Short cycling is a term used in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) world to explain a situation where a furnace or air conditioner turns on and off too frequently. The “short cycle” is the period of time that your HVAC equipment is actually running, and the shorter this cycle, the harder your system needs to work. Our team at A-Plus Mechanical wants you to understand the concept of short cycling, why it can be harmful and costly, what causes the problem, and what you can do about it. Root Causes of Short CyclingIf you notice your HVAC system is kicking on and off more than normal, you may be facing a short-cycling issue in your Cypress home. Before short cycling causes expensive damage, you’ll want to get to the root cause of the problem. Here are some common causes of short cycling: • Incorrect unit size. If you have a furnace or air conditioner that is too large for your Texas home, it will short cycle. Essentially, an oversized furnace or air conditioner repeats the cycle of heating or cooling an area quickly and then shutting down immediately over and over again. According to ENERGY STAR®, ensuring you have the correct-sized air conditioning system can minimize this problem as well as reduce your energy bills. • Repair issue. If you recently had a bad storm that resulted in a power outage, this could cause short cycling. In addition, breaker problems, condensate switch issues, a corroded flame sensor, or objects stuck in your vents could also be a root cause. Contact our professional team to inspect your system to help you identify the cause. • Maintenance issues. Homeowners who fail to regularly maintain their HVAC systems may cause short-cycling issues to arise. For example, a dirty air filter can restrict airflow, which may lead to short cycles. Regular cleaning and inspections can go a long way to prevent short cycling. • Thermostat problems. If you’ve recently installed a new thermostat, be sure it’s in a location where you can get an accurate temperature reading. For instance, thermostats that are in direct sunlight or near heat-generating appliances or vents may misread your home’s actual temperature and signal your HVAC system to turn on and off incorrectly. A broken thermostat could also be the root cause of the problem. Before You NoticeToday’s technology does have some built-in protection against HVAC short cycling. Similar to an overload trigger on an electrical motor, shut-off controls will often prevent catastrophic HVAC equipment failure. For instance, if temperatures or pressures exceed maximum preset ranges, these safety devices will kick in and shut down your HVAC system for a certain amount of time. Whether you notice short cycling or your HVAC system shuts down due to this issue, it’s important to resolve the root causes for the long-term health of your heating and cooling system. Living with a system that short cycles can lead to poor temperature-, ventilation-, and humidity-management; a strain on electrical and lubrication systems; and energy wastage. What You Can DoThe most important thing you can do to prevent short cycling is to regularly maintain your HVAC system with biannual inspections and cleanings. During this process, a trained technician can spot potential problems and correct them before you experience short-cycling problems. You can also invest in technologies such as variable capacity furnaces and air conditioners, which will adjust the output of your equipment instead of simply shutting down. Look into dead-band settings on your thermostats as well. These allow you to specify an acceptable temperature band so your HVAC equipment cycles less frequently. Contact Us for All Your Heating and Cooling NeedsFor more details about short cycling, its causes, and how to prevent it, call our professionals at A-Plus Mechanical in Cypress, TX. Our trained, experienced team can help you address short-cycling issues with repairs, maintenance, and new equipment suggestions. Call us at 281-970-5200 or request service online. The post What Is Short Cycling? appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/39QZGMx
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We know how serious carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is. Our A-Plus Mechanical professionals provide maintenance and service on all possible carbon-monoxide-producing appliances, as well as carbon monoxide detectors for your Cypress home and office. What Is Carbon Monoxide?Carbon monoxide is a poisonous, odorless, and tasteless gas. It’s formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon, or by the incomplete burning of natural gas and other things containing carbon. Many times it’s mixed with other gases you can actually detect because they emit odors. Carbon monoxide can result when you burn gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, wood, and the like. It is also a by-product of an internal combustion engine. What Is Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?When you inhale carbon monoxide, it displaces the oxygen in your blood and therefore deprives your heart, brain, and other organs of oxygen. The severity of your exposure is related to the level of carbon monoxide in the air and the duration of your exposure. If there is a large amount present, it will work very quickly, causing you to pass out or suffocate. A small carbon monoxide leak in your home may cause gradual and mild symptoms you may not notice until it’s too late. A larger leak, typical in more industrial environments, would cause sudden exposure, loss of muscle control, and, in some cases, death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 400 people per year die of carbon monoxide poisoning, 20,000 more visit the emergency room, and 4,000 people are hospitalized. What Are the Symptoms of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning range from mild flu-like symptoms to more serious and dramatic symptoms, like loss of consciousness and breathing issues. The severity is again related to the levels and length of exposure. Here are just some of the symptoms you could experience: • Headache • Dizziness • Weakness • Upset stomach • Vomiting • Chest pain • Confusion • Shortness of breath • Blurred vision • Loss of consciousness Carbon monoxide can be especially dangerous to those sleeping or intoxicated and for young children and elderly. It may cause death before any symptoms are noted. What Is a Dangerous Carbon Monoxide Level?Most people will have no symptoms at 1 to 70 parts per million (ppm). If you have someone in your house who is more susceptible, such as someone very young or old, you may see symptoms at any level. But for the average person, you will not see any symptoms until the levels get above 70 ppm. A 150 to 200 ppm level will cause disorientation, unconsciousness, and death. How Can I Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning?Here in Texas, there are a number of things you can do to prevent poisoning and keep the carbon monoxide levels down in your home or office: • Be sure you operate all appliances according to the manufacturers’ guidelines and read all owner’s manuals before attempting to service or clean anything. Never service your fuel-burning appliances yourself. Have a trained professional install, service, and clean any appliances that utilize combustion of any kind. • Have one of our professionals inspect your heating system annually, if not more, for any leaks or potential blockages, corrosion, or disconnections. • Never run any gasoline-powered appliance or generator in or near an enclosed space. Even with proper ventilation, carbon monoxide levels can build up rapidly and cause death or loss of consciousness. The same is true for any kind of combustible appliance, including camping stoves, gas grills, and other fuel-burning devices or equipment. • Do not use your gas stove or other appliances to heat your home. • Never leave your car running in the garage, even with the garage door open. • Install a carbon monoxide detector. A carbon monoxide detector or alarm is a device that measures the level of carbon monoxide in the air and alerts you when levels reach too high. Although this is not a substitute for proper carbon monoxide safety procedures, this can aid in your protection. Install an alarm near any area where people sleep in your home. People who are sleeping are often the most at risk of death. They can breathe in lethal doses of carbon monoxide before they would ever wake up and exhibit symptoms. Call Us to Help You With Carbon Monoxide DetectionAt A-Plus Mechanical, we want to help keep you safe from carbon monoxide poisoning. Call us at 281-970-5200 or contact us online about installing a carbon monoxide detector today in your home or office. The post What You Need to Know About Carbon Monoxide Poisoning appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/2Nhg27Y
Happy Thanksgiving from our family at A-Plus Mechanical to your's. https://t.co/8a2nJAV8KJ11/27/2019
At A-Plus Mechanical, we know what an investment your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system is in your home. That’s why time and time again we recommend regular preventative maintenance on all your HVAC units. You need to invest in your investment. We have had some of our Coles Crossing, TX, area customers ask us if it’s really worth it. Does preventative maintenance pay off or is it a scam? Our response is always the same—yes, it is definitely worth it. And, no, it is not a scam. In fact, the majority of heating and cooling service calls are a direct result of a lack of proper maintenance. Maintenance Benefits for YouYou can experience many benefits as a direct result of preventative maintenance. When you regularly maintain your system, you will:
Call Us for Your HVAC MaintenanceMaintaining your heating and cooling system with knowledgeable and experienced professionals like ours at A-Plus Mechanical only reaps benefits for you. Protect your HVAC investment for the long haul. Give us a call at 281-970-5200 to discuss how our we can help you. The post The Benefits of Preventative Maintenance appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/32BD66x As the saying goes, “Time and tide wait for no one.” Whether you’re prepared or not, the summer months and warmer weather are gone, moving aside for fall and cooler temps. That means here in Norchester you need to think about preparing your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system for fall maintenance. Maintaining your heating and cooling equipment ensures it’ll run smoothly the way it should when you need it. Investing your time and money in these seasonal maintenance tasks goes a long way to protect both your Texas home and your HVAC investment, including your wallet. Well-running systems are more energy efficient, so they end up costing you less to run all season long. Fall Maintenance for Your Air ConditionerJust because you won’t be turning your air conditioner on now doesn’t mean you should forget about it til the spring and summer months. Part of protecting your home and equipment is winterizing your cooling system. If you’ve already had your air conditioner cleaned and checked by our A-Plus Mechanical professionals before you used it this year, you can simply ask our heating and cooling professional to winterize your unit while he or she is out cleaning and checking your furnace. You can compare the maintenance checklist to what ENERGY STAR® recommends. Things you can do yourself:
Things to ask your technician to do:
Fall Maintenance for Your Heating SystemYou should schedule your annual maintenance appointment for your heating system before you use it for the season, regardless if you have a furnace, boiler, or heat pump. This appointment shouldn’t be skipped, as keeping your heating system in good order will be sure it’s ready when you need it and keep it functioning properly throughout the season for you. Things you can do yourself:
Contact Us TodayTaking care of your HVAC system includes seasonal maintenance. With fall here in Norchester, Texas, and colder weather encroaching, it makes good sense to call one of our A-Plus Mechanical professionals at 281-970-5200 or request service online now to schedule your fall appointment. Keeping your system in good working order so it’s there when you need it is one of the things we do best! The post Do I Need Fall HVAC Maintenance? appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/324qPbl Whether it’s people, appliances, or air conditioning (AC) systems, the better you know them, the better you are able to care for them. Our team at A-Plus Mechanical Services knows air conditioners because it’s our business. We want to share just a little of our knowledge with you so you can extend the life of your air conditioner, avoid costly repairs, and save energy and money in Cypress. The BasicsMany people believe air conditioners cool down the hot air in their homes in order to lower temperatures. However, air conditioners really move the heat from your home back outside, which results in cooler temperatures inside. An air conditioner has a compressor and condenser, which are usually found outside, and an evaporator that sits inside your home. Refrigerant runs through the system as air circulates. Heat is absorbed from the air and discharged outside as the refrigerant expands and contracts. All of these components must stay in good working order for your air conditioner to work effectively in Texas. One way you can ensure good performance is by having a professional inspect, clean, and tune up your system once a year, ideally in the spring before you first turn on your air conditioner. Once the heat has been removed from the air, it must travel through your air duct system in order to reach each living space. As it moves through the ducts, it can easily heat back up again, especially if you have leaks or require better insulation around your ductwork. When you schedule your air conditioning tune-up with one of our professionals, be sure to ask about a duct system check as well. All your treated air flows through all your home’s ductwork. You want to be sure it’s in good shape and has no leaks. This promotes both good indoor air quality and energy savings. How You Can HelpAlthough some parts of your air conditioning system should be maintained by a professional, there are many things you can do on your own as well. First, understand that a big part of air conditioning efficiency has to do with good air circulation. That means anything blocking your airflow will make your unit work harder, which can shorten the life of your system as well as waste energy. Every spring, before your air conditioner needs to run every day, clear away the yard debris around the outside part of your unit. Be sure no sticks, leaves, or other items are blocking the air conditioner’s ability to circulate air. You should change your air filter inside your home regularly, usually every three to six months for the same reason. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), you can save 5 to 15 percent of your energy consumption simply by using clean air filters. Finally, check around your vents and ducts to be sure nothing is blocking the airflow inside your home. Data-Driven DecisionsBrush up on your knowledge about both installation and operating costs of your air conditioning system. For example, take a look at the wattage of your air conditioning system and look at your utility bill to find the cost per watt. A typical central air conditioning system might use about 3,500 watts. Using the national average cost of 13.2 cents per kilowatt hour, it would cost you about $3.70 per day to run your system. Armed with that figure, you can decide if being sure you adjust your thermostat before you leave, running floor fans for the day, or hanging out your laundry is worth the savings. In the long-run, you can consider the cost of a new, more efficient air conditioning system, factor in the money you are spending on repairs, and decide when is an optimal time to invest in a new air conditioner. You can also call and speak to one of our knowledgeable and highly trained HVAC professionals. We can help you assess the best thing to do. Contact Our Team TodayTo schedule an air conditioning maintenance call, contact our A-Plus Mechanical Services professionals at 281-970-5200 or request service online today. Our Cyrpess, TX, professionals are ready and waiting to help. The post Know Your AC System appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/2QfEqLh High indoor humidity can be hard to control. Often people use their air conditioners to remove moisture from their home since this happens as a by-product of cooling. However dehumidification is not the primary purpose of and air conditioner. An air conditioner runs off of a thermostat which only senses temperature not humidity levels. When it is hot and humid outside and you run your AC all day, an air conditioner works fine to remove humidity. But if it is not hot enough to run your AC, the humidity levels outside may still be high enough to be uncomfortable and consequently the humidity level in your home is high too. It might be rainy and cool outside, wet enough to be humid but not hot enough to run your air conditioner. Humidity FactsIt only takes between four and six pints of water to raise the humidity level of a 1,000 square feet from 15 percent to 60 percent. The number of people in your home will affect the humidity level since one person breathing can produce up to 1/4 cup of water in and hour. Some mold can grow when the relative humidity level is above 50 percent. Most molds like relative humidity above 60-70 percent. You should have a hygrometer in you home to measure the temperature and relative humidity. Ideal relative humidity is 40-50 percent. Mold Facts
If you have questions about the humidity in your home, call A-Plus Mechanical. We’re happy to answer your HVAC questions. The post Home Humidity Management appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/2PgLc2S There’s a popular air conditioning technology in town, and it’s duct-less. It works in residential, commercial and industrial applications. The ductless system does need to be installed by professional HVAC technicians. This system has been in use around the world, but only recently has become popular in the USA. Instead of a duct system, there is one outdoor unit, and indoor units in each of the zones that you want to treat. Many of these systems can cool in summer and heat in winter. The system is very scalable. You can install as many indoor units as you need, and each one runs independently. The indoor units can be hung off the ceiling or mounted up high on the wall out of the way. A small hole needs to be drilled to accommodate tubing that runs from the indoor units to the outdoor one. The tubing includes power, refrigerant and condensate. This may provide more security than a window unit. ProsIts small size and flexibility make it a great choice for single rooms or add ons, especially where ducts may not be an option. Each zone has its own thermostat. This could be a huge cost savings as you’ll only treat the air in the zones that you want air conditioning or heating. Since it is ductless, it is quite efficient. A leaky duct system can cause up to 30 percent of the heat loss in a system. Mini splits are great for indoor air quality as ducts are known to collect dust and other contaminants ConsAs an initial investment, they’re not cheap. They cost about $1,500 to $2,000 per ton. That’s about 30 percent higher than central air, and about double the cost of a traditional window unit of similar capacity. Some don’t like that the unit is inside the home, and very visible. Also, there needs to be a way to drain the unit. Since Mini-Splits haven’t really caught on yet here in the USA, you’ll need to find an HVAC company is up to speed on them. The Long RunSure the price tag is steep, most initial investments are like that. With this new technology you’ll definitely see a decrease in your energy bill. You won’t have ducts to clean and maintain. You may notice an increase in your air quality and comfort in your home or office. And, you may come to enjoy the flexibility of controlling the climate per zones. Like any investment, the payoff is in the long run right? Contact any one of our highly trained technicians at A-Plus Mechanical at 281-970-5200 to discuss your current ductless air conditioner or if you’re considering installing one in your home. We are happy to answer your questions. The post What Is a Ductless Mini Split Air Conditioner? appeared first on A-Plus Mechanical. via A-Plus Mechanical https://ift.tt/2LRNq5k |