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Posts Tagged ‘Austin’

How a Clogged Air Filter Can Damage Your Furnace

Monday, April 6th, 2015

Many homeowners may not know this, but every furnace is equipped with an air filter installed in the blower return duct. This air filter is a small, simple part of the system. It’s no surprise that it escapes the notice of many homeowners, who don’t often have any reason to thoroughly examine the inside of their furnaces. Small though it may be, the air filter is actually a vital part of keeping your furnace healthy.

Let’s take a look at how the air filter keeps your furnace safe, and what can happen if you neglect it.

The Air Filter

There are a lot of particles that circulate through the average home that, if they were to infiltrate the furnace, would damage it. Things like dust, pollen, mold, and the like could wreak havoc on the system if they were allowed to blow directly into it. So the air filter is installed to catch all of these particles before they can enter the system. As the air flows through the filter, any contaminants being blown along become trapped in the fibers. The air itself passes through the filter and into the system.

The one problem with the air filter is that it needs to be cleaned or replaced every 1–3 months. If this is not done, the air filter will become so clogged with particulates that it restricts the air flow into the furnace. That’s when problems start occurring.

Short-Cycling

Restricted air flow into the furnace will cause the temperature to rise until the system overheats. This activates the limit switch, which shuts down the system as a safety measure. When the furnace cools off enough to restart, the clogged air filter causes it to overheat again and be shut down again. This continuous on/off cycle is called “short-cycling,” and is extremely damaging to the furnace. The strain of turning itself on and off constantly puts the furnace at an increased risk of breaking down, as well as shortening its lifespan. If you notice your furnace short-cycling, turn it off immediately and call us to schedule a repair appointment.

If you have any problems with your furnace, call Roznovak. We provide heating installation and repair services throughout Austin, TX. 

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The Benefits of Commercial Duct Cleaning

Tuesday, March 24th, 2015

Ducts are an important part of any centralized forced air system. This is especially true for commercial HVAC systems, which employ much larger and more complex ductwork than residential properties do.

The ductwork in your building is responsible for keeping you and your employees comfortable, by transporting fresh air from your heating and air conditioning systems. Unfortunately, ductwork can also harm those inside a commercial property if it is not properly maintained.

Let’s take a look at one of the harms that can occur due to poorly maintained ductwork, and what you can do to prevent it.

Airborne Contaminants

The air inside the average commercial building is infested with millions upon millions of microscopic airborne contaminants. Things like viruses, bacteria, dust, mold spores, and insect dander are all commonly found floating through the air in commercial and residential buildings. These contaminants tend to be pretty loosely dispersed, which prevents them from having any serious health effects on those in the building.

In the ducts, however, these contaminants are given a safe haven in which to gather. The level of pollutants builds up in your ducts over time until a forced air system is turned on, at which point the entire building receives a concentrated blast of them. This makes it more likely for the building’s occupants to suffer allergy attacks and illness.

Duct Cleaning

In order to address these contaminants, it’s a good idea to schedule commercial duct cleaning for your building at least once every one or two years. Duct cleaning is where your HVAC company removes any and all contaminants that may be lurking in your ducts, either through vacuums or manual cleaning or both. Duct cleaning significantly improves the indoor air quality of your business, thereby improving the health and quality of life of everyone inside.

It can also improve the efficiency of your HVAC system, by revealing any leaks or other issues that need to be dealt with. If your ducts haven’t been cleaned in a while, you could most certainly benefit from scheduling a duct cleaning today.

If you’d like to know more about the specifics of duct cleaning, Call Roznovak. We provide commercial duct cleaning services throughout the Austin area.

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How to Avoid the Need for AC Repair

Wednesday, March 18th, 2015

Our days are warming up, and many of you may have already turned on your air conditioning systems to help stave off the early spring heat. We use our air conditioners for a lot of the year, so taking some steps that can help you avoid the need for A/C repair in Austin is always a good thing for our local homeowners.

We’ll outline more of these steps below, but if you are experiencing any issues with your air conditioning, call the people you can count on: Roznovak.

Step 1: Don’t Ignore Strange Sounds

Let’s be honest: no homeowner looks forward to air conditioning repair. But ignoring strange sounds or poor performance doesn’t make the problems go away, and will most likely make the problems worse. And just because your system is still operational doesn’t mean that there isn’t a problem; it just means the problem hasn’t become serious enough yet to result in breakdown. So what kinds of noises are we talking about? Buzzing, banging, popping, really anything that sounds of the ordinary. When you hear anything strange, call for help.

Step 2: Change the Air Filter

As far as individual components go, your AC’s air filter is probably one of the least complicated ones in the entire system – but that doesn’t mean it can’t cause problems. A clogged air filter can seriously restrict the air flow in your entire system, causing any number of systemic problems to develop. But there’s an easy solution to this: change the air filter every 3 months. Replacing your air filter every quarter helps keep your AC healthy and eliminates the problems that can develop from a clogged air filter.

Step 3: Schedule Annual Maintenance

Maintenance is a full tune-up for your air conditioner, and spring is the perfect time to schedule it. Why schedule maintenance? During a maintenance appointment, your system is thoroughly inspected, components are cleaned and adjusted, and all moving parts are lubricated. The technician will also test for performance, and if any existing or developing problems are found, you’ll be alerted. Maintenance helps keep your system in good working order for the whole cooling season.

Have further A/C repair questions about your Austin air conditioning system? Call us today!

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Signs That You Need Air Conditioning Repair

Tuesday, March 10th, 2015

Air conditioner problems are a bit harder to diagnose than heater problems, at least for the untrained eye. There are a few symptoms that cross over. Lack of heating/cool air is a pretty obvious sign of trouble, for example. However, there are a lot of problem indicators that are specific to air conditioners. So, if you want to keep your air conditioner in good condition it’s a good idea to learn these unique indicators. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Ice

TechWithCondensorAir conditioners are supposed to keep your home cool, but there are limits to how much they can lower the temperature and still operate correctly. If you see ice on your air conditioner, it’s a sign that something has gone wrong. This can be caused by dirt on the coils or a low refrigerant level, both of which can lower the temperature below what it should be.

Once the ice has formed, it prevents the coils in the air conditioner from successfully drawing heat from the air. This causes your air conditioner to actually lose cooling ability, and can damage the coils on top of that. So, if you see ice forming on your AC, call for repairs.

Short-Cycling

Short-cycling is when your air conditioner keeps rapidly turning itself on and off during operation. This is an extremely harmful effect that can be caused by a few different factors. The compressor could be malfunctioning, which results in irregular pressure in the refrigerant line. The problem could also be located in the thermostat, which may have a faulty temperature sensor. Regardless of the cause, however, the behavior itself places the air conditioner under an extreme amount of stress. If the cause isn’t found and treated by a professional, you may have to replace part or all of the system.

Air conditioning repair is a broad topic, and not one that we can entirely cover in this post. If you suspect that your air conditioner might be malfunctioning for any reason, call Roznovak today. We offer air conditioning repair services throughout Austin, TX.

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What Are My Options When It Comes to Geothermal Installation?

Wednesday, February 4th, 2015

Heating and cooling the home with a geothermal system saves homeowners across the country hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs, and it may do the same for you. A geothermal heat pump works a lot like an air conditioner, removing heat from the home in order to provide a source of cool air in the summer. But during the heating season, a geothermal system can work in reverse, pumping heat into the home thanks to the reliable temperatures deep within the earth. Geothermal systems are one of the top choices for renewable heating and AC, saving you money and reducing your environmental impact.

For quality geothermal heating installation in Austin from professionals experienced with these unique units, discuss your options with the professionals at Roznovak.

Vertical or Horizontal Installation

When you decide that a new geothermal system is the right choice for you, you still have a couple of other big decisions to make. Most importantly, you and your technician will need to decide upon whether vertical or horizontal installation is best suited to your needs. The type of installation that goes onto your home will depend on some key factors. First, the amount of space on your property may determine which type of installation you need. If there is not enough room on the property to dig a wide trench for horizontal loop installation, space considerations may force you into vertical installation, in which the loop system is installed upright in a deep hole.

If your property allows for either type of installation, there are still a couple of other things to keep in mind. Horizontal installation tends to be less expensive. On the other hand, more of your landscaping must be wiped out in order to make room.

Choosing a Quality Company

The second major choice you’ll need to make is which company to go with for installation. Despite its rising popularity, it turns out that most contractors do not offer geothermal installation. First, you’ll need to find a company experiences in geothermal installation and service. But also, you’ll want to find a contractor with a good name, backed by positive customer reviews and a history of quality service.

At Roznovak, we have years of experience installing geothermal systems, and we strive to make any type of heating installation in Austin as hassle-free as possible. Call us today, and find out why so many people make the switch over to this effective and efficient renewable resource.

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The Importance of Cleaning a Diesel Particulate Filter

Friday, December 19th, 2014

Since their inception, diesel engines have been used to move heavy loads that other engines just couldn’t handle. They are powerful, efficient, and vital to the operation of so many machines that make our modern lives possible. However, they also happen to produce the most air pollution of any kind of combustion engine. This has led to the introduction of diesel particulate filters, which are designed to capture most of the pollution given off by diesel engines. This is a great thing, but it does come with its own responsibilities. Namely, the need to regularly clean the filter. Let’s take a look at how the diesel particulate filter works, and why you need to clean it.

The Diesel Particulate Filter

The diesel particulate filter is a device installed in the exhaust pipe of a vehicle. There are several different varieties of particulate filters, but the most common is comprised of cordierite, which is a type of ceramic. Just like other air filters, the diesel particulate filter works by capturing particles that flow through the exhaust pipe while allowing heat and airflow to pass through it.

Cleaning the Diesel Particulate Filter

Over time, the diesel particulate filter becomes clogged due to the constant buildup of particulates coming off the engine. This can cause a great many problems for the engine itself, up to and including forcing exhaust back up into the engine. This can cause a lot of damage to multiple parts of the engine, including the actuator, fuel injectors, and even the engine oil. For this reason, it is of paramount importance that the diesel particulate filter is kept clean and functioning.

Most vehicles do this by going through a regeneration cycle. A computer present in the vehicle will inject more fuel into the engine to raise the temperature of the system. This causes the particulates to burn off of the filter, leaving it clean. However, this system is not perfect, and not all vehicles have them. If you aren’t sure whether or not your vehicle is using a regeneration cycle, call Roznovak. We provide diesel particulate filter cleaning services throughout Austin, TX.

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Why Is Good Insulation An Important Part of Heating?

Friday, December 12th, 2014

Have you ever had this happen to you? It’s freezing outside, and your heater has been on for hours. Everything is running smoothly, and your home is a nice and comfortable temperature. As soon as you enter another room, however, the temperature drops by about twenty degrees. What in the world just happened? You’re likely the victim of poor heating insulation. Let’s take a look at how important good insulation is to heating.

What is it?

Insulation is a material that is installed into the walls, sub-floor, and ceilings of your home to protect it from temperature changes outside. It can be composed of all sorts of materials, from blankets to loose-fill particles. Good insulation can also help to muffle sounds between rooms and even between houses.

Why is it Important?

Insulation is designed to seal the house off from the climate outside. Without insulation, changes in air pressure would result in the house being more or less the same temperature as the surrounding air. If you attempt to heat or cool a home without any sort of insulation present, the house will simply re-equalize shortly after the heating or air conditioning is turned off. This is why good insulation is such an important part of heating. You can have the best heating system in the world, but without insulation the house can still be freezing as all the heat is leeched out of it.

With good insulation, however, even a modest heater can conceivably keep a home well-heated and comfortable. The insulation keeps the heat inside the home, instead of allowing it to pass through the walls and ceiling. This is also why it is a good idea to keep your insulation in good condition. Though insulation is protected from the elements by the walls of the house, it does decompose over time. Certain animals and insects can also consume or otherwise damage your insulation, leading to holes where heat can escape your home.

If you think you may have a problem with your insulation, call Roznovak. We provide residential heating services throughout Austin, TX.

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Common End-of-Season Ductless Repairs

Friday, September 26th, 2014

Ductless mini split systems possess a number of advantages when compared to more traditional heating and cooling systems. Systems that use ducts waste 30% of their energy due to duct leaks. Ductless systems avoid that loss completely. Ductless systems also provide the versatility of setting different desired temperatures for different rooms. Unfortunately, they are just as prone to problems and breakdowns as any other system.

Here are some end-of-season ductless repairs that you are likely to see.

Condensate Leaks

The condensate line, along with the refrigerant and power lines, is housed in a conduit that connects the indoor and outdoor units through the wall of the house. The connection point between the wall of the house and the conduit tends to be the most vulnerable to leaks. It also happens to be the most dangerous. A condensate leak inside the wall can rot out a large area if left unchecked, and may even cause the ductless unit to fall off the wall. If you notice any liquid pooling or dripping around the unit, call a professional right away.

Motor Breakdowns

One of the unique considerations involved with multiple ductless systems is that each one must be serviced separately. A central system will have far fewer parts to worry about. Multiple ductless units mean multiples of each part that need to be maintained. Fan motors are one of the most common parts that can run into problems. If the motor doesn’t work for whatever reason, the fan becomes useless and your unit fails. If you need to have this issue fixed, be sure to ask your service professional to check any other ductless systems you may have in the house. The last thing you want is for a different unit to break right after you got the first one fixed.

Refrigerant Losing Charge

When an air conditioning unit is first installed, it is “charged” with a specific level of refrigerant. While the unit is working properly, that same refrigerant is cycled throughout the system without need for replacement. A leak in the refrigerant line, however, can drain the refrigerant to dangerously low levels. This can cause the air conditioning unit to stop circulating cool air through the space.

If you are experiencing problems with your ductless air conditioning, call Roznovak. We conduct air conditioning repairs throughout the entire Austin, TX area.

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What Every Homeowner Should Know About Getting a New AC

Friday, September 19th, 2014

Getting a new air conditioner can be exciting, especially if you’ve been dealing with problems from an old, outdated one. But before you jump in with both feet and purchase your next system, there are a few important points to keep in mind. The very first point is to work with a trained professional, like the ones at Roznovak’s Services. We specialize in air conditioning service in Austin, TX, and we’ve got the expertise and knowledge to make sure you purchase an AC system that fits your needs and your home. Thinking of a new installation? Take your first step and call us today.

Things to Know Before You Purchase a New Air Conditioner

Here are a few things to keep in mind before purchasing and installing a new air conditioner:

Review the Types of Air Conditioners Available

There are a lot of choices when it comes to residential whole-home air conditioners. Knowing what the types are and having a basic understanding of how they operate can help you determine what type will best fit your needs and your home:

  • Traditional split system
  • Ductless air conditioning
  • Geothermal
  • Heat pumps

Don’t Install a System on Your Own

DIY projects are very popular, but the plain truth is that not all home-based projects are good choices to do yourself, and installing a whole-home air conditioner is never a good choice. Why? First, you’ll need expert knowledge of how air conditioning and electrical systems work. Second, if you have a ducted system, you’ll need extensive knowledge of how duct systems work. Then there’s accounting for potential mistakes, how much time it will take you and how safe you can be installing the system on your own. In the end, it’s best to leave an air conditioning installation to trained experts.

Size Matters

Ensuring you properly size an air conditioner for your home takes far more into account than just the square footage of your property. In fact, the best way to determine that you install an AC that provides the right amount of cooling is to have a trained specialist calculate the cooling load of your home. This calculation takes into consideration things like:

  • Your home’s orientation
  • Types and number of windows & doors
  • Level of insulation
  • Your floor plan
  • Number of rooms
  • Number of occupants
  • Daytime heat gain

All these factors contribute to your cooling load, and when they are overlooked, can result in the installation of an air conditioner that doesn’t meet your needs.

If you are getting ready to install a new AC, call the company you can trust with all your air conditioning services in Austin, TX: Roznovak’s Services.

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How Can Thermostats Help With Energy Efficiency?

Friday, September 12th, 2014

When we think of saving energy with our household systems, many times it can entail a big change – a new air conditioning system, a new furnace, new windows, etc. But there is a way to become much more energy efficient without having to overhaul your entire system: update your thermostat.

Your thermostat controls the cycling of your air conditioner, and there is a lot of power in that. Being able to precisely to control how you cool (and heat) at all times of the day is a key factor in saving energy. This is why Roznovak’s Services offers thermostat installation and replacement as one of its many air conditioning services in Austin, TX.

Types of Thermostats Available

There are three types of thermostats Roznovak’s Services carries, and each offers important energy-saving benefits:

  • Digital
  • Wireless
  • Smart

Digital Thermostats

Digital Thermostats offer three important features that you won’t get with slide or dial thermostats: precision, easy-to-use buttons and an easily readable face. The precision digital thermostats offer allow you to set an exact temperature, which can help you save energy.

Wireless Thermostats

Wireless thermostats do not need to be hardwired into your heating system. They can be placed anywhere and usually come with a remote control for convenience. But the most important energy-saving aspect of wireless thermostats is that they are programmable: they can be programmed in 7 day increments that can be looped or changed as needed. Programming allows you to set temperatures that can accommodate for times of low-to no occupancy, weekends and vacations; the result less energy usage.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats offer you precision, programmability, energy usage reports and remote access from virtually anywhere. By downloading a simple app to your smart device(s), you can track, monitor, program and change your energy usage from anywhere that you can access the internet.

Upgrading your thermostat can help you to be more energy efficient, save money and improve your comfort level, all at the same time. Thermostat installation is just one of the many air conditioning services we offer in Austin, TX. Interested in upgrading your thermostat? Call Roznovak’s Services today.

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