It’s Halloween season in Arizona, and you’ve been busy as a goblin preparing for the fun-filled evening. Between carving pumpkins, setting out black cat, ghost, and skeleton decorations, and hanging cobwebs on shrubs, trees, doors, and windows, you’re ready to pass out candy to all the neighborhood families and pets dressed up for Halloween. In other words, you don’t need any unplanned HVAC problems.

Treat the Air Filters

The HVAC air filter traps airborne like dust, dander, dirt, and other debris and keeps it from blocking the blower and clogging up the coils. Clogged coils can’t cool or heat air passing over them, meaning damage can occur to your system. Change out the air filter to help the HVAC run more efficiently and enjoy a longer lifespan to celebrate future Halloween holidays.

Spice Up the Thermostat

Halloween day and night can mean temperature fluctuations both indoors and outside. You’ll want to keep your HVAC system happy by reviewing the thermostat settings. Having a smart or programmable thermostat will make this task even easier as it can accommodate spikes and drops in temperature. If it’s going to be warm, you’ll want to set the thermostat a few degrees higher so that air-conditioned air isn’t blowing outside every time the door is opened for trick-or-treaters.

Keep Jack-o-Lanterns Off the HVAC

Hanging decorations outside is a long-standing Halloween tradition. But you’ll want to keep any decorations far away from the HVAC unit outdoors. Adornments on any HVAC components can result in blocked airflow or even compressor damage. You’ll need help from your local professionals to rectify these problems which can be costly.

Don’t Scare Any Air Vents

It may seem like a good idea to decorate air vents with Halloween themed items. Decorations or home furnishings shouldn’t be blocking or covering any air vents indoors. This can lead to improper air circulation or even blocked airflow.

Flames Can Be Frightening

Flammable items should be kept far away from any HVAC components. Wax candles used for Halloween decorations are highly flammable. You may want to look into safer alternatives like battery-powered candles, small flashlights, or solar candles.

Avoid Halloween HVAC Hiccups by Contacting Bruce’s

Make sure your HVAC is working at top performance levels and not bumping into anything scary. Call your professionals at Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating to inspect, service, repair, or replace your HVAC system at 480-968-5652. Have a frighteningly safe and fun Halloween

Your HVAC system includes hidden ductwork that’s dedicated to circulating air throughout your home. Ductwork consists of pipes or ducts that transport heated or cooled air from the central heating and cooling unit throughout your home. This allows your thermostat to control temperature and humidity levels in different areas of your home. Many Valley of the Sun homeowners are unaware that an HVAC system’s air ducts play a vital role in comfort and energy efficiency.

Air duct problems can lead to reduced indoor air quality, hot and cold spots in rooms, loud noises, little or no air flow, and higher energy bills. The following are some of the most common air duct problems homeowners can experience.

Flawed Design

You may be surprised to learn that many homes are built with a problematic layout of air ductwork. This is commonly seen when air must run through an extended area of the attic. This situation can be corrected by redirecting ducts to a more direct route to increase efficiency.

Poor Airflow

Another frequently seen air duct problem is inadequate airflow. Your HVAC system requires a sufficient supply of air to heat and cool your home. Along with having a direct route for ductwork, it’s also important to have sufficient return for supply ducts. Without enough air, your system must work harder and can’t produce as much heated or cooled air.

Blocked Ducts

Twists and kinks in ductwork can reduce airflow and decrease efficiency. Holes, tears, and gaps in air ducts also cause air to leak out. Leaking ducts can lead to contaminants from the attic or crawl space to enter into air within ducts that flow into your home.

Dirty Air Ducts

Dirt, dander, dust, mold, fungus, pollen, smoke, and other contaminants can get trapped in your home and continuously circulate through ductwork. This can result in poor indoor air quality. This is why it’s important for air ducts to be inspected and cleaned during twice-yearly maintenance.

Loud Noises

If you hear excessively loud rattling or whistling noises, there can be loose, disconnected, or damaged air ducts. Sometimes loud noises can be caused by other HVAC problems with fan blades or motors, fan belts, loose or broken components, or blowers. This is when you’ll want to have your local HVAC professionals inspect your HVAC system using diagnostic tools.

Call Bruce’s to Fix Your Air Ducts

At Bruce’s Air Conditioning & Heating, we can evaluate your HVAC system, including your ductwork, to optimize your house’s comfort and efficiency. Call our certified Valley of the Sun technicians today at 480-968-5652 to schedule an appointment.

After a long summer of excessive heat, the Valley of the Sun is finally starting to cool down. Before you know it, you’ll be able to change the thermostat setting from cool to heat when morning and evening temperatures begin to drop. That means it’s the right time to get your HVAC system in tip-top shape for the cooler months ahead. We’ve put together a short list of items to check off.

Replace the Air Filter

The first place to start is by replacing the air filter. During monsoon season, Arizona’s dust storms bring high volumes of dust and debris which can end up coating your HVAC air filter. This simple task will only take a few minutes and will provide cleaner indoor air. If there are pets or any family members with respiratory issues, replace them with MERV 11 and up or Filtrete 1500 and up air filters.

Change Thermostat Settings

If you have a traditional thermostat, flip the setting from cool to heat. For thermostats that are programmable or smart, you can change the setting over to either cool and heat or heat only. Sometimes fall weather can be warm enough that you’ll want a bit of air conditioning for short periods of time. You’ll notice a rapid decrease in energy costs on your next utility bill now that lower morning and night time temperatures are keeping it much cooler inside your house.

Check Outside the HVAC System

You’ll want to walk around your outdoor HVAC system to see if summer storms have impacted the exterior system. Remove branches, dead vegetation, debris, and gravel that can potentially obstruct the vitally important HVAC blower, condenser coils, and evaporator fins and coils.

HVAC Servicing

Bruce’s certified technicians recommend twice-yearly servicing for your air conditioner, heater, and ductwork. Regular maintenance keeps your HVAC system running smoothly all year long with a thorough inspection. You’ll want to ensure that your furnace or heat pump is working efficiently, ready to heat your home for colder weather ahead. Don’t skip on scheduling this vital servicing. You don’t want to be left out in the cold because of a system breakdown during winter.

Call Bruce’s for a Fall Tune Up

Now that you’ve checked off all the boxes, it’s time to call Bruce’s today to schedule your fall tune up. Don’t wait. Call your locally owned HVAC professionals at 480-968-5652. We’ll make certain your home will be prepared for cooler weather ahead as the Valley of the Sun leader in preventive heating and cooling maintenance.

Even though temperatures are still quite toasty in the Valley of the Sun, it’s never too early to think about getting your HVAC system ready for cooler fall weather. Performing annual maintenance this time of the year can help keep your HVAC system running smoothly. Here’s what you need to know.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

On average we take 20,000 breaths each day and spend about 90% of our time indoors. So, changing your HVAC air filters on a regular basis will reduce the amount of dust, pollen, mold, and other allergens indoors. Inspecting and cleaning HVAC components during servicing will ensure that indoor air quality is improved without impeding air flow.

Saves Energy

Twice-yearly HVAC system maintenance helps save you money. Studies by the Department of Energy show that an efficient HVAC system can reduce your utility bill up to 30%. Maintaining high levels of performance means less component breakdowns and longer system lifespan.

Fine-Tuned Comfort

An HVAC system operating properly helps maintain accurate temperature control. Malfunctioning HVAC parts, reduced airflow, or ductwork leaks can cause the thermostat to work longer to achieve the desired temperature. Servicing provides a better level of comfort for your family resulting in less energy consumption and reduced carbon emissions.

Warranty Protection

By having your HVAC system serviced on a twice-yearly plan, you’ll help to ensure that the manufacturer’s warranty requirements are met. A system maintained correctly decreases the probability of issues happening due to neglect.

Home Safety

Bruce’s experienced technicians will identify and resolve potential hazards, including HVAC equipment electrical connections, health hazards such as mold growth on system parts, checking and recharging refrigerant levels, and inspecting belts for wear and damage. All moving parts will be running more efficiently helping to avoid potentially dangerous system outages.

HVAC Tech

Paying to have a professional technician tune up your HVAC system is worth the investment. Maintenance is a crucial part of making certain heating and cooling systems work properly. If you’re experiencing any problems now, Bruce’s recommends contacting us immediately. Issues usually get worse over time if they’re not fixed.

Professional Maintenance

There’s no substitute for a professional inspection. At Bruce’s, we’re available 24 hours a day. Reach out today at 480-968-5652 to schedule a convenient appointment and to learn more about our annual maintenance contracts. Our goal is to stop any potential issues before they start. Avoid a system failure that could leave you out in the cold by calling us today.