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What You Probably Don’t Know about Refrigerants

HVAC

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What you Already Know

I think most people can relate to the refrigerants used for a car’s air conditioner. You might have heard someone saying that the refrigerant needs to be recharged, especially with an older car. What they mean is that the freon (or refrigerant in newer cars) needs to be replaced because the pressure is too low. The refrigerant might have leaked, which is kind of scary when you think about the environmental implications. Most people know that they have to take a car to a repair shop to get this kind of work done. That same system and components are in your home’s heating and cooling system. If you have a heat pump, this refrigerant is used for both heating and cooling.

A Recent Change

A change just recently happened in January 2020 where a refrigerant called R-22, or freon, is no longer being produced. (It’s still available for a high price, but it’s being phased out.) A refrigerant called R-410A is being made now, and it’s much more environmentally friendly than R-22. HVAC units older than 2010 year models more than likely use R-22 refrigerant. So, if one of these older units has a leak, you’re not going to be able to recharge it any longer simply because the Freon/R-22 isn’t going to be available anymore. In other words, you’ll have to shop for a new HVAC system.

Proper Care and Handling of Refrigerant

Not just anyone is capable of having a refrigerant in their custody or using it to recharge a system. These substances are not meant for use by anyone except those with proper certification. Our technicians are EPA certified, and we are required by the EPA to track the use and storage of all refrigerants. That’s something we take extremely seriously because refrigerants shouldn’t get out into the environment.

If anyone has an HVAC system and thinks it might need to be replaced, repaired, or checked for refrigerant levels, reach out to us today. Request an appointment, contact us, or give us a call at 540-483-9382. We can set up a cool or heat check, depending on the season. We’ll also be able to check that the refrigerant levels are properly aligned with that particular piece of equipment.

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Here’s a 5-item checklist everyone can use for heating and cooling each quarter of the year:

Replace indoor air filters.

Everyone’s HVAC system has an air filter somewhere inside the home. It may be behind your return grille, it may be a whole house air filter that’s next to the HVAC unit, or it could be an air filter that’s just right on top of the unit. It’s so important that those filters are changed and maintained. One point I would like to mention about filters is that it’s easy to go to a big box store or hardware store and find filters marketed as being able to trap allergens. You need to be very careful with those types of products because they have very fine filtration, which can get stopped up really easily. Yes, they do catch a lot of stuff, but they’re not going to last anywhere nearly as long as a normal fiberglass filter. If you do get one of these types of products, you’ll have to replace them more often.

Clean and clear outside units.

Most people in our area have heat pumps, which have a unit outside of the house. Generally, it’s located along the outside wall of the house somewhere. In the fall, it’s a good idea to make sure there are no leaves near the unit. In the winter when we may have snow for a long period of time, make sure that there isn’t any snow buildup on or around the unit. Pollen or other debris should also be removed before it has a chance to build up. Additionally, you should make sure not to set objects like water hoses on top of the unit.

Keep indoor floors clean.

The floor around the inside unit—regardless of whether it’s a gas furnace or even an air handler—should be kept clean. This is where the unit draws in air, and sometimes there are leaks around the return air. If this area is really dusty or it has a lot of pet dander, it can get sucked up into the system. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep the floor around the return air grille clean. The filter blocks these things from getting into the system for the most part, but not around the unit.

Turn off water to humidifiers during summer.

The humidifier is an indoor item that isn’t needed during the summer. You wouldn’t want it dripping water, and you also wouldn’t want anything within the unit to malfunction. That’s why turning off the water to the humidifier during this season is a good idea.

Keep an eye on the condensate drain.

Most indoor units have a condensate line. Some units (like gas furnaces) will condensate year-round, while others (like heat pumps or air handlers) will just condensate in the summer. Just make sure that you’re keeping an eye on it because sometimes the condensate drains or the inside pan can get stopped up. If you see any water around the unit, you’ll definitely want to get it checked out before a flood or water damage occurs inside the house.

For homeowners who want an easy way to keep their heating and cooling systems well-maintained, we offer a Diamond Club membership. Included with the membership is one free annual plumbing visit where a technician flushes the water heater and inspects the plumbing. It also includes two free maintenance checks for the HVAC: one for the heating and one for the cooling. This is an ideal plan to check the system and make sure it won’t encounter problems in the future. If you have any questions, contact us, or give us a call at 540-483-9382.

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Right now, we’re really focusing on bringing on apprentices onto our team. We do hire people with no experience in all areas of the field, whether that be water treatment, plumbing, HVAC, HVAC/plumbing installation, or HVAC techs. Although someone might not have any experience or have absolutely no idea what they’re getting into, we can put them through a training program specifically suited for what they’ll be doing. One thing every technician within our company is definitely going to experience is a lot of training. It’s centered around the technical aspects of the job, but it also covers soft skills like how to communicate important details to our clients in an effective manner. The training process will take a different amount of time for everybody, but it generally takes around 6 to 8 months for someone starting at a very low skill level.

 

People coming from factory or assembly line work regularly tell us that they were tired of doing monotonous tasks. Some people just don’t thrive in an environment where they do the same thing over and over, every day. Fortunately, a tech’s day-to-day activities are very diverse. Our technicians visit one or more homes on a daily basis. The job could involve a shower faucet one day, then a toilet or a water heater on the next. The customer’s needs always keep things interesting and fresh.

 

Almost every aspect of a homeowner’s life is tied to relying on working plumbing (like running water, a working toilet, a working kitchen sink, etc.). Sometimes they can be upset about a problem or fearful about what it might cost to have it repaired. When we repair one of those fixtures to make them functional again, or even when we upgrade them to work much better, the job that we’re doing is extremely fulfilling. This is truly a customer service industry, and we sometimes say that we’re here to repair the client. I think we have the opportunity to really impact people and build relationships while we fix their plumbing problem.

 

One of our main values is family. (You can use the word team here whenever it’s in a professional setting). Whenever I think about family, what comes to mind is the people who have my back, those who I can count on, and those who I can be open with. But the idea of family also comes with expectations, tension, challenging times, and tough conversations. Those things exist in healthy families, and they are imperative for growth. I think it is very rewarding to be part of a family/team with all these qualities. If you get stumped on a plumbing problem as a technician, you can call another technician or manager for guidance and support. Our service managers have technical ability because they’ve been in the field themselves. I think that’s what brings the family atmosphere together.

 

For anybody interested in learning more about joining the team at Wisler Plumbing & Air and perhaps becoming an apprentice technician, visit WislerJobs.com. Once you apply online, Maryanne will field the application and start you through our process.

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When it comes to choosing a new heating and air system, I think it would be wise to pay attention to three main priorities: comfort, safety, and money savings. Here are some questions to ask as a good starting point.

Comfort

Improving airflow goes a long way toward improving a home’s overall comfort level. Someone might decide to replace the heating and air system because they always have to bundle up with a blanket on the couch, or because a bedroom or basement is much colder than the rest of the house. But before taking out an existing system just to put the exact same thing back in, you might want to ask the question, can the issue be solved by redesigning the ductwork or putting in an extra return instead? In many homes, the original design of the heating and air system isn’t very good. You’ll want to optimize the airflow (out of the vents and through the return) in bigger rooms and/or rooms with high heat loss.

There could also be issues with the sizing of the actual system itself, especially in tract homes or contractor-built homes where they try to skimp on the size of the unit. The basement might be colder than the rest of the house because the thermostat is upstairs and there’s no way to regulate the temperature (which we fix by using zones). The bottom line is, you should focus on comfort. On a hot or cold day, ask yourself, is there anywhere in the home that I’m not comfortable? The question could be explored by a consultant or professional.

 

Safety

When it comes to safety, air quality is a relevant consideration for every system. It’s pretty rare for a heating and air system to have mold inside of it simply because of the sheer amount of airflow. But if the system hasn’t been working properly, the filters haven’t been changed, or the vents have all been shut off, airflow will be drastically reduced. This can cause condensation and lead to moisture buildup, which is the perfect environment for mold growth when combined with a warm area. Mold is definitely a safety concern for the health of the individuals in the home.

 

For natural gas units, LP (liquid propane) gas units, oil-fired systems, or maybe even diesel units (if the system is extremely old), it’s important not to minimize the concern for safety. A good question to ask is, Do I have a gas system? From there, you might want to ask, is it vented properly? Is it up to code? Maybe have the flames tested to see if they burn clean. Those issues can influence carbon monoxide, which could actually go into your duct system and be dispersed throughout the home.

Money Savings

How much it costs for a heating and cooling system to do its job can result in overpayment. You’ll want to ask, how old is my system? What is the current SEER rating? Is hot or cold air being wasted from leaks as it travels through the ductwork? The current SEER rating gives you an idea of whether or not the system is as efficient as necessary. Technology has come a long way over the last 20 years, so if you have a system around that age, it’s probably largely inefficient and costing you extra money each month to heat or cool your home.

We offer both heat and cool checks, depending on the time of year. These checks are free right now, so if you call in and get it scheduled, we’ll uncover any issues when it comes to comfort, safety, and money savings. Contact us online or give us a call at 540-483-9382.

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Choosing between college and the trades is a very interesting topic, and I want to be very careful to state that one is not necessarily better than the other—there are individuals who are great for both college and the trades. I think the choice greatly depends on someone’s unique circumstances. I’m very thankful for the fact that there are people who go to college, specifically in areas like the healthcare industry. Many of these positions are college-based, and there are some extremely skilled individuals who I’m very thankful for. I definitely do not want to communicate in any way, shape, or form that college isn’t the right path for certain individuals. What I do want to communicate is that there is another option—not everybody has to go to college, and in some cases, looking into the trades is a perfect choice.

 

One of the main factors that makes the trades attractive is the fact that, right now, there’s a significant shortage of tradespeople. Trades or service companies like ours are ready and willing to pay for ‘college’, if you can kind of think about it that way. You can really get the training you need without having to pay for it directly out of your pocket. People have the ability to work full-time and earn a living while learning at the same time. (One area that the trades excel at is on-the-job-training.)

 

There are lots of different situations, and it’s definitely hands-on work, but on-the-job training is an important piece of that whole (again, if I can use this word creatively) ‘college’ of the trades. Going this path will also probably give you the highest and quickest return on investment, whether that’s time or money. College can be a great choice, but it is very expensive. You also have to be extremely thoughtful about making sure the return is going to happen based on the investment of time and money you’ve made. The trades path definitely provides a slightly quicker return combined with a lower investment, sot you can potentially see a higher return on your investment.

 

To learn more, give us a call at 540-483-9382 and ask for Marianne. She will field these types of calls and provide you with more information. You can also visit WislerJobs.com to read more and/or submit a question.

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Most people don’t realize that heating and cooling a house generally takes up to 40% of total energy expenses (e.g., gas and electric bills). That’s a significant chunk of money going into making sure an HVAC system heats and cools your home. Fortunately, we can pinpoint 4 potential issues you can resolve to bring these costs down and save money.

 

Maintenance

First of all, a well-maintained system generally tends to be more cost-effective. Almost all central air systems have filters which will become dirty and/or clogged if not replaced regularly. Dirty filters hinder airflow in the house, and the HVAC system will have to work much harder than necessary. This, in turn, will cost you extra money.

 

Ductwork Issues

 

A home’s ductwork might have leaks in it, especially if it’s aging, improperly installed, or just poorly installed. The ductwork is what delivers warm or cold air throughout your home, and if it has any leaks, you’ll be diverting the air to places it doesn’t need to go. By making sure that the air is properly routed through the ducts and only getting to where you want it, you’ll maximize the heating and cooling system’s effectiveness/efficiency.

 

Component Issues

 

A system may have failing components (like a starting capacitor or relay) or settings that aren’t completely accurate. If a starting capacitor isn’t working properly, for instance, it can make a motor use excessive power. Aside from causing the heating and cooling system to work less effectively, these kinds of component issues will run up your utility bills and end up costing you money.

 

Dinosaurs

 

If you have a really old heating and cooling system, you should be aware of how much it costs to run. A 20+ year old system won’t be anywhere near as efficient as a recent system, simply because of the great technological advancements we’ve made over the years. Dinosaur heating and cooling systems may be costing you more money just in energy use than what it would cost to have the system replaced entirely. Sometimes homes can save up to several thousands of dollars per year in utility bills just by updating a very old system.

 

Your heating and cooling system costs you money. Make sure that you’re not overpaying by being aware of these potential issues. For existing clients, we offer a free heating or cooling check. To learn more, contact us online or give us a call at 540-483-9382.

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