Tri Star Heating and Cooling
***                  859-282-7827               ***
GREAT SERVICE AT AFFORDABLE PRICES!
  • Home
  • Residential Services
  • Commercial Services
  • Products
  • Special Offers
    • Air Conditioning Tuneup
    • Air Conditioning Repair
    • Furnace Repair
  • Request Services
  • KY HVAC Blog
  • Financing Available
    • Get Preapproved
  • Service Areas
  • Home Automation

We're Here to Help!

Read our weekly articles on how to care for your home's HVAC system and keep your family in the comfortable lifestyle they're accustomed to

Read more

SPRINGTIME:  TIME TO PREPARE YOUR AIR CONDITIONER IN BURLINGTON, KY AND THE TRI-STATE

3/31/2014

0 Comments

 
Picturesource: http://www.123rf.com/photo_13500023
Old Man Winter has hung around for quite a while this year.  Most of us are eager to say “So Long!” to the cold weather and “Welcome Back!” to the warmer temperatures.  When doing your spring cleaning, don’t forget these few tips for preparing your air conditioner in Burlington, KY and every city across the country that’s getting ready for the new season.  We’ve had record breaking snow fall and temperatures for the last five months.  So it’s with a kick in our step that we look forward to opening up the windows and letting in the fresh air. 

Preparing Your Air Conditioner

1.       Replace Your Filter.  If this seems obvious, it is.  However, air conditioners in Burlington, KY and everywhere are breaking down because they are overworked.  This is a simple maintenance task that is easily forgotten.  It is important to check your filter monthly.  If dirt is building up that means your air conditioner is working harder than it should to pull in air.  Think of breathing through a blanket and each month the blanket gets thicker.  The filter is at the mouth of your air conditioner and if it’s dirty it blocks the flow of air.  Set a reminder on your calendar or phone to check it monthly.  This will save you money and increase the life of your air conditioner in Burlington and everywhere!

2.       Clean Away Debris.  Your air conditioner unit is outside.  It is exposed to falling leaves, bird droppings, weeds and other wind-blown debris.  It’s important to keep the area surrounding your air conditioner clean and clear of anything that may block the flow of air.  Heavy landscaping should also be avoided.  Air conditioners in Burlington, KY are especially subject to blowing leaves, small tree limbs and other items that come with the heavy rains and storms we experience during every season. Simply taking a rake and clearing everything away when you’re working in your yard this spring will do the job!

3.       Check Your Refrigerant Level.  Your air conditioner, just like your car, uses chemicals to transfer heat from one place to another.  However, it does not “consume” the refrigerant when it is operating the correct way so the levels should remain the same at all times.  If your refrigerant level in your air conditioner is low, this might be a sign of a significant problem and you should call your trusted HVAC contractor immediately.  Regardless of the extreme weather changes we can experience in Burlington, KY, air conditioner refrigerant levels should not be affected. 

4.       Schedule Your Tune Up.  Even if you follow the first three steps in this article, it is important to get schedule a tune up before relying on your air conditioner.  A good HVAC contractor will be able to make assessments on any future issues that you can avoid, make adjustments necessary for your air conditioner to run efficiently and let you know if there’s anything you can do to increase the life of your system.  They can also take care of Step 3 (checking your refrigerant level) if you are uncomfortable doing it. 

Taking good care of your air conditioner goes a long way to prolonging its life and avoiding expensive repairs that pop up unexpectedly.  Make sure you don’t delay

Tri-Star Heating & Cooling has earned its reputation as a leading NKY HVAC Contractor by providing the best heating and air conditioning products and services to the entire Greater Cincinnati area for over 30 years.  We are dedicated to the principles of quality services at affordable pricing while delivering the latest in products and technology.  


0 Comments

CLEARING UP THE CONFUSION ABOUT FURNACE FILTERS

12/17/2013

0 Comments

 
Picture
If you ever asked an HVAC repairman how often you should change the filter on your furnace, you might have received different, and sometimes confusing answers.  We thought we’d try to clarify things for you.  Turns out, there is no one specific answer that applies to every household.  Here are some factors to consider:


1.       Do you own a pet?

2.       Does someone in your household smoke?

3.       Does someone in your household suffer from severe allergies?

4.       Is your home a busy place or quiet with only one or two people?

Some of these questions are more obvious than others, so we’ll explain why the answers to all of them matter. 

Do You Own a Pet?

If the answer is yes, then the next question would be:  How much does it shed?  It isn’t hard to figure out why this would matter.  If you have a loving Labrador who leaves hair everywhere they visit, then it is likely that hair is traveling through the air and may end up on your furnace filter.  Not everyone has the time to sweep up the dog or cat hair every single day.   Having a pet that sheds even minimally, can increase the number of times you need to change the filter on your furnace each year. 

Does Someone in Your Household Smoke?

Again, this is not a hard question to figure out.  If someone is smoking in your house, then be certain your filter is pulling double duty with regards to cleaning the air.  As all air travels through the filter, the fibers in the filter catch the smoke and other particles, holding them back and returning clean air to the home.  Because of the smoke, your filter will clog or become dirtier more quickly.  This will, in turn, increase the need for changing the filter more often. 

Does Someone in Your Household Suffer From Severe Allergies?

If the answer is yes, then changing your filter more often will be a requirement.  Additional options include purchasing a higher quality filter that has a heavier fiber content which cleans the air more thoroughly.  Getting rid of the dust and dirt in the air is important to allergy sufferers.  The cleaner the air, the easier it is to breathe. 

Is Your Home a Busy Place or Quiet With Only one or two People?

This might be the oddest question of all for some people.  However, when we move about in our house, this literally stirs up the dust.  In fact, most of the dust in the air is there due to movement or activity in the home.  Because of this, it makes sense that more active homes may have more dust in the air due to the constant activity.  A quieter home is more likely to have less dust because there is not as much commotion causing it to stir up. 

Your answers to the above questions will affect how often your furnace filter needs changed every year.  However, it is best for all of us to set reminders to check it at least every few months.  If you answered yes to more than one of the questions, and your house is a busy household, you are better off checking your filter each month.  When you check the filter, simply look at how dirty it is.  If you notice a lot of dirt, then change it.  If you cannot see any dirt, then you are fine.  Always keep an extra filter on hand so that you can change it as needed instead of waiting to remember to pick up another one from the store. 

The quality of your filter may also have an effect on how often it should be changed.  A higher quality filter will clean the air more thoroughly, even getting bacteria in some cases.  Because of this, they may need changing more often.  Simply set regular reminders based on the characteristics of your home, and always have an extra filter on hand.  


0 Comments
    Picture
    859-282-7827
    Around the Clock 
    Air Conditioning & Heating Services

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Air Conditioner
    Filter Care
    Furnace Repair
    KY HVAC
    Saving Money
    Smart Home

    RSS Feed