Tag: hvac maintenance

How Long Should an HVAC System Last in Virginia?

You might have a new HVAC system, but you know what you don’t have?

Money.

That $8,000 flew out of your bank account with a single swipe of your card. Now you might find yourself asking, “How long should an HVAC system last anyway?”

Don’t worry. If you take care of your unit properly, the money you invested in your HVAC system will last you a long time. We’ve put together this guide to show you how long you can expect your new unit to keep running in Virginia.

So let’s get started!

How Long Should an HVAC System Last?

Most HVAC systems last between 15 and 20 years, but this number can go up or (unfortunately) down depending on a few things. Here are a few factors you should consider when thinking about the lifespan of an HVAC system.

Where You Live

Do you live near the coast?

HVAC systems in ocean-front homes tend to give out sooner than normal because of the extra salt in the air. This salt will get into your unit, and since it is very corrosive, it will break down the components over time.

Air that’s full of moisture can also be a bad mix for your HVAC system. Living in an area with high humidity can cause your system to rust faster than expected.

How You Maintain It

If you don’t perform regular maintenance on your unit, it might not make it to the 15-year mark. You’ll also find yourself making frequent, and likely expensive, repairs along the way. Failing to take care of your unit is one of the easiest and fastest ways to cut years off its life expectancy.

What Type of System You Have

Different types of HVAC systems last for different lengths of time. For example, your furnace will almost always last longer than your air conditioning.

Here’s a closer look at the average lifespan of common units:

Air conditioning: 15 to 20 years
Furnace: 20 to 25 years
Boiler: 25 to 30 years
Heat pumps: 15 to 20 years

As you’re shopping for an HVAC unit, you should also spend some time researching the brand and model. Higher quality systems will last longer than cheaper alternatives.

How You Installed It

Always have a reputable professional install your HVAC unit. It’s worth investing a bit of extra money to hire a company that has years of experience, quality products, and positive reviews.

If you try to cut costs by working with a cheap company, you might end up with an HVAC system that wasn’t installed quite right. This will reduce the life expectancy of your unit by several years.

Because of this, you also shouldn’t try to DIY your way through HVAC installation. Unless you have all the right tools and have worked on similar projects before, it’s easy to make a mistake. If this happens, you won’t get your money’s worth out of your unit before it dies.

How to Extend the Lifespan of an HVAC Unit

Don’t want to spend more money on a new HVAC unit before you really need it? There are several ways to give your system the boost it needs to last as long as possible. Make sure you follow the tips below.

Schedule Preventative Maintenance

Never wait for something to break before you call your HVAC company. Otherwise, you’ll have to live in a home with no heating or air conditioning until the repair team arrives, you’ll be spending more money than necessary, and you’ll end up hurting your unit.

Repairs are more expensive than preventative maintenance.

Because of this, you should schedule two maintenance appointments a year: one in the fall and one in the spring. This will help you catch and fix any issues before they become real problems and ensure your system is up and running for the hot and cold seasons.

Don’t Block the Airflow

If there is anything in front of your vents, such as furniture or clutter, it will block the air flowing out of your unit. This will do two things:

It will take longer for your home to reach a comfortable temperature.
It will make your HVAC system work harder to push out the heat/cold, which will put more strain on your unit and cause it to wear out faster.

Always keep your vents clear even if you have to rearrange the setup of a room.

Keep Vents and Ducts Clean

As your HVAC unit circulates air through your rooms, it also pulls in all the dust, pet hair, and other debris floating around your home. This will get caught in the filter, along the inside of the duct work, and in the vents.

Check your vents for signs of dirt buildup every few months. If the debris is starting to block the slits, give it a quick cleaning with a damp towel.

You won’t have to worry about your ducts as often. However, you should have a professional clean them once every two to five years. Trying to do this yourself will be difficult if you don’t have the right tools, so it’s better to leave it to the pros.

Replace the Filters Often

On average, HVAC filters only last about three months, but every unit is different. Talk to your HVAC company about how often to replace your filters then make sure you stick to that schedule.

If you leave your filters dirty, you’re breathing all that debris every time you turn on your unit. You will also make your system work hard to push out air, which can reduce its lifespan.

Buying an HVAC System in Virginia

So how long should an HVAC system last?

Depending on your unit, the average lifespan is about 15 to 20 years.

If you want to ensure it lasts as long as possible, you need to take action right away. Don’t hesitate to schedule a maintenance appointment with our team at Small Solutions. We’ll visit your Virginia home, take a look at your system, and let you know what steps you should take next (if needed).

hvac maintenance hvac system

The Benefits of Ductless HVAC for Winchester VA

Ductless HVAC?

The first time you heard that phrase, you might have felt confused. How can a ductless system heat and cool air without circulating it? And how could this less common HVAC model improve upon the ubiquitous forced air system?

Ductless HVAC operation is actually fairly simple, and it’s growing in popularity. That’s because it offers very real advantages over ductwork systems.

Even if you’ve never heard of ductless HVAC before, you owe it to yourself to learn about those advantages if you’re looking into a new HVAC system. Read on to learn more about this unique heating and cooling solution.

What Is Ductless HVAC?

The key ductless HVAC component you’ll interact with as a homeowner is the “mini-split” unit. Your ductless system can be as small as one unit in one room, or it can cover the entire house with multiple units.

Units tend to be a few feet long and protrude a few inches from the wall wherever they’re installed. If this size still causes a space issue, homeowners can recess them into existing walls and ceilings.

Each mini-split unit takes in air and uses a refrigerant to “suck out” heat before blowing the air back into the room. The refrigerant travels through a compact line connected to an outdoor condenser unit. The outside unit “dumps” the heat out of the refrigerant before recirculating it indoors.

When you need to heat your home rather than cool it, the outdoor unit uses heat pump technology to simply move heat in the opposite direction.

A condensation channel and a powerline also travel along the narrow refrigerant conduit. You can connect as many or as few mini-split units to your ductless HVAC system as you want, as long as you size your outdoor unit appropriately.

Easy Installation

Looking into installing some ductwork? Get ready to live in a construction zone for quite a while. Ductwork installation and renovation require opening up walls and ceilings.

Ductless HVAC systems, however, usually only need a day of installation work per unit. Installing the refrigerant lines to connect different components often only needs one small hole in the wall.

Ductless HVAC systems ideal for making home expansions without adding bulky ductwork. They’re also great for updating older homes that were never built to hold ductwork in the first place.

Avoiding Ductwork Headaches and Scams

We’ve just listed some good reasons to install ductless HVAC in an expansion, renovation, or old house. But say you’re building a brand-new home where disrupting day-to-day living with active construction is less of an issue. Should you still take a close look at ductless HVAC?

Absolutely. One of the biggest reasons for looking at ductless is avoiding the headaches that come with ductwork maintenance.

Understanding the proper maintenance for ductwork can be challenging. Many environmental health experts agree that ducts affected by mold, vermin infestation, or excessive dust build-up require cleaning. Left unattended, these ductwork issues can worsen household air quality.

These problems are often hidden inside the ductwork. That makes detecting them difficult without paying for an inspection in the first place.

To further confuse matters, some environmental health experts advise against regular ductwork cleaning. In some scenarios, ductwork cleaning may significantly improve household air quality. And in worst-case scenarios, it can actually worsen it by disturbing and re-circulating settled dust.

If you’re looking for ductwork cleaning, you may find some surprisingly affordable offers. However, the duct cleaner world is rife with cheap, shoddy, and outright fraudulent cleaning practices.

An air duct scammer may only clean only what you can see, play a “bait and switch” on pricing, or claim they’ve found the nonexistent mold. That’s not to say quality cleaning services don’t exist, but you have to search hard for them.

Ductless HVAC: Easier Maintenance and Cleaner Air

Ductless HVAC systems use in-room, air-handling technology.

Rather than traveling yards of ductwork, the air in a ductless system only moves through the rooms of the house itself. The air doesn’t pass through hidden, contaminant-heavy areas. That makes maintaining acceptable air quality becomes much easier.

In fact, ductless systems can make air quality better.

Each air handling unit forces air through a filter that removes contaminants. That means ductless systems can essentially play double-duty as air purifiers and heating and cooling units. If indoor allergies have been a problem for you in the past, a ductless system could help.

Just like all other heating and cooling tools, ductless HVAC systems do sometimes require maintenance. But, that maintenance is significantly more straightforward than it is with ductwork.

Air filters in each unit need regular cleaning to ensure optimal performance and avoid shortening the unit’s lifespan. Units may sometimes need servicing.

However, those units are easy for technicians to access (no hiring a cut-rate duct cleaner required). Refrigerant lines between units are sealed systems. That means they require far less maintenance than ductwork.

Using Room-by-Room Settings

Everyone’s “perfect” temperature is a little different. And even when everyone can agree on a reasonably comfortable temperature, hot spots and cold spots can make it nearly impossible to keep the house at that level. When one person feels fine in a ductwork house, someone else will almost always feel too hot or too cold.

Ductless systems are a perfect solution to interpersonal temperature tension because occupants can adjust each unit to fit their preferences. Zone-by-zone settings can also significantly reduce energy waste.

If your kid went away to college, you can simply turn off the room’s unit without sacrificing your own comfort.

Ductless units are also great for supplementing uneven ductwork systems. Put one in a perpetual summer “hot spot” to keep the entire house at a comfortable temperature without having to crank up the AC.

Energy Efficiency Savings

Did you know that the average American home spends 47% of its annual energy consumption on heating and cooling? Now consider this: the average home also wastes 35% percent of the energy it consumes.

The takeaway? Opting for a less wasteful HVAC system is probably the most powerful single energy efficiency decision you can make.

And ductless HVAC systems can offer that efficiency edge.

The average ductwork system loses about 20 to 30% of its air through leaks and bad duct connections. The more extensive the ductwork is, the more potential for energy loss exists.

Ductless HVAC systems offer significantly better efficiency by simply avoiding ductwork. A well-insulated refrigerant line minimizes unwanted heat transfer. That can result in a whopping 40% utility bill savings compared to forced air systems.

Ductless HVAC sometimes requires supplemental heating in very cold climates. This is far less of an issue in Frederick County’s mild winters than it is further north.

Installing a ductless HVAC system is often more expensive upfront than sticking with ductwork. But thanks to better energy efficiency, many people still save money in the long run by going ductless.

Installing Ductless HVAC: We Can Help

Ductless HVAC may not be as common as forced air systems. However, it’s popular among homeowners looking to expand their houses and reduce their carbon footprint.

At Small Solutions, we have plenty of experience installing top-of-the-line Mitsubishi ductless HVAC systems in homes throughout Frederick County. We can walk you through planning and financing the best ductless HVAC layout for you. Reach out to us today to get started.

Why an HVAC Maintenance Contract is Important in Frederick County VA

small solutions gives you hvac maintenance contract you can trust

To ensure your HVAC system is running effectively, routine maintenance is key. When you contact a professional HVAC technician to service your unit, it will serve you for longer, run better, and improve your indoor air quality. To avoid future unexpected repair costs and reduced efficiency in your unit, you should consider routine servicing.

Fortunately, all HVAC contractors know this. That’s why companies have come up with HVAC maintenance contracts. Read below to understand what an HVAC maintenance contract is and why they are essential to residents of Frederick County, VA.

Understand Your HVAC Maintenance Plan

An HVAC maintenance contract allows you to schedule your unit’s maintenance within a certain specified period. While you could still request tune-ups without a contract, a maintenance agreement is the best solution for all your tune-up needs. After all, it’s quite easy to forget to schedule a servicing.

Having a long-term agreement with a trusted contractor has better advantages. This is because the contractors will always be available whenever you need them, whether you remembered to schedule a tune-up or not.

Below are seven reasons why an HVAC maintenance contract is important in Frederick County, VA.

Routine HVAC Maintenance Will Save You Money and Energy

If you own a home or a commercial building, you will benefit most from having a maintenance agreement. This is because your heating and cooling unit will always be well maintained. Regular maintenance will also save you money on expensive energy bills and ensure your unit is running optimally.

When a unit is not regularly serviced, its efficiency reduces by over 5%. This results in higher energy consumption, which is one of the most important benefits of having a maintenance contract.

It Helps You Avoid Dangerous HVAC Problems

Routine inspection of your HVAC unit included in the contract will allow the technician to spot minor problems before they turn into major, expensive repairs. This gives you some time to prepare and budget for any needed repairs and replacements.

Being prepared is better than being caught off-guard when your AC suddenly dies in the middle of winter. Regular inspection also helps you avoid potentially dangerous situations such as cracked heat exchangers or leaking carbon monoxide. Your contractor will spot these problems before they cause you and your family any harm.

It Will Keep Your Warranty Valid

If you have an aging unit, it’s recommended that you schedule maintenance at least two times every year to check for signs of future failure. However, if your equipment is relatively new, scheduling regular maintenance allows you to keep your warranty valid. A warranty is considered void if you don’t schedule regular maintenance with a professional HVAC contractor.

Your HVAC contractor will keep a record of any repair and maintenance services done to your unit. These records could act as proof of maintenance services to keep your warranty valid. These documents prove to manufacturers that you have taken all the necessary steps to ensure your unit runs smoothly.

This kind of documentation is also necessary when you’re selling your house. Prospective buyers will require proof that your unit was well maintained and is running as efficiently as possible.

HVAC Maintenance Agreements Will Give You Priority Services

While HVAC maintenance services are recommended to reduce the chances of a breakdown, your unit could still experience unexpected breakdowns for other reasons. If you are in such a situation, you need immediate repairs. If you have an annual contract with your HVAC contractor, your repairs will be given priority over customers with no contract.

When the company treats your call as urgent, they will get a contractor to your house as soon as possible. This reduces the length of discomfort and gets you quick repair services even during peak seasons.

It Reminds You of Scheduled HVAC Services

Winter and summer months are the busiest for heating and cooling companies. These are the months when they get the most calls for tune-ups and repairs. Most of these requests come from homeowners and business owners who forgot to schedule inspection services earlier.

Late inspection scheduling could lead to postponing, which is not good for your unit. To avoid this problem, HVAC companies include reminders in their annual service contracts. This way, you will receive reminders to schedule your cleanings, tune-ups, and inspections during the autumn and spring seasons.

An HVAC maintenance contract will give you confidence that your unit will be working efficiently right before the winter and summer months.

You Will Get Discounted HVAC Service Rates

While maintenance agreements and contracts have charges, you will save thousands of dollars in the long run. If you have a contract, your heating and cooling company will offer you services at a discounted rate.

Unexpected repairs are expensive. However, if you have a maintenance agreement, the cost to repair your unit when it breaks down is lower than for people without a contract.

Seasonal Comfort and Dependable Service

With an HVAC maintenance plan, your cooling and heating company will schedule your unit’s tune-up just before the

weather changes. This will ensure that you and your family are comfortable during the hot and cold months.

When you get your unit serviced by the same contractor every year, you build a relationship with the team. They also know your unit well and can spot any problems before they arise. This kind of dependable service is one of the best benefits of having an HVAC maintenance agreement.

Call Us Today for an HVAC Maintenance Contract

At Small Solutions Heating & Conditioning, we offer heating and cooling services for all your needs in Frederick County, VA. We also offer HVAC maintenance contracts for both commercial and residential buildings.

You can feel safe being part of our maintenance agreement service. This is because our team is dedicated to offering you and your family the best service in Frederick County. Contact us today to set up your HVAC maintenance contract.

hvac maintenance hvac system maintenance

The Benefits of HVAC Maintenance Agreements in Winchester Virginia

small solutions has hvac maintenance agreement that you can trust

A new HVAC system is one of the most significant investments homeowners make, and with it comes the job of HVAC maintenance. Failing to keep the system finely tuned is a costly mistake, resulting in breakdowns and premature aging—usually at the most inconvenient moment. Think of HVAC maintenance in the same way you think about caring for your car or your body. Proper care helps ensure you keep things running smoothly for many years to come. That’s where an HVAC maintenance agreement can save the day!

Maybe you’ve never considered the benefits of having an agreement in place long before you need service. Take a minute and read our guide to HVAC preventative maintenance and explore why proactive care in the form of an HVAC maintenance plan should be a priority for every homeowner.

Who Doesn’t Want Lower Utility Bills?

If you don’t track what you spend on heating and cooling your home, you may be in for a surprise. The average household in the United States spends around $2000 a year, with some families spending even more.

An HVAC unit that doesn’t get regular attention in the form of scheduled maintenance won’t run efficiently. Inefficiency results in higher energy bills, but it also puts your HVAC system at risk for costly repairs and early replacement.

The easiest thing for a homeowner to do to ensure they do everything possible to keep energy bills low is to schedule annual HVAC maintenance. When you have a maintenance agreement in place, you have one big maintenance project to check off your to-do list!

Speaking of Efficiency

While lowering energy costs means the world to your budget, it’s not the only reason to focus on HVAC system efficiency. Unmaintained heating and cooling systems must work harder to heat and cool your home.

If you’ve ever let your car run on dirty oil or a clogged air filter, you’ve likely noticed a decrease in performance, including lower fuel economy. If you catch up on maintenance soon enough, the car runs more efficiently.

Your HVAC system responds to regular care in much the same way.

When running efficiently, your HVAC system will use less energy, resulting in less stress on the mechanical components. Less wear and tear make maintenance a more straightforward task and keeps the entire system operating in tip-top shape. The icing on the top of the cake is prolonged system life — you’re able to maximize your investment.

Checking your system’s performance is one item included in an HVAC maintenance plan.

Savings on Parts and Repairs

One benefit of putting an HVAC maintenance agreement in place is one you may not have considered. If you appreciate discounts, this is one that will give you a little more peace of mind about your heating and cooling system.

When you choose our company’s maintenance plan, we extend a 10% discount on HVAC repairs.

Even with regular HVAC preventative maintenance, system parts will eventually wear out. Indeed, professional maintenance performed twice a year should minimize the number of repairs your system requires but isn’t it comforting to know you won’t pay full price for repairs?

Please note that repairs bill as demand service. We extend the 10% discount on labor and materials.

HVAC Maintenance Agreements Put You First In Line

Have you ever called for heating and cooling service and been put on hold? We’re not talking about holding on the phone for several minutes.

Depending on the time of the year, the HVAC company’s ability to meet supply and demand as far as staffing, and the urgency of your HVAC issue, you may have ended up in a holding pattern. There’s nothing as frustrating as waiting and waiting on the hottest day of the year for a service technician to come out and fix a problem.

Our maintenance plan gives you first priority for service, which means we won’t ask you to hold on for days while we figure out how we can work you into our schedule.

Another great benefit of putting a maintenance plan in place is that if you do have an HVAC emergency, we won’t charge you the usual overtime charges.

What Do We in Our HVAC Maintenance Plan?

Having a plan for keeping your HVAC system running smoothly year-round typically involves two service visits. With an HVAC maintenance agreement, our technician will work with you to schedule times to come out for winter and summer tune-ups.

Winter maintenance includes checking out the following:

Heat Exchanger
Safety Controls
Gas Pressure
Potential Flue Draft

The winter check also includes cleaning of the ignition assembly, burners, and pilot assembly.

Summers here in Northern Virginia can be brutal. Your summer HVAC maintenance is critical to keeping your home comfortable during the long, hot summer months. Summer checks include multiple checkpoints and inspections:

Refrigerant
Evaporator Coil

The summer check also includes cleaning of condensate drains and the condenser coil.

Your HVAC system performs better when individual components have a check-up twice a year. Those include:

Starting Capacitor Test
Conditioning Capacity
Air Flow Check
Amperage
Thermostat Calibration
Blower Adjustment and Cleaning
Monitor Voltage

The tech will make sure to tighten up any electrical components and lubricate moving parts in the HVAC system.

Ready to Get Started?

We hope our guide to HVAC maintenance agreements helps you see the benefits you’ll enjoy by getting started with this unique type of preventative maintenance. As part of your HVAC maintenance cost, a service plan pays not only for tune-ups but also for your peace of mind and safety.

Whether you’re looking for residential or commercial HVAC maintenance, we have the ideal plan for you. If you’re ready to start your new HVAC maintenance plan, you can do it today by signing up online!

hvac maintenance hvac system maintenance

5 Solutions For When Your Heating Won’t Turn On

small solutions for heating hvac systems in northern virginia

So, your heating won’t turn on? Gosh, let’s hope you aren’t getting too chilly! We’ll help you figure out whatever the heating issues are and share easy ways that can quick-fix HVAC systems.

Not every furnace problem can be dealt with by an amateur, so this article has two sections: furnace concerns you can resolve on your own and those that require a call to an HVAC professional.

Most furnaces are reasonably simple in their construction. Still, some parts need professional servicing. They also present dangers that only professionals have the tools and expertise to deal with.

Learn more in our guide below.

What if Your Heating Won’t Turn On?

The following five items are easy to solve without calling a technician. A couple might require a service call only if you determine the part is not working or there’s a different problem.

Later, we’ll explain furnace repairs that do call for professional HVAC services.

1. Check the Circuit Breaker

There’s a possibility that something (e.g., a power surge) tripped the breaker. All you need to do is reset the switch. However, if the breaker trips again, you should call an HVAC technician or an electrician.

You might ask, “do I need heater repair for an electrical problem if I have a gas furnace? The answer is yes since there are furnace parts, such as the ignition, that require electricity.

2. Check the Thermostat

Is your thermostat on and set to “heat” or “auto”? If not, turn it on and set it!

If it is turned on and set correctly, though, you might need to look a bit deeper. First, try raising the temperature and see if the heat kicks in. If it doesn’t, the next step is to figure out if the thermostat itself is broken.

Doing this involves turning off the furnace’s power at the circuit breaker before you access the wires connecting the thermostat to the HVAC system. If you would rather not proceed beyond this point, though, call your HVAC company for assistance.

3. Could the Furnace Be Switched Off?

The answer to this might seem straightforward: switch the furnace back on. Before you do, though, ask yourself how and why it was switched off. After all, unless the weather has gotten warmer, what reason would there be to switch off a furnace?

Since “switching off” a furnace could mean one of a few things, you should do some investigation. When someone does this, it’s usually for a good reason.

Was it a household member? An HVAC technician on a recent maintenance visit?

If you’re sure you did not flip the switch yourself before turning it back on, perhaps it would be wise to make a few phone calls to the likely “suspects” in case the system was turned off for safety reasons or due to a malfunction.

4. Is a Filter Installed?

Most HVAC systems won’t run without filters; there’s no way around it. And don’t try putting the old, dirty filter back in, either. Not only will that not make the machine start running correctly again, but it could damage the furnace.

The easy answer? Go to your local home supply store and buy a new filter (order in advance from an online filter company next time). If replacing the filter doesn’t put things back in order, call for HVAC service.

5. Check the Blower Fan Motor

Many of our clients have never opened their furnace doors. Doing so makes them nervous, so we’re happy to help when we’re needed. But checking the blower fan motor is relatively easy in most HVAC systems.

When you open the furnace door, just check for a flashing green light. If there is one, you’ll see it, front and center. The green light means that, if there’s a furnace problem, it’s not the fault of the blower fan motor.

If no flashing green light is visible after you’ve looked around inside the furnace, call your HVAC technician.

With these five items, you will have exhausted all the easy DIY options for furnace repair. Now it’s time to call in the pros.

Furnace Concerns Needing Professional HVAC Servicing

The items to follow all call for the help of an HVAC professional.

This is not an exhaustive inventory of things that could go wrong with your furnace. However, we have compiled a representative list of items that most homeowner amateurs are advised not to go near. These include:

Anything that involves installing new components on HVAC systems
Anything concerning natural gas and the supply lines
Anything that would put someone in contact with dangerous substances like natural gas
Something that requires unique special-order replacement parts
Equipment prone to overheating that requires special handling
Evidence of long-term maintenance neglect

For the last item, we should point out that if a furnace goes for a long time without regular maintenance, any number of parts could be worn out, damaged, or leaking.

Whatever the state of an overlooked furnace, the first ones to open it and look inside should be those with the more significant expertise: HVAC professionals.

Did you know that HVAC has been listed among the most dangerous jobs in America? Some of us signed on for this responsibility when we embarked on HVAC training and began our careers.

So if you chose a different path, isn’t it easier and better all-around to leave the challenging and specialized work to us?

Are We Getting Warm Yet?

What do you do when your heating won’t turn on, now that you’ve read what we have to say?

Do you feel more confident about what’s all right to do yourself? Or, did you find our advice on what to avoid daunting enough to keep you far away from your furnace, no matter what?

When you’re ready for professional help with heating problems, let us know. If you happen to call us and say, “my heater won’t turn on,” we’ll be there right away. At Small Solutions, we don’t waste time getting to our customers’ needs.

Small Solutions is available 24/7 for emergency heating repair in Frederick County.

hvac maintenance hvac system

How to Find the Best Emergency Heating Repair in Northern Virginia

small solutions offers emergency heating repair services in northern virginia

Nearly 49% of U.S. households use natural gas for their heating systems while 34% use electricity. As we are in the coldest months of winter and the year, reliable heating services are essential. If you’re heating system suddenly stops working, do you have a trusted emergency heating repair service that you can call? You don’t want to be scrambling to find a company to come to service your heater. Want to learn more? Keep reading for tips to find the best emergency heating repair company in Northern Virginia.

Ask About Services Provided

You can ask a company if they offer comprehensive services for HVAC units. This includes offering service for both heating and air conditioning units.

That way, in the future, you can have a company on call for heating issues or issues with the air conditioner.

Learn General Knowledge About HVAC Units

You can also learn some general information about HVAC units. Having some knowledge can help when making decisions about whether your unit needs a replacement or repair.

For example, do you know what the average lifespan of a heater is? On average, a furnace lasts about 15-20 years. This also depends on other factors such as how well the unit is maintained and how often it’s used.

Generally, if your heater is more than 25 years old, it’s probably time for a replacement rather than a repair.

Ask for Referrals

To find an emergency heating repair service, you can ask for a recommendation from friends and family who live in the Northern VA area. A trusted friend or relative can give you a detailed review of the company they hired.

You can ask your friend what kind of services the company performed. You can also gain insight into the company regarding other details such as pricing or their response time.

Read Online Reviews

Another way to learn about a company is by reading online reviews. Make sure to read the actual reviews and look at pictures and details. Many reviewers will outline the problem they had and the details about how the company resolved their problem.

Check the Company’s Website

You can check out a company’s website to learn more about them. Through the website, you can see what services the company offers and whether they offer comprehensive services for HVAC units.

A company’s website may also have new customer promotions or deals that you can check out.

Some companies have options on their websites to schedule an appointment. This can come in handy when you want to quickly schedule a routine maintenance appointment.

You can also see if a company has a blog where they offer informative blog posts about HVAC systems.

Ask About Emergency Services

Imagine it’s the holiday season. You’re sitting cozy drinking hot cocoa, and then suddenly your heater stops working.

Heating issues can be frustrating. What about when it happens during an inconvenient time, like on Thanksgiving or on Christmas Day?

Do you have an emergency heating repair service that can come out and fix your heat

er? When checking out different companies, you want a company that offers emergency repair services.

If they do offer emergency repair service, do you have to fill out a form and wait for a response? When you’re heater is not working, especially during the cold winter, you’re going to want a quick response.

At Small Solutions, LLC, we have a service hotline number that you can call 24 hours a day and seven days a week, where we’ll come to you in Northern Virginia.

Get a Price Estimate

When looking for an emergency heating repair service, you can have a company give you a price estimate. The estimate should include details about the service.

You can use the price estimate to compare companies and see which deal is best for you. When considering different companies, price is a factor, but there are other factors to look at as well.

For example, you should look at the services that are offered in the estimate and see which is a better deal for the price.

Financing Options

Is it time for you to replace your heating system? A heater replacement can be a surprising expense. Sometimes, you won’t have the time to prepare your budget.

However, some companies do offer financing options. This can be helpful if you want to stay within your budget. You can ask a company about their different payment methods and whether or not they offer the option to finance.

Customer Service

When considering different HVAC service companies, customer service matters. Maybe you get a lower price estimate from one company, but the other company has better customer service.

You want to work with a company that treats you with respect as a customer.

Maintenance Options

Sometimes, you might need an emergency heating repair service. How about routine maintenance on your heating system?

You can extend the life of your HVAC system with proper, routine maintenance. At Small Solutions, you can set up a regular schedule for a professional technician to come out and perform maintenance on your HVAC system. If you’re in Northern Virginia, consider giving Small Solutions a call for regular scheduled maintenance.

This way, the technician can regularly inspect your system and check for any smaller issues that might lead to bigger problems down the line.

Final Tips for Finding Emergency Heating Repair Services in Northern Virginia

When it comes to your heating system, you don’t want just anybody working on your heater. You want a professional company that is reliable, experienced, and knowledgeable.

Whether you require an emergency heating repair service or a routine maintenance appointment, we have qualified technicians that can service your heating system.

At Small Solutions, LLC, we are available 24/7 for emergency heating repairs in Northern Virginia. Want to learn more? Contact us today to schedule service.

hvac maintenance maintenance

Winter HVAC Maintenance Tips | How To Get Your HVAC System Ready For Winter

mitsubishi outdoor unit offered by small solutions

Useful HVAC Maintenance Tips

Do you need to have an HVAC system maintenance check? Maybe you’ve only had your system for a few years and it seems to be running just fine. Should you put forth the effort to have a maintenance checkup?

HVAC systems are like owning vehicles: Imagine that you bought a brand new car, and you spent a lot of money on it. Would you ignore regular checkups and the service maintenance required? Probably not. If your vehicle is older and you want to keep it on the road and working efficiently longer, regular maintenance is necessary.

It’s the same with an HVAC system. If you invested in a newer heating or cooling unit, you want to make sure it’s working efficiently, and that you’re getting value for the money you paid for it. If your HVAC system is nearing the end of its 10- to 15-year average lifespan, it is essential to get your older system serviced regularly. The minimal investment to do that now will be much less than the cost of breakdowns, loss of efficiency or unexpected repairs.

What are the benefits of regular maintenance?

1 Lower energy bills
2 Fewer repair bills
3 Avoid costly surprises
4 Equipment lasts longer
5 Better air quality for your home

For a winter maintenance check, here are the areas a HVAC technician will review:

Thermostat settings: The right thermostat settings help maintain a comfortable temperature while also saving energy.
Electrical connections: If electrical connections are defective, they may damage HVAC equipment or make it hazardous to operate. Motors should have the correct voltage and current.
Condensate drain: Should the condensate drain be plugged, it may lead to water damage, musty air due to mold 1, and increased humidity in the house.
System controls: The controls work properly if the system starts, operates, and turns off normally. Malfunctioning system controls can become a safety issue.
Heating elements or heat exchanger: If these get damaged, they could lead to problems with carbon monoxide.
Moving parts: If moving parts are not properly lubricated, they can cause friction in the motors (which in turn results in greater energy use).
Flue system: To make sure it is securely attached to the furnace.
Clean air filter: A clean air filter is crucial for an efficient airflow indoors. Air filters should be cleaned or switched out regularly.
Humidifier: For a humidifier to operate effectively, it must be clean and free from mold as well as debris.
Belts and pulleys: Replace frayed belts and pulleys.

While you want to ensure you have an HVAC technician look over your system each spring and fall, there are some things you can do yourself to help keep your HVAC equipment operating efficiently throughout the year.

Here’s what you can do, as a homeowner, for your HVAC maintenance:

1 Make sure to clear debris around your outside units, with at least 2 feet of clearance around any AC uni or heat pump. That means removing leaves, twigs, dirt and pollen from around or on top of the unit. And when you’re cutting grass in the summer, make sure the lawnmower doesn’t throw the clippings onto the unit.

2. Check your refrigerant lines monthly. Refrigerant lines that come from your HVAC unit into your home are what ensure you have the heating or the cooling you need. If those lines get worn, develop leaks or become detached, you won’t get the comfortable temperatures you and your family want. Even in the winter, check these lines at least once a month.

3. Eliminate clogs by, once a year, mix bleach with one cup of water, and pour it down the air conditioner condenser drain to clean out any buildup.

4. In summer, turn off water supplied to your furnace’s humidifier. There is no reason to keep a humidifier running in summer. When the weather starts to cool in late summer or early fall, and you’re thinking about turning on the heat, install a new filter and set your humidistat to around 40 percent humidity. Then, turn on the water supply.

5. Don’t shut too many registers

You never want to shut more than about 20 percent of your home’s registers. If you do, you will put an unnecessary burden on your system by forcing it to work harder to give you the level of heat or cooling you want.

Our company, Small Solutions LLC, offers HVAC installations, maintenance and repairs in the Northern Virginia area. Are you in our area? Give us a call to get your HVAC system running in tip top shape today!

hvac maintenance winterize