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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How to Benefit From a Whole-House Fan

You can lower your cooling-related energy bills by up to 90 percent by operating a whole-house fan whenever it’s cooler outdoors than inside your home, and when outdoor temperatures don’t exceed 85 degrees. Here’s how to use the fan as a complement to the A/C during the warmer months:

• In the late spring, early fall and on milder summer days, open your windows and run the fan all night, then close up the house during the day and you may not need the A/C at all.
• In the summer, run the fan for a half-hour early in the morning and again after dark to clear out stifling hot air and reduce the A/C’s work load during the day.

Not only can this type of ventilation save on energy costs, it also cools down the attic so it can help extend the life of your roof. Since it gives the air conditioner a break, a whole-house fan can also help prolong its service life. Best of all, it’s a greener home cooling alternative that reduces your carbon footprint.

Fan Installation Considerations

To ensure you choose the right size and type of fan, hire an experienced HVAC contractor to handle the installation. A pro can also ensure proper placement and attic ventilation so the fan operates efficiently and issues with air quality and combustion fume backdrafts are prevented. Since whole-house fans can introduce outdoor allergens like pollen and dust into the home, they’re not a good choice for allergy sufferers.

To learn whether a whole-house fan is a good choice for your Grosse Pointe or Auburn Hills home, contact the experts at Aladdin Heating & Cooling.

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 whole-house fans and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Understanding the MERV Rating

Minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) indicates how well an air filter performs. A filter with a high MERV rating will improve indoor air quality efficiently, while one with a low MERV rating will capture only a small percentage of the particles in the air. A rating of 4 or below provides only minimal filtration, while ratings between 5 and 8 indicate a better residential filter. An air filter with a MERV rating between 9 and 12 offers superior residential filtration for excellent indoor air quality.

Replaceable vs. Washable Filters

If you have a replaceable filter, you will throw away the entire filter when you change it. The best replaceable filters for home use are polyester and pleated air filters. Fiberglass filters have very low MERV ratings and do little to improve air quality.

Washable filters are typically considered a poor choice. You must manually wash them to remove dust, but the process can leave the filter damp, creating an ideal breeding ground for mold, mildew, and fungus. Washable filters also have low MERV ratings.

The Deal With High-Efficiency Air Filters

High-efficiency filters are those with a MERV rating of 14 or higher. While these offer excellent air quality, they’re better suited to hospital environments. It takes more energy to push air through a filter with a high MERV rating, and many home units are not equipped to handle high-efficiency air filters.

To learn more about improving indoor air quality in your southeast Michigan home, contact us at Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We have proudly serviced the 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 indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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1. Thermostat. Your thermostat monitors your indoor temperature and turns your system on or off as necessary. Most systems don’t have a variable cooling output, so temperature is regulated by cooling the house to a certain point and then turning off the system entirely until it warms enough for the A/C to be needed again.
2. Evaporator. Inside the evaporator coils, liquid refrigerant evaporates into a gas. In order for it to do that, it has to absorb heat from the air around the coils, meaning that the air cools precipitously.
3. Blower. Now that the air has been cooled, the blower fan moves it through the ducts and replaces it with more warm air from various parts of your house. The cool air in the ducts is pushed through the ductwork and emerges from vents in your living areas.
4. Filter. The air coming into your A/C that surrenders heat to the evaporator coil is drawn in through the system’s air filter. Without the air filter, the air might carry dust that would gather on the evaporator, forming an insulating layer – one which would prevent your indoor air from giving up its heat.
5. Compressor. As the cooled air is distributed by the blower, the heated refrigerant is pumped through the refrigerant lines by the compressor.
6. Condenser. Outside, the condenser turns the evaporated refrigerant back into a liquid. This expels the heat that it was carrying so it can go back and pick up more.
7. Fan. The warmed air is blown away from the condenser to disperse in the outdoors.

If you want to learn about the air conditioner parts keeping your Michigan home cool, call Aladdin Heating & Cooling today!

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 air conditioners 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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1. Use your ceiling fan. When the weather warms, a fan in its forward direction will cool you directly by creating a wind chill effect. Just remember that ceiling fans only cool people, not rooms, so turn them off when you leave the room.
2. Install a programmable thermostat. When you’re out of the house for school or work, and when you’re tucked in bed, you don’t need the house at a temperature comfortable for activity. A programmable thermostat can remember to set the temperature for you when you come and go.
3. Change out your air filters. Spring is pollen season, and that can clog up your HVAC system’s air filters faster than usual. Keep the filters clean in order to keep air circulating without impediment.
4. Know your passive solar heating. If you’ve got west- and north-facing windows, you may want to use curtains to keep out the evening sun. Or you could plant trees to shade your windows, reducing your need for cooling when the weather gets hot.
5. Check your home sealing and insulation. Temperature changes can cause materials to degrade, so if you’ve caulked and weatherstripped your doors and windows or added insulation to ductwork and pipes, you should check it again when the seasons change.

If you want to learn more about how you can create an energy efficient home in Oak Park, Warren and surrounding communities, visit us at Aladdin Heating & Cooling.

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 energy efficiency and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is responsible for more than 200 American deaths per year, and sends thousands more to emergency rooms. CO attaches to hemoglobin in the blood, which prevents the brain, heart and other vital organs from receiving oxygen. Symptoms of low levels of CO exposure include headache, nausea, dizziness and vomiting. Higher levels of CO poisoning can cause chest pain, vision impairment, disorientation, convulsions and death.

Testing CO Detectors

When fuel combustion is efficient, the combustion process gives off carbon dioxide. When combustion is incomplete due to dirty or malfunctioning combustion parts, CO is given off. Since CO can’t be detected by human senses, CO detectors are the only practical detection method. Check all CO detectors in your home each month. Here’s how:

• Locate the test button on the CO detector.
• Press and hold the button until the CO detector starts beeping.
• Release the button.

If your CO detectors operate using batteries, replace the batteries with fresh ones each year on a specific date you’ll remember, such as the first day of winter.

Best Locations for CO Detectors

CO can leak and stay within a relatively confined space in your home. CO can also be sucked into air ducts and spread through the home. So, it’s very important to install a CO detector on each floor of your home, including the basement, attic and attached garages and workshops.

Install a CO detector within eight feet of each bedroom. During the heating months, the gas furnace is typically running, which statistically increases the risk of CO poisoning. So, you want the detectors close enough to wake everyone, should they go off.

To learn more about carbon monoxide detectors and safety in your Warren home, contact us at Aladdin Heating & Cooling.

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 carbon monoxide detectors and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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In many cases, a few repairs may be all that’s needed to fix what’s ailing your home HVAC system. Here are a few telltale signs of when repairs are preferable to replacement:

• Reduced performance: Lack of proper maintenance can cause easily-solvable performance issues.
• Increase in energy consumption: A simple tune-up may be all you’ll need to make your system energy-efficient again.
• Increase in dust, humidity or both: These problems can be taken care of by a simple, yet comprehensive service visit.

On the other hand, there are times when an HVAC replacement is the better choice:

• Aged beyond its projected lifespan: The average HVAC system lasts anywhere from 14 to 25 years. If your HVAC system is more than 10 years old, you should be considering a replacement.
• Costs more to repair than to replace: Frequent HVAC repairs could cost you more money than replacing your system right off the bat.
• Costs more to operate each year: If your energy bills are steadily increasing each year, your old HVAC system may be the cause. Older units tend to burn more energy than today’s systems.
• Needs an R-22 refrigerant charge: R-22 is being phased out by 2020. As supplies dwindle, the costs of keeping your system cool with R-22 could skyrocket.
• Performance can’t keep up with your current needs: If your current HVAC system struggles to keep your home cool, then it might be time for a change.

If you’re looking for expert advice on your home HVAC system, contact the professionals at Aladdin Heating & Cooling today. We proudly serve the southeast Michigan area, including Royal Oak, Bloomfield Hills and Madison Heights.

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 HVAC systems and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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First-Time Costs

This is a combination of the purchase price of your new central air conditioner and the installation charge. It’s basically, the amount of money it takes to put a new working A/C in your home. When the first-time costs are low, this usually means the lifetime costs will be high.

Lifetime Costs

These are the cost of operating your air conditioner year after year, and include the most important cost, energy/utility bills, along with repairs and maintenance. Factors that influence lifetime costs include:

• Energy efficiency. If you purchase a central A/C with the lowest possible energy efficiency (13 or 14 SEER – Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio), your air conditioner will require more electricity to provide the same amount of cooling as a higher-SEER model. In just a few years, your energy savings with a SEER 18 central A/C will exceed whatever savings you would have earned on the purchase of a cheaper, low-efficiency A/C.
• Durability and design. A name-brand air conditioning system with a reputation for quality will deliver more efficient and dependable cooling, and last longer with fewer repairs, than a knock-off off-brand A/C.
• Professional installation. If you buy a bargain A/C with a low installation charge, you run a good chance of getting an oversized or undersized cooling system. A professional installation calls for a cooling load calculation, accounting for a variety of factors in your home, before arriving at the right size A/C. Charging refrigerant and airflow adjustment also require skill and know-how.

A/C replacement calls for careful consideration of both first-time costs and lifetime costs. For professional help in this process, please contact us today at Aladdin Heating & Cooling, serving Bloomfield Hills, Grosse Pointe, Madison and other Detroit area communities.

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 replacement costs and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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• Don’t smoke indoors. Even the best air cleaners can’t remove all the toxic chemicals found in tobacco smoke.
• Test your home for radon levels. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S., just behind smoking.
• Choose products that are low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs are found in products made from chemicals, like construction materials, furniture and cleaning products. Their gases can cause minor to serious health effects. Choose alternative cleaning products that are low in VOCs, as well as paint, flooring and finishes. Limit your use of perfumed soaps and air fresheners. Look for a label that indicates the products you bring home are VOC-compliant or VOC-free.
• Have your heating system professionally inspected and maintained annually and be sure you change the air filter whenever it’s covered in dust. A dirty filter can lead to complications with the heating system that may introduce carbon monoxide (CO) into your home, as can leaking ductwork in homes with vented gas appliances. A clean air filter also improves indoor air quality by trapping airborne particulates, like pollen, dust mite waste and pet dander. Upgrade the filters you use to the highest quality available for your particular HVAC system to trap smaller particles.
• Set a routine for checking smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries. CO detectors should be tested monthly, since they use more energy than smoke detectors.
• Fix plumbing leaks quickly to lower the likelihood of mold formation indoors. Mold reproduces by sending out microscopic spores that are a known allergen.
• Use the kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans to remove excessive humidity and odors from your home.

To learn more about improving indoor air quality, contact Aladdin Heating & Cooling. We’ve provided outstanding HVAC services for Troy, Rochester and Sterling Heights 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 indoor air quality and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.

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