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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• 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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Taking preventive steps to stave off a heater malfunction before heavy winter storms close in can bring you peace of mind that your furnace will function correctly and efficiently when you need it most.

Typical Maintenance Performed

When having your furnace checked, a qualified technician will perform a thorough inspection of your system. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a typical maintenance tune-up should include:

• A checkup of your programmable thermostat to ensure that it is working properly
• A check of all electrical connections to confirm none are loose
• An inspection of the blower motor and drive belt for efficient airflow, including tightening the belt and lubricating moving parts

Heating-Specific Maintenance

Keeping your furnace in efficient operating condition is imperative to keep you warm and comfortable during the cold winter months, and Michigan winters are no exception. It is also a safety issue since combustible fuels are used, and the last thing you want is to have a backdraft of poisonous carbon monoxide creeping into your living space. Your technician should perform the following furnace check:

• Inspect the burner flames to make sure they are burning clean
• Clean dust and debris away from the burners while looking for the presence of black soot, which is an indicator that the burners are not working efficiently
• Clean the pilot or hot surface igniters to make sure that the thermocouple functions properly.

One thing you can do to keep your furnace running efficiently during winter months is to change the air filter on your furnace on a monthly basis. This will ensure clean and efficient airflow through your furnace.

For more information on scheduling a furnace checkup, contact our specialists at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We have been proudly serving the communities of southeast Michigan 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 funaces and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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What Air Conditioning Coils Do

Air conditioning coils are located in the evaporator and the condenser in the system. These coils are both essential in the proper function of a cooling system.

• The indoor evaporator works to absorb heat from inside the home and transfer it to the condenser.
• The outdoor condenser that changes heated gas to a liquid and thus releases the heat from the home to the outdoors.

The Problem With Dirty A/C Coils

Clean air conditioning coils are needed to ensure that your system is able to maintain maximum efficiency. Here are the reasons that you should make it a priority to keep your coils clean.

• Dirty A/C coils hold heat instead of transferring it as intended. This causes the coils to consume more energy to provide cooling.
• Coils that are dirty are less able to keep your home cool. You may notice that certain rooms throughout your home are warm, or you may notice that your air conditioner is not able to cool to the temperature that you prefer.
• Neglecting dirty A/C coils can lead to permanent damage in your system. If you do not maintain your system to prevent this problem, you will be faced with the high cost of a total replacement.

Get Help With All Your HVAC Needs

Whether your problem is dirty A/C coils or a completely broken HVAC system, Aladdin Heating & Cooling can help. The HVAC specialist has been providing services to people in Royal Oak and the surrounding areas for more than 65 years. Contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling today to request more information or to schedule an appointment.

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 A/C coils and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Fall Maintenance Tasks

Check for leaks in common places. Windows, places with recessed lighting, electrical outlets and window and door frames are common places for air leaks. Walking around your home with a lit candle on a windy day will show you just where they occur. You can block leaks by caulking around windows, or by replacing them with newer, more energy-efficient ones if necessary.

Repairing exterior cracks and leaks are also an important part of fall maintenance for home winterization. For cracks in brick, use masonry sealer, and for other areas, weather resistant caulk.

Your HVAC system’s ductwork can have leaks, too. Ductwork leaks can cause bad air quality, higher energy bills, and chilly indoor temps. Schedule an appointment and have an HVAC professional inspect your ductwork and fix leaks as part of your fall maintenance – before winter sets in. Not only will you save money on energy bills, but you’ll be much more comfortable and won’t have to wait for service if your HVAC system should malfunction.

Schedule an HVAC system fall maintenance checkup. The technician will inspect ductwork, system components, and wiring to make sure everything is functioning properly, then will make adjustments and perform repairs, clean/replace filters and other parts as necessary to ensure your system is functioning optimally.

Depending on your HVAC system’s age and condition, your technician may advise replacement rather than repair it. A federal tax credit is available for systems that qualify.

Contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling and schedule your fall maintenance checkup today. Questions or concerns? We’re here to help, 24 hours a day. We’ve been proudly serving Southeast Michigan since 1945.

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

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Even the most well-constructed home is subject to settling, age and the elements, so you need to check your home annually to ensure that no cracks or openings have appeared. If they have, follow these steps to seal them back up. With little more than a caulk gun and a tube of caulk, you can seal most air leaks around cracks, gaps and joints.

Before you get started:

• Inspect your home and mark areas that need sealed. Check windows, doors, masonry, and wooden joints very carefully.
• Determine how much caulk you’ll need and whether or not you need multiple types of caulk. Indeed, there are both indoor and outdoor caulks available that are custom formulated for specific jobs, so be certain to pick the right one. Otherwise, the seal won’t be effective.

Now it’s time to start caulking. Here’s how you do it:

• Clean and dry all areas that need caulked. This will help the caulk adhere to the surface. Remove old caulk, paint and debris using a screwdriver, brush, putty knife or solvent before applying new caulk.
• Holding the caulk gun at a consistent 45-degree angle, apply a steady and even line of caulk to the cracks being sealed.
• Check to see that the caulk adheres evenly to the entire seam.
• Let the caulk dry, and then return to remove excess later. If the caulk shrinks, apply a second layer of caulk to completely fill in the seam.

When you’re ready to think about weatherizing your home, contact Aladdin Heating and Cooling to learn more about the energy saving services we have been providing homeowners throughout southeastern Michigan since 1945. Indeed, residents in Detroit, Dearborn, Rochester, Troy and Warren choose us because we do the best work in the area.

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

Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston.

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Potential  Damage

Condensation causes water to collect in walls and ceilings, causing cave-ins. Increased moisture also fosters mold and mildew growth, which can lead to poor air quality and health issues in your home.

Maintenance

Annual maintenance by a trusted HVAC professional is the ideal method for preventing moisture damage caused by the A/C. Evaporation coils and drainage system failures are the most common pieces of air conditioner equipment that contribute to moisture damage. Moisture collects on evaporation coils and passes into the air conditioner’s main drain. A coil breakdown or clogged drain can cause water to collect in other areas of the home.

Having a professional A/C checkup each spring allows you to check for potential problems before they can cause significant, costly damage. Your technician will clean out the main drain and the emergency drain, clean and repair coils and ensure the refrigerant level is ideal before switching on your A/C for the summer cooling season.

Additional Preventive Tasks

In addition to an annual checkup, there are several tasks your HVAC contractor can perform to specifically prevent potential damage.

• Algaecide treatment: Algae growth in drain lines causes clogs. Have your HVAC contractor flush an algaecide product throughout the drain system to prevent algae growth.
• Safety float switch installation: A safety float switch cuts off power in the event of drainage failure. Should water begin to collect in the drain pan, the float switch turns off the air conditioner. This power failure will allow you to contact an HVAC contractor before damage occurs.

For more information about preventing moisture damage, contact Aladdin Heating and Cooling. We proudly service the residents of southeast Michigan.

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

Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

Your HVAC technician will clean, inspect and test your system, lubricate moving parts, make necessary adjustments on controls and perform other tasks that ensure your system will work efficiently. Not only will this thorough process reduce the likelihood of emergency repairs, but knowing that your system is in the best shape possible will also give you peace of mind.

Did you know that without preventive maintenance, the warranties on your HVAC equipment would likely be void? Most manufacturers only honor warranties when systems are professionally maintained. Those manufacturers know that HVAC maintenance makes a system last longer.

In addition to the aforementioned benefits:

• A more efficient cooling and heating system will save money on energy bills because you’ll use less energy.
• Using less energy is also better for the environment.
• Your system’s improved efficiency will keep your home more comfortable.
• You’ll have better indoor air quality, which is great for allergy sufferers and people with asthma and other upper respiratory conditions.

While preventive maintenance can be performed at any time, it’s recommended that you schedule maintenance prior to the peak of the heating and cooling seasons. This helps you beat the summer and winter rushes, and ensures that your system is ready for the extreme temperatures ahead.

For more expert advice on preventive maintenance and other home comfort topics, feel free to contact us at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve been serving southeast Michigan residents for more than 65 years.

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

Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!     

But it’s not enough just to schedule maintenance. You’ll want to evaluate various HVAC contractors’ methodologies and expertise before you select a service. Aladdin Heating & Cooling provides Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, and other Southeast Michigan area homeowners with a comprehensive heating inspection, which will keep your furnace or boiler chugging along and saving energy all winter.

During a service call, our technicians will:

1. Inspect and evaluate the heat exchanger
2. Clean the motor, lubricating its parts and bearings
3. Evaluate electrical components
4. Clean the system’s drains
5. Inspect the condensate pump (if necessary)
6. Assess the flue pipe and its ventilation
7. Check the high-limit safety
8. Check the burner for proper operation
9. Evaluate the air filter and change if necessary
10. Inspect thermostat controls
11. Evaluate the function of the pilot burner
12. Test the safety of the pilot
13. Evaluate related components, like a humidifier or air cleaner
14. Test the overall function of the HVAC equipment as a whole
15. Discuss the overall condition of the equipment with the homeowner

Once you ensure that your heating system receives expert preventive maintenance service, you can rest assured that you’ll reap benefits from it. A well cared-for system will operate more efficiently, do a better job of keeping you and your family comfortable, last longer, and be more likely to remain protected by manufacturer warranties. In fact, you can expect your system to operate well for up to three years longer, just by giving it regular service. Neglecting low-cost maintenance now can mean bigger costs later if your system breaks down prematurely.

Get unparalleled preventive maintenance service for your boiler or furnace from your local experts at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve been keeping homeowners happy in Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, and Southeast Michigan in general since 1945.  We provide service, repair and installation of heating and cooling equipment to Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne Counties. We know how to get the job done right the first time. Give us a call today to ask about our maintenance service programs, or to schedule an appointment.

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

Aladdin Heating services Novi, Farmington, Farmington Hills, Southfield, Oak Park, Ferndale, Beverly Hills, Berkley, Royal Oak, Birmingham, Bloomfield Twp., Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield, Madison Heights, Clawson, Sterling Heights, Warren, Troy, St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe, Grosse Pointe Woods, Grosse Pointe Farms, Grosse Pointe Park, Detroit, Utica, Shelby Twp., Rochester, Rochester Hills, Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Oxford, and Clarkston. Visit our website to see our special offers and get started today!