Top Reasons Why Your Commercial HVAC Smells Bad

Imagine walking into your office or business and being hit with an unpleasant smell. You look around to see the source of the stench, and you realize it’s coming from your commercial HVAC system. If you’ve ever experienced this, you know how bothersome it can be. The smell is unpleasant and can also be a sign that something is wrong with your HVAC system. Here are the top reasons why your commercial HVAC smells bad. 1. Dirty Air Filters Dirty air filters are the most common reason for a bad smell coming from your HVAC system. When the air filters are clogged with dirt, dust, and other debris, they can’t do their job properly. It causes the air inside your building to recirculate, leading to musty or stale smells. To avoid this, check and replace your air filters regularly. 2. Mold or Mildew Growth Another common reason for bad smells from commercial HVAC systems is mold or mildew growth. Molds mostly result from excess moisture in the system, leading to mold and mildew spores taking hold and growing. Not only do these growths release bad smells into the air, but they can also be harmful to your health if you...

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Is It Safe to Power Wash an AC Unit? Here’s What You Need to Know

An air conditioning unit is one of the most valuable appliances in your home, so it’s important to keep it well-maintained to ensure that it lasts for years to come. Many homeowners are eager to clean their AC units, but they’re often unsure whether it’s safe to power wash them. Servicing and cleaning your AC unit will save you money in the long run, but using the wrong tools or techniques could damage it beyond repair. It’s Not a Good Idea to Power Wash Your AC A pressure washer is a great tool for home maintenance tasks, but don’t get carried away and use it for everything. Power washing an AC unit does more harm than good and can easily damage the coils, fins, and other delicate parts. The high-pressure water can also cause leaks in the system. What Should You Use Instead? A garden hose with a spray nozzle is all you need to clean the outside of your AC unit. Be sure to disconnect the power before you start spraying. To get rid of stubborn dirt and grime, mix one-half cup of bleach with a gallon of water in a bucket. Wear gloves and safety goggles before scrubbing...

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How to Permanently Remove Mold From Your Home

Mold is a type of fungus that grows in damp, dark areas. It can cause serious respiratory problems and is difficult to remove. If you suspect mold in your home, take action immediately. Identify the Source Mold typically grows in damp and dark areas, such as basements, crawl spaces, bathrooms and kitchens. If you notice mold growing in your home, identify the source of the moisture. This could be a leaky pipe, a wet basement, or condensation on windows. If you’re not sure where the mold is coming from, you can hire a professional to conduct an inspection. in Eatonton, GA, offers indoor air quality services that can help you identify the source of the mold and remove it from your home. Remove the Mold There are a few different ways to remove mold from your home. You can use a commercial mold removal product, bleach, or white vinegar. If you’re using a commercial mold removal product, follow the instructions on the label. Proceed with caution, as these products can be toxic. If you’re using bleach, mix one part of bleach with three parts of water. Then, use a brush to scrub the moldy area. You can also use white...

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Relevance of Static Pressure in HVAC

Static pressure is not a common topic among residents when considering HVAC issues. However, you must understand this concept as it affects your energy bills, the lifespan of your system, and impacts your home’s comfort. In this post, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about static pressure. What Is Static Pressure? Static pressure refers to the amount of resistance air faces as it passes through your HVAC unit. We measure this pressure using a manometer in inches of water column (wc). The ideal static pressure for most HVAC units is 0.5 inches of wc. What Is High Static Pressure? High static pressure is when the pressure in the HVAC unit rises beyond 0.5 inches of wc. It is the most common type of static pressure problem, and it emerges from one or a combination of the following factors: Poor ductwork installation Poor system design Blockage in the ducts or air filters Missing or wrongly sized air filters Closed dampers What Is Low Static Pressure? Low static pressure is when the pressure in the ducts is too little to maintain the dampers open. Generally, your home will experience low static pressure if you have an undersized HVAC unit and oversized...

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Is Closing Air Vents the Right Way to Reduce Home Energy Costs?

Closing off the upstairs air vents in your Eatonton home is certainly one way to prevent heated or cooled air from flowing into these areas. However, it’s hardly an ideal strategy for saving cash. Selective air vent closures will produce limited, short-term savings at best. More importantly, if you subject your HVAC system to the additional stress of having one or more vents closed throughout the building, it can wind up costing you a veritable fortune over time. Why Closing Vents in Unused Areas Doesn’t Work Closing vents in unused areas of your house doesn’t lower the amount of energy your air conditioner or heater is using. In fact, it can actually increase it. When the air ducts are closed, the air pressure inside of your home’s ductwork increases. This causes your HVAC equipment to work both harder and longer to achieve the temperature that you’ve set at the thermostat. Common Problems Caused by Closed Air Vents Extra stress on your HVAC system will lower its remaining lifespan. It can also cause a number of serious problems to develop over time. These include: Damaged ductwork due to higher levels of air pressure Energy loss caused by leaky ducts Higher indoor...

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Will Opening Windows as I Sleep Help Me Save Energy?

Sleeping with your windows open might seem like an excellent opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and save money on cooling your home. Although many individuals are sold on this idea, it couldn’t be further away from the truth. Yes, there are some benefits associated with opening windows; however, it’s best to keep them shut during the night for better sleep and protection of your HVAC system. Indoor Air Pollutants Your system plays a crucial role in keeping your indoor air healthy and breathable. With your windows open and your system off, you’ll be allowing pollutants such as dust, pollen, and other allergens to circulate in your home. This could potentially trigger allergies or cause illness if you live with an individual with a weak immune system, including children and elderly loved ones. Moreover, if you or your loved one is asthmatic, these pollutants might cause them to wake up in a world of irritation as well as discomfort. And if you decide to run your system while your windows are open, dust will accumulate in your system over time, causing it to work harder than it usually would. In the end, it’ll use up more energy to clean your...

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Tips for Evaluating Your New Home’s Heating and Cooling

Moving into a new home allows you to enjoy enhanced comfort, privacy and peace of mind. One of the most important parts of your new home is its heating and cooling system. Use these three tips to assess your new home’s heating and cooling equipment so that you can avoid any unexpected issues throughout the year. 1. Install a Smart Thermostat A quick and easy way to assess the heating and cooling performance, cost and efficiency in your new home is to install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats track energy use by the minute. This allows you to determine what times of the day the heating and cooling system uses the most energy. Smart thermostats also include an app for your phone, so you can get up-to-the-minute information on your home’s comfort and energy use. 2. Review Your Utility Bills Another way to assess the heating and cooling of your new home is to review your utility bills. For a newly constructed home, you may want to talk with neighbors who have homes with similar floor plans and square footage. Ask them how many kilowatt-hours of electricity their homes use in the summertime and how high their gas bill is...

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How Can You Fix Uneven Heating in Your Home?

When some rooms are warmer than others, you have uneven heating, which shouldn’t be happening. Your heating system may need an air filter change, repair or replacement. Replace the Air Filter You could try replacing the air filter to see if that fixes your problem. Clogged air filters can cause all sorts of problems, such as uneven heating, weak airflow and high energy bills. They cause parts within the heating system to break faster as well. You should stay on top of changing your air filter based on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Unblock Air Vents and Air Registers Closing your air vents and blocking air registers can cause uneven heating. You should go through your home to double-check that all vents and registers are open and unobstructed. Furniture and other objects shouldn’t be too close to the vents and registers because this restricts airflow, which can interfere with the system’s ability to evenly heat your home. Schedule a Tune-Up If your heating system hasn’t had maintenance in over a year, then you need to schedule a tune-up. Heating systems are more likely to experience problems when they don’t receive annual maintenance. Problems that occur in a poorly maintained system tend to...

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3 Tips to Prevent Your Furnace From Leaking Carbon Monoxide

The majority of furnaces use a fuel-combustion process to heat your home, and carbon monoxide is a byproduct of this process. When your heating system is working properly, all of that harmful gas stays contained within the heat exchanger until it’s vented from your house through the flue pipe. However, there are a number of things that can cause that carbon monoxide to escape into your home, which will result in a major health hazard. As long as you’re proactive about preventing leaks, there’s no reason you should have to worry about this happening. 1. Keep up With Maintenance Keeping your furnace’s heat exchanger in good shape is the most important thing you can do toward preventing a carbon monoxide leak. When you bring in technicians for a maintenance tune-up, they’ll inspect the heating system to make sure its components are in good working condition. If your unit’s heat exchanger or flue pipe looks to be in any danger of cracking, they’ll catch it and get ahead of the problem. 2. Replace the Air Filter If your furnace’s air filter becomes clogged, it can result in a backup of airflow as the appliance struggles to do its job. These backups...

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What Is a Heat Exchanger Used For?

Your home’s heating system contains many parts that work to deliver the right air temperature throughout your floor plan. The heat exchanger is one such device within a fuel-burning furnace. How Does the Exchanger Work? The heat exchanger supports the transfer of heat from place to place within the heating system. As propane or natural gas burns, it creates a byproduct called flue gas. Flue gas is moved out of the system through an exhaust vent and away from the house. However, as it travels through the system, it moves across the exchanger and heats the metal of the component. In turn, the heated metal heats up the air surrounding the exchanger, and the heat is sent into the home. Heat Exchanger Maintenance When maintaining your heating system, it’s important to verify the condition of the heat exchanger. Cracks and holes are a sign the component needs to be replaced. In order to see inside the system and inspect the exchanger, a camera with a flexible arm is helpful. Conducting a combustion analysis or carbon monoxide test is also required. Are you looking for furnace maintenance services to help you manage the health of your heating system? has a team...

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