good level of trust between the homeowner and the technician.  

1. Positive Reviews Online

person holding phone with 5 stars hoveringThe Internet offers the benefit to homeowners of being able to research potential repair companies straight from a cellphone while on break at the job. Looking up reviews for local companies is as easy as typing the company's name into Google and pulling up every review written about that company. Sometimes, companies may rebrand or rename the company if there are too many unfavorable reviews from previous customers. 

One way to make sure the company is trusted within the community is to read reviews on Google, Facebook, Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, or Home Advisor. Finding the name of the owner of the company and researching them is a way to see how long they have been doing business in the area. 

Reviews that are mostly positive and use words such as “prompt”, “professional”, “knowledgeable” indicate that this company is likely one that can be trusted and has been trusted by many homeowners already.

2. Licensing and Insurance is Up-to-Date and Correct

Every state has different requirements for licensing and insurance for repair companies such as HVAC companies. Checking with the local licensing board or Department of Labor is the simplest way to verify if the information provided by a contractor is up-to-date and legitimate. 

Doing business with a licensed and insured company is the best way to ensure the job is done properly, parts are warrantied, and labor is guaranteed by the company. Saving money is important to many homeowners, but not sacrificing the quality and safety of the family should take priority by hiring a certified, well-trained contractor to maintain or repair major household systems.

3. Are Maintenance Plans Worth the Money?

HVAC technician performing maintenanceMany heating and cooling companies offer maintenance plans, and some offer tiered plans based on individual homeowners’ needs. Good maintenance plans offer two system inspections per year, one in the fall to check the heating before winter comes and one in the spring to check the air conditioning before the summer hits. 

Certified technicians evaluate whether the unit needs repair or preventive maintenance. Having systems serviced regularly will prevent costly repairs down the road and extend the life of the current unit. During services, filters are cleaned or replaced, lubricants are added to prevent dryness, and refrigerant is checked. 

Maintenance plans allow homeowners front-of-line privileges in emergency situations and discounts on services if repair or replacement becomes necessary.   

About A-Plus Air Conditioning and Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning and Home Solutions, located in Austin, TX, has offered installation, maintenance, repair, replacement, handyman/home repairs, and remodeling services since 1977 as a family-owned company. Financing is available to fund whatever project a homeowner has on their mind. Give them a call today for expert AC and heating services in Austin.

A Broken Heater Over the Holiday Season?! Bah Humbug!

Don’t Be Left Out in the Cold for the Holidays!

The holidays can be stressful enough by themselves. However, no one wants to have to deal with extra emergency problems during this season. With the increase in traffic in most people’s homes, a broken heater can be both inconvenient and embarrassing if it goes out during a holiday gathering. Unfortunately, this also happens to be the season that heater problems are most likely to occur. With the onset of the holidays, colder temperatures return, and homeowners find themselves attempting to fire up their furnaces for the first time in a year.

Since the stakes are so high, it is important that homeowners know what to look out for and how to respond in the event that their heater breaks down during this season.

Signs You May Have a Broken Heater

Knowing what to look out for can empower homeowners to make wise decisions during the holidays. Keep an eye out for these problems that could indicate serious problems:

Furnace being repaired by a technician

  • No Heat: A lack of heat with the furnace blower running indicates a problem with the ignition system. A technician will need to check out the pilot light or electronic ignition system for proper function.
  • Unusual Noises: Loud noises usually indicate a mechanical problem somewhere in the blower system of the heater. Bearings and belts, and motors are usually the culprits.
  • Insufficient Heat: Not enough heat could mean a problem with the ductwork or a serious problem with the burners. Either way, it is important that it is checked out immediately.
  • Uncharacteristically High Bills: High bills can be an indicator that the heater has lost efficiency. HVAC technicians can usually restore efficiency with a repair or replacement

Check the Thermostat Before Calling

Emergency repairs can be expensive, so it's important that homeowners know how to avoid heating repair calls during the holiday season. One of the most common issues that HVAC technicians see is thermostat problems that aren’t necessarily a cause for emergency calls.

Before calling a technician, verify there is power at the thermostat. Many thermostats run on battery power and periodically the batteries must be changed. Low batteries in the thermostat can prevent the entire system from operating. New batteries will restore the system for a couple of dollars instead of a repair bill.

Another common problem this time of year is simply that people don’t check to see that their thermostat is in the proper setting. During a change in seasons, thermostats must be set to heat and the temperature set at an appropriate setting. Try this before making a call for repairs and it could save on an expensive trip charge from a professional.

What You Can Do Before the Technician Arrives to Help

Technician arriving with tools in-hand

The most important thing a homeowner can do to help is to gather information about the furnace problems. Be sure to take notes on what is going wrong and clearly communicate the problems. By collecting good information, homeowners can help expedite the repair process so both they and the technicians can get back to their holiday celebrations.

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions has been an Austin community business since 1977. Offering heating, cooling, and handyman solutions, they are the dependable option for Austin heater repair service. Contact them today and ensure the home is safe and warm this winter season.

What's the Best Time for Heater Replacement?

Common Signs That the Heater Needs To Be Replaced

Temperatures are continuing to get cooler and cooler as the fall months will soon turn into winter months. It’s hard to believe that the year is coming to an end and that winter will be in full swing in just a little while. Homeowners need to prepare their homes for the winter and make sure that their heater is ready to take on the cold months ahead.

Answering the following questions can help homeowners determine if their heater is in need of replacement. If it does need replacing, now is the best time to do it, so homeowners don’t have to deal with a heater breakdown during the coldest time of year.

How Old Is the Unit?

Technician Replacing HVAC Unit

Most products wear down over time and become unusable. Smartphones last roughly 2-5 years before the software becomes outdated. Most cars last about 165,000-200,000 miles before they start experiencing frequent breakdowns and are no longer safe to drive. Heaters are exactly the same way.

They typically last 15-18 years, assuming that they are of high quality and have regular maintenance checks during the year. However, even with proper maintenance and care, the heating unit will eventually grow too old and need to be replaced. So if the heater is 15-18 years old, it may be best to replace it before the unit breaks down completely.

Are There Frequent Breakdowns?

If there are frequent breakdowns, this is another big sign that the heater needs to be replaced. What exactly does this look like? When there’s one thing after another that keeps going wrong. For instance, if the heater starts making a strange noise, homeowners may discover that the blower wheel is malfunctioning and have it fixed.

But soon after, the heater stops blowing warm air, so they get that fixed. Then, soon after, they notice the pilot light has turned yellow instead of burning its usual blue. And so they fix that as well. Eventually, when so many things have gone wrong, it’s time to call it. The heater is likely on its last leg and needs to be replaced sooner rather than later.

Have the Energy Bills Skyrocketed?

Woman shocked by electric bill

Homeowners always have a lot of bills to keep track of. There are phone bills, mortgage bills, water bills, energy bills, and the list goes on. Homeowners need to stay extremely organized to keep track of all of these bills over time. They should always pay close attention to the bills that vary from month to month, like energy bills, to spot any inconsistencies.

If homeowners notice a sudden rise in their energy bill this fall or winter, there may be a problem with the heater. If the heater has a broken component or isn’t working efficiently, the unit has to work harder to provide the same results. This ends up causing higher energy bills. Homeowners should seriously consider replacing the unit if this occurs. Otherwise, it could lead to a complete breakdown in the near future.

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

Since 1977, A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions has strived to improve not only the comfort but also the functionality and aesthetics of their customers' homes. While they can help with all Austin, TX heater replacements, they also have expert handyman services available too.

Heater Maintenance Can't Fight Ghosts, But It Can Prevent Costly Repairs

Why Heater Maintenance Is Essential

It’s that time of year again when all of the ghosts and goblins come out to play. There may even be some spooky noises coming from inside of the house, particularly from the HVAC system or the heater. When unusual sounds start to occur or when they become more frequent, that’s usually a sign that something is wrong and needs to be fixed. The best way to avoid these problems in the first place to schedule regular heater maintenance to catch any little things that may be wrong and prevent those spooky sounds from taking place.
Of course, if homeowners notice other ghosts that are peeking around the corners in their house, an HVAC maintenance check won’t help with that; those services should be reserved for the Ghostbusters!

What’s Included in Professional Maintenance?

Technician Inspecting Heater

Professional heater maintenance is truly the best way to catch problems before they happen and make small tweaks to the system to help it continue to run at its best. There are a variety of check-points that an HVAC technician will look for during a scheduled visit. This can include:

  • Testing the burner
  • Replacing the owner supplied air filter
  • Checking the thermostat
  • Testing safety controls
  • Examining various components for any damage or corrosion
  • Testing for natural gas leaks
  • Testing for carbon monoxide

Running through this checklist helps to identify and fix any potential problems that could jeopardize the safety or comfort of the home.

Fall is the Best Time to Schedule Heater Maintenance

A change in seasons is typically the best time to schedule HVAC maintenance visits. In the spring, it’s always good to have the AC unit checked to make sure it’s in good shape for those hot summer months when homeowners need it most. And in the fall, it’s always good to have the heater inspected to make sure it can keep the home warm and comfortable throughout those long, cold winter months.

Person Raking Up Leaves in Autumn

Having the heater checked in the fall prevents homeowners from dealing with unplanned emergencies like having the heater suddenly breakdown during a record-breaking cold week. And if it happens over the winter holidays, it can be challenging to have the issue resolved in a timely manner. That’s definitely an experience that all homeowners want to avoid!

Keeping Up with Heater Maintenance Between Scheduled Visits

Dirty Air Filter Being Changed

Unfortunately, home maintenance isn’t just a one-and-done kind of deal. Homeowners shouldn’t think about heater maintenance as just checking off the box and then not doing anything themselves between scheduled visits. The heater still needs regular maintenance and check-ins throughout the year. For instance, changing out the air filters every few months is an easy maintenance task that homeowners should continue to do on their own.

Keeping the heater clean is also important so it doesn’t overheat or experience other problems. And of course, homeowners should always be on the lookout for any unusual noises coming from the heater to prevent bigger problems from taking place.

About A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions

Since 1977, A-Plus Air Conditioning & Home Solutions has strived to improve not only the comfort but also the functionality and aesthetics of their customers' homes. Contact them today for reliable Austin, TX heater maintenance service.