Category: HVAC

When You Receive Maintenance From The Pros, What Are You Paying For?

We all know that we should maintain all of our appliances. Still, we rarely find the time or motivation to do it ourselves. So should we pay someone to do the maintenance for us? Well, that feels like cheating. Most of us would rather have our AC break down than pay for someone else to do work we could have done ourselves.

But, can we do the job as well as the pros?

It turns out we can’t.

The average person can, at most, take care of simple maintenance procedures that will keep our AC chugging along. However, it takes a real professional to get our systems back into prime condition. Thankfully, Derek Sawyer’s Heating and Air Conditioning team are the people you need for all your AC maintenance needs.

Preventative Maintenance

Let’s face it, some of us can barely operate the toaster, let alone a precision machine like an air conditioner. The most an inexperienced consumer should ever perform on their air conditioner is essential preventative maintenance. Depending on your level of comfort, this may include:

• Combing The Vent Fins
• Replacing the Air Filter
• Cleaning The Evaporator Coil
• Cleaning the Condensate Drain

Maintenance of this level should be relatively easy to handle and will only help improve regular performance. If your AC is suffering from any serious problems, only a professional will be able to diagnose your unit.

Professional Service

If you find that your AC seems to be struggling to keep up with your demands despite being well maintained, you should look into calling an expert. A professional technician is perfectly capable of performing any of the regular maintenance you’ve missed and the more technical work that it needs. In addition to basic maintenance procedures, your service technician should, at the very least:

• Calibrate Your Thermostat
• Inspect The Unit’s Electrical Contacts
• Lubricate Parts In Good Condition and Replace Worn Ones
• Cycle The System On And Off
• Recharge The Refrigerant And Fix Any Leaks

These few inspections are generally enough to keep your AC working and avoid costly breakdowns. However, most service technicians will perform a full 20-point inspection of your AC that should include:

• Test Capacitors
• Calibrate the Thermostat
• Lubricate the Bearing
• Examine Safety Devices
• Clean the Indoor Coil
• Examine the Fan’s Blade
• Flush the Condensate Drain
• Clean the Air Purifier
• Examine the Ducts
• Check the Condenser Coil
• Clean the Condenser Coil
• Examine the Service Valves
• Test For Burnt Contacts
• Check For Exposed Wiring
• Examine Electrical Wiring Connections
• Examine the Operation Of the Compressor
• Monitor the Refrigerant’s Operating Pressures
• Calculate Supply/Return Temperature Differential
• Calculate the Blower Motor’s Amperage and Voltage
• Inspect The Electrical Disconnect Box Proper Installation

If you’re not sure what all of that means, don’t worry. You don’t have to know everything about your AC because it is a professional’s job to ensure it is appropriately maintained.

Why You Should Have Your AC Maintained By A Professional?

We would all like to care for our repairs, but we have to leave some things to professionals. Unless you plan on joining an AC repair school sometime soon, there is no way for you to take proper care of your air conditioner.

Not to mention that maintaining an air conditioner can be a dangerous job! Between all of the refrigerants, electrical wiring, and fans, there is no shortage of ways that you can hurt yourself.

Instead, it is best to leave most AC maintenance to your local HVAC company. If you think hiring someone to maintain your AC is a waste of money well, then think again! Not only will regular maintenance help prevent breakdowns, but an efficient AC will also help you save on your utility bill. Altogether, you can be sure that maintaining your AC, especially with Derek Sawyer, will only keep your money in the long run.

We offer HVAC maintenance services in the following areas:

• • Modesto AC repair and maintenance
• • Escalon AC repair and maintenance
• • Chico AC repair and maintenance
• • Ceres AC repair and maintenance
• • Atwater AC repair and maintenance
• • Newman AC repair and maintenance
• • Discovery Bay AC repair and maintenance
• • Latrop AC repair and maintenance
• • Gustine AC repair and maintenance
• • Turlock AC repair and maintenance
• • Lodi AC repair and maintenance
• • Elk Grove AC repair and maintenance
• • Los Banos AC repair and maintenance
• • Tracy AC repair and maintenance
• • Stockton AC repair and maintenance
• • Oakdale AC repair and maintenance
• • Manteca AC repair and maintenance
• • Galt AC repair and maintenance

Leave us a review or learn more about our Modesto AC repair services today!

Pet dander, pet hair, and even pet urine can significantly impact your home’s HVAC system. Without proper maintenance, your HVAC system could burn out faster than expected because of your pet. If you’re a pet owner and a homeowner, here’s what you must do to care for your HVAC system.

1. Replace the Air Filter Regularly

The air filter is one of the most valuable tools for cleaning the air that flows through your ducts. Your HVAC air filter can remove hair, dander, allergens, and other particles that impact your home’s indoor air quality. Failure to replace your HVAC air filter when the air filter is dirty can force your HVAC system to work harder than necessary to do its job.

Since you own pets, you might need to replace your HVAC filter more often than if you didn’t. So check on the air filter regularly, and replace it when it looks dirty.

2. Keep Your Dog Away From the Condenser

Dogs like to pick their favorite spots to urinate in the yard. Unfortunately, suppose your dog’s favorite spot is the air conditioner condenser. This could cause the condenser to become corroded and rusty because dog urine is slightly acidic.

The best way to ensure your dog does not urinate on the condenser is to keep your dog away from the unit. To do this, you can install a fence around your condenser. Keep the fence at least two feet away from the condenser to ensure that the condenser has proper airflow.

If the fence is closer to the condenser, install a chain-link fence that allows airflow around the condenser. Failure to allow airflow around the condenser could cause it to work too hard. It could ultimately lead to a prematurely broken air conditioner.

3. Clean Ducts Regularly

You’ve probably noticed that pet dander has a way of settling in your carpet, on your upholstery, and under the bed. But did you also know that pet dander can blanket the inside of your air ducts? This can have a serious impact on your indoor air quality. When your ducts are dirty, running your HVAC system will make your home dirty too.

In addition, dirty ducts can cause your air filter to become dirty faster than normal. Cleaning your ducts regularly can help you maintain an efficient HVAC system and prevent your HVAC’s air filter from getting prematurely dirty.

Not sure if your air ducts need to be cleaned? You can tell by removing the vent cover from a duct and peering inside. You’ll also know that your ducts are extra dirty if your home gets dusty when the HVAC system is running.

4. Bathe Your Pet and Clean Your House Often

Keeping a clean house will help keep the pet dander out of your home’s air ducts and, thus, out of the HVAC system. Dust regularly, vacuum, and sweep your floors often. Wash your pet’s bed covering when you notice it’s covered in hair.

Bathe your pet regularly to prevent dander and pet hair from floating around the air in your home. Comb or brush your pet’s hair and remove hair from your pet’s grooming brush regularly.

Too much bathing can dry out your pet’s skin. Talk to your pet’s veterinarian to determine how often you can bathe your pet without worry. If your pet has sensitive skin, cut back on baths and brush your pet’s fur more often.

5. Seal Your Ducts

Holes in your home’s ducts can lead to an unintentional exchange of air, which could make your ducts dirty on the inside. Sealing the ducts can prevent this from happening. You can seal minor duct leaks yourself using duct mastic. To do this task, inspect the ducts in your house’s attic and basement or crawl space. Install mastic in all places where the ducts are cracked and the inside is exposed.

Despite the name, do not use duct tape as it tends to fall apart quickly. If you don’t feel comfortable sealing your ducts, contact an HVAC professional to do it for you.

6. Get Regular Tune-Ups

Getting your HVAC system tuned up regularly can help ensure that pet hair and dander are periodically cleaned out from the system. In addition, your HVAC professional will check the system’s efficiency, remove any allergens and pet debris, and let you know if your HVAC system needs any repairs.

If you have questions about how you can maintain your HVAC system, contact Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ll happily answer your questions or help you with any HVAC problems.

We offer HVAC maintenance services in the following areas:

• Modesto
• Escalon
• Chico
• Ceres
• Atwater
• Newman
• Discovery Bay
• Latrop
• Gustine
• Turlock
• Lodi
• Elk Grove
• Los Banos
• Tracy
• Stockton
• Oakdale
• Manteca
• Galt

If pollen, dust, insects, or other pests have invaded your home, it may be good to have your ducts cleaned.

Achoo! You can’t seem to eliminate your allergies, even in December, no matter what you do! The truth is that not all allergies come from plant pollen. It is more likely that dust is triggering your allergies. Specifically, your home’s HVAC ducts are probably circulating dust, dirt, or worse through your home. To know what is going on behind your vents, you must have your ducts cleaned by professionals. Here are a few of the best reasons to have your ducts cleaned.

A Cleaning Will Improve Your Air Quality

If you’ve ever looked at a dusty bookshelf and wondered how it got that way, it was probably because of a nearby air duct. Your HVAC ducts are full of dust from pollen, dirt, and other nasty substances. In small amounts, it isn’t noticeable, but as your HVAC system moves air around, things will get dusty.

Imagine the same dust that settled onto your bookshelf settled onto your lungs. It’s not a pretty picture. But with dirty HVAC vents, your lungs process this same dust as you breathe. Worse, if you have mold in your vents, you could inhale mold spores and mycotoxins! However, a duct cleaning will remove dust and mildew from your HVAC ducts and leave you with fresh air.

You May Have Pests In Your HVAC Ducts

Dust is full of surprises, with animal feces being among them. Yup, that’s right. There is a good chance that your home has rodents or other pests in your HVAC vents, and their excrement becomes a part of your home’s dust. Try not to think about it. Forget about it because cleaning your HVAC ducts will eliminate any pests you have.

Clean HVAC Ducts Are Efficient HVAC Vents

If you find your HVAC ducts clogged with dust and trash, you can be sure they’re not working as well as they could be. Not only can blocked vents damage your HVAC system, but they also make it work much harder to do its job. An HVAC system that works harder uses far more energy than usual. Avoid the high heating and cooling costs by having professionals keep your ducts in perfect working condition.

Derek Sawyer Keeps Your HVAC Ducts Clean

Suppose you suddenly realize that you have your worst allergies after using your air conditioner. In that case, you should contact Derek Sawyer at (209)247-1245. We specialize in making sure that our customers are healthy and satisfied. The last thing we want is for one of our loyal customers to suffer from poor air quality in their home. So don’t wait any longer! We specialize in home service and are too happy to help you get your HVAC ducts squeaky clean.

We offer duct cleaning and other types of HVAC maintenance in the following areas:

• • Modesto
• • Manteca
• • Tracy
• • Stockton
• • Oakdale
• • Los Banos
• • Elk Grove
• • Lodi
• • Turlock
• • Newman
• • Gustine
• • Lathrop
• • Discovery Bay
• • Atwater
• • Ceres
• • Chico
• • Escalon
• • Galt

Residential HVAC systems can provide homeowners and their families essential health benefits and comfort. Efficient air circulation can reduce airborne irritants. Effective cooling systems and other components can help control moisture levels in the home while protecting residents against extreme temperatures.

Unfortunately, an HVAC system may fail to deliver these benefits if it develops mechanical or electrical problems, sometimes posing health and safety risks instead of mitigating them. Employ the following four strategies to ensure your HVAC system provides a safer, healthier environment.

1. Find and Fix Standing Water Problems

HVAC systems dry the air as well as cool it. The evaporator coils contain cold, pressurized refrigerant that chills the surrounding air rapidly. The temperature drop causes water vapor to condense. The liquid water drops out of the air and into a drip pan. A hose then drains this water to a tub or other receptacle.
Any malfunction in this part of the system can cause water to accumulate instead of draining normally. In addition, the standing water can harbor mold spores, which may produce asthma attacks or allergic reactions when blown through the air ducts. Water can also spill onto electrical components, potentially creating short circuits.

Standing water in your HVAC system can even present an injury risk. For instance, occupants could sustain slip-and-fall injuries if an overhead service panel leaks water from a corroded or overfilled drip pan onto a slick floor.

Have your HVAC technician check any water spots or puddles that might stem from your HVAC system. You may need corroded parts replaced or unclog a blocked drain line. Ensure that none of the surrounding electrical or mechanical parts show signs of water damage.

2. Control Your Humidity

Standing water represents one way a poorly functioning HVAC system might encourage mold growth. Mold can also develop throughout your home if humidity levels remain abnormally high. Check for an evaporator, blower, or condenser failure that keeps the system from removing airborne moisture.

If your humidity problem persists despite regular HVAC operation, ask your HVAC service provider whether you need a minor system for your home. (Too large an air conditioner may shut on and off too frequently to dehumidify a home properly.) Your technician can also add a separate dehumidifier to your current system.

3. Bust That Dust

Dust, dander, and pollen can affect your respiratory health and comfort like mold spores. No matter how carefully you sweep and vacuum your home, new particles will migrate from pets and people onto surfaces. Your HVAC system can help control this problem, but only if it functions as it should.

Air filters at the ends of air conditioning ducts can block much of this material. So instead, these items feature a mesh or porous material that allows air to pass through while removing all particles of a specific size from the air.

Eventually, however, the filters become so clogged by dust and dander that they can barely move air. The resulting lack of air circulation means that dirty air no longer gets pulled into the ductwork for filtering instead of accumulating until you experience respiratory distress.

You can often avoid this health challenge by regularly changing your air filters. If your current filters don’t seem to get the job done, ask your HVAC service technician to recommend more specialized products, such as HEPA filters, which can filter out much smaller particles than ordinary filters.

Your airborne particulate problem may require more than a simple filter change. For example, you may need to have your HVAC ducts thoroughly cleaned, or you may want to have an air purifier installed for more comprehensive air filtration.

4. Minimize Fire Hazards

Homeowners should always guard against any conditions or malfunctions that might cause a fire. In addition to obvious dangers posed by lightning strikes or combustion of flammable materials, HVAC system problems can also present fire hazards.

Your HVAC system depends on electricity to operate its moving parts and regulate its processes, from proper thermostat function to power for motors, fans, and belts. As smoothly as this arrangement typically works, electrical systems can still present potential hazards, including the risk of fires, if they suffer damage.

HVAC electrical damage can occur in gradual or subtle ways. For example, rodents can chew through electrical wiring, stripping the wiring of its protective insulation. Wiring connections can even come loose for no apparent reason, posing a fire risk every time they receive an electrical current.

Regular HVAC inspections can catch these problems in time to prevent disaster. However, if you smell burning plastic or smoke near your HVAC wiring, shut off the system and seek immediate professional assistance.

Furnaces and heat exchangers can also play a role in household fires. The heat radiated by these items can ignite nearby chemicals, paper products, or other debris. Keep the areas around these components clean and free of garbage and other flammable objects.

Awareness and proactive strategies can help you keep your HVAC system (and your family) safe and healthy. Contact Derek Sawyer’s Smart Energy Heating & Air for evaluations and repairs.

You may need to change your filter more often than you realize!

Air filters are a crucial component of your HVAC system. Air filters not only keep your air clean, but they also improve the efficiency of your system.
Many people don’t realize that air filters also protect the inner workings of their HVAC system. Filthy filters make it easier for dust and dirt to settle on components that must stay clean to work correctly. Your HVAC system’s filter must be replaced regularly to ensure optimum performance. However, several factors may affect how regularly replacements need to be made.

What Are Air Filters?

Air filters can be made of many materials, such as fiberglass and polyester, but their primary purpose is always the same. Air filters prevent dirt, dust, pollen, and other debris from entering your HVAC system. Depending on your system and filter’s rating, your filter may even capture bacteria and viruses. Check your unit’s requirements when choosing new filters to ensure they are made of adequate material and have sufficient filtering capacity.

How Should Air Filters Be Replaced?

Air filters should be replaced at least once every six months, but most must be replaced sooner. The regularity with which you should replace your air filter depends on several factors, including:

• How often do you use your HVAC system
• Whether or not you have pets
• The air quality in your neighborhood
• The size of your home
• Allergies in your home

If you have a fiberglass filter, you may need to replace it as often as every month. On the other hand, air filters made from higher-quality materials often last much longer.

How Do Air Filters Affect Efficiency

A dirty air filter forces your HVAC system to work much harder than it should to move air around. Dirty filters also tend to release some of the debris they have picked up if left in your system for longer than they should be. However, certain HEPA filters may also cause your HVAC system to work harder even while clean. This is because HEPA filters provide superior filtration at the cost of making it harder for air to move through them. When choosing a replacement air filter, select a level of filtration for your home and budget.

Professional Maintenance Services Will Take Care Of Your Filters

The easiest way to replace your air filter will be to have a professional do it for you. Most HVAC companies will regularly clean or replace your air filter as part of their HVAC maintenance services. They will know what filter is best for your system and when its next cleaning or replacement should occur. Of course, you may not need a full maintenance service on your HVAC every month. Still, an occasional check-in with a local HVAC company like Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning will set you up for continued performance from your HVAC system.

Before this cold season ends, homeowners still need to rely on their furnaces to keep warm and comfortable. But if your heating system is old or frequently malfunctions, it can be a headache, costing you money in repairs and energy bills. If you are experiencing problems with your furnace, it may be time to replace it. At Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning, we’ll help you consider the following factors when replacing your furnace:

Age of Furnace

As furnaces age, they perform less efficiently and are more likely to break down. The average lifespan of a furnace is around 15-20 years, but it varies depending on the make and model. Of course, keeping up with regular furnace maintenance can also prolong the life of your system. But generally speaking, if your furnace is older than 15 years and isn’t heating your home correctly, it may be time to replace it.

Increased Energy Bills

If your energy bills have steadily risen, it could be a sign your furnace is no longer performing at its best. Aging furnaces tend to work less efficiently, requiring more energy to produce the same amount of heat. Upgrading to a newer, more efficient model can save you money by reducing energy costs.

New furnace technology has significantly improved over the years, resulting in more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly models. For example, the latest models have higher Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings, which means they convert more of the fuel they consume into heat, resulting in lower energy bills. So when you decide on a furnace replacement, you can feel confident in the value of your upgrade.

Frequent Repairs

If your furnace experiences frequent breakdowns and repairs, it is likely reaching the end of its service life. While it’s normal to need occasional furnace maintenance, costs can quickly add up if you continually repair it.

Several factors can contribute to frequent furnace repairs, such as:

• Wear and tear
• Lack of maintenance
• Improper installation
• An undersized or oversized furnace
• Poor quality or incompatible parts

Consult with a professional HVAC technician to determine if the above issues make it necessary to replace your furnace. They can help you choose a new, energy-efficient model that avoids the cost of frequent repairs.

Uneven Heating

If some rooms in your home are consistently colder than others, it could be a sign that your furnace is struggling to distribute heat evenly. This problem could be due to an outdated furnace or ductwork that needs repair or replacement.

Strange Noises

If your furnace makes strange noises, such as banging or whistling, it could indicate a problem with its components. You may feel tempted to ignore these noises, but the underlying issue can lead to more significant problems, such as a complete furnace breakdown. So be wary of odd rattling, screeching, and popping noises that indicate structural damage, such as a malfunctioning motor or loose ducts.

Replace Your Furnace With Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning

Replacing your furnace may seem daunting and expensive, but it has numerous benefits, including improved heating that can help you save money on energy bills and avoid costly repairs. Additionally, new furnaces provide a more comfortable living environment for your household, giving you the reliable and efficient heating system you deserve.

At Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning, we understand the factors that go into replacing a furnace, and we can determine if you need one. We’ll consider your home specifications and heating needs, helping you choose the most suitable furnace replacement. So contact us today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a warm and comfortable home.

Air conditioners should make the air in your house more comfortable. However, sometimes they do the exact opposite. This is especially true if your air conditioner is causing your home to become smelly. Knowing what causes odors in the air conditioner and what you can do to stop those odors can help you take care of your air conditioner. Preventing odors can also improve your quality of life at home, as foul smells can ruin your day. Below are the many causes of odors in and around your air conditioner and some suggestions for avoiding those problems.

1. Dirty Air Filter

The air filter is the part of your air conditioner that filters dirt and debris from the air as it circulates through your ducts. Air filters need to be replaced periodically, or they can become clogged. A dirty air filter can harbor everything from dust to mold spores, depending on the air circulating through the ducts.

The EPA recommends that homeowners replace their air filters at least every three months or more frequently, depending on how quickly the filter gets dirty. So if your air conditioner smells when you run it, check the air filter first.

Air filters are generally found in the space between the return air duct and the blower. To replace the filter, remove it from the slot, and replace it with an identical filter. Most filters are disposable and can be thrown away; they’re not reusable. If replacing your air filter doesn’t work, or if your air filter is clean, then you’ll need to explore other options.

2. Clogged Condensate Pan

Air conditioners collect moisture from the air. That moisture collects in a pan that drips outside the house, which is why you’ll see a puddle of water accumulate around your air conditioner. A condensate pan is a place where mold and algae grow. Condensate pans need to be cleaned periodically, as do the drain lines.

If the drain lines are not cleaned and treated, they can become clogged with algae buildup, causing a smell in your house and a backup of water on your carpet or floor. A clogged condensate pan is a relatively easy fix for your HVAC professional, but the best way to avoid this problem is to get regular tune-ups from your HVAC professional. During tune-ups, your contractor will flush the condensate pan to prevent more algae.

3. Blown Fuse

Another smell you might notice around the air conditioner is the smell of gunpowder or fireworks. This odor could result from a blown a fuse in the air conditioner’s circuit board or fan blower. If your AC has blown a fuse, you’ll be able to tell because the AC will probably not be working.

The gunpowder smell will likely dissipate quickly. However, if you continue to smell a smoky or burning smell that grows stronger, this could signify a fire. In that case, leave the house quickly and contact the fire department.

A blown fuse is a problem that points to an electrical problem, either in your home or in your air conditioner. You can catch this kind of problem by getting a regular tune-up. In addition, your air conditioner repair person can see electrical issues in their early stages and recommend repairs before they become dire.

4. Gas Leak Distributed by Duct Work

The smell of rotten eggs is a smell that many people associate with gas leaks. Natural gas is odorless, but gas companies inject natural gas with mercaptan, a harmless gas that smells like sulfur. So if the smell from your ducts smells like rotten eggs, this could result from a gas leak.

Air conditioners are not run on natural gas, so it’s unlikely that the smell comes from your air conditioner. However, your gas-powered furnace is likely to close to the return air duct and blower that distributes air throughout the house, which means that your air conditioner could efficiently distribute a gas leak throughout your home.

If you suspect your home has a gas leak, leave the house immediately. Take your pets with you. Leave your doors sitting wide open. When you’re outside the house, call for emergency help or your utility company’s emergency number.

You can avoid many problems described above by getting regular tune-ups from an HVAC professional. Have an expert tune up your HVAC system at least once annually to keep the components in your air conditioner in good condition. Contact the professionals at Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning to learn more about how to prevent unpleasant smells from affecting your air conditioner.

Allergies can bring you down and leave you feeling too terrible to enjoy life. Whether you’re allergic to pets, pollen, dust, or other airborne allergens, a high-quality HVAC system can be one of your best allies. All you need to know is how to put your HVAC system to work for you. Follow these innovative strategies to use your HVAC system to relieve runny noses, dryness, hay fever, and more!

Add an Air Purifier

You may cringe when you learn about the common air pollutants inside your home. You may be breathing in microplastics, mold, pet dander, household cleaners, pollen, and worse. Unfortunately, the air pollutants that you inhale while relaxing at home can be the very things that trigger a variety of allergic reactions.

Consider adding a whole-house air purifier to your HVAC system. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, this can be one of the most effective things you can do to improve indoor air quality. When you use an air purifier, you reduce your exposure to common allergens. As a result, you may notice a dramatic difference after introducing the cleaner and start to feel better.

Keep the Humidity in Your Home Low

Mold allergies are common and can wreak havoc on your sense of well-being. The bad news is that mold can grow anywhere. The good news is that you can help prevent decay with your HVAC system. If you have a mold allergy, fight back and set the humidity in your home below 50 percent. Otherwise, the moisture can encourage mold growth.

If necessary, add a dehumidifier to keep your allergies at bay. A whole-house dehumidifier can be an asset that works with the HVAC system to create a suitable healthy climate within your home. In addition, it can continue to ensure humidity is removed from the air while your air conditioner is between cycles.

You should also make sure to ventilate your home correctly. If you don’t have proper ventilation, mold can grow and thrive. Pay incredibly close attention to the bathroom, kitchen, and basement. These areas often lack adequate ventilation and can be a hotbed for mold growth.

Have Your Air Ducts Cleaned

If you suspect that your air ducts may be causing your problems, make sure you have a professional clean them. A professional duct cleaning service is worth every penny if your air ducts contain mold or have accumulated a lot of dirt and grime. Often an entire HVAC system cleaning is combined with cleaning your air ducts. The cleaning service you need depends on your unique situation and the condition of your system.

Never try to clean your air ducts yourself, and don’t ask a knowledgeable neighbor or friend to try their hand washing them. Instead, hire a licensed National Air Duct Cleaning Association-certified professional to perform the cleaning. Only a professional will know the ins and outs of cleaning ducts. In some cases, duct cleaning requires cutting holes in the system, and a professional can cut and seal the ducts properly.

Keep the Area Around Your HVAC Clear

Keep the area around your heating and air conditioning unit clear of debris, dust, and other items. If you have children, make it a family rule that everyone keeps their stuff clear of the HVAC unit inside and outside the house. A clear pathway will help increase the airflow. It also helps the system work most efficiently to regulate the air inside your home and protect you from allergies.

Avoid fancy landscaping in the outside area around the HVAC unit, too. Trees around the unit can provide shade as long as they don’t block airflow. Otherwise, the best practice is to keep the grass mowed and clear of the team. You don’t want common allergens or other outdoor debris to brush up against the heating and cooling system where they may cause problems.

Don’t Open Windows During Any Season

Keep your home protected from the allergy triggers often found in the great outdoors. Although you might want to open the windows during beautiful weather, resist the temptation. Even though allergens are less prominent at night, keep windows closed to protect yourself and your children.

Replace Old Units

Newer HVAC systems tend to offer the best protection against indoor allergens. However, a total replacement may be best if you have had your air conditioning and heating system for a decade or if it malfunctions. The United States Department of Energy recommends regular maintenance of your plan to get the most out of its ability to fight allergies.

Finally, contact Derek Sawyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning today for any questions about a new heating and cooling system. We can advise on improving your home’s air quality with the best equipment. Since we strive to be the best in the Sacramento area, you’ll enjoy the highest quality systems and a pleasant, professional installation experience.

If you find that you’re outside of our service area, then, by all means, contact one of our many friends in the HVAC industry, Done, Plumbing & Heating. Done provides a variety of Denver heating, cooling, plumbing, and other related services for the people of Colorado. If you have the opportunity to work with them, we know they’ll live up to their stellar reputation.

If you’re the kind of person that forgoes maintaining your equipment and appliances, well, you’re not alone. Every year, millions of people decide it’s not worth their time to perform essential maintenance services on their furnaces, and every year millions of furnaces break down. The connection isn’t hard to make here.

Furnace maintenance is the key to successfully prolonging the lifespan and conserving the energy efficiency of your system. But, more importantly, it ensures that your home is protected from the major disaster that often befalls homes with poorly maintained furnaces. High utility bills, carbon-monoxide poisoning, and fire are some dangers of failing to meet your system’s maintenance needs.

Thankfully, scheduling regular maintenance with qualified professionals is easy to take care of any issues you may have. Here’s why and how you should keep up with your furnace maintenance.

Let A Professional Handle These Jobs

Every company delivers a different experience during its maintenance services. However, you can count on most companies to offer, at a minimum, these services:

• Filter Inspections and Replacements
• Gas Lines and Heat Exchanger Inspections
• Burner and Flue Pipe Cleaning
• Thermostat and Wiring Connection Testing
• Pilot Assembly Cleaning

These services ensure you’ve protected your system from many issues that furnaces often experience. This protection is part of what makes maintenance so valuable.

Professional Maintenance Helps You Avoid Issues

Not every issue is preventable, but when you have professionals take care of your furnace, you’ll be sure to avoid the worst problems. As such, your furnace will sustain a higher performance throughout its lifetime. More importantly, you’ll know well in advance if you’re having issues with your heat exchanger or other dangerous components of your furnace.

As your primary heating appliance, there’s always a chance that your furnace can lead to a fire outbreak or the venting of carbon monoxide into your home. That is unless it receives monthly maintenance. When a professional HVAC company maintains your furnace, you reduce the chance that your system will experience any serious issues. Furthermore, if your system does begin to exhibit signs of complications, you’ll be poised to handle the case before it becomes something serious.

However, the benefits of maintenance don’t stop here.

Conserve Energy Efficiency With Regular Maintenance

No system is perfect, and your furnace is guaranteed to lose some energy efficiency over time. However, using a maintenance service can minimize the effect that years of operation have on your system’s efficiency.

With consistent general maintenance, your furnace will receive the care it needs to ensure that there are no steep drop-offs in efficiency. Even if you’ve never had a professional perform maintenance on your furnace, you’ll find that a single visit will have your system running cleaner.

Of course, better efficiency doesn’t just affect performance; it saves you money. For example, an efficient furnace uses less energy to maintain temperatures than one with dirty filters or other issues. These energy savings translates directly into more money in your pocket.

Let Derek’s Experts Optimize Your Furnace

If you wanted to, you could run your furnace all day and night without caring. However, your furnace would live a concise life in this scenario. Not only would that force you to replace your furnace regularly, but it would put your entire property at risk!

However, you can avoid that if your system receives regular maintenance from a professional HVAC technician. Furnace maintenance preserves your system and protects your property from fires, carbon monoxide poisoning, and more! If that wasn’t good enough, system care helps you do all this while saving you money on overall operating costs.

Why wait any longer? Call Derek Sawyers Heating & Air Conditioning today at (209) 247-1245 or contact one of our service representatives through our web portal for help maintaining your furnace!

For our friends to the east of our service area, we recommend the services of Done Plumbing & Heating when you need help with furnace maintenance. Done has provided HVAC services to Colorado for years but specializes in Denver heating services. As such, they help the greater Denver area whenever it needs help maintaining furnaces.

As winter approaches, many of us turn up the thermostat to stay warm and comfortable. But what can you do to keep warm without running up your heating bills? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the quick and easy way to maintain an energy-efficient temperature at home is to set your thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter. At this temperature, your heater doesn’t have to work as hard because the temperature indoors is close to the outdoor temperature. Sixty-eight degrees is warm enough for most people to stay comfortable while saving energy.

But there are also additional ways to keep warm while cutting costs. At Derek Sawyer’s Smart Energy Heating & Air Conditioning, we suggest using the following energy-saving tips for programming your thermostat in winter:

Take Advantage Of Your Programmable Thermostat

A programmable thermostat allows you to pre-set varying temperatures at different times of the day. With a manual thermostat, however, you can only raise and lower the temperature on a moment-to-moment basis. Although manual adjustments work fine for some people, strategic programming saves time and money. So we recommend setting up an automatic schedule that maximizes savings and comfort for the winter.

Adjust Temperatures When You’re Away From Home

For example, consider lowering the temperature when nobody is at home. While you’re out of the house for work or activities, you don’t need the heater running at maximum output. Instead, program your thermostat to start heating before you wake up and get ready to leave, but set it to a lower temperature when you know you’ll be away from home. That way, you’ll feel warm by the time you awake but can save money while you’re gone.

You can even schedule your heater to start working a few minutes before you return so that it feels warm and cozy inside. Setting your thermostat back by 7-10 degrees, 8 hours a day, can result in significant monthly energy savings.

Sleep Better With Lower Temperatures

Some people know that things like blue light from our devices and eating late at night can impact our sleep. But did you know that the temperature in your bedroom can also make or break your sleep? Believe it or not, maintaining a cool environment at night is one of the best ways to achieve a good night’s rest. That’s because the drop in temperature signals our bodies to prepare for sleep.

So consider lowering the thermostat at night to fall asleep easier while saving money on heating. Of course, nobody will benefit from freezing temperatures, but you can experiment so that it’s cool enough without freezing your tail off. If you need additional warmth, get cozy under some extra blankets or layers. Once you’ve programmed a heating schedule that suits you just right, you can sleep better without wasting energy.

Lower The Temperature While On Vacation

Considering the above tips, you might try to turn off your heating system while on vacation. But turning it off altogether could put your pipes at risk of freezing. So we recommend adjusting your thermostat by 5 degrees or lower while you’re away (but no less than 50 degrees Fahrenheit). You can also keep the windows closed to prevent the cold temperature outside from making your heater work harder.

Contact Derek Sawyer’s Today

At Derek Sawyer’s Smart Energy Heating & Air Conditioning, our technicians can help with any of your thermostat or heating issues. So whether you need your thermostat calibrated or a new heater installed, contact us today for help. We even provide 24-hour emergency services for your urgent needs. So call today at (209) 247-1245 to get started!