A-1 Mechanical Blog: Archive for the ‘Heating’ Category

Why It’s So Important to Change a Furnace Filter

Monday, November 20th, 2023

technician-standing-beside-van-with-arms-folded

November is the month when the really cold weather takes hold of our region and you begin relying heavily on your furnace. Your heating system is the workhorse of your home, keeping your family warm and safe when temperatures plummet.

Besides scheduling a maintenance appointment, one of the most important things you can do to make sure your furnace is running at peak efficiency is to change the air filter regularly during the heating season. But a common question we get from homeowners has to do with how often to change the air filter.

The filter should be changed every 1-3 months the furnace is in use. Let’s go over why it’s so essential to change the filter on a regular basis and how doing so helps keep your furnace from breaking down unexpectedly.

Tags: Air Filters, Heating
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Why a Cracked Heat Exchanger Is A Safety Hazard

Monday, November 6th, 2023

Natural gas furnaces are a popular heating system in the United States. About 47% of US homeowners use a natural gas furnace to heat their homes–that’s almost half! Considering that gas furnaces are an efficient method of heating a home, it’s no surprise that they’re so popular for keeping homes comfortable and cozy.

Although gas furnaces are built with safety features to prevent gas leaks, no system is 100% safe. If you make up the 47% of homeowners using a natural gas furnace, it’s important to be aware of things that could go wrong.

A rare issue but a potentially hazardous and lethal one is a cracked heat exchanger. If you own a gas furnace, you need to be aware of the signs of a cracked heat exchanger in your home. That way, you’ll know to call us immediately for furnace repair.

Tags: furnace repair
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Signs of Common Furnace Issues and What’s Causing Them

Monday, October 23rd, 2023

Your furnace is essential to keeping your home warm and cozy during our uncomfortable, cold winters. When a furnace is working as it should, you’ll hardly even notice how well it’s doing its job. But when issues arise, your furnace will let you know almost immediately. From weak airflow to strange noises, furnace issues can be common this time of year.

As for what’s causing them, a lot of these issues will happen if you’ve neglected routine furnace maintenance. This essential service is an opportunity for our technicians to catch those issues that are brewing before they bubble over and become a major inconvenience.

Tags: Furnace Maintenance
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How to Prepare Your Furnace for Heating Season

Monday, September 25th, 2023

It’s officially fall and that means you’ll soon be making the change from using your air conditioner to using your furnace. Before you switch the heating system on for the first time, there are a few things you should do.

A few DIY maintenance tips along with scheduling a furnace check-up with one of our NATE-certified technicians will go a long way in making sure your furnace operates at peak performance this heating season. Let’s go over 5 essential things you should do before turning on your furnace for the first time.

Tags: furnace repair, Lansing
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Why Fall Furnace Tune-Ups Are So Important

Monday, September 11th, 2023

Fall is right around the corner and with it comes many things. The kids go back to school, the days get shorter, the weather gets colder, and you transition from using your air conditioner to using your furnace. This period of transition is the one where every HVAC company strongly recommends getting furnace maintenance, us included.

A well-functioning furnace is essential for getting your family through the entire winter. And the absolute best way to ensure its proper functioning is to have it tuned up. That’s because during maintenance, our technicians will check for any issues that could become problematic if left unchecked. We’ll clean the furnace and perform a series of essential checks not only to ensure its functionality, but its safety as well. Let’s go over some of the benefits of scheduling furnace maintenance this fall.

Tags: Furnace Maintenance, Lansing
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Why Does My Furnace Make Loud Noises When It Turns Off?

Monday, August 28th, 2023

A common question we get from homeowners has to do with unusual furnace noises that occur both at startup and once a heating cycle is completed. Although some of these noises are normal and nothing to worry about, some can be quite serious and require immediate attention.

Whether your furnace makes loud noises when turning off or makes a booming noise when it turns on, let’s go over the most common causes of these sounds. That way, you’ll know which ones are normal and which ones warrant a call for immediate repairs.

Tags: furnace repair, Lansing
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Why Choose Us?

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

If there’s one thing we’d like you to know about us, it’s that we’ve been serving Lansing, MI, and the surrounding areas since 1981. With over 40 years of HVAC experience, we know the particular issues that Michigan homeowners face when it comes to heating and cooling their homes and their indoor air quality.

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Check Out Our Blog for Advice on All Things HVAC

Wednesday, May 10th, 2023

Be sure to bookmark the A-1 Mechanical blog to start learning the ins and outs of HVAC.

We’ll regularly post energy saving tips, how-to’s on troubleshooting your systems, and breakdowns on even the most complex industry related terms and concepts.

Need help now? Send us a message or get in touch today.

Tags: Air Conditioning, Heating, Indoor Air Quality
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Using and Maintaining Your Heat Pump

Tuesday, April 11th, 2023

How to Improve Your Heat Pump’s Efficiency

A-1 Mechanical is your local heating and cooling specialist in Lansing, Michigan, we help homeowners design systems for both hot summers and cold winters. Heat pumps provide cool air by circulating indoor air across very cold indoor coils. During the winter heat pumps condense outside air and circulate indoor air across hot indoor coils. Because Michigan winters become extremely cold, most homeowners use a heat pump for most of the winter and supplement warmth through a furnace on very cold days.

The goal of using your heat pump is to provide complete comfort while consuming the least amount of energy. Heat pumps are rising in popularity because they are driven completely by electricity. This means the heat pump does not create direct emissions and therefore, is considered renewable energy. When you work with a professional heat pump specialist from A-1 Mechanical you will discover the heat pump’s thermostat plays a large role in reducing energy bills.

Tags: heat pump, Heat Pumps, Heating
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How to Save on AC Installation This Summer

Saturday, March 11th, 2023

Many homeowners wait until an AC unit fails beyond repair. While A-1 Mechanical provides excellent air conditioning installation services even in emergencies, knowing the warning signs of a faltering air conditioning system is important to save money. If you notice cooling costs are rising, performance is wavering or you experience frequent breakdowns then you should begin to consider new air conditioners.

Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs Replaced

As summer heat rises, older units can often show indications of failure. Beyond monitoring energy use be alert to these top signs your air conditioner is going to break:

Uneven temperatures throughout the home
Shutting down before the desired temperature is achieved as known as short cycling
Refrigerant leaks, frozen lines and odd noises from outdoor unit
Odd smells from vents when the air conditioner is running
Constantly running or blowing warm air
Unit is older than 10 years

Tags: Air Conditioning, digital thermostat, Heating, thermostat
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