A noisy furnace can ruin a cozy night in fast! Not only are the sounds annoying, but they can also indicate underlying issues that shouldn’t go unnoticed.

Thankfully, there are techniques you can use to stop the noises and bring peace and quiet back into your home.

Follow along as we discuss how to quiet a noisy furnace.

Replace Filters

If you notice banging noises coming from your furnace, then airflow issues may be the culprit. As soon as you hear the sounds, check your unit for dirty or damaged filters. If you find that they’re worn out, remove and replace them immediately.

Dirty filters make it impossible for air to flow freely through the furnace which then causes loud noises and puts you and your family at risk for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Lubricate

The insides of furnaces contain several moving parts to help them function properly. These parts include blower wheels. When they’re disrupted, it causes the furnace to make a squealing noise.

When this occurs, all you need to use is lubrication oil to help loosen up the wheels. Since it can get backed up over time, regular maintenance is needed to ensure that it stays in good condition. It’s recommended to oil the wheels once a year to prevent damage.

Secure Access Panels

Furnace issues can also manifest themselves as rattling noises. These sounds, however, could be as simple as a loose screw or as serious as a loose panel.

If you’re experiencing rattling, turn off your furnace immediately and make sure all screws and panels are secure. This should solve the problem and get your system up and running as normal.

Open Supply Vents

High pitched sounds are an indication of low return airflow. It’s best to open your vents when you notice the noise. The root of the problem could be caused by increased pressure being put on the ductwork as a result of closed vents.

Once you do open vents, it may also be best to get ductwork cleaning done to fix the issue as well.

Call a Professional

There are several things you can do on your own to quiet your furnace but some problems could be a health risk. If you’ve tried all of the techniques mentioned with no success, then professional assistance is needed.

Your furnace may be experiencing major issues such as metal rubbing against each other or worn bearings. In this case, it’s best to have an expert come in and inspect.

Get Rid of Your Noisy Furnace Fast

No one wants to deal with a noisy furnace and although solving the issue may vary in complexity, it is possible. We hope that you found our guide helpful and know what to pay attention to in your house if you ever experience a loud furnace.

You can get rid of the sounds as quickly as they develop by paying attention to them and keeping up with maintenance.

With over thirty-five years of service in the Livingston, TX area, we’re dedicated to providing the highest level of comfort to your home. Contact us today to learn more about how we can best service you!

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. But don’t head out into the cold.

Heating systems have many moving parts. Most systems work fine, even through the winter.

But sometimes, one part breaks down. Your heating system is broken, but you’re not sure how.

You can call for a heating maintenance company, or you can fix the problem yourself. Here is a quick guide on what to do when your heating won’t turn on.

Identify the Problem

There are a few different heating systems out there. The forced-air system is the most common one. The system uses a furnace and blower fan that pushes warm air into the home through ducts.

Gravity air systems use the physics of warm air rising and cool air sinking. A furnace in the basement heats the air, which rises upward through ducts. The cold air returns to the basement back through other ducts.

Both of these systems use filters to remove dust and air. If your furnace, fans, and ducts are working, dust may be clogging your filters. Run the system and then listen for the sounds it makes.

If your furnace makes a banging or rattling noise, its machinery may be broken. If your furnace does not turn on, the circuit breaker may have been turned off. Your thermostat may also be malfunctioning.

If your ducts are rattling, your installation may not have been correct. Something may be caught in your ducts, causing them to rattle.

Heating Help

Buy some tools in advance of any problem. You will need a screwdriver, wrenches, and a flashlight.

You can change your filter with a few basic steps. Remove the filter, orient its replacement, then insert it into your system. Make sure it fits neatly into your system.

Check your circuit breaker to make sure all switches are on. Open the motor assembly and oil it, so it runs correctly. Tighten all belts and pullies within your motor using your screwdriver.

Keep your ducts in place with connective sealing. Apply an extra layer, even if you don’t think it’s necessary.

Maintain all parts of your heating system on a regular basis. Clean all of the parts of your furnace, and swap out your filters. You should inspect your furnace every month, even in the summertime.

Heating cannot work on its own. You should insulate your windows, doors, and attic. Make sure you keep heat in with fiberglass and radiant surfaces.

You should also have two annual inspections. Call your local heating maintenance company and ask them to go through your system part-by-part. If your furnace needs significant repairs, call a maintenance company.

Heating Won’t Turn on? Get the Help You Need

The heat is on. You just might not be feeling it. Learn how to repair your heater when the heating won’t turn on.

Check to see if electricity is running into your system. If your system seems to be working, your filter may be clogged. Replace it with a new one.

If your ducts are rattling, secure them in place. Insulate your house to assist your heating system.

Go to the experts when you need help. Best Air Conditioning and Heating, LLC. is Livingston, Texas’s leading HVAC company. We service East Texas with heating repairs and inspections.

Contact us today, or call us at 936-213-5116.

About 90% of homes in the U.S. have air conditioning. With more than 100 million American households, that means roughly 90 million homes have some form of air conditioning.

While people in colder climates only need AC in the summer, those in the South still need it in the fall and winter too.

The trouble is, the change in season can affect your air conditioning unit. That’s why it’s so important to get air conditioning services at least once per year.

Read on to learn what qualities to look for as you’re searching for the right AC service this autumn.

1. An Air Quality Check

The change in seasons can bring on fall allergens like ragweed. You’re especially at risk for a ragweed allergy if you have spring allergies. If the humidity shifts with the seasons, you’ll also have mold and mildew to contend with.

As part of your fall air conditioning check, your technician should check for air quality issues. They can change your AC filter and check your ductwork for dust or leaks.

2. A Thorough Check of the Air Conditioning Unit

Over the summer, your AC unit had to work extra hard to keep your home cool. Even if you still need to use it in the fall and winter, it won’t need to work as hard as it does in the summer.

Since your unit won’t need to run as much, fall is a good time for a technician to make sure the entire system is working. They should check the condenser and evaporator coils, check blowers and blades, and look for any leaks or clogs. Overall, they should check the entire system and handle any AC repairs.

3. A Calibration of the Thermostat

Another quality of a good service call is a check of the thermostat. Your technician should evaluate your thermostat and make sure it’s really the temperature it says it is. If not, they can recalibrate it so it works correctly.

If your thermostat isn’t properly calibrated, your house might feel colder or warmer than it should. Recalibrating your thermostat can keep you from spending too much on your utilities and keep your home at a comfortable temperature.

4. A Punctual Service Appointment

When the weather is hot or your seasonal allergies are acting up, you don’t want to be kept waiting. That’s why a critical quality to look for in air conditioning services is punctuality.

You deserve a service call that’s on time. After all, a technician who shows up on time shows that they respect your time and value your business.

5. An Experienced HVAC Technician

When it comes to finding the best service, the most important thing to have is an experienced technician. Your technician should have complete training and know your HVAC system inside and out.

During a fall tuneup or a service call, they should be able to spot any potential issues and fix them right away. This will keep your system up and running, no matter your AC needs.

Get Quality Air Conditioning Services Today

The right air conditioning services can keep your home feeling cool and comfortable throughout the year. A good fall tuneup should include a check of your system, your thermostat, and your air quality.

If you’re looking for high-quality air conditioning and heating services, we can help. At Best Air Conditioning and Heating, we go above and beyond to make your home as comfortable as possible.

Contact us today to book an appointment or get an estimate.

Summer is the harshest season on your HVAC unit. This is the one time out of the year that your HVAC unit works in overdrive to keep your home cool and comfortable. As the hot summer sun fights to keep your house warm, your HVAC is combatting the heat. Even though Summer is coming to an end, it spent the last few months working extra hard.

To aid your HVAC unit in keeping the home cool, there are a few DIY HVAC maintenance tips you should know. Read our HVAC maintenance guide below to create your own checklist of everything you need to do to keep your HVAC running through the summer smoothly.

Here’s what you need to know!

Remove Debris From Around the Unit

All debris should be removed from around the unit. This is true for both the inside and outside units. Reframe from placing any items in your AC unit closet.

All vacuums, brooms, mops, and other items should be kept in a separate place. Head outside and remove all mud and dirt build-up, sticks, leaves, and other debris from the outside unit as well.

Keep both units clear from any obstructions, and it’ll continue to run smoothly.

Replace Air Filters As Needed

Your unit’s air filter should be replaced at least once a month. If you can replace it more often, then do so. Once the air filter starts to fill with dust and dirt, it can make it difficult for the HVAC to run.

This not only causes an increase in your energy bill but an overworked HVAC unit can eventually start to have issues that’ll need repair. A clean ventilation system overall is ideal.

Inspect the Fan Blades

It’s also a good idea to check the fan blades on your unit as well. Inspect the blades while the unit’s running and while it’s not. You should check for signs of damage.

Any rusting, dents, cracks, bend blades, or other damages should be reported to a professional HVAC maintenance company for repair or replacement. Be sure to complete this type of inspection once a month.

Pay Attention to Smells and Noises

Sometimes, when an HVAC unit begins to have problems, it’ll try to tell you. Pay close attention to any smells or noises coming from your unit. Any noises or smells coming from your inside unit that aren’t normal should be addressed as soon as possible.

Both of these signs indicate that a serious problem could be occurring within the unit.

Need Help With Your DIY HVAC Maintenance?

Are you in need of some professional help when it comes to completing your DIY HVAC maintenance tasks? Although these maintenance tasks can be done by the homeowner, any signs of problems should be communicated with the professionals to ensure proper servicing.

Best Air and Heat has been in the HVAC business for 35 years and is dedicated to providing you with professional HVAC services.

Contact us today for a list of HVAC services we offer!

Do you live in Livingston, TX, and have unhealthy air quality? Did you know that your indoor air pollution can be two to five times more than the air outside?

You may not recognize the health problems you have is due to the unhealthy air you breathe. Some common problems such as asthma, allergies, and heart problems are sometimes caused by poor indoor air.

Let’s explore five ways to improve indoor air quality.

1. Vacuum Carpets

You may not be able to see the dangerous contaminants on your carpet, but they can affect your air quality. Over time your carpets will accumulate all types of allergens, dirt, bacteria, mold, and other harmful materials.

Routine carpet cleaning helps to enhance your indoor air quality. You can deep-clean your carpets every 12-18 months to ensure the health of your environment.

You can also engage in regular carpet cleaning every 6 months if you have several people living in your home.

2. Hire a Professional

You can control the air quality in your home by hiring a professional. Dangerous contaminants could be lurking inside your home and the best way to remove them could be to hire someone.

A professional company in Livingston, Texas can keep your home clean by providing you with superior skills and giving you the highest standards of service.

3. Wash Your Bedding

Washing your bedding every week in hot water is a beneficial way for you to keep your indoor air healthy.

Dust mites are harmful to your indoor air. You may have an accumulation of dust mites on your pillows, mattress, box springs, and other areas in your bedroom.

You also need to clean your drapes and corners in your bedroom each week to prevent the accumulation of dust mites. Regular cleaning allows you to have better bedroom hygiene and boosts your air quality.

4. Wash Shower Curtains

Unhealthy air from your bathroom can circulate throughout your home. Harmful contaminants can also attach themselves to your shower curtains.

So, you need to wash them every month to control your air quality.

You also need to keep your bathroom surfaces dry. Mold growth in your bathroom can accumulate and cause you to have breathing problems.

Use an exhaust fan in your bathroom to prevent the growth of mold and other forms of bacteria. Opening your bathroom door or window while you take a shower is another method to keep your surfaces dry.

5. Light Candles

Natural candles are known to have air-purifying properties. They have a pleasant smell and can reduce dangerous bacteria or pollution in different areas of your home.

Beeswax candles are a common source that releases negative ions that bind to toxins, removing them from the air.

Contact the Experts to Improve Indoor Air Quality

Best Air Conditioning and Heating is a company in Livingston, Texas that you can trust to improve indoor air quality. Best Air is a family-owned and operated company that provides reliable HVAC services for over 35 years.

This company serves Livingston, Ace, Big Sandy, Cape Royale, Goodrich, Romayor, and other nearby areas in Texas.

You can rely on a team of knowledgeable specialists to improve the air quality in your home. If you want to schedule an appointment, you can contact us for more information.

If you’re in need of an air conditioner repair company in Livingston TX, there are a few qualities you’ll want to look for. When it comes to your air conditioning, and heating system, you want an HVAC service provider you can trust.

From making sure your HVAC professional is experienced to always showing up when you need them, this roundup has all the best traits to look for in an HVAC contractor.

1. Trustworthy

If you’re bringing an HVAC company into your home, you want to make sure they are someone you can trust. When your air conditioner needs to be serviced or replaced, you’ll rest easier knowing your HVAC expert is dependable and trustworthy.

If you’re calling for HVAC help, you’re already stressed and anxious about the problem and potential costs. When you have a trusting professional come to your home, you should feel at ease and taken care of.

2. Experienced

When your air conditioner breaks, you want to make sure the professional you have coming in knows what they are doing. Having years of experience under their belt means you’ll know your home is in good hands.

An HVAC company that has been around for decades will offer years of expertise. You want someone who has seen all makes and models and knows how to troubleshoot any problem. The last thing you want is someone inexperienced or unprepared who needs to come back for different parts.

3. References

One of the best ways to vet your HVAC professional is to check their references. Your neighbors and community are great resources for referrals and personal experience.

Take a few minutes to look at their website or social media to read reviews and check references. Local reviews will tell you a lot about the company, its staff, work ethic, and dependability.

4. Reliable

A reliable professional is one that always shows up when they say they will. Your time is valuable. You want your HVAC company to respect that.

If you’re given a time window, your HVAC expert should be there. You want to be able to count on this company to come when they promise and get the job done right.

5. Efficient

It’s important to keep up with your HVAC maintenance. You want your pro to be thorough and efficient. An experienced technician can replace your air conditioner or make repairs quickly and effectively to get you back up and running.

How to Choose an Air Conditioner Repair Company

The temperature of your home affects more than just your comfort. You want your air conditioning system to be functioning at its best. If it isn’t, you could have a more costly and dangerous problem on your hands.

When it comes to finding an air conditioner repair company, there are a few traits that can set them apart. You want to feel confident you can trust and depend on your HVAC professional.

If you’re ready to get in touch with an experienced and highly regarded HVAC expert, fill out the contact form here to speak to an east Texas pro.

Did you know that Texas is now the hottest state in the entire US? After all, many parts of the state have been seeing temperatures go up to near 120 degrees.

As Texans, these super-hot days are forcing us to rely more on our air conditioners.

However, this increased use also means that we’re placing more strain on our AC. This won’t be a problem, so long as the air conditioner undergoes annual maintenance. Otherwise, it won’t be long before it ultimately breaks down.

An air conditioner not turning on is one such sign of a faulty unit.

The question now is, what exactly can make an AC fail to power on? Does this mean the unit already needs a replacement?

We’ll answer all these questions below, so be sure to read on!

The Circuit Breaker Tripped

Air conditioning accounts for at least 17% of a household’s electricity consumption. Since HVAC units use a lot of energy, they also need their own dedicated energy circuit.

Each circuit in a home’s electrical panel comes with its own “circuit breaker”. The job of this device is to “break” the flow of electricity in case of current overloading.

This can happen if you run too many high-wattage appliances at the same time. A sudden power outage may also trip all the circuits in your breaker.

In such cases, the breaker should automatically shut the power off. It does so to prevent electrical wires from melting and causing fires. Keep in mind that electrical failures caused at least 44,880 home fires each year from 2012 to 2016.

As such, an AC not turning on may only be due to a tripped circuit breaker. Check your electrical panel and look for the switch that says “air conditioner” or “cooling”. If it’s set to the “OFF” position”, simply slide it to the “ON” position to bring your AC back to life.

The AC Blew a Fuse

A malfunctioning air conditioner could trigger its breaker to always trip. Dirt build-up and loose connections are among the top reasons for this higher energy use. Frequent tripping can ultimately lead to a blown fuse.

An AC unit not turning on even after resetting the breaker switch is often a sign of a blown fuse. In this case, you’d need to have the damaged component replaced to get your AC running again. As this involves electrical work, you should leave it in the hands of AC repair professionals.

The AC Motor Died

Another possible culprit behind an AC not coming on is a dead motor. This is even more likely if you heard your AC making weird noises before it actually stopped working.

A capacitor test done by an AC technician can determine if the motor still has a bit of life left in it. If not, the tech would need to fix or replace the motor.

Get That Air Conditioner Not Turning on Fixed ASAP

There you have it, the possible culprits behind an air conditioner not turning on. If your AC still doesn’t power on even after you reset your breaker and changed its filter, it’s time to call the pros.

Get in touch with us now here at Best Air and Heat! We can fix all your air conditioner problems and get it running smoothly again.

How did people live without the best modern invention of all time, the air conditioner? Our homes are sweltering without them — and that’s why you panic when yours breaks down.

The majority of homes have AC units. To keep them chugging along you need to maintain and repair them, which is why the HVAC industry is growing faster than ever.

If yours goes out, there are a lot of questions you want to ask. The most urgent one is “how long does it take to replace an AC unit?”.

Read this guide to everything you need to know about how long your AC repair will take.

Factors That Affect Repair Time

There are several factors that affect how long it will take to replace your AC unit. Look them over carefully to budget time and manage your expectations.

Let’s explore a few of the most common ones so you know how long repairs might take.

Repairs Needed

What kind of AC repairs do you need? That’s the biggest question to ask to determine how long your repair will take.

If you’re on a budget, you might just replace one section of the unit. Replacing the entire system, while costly and time-consuming, will ensure repairs aren’t needed for a long time.

Size of Your Home

When replacing a unit, your repair person might have to re-do all of the ductwork and install new vents as well. The bigger your home, the more work it’s going to need.

Condition of Ducts and Vents

Speaking of ducts and vents, what state are yours in? Dust clogging up airways or mold growing in dark passages can add more time to your schedule.

It’s more expensive to repair your entire duct system. But it’s a good idea to improve everything all at once if you can afford it.

Location of Your Home

Location is another factor to consider. Family homes or townhomes are easier for repair crews to access.

If you live in a high-rise or another location that’s hard to get to, repairs will take longer to complete.

How Long Does it Take to Replace an AC Unit?

Unfortunately, there’s no definite answer regarding how long it’s going to take to replace your unit. There are a lot of factors at play including your own availability and budget.

Bottom line is that the simplest repairs will take the least amount of time. If you have an easily accessible unit outside of your home and it’s the only thing you’re changing out, it could take a day more or less.

Upgrading your ductwork and your entire system can take longer. Accessibility issues and bigger problems, like mold, complicate things.

Easy AC Unit Repair

Different things like budget, work that needs to be done, the size and location of your home, and accessibility all affect the time it takes to repair your system. When asking how long does it take to replace an AC unit, keep all of these things in mind.

Want a more accurate estimate for your home? Contact us today!

Most of the time you don’t even pay attention to your air conditioner, except to think about how grateful you are to have it. You most likely don’t even think about it much when you turn the temp up or down. It’s only when it starts to have problems that you worry much about your air conditioner.

If your AC unit goes from running quietly in the background to being the center of attention when it comes to noise from household appliances, it’s time to have it looked at. While there are a few different sounds that are normal to hear from an air conditioner, there are also serious noises to pay attention to.

Here are a few of those noises and what they may indicate is wrong with your AC unit.

Hissing

There’s a certain amount of noise that comes from air moving through the system. A light whooshing noise can be part of normal operational sounds, but a louder more pronounced hissing could be a problem with the air conditioner system. It’s like the sound you hear when air escapes from a punctured tire.

There’s a lot of tubing in the air conditioner system where refrigerant runs through to cool the air. The tubing can leak or crack, and then it hisses. You might hear gurgling along with it.

Screeching

Any high-pitched screeching noise is not something you want to ignore. Pay attention to when the noise occurs. It may happen either until the unit has a chance to warm up or the entire time it’s running.

Let an HVAC tech know your observations, and they can help you figure out if it’s a compressor or a fan motor. The bearings inside can wear out and cause friction, which makes the shriek or whine you hear.

Buzzing

This noise can be a big electrical problem, like wires that are old and frayed or loose junctions. If you continue running your AC unit when there’s a problem with an electrical circuit, you could cause an electrical fire, one of the biggest causes of fires in the U.S. today.

Buzzing might also mean your condenser fan isn’t moving because debris is stuck in it. One other possibility is a frozen system, which is easy to fix. Turn off the unite for a little while and allow it to thaw.

Rattling

If you hear a rattling noise, you first need to check that it isn’t because of something small. Loose doors or parts that don’t affect the machine’s operation can cause a rattling noise, and they aren’t a major concern, other than the annoyance or possibility of less energy efficiency.

After you check all those small things, if you don’t find any minor problems, then it’s time to worry about more major possibilities like loose parts inside the air conditioner or the ductwork. You may also have fan blades that are bent or knocking around loose components. A rattling type of noise can definitely be a reason to call the experts for help with a serious air conditioner issue.

Staying Cool with Your Air Conditioner

Knowing when to call a repairman for your air conditioner is half the battle. With the descriptions above, you don’t have to wonder anymore if a screech, whine, or rattle means you need a professional to help.

If you find that you do need a professional, feel free to reach out to us at Best Air and Heat LLC for any AC repair needs.