HVAC Tips from Sears Heating and Cooling

List of Annual Festivals | Columbus, Ohio Annual festivals are something to look forward to attending with your family each year and Columbus, Ohio has plenty to choose from. During the warmer months, it seems as if there is a festival happening in the city somewhere each weekend! Check out the seasonal list below for some of the most popular events to attend. We have listed the festivals in the order they occur. Summer Festivals   Arnold Sports Festival This annual event draws thousands of people to Columbus, Ohio from across the Midwest states each year. Established in 1989 and named after the famous bodybuilder and actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, the event is a multi-sport expo that consists of bodybuilding, strongman, fitness, and a figure and bikini weekend expo. The annual event is held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center and occurs at the beginning of March each year with the next event scheduled for March 4-7, 2021. Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival Held in mid-May of each year, Sonic Temple is a 3-day music festival features around 50 of the most prominent rock and hard rock bands from around the world. Past headlining acts have included Metallica, Slipknot, TOOL and Evanescence. You can choose to attend for just one day or buy a 3-day pass for around $299. This event is held at Mapfre Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Columbus Asian Festival Held in Franklin Park, the Columbus Asian Festival is a 2-day event that occurs in late May each...

Best Ice Cream Places | Columbus, Ohio Here at Sears Heating & Cooling, we love our ice cream! Ice cream is good any time of the year but with summer fast approaching it's popularity will start to climb. Get acquainted with all the best ice cream spots in Columbus, Ohio by checking this top 5 list we have compiled. This list is in no particular order. 1.) Jeni's Founded by Jeni Britton Bauer, a previous student at Ohio State University, this place was actually started and is still headquartered here in Columbus, Ohio. They are well known for their unique flavors such as "Queen City Cayenne" which is chocolate flavored with cayenne pepper to spice it up! They offer an assortment of normal ice cream flavors to choose from as well. Jeni's splendid ice creams currently has over 47 storefronts across the United States.  2.) Graeter's Graeter's was founded in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1870 by Louis C. Graeter. The company is well known for it's handcrafted "french pot style" ice cream that is still made in small 2.5 gallon batches to this day. This type of process produces a denser than average ice cream. Also, with 14% milkfat and high quality ingredients, Graeter's ice cream is considered a "superpremium" real ice cream. You will pay a little more than other places but you do get what you pay for! Sears Heating & Cooling recommends their "Black Raspberry Chip" flavor. There are currently 10 Greater's locations in the area and they...

Why Does My Air Conditioner Smell Bad? Have you recently turned on your air conditioner only to find your house smelling foul a few minutes later? Causes Of Air Conditioner Odors There are several popular causes of your air conditioner putting off foul odors. Some of the most common reasons include: Mold formulating in duct work Mold growing on evaporator coils Clogged condensate lines Mold Growing In Duct Work Did you know that the duct work in your home is actually a perfect place for mold to grow in the summer? Mold thrives in cool, damp and dark areas and this is can be a prime description of a lot of duct work. As the warm air passes over the cool evaporator coils, condensation begins to occur and this moisture, mixed with other dirt and debris can travel through your duct work making it a breeding ground for mold and mildew. This is a great reason to have your duct work cleaned every few years (not to mention your furnace will thank you for it as well). Also, to help cut down on bacteria and other contaminates growing in your duct work, check out getting a UV Light installed, such as the APCO Fresh-Aire UV. Mold Growing On Evaporator Coil As previously stated, mold thrives in cool, damp environments. Unfortunately, your evaporator coil is both cool and damp. This cool piece of equipment actually sits on top of your furnace and is usually hidden by a sheet metal type of...

How To Choose a Heating & Cooling Company A heating and air conditioning system is a huge home investment. For this reason you want to make sure that the HVAC contractor you choose is going to do the job right the first time. Correcting problems caused by a poor HVAC installation can be costly and inconvenient. You should also consider that the quality of the work of the heating and cooling company you choose will also affect the safety of your home as heating and air conditioning system malfunctions can be dangerous. Talk to Friends The best way to know what a contractor’s work will be like is to talk to folks who have already worked with them. Your friends and family will have real life experience they can share with you about different contractors in your area. A great HVAC company will generally be well known and involved with the community you live in. You can also check local HVAC reviews online on sites such as Google and Facebook to verify other customer's past experiences. Check Qualifications The most important qualification to look for is the company's HVAC license. Licensing is important as they are required to be tested and then registered by the local government ensuring that they are an expert in the heating and cooling field. Also, most reputable HVAC contractors will belong to some type of qualifying association such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA). There are several such associations that heating and cooling...

Is It Worth It To Repair My Air Conditioner? With warmer weather quickly on the way, now is the time to think about your air conditioner. Is it in good shape? Does it need major repairs? When it comes to ac repair in Columbus, Ohio, there are several questions you should ask prior to calling for service. When Should I Repair My AC? Your AC Is Less Than 12 Years Old If your air conditioner is less than 12 years old, it may be just worth repairing it depending on what is wrong. The average life of an air conditioner in Columbus, Ohio is around 15 years depending on how well the system has been taken care of. Minor Repair Is Needed Even if your unit is older than 12 years, if a minor repair is all that is needed then repair your air conditioner may be the best call. Minor repairs include things such as electrical component replacement, a dirty evaporator coil and clogged condensate lines. Repair Costs Less Than 50% Of a New Air Conditioner Depending on your air conditioner's age, if a repair costs less than half the cost of a new unit a repair may be the better option. Less Than 2 Repairs In Last 10 Years If you've had less than 2 minor repairs within the last 10 years on your air conditioner, a repair is still a good option depending on what is wrong. When Should I Replace My AC? Your Air Conditioner Is...

What Refrigerant Does My Air Conditioner Use? There are 2 primary types of refrigerants that are used in air conditioners today. R22 Vs R410A There are 2 primary types of refrigerants in air conditioners today. R22 and R410A. If your air conditioner was manufactured after 2010, it uses the new style of refrigerant R410A. Air conditioners made prior to this most likely are filled with R22. Why Are There Different Refrigerants? Believe it or not, R22 has actually been in the process of being phased out since the mid 1990s and was completely phased out as of January 1, 2020. R22 refrigerant is not nearly as eco-friendly as the R410A refrigerant. R410A offers several benefits compared to R22: Better Performance - The R22 refrigerant has to work harder to let go of the heat it absorbs inside your home. This extra work means your compressor has to work harder in return leading to a decreased lifespan. Better Efficiency - As previously stated, R410A is more capable of absorbing the heat from your home and dispersing it outside. This increases the overall efficiency of your air conditioner and allows your home to cool more quickly. Cheaper - R410A is much cheaper to obtain than R22. As R22 becomes more and more scarce, the price of it will continue to rise. Eventually all supplies of R22 will be depleted and you will have no choice but to replace your air conditioner if you have a refrigerant leak. Better For Environment - The...

How Often Should I Clean My AC? Even if you aren't having any problems with your air conditioner, it is still highly recommended to receive annual maintenance by a professional HVAC company. Warranty Issues Most manufactures require that annual maintenance be performed on your air conditioner in order to keep any warranties active. Think of it this way, if you were a car dealer, would you accept a warranty claim on it if the customer who bought it never did oil changes or regular maintenance? A plus side to this warranty requirement is that you will not have as many air conditioner repairs and increase its overall lifespan as well. Best Time Of Year Generally, best time to have your air conditioner maintenance completed is in the spring and early summer months to ensure that it is properly cooling your home. Most of the time, it is not necessary to check refrigerant levels unless the unit is pointing to a possible refrigerant issue. Each time a technician hooks up their gauges to your air conditioner, a small amount of refrigerant is released so limiting this process is recommended. As your air conditioner continually runs, it begins to accumulate dust and dirt even in places you wouldn't expect. Did you know that dirt and lack of maintenance are the top causes of HVAC breakdowns? An air conditioner that has annual maintenance performed on it can easily last 3-5 years longer than one that doesn't. Schedule Your AC Tune Up Have you scheduled...

7 Signs It's Time To Replace Your AC Wondering if it's time to finally replace that AC that has been giving you trouble? Check out these 7 popular signs to help you make the best decision! 1.) Your air conditioner is old (10 years +) Air conditioners are designed to last 8-10 years on average. However, assuming that you have had annual maintenance completed by a licensed HVAC company, some units can last 15+ years easily. Also, as of the year 2020, R-22 will no longer be available anywhere as it is being phased out by the government.  This also means that the price of R-22 related repairs right now has begun to skyrocket due to dwindling supplies all across the country. R-22 is being replaced by R410a, which is found in all new air conditioners that are sold today.    2. Your air conditioner is noisy In general, your air conditioner should not be noisy while running. It is normal to be able to hear the quiet hum of the compressor as it runs in your outside condensing unit, but it should not be anything overly noticeable. If your condenser is beginning to sound like an airplane taking off, chances are your compressor is beginning to die, and that equates for 50% of your air conditioning system. If you have an old air conditioner, replacing the compressor would not be the wisest option financially as compressor replacements can easily cost $1,200 or more. It would generally be money better spent...

A Complete Guide To Common HVAC Problems Looking to learn more about some common HVAC problems that homeowners face today? Look no further, we've got your complete guide right here. When it comes to HVAC, there are countless numbers of problems that can occur and keep you from enjoying the comfort you deserve. There are instances where you can fix the problem yourself. However, most of the time, you will need a certified, professional, HVAC company to come out and diagnose the problem you're having. In any case, we figured we would put together a list of common HVAC problems to provide you with a guideline as to what may be going on with your system. We hope that in turn, this makes you a more educated and informed customer! To utilize this guide, click on the problem you are having below and you will be taken to the page needed. Please understand that this guide is an ongoing effort and information is continually being added to it. Common Air Conditioner Problems Air conditioner is iced up Air conditioner is blowing warm air Electric bills are higher than usual Air conditioner makes air smell bad Air conditioner is leaking water inside Air conditioner not turning on Air conditioner runs all the time Air conditioner making loud noises Common Furnace Problems Furnace blowing cold air Furnace won't light Furnace produces burning smell Furnace runs all the time Pilot light is out Furnace making strange noises Miscellaneous HVAC Problems Humidifier leaking water...

How To Raise the Value Of Your Home Improving the value of your house is something that should always be on your mind if you are planning to sell someday. Here are some of the most popular ways to improve your home today along with the estimated costs to do so. Heating & Cooling System Believe it or not, your HVAC system can increase the overall value of your home. Some homes today do not even have an air conditioner installed and just utilize a furnace for the winter but if your home is located in an area that get summer weather, many potential buyers will want the comfort that an air conditioner provides. When buying a home, many people do not want the extra stress (or expense!) that comes with having to have a new air conditioner installed. Having an old, outdated heating and cooling system can be a deterrent to some buyers and lower the overall selling price of your home. Also, the energy efficiency and potential tax credits that come with having a new furnace and air conditioner installed can help make up for its cost. By replacing your old 10 SEER air conditioner with a new 16 SEER unit, you could see up to a 38% savings on your annual utility bills! If your current heating and cooling system is older than 15 years or has had several repairs completed recently, it may be cost effective to consider replacement if you are considering putting your home...