Tips | Hybrid Air

5 Reasons Why Furnace Maintenance is Important

Written by Eric Thomas on September 9, 2021. Posted in Tips. Leave a Comment

Summer is winding down and tourist season is finally over here in Coastal Virginia, which means one thing – Fall is just around the corner! We know that some locals are sad to say goodbye to the warm weather and waves, but are excited to escape some of the heat and humidity – we are too! With cooler weather arriving, it is important to begin thinking about getting your residential heating system tuned up and ready to keep your house warm and cozy. In this post, we are going to explain 5 reasons why furnace maintenance is important.

For a limited time, get your residential heating system tuned-up for just $79.99!

How Does A Gas Furnace Work?

Before we can fully dive into why you keep your furnace maintained and operating correctly, it’s important to understand how a furnace works. There are 5 crucial steps in the operation of a furnace, all equally important.

Step 1: The thermostat signals to the furnace to begin warming the home
Step 2: Natural gas is ignited in the furnace burner
Step 3: Ignition of the burner begins
Step 4: The furnace starts filtering good air from the combustion waste
Step 5: Distribution begins, then the process is repeated

If any of these steps malfunction, it can result in no warm air, and, possibly lead to costly repairs! Having understood this, it is important to know why routine maintenance is important.

Ensure System Efficiency

Different parts of your furnace wear down quicker than others, especially when they are used extensively, as many homeowners tend to do. For example, your air filter. The furnace relies on the air that is pulled to heat it, and then push the air through the home. When the air filter is clogged, your furnace will have to work much harder to pull the air through it, which not only wears down different components of your furnace, but decreases the efficiency of your system.

Decrease Risk of Furnace Failure

Having a professional furnace maintenance company, such as Hybrid Air, check your unit once a year means they can catch any parts that are worn down and can get them replaced before it effects the entire system. Our team will lubricate parts that need it, and check the electrical wiring. It is important to have a professional do this routine maintenance to your furnace at least once a year because they can identify when things are about to fail, or it they are good to go for the heavy usage in fall and winter.

Save On Repair Costs

It happens almost every year, homeowners will fail to get their furnace or heating system tuned up and ready for the year, and then the first time they go to turn it on.. it doesn’t work! Then they’ll have to spend money on costly repairs just to feel comfortable in their home. This shouldn’t be the case! By having routine maintenance done on your system, you will be able to prevent spending money on costly repairs & replacements. At Hybrid Air, our platinum membership service agreement comes with bi-annual tune-ups, which can help prevent system failure!

Extend the Lifespan of the Furnace

Purchasing a new gas furnace is a hefty investment, but with time, it is necessary. By having routine maintenance conducted to your existing furnace, you are able to prevent having to install a new furnace before you need to. Let’s keep that furnace running for as long as it can so that you can get the more money out of your furnace purchase.

Keep Your Family Safe

This is the most important reason of all! Did you know that furnaces are designed to release carbon monoxide in the exhaust? This is part of it’s normal operation! When operating properly, it will vent the carbon monoxide through an exhaust pipe to the outside of your home. It is important to have a licensed professional check to make sure it isn’t leaking into the home. Additionally, we encourage any homeowner with a gas furnace to invest in a carbon monoxide detector!

Schedule Your Furnace Maintenance Today

Are you ready to get your furnace tuned up before the cold weather gets here? Contact Hybrid Air today! Our Virginia Beach furnace repair experts can help get your furnace ready for the heavy demand.

image of a homeowner cleaning their air vents

4 Signs You Need Air Duct Repair

Written by Eric Thomas on August 17, 2021. Posted in Tips. Leave a Comment

How To Tell When Your Air Ducts Aren’t Performing Properly

When the air ducts in your home are in need of repair and aren’t performing properly, it isn’t always noticeable to the untrained eye. This is mainly because your HVAC air ducts are typically located either in your attic, or in your crawlspace – depending on how your house was built. However, there are other ways of identifying that your ducts are causing issues with the performance of your HVAC system that you can be on the lookout for.

Now more than ever, homeowners are thinking twice about the indoor air quality in their homes. With so many places out in public at risk to be exposed to airborne diseases, your home is the last place you want to be exposed to unhealthy air. That is why in this article, we are going to show you 4 common signs you need air duct repair.

Visible Dirt and Dust Around Air Vents

One of the most common signs of needed air duct repair is built up dirt and dust around the air vents in your home. Most air vents are either located in the ceiling or on the floor, depending on how your HVAC system in configured. When you notice dirt on your air vents, this is a clear sign that your ducts have been compromised!

If you spot dirt or dust on or around your vents, your family may be getting exposed to:

Allergens
Fungus
Molds
Airborne Diseases

The side effects of these elements blowing through your system and into the air you breathe can be costly to not only your utility bills – but also your health. Typically, dust and debris is caught in the air filters that you change frequently. But by spotting dirt around your vents, this means that these elements are getting into your HVAC system, which can result in costly repairs if not treated properly.

If you notice dirt or dust on your air vents, contact Hybrid Air to come take a look. Our team will help find the cause of the problem and identify a solution!

Unexpected Increase in Energy Bills

Here in south Hampton Roads, we have certain seasons where homeowners can naturally expect seasonal spikes in utility bills. Typically, this occurs during the heat of summer (when you are running your AC system more often) and in the winter (when you are running your heating system more often).

But if your utility bills seems abnormally high during other times of the year, or is much higher than comparable months in previous years, this may be an indication that your air ducts aren’t performing properly. As a result, the system is having to work harder to cool/heat your home to the desired temperature.

An easy way to spot this is to go up into your attic or crawlspace and feel the air. For example, if you are running your AC system, and the climate in your attic is cooler than the rest of the house, then you mostly likely have ripped or leaking ducts – which is causing the air to flow into the attic or crawlspace, instead of to the vents.

Uneven Temperatures Throughout The Home

In a perfect world, when your system is running, all of your rooms should feel the same. If your air ducts are working properly, all of your rooms should be receiving an even amount of air flow. An easy way to check this is to go around to each of your vents in the home and place your hand or foot over the vent to feel the air flow. If one or more vents are not receiving the same amount of air coming out, this may be a sign that you have ripped or disconnected ducts.

Additionally, if you have built up dust or debris in your ducts, as mentioned in the first section of this article, you may be experiencing blockage in a particular duct that is preventing air from flowing to that room.

Poor Air Flow From HVAC System

Poor air flow can occur for a few different reasons. Some of the causes of low air flow can be:

Broken duct seals
Cracks or tears in duct work
Disconnected or crushed ducts
Debris or built up blockage

If your ducts are oversized, undersized, or improperly installed, these issues can occur more commonly. When this happens, the air flow can be over or underpowered, which results in poor performance in the way the air is delivered throughout the home.

Contact Us For Virginia Beach Air Duct Repair

If you are in need of Virginia Beach duct repair services, contact us today! We are experienced, local HVAC professionals that are ready to help you experience total home comfort and provide a breath of fresh air. Now more than ever, it is crucial to be cognizant of the air you are breathing and exposing your family to. If your ducts are ripped, improperly sized, or not working properly, our trained technicians can save the day! Contact our office at (757) 436-3749, or request service online today.

Benefits of a Whole-House Standby Generator

Written by Eric Thomas on August 3, 2021. Posted in Tips. Leave a Comment

Homeowners in the Coastal Virginia area with whole-house generators understand the feeling of relief when a hurricane or nor’easter come through and take away power in the area. There are countless benefits to having backup power other than continuing to have working A/C, appliances, and electricity during a storm. In this post, we are going to show you why it might make sense for you to invest in a generator this year.

What Does a Whole-House Standby Generator Provide?

Having a standby generator for your home means that in the case of an unfortunate event of power outage caused by storm or other factors, you will have continual energy – allowing you to use lights, appliances, and electronic devices. Standby generators, which are also known as whole-house generators are bigger and more expensive than a portable generator, but come with more benefits.

A whole-house generator has the ability to power all of your home’s electrical needs — including your HVAC system, sump pump, water heater, and more! And though standby generators are typically use to provide power during an outage, you can also use it to power specific appliances based on your preference.

Here are some of the benefits of a whole-house generator.

Enhanced efficiency – Portable gas generators can only deliver limited power, since they rely on gas. Whole-house standby generators provide an unlimited amount of power since they connect to your home’s existing gas line.
Safety & security – Unlike portable gas generators, standby generators don’t release toxins or fumes into the air and can prevent carbon monoxide buildup. Additionally, they can provide lighting during a blackout, which can prevent accidents and injuries when navigating throughout the home.
Convenience – Whole-house standby generators turn on instantly when the power goes out, providing electricity for your essential appliances & HVAC system. This can prevent loss of food, hot water, plumbing, and more. Portable gas generators on the other hand, must be manually started and can’t always provide energy to certain appliances.

Save Money Down The Line By Purchasing a Standby Generator

While the upfront cost and installation of a whole-house generator can be fairly expensive, the investment will save you money over time in appliance repairs & pipe replacements in the case of a storm. During the winter time, if a snow storm claims your power, it can prevent pipes from freezing.

Keep you and your family safe, secure, and comfortable during this hurricane season by calling Hybrid Air for your Virginia Beach home generator installation! To request a quote, contact us online, or give our office a call at (757) 436-3749.

(757) 436-3749