HVAC Techician Archives - Fred's Heating & Air

09 Feb 2017

Air Conditioner, Cooling, Heating, HVAC Techician Fred 0 comment

Superior Heating and Cooling Service Makes Fred’s the Company to Call

Winter temperatures in Omaha and Council Bluffs can drop greatly, while summer temps can rise to pretty steep heights. In order to keep your family comfortable all year round, you need the assistance of a heating and cooling service with well-trained HVAC professionals to ensure that your equipment is working properly.

Fred’s Heating and Air is your solution in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area. Find out why:

Experience: With a proven track record, we at Fred’s have demonstrated our commitment to customer service and our knowledge of the industry. In fact, we have been providing heating and cooling services to the area for a quarter of a century.
Recognized achievements: Fred’s has an “A+” Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and strives to maintain this perfect ranking. And, the BBB is not the only one to acknowledge the services we provide. In fact, Angie’s List gave us an “A” as well, giving us a perfect report card. We also won the Angie’s List Super Service Award in 2012, which is only given to 5% of HVAC companies in Omaha.
Dependability: You can count on us to deliver service on time and when you need it most. You won’t be waiting around for hours for one of our technicians to arrive.
Quality work: We don’t cut corners, because we realize that your family’s comfort is at stake, and our goal is to satisfy each and every one of our customers. Our main focus is gaining your trust and business for life.

If you’re looking for excellent service and advice on your heating and cooling systems in the Omaha and Council Bluffs area, please contact Fred’s Heating and Air today. We can answer all of your questions regarding heating, cooling and energy efficiency. Or we’d be happy to schedule a repair or installation.

09 Feb 2017

HVAC Techician, Safety Fred 0 comment

CO Detection — Where the Pros Look for Dangerous Leaks

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a potentially deadly gas which is produced as a by-product of fuel combustion. CO is colorless, odorless and the leading source for poisoning deaths in the country. If you use combustion appliances in your home or park an automobile in an attached garage, the implementation of a good CO detection system is key for protecting your home.

CO detection is a good defense

Carbon monoxide is harmful, particularly if a person is exposed to high levels in a short period of time or lower levels of CO over a longer period of time. Since CO is impossible to detect by sight and smell, a good defensive strategy must be in place for early CO detection.

CO detectors should be installed high on walls in each bedroom and less than 10 feet from the access door of an attached garage.
Do not leave an automobile running for more than a couple of minutes in an attached garage, even if the garage door is open.
Do not use a gas stove or burners for heating a home. Keep the stove door closed.
Designate a meeting place outside the home in the event of CO detection or any other emergency.

Professional preventive maintenance

Carbon monoxide may be produced or introduced to the living spaces by fuel-burning HVAC systems and appliances. It’s important to schedule professional preventive maintenance and a safety inspection for these systems with your HVAC professional at the start of the heating and cooling seasons.

These are some of the CO safety checks your HVAC technician performs:

Furnaces

Measures CO concentrations in chimney gases
Checks all flue connections for gaps, cracks, rust and debris
Inspects combustion chamber for cracks, corrosion and metal fatigue
Checks furnace flame, burners and ignition

Appliances

Inspects venting systems and applicable pilot lights for fuel-burning stoves, dryers, water heaters, wood-burning stoves and space heaters
Checks for debris, cracks, holes, cave-ins and animal nests in venting systems

If you’d like to learn more about CO detection and prevention, contact the HVAC professionals at Fred’s Heating and Air. We’re proud to service homes in Omaha and Council Bluffs areas.

09 Feb 2017

Air Conditioner, Cooling, Furnace, Heating, HVAC Techician Fred 0 comment

Don’t Buy a New HVAC System Without Having a Pro Perform Load Calculations

When you’re at the early stages of selecting a new HVAC system, be sure that you choose a contractor who includes load calculations as the first step.

These calculations assure you that the system you choose will be the right size for your home, including the size of the HVAC appliance and the ductwork. If one or both are improperly sized, your system may not reach its expected life or efficiency.

Contractors use software called Manuals J and D. Manual J calculates the size of the unit and Manual D addresses the ductwork design and size. These systems address the following factors about your home:

Cubic footage to condition
Insulation levels in the attic and walls
Number of windows, their efficiency, and orientation to the sun
Air infiltration rates
Layout of your home
Number of heat-producing appliances throughout the home and lighting types
Ages of household members and number
Preferred indoor temperatures
Landscaping factors

The contractor should carefully inspect your ductwork when doing the load calculations to verify that the system’s tight and adequately insulated. Depending on the size of the HVAC equipment you need, your ductwork may need to be modified to efficiently deliver the air.

When ducts are too small, they make noise and create back pressure on the blower. If they’re too large, the air won’t have the right velocity to reach your rooms efficiently.

The HVAC system itself needs to be the proper size, as well. If it’s too large, it will short cycle, which means it runs for short periods and turns on and off frequently. This drives up energy bills and creates excessive wear. Systems that are too small won’t be able to keep up with weather extremes.

Another benefit of conducting a load calculation is learning how improving your home’s insulation and sealing air leaks could reduce the size of equipment you need. Smaller systems have a lower cost and use less energy over time.

To learn more about load calculations, contact Fred’s Heating and Air. We’ve provided HVAC services for Omaha and Council Bluffs for more than two decades.

09 Feb 2017

Fred's Heating and Air - No Sales, Sales

HVAC Techician Fred 0 comment

Communicating With Your HVAC Tech: Do You Speak The Same Language?

It’s about time to schedule fall preventive maintenance, which means you need to know about communicating with your HVAC tech. Because of industry jargon, it may feel as though the technician is speaking a whole different language. Here are some common furnace terms to become familiar with so communicating with your HVAC tech is easier this year.

AFUE: Annual fuel utilization efficiency, a rating given to furnaces that indicates how efficiently they perform. The closer the AFUE rating is to 100 percent, the more fuel is converted to useful heat for your home.
Heat exchanger: This is the place where heat is transferred to the surrounding air and then pumped throughout the home. Carbon monoxide, a by-product of the combustion process, is trapped within the heat exchanger.
Red-tagged furnace: When the heat exchanger has a crack, it can leak carbon monoxide into the air you breathe. This is very dangerous and can even be fatal. A furnace is red-tagged and not permitted to operate if the heat exchanger develops a crack.
Horizontal flow: This is when a furnace is installed on its side so air enters one end and exits at the other. This installation method is often used in attic and crawl space installations.
Upflow: This is when a furnace is installed upright so air enters through the side or bottom and exits at the top. It applies to basement, closet and attic installations.
Two-speed operation: Some furnaces have this feature for greater temperature control and energy efficiency. It allows the unit to run on high or low speeds, based on the current need.
MERV rating: Minimum efficiency reporting value is a rating given to air filters based on their ability to trap minuscule particles. A higher MERV rating indicates smaller holes in the filter and greater efficiency. The MERV scale ranges from 1 to 20, but MERV 7 or 8 filters are typically the highest you want to use for residential applications.

For more information about communicating with your HVAC tech, please contact Fred’s Heating and Air at our Omaha location today. Our experience dates back to 1987.