Blog

A new year. A new start.

Mon, 21 Dec 2020 14:14:59 GMT

Goodbye 2020. Welcome 2021. Time for HVAC New Year's Resolution.

It's time to make your new year's HVAC resolutions. Here's 7 great tips and tricks to keeping your HVAC well maintained.

1. Change your filters

The air filter is a vital part of the performance of your heating and AC systems, and it should be changed once every 1-3 months. Start the year off well by changing all your filters and keeping your home in Norfolk, VA safe and healthy. The reason for changing your air filters is to make sure it doesn't fail on you. Unclean filters will not make your system work at 100% and it will fail to filter your air properly. Old filters will also let dust and contaminants get into the AC, becoming a health hazard.

2. Invest in preventative maintenance

The purpose of preventative maintenance is to keep your HVAC system up and running all season long with no surprise breakdowns, enabling you to begin the heating and cooling seasons with reliable and efficient service. Preventative maintenance gives your Norfolk home the opportunity to reduce the risk of costly breakdowns by as much as 95% and cut energy bills. According to the US Department of Energy you can be saving up to 30% on your energy bills with a well maintained HVAC system.

3. Consider eco and wallet-friendly upgrades like a programmable thermostat

Compared to manual thermostats, this smart home technology is a great investment to help make a home more eco-friendly. Smart thermostats can help you save energy and lower your utility bills. We have installed programmable thermostats in our Norfolk local homes to allow them to have more control over their heating and cooling needs.

The technology allows our customers to program their temperature preferences on the areas where they need it most. They can set up these thermostats (through their mobile apps) to turn on when you wake up and turn off when you leave the house, contributing to bigger savings. We want our local homeowners to be safe, healthy, energy efficient, all while saving money!

4. Address any long-avoided duct leaks

The spots where two air ducts connect are common places for leaks to occur. Placing your hand near these joints and to feel if air is coming out. If it is you know that there's a leak. You can also try running your hand under other parts of your ductwork to feel for larger leaks. Mark any leaks you find and we will be over to seal or replace these for you.

Duct leaks are problematic because it can increase your energy bills, increase the need for extra HVAC repair needs and create air quality problems. Additionally, leaking ducts clog your air filters, making you replace them more often.

5. Make an effort to be more knowledgeable about your HVAC

We not only fix your HVAC problems but also teach you about your system. Explaining the problem and providing you knowledge on your system positively impacts your Norfolk home and improves your neighborhood through energy efficiency.

6. Clean your ducts

Clean air begins with clean ducts. Consider the the benefits of clean air for your health. By taking this simple step in line with household cleanliness you are providing your family and guests with an environment of fresh air.

7. Connect with your local award-winning HVAC maintenance company

Email us or call to schedule your next appointment!

Why isn't my upstairs cooling properly?

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 10:43:15 GMT

Reasons why your upstairs isn't cooling properly.

There may be many reasons why your upstairs is not cooling properly during these Norfolk, VA hot summer months. Here are some of the issues I've seen in homes across Hampton Roads that have faced this problem:

1. Some homes do not have attic space to buffer the heat

2. Some roofs are not well insulated and this causes an increase in the heat factor upstairs to become faulty

3. Air ducts have unfortunately not been installed properly

4. Air ducts are old or have not been cleaned on a regular basis

5. There may be a leak in your air conditioning unit

Your air conditioner will struggle to get the cool air into your home efficiently if one or some of these issues are occurring in your home.

- Earl Duff (owner)

1. Homes do not have attic space to buffer the heat

Your attic is the primary buffer zone between the conditioned air of your home and the roof that shields your dwelling from the elements. If your attic is not properly insulated and ventilated, then your home may be losing heat in the winter and cool air in summer. As a result, your furnace and air conditioning units may be working harder than necessary to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

The solution - proper attic insulation is step one to fixing this problem, followed by reviewing the condition of your crawl space to improve overall efficiency of your heating and cooling system.

2. Poorly insulated roof causing an increase in heat factor upstairs

The color of your roof, the materials of your roof and the construction of your roof all have an impact on how your home heats and/or cools.

The solution - If your home is well-built, and your attic has the right amount of insulation, and ventilation so that excess heat can escape, then the heat coming in from the roof really shouldn’t have a major impact on the temperature of the rest of your home. Proper ventilation should provide cooling properties for your roof’s shingles, while insulation will keep any excess heat from reaching past your attic.

3. Air ducts have not been installed properly

The air ducts running through your home are a vital component of your HVAC system. Unfortunately, I have seen many HVAC and ductwork installed poorly. When this is the case you will paying for a system that is not doing the job it is meant to do. According to Energy Star , “more than half of new systems in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated efficiency as a result of improper installation.” Improper installation causes high energy bills, reduced performance, worse indoor air quality, and poor air distribution.

The solution - make sure you have a trusted HVAC company with great reviews. Don't just hire anyone without doing your research first or asking for recommendations from family and friends. Additionally, remember to complete annual maintenance on your HVAC system to ensure that your HVAC system is working to the best of its ability and the air ducts have been installed properly.

4. Air ducts are old or have not been cleaned

Air ducts can simply just be getting old, thus it is not working to the best of its ability. Signs that your air ducts are aging can include:

- A noisy HVAC system
- High energy bill
- Uneven heating and cooling
- Dust in your house
- Smelling mold or mildrew in your home
- Seeing debris around the vents

The solution - Maintenance is so important for your air ducts to ensure it lasts a long time. Our maintenance will ensure that your air ducts are cleaned, sealed and insulated. If we see that the issue is age and maintenance is only a very short term solution we will recommend getting new air ducts to save you money in the long term.

5. Leak in your air conditioning system

Your air conditioning produces a lot of water in the form of condensation, especially during the hot summer months. You may indeed hear a faint dripping from time to time, which is normal. The water will drip into the drain line and then be channeled into the outdoor drain. Although, if something isn’t working properly, water can leak out from the indoor unit and trigger a problem with your HVAC system. The reason for the leaking can be caused by:

- clogging

- drain pan is full

- air filter is dirty

- the condensate pump is faulty

The solution - Our professional technician team will be able to confirm if it a leak from a blocked drain. We have the tools to be able to access the drain and confirm if there’s a clog or not. If it's not a clog we will continue to investigate the issue until we identify the problem. Once the problem is resolved we will offer a solution that best suits your needs and budget.

Time for a HVAC inspection

Whether you want to fix some of the ducts in your HVAC system or you are considering a complete replacement project, it’s important to not postpone this step for much longer.

Chat to us today and we will visit your home to assess the problem, discuss your options and guide you through the necessary steps to ensure your HVAC and air ducts are working at the optimal level.

GOLD Winner of Coastal Virginia Mag 2020 Awards.

Thu, 09 Jul 2020 12:41:30 GMT

Ocean View HVAC awarded Coastal Virginia Gold Award

Each year, Coastal Virginia Magazine honors local businesses that have achieved and maintained superior services to local customers with the Best of CoVA Award. This is the highest honor given annually to companies by Coastal Virginia Magazine. Ocean View Heating and Cooling were awarded GOLD in the Southside Best of Heating and Cooling Company.

We are now your award-winning local HVAC business ready to assist you in all your heating, cooling and plumbing needs”.

- Earl Duff (owner)

“Receiving this award means a lot to us,” said owner Earl Duff. “We are guests in our customers’ homes and treat them and their homes with respect. We work hard to provide the very best customer service possible and make sure each customer is 100% satisfied with our heating, cooling and plumbing work. I am very excited to see the growth of our business and continue to best serve our local customers. Thank you to all those who voted for us. We are now your award-winning local HVAC business ready to assist you in all your heating, cooling and plumbing needs”.

About Ocean View Heating and Cooling

Ocean View HVAC is a locally owned and operated business serving the HVAC and plumbing needs of businesses and homeowners in Norfolk, VA and surrounding areas of Hampton Roads. Providing customers with complete residential and commercial heating, cooling and plumbing services, upgrades, installation and repairs with a company wide focus on superior customer service and satisfaction.

Congratulations to the whole team for making this business become so successful among the local Norfolk and Hampton Roads residents and businesses.