Furnace Repair - How to Troubleshoot the Blower on a Hot Air Furnace

The furnace is hot and every once in a while the burner will come on for a short time and then go off again. But the blower that should be running to circulate the hot air from the furnace to the house is not working. How can you fix that? It really isn't very hard.

It does not matter what the fuel of your hot air furnace is. If the blower is not circulating the air through the heater then you are not getting warm. The function of the blower is to move the heat from the heater to the space that need to be heated.

A few simple tests can tell you what your problem is. Do you have power going to the motor that runs the blower? If you have power going to the motor and it is very hot than maybe the blower wheel has come lose and it is stuck on something that is keeping it from turning. Try to turn the wheel to see if it is stuck. If the wheel is not hitting anything and just turns hard then the bearings of the motor are bad and the motor needs to be replaced. In some rare cases the motor has little tubes to the bearings and some oil can be worked into the bearings to free them up. This is a long a tedious process, but I have done it successfully a few times.

If the wheel is hitting something, then try to see if it can be fixed. Sometimes the set screw will just come lose from the shaft and repositioning the wheel and tightening the screw will fix the problem.

Sometimes power will be going to the motor and nothing at all is happening. Replacing the motor is then the only option. The worst case that happens and is one of the most common problems is for the hub of the blower wheel to brake off. This lets the inside of the wheel fall down on the motor shaft. The metal from the wheel will saw off the shaft of the motor rather quickly as it is spinning trying to run the blower. The result of this is a ruined wheel and motor.

This gives a brief overview of some of the many things that may happen to your blower in your hot air furnace. I have encountered many other things over the years, but these are the most common problems. It will give you a few things to look for if you are having problems. Be very careful because many times the edges of the metal pieces are very sharp. You can be cut very easily when checking or handling these parts. I know and have the scars to prove it! Do not be in a hurry and be safe.

Save Home Energy With the Wise Use of Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans are a popular room addition; comfort can be easily obtained with a flip of a switch. An immediate cooling breeze is created by an electric motor with rotating blades. That motor uses electricity. Ceiling fan motors are not large, but energy can be wasted. Read on for tips on operating your ceiling fans so that you can be comfortable and save home energy.

Ceiling fans have a cooling effect, but do not cool. Ceiling fans do not directly change the temperature of the air; therefore, they do not cool or heat. The benefit comes from how the human body cools itself. As air velocity increases across the skin, moisture (sweat) on the skin evaporates quicker. This cools the body faster; we feel cooler. As you increase you activity, you need to evaporate more sweat. The air blowing from a ceiling fan can provide great help.

Turn off air conditioning when using ceiling fans. The majority of energy cost savings comes from using ceiling fans instead of the air conditioner. Ceiling fans use from 50 to 90 watts (not including lights). Compare this to a central air conditioner using 2000 to 3000 watts; a window air conditioner can use 600 to 800 watts. The ceiling fan uses far less energy. As the temperature in your house rises, try to use ceiling fans to keep comfortable. But at some point the fans will not be able to keep you cool. Turn off the ceiling fans and start the air conditioner. The longer you can delay turning on the air conditioner, the more energy you save.

Exceptions to the above rule. Many websites suggest running the ceiling fan along with the air conditioner. This may or may not save energy. The thermostat must be set at a higher temperature when using ceiling fans. The exact amount is difficult to calculate due to many variables, but savings high enough to notice kick in at about 5 degrees. If you keep your cooling setting at 78 degrees without fans, then it would need to be set at 83 degrees. Is this acceptable? Only you can decide. Also you must continually turn fans on when walking into a room, and turn it off when leaving. See tip below.

Keeping either the fans or air conditioner off may be the more practical action to insure minimal energy use. During any situation you need short term cooling, the ceiling fans can help. When company is over, turn on the ceiling fan instead of turning down the thermostat.

Reduce fan speed when possible. If you have several people playing WII, you may need the fan blowing as much as possible. But if there is one person sitting reading a book, only a gentle breeze is needed. Many ceiling fans have multiple speeds. Adjust the speed depending on the activities in the room.

Turn off ceiling fans when not in the room. Only people are cooled by ceiling fans. Ceiling fans should be off when nobody is in the room. There is a surge in energy when starting the fan motor, but it quickly drops as the fan blades reach their full speed. However, leaving the fan on when not needed still uses far more energy than that short burst of startup energy.

Air should blow up in the winter. The only benefit to running the fan in the winter is to breakup warm air collected along the ceiling. In the winter, lighter warm air rises to the ceiling. If this air cannot go anywhere, it becomes a still layer of warm air. You are paying to keep the space near your ceiling warmer than the rest of the room. This is a waste of energy. Running the ceiling fan, blowing upwards, will drive that warmer air back down to the portion of the room you want warm.

At the first bead of sweat run to the fan switch and get a quick blast of air. Or just run the ceiling fan to eliminate a warming stuffiness. The use of ceiling fans can enhance the comfort in your home. By using the above tips, you can also save home energy.

Best Air Conditioning Units for Your Home

There was no concept of having an air conditioning unit at home before the 19th century. Though, people around the world have continuously been trying to know the exact techniques and processes to bring down the water and heat temperatures. In Asia, the Chinese have been thinking to bring down the internal temperatures of the imperial temple as it was considered to be the sign of their dignity. It was a British scientist Michal faraday who first found out the right procedure of bringing the internal temperatures down. He invented the first air conditioning unit in England.

Later on another American scientist made the first air conditioning units. It was made to bring the internal temperatures of hospitals to a constant level to help the patients to maintain their health. It also helped to save the lives of many patients who were suffering from some fatal diseases of that time like malaria and yellow fever. These diseases were the common cause for the death of many innocent people. Due to the advancement in technology today we have one of the best air conditioning units ever produced before. Markets are flooded with these new and advanced air conditioning units.

For the past few decades, window air conditioners are one of the most used air conditioners ever manufactured. These were considered to be the best units for their performance. They had the ability to cool the internal environments at high speed. Just in a few minutes, after you turn them on there was considerable difference felt in the room temperatures. As there were advantages, there were a few disadvantages of these types of AC's, they were huge and heavy in size and consumed high amounts of electrical energy, split air conditioners are talking their place.

This breed of technology is more intelligent and efficient. The best air conditioning units are considered to be of 14.5 SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio). Central air conditioners are also another kind of these high quality air conditioners. They are typically used in houses, apartments and offices. They are best known to provide equal amount of chilled air in the rooms as they use to work with the duct work installed in your ceilings and walls. There use has become most common in big shopping malls and plazas around the world. Only one air conditioning system works to provide comfortable air inside the complete house.

Due to the increased trend in the manufacturing industry to produce more eco friendly and energy efficient air conditioning systems, solar air conditioners are being manufactured. These are the state of the art air conditioning units; they produce very less noise to avoid noise pollution. The solar panels attached to these air conditioners provide them with energy transformed from solar energy to electrical power. There use is increasing with every fraction of second because of their reliability and their convenience to use. These are DIY systems that can be installed without the help of any contractor as there is an easy installation manual provided on every purchase.

Heating and Cooling Your Home the Natural Way

These days people are looking for the best ways to heat and cool their homes and are looking towards the natural methods provided by the Earth in order to get it done. This is a boon not only to the pocketbook of the people using the new systems, it is also a boon to the environment because of the way it uses less resources in order to bring comfort to your home. This will create a lasting benefit you will be able to feel now as well as a benefit we will all be able to feel later.

In order to make sure that you are able to get the proper amount of heating and cooling in your home, you will need to decide exactly what kinds of methods are right for your home. Some homes will use simply one approach like an HVAC unit. Others will prefer to separate each room into a single unit and attack the whole home in this manner. The manner which is right to you will help you to decide between geothermal ground source heat pumps, ductless air conditioners and traditional fireplaces. The more you know about each, the easier it will be to make a decision.

Natural Geothermal Ground Source Heat Pumps

The geothermal ground source heat pumps allow you to take advantage of the natural exchange which can happen between the ground and the water flowing through pipes inside of it. This uses a system which will bury coils of pipes under soil. This way the heat or cold trapped by the soil will easily transfer to the pipes and allow you to enjoy the hot or the cold water which will provide a good heating or cooling source for your home.

Single Room Ductless Air Conditioners

Many people have an older home or simply do not spend time in all the rooms of their home. This is when you might want to consider installing ductless air conditioners in your different rooms. This is a system which will have a single unit in each room of the home. They will all be connected to a central system which will serve as your condenser. This way you can either control the temperature of each room or have an entire house which is better regulated through individual sources of energy.

Going Old School with Fireplaces

While inefficient to heat the entire home, many people have been turning back to fireplaces in order to heat their home. There are different ways like pellet stoves which can be used in fireplaces which allow you to get the most out of your heating needs. In fact, with the right units, you can even heat your entire home from the unit which is installed into your traditional fireplace. In the opinion of most people, there is nothing which compares to the look and feel of sitting next to an open fire when it is cold outside anyhow. May as well enjoy the look and the feel to heat your home.

How To Keep The Air Conditioning Repair Cost Down To a Minimum

Air conditioning repair costs can skyrocket fast and take a lot from your pocket at times. Keeping your air conditioning repair cost down to minimum is important and there are a number of ways that can help you ensure this.

Proper Maintenance At Regular Intervals

Proper maintenance of AC is important. For this, you can pick any day of the week when you have spare time to clean the outdoor unit of your AC that is also known as condenser. Removing dirt and leaves from it can help you to keep your AC performing at optimal levels. Often times your AC will not give proper cooling. This basically means that you need to clean your AC so that it can start performing properly. Properly clean the vents with the help of a brush or a hose if possible. This will help to ensure that your AC provides proper cooling during the hot summer.

Limit The Use Of Your Air Conditioner

Unnecessary use of AC can not only limit its life, but also put stress on your energy costs as well. Therefore, limit the use of AC as much as possible in order to minimize the air conditioning repair cost. When you are going out of your home, whether for few hours or for a week, it is best that you turn your AC off. This simple step will keep your AC in top quality condition and minimize your air conditioning repair cost as well.

Maintenance Services Of A Professional

Often times, neglected problems of an AC can buildup to become huge problems. Apart from the regular maintenance, you should also hire a professional for a monthly maintenance of your AC. Air conditioning repair service provider can check for problems and make sure that your AC is working properly. In addition to this, the professional AC repair technician can also give you tips about how to maintain your AC properly. A professional diagnostic of your AC will not cost you much if it is properly maintained. Moreover, it will also help you to lower your air conditioning repair cost.

However, it is essential that you acquire professional and licensed air conditioning repair services. It may not be as cheap as an unlicensed AC repair personal, but it will surely help you in many other ways as well. The experience and expertise of a licensed professional is the only way to keep your system repair cost to minimum.

Ingenious Heating and Cooling Ideas

You might be worried about the increasing expense of heating and cooling your house. You have the right to worry since the end of the increase in energy prices is not yet clear. Thus, the idea of a house that has the ability to cut energy cost is a welcome development.

Ideas that could save you money on energy bills are possibly some of the best that have come out lately from home development experts. And if you fear that somehow following their recommendations will result to additional expenses or perhaps an awkward looking house, think again, because they involve simple things which you yourself can do and you do not have to install additional structures and things like that. All you have to do to accomplish the feat - reducing your energy bills - is to give special attention to some areas and the materials that you use around the house.

But how do you that? What energy saving home improvement measures can you do to reduce the dreaded bills? Let us explore some of the ways which you can accomplish quite easily.

Sealing: replacing the weather strip

Doors have tendency to leak the heat or cold air inside your house. It escapes under gaps between doors and floors. The problem is worst involving exterior doors. The air conditioning or heater works overtime to compensate for the escaping heat or cold air. You probably use rugs to seal gaps but replacing the weather strip is the best remedy. It is more effective in preventing air leaks, they last longer, quite affordable and most important easy to install.

Inspect window seals, basement and the foundation of the house for gaps, cracks and holes. These are the main sources of air leaks that keep you cold or hot even when the air conditioner or heater is set at maximum levels. To remedy this problem, all you have to is to buy a caulk and a gun to seal, plug and fill the gaps. You spend perhaps 10 bucks but you gain more in comfortable sleep and reduced bills. It is simple but effective, don't you think?

Insulation

Having an adequate insulation is another way of reducing your energy bills and saving some of your hard earned money. A lot of people think that insulation is only good during winter but the fact is that during summer you also need to keep the cool air inside the house or else you air conditioner works overtime and consumes excessive energy. Insulating is a do it yourself undertaking. If your attic lacks insulation, roll insulation is ideal. Measure the appropriate width and length and simply roll out the insulation and rest assured your energy bills will no longer give you headaches like before.

Or you can choose blow insulation and hire some professional to do wall installation for you. This is sometimes tricky since there are spots that are hard to reach, so it is perhaps best that somebody with the expertise do the job. Blow insulation is also applicable to basements and attics. The professional installer may cost you money but in the long run, you stand to save more through reduced energy bills.

There are other simple ways to cut energy cost. You have to study them. The little efforts spent on these things can make your home more livable and cost efficient as well.

Tips To Purchase Energy Efficient Central Air Conditioners

Whether it's about getting relief from the intense heat of the summers or cold waves of the winters, a central air conditioning is most required. Usually, an air conditioner has a life span of 15 to 20 years. You can use the old unit for a long time to avoid the expenses needed for buying a new one. However, remember that this method may help you save buying expenses but not the monthly utility bill expenses. Hence if you really mean to save money, consider buying new energy efficient central air conditioners.

In order to secure the best air conditioning deal, you have to follow certain tips. These tips are discussed below.

Tip 1:

Consider EER rating: While taking a look at the air conditioning systems, make sure to check the EER (Energy Efficiency Rating). EER should be 11.6 or more. EER indicates thermal expansion valve and high temperature efficiency of the unit. A conditioner with good EER rating means it can run well even during the hottest weather. Some conditioners also come with SEER ratings. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating.

Tip 2:

Pick the perfect size: Avoid buying a too small or too big central air conditioner for your home or office space. Small units will have to run longer to keep the place cool, which in turn, can increase your utility bill expenses or potentially lead to the damage of the parts. In fact, it may also fail to produce desired results during hottest days. On the contrary, if you buy a big unit, it may fail to eliminate humidity from the atmosphere due to its quick cycles. However, a proper sized conditioning system will ensure good performance, reducing energy consumption. In order to get an idea about the size of central A/C suitable for your home or anywhere you want to install it, contact HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) contractors first.

Tip 3:

Check the components: See if the air conditioning unit is fitted with a variable speed air handler and an automatic-delay fan switch. A variable speed air handler facilitates lesser energy consumption and proper air circulation. An automatic-delay fan switch is placed so that when the compressor is stopped, the fan also stops operating after a while. Due to this, the remaining cool air circulates on the indoor coil before the fan gets stopped. In addition, you can also see if the conditioner has a check filter light feature. This feature has been added to the system so that you can check the unit's filter after the designated operating hours are over.

These are the basic points that you need to remember while buying an energy efficient central A/C for your home or office. As far as the maintenance is concerned, you can contact a well known air conditioning service and repair store for help.