When it comes to enjoying hassle-free indoor comfort, regular HVAC maintenance is one of the smartest investments you can make for your home or business. The Otter Guys provides service agreements that include semi-annual tune-ups. This includes system inspections, cleanings, and more to help your heating and cooling systems provide the efficiency and long-term comfort you need.
Why Choose The Otter Guys?
When you’re in need of heating and AC maintenance, you need to seek the help of an HVAC company that you can place your trust in! Our team here at The Otter Guys has built a great reputation in the Charlottesville, VA area for being “otterly” reliable when it comes to providing high-quality maintenance services. We want to provide both the best HVAC service you’ve ever had and the best customer service possible.
Our goal is to make you a lifelong customer the moment you call us. We will try to have a professional at your home as quickly as possible to make sure your unit is running smoothly. From there, we will work with you every step of the way to ensure every single one of your needs is met. Our trained and experienced technicians will provide top-notch maintenance services so you can rest easy knowing your heating and cooling units will be ready to go when you need them most!
Why Choose The Otter Guys?
When you’re in need of heating and AC maintenance, you need to seek the help of an HVAC company that you can place your trust in! Our team here at The Otter Guys has built a great reputation in the Charlottesville, VA area for being “otterly” reliable when it comes to providing high-quality maintenance services. We want to provide both the best HVAC service you’ve ever had and the best customer service possible.
Our goal is to make you a lifelong customer the moment you call us. We will try to have a professional at your home as quickly as possible to make sure your unit is running smoothly. From there, we will work with you every step of the way to ensure every single one of your needs is met. Our trained and experienced technicians will provide top-notch maintenance services so you can rest easy knowing your heating and cooling units will be ready to go when you need them most!
What to Expect When You Sign Up for a Service Agreement With Our Charlottesville HVAC Company
Service agreement members receive priority scheduling and seasonal HVAC maintenance services that include heating tune-ups in the fall and AC tune-ups in the spring.
AC Tune Ups
Coil cleaning – Since there is tight spacing between coil fins, dirt, dust, debris, pollutants, and surface moisture from the cooling process can build up on the coil surfaces. As time goes on, this buildup will reduce the AC system’s ability to cool down your home. In extreme cases, dirty coils can hinder or block the airflow, leaving your home uncomfortably warm. Dirty coils will lead to reduced comfort, increased operating temperatures, increased cooling costs, and increased system wear.
Indoor/outdoor unit inspections – It’s very important to inspect the area around your AC unit. If your unit is indoors, it’s important to make sure the area surrounding the unit is clean and clear of any materials that could harm the unit. Inspecting the area surrounding the unit will also help ensure that there aren’t leaks. If you have an outdoor unit, which most homes do, inspecting the area is very important. Tall grass, pests, branches, bushes, and other debris surrounding your outdoor unit can cause damage to your unit.
Wiring inspections – Perhaps one of the most important parts of an AC maintenance check is wiring inspections. Part of what makes this process so important is that dealing with any electrical component can be incredibly dangerous, which is why it’s important to seek professional help. Wiring inspections will include:
Making sure the thermostat is calibrated and running properly
Inspecting fuses and wiring
Making sure the access panel is in place
Checking the supply voltage and amperage to all motors
Tightening the electrical connections
Inspecting the disconnect box
Cleaning and inspecting the outdoor disconnect, fan motor, and blades
Wiring inspections will help make sure there are no underlying issues with the electrical components of your AC system.
Refrigerant level checks – Refrigerant helps with the transfer of heat from one area and in turn, provides cooler air. These refrigerants are often in the form of gas or fluid and can also be found in vehicle air conditioners, fridges, and even freezers. Depending on the type of unit you have, your AC would not be able to keep your home cool without refrigerant. Signs that refrigerant levels are low include:
A noisy air conditioner – If you hear bubbling or hissing noises, the refrigerant might be leaking. Bubbling sounds are an indication that the refrigerant is escaping in the form of liquid.
An increase in energy bills – If you have noticed a spike in your energy bills, it could be due to a refrigerant leak. If your AC has insufficient refrigerant levels, it cannot get rid of as much heat in each cooling cycle, causing it to run longer.
Frost or ice on your AC – If the refrigerant is low, the refrigerant temperature can drop below normal levels, causing ice to build up on the evaporator coil or refrigerant lines.
Warm air from circulating the home – If the air circulating through your home is warm, it could be a sign that refrigerant levels are too low.
One of our technicians will check your refrigerant levels, making sure that everything is running smoothly.
Condensate drain cleaning – If there is a clogged condensate drain, it can lead to issues. In fact, one of the most common reasons people call for repairs is due to a clogged condensate drain line. During a maintenance check, one of our trained and experienced technicians can inspect the condensate drain, and ensure there are no clogs. If there is a clog, we will be able to remove it easily, ensuring your unit is ready to run as efficiently as possible.
Static pressure testing – Making sure the static pressure is at the right level throughout your HVAC system is one of the most important parts of an AC maintenance check. Poor system designs and improper ductwork installation and filter choices can all lead to high static pressure. One of our technicians will work to ensure there are no issues with the static pressure level. Here are some of the things that can happen if static pressure is out of whack:
Noise – Restricted airflow can make your system noisy. The higher the static pressure the louder your system will be.
Impaired airflow – If you notice hot spots or cold spots throughout your home, it could be due to improper static pressure.
Equipment failure – Static pressure can lead to excessive calls to HVAC repair companies.
Our technicians will make sure that everything is running smoothly with your air conditioner.
Heating Tune Ups
Burner cleaning – One of the most important parts of a heating maintenance check is burner cleaning. Dirty burners can dramatically reduce the efficiency of the furnace, keeping you, your family, and your home in the cold. This could be a DIY job, but since disassembly is required, we highly recommend against this, as it could be dangerous. One of our trained technicians will be able to clean your burner, making sure there are no buildups.
Heat exchanger cleaning – Throughout the operational lifespan of a heating unit, it’s important to ensure the heat exchanger is as clean as possible. Various chemicals or solids can adhere to the walls of the equipment’s tubes, pipes, and inside valves and flanges, causing damage to the equipment. As time goes on, these buildups will cause a loss of efficiency and functionality, affecting the output and heat transfer. This also increases the risk that your heater is unsafe to operate.
Motor/blower wheel inspections – The blower motor is a component within a heating system that is responsible for circulating air into the home. It is a very important part of maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity throughout the home. Blower motors will push cold air or hot air through the ducts of your home. Routine blower motor cleaning and maintenance will extend the lifespan of the equipment while also reducing downtime costs and troubleshooting costs. It helps prevent unwanted and pricy repairs, as a trained technician will be able to spot any issues ahead of time. Performing annual maintenance services will help keep things operating the way they should be.
Pilot lighting – The pilot light is one of the most important components of the furnace and is often the reason why furnaces break down. A pilot light is an ever-burning gas flame built into the furnace to light it when heat is necessary. Since there is a constant flow of natural gas going into the pilot light, if it ever extinguishes, you would find yourself with a gas suffocation problem. Cleaning a furnace pilot light is often all it takes to make sure the furnace is back up and running again. While it is possible to do this process yourself, a professional technician will make sure the process is completed properly.
Gas leak inspections – Since most heating units rely on gas for power, gas leak inspections are an incredibly important part of any heating maintenance check. Of course, a gas leak places you and your family in immediate danger. Our technicians will be able to run tests on your heating system to make sure there are no gas leaks. If you ever notice a strange gassy odor surrounding your unit, you should turn off your gas as quickly as possible, calling a professional and your gas company the first chance you get.
Temperature rise checks – The job of a heating unit is to take relatively cool household air, pass it over some hot metal, and blow that heated air to the rest of the home, distributing heat. As long as everything is working properly, the air coming out of the furnace will be between 40-70 degrees warmer than the air coming in. This increase is called the temp rise. Our technicians will make sure that the temp rise is in the range it needs to be.
Benefits of Heating and AC Maintenance for Charlottesville, VA Customers
Regularly maintaining your HVAC system is one of the most effective ways to ensure the continued efficiency of your heating and cooling equipment. It can help lower your utility bills, contribute to improved indoor air quality, and help you avoid unnecessary HVAC emergencies by alerting you to potential problems before anything serious develops.
When you invest in an annual HVAC service agreement, you receive access to our team of Charlottesville, VA heating and AC professionals who are committed to ensuring your peace of mind. We will take the time to discuss your indoor comfort goals and any concerns you may have. When you work with us you can expect smart solutions and greater comfort year-round.
Contact our experts today to learn more about signing up for an annual HVAC service agreement. Serving the complete heating and cooling needs of Charlottesville, VA and the surrounding area.
