Furnace Repair

Do you need a Furnace Repair or Broken Heat Pump fixed? If so we can help. There's nothing worse than turning on your thermostat only to find that your heat doesn't come on. If that is the case and you live in Rancho Cordova or the Sacramento area we can get you warm again in no time. Our technicians are friendly and will tell you exactly what needs to be done and how much it will cost before you pay. A1 Heating and Air is not a franchise or operated from another City or State so we believe that is what makes us able to provide quality, local service at an affordable price. 

Most parts are on our vans so we can usually make the repair on the spot. If we have to pick up a part we will get back to you as soon as possible so you can be comfortable again quickly. If you would like to schedule an appointment you can do that at 916-751-6060 24 hours per day. We work evenings and weekends so we can schedule a day and time that is most convenient for you. You can also schedule on our contact page at www.a1heatcool.com.

If your repair turns into a costly situation we can also replace your entire system with a newer more efficient one. But don't worry, our technicians are not going to try to sell you anything you don't need or want. In fact, most of the time we are able to get you up and running even if your system is older. We have several customers with furnaces that are over 35 years old and are running safely and smoothly with one customer who has a gas furnace that is 65 years old!

So what ever your heat pump or furnace needs we can help. Just give us a call!

916-751-6060

Cooler Weather in Rancho Cordova

Thinking about replacement or repair of your worn out furnace? The weather has started to change already as September is nearly over. Today is supposed to be Cool and possibly rainy...reminds me of my days in Florida...well, without the cool part....

....which brings us to the reality that we need to start planning ahead for colder weather. When was the last time you had your furnace or heat pump checked out by a trained technician? If you are wanting to get a head start on the weather give me a call. I will come out to your home and check it out thoroughly. What is different about my service? Well, first of all I am the owner of A1 Heating and Air in Rancho Cordova, servicing all of the Sacramento area. As an owner I am very concerned about my customers needs.

There won't be any fifteen or even thirty minute quickie service checks...I will be thorough and clean as much of your unit as I can in about one hour to an hour an a half depending on what kind of shape the heating system is in. Heat pumps do take a little less time than furnaces because gas furnaces are typically dirtier.

If there are any parts that need to be replaced I will let you know without the cheap sales pitch. If you are like me you will appreciate that. I know that when I take my car in to my favorite mechanic I expect him to let me know before parts are broken. He will let me know how much time to expect the part to last and then let me make the decision. I handle it the same way, understanding that everyone's situation is different.

My prices will be reasonable. I am not the cheapest, I can't be because I take extra time and do a thorough job. One thing you can count on, I refuse to change a part just to make a fast buck. I don't believe in that because people who live that way don't get repeat business or referrals, which are important if you want to stay in business. I am from the old school where everyone knew everyone else by their reputation and integrity and so I think about that in everything I do.

Make sense? If you like what you hear give me a call at 916-751-6060 and I will be happy to set an appointment to come out to your home to review your furnace and maintain, repair, or even replace, only if that is necessary. You can check out my website at www.a1heatcool.com as well.

Take care and enjoy this great weather!!!

James Merts

Does Your Furnace Run Intermittently?

One of the frequent complaints that I hear from my customers when they are having a problem with their furnace is that it will run for a while, blow hot air, and then it will start to blow cold air for a several hours before coming back on and blowing warm air again.

Obviously, there are several possibilities and I will begin to check the individual components that are involved in the heating process. What I want to focus on primarily though, is how oftentimes I discover that the issue is connected to air flow, or actually the lack thereof. As I have mentioned in previous posts, dirty air filters cause many problems. Sometimes simply changing a dirty filter will solve an intermittent heating problem in a gas furnace. If not, I inspect the air conditioning coil that is located near the furnace. If that is dirty can also cause the furnace to shut down its production of heat yet still run and blow cold air.

What is happening is that your furnace is producing heat but the blower is not able to evacuate that heat away from the furnace compartment quickly enough because there is a constriction at the filter and/or in the evaporator coil because it is dirty. Because of lack of air flow the temperatures in the furnace rise above safe levels and the safety devices in the system shut the flame off. The blower continues to blow so that the moving air can remove the heat from the heat exchanger area and after a while temperatures drop and the furnace will reignite the flame and heat until temps rise too high again and the process starts all over again.

In this instance the issue can only be resolved by cleaning the evaporator coil and filter.

Obviously, there are other issues that can cause this, improperly installed inducer motor on a condensing furnace will also cause this, a malfunctioning control board, dirty flame sensor, the list goes on and on but the point I want to make is the importance of keeping your central heating system clean. Changing filters often is one of the most important things you as a homeowner can do to keep your system running efficiently and properly.

So, change your filters often and you should enjoy less visits from your local heating and air technician.

Take Care,

The HVAC Tech

Thermostats

The thermostat is the item most homeowners are familiar with in their heating and air system. When I go into a house to perform a maintenance or tune up it is the first item I want to see because I can set it to the temperature I want to test the system and also can begin by asking the homeowner if they have any questions about the settings and from there questions about the way the system is heating and cooling their home.

One aside from a technician point of view, is how some homeowners sometimes a homeowner says that their furnace or air conditioner is a Honeywell system. That is because the majority of thermostats today are made by that company and it is the name they associate with their system. Honeywell doesn't make heating and air systems and so it is a bit amusing when I hear the comment.

Anyway, a lot of times I am asked right off the bat by the homeowner if the problem with their system could be the thermostat, and sometimes it is, but usually the thermostat is the least problematic component of the system, at least for me.

One problem I do notice frequently about faulty functioning of thermostats is how they are installed. Thermostats read the temperature from the back side, so they are reading the wall temperature. Many times there will be a large hole that the wires come thru to the tstat and what happens is that the temperature in the wall may actually be several degrees hotter or colder than the indoor temp and so will cause the reading to be errant compared to the indoor air. This can easily be fixed by covering the hole with butyl tape or some foil tape.

There are many selections of thermostats. When I am working with elderly customers they can be delighted to find out that a few of the manufacturers have models with larger numbers and buttons which makes it easier to read the information and temperature setting.

If you are having troubles or questions about your thermostat be sure and contact your local heating and air company for more information. Whether you would like a basic one that has a dial (yes, we can still find those for sale) or a very sophisticated one that can communicate over the internet, chances are we can find one that you will like.

If you live in the Sacramento area be sure and contact me if you have questions about your thermostat.

Take Care,

The HVAC Tech

Evaporator Coil Cleaning

If I were to name two of the biggest contributors to furnace failure, and the cause of most service repair calls I would have to blame it on 1. Dirty Filters and 2. Clogged and dirty Evaporator Coils.

I will post an article about Filters another day but today I want to review how important it is to have your indoor evaporator checked and cleaned. Heating and air conditioning are all about air flow. Proper air circulation thru your central duct system is crucial to a properly functioning HVAC system in your home.

The evaporator sits on top of your furnace if it's in the garage or hallway or alongside the furnace or air handler if it's in the attic. It is the indoor portion of your air conditioner if it is a split system. What happens is that over the years dust makes it into this component due to clogged air filters, leaky ductwork and because of lack of routine maintenance becomes coated with dust. Imagine the radiator in your car. The coil is very similar in that it has very small openings  for air to pass thru. when these openings get clogged with dust and dirt it blocks the airflow thru the unit and the air has to go around the coil causing reduced air flow and an increase of static pressure in the coil which causes problems for proper circulation of heated or cooled air.

This causes a cluster of issues. In the winter, reduced air flow out of the furnace will cause it to overheat which will trip built in safety devices in the furnace shutting it down, causing it to cycle on and off, blow cold air, overheat motor windings, and can drastically stress out the heat exchanger causing uneven thermal expansion and contraction which can cause dangerous cracks.

Basically, bad news for your system. In the summer this can cause your air conditioner to ice over, run all the time without cooling and cause your electric bills to rise.

Solution? We need to clean that coil and along with it the blower as well. This can be time consuming depending on the style of coil you have and the extent of dust coating the coil and blower.

If you live in the Rancho Cordova or Sacramento area contact a trained technician such as myself or contact the company servicing your system to come out and inspect your system. A proper cleaning can extend the life of your heating and cooling unit as well as save you money in operationg costs and reduced service calls.

Take Care,

The HVAC Tech

Hot Surface Ignitors

A commonly replaced part on a gas furnace is a hot surface ignitor. Pilot lights are a thing of the past in modern furnaces which is a good thing because they waste fuel. However, this means that we use another type of ignition system which requires a part, which means it needs to be replaced after use.

Customers have asked me if ignitors can be cleaned and the answer is no, you cannot clean one of these parts because they have a coating which is compromised over the years and must be replaced.

A couple things to look for when a technician replaces your hot surface ignitor (HSI):

  Make sure he is very careful. A fingerprint on the surface of the ignitor will reduce the life to only about two years, so it is advisable to use rubber gloves when installing this part, or at the very least to be very careful not to touch the business end of this part.

  Get the old part. A worn out ignitor will be coated with a whitish substance instead of a robust, sparkling black surface.  A quick test with an ohm meter will also verify the condition of this part.

These parts are very brittle. I have broken my share of them putting them in, so I recommend using only a trained, experienced technician to install this part.... like me!

Give me a call if you live in the Sacramento area and I will be happy to talk to you about becoming your heating technician for all your furnace needs.

James  916-751-6060

Furnace Repair Rancho Cordova

It's still not too late to repair your furnace or heat pump this season.  Here are some common things to look for:

     Is your unit turning off and on too quickly?
     Is there heat coming out of the supply vents for a short time and then blowing cold air?
     Is the furnace blowing air all the time?
     Is there a lot of dust in your house?

Any of these items could indicate the need for a qualified technician to service or repair your unit. Sometimes it's a quick fix like a new capacitor, cleaning the flame sensor or cleaning the blower motor or indoor evaporator coil. I am happy to check any of these items for you if you live in Rancho Cordova, California or the greater Sacramento area.

I can be reached at 916-751-6060 to schedule an appointment.

See you soon!

The HVAC Tech

Rancho Cordova Furnace Tune Up

It is important to keep your furnace tuned up and ready to heat your home efficiently and safely. Most of us will take our automobile in for regular tune ups but what about our furnace?

Did you know that tuning up your furnace can allow it to work more efficiently thereby saving you money in operating costs as well as catching small items that are wearing out before they turn into big items that can cost you an arm and a leg.

By cleaning the burner assembly, checking capacitors, hot surface ignitors, flame sensors and the general condition of your furnace you can ensure a safe, efficient heat source for your home.

If you live in the Rancho Cordova, CA or Sacramento area I can provide a tune up for your home for only $69. I will check out your furnace, clean the blower assembly, check the filter and even run a quick diagnostic for you.

How can I do it so cheap? In this economy it is important to keep busy and by doing a tune up cheaply I can see more people and it's better to work than stay home.

I work for a local heating and air company and would like to offer you my services and become your heating and air technician for life. If you would like to schedule a tune up please call me at 916-751-6060 or just respond to this blog.