HVAC Service Blog by Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning

Information About Current HVAC Equipment Shortage Concerns

June 18th, 2021

The HVAC industry is currently experiencing a shortage of equipment parts, leading to price increases for contractors purchasing vital parts and units from manufacturers. Both manufacturers and some contractors are having trouble keeping important items in stock to meet needs. We want to take a moment to discuss what is happening and what it means for you, our customers.

Why Are There Shortages?

Several factors have created this situation. The normal supply chain has encountered multiple disruptions from events like the novel coronavirus pandemic, the “Black Swan” event in Texas, and an accidental blockage of the Suez canal because of an overturned freighter. When combined with a rise in demand as people anticipate a summer of record heat, the strain on the supply chain has created both shortages and a rise in prices. In some cases, manufacturers have hiked up the cost to contractors by 6–10% and may not have necessary equipment in stock to ship.

This is not a permanent situation, but it’s caused alarm among homeowners who are concerned about the vital comfort of their households during Summer 2021.

What This Means for You

We don’t want you to worry, because the Clawson team is always here to help you. We have a highly experienced staff of technicians who can quickly diagnose problems with your AC and offer multiple solutions for repairs or replacements so we can best meet your needs in the current circumstances. We have excellent relationships with our distributors to get the parts and units needed, often before smaller contractors can.

However, we encourage you to take action soon if you have an air conditioning concern or if you think you will need new equipment installed this season. This quick action will help prevent delays and see that your household’s comfort needs are met.

Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning is “Connecting people to Comfort”! Don’t delay calling for AC service this summer.

My Heat Pump Won’t Switch Out of Heating Mode! What’s Wrong?

June 1st, 2021

A heat pump is one of the most convenient home comfort systems available because it can work as both a powerful cooling system and energy-efficient heating system—year-round comfort in a single package.

But if you discover one day that your home’s heat pump won’t switch over to do half of its job, you’ll be uncomfortable, unhappy, and wondering if you need to schedule heat pump repair.

Since the hot weather is now arriving, you may be in the position when you expect your heat pump to change over to cooling mode and work as an air conditioner. If you turn on your heat pump and the only air you get from the vents is warm air, there are several possibilities for what’s happening. The answer may be simple. Or you may need to call our technicians to examine the heat pump and see what needs to be repaired. Below we’ll look at several examples of what might be wrong.

Reasons Your AC Can’t Cool the House Enough

May 17th, 2021

Air conditioning systems have limits. For example, a residential air conditioner can change the indoor temperatures a maximum of 20°F from the outdoor temperature, and thermostats won’t allow temperature settings lower than 60°F (which is too cold for most people anyway). But if a central air conditioner is properly sized and installed, it will be able to provide enough cooling for a house to keep it comfortable throughout even the hottest summers.

If your air conditioning is not managing the job of cooling your house, either never getting to a comfortable enough temperature or creating uneven cooling with hot spots in some rooms, then you may need air conditioning repair in Oregon City, OR, or possibly even a replacement system.

Below we’ll examine some reasons you may have an AC that’s struggling to do its job.

What to Know About High-Efficiency Air Conditioning Systems

May 3rd, 2021

Are you looking to have a new air conditioning installation this spring? If so, you have several choices to make about what type of AC to get. For example, you might decide to have a heat pump put in rather than an air conditioner, which takes the place of both the AC and the heater. If you’re staying with a central air conditioner, you can pick a model similar to the one you currently have, or you may wish to look at the newest high-efficiency models.

Just the words high efficiency are tempting—people imagine a system that will chop down on their bills. But there are some facts to know about high-efficiency air conditioners that will factor into your decision. We’ve got the important low-down on going for high efficiency.

It’s Spring: Time to Schedule Air Conditioning Maintenance

April 19th, 2021

Although spring started officially last month, we’re only starting to see the warmer weather arrive now, as “official” spring turns into “practical” spring. And when the spring weather arrives, it means that summer heat is not far behind, and you’ll need your AC running to keep the house cool.

You want to make sure your AC system is prepared for the summer, and this point in spring is the best time to arrange for professional air conditioning maintenance with our technicians. We have a special maintenance program to take care of you: The Clawson Customer Assurance Plus Program (CAPP). As a member, you’ll not only receive regular 21-point inspections and tune-ups for your heating and air conditioning equipment, you’ll enjoy other great benefits:

6 Signs You Need Water Heater Repairs

April 5th, 2021

The best way to avoid getting trapped with a failed water heater is to get out ahead of problems with prompt professional water heater repair in Vancouver, WA. Most water heaters give off warning signs before they hit major problems, so if you know what to watch for, you can act fast and get our technicians to your home to inspect the system and, if necessary, fix it.

Below are six common signs a water heater needs professional repairs.

How We Can Help Your IAQ During Allergy Season

March 22nd, 2021

Spring is when temperatures start to climb and plants bloom. The first part is wonderful. The second is … sometimes wonderful, but also means allergy season. The pollen count in the air rises as the first warmth starts to spread around and settle in. People who suffer from allergies and asthma can have it rough as the pollen count in the air increases, and hay fever becomes a major irritant.

Obviously, we can’t do anything about the pollen count outside your house, and the best recommendation for what to do to deal with allergy season on a general basis is to ask a physician for advice. However, as indoor air quality professionals, we can help with the air inside your house and manage the many allergens that can make spring much less fun for many people.

Late Season and Your Heater: What Can Go Wrong

March 8th, 2021

The end of the winter is a reason to celebrate. You can still enjoy some of the pleasures of cold weather while also knowing that soon you’ll be able to bask in the warmth of spring and summer.

But this is also a time when you may need urgent heating repairs in Vancouver, WA. The reason is simple: the heater in your home has already gone through months of work, and this is when the build-up of strain may finally cause it to break. Even if you remembered to have maintenance in the fall, which significantly decreases the chance of the heating system needing repairs, this is the point in the year when the chance of something going wrong is at its highest.

To help you know when to call us to fix your heating system (and we’ve got the emergency 24-hour service to take care of it!), we’ve listed some of the troubles that might strike as winter winds down:

The many, many, many problems of a clogged air filter

Answer this question honestly: Did you change the air filter for the HVAC system at least once during the season? If your answer is “no,” then the heater is in jeopardy of numerous problems because that filter is certainly clogged with dust, lint, dander, and other debris. This congestion restricts airflow through the furnace/heat pump, reduces your comfort, puts extra pressure on the blower motor, can cause a frozen coil in a heat pump, and plenty more. Go change the filter now if you haven’t!

Burnt-out motors

The wear and tear of a season of heating takes the biggest toll on the mechanical moving parts of a heating system—i.e. the motors. The motors will lose lubrication, accumulate dust, and face the danger of overheating and burning out. If you hear a screeching sound from the heater, it may be the motors on the verge of burning out. Please call for repairs ASAP before the motor fails and needs to be replaced.

Short-cycling

Numerous different problems can cause this malfunction, which is when the heater gets trapped in the start-up cycle and keeps shutting down before it can complete a full heating cycle. If you notice the heating system is turning on and off rapidly over an hour, something it didn’t used to do, the system is short-cycling. Not only does this warn you that something has gone wrong in the heater, but it’s also bad for the heater all on its own because of the strain it puts on components and energy it wastes.

Heating capacity decline/uneven heating

Your heating system may begin to lose its heating capacity at the end of the season. You’ll notice that the house isn’t getting as warm as it used to or certain rooms have cold spots. This can point toward a heater that’s starting to fail entirely (and if old enough, ready for a replacement) or one that has a specific repair issue. Call on our technicians: we’ll find out the problem and offer solutions.

Rely on Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning for all your heating repair needs. “Connecting People to Comfort!”

Why Your Furnace Isn’t Warming Up the House Enough

February 22nd, 2021

You’ve had your furnace for a while, and each winter you don’t have any trouble getting comfortable when it’s running. That’s the way things are supposed to be.

Now, however, something is wrong. You don’t feel cozy, and you’re layering on blankets. Your favorite long-sleeve shirt isn’t keeping you warm enough, and other folks in the house are complaining that it’s too cold. “Why isn’t the furnace on?” they ask. And you tell them that it is, and they don’t believe you, but the thermostat is set to the normal temperature, and…

Oh no. The furnace isn’t working right! It’s running, you can feel warm air coming from the room vents, but it’s not enough. Why is it? What’s happening?

Is a Gas Furnace Always the Best Way to Heat a Home?

February 8th, 2021

Gas furnaces are the most common type of central heating systems for homes across the United States. How many homes? Almost 48% of homes use natural gas for heating, and the Pacific Northwest is one of the regions where this type of heating is the most prominent. So, the logic goes, gas furnaces must be the best way to heat a home.

But that’s actually not logic, only an assumption. The truth is that there is no “best” way to heat a home because homes are different. There may be more gas furnaces because gas furnaces have significant advantages. But not every home can enjoy those advantages. The obvious example is any home that doesn’t have a natural gas connection, which accounts for 37% of households.

Clawson Heating & Air Conditioning Blog