Furnace Archives - Trust 1 Services

When Should I Schedule My Furnace or Boiler Tune-Up?

Written by Anthony Trust 1 on December 3, 2024. Posted in Boilers, Furnace. No Comments on When Should I Schedule My Furnace or Boiler Tune-Up?

Routine HVAC inspections and maintenance provide several benefits, including better system performance and efficiency. If you’re wondering, “When should I schedule my furnace or boiler tune-up?” Trust 1 Services has your answer. Discover everything you should know about furnace upkeep in this guide.

Benefits of Furnace and Boiler Maintenance

Before we dive into figuring out your furnace tune-up schedule, it’s important to understand why this service benefits you. Keeping up with HVAC maintenance, particularly for your heating system, comes with the following advantages:

Energy efficiency boost
Improved indoor air quality
Fewer furnace safety concerns
Longer system lifespan
Reliable, even heating
Peace of mind

Experts will inspect the equipment to rule out any safety concerns, such as a gas leak or damaged electrical components. They’ll also clean heating equipment like air filters and flame sensors so you can enjoy consistent heating without any airflow restrictions. The main point of a tune-up service is to keep the heater working at its best so you can get the most use out of it and not worry about malfunctions.

Signs You Need a Heating System Check

Ask an expert, “When should I schedule my furnace or boiler tune-up?” and they’ll tell you that it’s best to schedule annual maintenance. Some telltale signs that your system is due for maintenance include the following:

It’s been over a year since your last heating service tune-up.
You notice higher heating bills without any change in your habits.
Your heater required repair recently.

Be sure to book professional HVAC maintenance for the duration of your heater’s lifespan, not just when something goes wrong.

What Is the Best Time for a Furnace Safety Inspection and Tune-Up?

Some might argue that as long as you book an annual heating inspection and tune-up, it doesn’t matter when the service takes place. Although you’ll still enjoy the benefits of furnace maintenance, experts urge you to schedule this service between the months of April and August. This timeline gives your heater a break from operating and allows technicians to service it without disrupting your home’s comfort level.

While you can wait until the fall to schedule your tune-up, you might face more limitations in terms of availability. Many homeowners opt to book heating services around this time so technicians aren’t as flexible in their scheduling.

The spring and summer months remain the ideal time for heating maintenance because you can address any issues stemming from the last heating season. This also gives you plenty of time to prepare for the next one.

Main Takeaway: Plan for Upcoming Heating Maintenance Services

After reading this guide, you no longer have to wonder, “When should I schedule my furnace or boiler tune-up?” Don’t miss out on the ideal time for a safety inspection or else you risk unexpected issues with your heating system when you need it most.

Contact Trust 1 Services to request HVAC maintenance and enjoy all of the benefits that come with it. Call (857) 367-2162 to book an appointment for a furnace or boiler tune-up. Get help now.

What to Do If The Coils Freeze on Your AC Unit — Quincy, MA

Written by Anthony Trust 1 on October 19, 2021. Posted in Air Conditioning, Blog, Furnace, Heating System, Tips. No Comments on What to Do If The Coils Freeze on Your AC Unit — Quincy, MA

At Trust 1 Services, a common problem that we often help Quincy, MA, homeowners resolve is frozen coils on their AC unit. When your condenser coils freeze, they can make your AC less efficient or cause your unit to stop functioning entirely.

Not having a functioning air conditioner in the summer can be brutal. Excessive heat makes you and your family uncomfortable and decreases the quality of your life.

We recommend that you resolve your AC problem as soon as possible. Unfortunately, most homeowners do not know how an air conditioner functions. That is where our company, Trust 1 Services, comes into play.

Our talented technical team at Trust 1 Services specializes in providing top-notch fixes to common residential HVAC problems. If you are unsure of the cause of your AC troubles, we can send one of our top-grade technicians to inspect your cooling system.

If you require a more efficient cooling system, we can also repair or replace your AC.

How to Know If You Have Frozen Coils in Quincy, MA

To confirm whether you have frozen condenser coils, check your supply registers (vents). If they are warm, that is a clear indication of a coil freeze. If you know how to open your panel, you will most likely see your AC unit’s coils frozen. Call an HVAC technician at Trust 1 Services immediately.

Here are possible causes and things you can do to resolve frozen coils on your HVAC unit.

Causes of Frozen AC Coils

Blocked Air Flow
One of the most common reasons for coil freezes is blocked airflow. All air conditioning units rely on a consistent airflow between your HVAC system and the outside of your home. When a blockage occurs, humidity settles on your coils, eventually causing your coil to freeze.

Sometimes, all you need to do to resolve a blocked airflow issue is to clean or replace your AC filters. Over time, filters become clogged with dust and other debris, causing your AC unit to lose efficiency.

If cleaning or replacing your filters does not resolve your air conditioning issue, contact a Trust 1 Services professional HVAC contractor in Quincy, MA, immediately.

Refrigerant Leaks
Otherwise, perhaps you are experiencing a refrigerant leak or mechanical issue that can stall your cooling system.

The purpose of a refrigerant is to regulate the temperature in your HVAC unit. When refrigerant levels are too low, you may experience freezing. These types of leaks are often critical, and it may be a sign to invest in a new HVAC unit.

However, you should hire a professional AC technician from Trust 1 Services to diagnose your mechanical issue. Other mechanical problems that could cause your coils to freeze include fan malfunctions, kinked refrigerant lines, and more.

Cool Massachusetts Summers

One cause of frozen evaporator coils that many Greater Boston homeowners do not think about is the weather during the summer. If your city is experiencing an abnormally cool summer, it can confuse your HVAC system.

Manual air conditioning units rely on weather patterns to work efficiently. When there is a break in that pattern, and you do not adjust your thermostat, your coils may freeze. Often, changing your AC filters is the best way to resolve this issue.

Troubleshooting Methods

Here are some troubleshooting methods that may help you resolve your frozen coil issues with and without professional help from our team at Trust 1 Services in Quincy, MA.

How to Fix Blocked Air Flow Problems

If you notice debris blocking your AC filter, the first thing you should do is power down your frozen air conditioner. This shutdown will allow your HVAC unit to defrost properly. We recommend letting your cooling system rest for a couple of hours before proceeding with the filter change.

When you are ready to change your clogged air filters, flip on your AC unit’s fan for an hour. Our plumbing contractors recommend that you replace your cooling system’s filter every month and a half.

If you require assistance replacing your filters, give our team at Trust 1 Services a call, and one of our contractors can do it for you.

After you clean your filters, your AC should return to form. If not, there could be a deeper issue at play. Consult with a local Quincy HVAC technician from Trust 1 Services to figure out the cause of your problems.

How to Fix Refrigerant Leaks

Refrigerant leaks are tricky to resolve without professional assistance. Also, refrigerant is dangerous for an HVAC novice to handle. It can harm your and your family’s health if you do not control it.

If something is wrong with the mechanics of your air handler, we advise you to call us to handle it. We offer routine, periodic tune-ups that help prevent these leaks from occurring.

It is wise to invest in an annual AC maintenance service.

How to Fix Temperature Problems

One of the best ways to regulate your home temperature problems is to invest in a programmable thermostat. These thermostats automate your home AC unit, ensuring that your cooling system never overworks itself.

If you do not have a programmable thermostat, you must be vigilant when observing the temperature outside. When you run your AC too often, you set yourself up for HVAC issues.

On comfortable nights, to conserve energy, open your windows instead of running the air conditioner.

If there is a disconnect in the signal between your thermostat and your AC unit, call our plumbing company for professional assistance.

Get in Touch

Frozen coils will negatively affect the efficiency of your HVAC unit. Be sure to call for AC repair from Trust 1 Services to provide a timely solution.

No HVAC problem is too complex for our technicians. We have decades of knowledge and experience to fall back on, allowing us to resolve your air conditioning problems quickly and efficiently.

During the summer, we realize that the last thing you want is for your AC unit to stop running well. That is why we respond to service calls immediately and provide exceptional customer service to all our clients. We are eager to help you out!

Our licensed and insured contractors are only a call away. When evaporator coils freeze on your AC unit, call Trust 1 Services at (617) 826-8611 at any time, and one of our team members will be there promptly. We offer emergency services 24/7!

6 Telltale Signs You Need Furnace Repair in Quincy, CA

Written by Anthony Trust 1 on October 18, 2021. Posted in Blog, Furnace, Tips. No Comments on 6 Telltale Signs You Need Furnace Repair in Quincy, CA

Nothing is more dreadful than a seizing furnace. When January temperatures are seeping into your Quincy home, a lack of heat could lead to hypothermia, pneumonia, and frostbite. However, a faulty furnace can contribute to even worse problems like carbon monoxide inhalation.

Regular maintenance service calls from your handy HVAC technicians can help prevent unexpected furnace problems and emergency repairs. Call us to set up a regular maintenance schedule! Our technicians at Trust 1 Services want you to recognize the following six signs you need furnace repair and know that we are here when you need us.

Cold Spots

Have the members of your household started flocking toward the radiators or heating vents? If you have drastically colder areas of your home, your furnace is heating unevenly.

If you have spots where your furnace is not blowing hot air (or cold patches around your home), it can signify clogged air filters. When dirt and dust accumulate, they block the airflow, and distant rooms often receive less heat.

When this happens, call a furnace repair technician at Trust 1 Services to inspect your furnace.

Abnormal Noises

Not all furnace noises are warning signs. If you hear a slight whirring or chirping, it’s simply the machine functioning. You can also expect a humming when the furnace burners light and a slight rattling when the machine cools down.

Other sounds to look out for include:

A squeal from an air leak
Groaning from worn out bearings
Popping sounds from dirty burners

However, if these noises continue and refuse to die away, you need furnace repairs. Banging or groaning sounds can also mean that you have a hazardous carbon monoxide leak or a crack in the heat exchanger.

Carbon Monoxide

Even when you can’t detect offending odors coming from your furnace, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a gas leak. Carbon monoxide is one of the most dangerous and undetectable gases claiming the lives of around 430 U.S. residents yearly. One of the causes of carbon monoxide poisoning is a furnace that is not in proper working order.

The best way to tell if there’s a carbon monoxide leak is to install a carbon monoxide alarm in your home. That way, if the heat exchanger cracks, the alarm will alert you to this poisonous gas. If this occurs, evacuate your home and contact emergency responders along with your trusted furnace professionals.

An Unusual Smell

If you have recently installed a new furnace, a penetrating or odd smell shouldn’t concern you. This odor originates from the oil coating that protects the heat exchanger. As you continue to burn your furnace, the smell should evaporate.

On the other hand, if you’ve had your furnace for some time now and new smells arise, you could have trouble. For one thing, a burning smell can indicate a soot buildup near parts of the furnace that are near extreme heat. A musty odor can suggest dangerous mold or mildew, and Aldehydes coming from the exhaust can mean poor combustion.

Water Leaks

Another sign that you need furnace repair is when you find a visible leak near your furnace. If there is a clog or break in the condensation drain, you may see a puddle forming. However, it’s not a big job and only requires some maintenance.

Collected sediments may also cause a clog in the internal drain system. When you call a professional, we will blow it out with clear vinyl tubing, remedying the obstruction. We will also patch up the leak properly, preventing further damage like mold and mildew.

Increased Energy Bills

In some cases, signs you need furnace repairs may not come directly from your furnace. Sometimes all you need to do is to look at your electric bills or oil usage.

In the U.S., a gas furnace uses up to 600 watts at about 13 cents per kWh. However, if your furnace is overloaded or filthy, the system works harder to produce your desired indoor temperature. When this happens, your furnace pulls more electricity, resulting in a larger electric bill.

With oil or propane furnaces, you’ll burn up to 1.7 gallons of oil hourly. Similar to electric furnaces, issues causing your oil furnace to work harder will raise your heating costs. As a result, you’ll find yourself purchasing fuel more frequently.

Still, keep in mind that burning extra fuel or electricity is not always a bad sign. During the colder months in Quincy, MA, your furnace comes out of its summer dormancy. It then becomes an added household expense.

However, when that added expense becomes inexplicable, it should alarm you. If you haven’t had any recent changes in your system’s operation times, look into your spiked bills. Call us to look at your furnace, sparing you those additional long-term costs.

Consistent Short Cycling

Another way your furnace can prove costly is with consistent short cycling. Short cycling refers to the system shutting off before your home reaches the temperature you desire. Upon shutting off, it restarts again only to repeat the cycle.

There are numerous reasons for short cycling:

Flame sensors that deteriorate as water from burned fuel corrode the area over time
A faulty temperature-monitoring module that allows the system to overheat
A clog in the vent pipe or flute that shuts down the system to prevent a release of carbon monoxide

Trust 1 Services

At Trust 1 Services in Quincy, MA, we understand that your furnace is a life and death commodity. Not only is it vital, but making sure it runs smoothly is key to a happy and healthy home. That’s why we invite you to rely on heating repairs from our team at Trust 1 Services.

For our five-star services in Quincy, call us at 617-826-8611 today! During any time of the day or night, our skilled technicians will solve your furnace’s issues and keep your family safe. We’ll also discuss how to pinpoint the signs you need furnace repairs.

4 Common Causes of Why Your Furnace Stopped Blowing Hot Air

Written by Anthony Trust 1 on August 17, 2021. Posted in Blog, Furnace, Heating System. No Comments on 4 Common Causes of Why Your Furnace Stopped Blowing Hot Air

4 Common Causes why your Furnace stopped blowing warm air

“You have ONE job!” Yelling at your furnace is tempting and not necessarily wrong. However, it won’t solve why your furnace is not blowing hot air as it should be. So why is your heating system failing to do its sworn duty?

Furnace Not Blowing Hot Air? Here’s Why

You can call Trust 1 Services at any sign of trouble—we may even be able to find a solution to the issue over the phone. Our friendly service technicians are happy to come to your home to find out what’s going on.

However, if your DIY fingers are itching for a project, there are some things you can try to eliminate the issue before picking up the phone. We’ll discuss those and when it’s time to call in a pro in the following rundown of common causes of furnace misfires.

1) Dirty Filter

Your furnace’s air filter is a small but mighty component of your home’s heating and cooling infrastructure. Air filters work with both your air conditioner and furnace and are a line of defense against pollutants, pet dander, and other allergens that try to invade your home.

For many households, replacing your air filter every 90 days will do the trick. However, if you have allergy sufferers or pets in your home, you may need to do this more often. How do you know when to replace your air filter? Start checking before you notice reduced airflow in your ventilation system. Take a look at your filter every 30 days until you figure out what schedule you need to be on to keep your furnace running smoothly (and warmly).

2) Thermostat Set Incorrectly

Perhaps someone really wanted to crank things up, so they set the furnace fan to “On” instead of the “Heat” option. Unfortunately, doing so means that—no matter the current temperature in your home—the fan of your furnace unit will continue to blow without interruption until you change the setting or some other malfunction occurs.

When the furnace successfully heats your home to the temperature you select, it will change the air temperature it puts out. If it didn’t, the temperature in your home would continue to rise unchecked.

Also, make sure to give your furnace a few minutes, especially if turning it on for the first time once the cold season begins. Like a sleepy bear coming out of hibernation, your furnace needs some time to heat the air and get it through the ductwork and into your home.

Side note: Energy Star recommends setting your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter for the most cost savings for your furnace. What temperature do you keep your thermostat set at in the chilly winter months?

3) Faulty Thermostat

Many homeowners will jump to a worst-case scenario in their minds when their furnace is not blowing hot air. You might lament that you need a complete system replacement when all you really need is to walk to the thermostat and take a look.

There, you could discover that someone accidentally bumped the temperature to a setting lower than where you set it. Or maybe this was an intentional act by a family member who was feeling warm. Either way, save yourself worry by starting with what is usually the simplest solution.

If the temperature setting looks right and the furnace fan is not in the “On” position, there are additional steps you can take before calling in the professionals. One option is to try switching out the batteries in your thermostat. Most thermostats are plastic units clipped onto plastic frames on your wall. Pop off the thermostat, locate the battery compartment, discard the old batteries, and insert the new batteries.

If you have a battery tester and use that before replacing anything, you may disregard the bad battery solution when you see the current charging cylinders still have life left. However, even before the batteries die entirely, they can begin to struggle to power your thermostat. It’s best to go ahead and replace them as a step in your furnace troubleshooting.

4) Extinguished Pilot Light

This common problem only applies to gas-powered furnaces. If you have one, locate the pilot light to see if it’s still burning or has somehow gone out. If it is out, you can reignite it to begin heating your home once again quickly.

We have primarily exhausted the issues that are DIY-able to fix your furnace fiascos. It is best to leave the other common causes of a furnace not blowing warm air to the HVAC contractors at Trust 1 Services. These causes include:

Clogged condensate lines
Damaged ductwork
Inadequate insulation
Inadequate gas supply
Burner clogs

Don’t fiddle around with your furnace if you lack experience or confidence in doing so.

Trust 1 Services Heating Repair

Winter in the Boston area is no laughing matter—without a properly working furnace, single-digit temps are a significant safety hazard that call for quick heating repair in Quincy, MA. Homeowners trust the pros at Trust 1 Services because we’ll provide you with a free repair estimate and safely execute the service you need to stay warm.

Regular Maintenance Saves the Day

You can avoid many of these common issues for your furnace not blowing hot air altogether by scheduling regular maintenance for your furnace. Believe us—you will kick yourself when you think of all the savings of money, time, and discomfort with a maintenance plan. With a maintenance plan from Trust 1 Services, our techs will inspect your entire heating system to look for abnormalities, clean off grime or debris, and detect trouble spots before they become massive problems.

If you continue to allow a furnace not blowing hot air to run, not only are you making your house cooler, you’re also allowing poorly filtered air particles into your home and creating a safety hazard.

If your valiant attempts to repair the problem did not work, and you have a furnace not blowing hot air in Quincy, MA, call the pros you can trust at Trust 1 Services today at 617-468-3913.