SM Mechanical Services LLC

When your AC freezes up, either inside or at the outdoor unit, you have a problem. When your AC is frozen, you could subject your system to serious damage if it isn’t addressed promptly.

While boilers and furnaces both send heat into a home, a furnace uses forced air into a house through ducts. A boiler heats up water and sends steam or hot material throughout pipeworks in a home. These pipes radiate heat outward into a house or radiant floor system. These unique systems require different repairs.

This usually indicates some sort of miscue between the thermostat and the A/C. However, it can burn out your A/C fast. Call for professional help

Furnace installation improves indoor air quality and the comfort level of your home because a new furnace is more efficient.

Yes we service nearby areas as well!

Since there’s no ductwork allowing air to escape through gaps and leaks, and you control when/how they operate, mini-split systems are highly efficient options that cool your space at a fraction of the cost of other traditional units, saving you a lot of money in the long run.

If you have a relatively new AC unit, it may be cost-effective to simply fix a small malfunction — since your unit will likely continue to run for years on end. On the other hand, if you have a unit that is fairly old, and has broken down or it is inefficient, it may be best to swap out your unit for a new model.

Most air conditioner units tend to last between 10 and 15 years. Your air conditioner may last shorter or longer depending on the model that you have, how well you maintain the unit, and how often your unit clicks on during the summer month.

Most modern whole-home furnaces cost between $2,250 and $3,800 for a natural gas unit. It costs roughly $2,000 to $2,500 to install most furnace units. Costs will vary depending on the model purchased, the location of the installation, and whether or not the current HVAC vents will need to be retro-fitted for your new furnace. You can learn more about furnace replacements and installations here: https://smmechanicalservices.com/heating-services/new-furnace-installation/

Furnace repair costs will vary depending on the component or components that require service. Most repairs tend to cost between $150 and $400. Feel free to learn more about our furnace repair services here: https://smmechanicalservices.com/furnace-repair-maintenance/

There are several things that you can do to keep your heating costs low throughout the coldest months of the year. Here are some tips: Invest in insulation: If your losing heat through the walls of your home, then it can be difficult to maintain a consistent, comfortable temperature, let alone a low heating bill. Consider investing in an inspection to assess the insulation in your home. You can even hire an inspector with a thermal camera to locate where heat is leaking out of your home, and where you need better insulation. Update your windows and doors: If you have inefficient doors and windows throughout your house, then your home is bleeding precious warm air out into the open. Ask yourself: Do I have windows with double panes? What’s the R-rating of my doors (a rate of resistance to heat flow through a material)? How old are my windows? Are my doors outdated? If you don’t know how efficient your doors and windows are, and you can’t remember when they were installed, then it’s likely that they’re outdated. Modern doors and windows are far more efficient and they’ll keep the heat in your home, and the cold out. Shop around for doors and windows with high R-values. Recaulk seams throughout your home: If your doors and windows are up to date, you may still lose heat through the seams between your walls and your doors and windows. It’s important to keep an intact coat of caulk along these seams to defend against heat loss (as well as to prevent moisture from infiltrating your home). Caulk both the interior and exterior of your windows and doors. Keep new filters in your HVAC system: Your furnace filter ensures that your home’s air is pure and free from debris and allergens. However, these filters can quickly become clogged as your system pulls in fresh air. If your filter is gunked up with grime, then you should replace it to keep the hot air flowing, and to keep your heating costs low. Filters are relatively inexpensive, and you can easily make up for the cost of a new filter throughout the cold season. Maintain your furnace: Like your car, your furnace endures wear and tear that will affect its performance. That’s why it’s crucial to maintain your furnace at least once per year to keep all of the components running efficiently. We can lubricate the motor of your fan, change out filters, remove debris from the system, and perform other tasks that will help to ensure that your furnace runs smoothly. Consider upgrading your furnace: If you have high energy bills, you may have a poor furnace. If your furnace is more than a decade old, it may be fairly inefficient, and a newer model could reduce your heating bills. You may also have a furnace that isn’t the appropriate size for your home. If your furnace is too small, it will work overtime to heat your home. We can install a new furnace in your home, if you believe your furnace is outdated or undersized.

If you have a furnace that isn’t working, but you aren’t sure whether or not its best to repair or replace your unit, you’ll have to weigh the upfront and long-term costs of an installation or repair. For instance, if you have a small upfront repair cost (like a faulty ignition) that will keep your furnace running for several years into the future, it’s worth it to repair the problem rather than to swap out the entire unit. You may also have a significant problem (such as deteriorated interior components that have become detached), then it may be time to upgrade your furnace. Keep in mind that while it may be less expensive to repair your furnace upfront, it may not be a lasting solution if you’ll need to replace your furnace in the next couple of years. On the other hand, if you have a nearly new furnace, then it may be best to repair it to keep costs low while keeping your heating system operational. If you’re curious about your current situation, just reach out to us. We’ll assess the damage on your furnace, and let you know about the best option for your particular scenario.

Most furnaces that you’ll find in residents will last between 15 and 20 years before they fail entirely. That said, some modern units are lasting well past 20 years, and the longevity of your furnace will vary depending on how much you utilize your furnace, and how often you maintain its components. We recommend a yearly furnace maintenance program to ensure that your heater lasts as long as it is designed to. If your furnace is on its last leg, we’d be happy to install a new furnace — in fact, you can get a free quote right here: https://smmechanicalservices.com/get-a-free-quote/

If you have a gas furnace and you have a pilot light that has gone out, it’s important to be cautious, since your home may actually fill with gas. Before you get started, be sure to turn your pilot switch to “Off.” Most furnaces are outfitted with a switch or a dial that will close the pilot light valve, sealing off the small gas flow that normally feeds your pilot light. Let the air around your pilot and furnace dissipate for at least five minutes before you attempt to light the pilot. You should not smell gas when attempting to light your pilot. Next, once any flammable gas has had a chance to dissipate, you can relight your pilot. Some pilot lighters have a built in ignition source, while others have a small door in which you can use a long lighter to ignite the pilot flame. For most furnaces, you’ll turn the knob or push the lever to “Pilot” mode, and then press an automatic ignition button or use a long lighter to introduce a flame once the pilot gas is flowing. Take note, the furnace should not be in “On” mode until the pilot light has been lit. Once your pilot light is lit, you can close the door for the pilot (if there is one), and then you can switch your furnace to “On” mode. Make sure your thermometer is on, and check to see if your furnace clicks on by turning it to “Heat” mode. You should be able to notice that your furnace is working (it will make noise, and eventually heat your home). Consult your furnace owner’s manual for full instructions for your specific furnace, and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.

Again, costs can vary vastly, depending on the size of the unit, the model of the unit, and additional factors surrounding the installation of the unit. That said, most air conditioner installations will cost between $500 (for small units) and $4,000 (for larger, whole-home forced central air units).

While repair costs can vary vastly depending on the issue at hand and whether or not you’ll need to replace components, most AC unit repairs cost between $500 and $1,900. You can get a free quote for your project today! https://smmechanicalservices.com/get-a-free-quote/

Improving the efficiency of your home and its AC unit can save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. If you’re looking to improve the performance of your AC unit and the efficiency of your abode, follow these tips: Invest in insulation: Your home’s insulation is its defense against hot air in the summer. Insulation slows the heat gain between your walls and the interior and exterior of your home. If you have poor insulation, heat will make its way into your home, no problem. You may be able to retrofit your home with better insulation (like spray-in insulation) that will improve its efficiency. Update your windows and doors: Your doors and windows are weak points for the efficiency of your home. If you have outdated or poor-quality windows and doors, then heat may be seeping in. Invest in doors and windows with a high R-value (a number which represents how well a material resists heat transfer). You can find thick doors with built-in insulation and multi-pane windows with high R-values. Recaulk seams throughout your home: While you’re looking at the doors and windows of your home, it’s a good time to check the caulking around these weak points. Make sure there is a thick, intact layer of caulking around the interior and exterior edges of your windows and doors. Caulking ensures that your seams are sealed, keeping hot air from flowing into your home during the warm months of the year. Keep new filters in your AC system: Your air filter captures particles that you don’t want to have in your home. However, over time these particles will build up and restrict the airflow into your home, which means that cool air won’t pump into your abode. Invest in new air filters when your old filters get gunked up, it’s worth the small cost of a filter to reduce those energy bills. Maintain your air conditioner: Your air conditioner is made out of a variety of components and moving parts. As such, any wear and tear can prove to make these parts inefficient. With regular AC maintenance, you can keep those moving parts operating smoothly, so that your unit runs effortlessly. We recommend a scheduled maintenance program for your air conditioner at least once per year. With all of our maintenance service calls, we provide a thorough cleaning of your AC unit, a thermostat calibration, we replace air filters, we tighten component connections, we lubricate the motors of your unit, and we test your system — thus improving the longevity and efficiency of your machine. Consider upgrading your AC unit: If you have high energy costs, you could have an air conditioner that is poorly suited for your house. Oftentimes, folks have AC units that are too small for their home, and these units have to run constantly as they try to keep the air consistently cool. Ideally, your AC unit won’t turn on more than three or four times in an hour. If it remains on, or it turns on more often than that, then your unit may be too small. If you need to pull out your current unit and install a new AC unit, we can help.

That depends. If you have a relatively new AC unit, it may be cost effective to simply fix a small malfunction — since your unit will likely continue to run for years on end. On the other hand, if you have a unit that is fairly old, and it has broken down or it is inefficient, it may be best to swap out your unit for a new model. For some repairs, like a broken fan, your unit can be repaired fairly inexpensively, while other repairs, like a compressor failure, can cost nearly as much as an entirely new unit. If you’re curious about the best option for your particular issue, we can diagnose the problem at hand, and we’ll let you know what makes the most sense for your specific scenario. Simply give us a call to get started!

Most air conditioner units tend to last between 10 and 15 years. That said, your air conditioner may last shorter or longer depending on the model that you have, how well you maintain the unit, and how often your unit clicks on during the summer months. If you think you need to replace your AC unit, you can learn more about our AC installation services (https://smmechanicalservices.com/air-conditioning-and-ventilation/ac-repair-maintenance/) or you can give us a call with any questions that you may have.

If your air conditioner isn’t operating you could have any number of problems that are to blame. For instance, you may have an electrical problem that is preventing your air conditioner from clicking on. Or, you may have a thermometer that is poorly calibrated, which means that your unit won’t turn on when it should. You may also have a frozen evaporator coil (which cools the air that pumps through your home) which will reduce the efficiency of your AC unit and damage its components. You may also have a broken fan, or you may have a clogged air filter, among other issues. When you notice that your home won’t remain at a cool temperature through the warmest months of the year, we can take a look at your AC unit and ventilation to assess the source of the problem — and then we’ll get to work fixing your cooling system right away. Just reach out to us or get a quick, free quote in a few clicks to get started: https://smmechanicalservices.com/get-a-free-quote/