Homeowners depend on their heating systems to keep their homes warm, cozy, and safe during our cold, winter, weather. If you have an older heating system, your utility costs are high, and you’ve needed repairs more often, you might be wondering whether your system will need to be replaced soon. When to repair a heating system and when to replace it entirely is a dilemma every homeowner has faced.  

While repairs may offer a quicker fix, there are times when replacing the system is the wiser long-term solution. This guide will help you weigh the key factors to make an informed decision on heating installation in Middletown. For a limited time, we are offering $500 off a new HVAC installation along with a 1-year Maintenance Club agreement.

When to Repair Your Heating System

If your heating system is still relatively new or has only minor issues, a repair may be the most practical option. Here are some signs that a repair could be sufficient.

• Age of the System: A good rule of thumb is that systems under 8 years old are often worth repairing if they’ve received regular maintenance. In general, furnaces and heat pumps have a lifespan of 10-15 years if they’ve received annual tune-ups. If your system is well under that range, repairing it is usually the preferred option.
• Minor Issues: Not every problem warrants a complete replacement. Common minor issues are generally manageable with a repair. If your heating system is otherwise reliable, these small fixes can extend its life without requiring a major overhaul.
• Repair Cost Relative to Replacement: A key factor in deciding whether to repair or replace is the cost of the repair. If the repair cost is less than 50% of the cost of a new system, repairing it can be a smart choice. When calculating the costs, it’s important to consider both the immediate expense of the repair and any potential future repairs that may arise due to the age or condition of the system.

When to Replace Your Heating System

In some cases, replacement is a better option than continuing to pay for repairs on a system that is nearing the end of its lifespan. Here are some scenarios when it might make sense to invest in a new heating system.

• System Age and Efficiency: As heating systems approach the 10-15 years age range they tend to lose efficiency and become more prone to breakdowns–especially if they haven’t received maintenance every year. 
• Frequent Repairs: If your system needs a repair and you’re not sure if that money would be better spent on a new system, an easy rule to follow is the “50/50 rule.” If repair costs add up to more than 50% of the cost of a new system, replacement often makes more sense. 
• High Energy Bills: If you’ve noticed a consistent increase in heating costs even with regular maintenance, the system’s inefficiency may be to blame. Upgrading to an energy-efficient model will significantly reduce heating expenses.

If you’re not sure your system needs repair or replacement, we will give you an honest opinion and recommend the best course of action for your home and budget.

Contact Quality Heating & Cooling today for heating installation in Middletown, NY. It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal.

The post How to Decide Whether to Repair or Replace Your Heating System first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.

There’s nothing more inconvenient–and potentially dangerous–than your furnace breaking down during a cold spell. When your furnace’s performance is suffering, it’ll tell you. Signs of a furnace that’s struggling to do its job include unusual noises, low airflow, low heating output, and uneven heating.

It’s essential to pay attention to these indicators of a struggling furnace to keep these minor issues from turning into a major nightmare. We’ll give you an honest opinion and competitively priced estimate for any furnace repair you may need. We’re familiar with the complexities of all heating systems and the things that can go wrong. Let’s go over 4 common furnace issues you’re likely to encounter as a homeowner.

1. Inadequate Airflow

Does it seem like your furnace isn’t getting your home warm enough, quickly enough? You used to enjoy a furnace that quickly and efficiently heated your home and now it’s taking forever to do the same job. 

The first way to check for airflow issues is to simply put your hand in front of one of the vents. You should feel a strong, steady flow of hot air from the vents. 

If it’s not, the first thing to check is the air filter. If it’s dirty and clogged, this hinders your furnace’s ability to have a strong airflow output. Change the filter and see if that alleviates the problem. If that doesn’t do it, the blower fan could be struggling to push heated air through your ductwork. Give us a call to schedule service. You don’t want to keep paying for your furnace to run if it can’t deliver the hot air to your home.

2. Cold Air Instead of Hot

Just as bad as weak airflow is when the air coming out of the vents is cold instead of hot! A furnace that’s sending cold air into your home could be caused by a number of issues such as an improper thermostat setting, a dirty air filter, a faulty fan limit switch, or something else entirely. Contact us to restore your furnace’s heating output.

3. Uneven Heating 

The “V” in HVAC stands for ventilation and this facet of home comfort is often neglected. Sometimes your home’s ductwork is causing the problem, not your furnace. Leaks, holes, and tears in ductwork can reduce the distribution of heat to the rooms of your home. If you notice your utility bills are higher than usual and can feel cold spots in certain rooms, it could be an issue with your ductwork.

4. Short Cycling

Short cycling occurs when your furnace repeatedly turns itself on and off without completing a heating cycle. This can happen for many different reasons. The important thing to know about short cycling is that not only does it keep your home from reaching your desired temperature, but it’s also incredibly hard on the furnace. This is an issue that should be addressed as soon as possible. 

Contact Quality Heating & Cooling today for furnace repair in Middletown, NY. It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal. 

The post 4 Common Furnace Issues You’ll Encounter Quality first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.

Fall is here and with it comes many things: the leaves are changing color, the days are getting colder and shorter, and you might’ve even had a pumpkin spice beverage or two. October also brings the “spooky season” where people plan their Halloween costumes and watch scary movies. 

This is also the time of year when your home’s water heater can start acting strange after the strain of summer. From bone-chilling showers to a screeching water heater, here are some signs that indicate you need water heater repair. Make sure you don’t ignore a seemingly haunted water heater. The last thing you want interrupting your enjoyment of fall is a full-blown water heater nightmare.

1. Leaks

Seeing water leaking from your water heater is a potential nightmare situation! The most common cause of water heater leaking is a damaged pressure relief valve. If you notice that the water is leaking from the bottom of the tank itself, this is truly terrifying. It means that the tank is likely cracked or corroded enough to leak and you may be looking at a water heater replacement.

2. The Cold Water Sandwich

Here’s a tale of spine-tingling terror: you’re taking a hot shower when the water turns cold, then hot again! This is referred to as a “cold water sandwich” and is sure to leave you on edge as you wonder if the water will turn ice cold again.

This is a common issue with tankless water heaters when some water remains stored in a warm condition at the mouth of the showerhead. When you turn the shower on, you get that initial blast of hot water, but then it takes some time to heat up the exchanger. During that time, some cold water may get through the exchanger to reach your poor, unfortunate body.

3. Stinky Water

If the water coming from all the taps smells as foul as a witch’s cauldron, it could be an issue with your sewer line. However, if you notice the stinky stench when just the hot water is on, then it’s a water heater issue. 

Your water heater has an important part called an anode rod and this component is subject to wear and tear. A severely corroded anode rod releases metals into the water that react with the naturally occurring sulfates to form hydrogen sulfate gas.

4. Scary Sounds

Does your water heater sound like it’s possessed? Screeching, hissing, banging, and hissing noises can certainly give you a fright! Your water heater should run fairly silently so any frightening sounds are a cause for concern. Give us a call and we’ll promptly exorcise your water heater’s demons and restore your home’s peace and quiet.

5. Rusty Water in the Sink

The appearance of rusty water and a stained sink can be quite startling. These stains are often caused by rusty water heater tanks. Rust and corrosion often go hand in hand with leaks. Unfortunately, a corroded water heater tank usually means it’s time for a replacement. 

Contact Quality Heating & Cooling today for water heater repair in Middletown, NY. It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal. 

The post 5 Spooky Signs Your Water Heater Is in Trouble first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.

It’s officially fall and for many people, it’s their favorite season. The changing of the leaves and the transition from hot weather to enjoyable fall days make for a great time of year.

That transition from hot to cooler temperatures means you’ll soon be transitioning to using your furnace or heating system. But before you switch it on for the first time, there are some DIY maintenance tasks you should complete. Let’s go over these below. 

You should also schedule annual furnace maintenance with our team will make sure your furnace operates at peak performance this fall and winter. Let’s go over 5 essential things you should do before the cold weather hits.

1. Change the Air Filter

If changing your furnace’s air filter regularly every 1-3 months isn’t already on your list of routine home maintenance tasks, it should be! Your furnace’s air filter has a big job to do. It helps keep your furnace’s interior free of dust, dirt, and debris. Just like with any well-oiled machine, a furnace will run better when its interior is clean.

Ideally, you should change the air filter every 1-3 months when the system is in use. Depending on factors such as if you have pets, the number of people in your household, if you’re in an urban area, and whether anyone in your household suffers from allergies or respiratory illnesses, you should change it more frequently.

2. Schedule Maintenance

The best way to ensure your furnace serves you well during the winter and to avoid the need for heating repairs is to schedule annual furnace maintenance. During a heating tune-up, our service technicians will inspect, clean, and adjust the furnace to boost its efficiency and system longevity. Our safety checks will ensure your furnace is running safely and guard against the need for repairs. 

3. Get Repairs Done

After a maintenance visit, we might’ve made recommendations for repairs. Getting these done promptly is imperative. This prevents small problems from becoming larger and costlier repair problems that could result in a complete furnace breakdown if it’s allowed to continue unchecked.

4. Clean the Burners

If you own a gas furnace, we’ll check the burners during a tune-up, but it’s also something you can check yourself. Turn the furnace and gas valves off and then wipe them down with a clean, dry cloth. This will increase your furnace’s efficiency and prevent a buildup of dirt and grease that can be a safety issue.

5. Clear the Area

Just like the filter needs unobstructed airflow, so does the area around your furnace. If summer equipment is cluttering the area around your furnace, now’s the time to move it out of the way. Bicycles, outdoor furniture, camping equipment, boxes, and lawn care and gardening items shouldn’t be within the 3-foot perimeter surrounding your heating system. Be sure that this area is free and clear of any items.

Contact Quality Heating & Cooling today for furnace maintenance in Middletown, NY. It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal. 

The post 5 Ways to Get Your Furnace Ready for Heating Season first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.

The Canadian wildfires blanketed our state in thick layers of smoke not once, but twice this summer. Many states had air quality warnings and residents were urged to stay inside. With more and more extended periods of poor air quality, you may be wondering how wildfire smoke affects your home’s ventilation system, and for good reason.

That’s because the “V” in HVAC stands for ventilation. Yes, it’s important enough to be in the name! Your ductwork is responsible for delivering the conditioned air to the rooms of your home. And unfortunately, it’s not impervious to outdoor contaminants like wildfire smoke. 

When your ductwork is in poor condition, it can affect your comfort by decreasing your HVAC system’s performance and lowering your indoor air quality (IAQ). Let’s go over whether your home would benefit from duct cleaning due to recent wildfires. 

Wildfires and the Air Quality Index (AQI)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Air Quality Index (AQI) to let people know how clean or polluted the outside air is on a daily basis. New York state has experienced an increasing number of days where the AQI is at unhealthy levels due to high concentrations of smoke-induced fine particulate matter.

People are advised to stay inside when the AQI is poor. However, smoke and particulate matter can still penetrate your home even when all the doors and windows of your home are closed. Depending on where you live, you’ve possibly had a light layer of ash accumulate in your home or have even worn an N95 mask inside to avoid breathing in particulates. 

What’s in Wildfire Smoke?

Wildfire smoke contains a mixture of particulates, carcinogens, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and volatile chemicals. Its specific makeup will change based on what materials are feeding the flames. The microscopic particles from wildfire smoke are smaller than 2.5 micrometers, small enough to penetrate the lungs and bloodstream. This is why residents are urged to stay inside and refrain from outdoor activity when the AQI is bad due to wildfire smoke.

Should I Have My Ducts Cleaned After a Wildfire?

According to the EPA, ductwork should be cleaned if your ducts are clogged with excessive amounts of dust and debris and if particles are actually released into your home from the supply registers. If your ductwork is already problematic and then is affected by ash and smoke from a wildfire, duct cleaning is recommended.

So how do you know if your ductwork is in good condition? If you’ve lived in your home for more than 4 years and have never had your ducts cleaned, your home is overdue for this service. Air ducts should be cleaned every 3-4 years under normal conditions. 

We’re Certified by the National Air Duct Cleaners Association

We’re one of the only contractors in the area who are certified by NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association). That means we’re highly trained and certified to evaluate your ductwork and provide you with an expert opinion on whether ductwork cleaning would be beneficial to your home. 

Contact Quality Heating & Cooling today for AC repairs in Middletown, NY. It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal. 

The post Should I Get My Ducts Cleaned After Wildfire Exposure? first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.

Your air conditioning system is designed to run silently. The only sounds you should hear it make are the sound of it turning on and off and the gentle whoosh of air coming from the vents. You might also hear the expansion and contraction of your ductwork and a clicking sound after it completes a cooling cycle.

It’s when you hear sudden, loud, and unusual noises that you know something is amiss. Your air conditioner will make noises when it’s struggling to do its job efficiently. Let’s review some of these strange sounds and what they indicate could be wrong. That way, you’ll know whether you need to call us for air conditioning repairs. 

Banging, Clanging, and Rattling

The sound of metal striking metal is unmistakable. It usually means that a screw is literally loose somewhere in your air conditioner. A single screw or bolt that’s loose will make a rattling noise as it bangs against other metal parts. Luckily, a few loose screws are an easy fix for our team.

Unusually loud banging and knocking could be a sign that something is wrong with the blower fan. This is the component that blows the cool air through the vents and into the rooms of your home. Sometimes the fan blades become bent or misaligned and when this happens, it’ll bang against its metal housing. Whatever is causing these noises, it’s better to have them checked out sooner rather than later. 

Whistling or Hissing

Your AC can make a whistling or hissing sound for the same reasons a human can: by pushing air through a tiny opening. With an air conditioner, these sounds can be caused by refrigerant leaking through small holes or leaks somewhere in the system. 

Although your air conditioner has as much refrigerant as it should ever need for its entire lifespan, when refrigerant escapes through holes or leaks, your AC no longer has enough refrigerant to do its job. 

You’ll notice signs of refrigerant leaks via these noises. Because refrigerant is colorless and odorless, you won’t see or smell anything. When your AC no longer has enough refrigerant to work, it’ll work less effectively. You’ll notice your home isn’t cooling down sufficiently. Ice may develop on the evaporator coils. 

A refrigerant leak should be addressed immediately because breathing in refrigerant is a safety hazard. Our technicians will find the source of the leaks, fix them, and recharge the system if needed. 

Clicking

As we mentioned, his noise is normal when it occurs at the beginning and end of a cooling cycle. Clicking at other times could be caused by faulty electrical components such as the thermostat’s wiring. However, in a worst-case scenario, the clicking noise could be caused by a “hard starting” compressor. 

The compressor is the “heart” of your AC system. This part controls all the other elements throughout your AC system. The aptly named compressor compresses the refrigerant in your system. When there are problems with the compressor, the entire system cannot function. If you’re hearing clicking noises, schedule an appointment with our team promptly. 

Contact Quality Heating & Cooling today for AC repairs in Middletown, NY. It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal. 

The post These Sounds Could Mean You Need AC Repair first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.

We love helping homeowners in any way that we can. Making our customers and community happy is our top priority. Our technicians will not only remember your name, but they’ll remember your kids’ and pets’ names.

By choosing us, you can expect the very best in:

• Value: Our affordable prices and attention to detail set us apart from the rest
• Professionalism: We are fully insured, EPA certified and treat every customer as if they’re family
• Honesty and Integrity: We live here and we work here in Middletown, NY. It’s important to us to not just have a good reputation, but an excellent one.

It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal.

The post Why Choose Us? first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.

We’ve also added a blog that’ll provide helpful information to Middletown, NY homeowners. From tips on how to get the best performance from your AC and furnace, to signs that your water heater needs repairs, it’s all there. Be sure to bookmark our new site so you can find us quickly when you need expert, reliable HVAC services.

To learn more about how iMarket Solutions, the company behind our new website, can expand your presence on the web, visit www.imarketsolutions.com.

It’s not a Quality job, unless it has our Quality seal.

The post Welcome to Our New Website first appeared on Quality Heating & Cooling.