Preventative maintenance makes sure that any small problems your system may suffer don’t develop into larger problems later on. In many cases, problems that could lead to total system failure can be caught and addressed at a fraction of the cost of repairs. For example, clogged air filters can be changed easily, whereas the strain a clog puts on the blower fan motor is the leading cause of HVAC system failure.

While it’s always good to have your system checked out by a professional, there are some elements of maintenance that can be taken care of by the homeowner. Here are some things you can do on your own:

• Change your air filter once a month.
• Make sure there’s about a yard of clearance on every side of your outdoor A/C unit. It needs the air circulation in order to function correctly.
• Keep the condensate drain in your HVAC system clean and clear of debris.
• Make sure that the vents in your home are open and unobstructed by debris or furniture.
• Test the batteries in your CO detector and smoke alarms every month and replace them every year – even if the tests come back fine.
• Keep an eye on the refrigerant lines leading into your home. If they’re damaged or dented, have them checked out or replaced.

If you’re curious about HVAC preventative maintenance tasks for your Sterling Heights area home, let Aladdin Heating & Cooling help!

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about preventative maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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What Do Evaporator Coils Do?

Air conditioning relies on the unique heat-exchange capabilities of chemical refrigerant, which can evaporate into a gas relatively easily and then condense back into a liquid. In the evaporator coil, usually attached to the furnace plenum, the refrigerant extracts heat energy from the indoor air as the chemical transitions into a gas. This creates indoor cooling.

Dirty A/C Evaporator Coils

Over time, the cool, damp evaporator coils will attract a coating of dust and gunk, which may include mildew, mold and bacteria. These materials will impede the vital heat exchange that occurs when the refrigerant is extracting heat from the inside air. Anything that restricts that process will erode cooling efficiency and performance, and eventually lead to breakdowns in the compressor and other parts.

How to Clean A/C Evaporator Coils

• First turn off the A/C’s power at the breaker box.
• Open the cover of the evaporator coil.
• Take a shop vacuum and/or stiff wire brush to clean out the condensate drain pipe to make sure the A/C can expel the water that accumulates during air conditioning.
• Use a brush with stiff bristles (not wire) to remove gunk from the coil; use a clean cloth to wipe away whatever the brush isn’t removing. Spray the coil with a dedicated foaming agent made specifically for this chore.

Your best bet with any air conditioner maintenance (other than simple filter changes) is to have it done by a trained processional during an annual A/C maintenance tune-up. Call us at Aladdin’s Heating & Cooling to schedule your appointment today. We serve communities in Southeast Michigan, including Birmingham, Oak Park and Grosse Pointe.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about evaporator coils and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• A/C servicing. If your air conditioner has been sitting idle through the winter, you should have it checked over before spring begins. If your HVAC specialist finds anything wrong, it’ll be cheaper and easier to get it fixed before the problem gets worse.
• Have your ducts cleaned and your filters replaced. The dry air of winter can lead to excess dust buildup, causing problems in your ductwork. You should make sure to change your air filter regularly (once a month is ideal), so that conditioned air can flow through your home easily.
• Clean your chimney. If you’ve used your fireplace over the winter, have a professional give it a good cleaning. Then seal it up if you don’t plan on using it, so that your home doesn’t get drafty.
• Consider your air quality. With spring comes humidity and pollen, both of which can have an adverse effect on your household health. Talk to your local HVAC expert about dehumidification, air cleaning and ventilation to keep your air clean.
• Seal and insulate ducts, insulate hot water pipes and seal air leaks around your home. Even if they’ve been sealed before, old seals can come loose. Keep heat where you want it and out of places you want to keep cool by sealing and insulating around your home.

If you want expert help in checking items off your spring home maintenance list, call Aladdin Heating & Cooling today! We’re proud to help our neighbors in Warren, Lake Orion, Oak Park and the Greater Detroit Metro.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about home maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Operation

Your heat pump works much differently than a standard furnace or air conditioner. It provides indoor comfort by capturing heat and moving it around via a refrigerant that circulates between indoor and outdoor units. The system captures heat inside your home and disperses it outdoors to provide cool air. Heating occurs when the system captures heat from the air outside your home and brings it indoors.

• Be careful when setting back your thermostat: Don’t set your thermostat back if doing so will turn your heat pump’s back-up heating system on. Backup heating is intended only for short-term use when outdoor temperatures get too low. Frequent use of backup heating will eliminate the efficiency and cost benefits of your heat pump.
• Don’t run the fan continuously: System performance will decrease if you run a single-speed indoor fan continuously. Variable-speed fans can operate more frequently, so make sure to keep your thermostat fan setting on “auto.”

Maintenance

Regular preventive maintenance can keep your system working properly at its best level of efficiency. Maintenance should be performed at least annually by a qualified HVAC expert. For heat pumps, it’s advisable to have preventive maintenance performed twice a year, once before the heating season and once before the cooling season.

Typical maintenance tasks include:

• Changing the air filter.
• Checking and adjusting refrigerant level or charge.
• Calibrating thermostat and system controls.
• Inspecting ductwork and repairing connections.
• Cleaning and tightening electrical connections.
• Lubricating fans, motors and moving parts.
• Cleaning fans, motors, blowers and coils.
• Inspecting and tightening belts, as well as changing damaged belts.

For 70 years, Aladdin Heating & Cooling has been serving residential, commercial and industrial HVAC customers in and around Detroit, including Oakland, Macomb and Wayne Counties. Contact us today for more information on maintaining and operating your home heat pump.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about heat pumps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Soot and Grime

The most common cause of rumbling furnace noises is a buildup of soot and grime on the burners. A tremendous amount of gas goes through your furnace during the heating season, and if you don’t have the system professionally cleaned and adjusted each year, grime can start building up. When soot collects on the burners, it can block airflow, resulting in unexpected noises.

A dirty ignition system component may also cause a rumbling noise. Your HVAC technician will clean and examine the pilot light or igniter, cleaning and making adjustments as required.

A more serious reason behind a rumbling or rattling gas furnace could be a cracked heat exchanger. This metal part can crack over time, primarily caused by a buildup of dust. If the crack goes all the way through the exchanger, it can leak carbon monoxide (CO) into your home’s air.

Heat exchanger cracks often require an expensive repair or a complete furnace replacement. If you suspect that this could be the problem, turn your furnace off and call a professional immediately. CO can reach deadly levels in a tightly closed home quickly.

Loose Parts

Rumbling may also be caused by a loose screw, especially if a housing panel vibrates as the furnace runs. A panel inside the furnace may also be loose.

If you’ve been hearing rumbling noises from your gas furnace, call the pros at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve been providing top-notch HVAC services for Auburn Hills, Clarkston and Rochester Hills homeowners since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about furnaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Here are some troubleshooting tips, which can get your furnace working again.

The Pilot Doesn’t Stay Lit

The pilot can go out when the thermocouple closes the gas valve because it’s not producing enough heat to burn all the gas coming in the burner. This prevents the gas from entering your house and causing a fire. If this happens, you should first reignite your furnace.

If that doesn’t solve the problem, then your thermocouple may need to be inspected. You can call a professional in Royal Oak to inspect and replace your thermocouple. After replacing it, your furnace should work like brand new again.

Irregular Flame

Normally, your flame should be very steady and blue, but sometimes you might notice a yellow tingle. If this occurs, adjust the flame using the screw on the pilot by following the instructions on your manual.

Flickering Flame and Spitting Motion

Flickering flames can be caused by air drafts. Establish where the draft is coming from, and then seal it to protect your furnace. Spitting motion is caused by dirt in furnace tubes. Cleaning these tubes should solve the problem. Additionally, dirt can accumulate on the tip of your pilot, leading to a gas blockage. Make it a regular maintenance practice to remove debris using a small nail.

For more expert advice on troubleshooting pilot lights and other home-related issues, please contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve been serving the area of Southeast Michigan for over 70 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about troubleshooting pilot lights and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Keeping the paint relatively fresh
• Sealing any holes that appear
• Removing excess snow

Applying Paint

Under normal circumstances, you should be reapplying paint every 15 to 20 years. However, severe weather and large hail, much like the kind that’s seen from time to time around Madison Heights, can cause chipping that may require immediate repainting. Specialty metal paints are available at most paint stores for roughly the same price as a quality interior latex paint.

Using a Sealant

Sealing holes and cracks that might form, especially if your home is older, can keep your metal roof functioning for decades, while keeping water from seeping in under the roof and getting into your attic. It should also help keep your house well insulated and reduce your energy bills.

Snow Removal

During the winter, places around Clarkston can get heavy amounts of snow. Letting too much snow sit on your metal roof can end up causing a lot of damage from either water leaking in or from corrosion underneath your roof’s coating. Using a roof rake regularly during periods of heavy snowfall can go a long way in keeping the total amount of snow on your roof fairly low, as well as breaking up the chance for any ice dams to form.

If you would like to know more about how to keep your tin roof looking and performing like new, give the knowledgeable service technicians at Aladdin Heating & Cooling a call. Our expert team has been serving the Southeast Michigan area for nearly 70 years. Let us put our seven decades worth of knowledge to work for you.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about metal roofs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Start by choosing the location for the vent opening. This should not be more than 25 feet from the dryer because most dryers can only handle a maximum of 25 feet vent. Trace the size of vent on the ceiling using a pencil then use a saw to make a hole in the ceiling wide enough for the duct to slide through. Trace again on the rooftop and make the hole.

Climb on the roof and make finer cuttings on the hole you made from the inside. On the perimeter of the hole spread roofing tar and insert the pipe which is connected to the vent in the hole. The vent flashing should be worked under the raised shingles which are then let to fall on it. The flashing should be nailed to the roof using the 1-inch roofing nails. Connect the vent cap.

Connect 4-inch elbow to the vent at the back of the dryer then position it facing the roof vent and then clamp it to secure it. Use 4-inch metal pipe duct to connect the dryer to the vent pipe on the roof. Remember to insulate the part of the vent that comes into contact with the attic. Secure the insulation using metal foil. The importance of using insulation is to avoid gases condensing on that section of the vent went temperatures outside are low causing lint which can block the vent.

For more expert advice on how you can install rooftop dryer vents and any other home related issues please contact us at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We have been serving the Southeast Michigan, Detroit Metro Area for 70 years.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about rooftop dryer vents and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Unfortunately, gaps can create air leaks, reducing the efficiency of your furnace. To achieve optimum operating efficiency from your furnace, you’ll need to seal all furnace gaps. Almost anyone with some do-it-yourself experience can easily accomplish this task.

Regular silicone caulk can be used to seal smaller gaps in your furnace. You can run a bead along the gap, and use your finger to make it smooth. If the gap you’re sealing is located around the heat exchanger, you’ll need to use high temperature silicone caulk that won’t melt, while the furnace is running.

Larger gaps, especially ones around the filter air boxes, can be sealed with a foam type sealant. You can get this spray from any hardware store. Once the foam is sprayed into the gap, it expands and dries, sealing larger gaps that can’t be sealed by silicone caulk. Once the foam is nicely dried, you can use sandpaper and a knife to shape the foam sealant. You can even paint it to match your furnace color.

Aluminum foil duct tape can be used to seal all gaps. This tape has a strong adhesive, which is specially made to stick to sheet metal. Begin by removing all dust around the area with a damp rag. Then, wait until the area is completely dry. Apply the aluminum foil duct tape over the gap and press it firmly into place. The tape can be easily flexed, so it can even seal 90° gaps.

For more expert advice on how to seal furnace gaps to increase efficiency, please feel free to contact Aladdin Heating & Air Conditioning. We’ve been serving Southeast Michigan, and the Detroit Metro area since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about sealing furnace gaps and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Have a professional inspect your ducts. Duct leaks are a common issue, and can overwork your heating system, while leaving parts of your home uncomfortably cool. Make sure your ducts are thoroughly checked for leaks and blockages.
• Schedule yearly maintenance for your furnace. Many homeowners assume that the furnace doesn’t require any maintenance unless there’s a problem, but yearly servicing can keep problems from occurring and keep your system running more efficiently. Be sure to schedule your fall maintenance visit early, before the busy season starts for your HVAC professional.
• Make sure your windows are sealed. Poorly-sealed windows can have a large effect on indoor temperature, especially in winter. Purchase storm windows to help insulate, or use cheaper plastic sheeting kits available at hardware stores.
• Eliminate air leaks. Air leaks can drive up your heating bills and keep your house from maintaining a comfortable temperature. Search for cracks or gaps near any electrical outlets, fixtures, doors, baseboards and windows, and seal them immediately with caulk or spray-foam insulation. If searching the house for air leaks seems intimidating, schedule an appointment for a home energy evaluation, instead, and let an expert do the hard work for you.
• Inspect the exterior of your home. Household problems can be exacerbated by snow and ice, so get all those small fall home maintenance tasks on the outside of the house done before it gets cold. Check gutters for clogs or loose areas, and make sure there are no cracks or leaks, or missing shingles or bricks.

Contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling today for more expert fall home maintenance tips. We’ve been serving Grosse Pointe, Farmington, and the surrounding area since 1945.

Our goal is to help educate our customers in Warren, Michigan about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).  For more information about home maintenance and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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