HVAC Supplies Blog

Once upon a time, an air conditioning unit was a luxury only reserved for the most well-appointed homes. But times have changed, and these days a large percentage of homes have air conditioning units. But do you really know how it works? If you’ve ever wondered about the parts of an air conditioner, we’ve got the answers for you here. From the condenser for air conditioners to the other air conditioning units parts, we’ll go through each of the seven main AC components so you can truly understand how they work. So read on to find out more about each of the air conditioning unit parts!

1. Refrigerant 

The first component of your air conditioner that you need to know about is the refrigerant. What is refrigerant, and how does it work? You may have heard it called coolant or maybe by the brand name Freon. Simply put, it’s the stuff that actually does the cooling. The refrigerant runs on a closed loop through the copper and/or steel tubing from the interior to the exterior of your building, absorbing heat from the interior of your home and pushing it to the exterior, changing from a gas to a liquid. Once the refrigerant has pushed and dispersed the heat outdoors, it turns back into a gas and travels back indoors. As the refrigerant cools down again, a fan blows air over the now cold coils to circulate the cold air throughout the home. This happens, again and again, every time your air conditioning unit is turned on.

It’s important to note that oftentimes, the main reason for AC malfunction is due to the refrigerant leaking, so having a good refrigerant leak detector is key.

2. Compressor

Next up is the compressor, which pressurizes the refrigerant and raises its temperature in turn. How does this work? There is a combination of gas laws that states that if you raise the pressure of a gas, so does its temperature. The reason this happens is that the refrigerant needs to get significantly hotter than the air outside in order to get the gas to naturally flow to the outside because hot air always moves toward cooler air. This way, no matter how hot it is outdoors, the gas refrigerant will always flow to the exterior unit and disperse its heat outdoors.

3. Condenser Coil and Fan

The condenser coil, which is the opposite of the evaporator (which we’ll discuss below) serves the purpose of pulling heat away from the refrigerant. This condenser for your air conditioner is located, as you could guess, in the exterior unit of your AC system. This condenser has a fan that does the opposite of your interior AC unit, blowing heat away from it and outside of your home. If you were to stand directly outside your exterior AC unit while it was running, you’d feel hot air blowing out of the unit. This is the condenser doing its work. This is the process that begins to turn the refrigerant from hot air to liquid.

4. Air Filter

If you know one thing about an air conditioning unit, you likely know there is an air filter. In essence, the air filter helps to remove particles from the air as it is pushed back into your home. As with just about any filter - such as your coffee filter, for instance - the air filter consists of a porous barrier that larger and more harmful particles cannot pass through. As the air passes through the filter, the particles get stuck in the fibers of the filter, thus cleaning the air. These filters are essential to maintain your overall health, especially if you have allergies or asthma. Depending on the kind of air filter you install, you may be able to filter out some or all of the following types of particles:

• Mold
• Pollen
• Outdoor pollutants
• Pet fur and dander
• Dust

It goes without saying that when it comes to your well-being, having a good and functioning filter is absolutely key.

5. Evaporator

Conversely, the evaporator works to absorb the heat inside your home. It’s usually attached either to your furnace or inside the air handler. This is a very delicate component of your air conditioning unit and definitely requires some extra care if not working properly. Some of the things you may notice if your evaporator isn’t working properly can include the following:

• Warm air blowing from your vents.
• Hissing and/or banging noises coming from your coolant system.
• A possible refrigerant leak.
• AC does not provide you with cold air, even though it’s starting and stopping.
• AC not turning on at all.

In any event, it’s important for you to get in touch with a licensed technician to diagnose and fix the problem quickly. 

6. Expansion Valve

Once the refrigerant has passed through the condenser and turned back into a liquid, it’s still too hot to enter the evaporator coils and must be cooled down. This is where the expansion valve comes into play. And if you’ve been following along so far, you may be able to guess what the expansion valve does. It depressurizes the refrigerant, which by the same combination gas laws we already mentioned, helps to cool down the liquid. Then, once the liquid refrigerant is cool enough to enter the evaporator, it can then turn into a gas again. The expansion valve also controls the amount of refrigerant that enters the evaporator, which has a direct effect on the power of your AC system. 

7. Thermostat

We lied. You probably know one more thing about your air conditioning unit in addition to the filter, and that’s the thermostat. This panel, or series of panels, inside your home is where you inform and program your air conditioning unit to maintain the ideal indoor temperature, turn your air conditioner on or off, or adjust other various settings. Thermostats have built-in temperature and humidity sensors, allowing it to help regulate the flow of the refrigerant through your unit. Many thermostats are now “smart” thermostats, where you can control the AC temperature from your smartphone, set specific temperature schedules, or even do geofencing (which basically means your unit will turn on or off based on the presence of your phone). If you're looking for the latest thermostats, Blackhawk Supply is here to help!

How Do All These Components Work Together?

So now you know all the components of an air conditioner, but how do they integrate with one another to cool the air in your home? It’s actually pretty “cool” (pun intended). First, the return vents suck in hot air from your room. As the hot air flows across the cold evaporator coils, the refrigerant picks up the heat. Once the refrigerant has absorbed enough heat, it is compressed (by the compressor) which pressurizes and heats up the refrigerant even more. It flows towards the condenser coils, where a large fan helps to push the hot air outdoors. This fan also helps to cool the refrigerant down. Moving back into the interior unit, the expansion valve then depressurizes the refrigerant, allowing it to cool back down even more. Then the process begins again all over again!

Conclusion

So there you have it. If you’ve ever wondered “what are the parts of an air conditioner,” you now know all the parts of your AC. A relatively simple yet absolutely ingenious device that helps to cool your home on a reliable basis. As a homeowner, knowing about all these components can help you understand what may or may not be working, and make sure that the technician you’re working with is telling you the whole story. And in the event that you do find yourself in need of a replacement for one of these air conditioner components, Blackhawk Supply carries the best supplies for HVAC systems! 

Having your central air conditioner freeze up in the middle of the winter is annoying. But what to do when your AC unit freezes up during the hottest summer days?

You might be surprised, but many people are faced with this problem even in the summertime. Do you want to prevent these issues and improve the indoor air quality of your HVAC equipment? What if your AC unit is already frozen?

Keep reading, and you’ll learn what causes freeze-ups and how to keep your AC from freezing up in the future.

Reasons What Causes The Air Conditioner to Freeze Up

So, you’re probably wondering why does your air conditioner freeze up despite the hot weather? Here are the most widespread reasons:

• Dirty air filters. Filters allow the warm indoor air to pass through the unit to the outside. This both regulates the room temperature and warms the cold refrigerant in your AC. So, clogged air filters prevent your unit from warming up, which often makes HVAC iced up.
• Insufficient refrigerant. The evaporator coil inside your AC unit won’t correctly warm up if the refrigerant is leaking or incorrectly charged.
• Drainage issues. Hot air that gets inside the HVAC unit condenses into water and flows out through a drain pan. However, if something blocks the drain, the water will eventually evaporate again and might freeze on the evaporator coil.
• Thermostat malfunction. Your system may run more than necessary if the built-in thermostat shows an incorrect temperature, which causes other issues that lead to a freeze on AC.
• Blocked supply registers. The HVAC may also freeze if you close too many supply registers. So, keep at least three-quarters of your registers open to prevent such issues.

Now you won’t have to ask yourself: “why did my air conditioner freeze when it’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit outside?”

Next, let’s see what you can do if your unit has already frozen.

What to Do When Your AC Unit Freezes Up in 4 Steps

So, you’ve identified that your outside air conditioner unit is frozen. Here’s how you can fix it without calling in professional technicians:

Step 1. Shut off the air conditioner from the power

You should avoid using the AC while it's frozen up inside because it wastes the electrical power and may damage the compressor (the most expensive part). So, start by disconnecting the unit from the power by turning off the electrical breaker.

Step 2. Melt the ice on the evaporator coil

You should wait for the frozen AC to thaw. However, waiting can take a whole day, even on a scorching summer day.

If patience isn't your strongest suit, there are ways to unfreeze AC units fast by using a blow dryer on the evaporator coil. Just don't try to break the ice physically, as it may damage the fragile components of the device.

Step 3. Clean the evaporator coil 

After the ice is gone, you need to clean the parts of the AC unit from blockages. Carefully wipe the evaporator coil with paper towels.

You should also empty the drain pan and check if the air filters need replacement to prevent the freeze on the air conditioner from recurring.

Step 4. Let the AC unit dry

Make sure the AC unit is dry before using it for temperature control. You can set your thermostat to “fan-only” or “blower” for a few hours to speed up the process. After doing all of the above, your air conditioner should be working as usual.

You probably want to ensure your air conditioner won’t freeze up again. Continue reading to learn how.

How to Keep Your AC from Freezing Up

If you've had to unfreeze your AC once, you probably wouldn't want to do it again. Thankfully, you don't have to regularly melt the ice inside the AC unit if you follow our recommendations.

Replace the air filters

As a general rule, make a habit out of cleaning air filters in your AC units. Better yet, change your filters before they start affecting the performance of your machinery.

How often should you replace your filters? Optimally, you should replace them at least each quarter. You may change them more frequently based on:

• The type of your air filter and HVAC unit
• The indoor space
• Number of pets and children living in the house
• Whether someone smokes indoors

Check the refrigerant levels

Refrigerant is an extremely cold matter used to control the indoor temperature. If your AC is low on refrigerant, the evaporator can eventually be covered with ice. At the same time, a leak in the system can lead to refrigerant freezing your air conditioner.

You should check the refrigerant in the HVAC units at least every six months to see if they're at an optimal level. If you don't like doing it yourself, you might order a technician to look for potential leaks.

Inspect the blower fans

The condition of your blower fans and motor affects your HVAC performance. We recommend hiring a technician to check the age and wear of your fans, their rotation speed, and power output.

Replacing a faulty blower can prevent the AC unit from freezing up and reduce the risk of damage to your equipment. That's why you should look over them at least once a year.

Unblock the air vents

Blocked air vents can restrict the airflow and cause problems with your HVAC system. So, take some time to ensure your furniture and curtains don't block them. And don't forget that you shouldn't close more than a quarter of your supply registers to prevent the central air conditioner from freezing up.

Clean the drain line

As we mentioned, the water inside the HVAC unit won’t flow out if the system is clogged. So, you should inspect the drain pipe for any blockages, excess dirt, and debris.

Clean the drain line and anything that might prevent the normal water flow. It's better to do it with a paper towel or use a wet and dry vacuum.

Don’t set the temperature too low 

Setting the AC unit temperature too cold when it’s blistering hot outside will strain your device. As you know by now, this leads to malfunction and freezing up.

Even though it's tempting, you should refrain from relying on AC units to cool you off. The same can be said about using air conditioners non-stop. Instead, we recommend finding other ways to lower the temperature in your house (such as fans).

Conclusion

Most problems causing AC units to freeze are preventable with regular maintenance. You should keep most of your air vents and supply registers open, check the drain line and blower fans, and don’t neglect to replace filters.

Everything we’ve described is easy to handle with a little effort. So, you won’t have to worry about your AC freezing up without spending money on service technicians. And if you wish to improve your indoor quality DIY, make sure to check Blackhawk Supply for premium HVAC equipment and supplies!

Winter can be very challenging for commercial property even if you take preventive measures during warmer seasons. Besides, you never know just how cold the winter season might be with today’s climate. You need to take winter property management seriously if you don't want to lose money due to heavy snow, blizzards, and other surprises of Mother Nature.

How do you prepare for a cold season? Read our winter building maintenance checklist below to find out!

Check The Building’s Heating Systems

The heating system and temperature controllers must be first on any building maintenance checklist. You need to assess the condition of your HVAC during winter maintenance. It’s best to do it well in advance if you want the heating function to work as intended when the winter hits.

Some of the aspects of your inspections should include:

• Performance of your HVAC systems
• Energy consumption metrics
• Thermostats and temperature controllers
• Humidifiers and humidity controllers
• Blowers and hoses
• Drain traps and condensation levels
• Air vents
• Air filters in outside air conditioning units (on rooftops and furnaces)

Pay attention to build-up, cracks, and worn-out equipment. Also, strange sounds, abnormal moisture, and foul odors inside the AC units are usually signs of malfunction. If you want to save on replacements in the future, make sure to buy high-quality HVAC equipment.

Inspect Cooling Systems

The cooling is just as important as heat systems winter property maintenance. After all, properly working cooling prevents ice from building inside your HVAC units.

Start by powering off your chillers and cooling towers for maintenance. Next, drain all units that are not in use and inspect them for debris, and ice and snow buildup. Your specialists should also winterize outside units by wrapping them in plastic.

Calibrate Thermostats

Correctly working thermostat ensures convenient and accurate temperature control — something you’ll need in your building during extremely cold weather. Calibrated temperature controls for central HVAC systems also help reduce energy bills that can get quite high in cold seasons.

You should also attune the thermostat so that the indoor temperature doesn’t differ too much from the weather outside. On top of that, you can reduce CO2 emissions and power consumption by replacing old equipment with premium thermostats.

Clean The Roof

Roof cleaning and repairs should be a vital part of your winter property management plan. Damaged roofs can collect snow and ice, which could melt and slide down in the gutter. If the snow freezes again, it might create ice dams that can loosen shingles, tear off your gutters, or develop cracks. The latter might even cause water to pour into your offices.

So, you should search the roof for areas that might collect water. Additionally, you should hire specialists to check the insulation and possibly add more of it to your roof to prevent heat loss.

Examine Plumbing and Irrigation Systems

If you don’t want to replace your commercial plumbing systems, add preventative piping maintenance to your checklist.

You should examine the piping, faucets, and drain houses on your property. We also recommend insulating the water supply lines to ensure optimal thermal performance and prevent freeze-ups. To do that, simply have someone tape your pipes with tape or rubber-based products.

Look Over All Doors and Windows

Doors and windows can contain barely noticeable gaps that leak hot air and let the cold inside. That's why you should expand your office building maintenance checklist with check-ups of frames, windows, interior, and exterior walls. You don't need to renovate everything — a simple duct tape might do the trick most of the time.

Take Care of Sidewalks and Stairs

Ice-covered stairs and sidewalks near your building can injure your workers and visitors. You need to regularly clean them from snow to ensure it doesn't hurt your business.

Make cleaning your building’s entrances and surrounding areas a part of the winter building maintenance. You might also spill salt, sand, sawdust, or de-icers to prevent slip-ups.

Develop an Emergency Plan

You don’t know what the climate has in store for you, nor can you anticipate the snow density and volume. Having an emergency plan is crucial for winter property maintenance to prevent damage to your building and ensure the safety of your employees.

At the very least, you should prepare the following:

• Detailed course of action in case of blizzards, heavy snowfalls, and other harsh conditions
• Snow removal and deicing equipment
• Emergency car kits and first-aid kits
• Contracts with snow removal companies

What’s Next?

A thought-out checklist and maintenance plan might keep your commercial building from damage during cold seasons. You should conduct regular heating, cooling, and central air conditioner systems maintenance to prepare for any weather.

Do you want to get top-tier quality parts and replacements for your HVAC, temperature control, or piping systems? Feel free to browse through Blackhawk Supply to get the equipment and tools you need at the best price!

Looking into ventilators in a home but not sure which ventilation type to get? If you’re looking into improving the air quality in a home, you need to know that ventilation is absolutely key. Here’s why:

• Ventilation circulates fresh oxygen throughout your home.
• Our homes tend to trap various unpleasant airborne particles, including cleaning supply chemicals, allergens, and more. The air circulating throughout your home likely contains these types of contaminants.
• Household activities like showering and cooking generate moisture. This moisture, if not dealt with effectively, can increase the relative humidity of your home, leading to problems with mold, condensation, and even dust mites.
• Some newer building materials emit gases, and ventilation can help eliminate them.
• It can keep your home safer because you won’t have to open windows and doors simply to get fresh air.

But what ventilation type should you have installed in your home, and what’s the difference? In this article, we’ll look into both Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) and Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) and examine the differences between the two.

How Much Ventilation Do I Need?

Before examining the different types of air filters, you’re going to need to figure out how much ventilation you need in your home. If you’re simply planning on waiting to see if you can detect pollutants in your home, that’s a bad idea. It’s very difficult to detect low levels of contaminants in the air, even when they could be potentially harmful. In a perfect world, air ventilators would be able to detect contaminants in the air via sensors and automatically adjust based on the air quality in your home, but the technology isn’t quite there yet.

In lieu of a major technological breakthrough, you’ll need to err on the side of caution and always make sure ample fresh air is being supplied in your home. There is a specific air quality standard that most building codes rely on, and it’s *ASHRAE standard 62.2 - which stands for the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Experts.

Luckily, there’s actually a way to calculate the standard for your individual home, if you don’t mind doing a bit of math. The equation is as follows:

Q = 7.5 cfm/occupant + 3 cfm/100 ft² of living area 
=12.75 m³/h per occupant + 5.5 m³/h per 10 m² of living area

cfm - Cubic Feet per Minute
Q - The air supply rate

Keep in mind that this equation assumes that the number of occupants in your home is equal to the number of bedrooms plus one, which may be accurate for the average family, but not necessarily for your own home. The calculated value refers to the minimal installed rate (Q).

Now that we know how to calculate the air supply rate your home needs, let’s dig into the different kinds of ventilators, namely heat recovery ventilators vs energy recovery ventilation.

What Is The HRV and How Does It Work?

HRV ventilation stands for Heat Recovery Ventilators, and they are essentially systems that use the heat in the stale exhaust air to preheat the incoming fresh air, which can help you save on your heating bill because it reduces the energy required to bring the outside air up to room temp. An HRV system does require the operation of a fan on a constant basis, but the energy recovered from the exhaust air is much more than the energy required for the fan to operate. However, it’s important to invest a little extra in a very high-quality HRV, which will save you the pain of a fan that is noisy and quicker to break. 

What ERV Stands for and How Does It Work?

The ERV stands for Energy Recovery Ventilators, also known as ERV air exchangers, and it takes things one step further than an HRV. The ERV actually captures some of the humidity from the air to keep the new air entering your home at the same humidity level. In the summertime, this process actually reverses, so the humidity is taken out of your home, which will save you money on air conditioners and dehumidifiers. Whichever ventilator you choose, make sure you select a quite higher quality one, as it will save you the hassle in the longer run.

What Are The Key Factors for Choosing a Ventilation Type?

You may be wondering, which one of these types of ventilators is going to be best for my home? You’re going to have to assess the following factors to make that determination:

What Is The Local Climate?

If you have cold, dry winters and hot, humid summers, you’re going to want to select an ERV system because it will help to retain humidity. In a humid summer, an HRV will typically increase the humidity in your home, creating a need for your dehumidifier to do extra work. So at the very least, an ERV will lessen the load on the dehumidifier (even though it’s not as good as a dehumidifier at removing moisture). If your house tends to get too humid in the wintertime, then an HRV is a better choice for you.

How Many People Live in Your House?

The amount of people living in your home makes a tremendous difference. In fact, the more people you have in your home, especially if your home is somewhat small, creates more humidity. More showers, more cooking, more breathing in general, all creates more humidity, which means an HRV may be a better choice. On the flipside, an ERV may be a better choice for larger homes with fewer family members.

What Is Your Current Heating System?

The type of heating system you have already makes a difference too. If you have a non-drying heating system such as a boiler, HRV systems are probably a better choice for you. However, if you have an electric baseboard or another heating system that tends to make the air dryer, an ERV would be preferable.

When Was Your House Built?

The age of your home does influence the type of ventilator system you should install as well. If you have a home built prior to the 1970s, the way it is constructed typically allows for humidity to escape outdoors, which means the home usually has drier indoor air. In this case, an ERV would be preferable. For newer homes that tend to be more airtight, an HRV ventilation system would be better.

What Ventilation Type Is The Best Option for Me?

Now that you know which factors play into making a decision between installing an ERV vs an HRV ventilator, you can make a determination as to which ventilation type is best for you. Live in a very cold climate? If that’s the case, then you really need to examine the other factors above, such as the size of your home, the age of your home, and how many people live in your home. If you live in the Chicagoland area, and you have an pre-1970’s home with a relatively leaky building envelope and a smaller family, an ERV would be ideal for you to transfer some of the humidity into the incoming air. But if you have a newer or newly renovated and a larger family, then an HRV makes much more sense for you. 

Conclusion

Regardless of which type of ventilation system you decide to go with, you need a reliable supplier to get the best option for your home. Visit Blackhawk Supply today to buy HVAC supplies online, or simply get in touch with us so we can discuss the best options for your home. Working with a contractor? Have them get in touch with us for the best prices around.

Many preparations need to be made as winter knocks on our door. It is critical that all systems throughout the house are fully functioning before the cold months are upon us. There is nothing more daunting than having equipment repaired in the winter. It is a complex and arduous task. Let’s look at some tips that can ensure that your HVAC system is ready for winter. 

Why You Should Winterize Your HVAC Home System

Routine maintenance of your HVAC system will prevent many issues down the road. There are many reasons why this is a significant step in winterizing your home. The primary reason is that it will save you money; it will reduce energy bills, reduce costly repairs and extend the life of your HVAC system. It will also ensure that the air throughout your home will be quality and provide you with comfort all year long. It will also keep your HVAC system under warranty, many manufacturers require yearly maintenance as part of their contract.

Top 14 Tips to Prepare Your HVAC System for Winter

Preparing your HVAC system every winter is extremely beneficial and doing it right is necessary. Here are some tips:

#1 Schedule a Professional Check-Up

Getting a technician to inspect your HVAC system provides you an invaluable service. A technician performs tune-ups on your system that will restore the system to its optimal capacity and allow you to have a more reliable HVAC system. In addition, these tune-ups can catch problems before they become costly system failures. 

#2 Check and Replace The Filter

• Shut off your HVAC system ( an important step when dealing with all equipment)
• Remove the panel that covers the filter
• Remove the used filter and throw it away
• Insert the new filter but be sure to follow the instruction manual provided by the manufacturer
• Close the access panel
• Turn your HVAC system back on to test it

#3 Inspect Ductwork

To inspect your ducts, it is important to find all access points such as basements or attics.

• Turn off your HVAC system
• Visually inspect your ductwork system for dirt, debris, gaps, tears
• Turn your HVAC system back on and reinspect all the vents and ducts and make sure that the airflow isn’t escaping or obstructed in any

#4 Seal All The Air Leaks

When preparing your home for the winter, sealing air leaks is extremely important to trap the heat. Here is a list of air leaks to fill after a visual inspection of your property:

• Windows
• Doors
• Where the chimney and the ceiling meet
• Cracks in exterior walls
• Cracks in the foundation
• Electrical plugs, wiring, and plumbing holes

#5 Install a Programmable Thermostat

• Turn off the HVAC system at the breaker
• Unscrew your old thermostat
• Pull it out slowly and make sure to leave the wires intact
• Use tape to label all the wires
• Make sure the wires don’t go back into the wall
• Place the thermostat on the wall
• Match the wires on your thermostat that correspond to the other wires
• Put the cover back on

#6 Check Vents 

Visually inspect all the vents you have access to, including the ones in the attic, crawl spaces, and basement where applicable. Look for any tears, gaps, debris, or mildew. Check to make sure that every vent offers an unobstructed pathway for air to flow freely. Make sure to check every vent in every room as well.

#7 Clean Furnace 

Prior to cleaning your furnace, it is important to test it on different days for efficacy. Once that is done the cleaning process can begin. 

• Turn the furnace off and let cool
• Clean the outside with a damp cloth
• Clean the blower with a vacuum cleaner
• Remove all dust and dirt particles accessible
• Replace the filter

#8 Sound Check 

A sound check of your HVAC system could help you diagnose an issue with your system before your unit breaks down. Not paying attention to the thumping, rattling, screeching, banging sounds can cost you more money down the line. It is imperative that if you ever hear any unusual sounds that you call a technician to inspect your HVAC system.

#9 Prep Humidifier

• Unplug your humidifier
• Disassemble it completely
• Slowly remove and empty the water tank
• Pour vinegar into the humidifier
• Let it sit for an hour at the very least
• Then with a clean brush, clean the residue
• Mix a solution with 1 teaspoon of bleach per 1 gallon of water
• Fill the tank with this solution
• Rinse with water as many times as needed
• Once dry, reassemble your humidifier

#10 Bleed Radiator Valves 

• Make sure heating is off and the radiators are cooled down
• Put a jug or an old rug under the bleed valve and insert the bleed key
• Turn the key counterclockwise until you hear a hissing sound
• Then turn the key clockwise after the water starts dripping
• Make sure the valve is tightened again
• Turn your heating back on

#11 Service Chimneys

Servicing your chimney yearly before using it in the winter is imperative. It is highly recommended to get a professional to inspect it. You must make sure there is no soot build-up because a dirty chimney can be a fire hazard. It is also important to make sure the outside of your chimney is intact. 

#12 Test Detectors 

With winter comes fire hazards connected to increases in heating, usage of fireplaces, and even increased cooking at home. So, you must check your smoke detectors:

• Press and hold the test button on your smoke detector
• You should hear an ear-piercing siren
• If that sound is weak or non-existent then you must replace the batteries and perform the test again

#13 Winterize Outdoor HVAC Equipment

Please make sure that you never wrap plastic around the condenser of your HVAC system.

• Turn off the power of the HVAC unit
• Remove any debris stuck in and around it
• Wax the outside of the unit to coat it
• Remove ice and snow all winter long, make sure the unit is always clean and clear

#14 Make HVAC Repairs and Replacements 

It is important to inspect your HVAC system, but the repairs need to be made on the spot. Putting off repairs or postponing the replacement of critical parts can jeopardize your safety and cost you more money down the line.

Conclusion

It is critical to be mindful of safety before the winter months. You must ensure that all your equipment is fully functioning. Blackhawk Supply is ready to help you find the best HVAC supplies to ensure that you have a safe, stress-free, and cozy winter.