HVAC Tips from Sears Heating and Cooling

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...

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...

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 Having an old, outdated heating and cooling system can be a...

How Does Refrigerant Work in Your Air Conditioner? How does R-22 work exactly and how does it end up cooling the air in your home? This brief summary should help clear things up. What Is Refrigerant? How does refrigerant work in your air conditioner? First we need to define what a refrigerant actually is, it's a fluid that can easily boil from a liquid into a vapor and back into a liquid again. The most important part is that this process must be able to happen many times over continuously to work. Did you know that water is actually considered a refrigerant? It can be moved from a liquid state to a gaseous state but it's not utilized in air conditioning because specifically designed refrigerants can handle the cooling process more efficiently. The most popular refrigerants on the market today are R410A, R134A (for refrigerators) and R22. The low boiling...

High Electric Bills: Is My HVAC System To Blame? Did you recently receive your electric bill and notice a massive jump in cost? Did you know that your HVAC System could be to blame for this? High electric bills are a common complaint during the super hot and super cold months. There are several different things that could be causing this increase so let's dive right in. Emergency Heat Running, Outdoor Unit Broken This one obviously relates to the colder months and if you have a heat pump. Heat pump systems are interesting in that they can essentially have two different ways to heat your home: the outdoor unit and the indoor unit (furnace). Generally speaking, the outdoor unit is designed to heat your home as long as the outdoor temperature is at 34 degrees or above. If it gets much colder than this, there is just not much heat...

What Is The Purpose of a Cold Air Return? Cold air returns play an important role in the heating process of your home. What Do Cold Air Returns Do Anyways? Well, they do pretty much exactly what they say; they return cold air back to your furnace to be heated and then distributed throughout your home. You will find cold air returns near the floor of your rooms as cold air falls. The returns at the top of your rooms are hot air returns, since warm air rises. Amazing stuff, I know. These vents are essentially the "lungs" of your HVAC system. It "breathes in" via the return air vents, and "breathes out" via the supply vents.  Cold Air Return Tips Be sure to keep the area around your cold air return vents clear and clean so that air can recirculate properly. Blocking these vents can hinder your furnace or...

Ductless HVAC System Average Lifespan in Columbus, Ohio Assuming the ductless system is maintained by a professional HVAC company on a yearly basis, these types of systems can easily last 20 years or more in the Columbus, Ohio area. These systems are also a great way to improve the value of your home! The lifespan of a mini split ductless system is generally longer than that of a normal heating and cooling system (12-15 years). You can think about the lifespan of your ductless system in the same manner you would mileage on your car. The overall age of the system isn't nearly as important as how much it has run over it's lifetime. Why Do Ductless Systems Last Longer? This answer largely comes down to one component, the compressor. The compressor is the heart of your air conditioner. without it, the refrigerant would not cycle through your system to...

What Questions Should I Ask During An HVAC Estimate? If you've never gone through the process of receiving an HVAC estimate, it can be daunting. We are here to help you out with some important questions you should be asking! While you should technically be asking as many questions as you can when receiving an HVAC estimate for a furnace or ac replacement, here are a few that we believe are the most important and should always be asked. Is The Estimate Free? Before you even have someone out to give you an HVAC estimate, you should ask whether or not the estimate is free. Generally speaking, most companies will come out and provide you with an estimate at no charge, but there are a few companies here and there that will charge you a small fee for their time. Here at Sears Heating & Cooling, our estimates for new...

Your HVAC System Can Help Reduce Indoor Allergies Do you struggle with allergies? Are you looking for some indoor allergy relief? Believe it or not, your HVAC system can help as it is responsible for the quality of your air indoors. Causes of Indoor Allergies As an allergy sufferer myself, I know how terrible it can be to have to deal with during allergy season. Spring time is generally when most people start to have issues, but allergies can be a year round deal as well when it comes to indoor allergens. There are multiple ways you can improve your indoor air quality. Believe it or not, your HVAC system can help you in this regard through the use of advanced filters and UV lights that are able to remove small allergy particles and dust mites. Some of the most common causes of indoor allergies include: Pet Dander We all...

Why Is My Air Conditioner Not Blowing Cold Air? The weather is finally warm and you go to turn your air conditioner on and nothing but warm air comes out. There are several things that may cause your air conditioner to not blow cold air. The best course of action if your air conditioner is not blowing cold air is to call a professional HVAC professional to come diagnose the problem. Attempting to fix something yourself can lead to an additional air conditioning repair being needed. However, here are a few items that could be causing the issue.   Dirty Filters   The first thing to check would be your air filters. One of the most common causes for air conditioners not blowing cold air is a dirty air filter. If your air filter is dirty or clogged, cool air flow is restricted and your air conditioner will not be...