Archive for tips

Benefits of Regular HVAC Maintenance

By Jessica Joyce
Monday, February 27th, 2023

Here at James River Air Conditioning, we believe regular HVAC maintenance is especially important for the longevity and safety of your home comfort system(s)! Routine check-ups can save you money in the long run. Here are James River Air’s top 5 benefits of regular HVAC maintenance: 

Improved Energy Efficiency

Maintaining regular maintenance on your HVAC system can help it operate more efficiently in several ways. Cleaning and replacing filters, lubricating moving parts, checking refrigerate levels, and cleaning the coils are a few ways our professional technicians can help to ensure your system is running as efficiently as possible.

Longer Lifespan

By keeping your HVAC system well-maintained, you can help extend its lifespan. The average life expectancy of a heat pump is about 10-15 years. Routine maintenance will help prevent wear and tear. Over time parts of your system can become worn down due to normal usage. Regular maintenance will help catch and address these issues before it could become a major problem.

Improved Air Quality

A well-maintained system circulates air throughout the building, which helps to remove stagnant air that can harbor pollutants. A well-maintained HVAC system ensures proper ventilation and air circulation, improving overall air quality. Additionally, HVAC systems can regulate indoor humidity levels in your home. This helps prevent growth of mold and mildew. Maintaining proper humidity levels always helps contribute to reducing the spread of airborne viruses and bacteria.

Fewer Breakdowns

With regular HVAC maintenance, you will experience fewer breakdowns! Our professional technicians can help catch the small problems before they turn into serious issues or replacements. During our routine maintenance visits, our technicians inspect all aspects of your unit. They could find worn-out or faulty parts that could potentially cause issues in the future.

Lower Utility Bills

Did you know a well-maintained system can help lower your utility bills? Well, it can! A clean and functioning system means your system will not have to work has hard to heat or cool your home. The easiest and most effective way to help lower your utility bills are to change your filters! A dirty or clogged HVAC filter will reduce the lifespan of your system and increase your utility bills.

Overall, routine HVAC maintenance is a small investment that will pay off in a big way. It will help save you money in the long run, improve your comfort and air quality, prevent breakdowns, and increase the lifespan of your unit. Call James River Air today or book online to schedule or sign up for our Preventive Maintenance program and save 30% on future repairs! 804-358-9333.

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Happy Valentine’s Day from Your Home Comfort System – 5 Tips to Show Your HVAC System Love

By Jessica Joyce
Tuesday, February 14th, 2023

As your home comfort system, I’ve worked extremely hard this past winter to ensure you, my homeowner, is warm and comfortable. I can not wait for Spring so I can get a break! Before Summer rolls around and I need to keep you cool and comfortable.

If you’re wondering how you can show your home comfort system love on this Valentine’s Day, here are my top 5 tips. A happy home comfort system = a happy and comfortable homeowner.

Change My Filters!

Nobody wants to breathe dirty, dusty air. Not even me! It makes it harder for me to pump air. Not to mention the air I'm putting out is dirty!

Clean Me!

One of the hardest things for me to do is work efficiently while being covered in grime, dust, leaves, etc. Sometimes critters can create habitats in my area. Gross! Build up around my unit can create less airflow which makes it harder for me to work! Though you and I both don’t like it, I have to use more electricity to be efficient which raises your electricity bill! Sorry ☹ I know we both don’t want this, so it’s a good idea to check outside of my unit to make sure everything is clean and running smoothly.

Install an Air Purification System

Before we all start suffering from allergies, install an air purification system. With this installed, I can help get rid of any allergens, germs or mold that is in the air.

Keep Your Vents Open

An easy way to show me love today is by keeping the vents open your house. Even in unused rooms! When you close your vents, it’s messed with my balance and pressure. It’s making it harder for me to heat your home.

Schedule Annual Preventive Maintenance

To truly ensure your home comfort system is working at peak efficiency, call the professionals at James River Air. 804-358-9333. Our expert technicians will ensure your system is ready to keep you and your home warm and comfortable!

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Earth Day Tips – 4.22.22

By Jessica Joyce
Friday, April 22nd, 2022

Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection, restore damaged ecosystems, and to live a more sustainable life. In honor of Earth Day, James River Air Conditioning would like to share a few tips on how you can reduce your carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions through small improvements to your HVAC system. 

4 Tips to make your HVAC system more eco-friendly:

  • Change your filters – When was the last time you changed your air filters? If it’s been a month or more, we recommend checking them. You should change your filters every three months.
  • Clean debris, grass, and leaves from around the outdoor unit to ensure you are not restricting airflow. 
  • Inspect your ductwork – If you find any leaks in your ductwork, seal them off. Leaky duct work can be very problematic for HVAC efficiency. 
  • Inspect the insulation in your attic – If you have not checked your attic insultation, it is a great time to check and evaluate if your attic insulation is air-sealed. Without attic insulation, you cannot save money or energy.

These 4 tips are perfect for participating in Earth Day. Not only are these small changes better for our environment, but they can also help reduce your energy bills. While these Earth Day solutions are simple DIY tasks you can complete yourself, your system might require a more professional touch. Please call us today to schedule your spring HVAC tune-up or click the button below!

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Top Warning Signs Your Crawl Space Is Impairing Indoor Air Quality & Energy Efficiency

By Jessica Joyce
Thursday, March 3rd, 2022

Is Your Crawl Space Impairing Indoor Air Quality & Energy Efficiency?

Do you notice any of the following unusual sights or smells emanating from your home’s crawl space? (i.e. the narrow, unfinished area that resides under the base of your house)

  • A gross, musty odor
  • Humid air, discolored walls, or standing water
  • Condensation
  • Foundation cracks or rotted wood
  • Feeling a draft or noticed sagging in the floors
  • Pest (ants, spiders, beetles, etc.) or rodent (mice, rats, snakes, etc.) infestation

If you notice any of the above unusual sights or smells, these are all warning signs your crawl space may be compromised. 

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As we head into the damp spring season, and as more homes change hands in a fast-moving housing market, James River Air Conditioning, has advice on how to secure your crawl space – whether you’ve been in your home for years, or you have a new-to-you home. Many homeowners likely never think about the crawl space, but it can be a major contributor to poor air quality and overall home energy efficiency. Nearly 50% of the air you breathe in your home originates from your crawl space. 

The crawl space is the home’s foundation. It’s where electrical conduit, water lines, and other utilities are housed. Traditional crawl spaces are a leading source of high humidity, and thus, mold, and microbiological growth, which causes poor air quality and can be linked to asthma, allergies, and other health issues. On the energy side, homeowners can reduce energy bills by up to 15% by controlling air leakage in crawl spaces, allowing HVAC systems and ducts to perform more efficiency.

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So what can homeowners do to secure their crawl space?

Protecting, cleaning, and sealing the crawl space, and adding vapor barriers and dehumidifiers are a home’s best defense. The benefits of vapor barriers and dehumidifiers in crawl spaces include:

  • Improved air quality
  • Eliminates insect and pest infestation
  • Increased healthy living conditions
  • Prevents mold, mildew and rot issues
  • Hinders structural damage
  • Increased energy efficiency

Homeowners can schedule a FREE inspection of their homes crawl space with James River Air by calling 1-800-COMFORT or click the link below to set up your free inspection. Visit James River Air’s Blog for more tips for saving energy on your HVAC system!

 

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