Tag Archives: Cincinnati

HVAC design build services in cincinnati ohio
Design Build HVAC

How To Choose A Commercial Design Build HVAC Contractor

Design, architectural and construction projects can be a big undertaking. Taking a design-build approach to your HVAC installation can help accelerate your project timeline and help save your budget. This is important in both new builds, as well as remodels, where options can be limited due to pre-existing structure and conditions.

Choosing the right design-build HVAC contractor can save you time, money and stress on the project. It can also ensure you’re satisfied with the eventual outcome of the project!

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Furnace, Heating

10 Surprising Furnace Facts

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As the temperatures drop, most of us are ready to spend less time outdoors and more time inside where it’s cozy and warm. Thanks to our furnaces, we’re able to do just that.

Here are 10 facts you might not know about furnaces, including where the name “furnace” comes from. Continue reading →

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Air Conditioning, Heating, HVAC, Indoor Air Quality

This is How to Prep Your Home & Furnace for a New Baby

 

making-the-home-ready-for-babyA new baby means lots of baby-proofing choices to think about: baby gates for the stairs, safety locks on the cabinets, electric plugs for the outlets, moving dangerous items out of reach. What are some other ways you can make your home the most inviting, nurturing, healthy, and safe place as possible to raise your new bundle of joy?

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Indoor Air Quality

How Your HVAC Impacts Your Quality of Sleep

greater comfort HVAC newport kentucky

Let’s face it – a good night’s sleep is invaluable. And the last thing you want negatively impacting a good night’s sleep is an HVAC system that isn’t up to par. If your lack of sleep is related to your HVAC system, there is good news – there is a fix! Check out the ways a smoothly running HVAC will keep your slumber sound.

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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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Furnace

Can a Furnace Rust in Cincinnati?

Homeowners expect rust and other corrosion to strike boilers, since they circulate water, and heat pumps, since they use condensation as part of their heat exchange. Although neither system should rust (they have built-in precautions), it doesn’t surprise people that it sometimes happens.

But what about a gas furnace? Furnaces do not use water, so it seems impossible that they could rust. But they can and they do. Aside from the presence of moisture in the air, there are a number of factors that contribute to corrosion developing on your furnace. Rust requires repairs to remove it and stop its source; in some cases, you may require a new heating installation in Cincinnati, OH to replace a rusted furnace.

Regardless of what your corroded furnace needs, Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. ® can help you take care of it.

Why does a furnace rust and why is it a problem?

One of the immediate causes of rust is moisture that enters the ducts and into the furnace. But the corrosion that leads to rust doesn’t necessarily need water. It can occur because of the reaction of combustion gases and metal. If a furnace has poor ventilation, the contact between the metal and the gases will increase and speed up the rusting. However, a furnace that is old enough will eventually start to corrode because of long-term exposure.

Because furnaces are usually placed beneath air conditioning units, water dripping from a faulty AC (usually overflow from the condensate pan) can also cause rust to occur. When this happens, you’ll need repair on the AC unit as well as rust-removal to stop the problem.

Rust can cause numerous problems with a furnace, such as clogging up the burner unit so the gas jets will have trouble igniting. The most dangerous problem, however, is when rust affects the heat exchangers. This can cause cracks to develop and exhaust gas to leak—a hazardous situation. This is one of the reasons you should have trained technicians investigate rust on a furnace immediately.

If your furnace is over 20 years old and it begins to rust, it may simply be best to have it replaced with a new unit. Any furnace that manages to make it past two decades has already delivered its owner immense savings.

Professional repairs and installation

Work on a gas furnace should always be left to trained professionals; there is too high a risk of toxic gas exposure and explosions. If you need new heating installation in Cincinnati, OH, you should also rely on experts. Call Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. ®

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Air Conditioning

Air Conditioning Repairs Caused By Dust and Dirt

Your air conditioning system recirculates air from your home and pulls in air from outside to cool your home. All of this air can be carrying dust and dirt particles that can damage your air conditioner over time. We wanted to share some of the most common problems that his can cause so that our customers are aware of what’s going on with their system.

Call the Cincinnati air conditioning repair experts at Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.® today if you need any type of AC services for your home.

Common Air Conditioning Issues Caused by Dust and Dirt

While your air conditioner does have an air filter in it, it will not be able to catch all of the he dust and dirt that gets pulled into the system. Here are a few of the issues that can develop because of that.

  • Clogged air filter – Probably the most common cause of air conditioning repair is a clogged air filter. A clogged air filter will restrict the flow of air through your system and cause a number of problems including reduced cooling in your home, increased wear and tear, reduced efficiency and possibly an increase in repairs.
  • Motor issues – Your air conditioner uses two different fans to cool your home: one inside and one in the outdoor condensing unit. If dirt and dust get clogged in the motors it could cause them to malfunction. You could notice that you aren’t getting enough air through your registers or that you aren’t getting enough cooling.
  • The coils – Your AC has two sets of coils: one inside called the evaporator coils and one set outside called the condensing coils. The evaporator coils absorb heat out of your home’s air while the condensing coils exhaust that heat to the outside air. If these coils get dirty it can restrict their ability to absorb or exhaust heat which could reduce your home’s comfort and your efficiency.

Call Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.® today for air conditioning repair services in Cincinnati.

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Air Conditioning

This Is Why Air Conditioning Maintenance Matters

One of the services we stress at Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.® is regular maintenance. We can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you have an HVAC expert inspect and tune-up your air conditioner at least once annually. Any complex machine that works hard for a good part of the year needs maintenance to keep it in good shape. An air conditioner is no exception. Scheduling yearly maintenance is one of the smartest steps you can take for to help ensure uninterrupted comfort in your home. Just telling you that maintenance is important isn’t enough: we’ll explain the three big reasons it matters.

Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.® offers a quality maintenance contract for your air conditioning in Cincinnati, OH—and for your heating system as well! Contact us today to get started.

1. Improved cooling efficiency

If an air conditioner is left to its job without regular check-ups, it will soon start to collect dust and other debris, which will interfere with airflow. When this happens, your AC will start losing its ability to keep you cool. Icing can form along the coils, preventing heat exchange. Malfunctions in the compressor or the motors that aren’t taken care of will also make it harder for the air conditioner to reach the temperature you want.

2. Avoid major repairs

As an air conditioner begins to wear down from negligence, it will need to work harder—and that means increased stress and tear on all its components. You may not at first notice a difference, but the problems in the AC will continue to grow until a major malfunction occurs that requires costly repairs. Regular maintenance inspects your air conditioner for spots of heavy wear and remedies them. You’ll not only have fewer repair needs, but you’ll also have an air conditioner with an extended lifespan.

3. Energy savings

If an air conditioner isn’t running efficiently because of damaged parts, clogged filters, or loose connections, it will drain more power to achieve its target temperature. You may notice your electricity bills climbing: a grimy AC can cost as much as 50% more to run according to the EPA! Maintenance visits will check that your air conditioner is functioning at its most energy-efficient… and offer solutions if it isn’t.

Don’t hesitate to schedule that all-important maintenance check. Fall is a good time to get this done, since HVAC companies will have less crowded schedules. We take air conditioning in Cincinnati, OH seriously at Greater Comfort Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.®, and have for more than sixty years. Make us your choice for AC maintenance!

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