Best Air And Heating

A Complete Guide on How to Quiet Down a Noisy Furnace

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!

Dec 20

Heating Won’t Turn On? Here’s How to Fix It

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.

Nov 24

The Importance of Preventative HVAC Maintenance in Livingston, Texas

Whether it’s your home or a place of business, there are many small, unseen details that can make a world of difference. Your HVAC system works in the background, giving you a constant feeling of comfort when you need it most.

To keep this unsung hero running, preventative HVAC maintenance is key. From HVAC maintenance plans to budgeting for repairs and upkeep, what you do in between new systems is what keeps a system running.

What is HVAC preventative maintenance? What benefits does preventative HVAC maintenance do for you? You could use an expert and we are here to help. Let’s dive in!

Your Guide to Preventative HVAC Maintenance

There are a number of ways to go about preventative HVAC maintenance. Getting a helpful guide from your service provider is a great start and even small items like routine checkups and small part replacement can go a long way.

What are the benefits of all this HVAC preventative maintenance? The process can be time-consuming and costly, but there are a number of bonuses for you and your system.

1. Saving Money

In the long run, preventative maintenance can save you a lot of money. While small checkups and tuneups can cost money, they can never add up to the cost of a massive repair or full system replacement.

Upkeeping those small items can keep your machine from reaching a point of too much damage and strain.

2. Bettering Your Air Quality

A working HVAC system will not only help to cool or heat your building as you need it, but it also helps to filter the air within your home. When an HVAC system has gotten dirty or broken down, it can clog with dust and debris that transfer into the air you breathe.

Upkeeping your HVAC system brings you better air quality by keeping the dust and grime away.

3. Keeping You Safe

In the hot summer months in Texas, the heat can be unbearable. With no HVAC system to help cool you off, it can be easy to overheat. Even the mild winters can drop to dangerous temperatures in the dead of night.

Maintaining your system means you never have to face the extremes of the world around you!

4. Helping the Environment

Sometimes an HVAC system can still do what it needs to do but in an inefficient way. Without regular tuneups and checks, your HVAC system may be working far harder than it needs to.

This leads to not only higher energy bills, but draining more power can mean the burning of more fossil fuels from the local power plant. A more efficient HVAC system makes for less wasted fuel and a cleaner environment.

5. Getting Less Hassle and Frustration

The final big benefit of preventative maintenance is saving you, and your service provider, all the frustration and headaches of major repairs and replacements.

Tiny efforts keep the big problems in check, which means less expensive visits and work on your hands! While we here at Big Air and Heat are always happy to help, save yourself the trouble, and get your HVAC system the service it deserves.

The Best HVAC Maintenance Around

With a better understanding of the importance of preventative HVAC maintenance, you need a plan to keep up with the small things and keep your HVAC system in top shape.

If you are in the Livingston, Texas area, you have quality HVAC professionals right in your neighborhood. We here at Best Air and Heat have what you need! Contact us today for more information!

Oct 28

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5 Important Qualities to Look for in Air Conditioning Services This Fall

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.

Sep 23

How To Change Your Air Conditioning Filter In 5 Easy Steps

Did you know that air conditioning is an American invention? Way back in 1902, one year before human flight was invented by the Wright Brothers, Willis Carrier was another enterprising inventor. He worked in New York at a publishing company and wanted to find a way to help his ink dry faster.

It wasn’t until a little later that we found out what a great way the air conditioner was to improve our comfort as well!

Replacing your air conditioning filter is an important part of holding on to its ability to provide a comfortable home temperature. Read on to learn how to replace your home’s air filter in just five steps.

1. Find the Right Air Filter Replacement

Whether you have a portable air conditioning unit or a central air conditioning unit, you’ll need to find the right model and size filter for it. Look up the air filter’s model in your air conditioner’s manual.

If you don’t have your manual anymore (most of us don’t), then you can search around on your unit for its name and model. A quick google search for “air filter for _______ air conditioner” should show you exactly what you need to buy.

Don’t mess with your old air conditioner until you have the new air filter for it.

2. Remove Your Old Filter

Your heating and air conditioning unit should have just one convenient way to open up. Open up the panel and look for the piece inside that resembles your new air filter.

Gently pull out the old filter and throw it away.

3. Find the Correct Orientation for Your New Filter

Your air filter won’t work if it’s not facing the right way and snugly fit into the unit. Make sure you orient it the same way that the old air filter was oriented before you removed it.

4. Gently Insert the New Filter

Once you’ve got your air filter oriented correctly, smoothly slide it into place. You shouldn’t have to force it, so apply gentle pressure and don’t force it.

Once the air filter is in place, give a quick spot check to your small air conditioning unit’s seal. The air filter should wrap snugly around, without being too tight.

5. Close Your Air Conditioner and Enjoy!

Once everything is installed, close up your air conditioner and enjoy the results. Not only will your home stay cooler, but your air conditioning unit cost will go down. A fresh air filter increases efficiency and lowers your energy costs (as well as the cost to the environment!).

The same benefits come from keeping your unit repaired and well maintained in other ways, too. For more complicated jobs, you may need quality professionals to help you.

Your Air Conditioning Filter Keeps Your HVAC System Working At Its Peak

We hope you learned something helpful about how to change and maintain your home’s air conditioning filter in this brief article.

To learn more about how to find the best air conditioning and heating service in your area, get in touch with us!

Aug 28

How to Create a DIY HVAC Maintenance Checklist for Your Home

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.

Jul 24

Breathe Easy: 5 Simple Ways to Improve Indoor Air Quality

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.

Jul 20

5 Tips to Successful Summer Maintenance for HVAC Systems

Did you know that close to 200 people die each year in July alone from heat exposure?

While summer often signals an opportunity to take a break and have fun, it also ushers in scorching heat for much of the United States. Much of the country is expecting above-average temperatures for summer.

As the heat arrives, there is summer maintenance you should attend to on your HVAC system. If you fail to check on your HVAC and give it preventative care, you may find yourself with a unit that is underperforming and a home that feels like an oven.

This article will give five tips for summer maintenance on your HVAC so that you can keep enjoying a cool home in the middle of a heatwave outside.

1. Condenser Coils

Over time, condenser coils can get dirty. They get caked with dirt and debris. Turn the power off that leads to your condenser, then spray it off with a garden hose. This should remove most of the dirt and debris that might be clogging the condenser.

A dirt condenser coil will have problems with transferring warm air from the inside of your home to the outside world. When condenser coils are dirty, it leads to your HVAC being less effective at keeping your home cool.

2. Filter

Depending upon your living situation, you should be replacing air filters for your HVAC system every 3 weeks to a few months.

Do you have multiple pets? Or live in an area that’s dusty or has lots of air pollutants? If so, you’ll likely want to change the filter every 3 weeks. Your filter can quickly become clogged with pet hair and dust, which creates a strain on the HVAC system.

Buy a new filter and change it to keep your HVAC running at optimal levels. The filter will help to trap airborne pollutants and will keep them from reappearing in your home.

3. Refrigerant

Refrigerant is an important aspect of your HVAC system. Refrigerant is what helps transfer hot air from indoors to outdoors, then circulate cool air back into your home.

As you can see, the refrigerant is vital to the operation of your HVAC system. If it runs low or out of refrigerant, it won’t be able to perform its job. Speak with a technician to have them handle refilling your refrigerant if you suspect it is low.

4. Electrical System

HVAC systems can have complex wiring that needs repairs every once in a while. Wires can deteriorate from exposure. At the sites where wires connect to something, they can occasionally overheat and degrade from scorching.

Check over the internals of your HVAC. If you notice any blackened, scorch marks on the wiring, call a technician.

5. Thermostat

The thermostat is an integral part of your HVAC system. If the thermostat isn’t functioning properly, your air conditioner won’t be able to detect when it needs to turn on and cool your home down.

Keep Up With Summer Maintenance and Prosper

As long as you follow a bit of summer maintenance for your HVAC system, you should be able to enjoy a cool home all through summer. Preventative care is essential to finding a problem and fixing it before it spirals into a more costly repair.

If you need your HVAC system checked over or repaired, Best Air Conditioning & Heating LLC is here for your cooling needs. Contact us today to book an appointment.

Jun 08

How to Hurricane-Proof Your Home: 5 Key Things to Do