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Author: hwbryk

Air Conditioning Systems Maintenance Checklist

By Tips & Tricks Comments Off on Air Conditioning Systems Maintenance Checklist

After a long winter of not being used, your air conditioning system is likely in need of a maintenance checkup. It is always a good idea to be proactive rather than reactive, not only for efficiency but cost. For example, a costly air conditioning system replacement could have been prevented with proper annual cleaning. Save yourself a headache and dent in your wallet by preventing a small problem from turning into and bigger one.

 

Indicators Your System Needs Maintenance

Many signs could indicate your air conditioning system needs professional maintenance. Is your system not cool enough? Do you hear loud or strange noises such as rattling or humming? Do you notice a buildup of dust or mold? Is your system displaying incorrect or faulty readings? It is important to look out for any abnormal behaviors because they could indicate a bigger problem. For example, a buildup of dust could mean your filter needs replacing. A rattling sound could mean something small like loose bolts or something big like an aged compressor. Different noises mean different things and are best assessed by a professional.

 

Implications

The greatest implication of an inefficient air conditioning system is your family’s safety and health. Filters are meant to stop airborne debris and pollutants from spreading and cycling into your home while the air conditioning system works. Debris builds up and filters must be changed or the system can become clogged and unable to perform at its greatest efficiency. Debris will travel through your system and into the air your family breathes.

This can agitate allergies, watery eyes, stuffy noses and overall worsen indoor air quality. Some pollutants, like dust, pollen, pet dander, mold, viruses and bacteria can be dangerous to your family’s health – exacerbating conditions like asthma and other respiratory ailments. Another implication is your utility costs. You will notice that your system is not producing the coldest air, causing you to lower the temperature knob, and making your system work harder and longer to keep your home cool. As a result, your utility bill will likely increase and your wallet will suffer.

 

H.W. Bryk & Sons Are Here To Help!

H.W. Bryk & Sons offer residential, light commercial and light industrial heating, ventilation, and cooling services. Specifically, we offer air filtration, dehumidifying, filter replacement, and professional duct cleaning/sanitation services. We also sell indoor air quality products including automatic humidifiers, air purifiers, and HEPA filters and our air conditioning systems are high efficiency. All of our technicians are factory trained and NATE certified. Make sure your home is prepared for the upcoming warm months. Your family deserves to be comfortable in clean and fresh indoor air. Like we always say, let our family take care of your family.

Home Maintenance Checklist ✓

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Home Maintenance Checklist

Want your house to shine? Creating a plan for what you need to be repaired, cleaned or updated will help do just that without driving stress and costs up. Be proactive when it comes to home maintenance and you’ll thank us later, here are some of the most common things to check for to get your house feeling and looking like new.

The Checklist

  • Siding: Clean siding with a pressure washer to keep mold from growing. Check all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. If wood is showing through, sand the immediate area and apply a primer coat before painting. If paint is peeling, scrape loose paint and sand smooth before painting.
  • Gutters and downspouts: Pull leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Reattach gutters that have pulled away from the house. Run a hose on the roof and check for proper drainage. If leaks exist, dry the area and use caulking or epoxy to seal the leak.
  • Exterior caulking: Inspect caulking and replace if deteriorating. Scrape out all the eroding caulk and re-caulk needed area.
  • Window sills, door sills, and thresholds: Fill cracks, caulk edges, repaint or replace if necessary.
  • Window and door screens: Clean screening and check for holes. If holes are bigger than a quarter, that is plenty of room for bugs to climb in. Patch holes or replace the screen. Save bad screen to patch holes next year. Tighten or repair any loose or damaged frames and repaint. Replace broken, worn, or missing hardware. Wind can ruin screens and frames if they are allowed flap and move so make sure they are securely fastened. Tighten and lubricate door hinges and closers.
  • Drain waste and vent system: Flush out system.
  • Hot water heater: Lubricate circulating pump and motor.
  • Evaporative air conditioner: Clean unit, check belt tension and adjust if needed. Replace cracked or worn belt.
  • Heat pump: Lubricate blower motor.
  • Foundation: Check foundation walls, floors, concrete, and masonry for cracking, heaving, or deterioration. If a significant number of bricks are losing their mortar, call a foundation professional. If you can slide a nickel into a crack in your concrete floor, slab or foundation call a professional immediately.
  • Roof: Inspect roof surface flashing, leaves, and soffits. Perform a thorough cleaning. Check flashings around all surface projections and sidewalls.
  • Deck and porches: Check all decks, patios, porches, stairs, and railings for loose members and deterioration. Open decks and wood fences need to be treated every 4-6 years, depending on how much exposure they get to sun and rain. If the stain doesn’t look like it should or water has turned some of the wood a dark grey, hire a deck professional to treat your deck and fence.
  • Landscape: This is a natural for spring home maintenance. Cut back and trim all vegetation and overgrown bushes from structures. Limbs and leaves can cut into your home’s paint and force you to have that side of the house repainted. A little trimming can save a lot of money and time.
  • Sprinklers: Check lawn sprinkler system for leaky valves, exposed lines, and improperly working sprinkler heads. If there is an area of your yard that collects too much water or doesn’t get enough, run the sprinklers to figure out the problem. If it’s not something you can fix yourself, call a professional before your lawn needs the water.

3 Signs Your Pipes Need Repair

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3 Signs Your Pipes Need Repair

1. Low Water Pressure: Low water pressure in your pipes will make taking showers and dish washing difficult, and is one of the first signs your pipes need maintenance or repair. If you notice any changes in the amount of water your home’s fixtures produce, or the speed/force with which it flows, there’s a good chance your pipes are clogged or breaking at some point in your home.

2. Damp Walls: Water stains on the wall or floor indicate you need to call HW Bryk & Sons for pipe leak repair before it results in serious water damage.  If you wait too long, you run the greater risk of mold growth, which will reduce the quality of your air and can be extremely harmful to you and your family.

3. Rusty Spots: Rust spots on your piping is a good indication that you have old faulty pipes that must be replaced. Call HW Bryk & Sons for service immediately–this will save you a lot of money down the road if your pipes were to burst.

If you suspect faulty pipes in your home, call HW Bryk & Sons today! We will carefully examine your plumbing system for cracks, dents and blockages. After repairing your pipes, your entire plumbing system will run more smoothly–this will lower your water bill and keep your family happy and healthy!

For your peace of mind, we offer 24 hour emergency service!

Furnace Problems to be Aware of

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Furnace Problems to be Aware of

The days are getting colder, which means your furnace is going to be used more and more often over the coming weeks. The more you rely on your furnace to keep you warm, the more wear and tear you’re going to put on the system and the more likely it will be for problems to develop. Quick reaction time is very important when it comes to treating problems with your furnace. So, let’s take a look at some furnace problems you should be aware of.

Short Cycling

Short cycling is when your furnace turns itself on and off every few minutes. This is typically caused by heat becoming trapped in the furnace plenum, which causes the system to overheat and shut down. After cooling off sufficiently, the furnace starts up again, overheats again, and shuts down again. This cycle continues until the core problem is dealt with. If the furnace continues to short cycle, it will wear down significantly faster than it otherwise would. This will shorten its lifespan by a number of years. Call HW Bryk & Sons for repairs as soon as you hear your furnace short cycling.

Air Handler Issues

The air handler is the part of the furnace that circulates air throughout the house during operation. The air handler is placed under a lot of strain during operation, and though it does have countermeasures in place they do not make it immune to issues. If the air handler starts to malfunction, the furnace will be unable to properly distribute air during operation. If you can’t seem to get any air blowing from your furnace, it may be because of a bad air handler.

H.W. Bryk & Sons will take care of your plumbing, heating, cooling & air quality needs! Serving Western New York, from Niagara County to Erie County & Niagara Falls to Buffalo!

For your peace of mind, we offer 24 hour emergency service!

 

HW Bryk & Sons Receives “Best Plumber Award” 3 Year Running!

By About HW Bryk & Sons Comments Off on HW Bryk & Sons Receives “Best Plumber Award” 3 Year Running!

HW Bryk & Sons would like to thank the Town of Niagara for receiving the “Best Plumber Award” 3 years running! We take a great deal of pride in offering exceptional customer service to all of our customers!

H.W. Bryk & Sons will take care of your plumbing, heating, cooling & air quality needs! Serving Western New York, from Niagara County to Erie County & Niagara Falls to Buffalo!

For your peace of mind, we offer 24 hour emergency service!