Spring Cleaning Tasks For Your HVAC System

March 12, 2024

Spring is the season during which families traditionally clean their homes in Amherst, NY. Known worldwide as “spring cleaning,” this process allows homeowners to scour every section of their homes. While scrubbing each nook and cranny of the house, a major area homeowners should never neglect is the HVAC system. Keeping up with spring HVAC maintenance is an excellent way to boost energy efficiency and conserve the lifespan of all HVAC equipment. A look at the top tasks on your spring maintenance checklist can help ensure that your system operates smoothly all year long. 1. Air

Continue Reading
company icon

6 Benefits of Zoned HVAC Systems

February 14, 2024

Traditional HVAC systems have several drawbacks, including the need for manual temperature adjustments, uneven heating and cooling, and the difficulty of reaching a consensus on a set temperature among occupants. Traditional HVAC units are also highly inefficient because they supply heat or cold air into your entire house. Zoned HVAC systems aim to solve this inefficiency and provide homeowners with many other heating and cooling benefits. 1. Better Comfort and Convenience A traditional HVAC system is built to indiscriminately heat or cool every part of your home connected to the system. Thus, different occupants of your

Continue Reading
company icon

Why Size Matters in Your HVAC System

January 31, 2024

Ah, the elusive dream of home comfort: a perfectly balanced HVAC system that warms you up in winter and cools you down in the summer. But achieving this haven requires one crucial step – precisely sizing your system. Think of an HVAC system like a car engine. A puny engine in a behemoth truck won’t get you anywhere fast, right? Similarly, an undersized HVAC system will struggle to keep your home comfortable, leading to frustration, high energy bills, and a shortened lifespan. Conversely, an oversized system is like flooring the gas pedal in a traffic jam –

Continue Reading
company icon

Upgrade Your HVAC for Quieter Comfort and Higher Efficiency

January 31, 2024

Are you tired of living with the loud roars and rattles of your outdated HVAC system? You’re not alone. Millions of homeowners suffer through discomfort and inefficiency due to aging air conditioning units and furnaces. But there’s good news! Upgrading to a modern HVAC system can unlock a world of quiet comfort, significant energy savings, and a healthier home environment. Escape the Roar and Embrace Peaceful Quiet Imagine movie nights undisturbed or enjoying serene afternoons on the porch. No more constant drone of an ancient air conditioning unit! Modern HVAC systems operate at whisper-quiet

Continue Reading
company icon

Should The Outside HVAC Unit Be Covered In The Winter?

January 31, 2024

Author: Jake Castricone Senior Service Technician Should the outside unit be covered in the winter? When homeowners ask about adding insulation around their water heater, I usually advise against it. It can create a cozy haven for mice and other pests, attracting them to the warm space and potentially leading to chewed wires. This is especially true in rural areas of Western New York, where we see a lot of rodent damage caused by insulation. Frankly, I don’t know what it is about the wiring in these units, but it

Continue Reading
company icon

What Is Being Done During A Maintenance Call For An AC Unit?

January 31, 2024

Author: Jake Castricone Senior Service Technician What are you doing on a maintenance call for an air conditioning unit? There can be a buildup of dust, debris, and even some unwanted guests – tiny bugs and critters. Now, these little critters might seem harmless, but their presence inside the unit can actually cause big problems. With voltages ranging from 240 to 400 volts in here (depending on the component, like the capacitor or contactor), even a small bug touching a wire can lead to a short circuit. This could damage

Continue Reading
company icon

How Long Will An AC Unit Last Before It Needs Replacing?

January 31, 2024

Author: Jake Castricone Senior Service Technician How long will an old air conditioning unit keep running before it needs to be replaced? Some have certainly seen better days, but I’ve seen much older units still chugging along. Age alone isn’t the death sentence for these machines. While newer models offer unbeatable efficiency, quieter operation, and all the bells and whistles, I’ve got plenty of 20-year-old units still keeping their owners cool. The key is the current performance. If it’s still providing reliable comfort, then there’s no immediate need

Continue Reading
company icon

What A Service Technician Looks For When Conducting HVAC Maintenance

January 31, 2024

Author: Jake Castricone Senior Service Technician What is a service technician looking for on a maintenance call? What questions should the homeowner be prepared to answer? No matter if your appliance is brand new or a 15 years old, I always approach it with the assumption that there might be a hidden issue lurking beneath the surface. This helps me avoid tunnel vision, where you assume something can’t have problems based solely on its age. I challenge myself to find that hidden issue before it turns into a major headache.

Continue Reading
company icon

What Are The Dangers Of A Tilted AC Unit?

January 31, 2024

Author: Jake Castricone Senior Service Technician Tilted AC Unit? Here’s What You Need to Know As homeowners, we all want our air conditioning systems to run smoothly and efficiently. But what happens when you notice your AC unit is tilted? While it may not seem like a major issue at first, a tilted AC unit can actually lead to serious problems down the road. The Dangers of a Tilted AC Unit Vibration and movement: When your AC unit is tilted, it can vibrate excessively and even move off its pad. This

Continue Reading
company icon

A Comprehensive Guide on How to Choose the Right HVAC System for Your Home

January 8, 2024

Choosing the right HVAC system for your home is a significant decision that requires careful consideration. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through key factors to help you make an informed choice tailored to your unique needs. Manual J Calculation: Precision in HVAC System Sizing When it comes to selecting the ideal HVAC system for your home, precision is key. One crucial aspect of this process is the Manual J calculation. This detailed calculation takes into account various factors to accurately determine the heating and cooling load your home requires. At Heatwave Heating & Cooling,

Continue Reading
company icon