Snell Home Services

Oil is designed to preserve the parts and components in a compressor. In addition, the oil in a central air conditioner is utilized to prevent high operational temperatures in the compressor. Once the supply of oil becomes too low, the interior of the compressor will become too warm and refrigerant will start to leak.

A gas furnace will need to produce a gas pressure rating of 3.2 to 3.8 in. wc to create a sufficient amount of heat energy for your household. If the pressure is too high or low, a technician will adjust the gas pressure to ensure the heating cycle is efficient and safe.

The collection of dirt and debris in a gas burner will block the distribution of natural gas and oxygen in the furnace. The easiest way to remove rust and dirt is to use a rough brush. Use air to eliminate dust and contaminants in the interior of a gas burner. Once a gas burner becomes too dirty, it will take longer for the pilot light or electronic ignition system to ignite the gas.

A licensed technician will connect a multimeter to the flame sensor to obtain an analysis of the heat output of your gas furnace. If your furnace is operating properly, the screen on the multimeter should display 1.5 to 4 uA. Some types of furnaces are designed to produce an output of 0.5 uA. A contractor will perform an inspection of the flame sensor to prevent failure.

A standard furnace is equipped with a single heat exchanger that is engineered to maintain the flames and heat energy in the system. On the other hand, a condensing furnace features a second heat exchanger that is designed to collect heat energy from water vapor. Condensing furnaces are engineered to preserve natural gas.

Most new houses are equipped with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) sewer pipes. This is a type of plastic that is durable, lightweight, and easy to connect. PVC pipes are engineered to resist tree roots and water leaks beneath the ground. If you discover a sewage leak in your household, it’s likely that your PVC sewer pipes were not installed properly.

Bituminized fiber pipes were a standard piping material that was used by contractors in the 1800’s. This type of Orangeburg pipe was eliminated between 1950 to 1970 because it is fragile. Bituminized pipes are constructed with sheets of wood and pitch. This type of pipe was eliminated because it is susceptible to cracks and holes.

As the Vitrified Clay Pipes (VCP) or clay tile pipes on your property become older, cracks will start to form near the hubbed fittings. This type of ceramic clay pipe is produced with shale and clay. Vitrified Clay Pipes should not be installed close to trees on your property because they ordinarily begin to leak as they become older.

Sewer pipes in older houses were assembled with cast iron. These pipes were popular because they are designed to resist the movement of dirt and land. In addition, cast iron pipes are highly resistant to tree roots. On the other hand, a disadvantage of cast iron pipes is corrosion. It is not uncommon for rust to form in the interior of these pipes.

A downflow furnace is designed to be installed in areas such as attics and crawl spaces. Cold air enters this type of furnace from the top. Once the temperature of the air is satisfactory, the warm air exists near the bottom of the furnace. Downflow furnaces are equipped to circulate air to ductwork that is configured below the furnace.

If you have a limited amount of space to install your new gas or electric furnace, we recommend purchasing a heating system that is designed to be configured horizontally. Horizontal furnaces feature a return air duct on one side and a supply duct on the other side. This type of furnace is typically installed in attics and tight supply closets.

Cold air in your house enters an upflow furnace at the bottom. Once the air is warm, it is distributed to the supply air ducts from the top of the furnace. On other types of upflow systems, the return air duct is located on either the left or right side of the blower motor. An upflow furnace is engineered to accommodate air ducts that are above the installation location.

It’s no secret that the cost of natural gas is lower when compared to electricity. Purchasing a gas furnace will help decrease the total cost of your utility bills on a monthly basis. In addition, gas furnaces provide heat to your home at a faster rate than electric furnaces.

The expansion valve is a small valve that is connected to the refrigerant pipe. The refrigerant pipe is designed to distribute refrigerant from the outdoor condenser and compressor to the evaporator coil in your household. The expansion valve is integrated with a miniature orifice that is designed to inhibit the flow of refrigerant to the coils. If the valve is broken, the compressor not receive enough refrigerant and will overheat.

Oil is designed to preserve the parts and components in a compressor. In addition, the oil is utilized to prevent high operational temperatures in the compressor. Once the supply of oil becomes too low, the interior of the compressor will become too warm and refrigerant will start to leak. To prevent damage to the compressor, our team of HVAC technicians will add oil to the compressor to prevent it from overheating.

The main steps of a furnace tune-up or repair consist of cleaning the gas burners, measuring the gas pressure, inspecting the flame sensor, and performing an audit of the combustion process. A technician will connect a multimeter to the flame sensor to obtain an analysis of the heat output. The screen on the multimeter should display 1.5 to 4 uA. Other types of furnace are designed to produce an output of 0.5 uA.

Most new houses are equipped with Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) sewer pipes. This is a type of plastic that is durable, lightweight, and easy to connect. PVC pipes are engineered to resist tree roots and water leaks beneath the ground. On the other hand, the movement of soil may cause cracks to form in your PVC pipes. If you notice clogged drains in your house, call an emergency plumber to perform an inspection of your PVC sewer pipes.

Bituminized fiber pipes were a standard piping material that was used by contractors in the 1800’s. Bituminized or Orangeburg pipes are constructed with sheets of wood and pitch. Orangeburg pipes were popular in the past because they are light and easy to install. However, this type of pipe was eliminated between 1950 to 1970 because it is fragile. To prevent a sewage leak, it's important to replace your bituminized fiber pipes.

Vitrified clay pipes are commonly used in sewer mains because they are resistant to corrosion. As the vitrified clay pipes on your property become older, cracks will start to form near the fittings. This type of pipe should not be installed close to trees or bushes on your property because they ordinarily begin to leak as they become older.

Sewer pipes in older houses were assembled with cast iron. These pipes were popular in the past because they are designed to resist the movement of dirt and land. On the other hand, a disadvantage of cast iron pipes is corrosion. Once this type of pipe reaches the end of its life cycle, rust will start to form in the interior of the pipe. Cast iron pipes are no longer used for water or sewer lines in new houses.

The pipes in your ceiling or walls may be integrated with air containers. An air container is a shock buffer that consists of a couple of pipes that are filled with air. The shock buffer is designed to provide resistance to movement behind your walls. To eliminate movement, the shock absorber converts the kinetic energy in your pipes into another type of energy.

The rattling noises behind your walls may be due to moving water pipes. This type of problem can be caused by a water valve that has closed in your pipes. Once the water valve is closed, the water in your pipes may crash into the valve and cause your water lines to move. A rattling or banging noise is caused by pipes that are hitting wall studs, wires, or other water lines.

If you notice a burning odor while your central air conditioner is on, this may be a sign of issues such as a malfunctioning compressor or faulty wiring. On the other hand, a musty odor may be caused by mold or mildew in your air ducts. This issue occurs when the drain pipes in your air conditioner become clogged.

If the air in your home feels hot and humid, this is a signal of a dirty evaporator coil. Prior to cleaning the coils, we recommend turning your air conditioner off. Next, you will be required to remove the screws and detach the access panel. To clean the coils, grab a soft brush to remove the dust from your system. You may also decide to use compressed air to clean your coils.

Once the fins on a central air conditioner become bent, the airflow to the system will become restricted. Prior to adjusting the fins on your air conditioner, it’s important to deactivate your system. Next. unfasten the access panel and grille to gain access to the damaged fins. Insert your adjustment tool at the base of the fins and move upwards to straighten them.

Many homeowners believe that keeping a central air conditioner on throughout the day will help save money on monthly utility bills. This is a myth that has existed in the HVAC industry for years. The only way to save money on your cooling and electricity bills is to deactivate your central air conditioning system when you are not home. Keeping your air conditioner on throughout the day will use an excessive amount of energy.

If your central air conditioner is releasing steam or smoke into the air, this is an indicator of a clogged drain pipe. A blockage in your drainage pipe will cause a collection of moisture to form in your system. The only way to fix this issue is to eliminate the clog in your pipes. Once the flow of moisture is restored in the drain pipes, your air conditioner will no longer produce steam.

The efficiency of a storage tank hot water heater is determined by its Energy Factor (EF) rating. The efficiency of a water heater is dependent on the total quantity of warm water produced when compared to the amount of energy utilized on a standard day. The Energy Factor (EF) will vary based on cycling and standby losses produced by the water heater.

The total number of family members in your house that are able to shower with a 40-gallon water heater will be dependent on how long each shower session is. An average household is able to take two showers each hour with a 40-gallon hot water heater. If you are always running low on hot water, this is an indicator that your 40-gallon hot water heater is too small for your house.

The total amount of time your hot water heater operates each day is dependent on your water usage patterns. If you utilize your dishwasher and washing machine on a daily basis, the gas or electric water heater in your house will be required to operate for a longer period of time to fulfill the demand for warm water. The total amount of time a storage tank water heater operates each day is around 3 hours.

There are a couple of different reasons your furnace may be leaking water during the Winter season. Water leaks that occur near the base of the furnace are likely caused by condensation. A furnace leak may also be caused by a malfunctioning secondary heat exchanger. Our team will often recommend purchasing a new furnace instead of repairing a secondary heat exchanger to save money. Additionally, a furnace leak may also be an indicator of issues with the humidifier. You will experience issues with the humidifier if you don’t perform annual furnace tune-up and repair. If the leak is caused by a furnace humidifier, we recommend scheduling an emergency furnace repair appointment with our team to avoid damage to your unit. Give us a call by phone at (703) 574-0739 to receive help with a furnace leak.

If your furnace is blowing cold air, this may be due to a malfunctioning pilot light. We recommend checking the light to confirm if its not working. The pilot light is engineered to activate the burners and heating process. Without a functioning pilot light, the furnace will be unable to produce heat. To re-light the pilot light, you will need to find the pilot assembly and reset switch. The switch is usually located near the bottom of the furnace. Once you find the reset switch, move it to the off position to turn off the gas. Wait a couple of minutes prior to moving the reset switch to the on position to allow extra gas to exit from the chamber. Move the reset switch to Pilot mode to allow gas to be sent to the pilot light. Next, press the reset button on your furnace and hold a match in front of the pilot light to confirm it is receiving gas. If you are able to produce a flame, release the reset button. Your furnace should now be operating properly.

Are you wondering how much a new furnace will cost? The cost will vary based on brand, model, and efficiency ratings. In addition, the type of fuel or energy the furnace relies on will affect the total price. The average price of a new electric furnace will be between $700 - $2,000 while the cost of a gas furnace will be from $1,200 - $2,400. High efficiency furnace systems will cost more money. However, these types of systems will save you money overtime. We provide reliable furnace services to homes in Virginia. We will help you determine the cost of a new furnace and will also perform the installation. Give us a call by phone at (703) 574-0739 to receive help.

The total lifespan of your furnace will be dependant on the brand, model, daily usage patterns, and the surrounding climate. In addition, the lifespan of your furnace will vary based on the type of fuel that is utilized to heat your home. An electric furnace features a lifespan between 20 - 30 years. On the other hand, gas furnaces are able to operate between 15 - 20 years. If you have access to the gas supply system in your area, a gas furnace is an excellent choice since it will cost less to operate when compared to electric models. In contrast, electric furnaces will feature a lower upfront and installation price. Our team provides emergency furnace repair, tune-up, and installation services in Virginia. Call us by phone at (703) 574-0739 to receive help choosing a new furnace.

When you are in the process of purchasing a new furnace for your home, it is important to choose the correct size to ensure a comfortable home. The total output that is produced by a furnace is referred to as a British Thermal Unit (BTU). Most furnaces feature a BTU rating between 80,000 and 100,000. We recommend comparing the BTU ratings and energy efficiency levels of various furnaces prior to selecting a system. Choosing a furnace with a 100,000 BTU rating doesn’t necessarily mean it will heat your home properly. If the furnace is inefficient, there may be areas of your home that will not receive enough heat. It’s also important to know the heat load of your home prior to choosing a furnace size. If you accidentally purchase a furnace size that is too small for your home, it will be difficult to provide heat to each of the rooms. We offer furnace repair and install services to homes in Virginia. Give us a call by phone at (703) 574-0739 to receive help with sizing a furnace.