Author: Kevin

Ever wonder what goes on during a spring maintenance HVAC check? We follow along while one homeowner, Bob, has his two systems checked out by Lance Waterbarger, technician for Interstate AC Service. Bob has one system for downstairs – a traditional central air conditioner and gas furnace – and another unit for upstairs – a small dual-purpose heat pump. Both systems were fairly new, so Bob was happy to pass his maintenance check with flying colors!

Want to have a hassle-free air-conditioning season?  Get a system check-up today.  Call Interstate AC Service at (615) 832-8500.

Do you think getting a yearly maintenance check on your HVAC system is a good idea?

Whether you answered “yes” or “no,” you’re only half right!

If you get just one visit per year, it depends on the time of year you get the visit. Generally the technician will only test the system pertinent to the season you’re in. If it’s spring or summer, they’ll check the air-conditioning system. If it’s fall or winter, they’ll check the heating system. Why can’t they do both at the same time? If you had you air-conditioner checked in say, November, and it was fine then, a lot can happen by the time April or May rolls around and your money will not have been well-spent.

We always recommend having two maintenance checks each year: once for the cooling system in the spring and another for the heating system in the fall. Have the systems checked before you turn it on for the first time that season or at least early in the season. That’s when you can prevent the most problems from occurring later on.

Here are some benefits to regular, twice yearly maintenance:

• Better air quality, with less dust accumulation, thus creating a healthier environment.
• Prolongs the life of your equipment, thus saving you money.
• Addresses potential safety issues, thus preventing a disaster.
• Keeps your system more efficient, thus reducing energy consumption and cost.
• Addresses worn parts and potential problems pro-actively, before a breakdown, thus preventing inconveniences for you.

As a bonus, if you sign up for a maintenance contract with us, you’ll get twice yearly service and a discount on any parts that may be needed throughout the year! That saves you even more money! When you think about it, getting an Interstate AC Service maintenance contract can be a pretty smart move! Call on us at (615) 832-8500 today.

Getting ready for spring often means planting and sprucing up the yard, but it also means getting ready for air conditioning season.  When it comes to spring HVAC maintenance, there are some things you can do and some you’ll probably want to leave to the professionals.

Here are the things you can (and should!) do:

Change the air filters, and make sure the vents are not blocked.

Clean the area around the outside unit. Trim overgrown grass, bushes or trees, to give the unit at least 3 feet of clearance on all sides.

With a garden hose, rinse the outside unit, cleaning dirt that built-up over the winter on the fan blades and fins. For detailed instructions, and precautions regarding coil cleaning products, see our video “The Low-Down on Coil Cleaning.”

With all the rain Nashville has gotten lately, you’ll want to make sure the ground and concrete pad the unit is sitting on hasn’t shifted, and that it is level. Check our video “How Rain & Flooding Affects Your HVAC System” for more.

Blow out the condensate drain and clean the pan.  For step-by-step instructions, see our video “Clean Condensate Lines to Prevent Mold.”

Verify your thermostat is set correctly. Set the date and time, set programming functions for summer operation, and be sure to switch the mode to “Cool” and the fan to “Auto.”

Reverse the settings on any ceiling fans so that the blades are whisking the air upwards. Check out our video post “Are you a ‘Fan’ of Changing Seasons?”

Check basements and crawlspaces to ensure they are not trapping moisture which can feed extra humidity into your air ducts.  Nashville’s summers are humid enough!

Some of the most vital spring maintenance tasks will need to be performed by a licensed HVAC technician.  These include:

• Measuring the refrigerant level, adding refrigerant if needed, and checking for refrigerant leaks.
• Inspecting all the electrical connections, motors, and safety controls.
• Lubricating all the moving parts, especially the fan motor.
• Inspecting and replacing belts as needed.
• Checking the supply and return temperatures.
• Cleaning the condenser coils and the condensate drain.

Never forget, the purpose of doing spring maintenance is to avoid breakdowns and expensive repairs, to keep your system running at peak efficiency, and to prolong its life!  The time and effort you put into it now, including having an HVAC spring maintenance check, will pay off down the road.

If you live in the Nashville area and need a maintenance check, call on Interstate AC Service, at 615-802-2665.

Heavy rains in Middle Tennessee serve as a reminder of the dangers posed by excessive water.  Flooding of roadways and fallen trees come to mind, but have you considered how excessive rain can affect your heating and air conditioning system? The typical central heating & air-conditioning system has 3 main components:

• an outdoor part – which sits beside or behind your home,
• an indoor part – usually in a basement, attic, or utility room, and
• ductwork – which runs all around various spaces inside your home.

Let’s look at how heavy rains can affect each of these.

Outdoors

The outdoor parts – the compressor and condenser coil – are built to withstand all kinds of weather.  The sensitive electrical components are sealed and the connections are insulated and made impervious to moisture. The outer-facing parts are comprised of aluminum, copper, and other metals, which are made to handle heavy rains.  But too much rain can impact the outdoor unit in the following ways:

• Erosion, gullies, and mudslicks can cause the pad the outdoor unit is sitting on to shift as the heavy rain washes away the earth beneath and beside it. The result is that the unit is no longer level, or in extreme cases, the unit has washed partly or completely off the pad. If you encounter either of these situations, turn the unit off and do not operate it until the unit is made level again, on a firm footing.
• Debris from the yard or blowing in the wind can wash up near the unit or become lodged in the unit. Branches, leaves, and other debris can fall inside the unit (where the fan blades are), or can damage the fins on the sides of the unit. After a storm, always check the outdoor unit. If the fins have been damaged or you see gashes or holes, turn the unit off and call a professional. Operating the system with debris in or against the unit will cause damage to the unit!
• Standing water or flooding around the outdoor unit can be quite serious, as it may have damaged the internal components. Turn the unit off and have it professionally inspected before you restart it. In the meantime, check the source of the water: do you have a broken or blocked gutter or a downspout that needs to be re-directed? If the source of the standing water is due to the unit being located in a low spot in yard, or in an area with poor drainage due to vegetation or slopes, consider relocating the unit or raising it up several feet to prevent future flooding.
• Tip: Never use a tarp or plastic bag to cover the outdoor unit. It traps moisture inside, leading to rust, mold, and mildew, which weakens the components and will cause them to break down sooner. It also creates an attractive nesting ground for insects and vermin. Covering the outdoor unit while running the air-conditioner will damage the compressor.

Indoors

The indoor part – typically the furnace, heat exchanger, evaporator, and air handler – is usually located in a basement, attic, or utility room. Because it is designed to be indoors, its electrical components and construction are not built to withstand rain or extreme moisture. In a heavy rain, or even during a water heater mishap, your basement or utility room may experience flooding. If your unit is located in the attic, be mindful that a roof leak as a result of the heavy rain could develop. Any time your indoor unit is wet or encounters standing water, a short in the electrical circuits can damage the wiring, motors, and electronics, and make the system hazardous. The system should be turned off from the main circuit breaker (not just at thermostat). Do not attempt to start it again without having it thoroughly inspected by an HVAC technician.

Ductwork

Ductwork, which is often run in crawlspaces and attics, can be impacted by heavy rains. If your crawlspace floods or your roof leaks, the ductwork will get wet. Ductwork is typically not waterproof. Water entering the ducts may remain inside the duct long after the flood itself has receded, and will cause the ductwork to deteriorate. Mold and mildew will begin growing inside your ductwork, giving your whole house a musty smell, and could lead to the perfect environment for toxic mold growth. Roof leaks can often go unnoticed in the attic for some time, and moisture or even standing water in a crawlspace can go unnoticed if it doesn’t raise to the level of impacting the floors. This ongoing moisture will saturate the insulation around the ducts, in the attic, and under the floor joists. Wet insulation no longer does its job, and the increased heat transfer causes your heat and air conditioner to run longer cycles to compensate, or forces you to continually adjust the thermostat to compensate for the reduced efficiency.  But the biggest danger to you and your family from wet ductwork is the reduced air quality and health hazards of mold.

If you are concerned that your system is not working properly due to recent storms in the area, give Interstate AC Service a call at (615) 832-8500. We’ll determine if your system is safe to operate or is in need of repairs.