If so, you may want to consider a couple ways to make it more efficient until you’re ready to replace it. Here are some tips to enhance the efficiency of your current furnace and help you save more:

Seasonal Checkup

Don’t skip your system’s annual maintenance appointment. A checkup can keep a small problem from turning into a bigger one, but it can also improve the efficiency of your furnace. A cleaner, properly adjusted furnace will work better and make your home more comfortable. Also, remember to change your filter when it gets dirty. Familiarize yourself with your owner’s manual, so you can be on the lookout for problems.

Seal and Insulate 

Your home probably already has adequate insulation, but check to see if it’s in good shape in your attic and around your ductwork. Insulation can keep your ducts from losing conditioned air in your attic. Also, check your ductwork for loose seams and holes. Patch any holes with foil tape and fix gaps and loose seams with mastic (a gummy sealant) and metal tape.

Seal Leaks

Using a a smoke pencil, search your home for cracks and gaps where conditioned air is leaking out and outside air is getting in. You can apply weatherstripping and caulk to seal these areas.

Programmable Thermostat

If you haven’t replaced your old analog or digital thermostat with a programmable model, do so now. By lowering the temperature when your family is sleeping or away by 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours, you can save as much as 15 percent a year on your energy bill.

If you want to know more about improving the efficiency of your current gas furnace, contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating. We serve customers throughout Greater Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

Designing and building a furnace enclosure is not a project for the weekend do-it-yourselfer. You should engage the services of a licensed HVAC contractor in order to ensure your enclosure’s design and construction are compatible with your HVAC equipment and meets all applicable building codes.

Here are a few factors your contractor will take into consideration while designing and building a furnace enclosure:

• Adequate clearance. The walls of the enclosure need to be built far enough away from your HVAC equipment to allow easy access for maintenance and repairs.
• Elevated platform. If the enclosure is being built before the furnace has been installed, it’s a good idea to raise the floor a few inches to prevent damage from basement or crawlspace moisture and possible flooding.
• Adequate combustion air supply. Your enclosure should contain at least one square inch of vents or ducts for every 1,000 BTU per hour of furnace capacity in order to supply a safe amount of combustion air. These vents can be built into the enclosure walls or the air supply can come through an external supply duct leading from outside your house into the enclosure. An inadequate air supply can reduce furnace efficiency and cause backdrafting of hazardous fumes into your home.
• Adequate lighting. Your new enclosure should have a ceiling light with a switch outside the enclosure door for ease of operation.

Call Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating for expert help designing and building a furnace enclosure in your Los Angeles home. Our professionals can keep your home comfortable, safe and energy efficient all year-round.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnace enclosures and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Installation Considerations

The cost of installation depends, of course, on the specifications of your individual project. However, you may get a good idea which system is best for your retrofit, new addition or new home by familiarizing yourself with the following examples.

• Homes with existing ductwork: If it’s time to replace or upgrade your old central heat system, you may be better off sticking with this type of system. Just make sure your HVAC contractor correctly sizes your new central system and inspects your ductwork for compatibility. Modifications or air sealing may be needed for your ducts.
• Homes without ductwork: Adequate space may be a problem when installing central air in homes designed without air ducts. You can run ducts through living spaces, but installation is going to be messy and costly. Ductless may very well be the best way to go.
• New home design: Designing a new home offers an opportunity to maximize the efficiency and flexibility of your ductless mini split air system. Installation costs in many instances are comparable to central systems, and you’ll also save valuable square footage.

Operation, Comfort and Efficiency

Ductless mini splits typically offer greater energy efficiency than central air systems. On top of superior SEER and HSPF, ductless systems don’t suffer the same energy losses associated with average ductwork.

Moreover, you can control each indoor air-handling unit of a ductless multi-split network independently, rather than conditioning your entire home if it’s not necessary. So, for greater efficiency and zoned comfort, ductless systems top central air systems for many applications.

For more information about mini split air systems and central air systems, please contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Experts warn that poor indoor air quality can be directly related to numerous health issues, including allergies, asthma and lung cancer. The good news is that it’s relatively simple and inexpensive to freshen up your home’s air.

Easy Ways to Eliminate Pollutants at Home

• Keep your home dust- and mold-free. Use “green” household cleaners, which are normally clearly labeled, to make the surface areas of your home sparkle. A damp cloth can also wipe away dust and germs without the use of harmful chemicals. Additionally, vacuum and mop your floors at least twice a week.
• Install a high-efficiency air filter that works with your HVAC system and serves your household needs. Air filters are effective tools at trapping many contaminants that enter your home environment. Just remember to change or clean your filter according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
• Make sure your house is well ventilated. Most homeowners today go out of their way to close up energy-wasting air leaks. This is a very smart, eco-conscious thing to do that can lower your utility costs. However, doing so can lock more pollutants inside your home. You can combat this by installing a whole-house ventilation system, using exhaust fans when cooking and bathing and opening up windows when possible.
• Maintain a healthy humidity level. Keep your home’s humidity level between 30 and 50 percent to control mold, dust mites and other allergens.
• Have your home professionally tested for radon. This radioactive gas cannot be seen or smelled. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the country, and it can enter your home from the ground through cracks and holes in your foundation.

For more tips on how to eliminate pollutants in your Los Angeles home, feel free to contact Around the Clock Heating & Air Conditioning anytime.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about eliminating pollutants and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Testing your home’s humidity can indicate whether your home needs a humidifier or dehumidifier. If your home humidity is typically on level with the humidity outdoors, you may need to add insulation. To determine if there’s a problem in your home, you can look for several signs and symptoms to get a general idea of your relative humidity. For more precise measurements, test your home’s humidity level with a hygrometer.

Signs and Symptoms of Excess Humidity

• Vertical glass surfaces indoors, like windows or mirrors, show condensation droplets or mist up. If this happens only after showering for example, your exhaust fans should be sufficient at clearing airborne moisture.
• Wet ceiling stains.
• Mold, mildew or musty odors in bathrooms, laundry rooms and/or kitchens.
• More intense allergy symptoms or more allergic reactions and sneezing, even when doors and windows are kept shut.

Signs Your Home Humidity is Too Low

• Experiencing static shocks and sparks when walking through your home.
• Problems with electronics.
• Uncomfortably dry skin and/or chapped lips.
• Dry sinuses.
• Scratchy, sore throat.

How to test Home Humidity with a Hygrometer

• Digital hygrometer: Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and walk through your home, noting humidity readings.
• Mechanical hygrometer: Make sure to calibrate before initial measurement. Then:
  • In a mug, dissolve 1/2 cup salt in 1/4 cup tap water.
  • Carefully seal the hygrometer and mug of saltwater in a plastic bag without wetting the hygrometer.
  • Place in a room with steady temperatures, out of direct sunlight.
  • After eight to 12 hours, the hygrometer gauge should read 75 percent. If not, write down how far off the reading is.
  • Place the hygrometer in a desired room and remember to adjust the readout for accurate future readings.

Contact Around the Clock Heating & Air Conditioning for help maintaining proper humidity levels in your Los Angeles home.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about humidity and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Reduced Efficiency

An HVAC system works best when the supply and return airflows are perfectly balanced. If there’s a leak in the supply side of the air handler cabinet, conditioned air can escape before it reaches its intended destination, making your home less comfortable. To compensate, your HVAC system will increase the supply of conditioned air until the appropriate setting is reached on your thermostat. Furthermore, because your system is working harder, it will cost you more to operate it.

Pressure Imbalance

If the supply airflow is reduced by leaks in the air handler and the return air is still flowing at the normal rate, the pressure in your home may become negative. This will suck in outdoor air through any open windows or doors, as well as through random leaks in your home’s outer envelope. This unconditioned air will make your HVAC system work harder to maintain the proper temperature, reducing efficiency.

Reduced Air Quality

Leaks in the return side of your air handler cabinet can let air bypass the air filter when it’s drawn into your HVAC system. This can distribute irritants, such as dust, mold spores, pollen and other airborne irritants, throughout your home, causing health issues, especially for those with asthma or allergies.

If your HVAC system uses gas or oil for heating, or if it’s located near another fuel-burning appliance, there’s a possibility that carbon monoxide is being sucked into the air handler cabinet when the appliance is malfunctioning, causing serious illnesses or even death.

Sealing air handler cabinets correctly can prevent these problems, and it’s a task that should be completed by a professional HVAC technician. For more information about sealing air handler cabinets, or for scheduling an appointment, contact our staff at Around the Clock Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving the Los Angeles area since 1967.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air handlers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Humidity reduction is a major function of air conditioners. Water vapor condensed by the evaporator coil can exceed 25 gallons per day, and it’s all got to go somewhere. Condensate drain problems prevent it from properly flowing out of your home.

How it Happens

Water condensed by the evaporator drips into a condensate drain pan. The drain line from the pan is plumbed to your household drain system or extends through a wall and drains outdoors. A blockage in your system may cause the drain pan to overflow. Because air handlers are usually situated out of sight, water damage may be substantial before the leak is noted by occupants.

What a Qualified Professional Can Do

• If the overflow is due to a clogged condensate drain system, a technician can blow out the drain line with compressed air and clean any debris out of the drain pan. Many condensate drain clogs result from algae or mold growth in the pan. A technician can pour algaecide through the primary drain line and backup line to kill active growth and also install time-release biocide tablets in the pan to prevent mold and algae growth over the long term.
• When condensate leakage results from coil icing and rapid melting of large volumes of ice, an HVAC professional will identify and resolve causes of coil icing, including low refrigerant charge, insufficient system airflow and dirt or mold on coil surfaces.
• To prevent severe water damage in the event of condensate drain problems, your HVAC contractor may recommend installing an overflow safety switch that automatically shuts off power to your unit if the drain pan fills. When the drain line is unclogged, power can be restored to your air conditioner.

For professional service to resolve condensate drain problems in Los Angeles, contact Around the Clock Heating & Air Conditioning.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about condensate drains and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Many programmable thermostats contain batteries that deplete their charge after a year. Open the cover of your device, remove the batteries and replace them with a fresh set. Your HVAC system should turn on shortly after you replace the batteries. If your system still won’t run, you may need to call in an expert.

Some thermostats are hard-wired into the home. To test them, switch your thermostat “off,” and then switch back to “on.” Set it to the heating or cooling mode, and turn it up or down, depending on the season. Some thermostats will make a clicking sound when they turn on — you might even hear your HVAC system click on as well.

If you have a gas furnace, you might hear the gas ignite. If the distance between either is noticeably far, enlist a family member to stand by the air handler and signal to you when it should make a noise and start running.

You can test your thermostat further if you have a gas furnace by turning off the circuit breaker that controls the furnace and air conditioner. Snap a picture with your camera or phone for later reference. Then, unscrew the wires labeled R, Rh and W. Once loose, twist all three together and turn the circuit breaker back on. Regardless of season, if your furnace starts up, this indicates that the problem lies with the thermostatic control and not your heating or cooling system.

Before tossing any thermostats in the trash, verify that they don’t contain any mercury. If they do, take it to your nearest hazardous waste disposal agency.

The pros at Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating can diagnose and replace a malfunctioning thermostat in your home. We’ve provided trusted HVAC services for Los Angeles homeowners since 1967.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about thermostats and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Does Your Furnace Smell?

Your furnace helps you stay nice and warm during the heating months, but it can be quite bothersome to run your furnace and endure foul odors.

Mold, mildew, bacteria and other microorganisms can thrive inside your duct system because it’s dark, the temperature’s right and there’s enough moisture. In addition to creating foul smells and spreading harmful germs, mold and bacteria can hinder heat exchange and increase energy bills.

UV Light Systems

UV (ultraviolet) light systems are designed to go inside the ductwork and destroy or neutralize microorganisms that cause foul smells to emanate from the vents. For decades, UV lights have been in use commercially and in institutions, such as food processing plants and hospitals. This use in residential applications is on the rise to promote better indoor air quality.

UV light systems emit short-wave radiation that wipe out mold and bacteria. They can destroy or render harmless up to 99.9 percent of airborne microorganisms inside your HVAC system. UV light systems are installed on the return side of the ductwork as close as possible to the A/C coil or furnace. This location allows UV lights to disinfect airflow before it reaches these vital components. The entire system is sealed entirely inside the ducts and is completely safe for humans and pets.

Save Energy

UV lights use very little electricity, and they only need to be replaced about every two years. Not only do UV light systems neutralize many odors and contaminants, they also prevent mold and other contaminants from growing on the evaporator coil, drip pan and other HVAC components involved in the heat exchange process. This improves cooling efficiency, as well as heating efficiency.

For more information about UV lights for your Greater Los Angeles home, contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about UV lights and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Best Air Purifier Placement Techniques

• Using whole-house air purifiers: The most effective type of air purifier is a system that can clean all the air in your home. The best place to put one is near your air conditioner’s intake to promote continuous airflow and circulation.
• Central location: If you don’t use your A/C during the winter, place a whole-house air purifier as centrally as possible in your home. Make sure not to place it near your furnace’s intake grill.
• Avoid corners: If you have a room air purifier, avoid placing the unit along the walls in a corner. If you want to place the purifier near a corner to keep it out of the way, make sure it’s at least three feet away from the walls and overhead shelves. The front of the unit should also have a few feet of clearance.
• Near a door: To prevent bacteria and other organisms from entering your home, place an air purifier by all doors leading outdoors. Additionally, avoid leaving windows and doors open.
• Near a sofa: If there are smokers in your home, consider placing an air purifier near the sofa or by ashtrays that get used the most.
• Away from some electronics: Keep air purifiers away from televisions, stereo equipment and microwaves because they run on similar wavelengths, which can cause interference.

To learn more about air purifier placement techniques or installing an air purifier in your home, contact Around the Clock Air Conditioning & Heating. We’ve been serving the Los Angeles, Ventura, San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley areas since 1967.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Los Angeles, North Hollywood and surrounding areas about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about air purifiers and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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