Tag Archives: Alexandria

Air Conditioning

Top Signs Your Air Conditioning System May Need Repair

AC repair and ac maintenance greater comfort

What are some of the top signs your AC is broken or may need a repair of some kind? Here we break down 5 things you shouldn’t ignore as we head into spring.

1. Your unit is cycling on and off.

Depending on the system, if your unit is always cycling on and off – especially if you can’t ever seem to see the thermostat showing you’re at the desired temperature for your home – it’s time to have a professional check your thermostat and your system. There’s a chance you may need the fan, condenser, or possibly the evaporator unit cleaned, and there could be another issue worth a look for an expert.

2. There’s water near your system.

If you see water near your HVAC or have reason to believe that water is leaking near your system, you could have a serious issue with the drain line, or another problem that is worth looking into.

While it might start off as a small leak, if you catch it early, you could avoid a big problem since some leaks can result in significant water damage to your home. While the source of the problem could be the drain line, an expert can help you see if its clogged, disconnected, if the issue is related to the condensate pump, a clogged air filter, low refrigerant, or a ductwork issue. As you can see, there’s quite a few reasons that mean you should take any signs of water leakage seriously.

3. Your utility bills have skyrocketed – with no reason known to you.

If you’re like many homeowners, you watch your utility bill, in part because you want to be able to ensure you are saving money when possible. Keeping a watch on your utility bill is also a great idea because any spike in your costs can be a sign that your system is operating inefficiently. Whether you forgot your spring tune-up or your condensing coil is having an issue, or something completely separate, we can find the reason your system isn’t working properly.

4. You’re hearing abnormal noises.

If you’re system is running as it should, sound should be minimal. In fact, in our newest models, many people are surprised just how quiet and efficient the models really are – during startup and throughout day-to-day operation. If your system is making noises—especially loud noises you’ve never heard before—there could be an issue. If you have disconnected parts or a motor that’s showing signs of wear, it could be reason to give us a call.

5. There seems to be a lack of fresh air or just a more uncomfortable home.

If you feel like you’re just not quite as comfortable as you once were, make note. When the temperature increases, so does the humidity in your home. That same humidity can cause damage to your furniture and encourage mold growth in your home. Altogether, increased temperatures and decreased air quality can be felt in the home if your system isn’t working like it should be. But year-to-year, even if there is a difference in how hot it gets outside, you should still have even, consistent airflow.

Remember that excess humidity wears on wood furniture in particular and can do damage to upholstery, especially on certain kinds of furniture, including vintage furniture, that has not been treated to handle it. Another major problem when the humidity rises is mold growth. Mold needs a moist environment to grow, and while humidity alone is not always enough, these conditions make it nearly impossible for bathrooms to properly dry.

If you feel like the air in your home is thicker than normal, or you see signs of mold growth, then you have more evidence your system isn’t working properly.

Get Ultimate Comfort with Greater Comfort

We install top-op-of-the line HVAC systems, dehumidifiers and we provide a full range of ongoing maintenance services. We are on-call 24/7 for emergency repairs if you ever need them. Give us a call today at 859-491-4915.

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Furnace

Are Furnace Inspections Really Necessary?

cincinnati northern kentucky hvac tune up before winter

If you find yourself asking this question, the answer is a big YES, you do need regular maintenance by a certified HVAC expert!

The benefits of getting regular maintenance include that you will extend the life of your system, you will save energy, you will keep your family as safe as possible and can you can reduce other health related-risks.

Recall that part of what a furnace inspection does is make sure you have no carbon monoxide leaks. Because carbon monoxide is colorless and odorless, it’s hard for homeowners to know or detect that these may exist in the home. These leaks lead to symptoms like nausea, dizziness, and headaches, but they can also lead to death.

Approximately 500 people die each year, and 15,000 people are taken to emergency rooms due to carbon monoxide exposure—even though this could have bee preventable in most cases. (Source.)

Also, many HVAC systems also require regular maintenance in order for the warranty to be valid. Despite how manufacturer’s insist that maintenance is necessary for our HVAC system, as much as 3 out of 4 service calls in the fall and winter months because of no heat were related to a lack of system maintenance, according to Angie’s List. That means that as much as 75 percent of those no-heat calls potentially could have been avoided with regular maintenance by qualified professionals.

HVAC Maintenance Program by Greater Comfort

Not only are you keeping your family safe and saving money when we make sure your system is running as efficiently as possible, we will check and record the following:

  • Check evaporator fan motor amp draws
  • Verify proper manifold gas pressure
  • Check induced draft motor amp draw
  • Verify all safety’s
  • Clean flame rod (if applicable)
  • Check heat exchanger
  • Inspect flue and fresh air make–up
  • Inspect contractors
  • Electric resistance heating elements
  • Disconnects & wiring
  • Tightening all electrical connections
  • Verify proper thermostat operation & program

So Do I Really Need To Call my HVAC?

Again, if you want to make a small investment for the life of your HVAC system and to help ensure you don’t have an emergency situation when the cold temperatures hit, the right thing to do is to set up your maintenance with a qualified and trusted HVAC expert.

When you go to call your HVAC to get your tune-up, be sure that what you are getting is a comprehensive maintenance program. In other words, do a bit of research before you buy or agree to a contract/service visit. What you don’t want is to only receive service for one or a few items on the list you see above. Also be sure that you are contacting a qualified, trained technician.

In the end, it really isn’t just about safety—although that should be a compelling reason, too—but it is about preventative maintenance.

Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati and Southeastern Indiana Residents Turn to Greater Comfort

If you are looking for a reliable and trustworthy Heating & Air Conditioning Company, check out our exceptional reviews here, and give Greater Comfort a call today.

Source/Reference

  • http://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-often-should-you-have-furnace-inspection.htm
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HVAC

The Ultimate Fall Maintenance Checklist

HVAC maintenance northern kentucky

Maintaining your heating and cooling system will help you combat unwanted costs and avoidable system failures. Of course calling for your fall tune-up is a vital step, where we come and check the gas or oil connections, your gas pressure, burner combustion and heat exchanger, and much more, to make sure you stay comfortable year-round.

Change Your Filters

When your furnace is forced to “work harder” to pull the air through, the more it will cost you, so be sure to replace your furnace filters on a monthly basis (or as your qualified HVAC professional tells you to do, depending on the climate where you live and your system).

Check the Fireplace

Have a professional check your chimney, clean when needed, and make sure the fireplace is working as it should.

Take a Look at Your Furnace!

Make sure nothing is near the furnace that shouldn’t be, such as something that could be flammable. Give the furnace a dust if it looks like it needs one!

Ask us About Sealing & Insulating

With winter around the corner, ask us about our recommendatinos for how you can insulate and seal air leaks. Whether those air leaks be in the attic, basement, a crawlspace, or around your windows and doors, you will notice the difference with these spaces taken care of.

Check That Your Carbon Monoxide Detector is Working

When you go to change out your air filter, just add one more thing to your list—checking the CO Detector. Yes, your furnace inspection is important to make sure your heat exchanger is not leaking, and a CO Detector is not meant to replace a tune-up, but this is a safety precaution to consider.

Regular System Checkups

You knew this had to be on the list! Regular maintenance is what you must do to make sure your furnace will run optimally, and when you need it most. This will save you money due to reduced energy requirements, keep you comfortable, and keep your intake pipe clear.

Look Outside the Home

Depending in your system, you may need to look at the exhaust and intake pipes that are on the exterior part of your home. Ask us for more information, but you want to make sure the  area around these pipes are clean from debris.

When You Have a Programmable Thermostat…Use it!

Being able to control your energy means you can better control your bill each month, as well as have a better sense of the demands you are putting on your system over time. Ask us if you have more questions about how to find comfort using a programmable thermostat. During your tune-up, we will ensure your thermostat is working as it should.

Consider Your Shades

Do you close your curtains or shades during the night? Give it a try and then you can open them back up during the day.

Need more reasons to take care of your home this Fall as you prepare for winter?  Here’s just a few reasons:

  • You can work to reduce allergy-causing pollutants
  • Ensure you don’t have carbon monoxide or gas leaks
  • Ensure you don’t have any disconnected or leaky fuel lines or connections
  • Ensuring your air flow is what it should be

Do your best to prevent any surprises. Call Greater Comfort to schedule a visit at your convenience 859-491-4915.

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Heating

Ways to Tell Your Boiler Is Leaking

Leaking is one of the few problems that boilers encounter during their long lifetimes. Because boilers have fewer moving parts than most heating systems, such as furnaces and heat pumps, they do not wear down as fast and consequently need less repair work done. Leaking, however, can occur, and when you find it happening with your boiler, don’t delay calling for professionals to repair it.

For service on boilers in Alexandria, KY, Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. ® is one of your best resources. We started business in 1988, and we are always committed to providing the best repair and maintenance services possible.

How can you tell you’ve got a leaky boiler? Here are some signs:

  • Water on the floor near the boiler tank: The most obvious sign is discovering water around the boiler. Unless there is another possible source (such as water entering the basement after a hard rain), then the boiler is the likely cause.
  • Rust and corrosion on the tank: Sometimes the water leaking from a boiler will quickly evaporate because of its heat, making it hard to notice. But the increase in moisture can cause corrosion to develop along the tank—and the moment you see any corrosion or rust along a boiler, you need to call for repairs right away. Corrosion will spread, and if left alone, it will eventually eat away at the metal of the tank and you will need to replace the whole tank.
  • The boiler is constantly running: If one of the hot water lines from the boiler starts to leak or even breaks, the boiler will try to compensate for the heat loss by running continually to replace it. Hot water lines tend to break more often because they expand from heat, and they are the main reason for a boiler that runs all the time. Regardless of what is causing the boiler to run this way, it needs repairs.

A leaking boiler is at risk of breaking down entirely and causing water damage to your home. If you see or suspect a leak, call heating professionals immediately to remedy the trouble.

At Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. ®, we offer competitive rates and highly-trained technicians who know boilers from the inside of their tanks all the way to their baseboard heaters and thermostats. For problems with boilers in Alexandria, KY, we are the company to call—and you can reach us any time of the day or night.

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Furnace

Why Do Furnaces Need an Exhaust Stack?

Kentucky winters can be lovely times of the year, but unless you have an effective heater in your home, you’ll find it a struggle to enjoy them. A gas furnace is an excellent way to get the heat you need for a pleasant winter, since it provides effective warmth with the energy savings of natural gas.

Make sure you take excellent care of your furnace this winter so it always works its best. Look to Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.®: we’ve worked on furnaces in Alexandria, KY since 1988, and we can help you with the repairs and maintenance that will keep you warm until spring.

The flue exhaust stack

One of the most important components of a natural gas furnace is the flue exhaust stack. It is important for keeping you safe from carbon monoxide leaks and preventing exhaust backflow that could lead to an explosion. You need to have it kept in excellent repair so your furnace runs without safety issues

The exhaust stack is responsible for removing the combustion gases from the heat exchangers. (This is the reason a cracked heat exchanger is such a serious issue; you want the exhaust gas to go up the stack, not leak into the cabinet.) The gas naturally rises through the vertical shaft to be safely vented outside. A damper inside the stack regulates the difference in pressure between the inside of the furnace and the outside air (the draft) that draws the exhaust up the stack. The damper also prevents the exhaust gas from coming back into the cabinet.

In order for the stack to work properly, it cannot have breaks or holes in it from corrosion, and it cannot have any blockages. It also must be the correct size for the furnace in order to safely vent the gas, which is why you should only entrust furnace installation to professionals who will fit together the proper components for your heater.

We know that when something goes wrong with your furnace, whether it’s an exhaust stack problem or another issue like a misbehaving pilot light, you’ll need it fixed as soon as possible. That’s why Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.® offers you the convenience of 24-hour emergency services. For furnaces and heating services in Alexandria, KY, we have you covered!

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Heating

The Top 5 Furnace Repairs in Florence, KY

Furnaces are one of the most popular heating systems in the United States and in Florence, KY. They offer reliable and relatively cheap heat for your home. They’re also fairly simple pieces of equipment. But like all things, they eventually break down and need repairs. At Greater Comfort, we’ve repaired and installed countless furnaces in the Florence, KY area. We thought it would be good for us to put together some of the most common repairs that we see.

Air Filter

This is by far the most common cause of furnace problems in Florence, KY. The air filter in your furnace is there to make sure that dirt and debris to collect inside the unit. If this isn’t changed it can result in a whole bunch of problems including overheating, low air flow and even heat exchanger cracks.

Air Flow

Another common problem is low or no air flow. This happens when you turn on your furnace but no air comes out of the registers in your rooms. The culprit for this problem is often a dirty air filter restricting air flow through the unit. This can also be from a problem with the fan, fan bearings or fan belt. Sometimes, there can be blockages or pinches in the ductwork as well.

Thermostat

The thermostat in your home is responsible for detecting the temperature in your home and telling the furnace to turn on when it gets too cold. Eventually, your thermostat can break and cause a lot of problems. Sometimes we can just reset the thermostat while other times we end up replacing the unit. Some of the symptoms of a broken thermostat is insufficient heat or too much heat.

Furnace Ignition

If you have a gas-fired furnace, the ignition system is a pilot light that is constantly lit. If you have an electric furnace it can be an igniter. If you have no heat or if you only have heat sometimes, it can be the result of a faulty ignition system. Sometimes all they need is to be cleaned while other times you may need to replace the pilot light or igniter assembly.

Furnace Sounds

We often get calls for service to determine what a particular sound means about the furnace. Many times this is rumbling sound or a squealing sound. In the case of squealing, this is most likely a worn out fan belt that is rubbing against another part. In the case of rumbling, this normally means that the burner is dirty.

If you have any issues with the furnace in your Florence, KY home, call Greater Comfort immediately. We can diagnose your problem quickly and offer our competitively priced furnace repair services. Contact us today!

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Heat Pumps

How Do Hybrid Heat Pumps Work? A Heat Pump Question from Ft. Thomas

Who says you have to choose just one home heating option? With a dual fuel hybrid heating system you can experience the eco-friendly, highly efficient heating power of a heat pump in your Ft. Thomas home without sacrificing the dependability of gas-powered furnace. How? By combining both an electric heat pump and a gas furnace into one versatile system. If you have been considering the purchase and installation of a heat pump in your home but are concerned about how it will perform in extremely cold temperatures, a dual fuel hybrid system may be right for. Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning has some information about the benefits and operation of hybrid heat pump systems that may help you make your decision. Remember, if you have any unanswered questions please call Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning for the answers you need.

Hybrid heating systems offer you a very efficient, affordable heating option with the heat pump component. Heat pumps do not consume fuel to create energy. Rather, they transfer existing heat into your home using just a small amount of electricity. This mode of operation makes them very cheap to operate and environmentally friendly, but because they depend to some extent on ambient heat they do not work as effectively in extremely cold conditions. This is where the gas furnace option comes in handy.

While gas furnaces may not be as efficient as heat pumps they are one of the most reliable, effective home heating methods you can choose. As long as there is a supply of natural gas your gas furnace will operate, no matter what the temperature is like outside. That means that when the cold overwhelms your electric heat pump the gas furnace can take over and save the day (or at least make it warmer).

When the temperature outside is cold enough to want some extra warmth in your home, the heat pump delivers consistent, mellow heat as it transfers energy inside. This is different than a furnace that kicks on when temperatures drop below the desired temperature, pumping out hot air until your home is back at the target temperature. This type of heating is much more efficient in really cold weather, and the great thing about a hybrid heating system is that it will automatically make the switch to the gas furnace when the heat pump is overwhelmed. That means you can just relax while your heating system makes the decision to switch its method of heating all on its own.

If you are interested in learning more about hybrid heat pump systems call the Ft. Thomas heating experts at Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning. We have the answers to all your questions. Make sure that your Ft. Thomas home is ready for the coldest temperatures winter has in store for you.

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