ac maintenance

4 HVAC Maintenance Tips for Your Small Business

June 21, 2022 by Jim Calago

The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system, known as HVAC, is the provider of comfortable climates in every corner of your small business here in Fairview Height, IL. HVAC repair can be a costly endeavor as air conditioning components are highly specialized pieces of machinery.

Following these four HVAC maintenance tips from our team of experts here at Morrison Plumbing will extend the service life of your system and avoid the need for frequent AC repairs.

Keep Your System Clean

The first and foremost step you can take in AC maintenance is by cleaning the supply and return vents regularly. A quick wipe down using a cleaning cloth and all-purpose cleaner will keep your vents looking new and your air free of debris.

Routinely cleaning your outdoor unit is just as important. Heavy winds and storms can launch all manner of leaves, branches, and twigs that fall inside and cause issues from clanging sounds to total blockage. The activity of monthly cleanings will even discourage birds and small mammals from nesting in your AC.

Replacement Will Eventually Be Required

Every HVAC installation in Fairview Heights will have vents strategically placed throughout the building to facilitate proper airflow, otherwise, your air conditioning won’t be able to reach every room. To keep airborne particles from being spread throughout the system, it utilizes air filters to catch contaminants.

As these filters age and become clogged, cleaning will stop being effective which means it’s time to swap them out. Having a team of experts that spans multiple disciplines means understanding every aspect of comfortable space. Our plumbers often run into the need for drain cleaning when contaminants are still a problem after HVAC cleaning. Plumbing and HVAC are the two biggest parts of indoor environment regulation, keeping odors and climate how they should be.

Don’t Ignore Strange Sounds and Smells

If you’ve noticed that your HVAC system isn’t operating as well as it did before, there are signs of a failing system that can be found without the need for a service appointment. Knocking sounds can indicate that a piece of machinery has either broken or come loose, often resulting in further damages to the AC installation. If damage does occur, Morrison Plumbing is ready to tackle the job.

Foul odors can have multiple sources. Heating elements within an HVAC system can develop gas leaks that produce a smell of rotten eggs and needs immediate attention. Electrical components that burn out will also produce an acrid scent and can end up as a total system failure.

Keep Your HVAC Unit Clean

The purpose of your HVAC system from Morrison Plumbing is to make sure the indoor environment is more hospitable than the outside. As such, many business owners forget about the outdoor unit that tackles a large portion of climate control. Making sure that these AC units aren’t covered in leaves, trash, or other structures will allow them to function properly and with no extra resistance.

While Fairview Heights enjoys lovely weather for the majority of the year, it’s always important to make sure customers are as comfortable as possible when they step inside. Reach out today to take the first step towards a small business that employees and customers alike are happy to visit.

The Best Smart Thermostats for Your Home in 2022

June 15, 2022 by Jim Calago

When you’re building or upgrading to a smart home in Edwardsville, IL, one of the most important considerations is the comfort that comes with having a smart thermostat. Smart devices give you fine-grained control over your environment and make it possible to adjust settings at the tap of a button. The experts at Morrison Plumbing have you covered when seeking out the best smart thermostat for your home in 2022.

Benefits of a Smart Thermostat

Homeowners often wonder if getting a smart thermostat is worth the expense. The truth is that there are multiple benefits you can expect in getting a smart thermostat installed for your heating and cooling needs in an Edwardsville, IL home:

Reliable long-term savings, since smart thermostats ensure that your heating or cooling systems only run when they’re needed
Remote control and monitoring, allowing you to adjust from anywhere to surprise weather events and get automated alerts about emergencies
State-of-the-art temperature reading technology, ensuring your smart system is never fooled by inaccurate measurements into treating your home as hotter or colder than it is

Above and beyond these benefits, smart thermostats make your home more environmentally friendly by cutting down on the wasteful use of energy and reducing your carbon footprint. Having one of these units installed by the experienced technicians at Morrison Plumbing is a great way to bring your home fully into the 21st century.

Best Smart Thermostats from Morrison Plumbing

The Nest Learning Thermostat is an advanced piece of smart home technology, fully compatible with Google Home and also with smart displays like Google Nest Hub and Google Nest Hub Max. This device earns its name by the fact that it learns your family’s energy habits and preferences automatically.

A Nest Learning Thermostat is controllable from your cell phone or laptop, and its ENERGY STAR certification provides added peace of mind about its fundamentally efficient handling of your home’s heating and cooling. That efficiency is certain to save you money in the long run on your energy bills.

More Smart Home Possibilities

This cutting-edge comfort control system is just one possible ingredient of the fully integrated smart home systems supported in Edwardsville, IL by the highly qualified team at Morrison Plumbing. Your home’s security and doorbell cameras and smoke alarms can all be upgraded to work seamlessly together as part of a Nest smart device package, and you can even enjoy the benefits of remote monitored smart water leak detection.

Trust the HVAC and Plumbing Experts

Morrison Plumbing has been on a mission to deliver the very best in HVAC and plumbing service and support for over thirty years. When you need reliable and friendly expertise to guide you in upgrading your home with smart thermostats and other devices, our team is available seven days a week to help.

Contact us online to schedule a free consultation, or call us today at (618) 703-5700 and put our skills and knowledge to work for your heating and cooling needs in Edwardsville, IL.

Why is My A/C Blowing Out Warm Air?

May 21, 2022 by Jim Calago

Most of us depend on our air conditioning systems to get through those blistering summer months — there’s no better feeling than escaping the heat and being greeted by bursts of fresh, cool air. That’s why it’s incredibly frustrating when your AC starts blowing out warm air instead.

At Morrison Plumbing, located in Granite City, IL, we offer high-quality AC installation, AC maintenance, and AC repair services to help ensure that you stay cool during the summer. Here’s a closer look at why your air conditioning system might be malfunctioning and how our services can help you.

You Have Dirty Air Filters

If your AC is suddenly blowing out hot air, there’s a good chance that your air filters are the culprit. If your air filters are dirty or clogged, they can prevent the flow of air through the system, resulting in warm air. In these cases, swapping the dirty filter for a new, clean one is usually enough to resolve the issue.

You Have A Refrigerant Leak

Refrigerant is a chemical compound that’s used in most AC systems. As the name suggests, refrigerant helps make sure that your air conditioner is producing cold air — it also contributes to the overall function of the system. Thus, if you have a refrigerant leak, your AC is susceptible to a wide range of problems, including blowing out warm air.

Your Evaporator Coils Are Frozen

A standard AC system features evaporator coils, which are responsible for cooling your home by taking heat from the air. Sometimes, moisture can start to accumulate on the evaporator coils, causing them to freeze and produce hot air instead. To determine if this is the issue, you’ll have to open up your system and look at them directly. If you notice ice or frost on the coils, leave the air conditioning system off for 24 hours and let it thaw.

Unfortunately, frozen evaporator coils are usually the result of a larger issue, such as:

Refrigerant leak
Bad airflow
Old or damaged system

To fully resolve the problem, you’ll need to contact our professionals at Morrison Plumbing to address the source.

Contact Our Granite City, IL, HVAC Company Today!

Sometimes, you can fix an air conditioning issue by simply changing the air filters or turning the system off for some time. Other cases, however, may require the assistance of a professional. At Morrison Plumbing, we help residents of Granite City, IL, and the surrounding areas by providing the following services:

Drain cleaning
Air conditioning repair
Air conditioning maintenance
Air conditioning installation

Whether you have a minor repair need or are looking to install a whole new system, you can trust our team of plumbers, technicians, and heating and air experts to help. Not only can we assess the state of your current system, but we can also execute the repairs and maintenance necessary to prolong its lifespan. Contact us today at (618) 703-5700 to learn more!

3 Signs Your Air Conditioner Needs to be Repaired

May 15, 2022 by Jim Calago

If you’re like most residents of O’Fallon, IL, you take your AC unit for granted until and unless something happens that makes it malfunction. Unfortunately, the majority of AC repair calls happen during heatwaves — often during the first major heatwave of the season after the unit has been out of operation for a period of months. This often results in customers having to wait because AC repair companies are dealing with backlogs of clients needing assistance.

One of the best ways to circumvent a scenario where you’ll be left to swelter during a heatwave while waiting for service is to learn to recognize common signs that your HVAC system needs attention. This will allow you to schedule an appointment with an air conditioning repair service before the unit completely breaks down. Here’s what you need to know:

Your System is Producing Warm Air

Failure to produce cool air has several possible causes. It could be that the thermostat needs to be reset or replaced, which is a relatively simple fix. On the other hand, it could signify something as serious as a refrigerant leak or an issue with the unit’s electrical system. No matter what the cause, the last thing anyone in O’Fallon, IL needs is an AC unit that blows warm air on warm, humid summer days. If the problem persists even after resetting the thermostat or making certain it hasn’t accidentally been put on the furnace setting, it’s time to call our professionals at Morrison Plumbing.

Your System Produces an Unfamiliar Odor When Turned On

Unfamiliar odors are another red flag that indicates that something is wrong with your AC unit. If the smell is musty, it could be that mold colonies have become established in the inside of the system. Although the presence of mold doesn’t necessarily mean that a mechanical issue is part of the picture, your system nonetheless should be inspected by a professional, like ours at Morrison Plumbing so the mold infestation can be properly removed.

If the odd smell is electrical, though, it could very well indicate a mechanical problem with your system. You should never run a unit that’s producing an electrical odor — doing so may result in a fire.

Your System is Making Loud Noises

Unexplained loud noises of any type should be investigated immediately. The good news is that this doesn’t necessarily mean that the unit has experienced major damage requiring costly repairs. Most of the time, loud noises are caused by something as simple as a belt or a bolt that’s come loose.

Regular AC maintenance is an essential component of preventing major issues. AC systems generally age out at around 10 years and need to be replaced, so don’t hesitate to contact us for your AC installation needs. Besides air installation, our professional plumbers at Morrison Plumbing provide residents of O’Fallon, IL, with plumbing and drain cleaning services. Give us a call today at (618) 703-5700.

Spring Cleaning: Keeping Your A/C Maintained All Spring

April 21, 2022 by Jim Calago

Spring is a season of transition, as we try to put the cold winter behind us and look forward to a warm and sunny summer. This transition often motivates us to do a little “spring cleaning” around the house and yard. This article serves as a reminder that your spring cleaning ritual should always include a quick cleaning of your air conditioning HVAC system.

In this article, we will describe some of the quick and easy things a homeowner can do to get their HVAC system ready for the summer work ahead. Folks in the Glen Carbon, IL area are also welcome to call the expert plumbers at Morrison Plumbing for all of their AC maintenance needs.

Clean Your Coil

You will want to take these steps when it is at least 60 degrees outside; otherwise, it will be difficult to prove your air conditioning is correctly blowing cool air. The first goal of spring-cleaning air-conditioning maintenance is to make sure your outside condenser is clear of dirt and debris. Turn the condenser’s power off. There is often a large on/off switch or fuse near the condenser.

If you can’t find a condenser switch, then turn off the power at your electric fuse box. From the outside of the condenser, vacuum away any dirt and debris that you see resting on your coil. Clear the leaves and weeds within a few feet of the unit. The last step is to hose off the coil with your garden hose. Spray the water into your coil in a back-and-forth motion using medium-high pressure. You can now turn the power back on to the unit.

Turn on the System for a Test

Head inside to your thermostat, set it to cool, and lower the temperature setting to force the air conditioning to turn on. Let it run for 10 minutes.

Go back outside to the back of the condenser unit and find the copper tubes that come out of the unit and route them into your house. There will be one insulated and one uninsulated tube. Feel these tubes with your hands. The insulated tube should feel cold to the touch and the uninsulated tube should feel warm.

If your system does not seem to be producing cool air, then it is time to contact an expert for a professional AC repair, such as Morrison Plumbing in Glen Carbon, IL.

Replace the Indoor Filter

The last step in the spring cleaning regiment is to replace the filter inside your indoor air handler. Hopefully, you have been replacing this every few months so you know exactly how to do it already.

Do a visual check around the indoor air handler to look for any major damage or debris. Look at the evaporator pan sitting under the handler for any signs of water leaking. If you see anything concerning, call for an expert air conditioning repair.

For a More Thorough Cleaning, Call a Pro

The above provides basic information on how a homeowner can do a quick DIY HVAC spring cleaning. However, there are some more cleaning steps that a trained professional can take such as cleaning the insides of the condenser and handler, cleaning the drain tubes, measuring the freon levels, and more.

For the last 30 years, Morrison Plumbing has been the number one option for plumbing, AC, and heating services in the Glen Carbon, IL area. Visit our website today for more information about our professional plumbing, heating, and air conditioning Rejuvenation Services, or give us a call today at 618-703-5700.

How to Clean Out Your Home’s Dryer Vents

March 21, 2022 by Jim Calago

Morrison Plumbing, Heating and Air has served the Collinsville, IL area for over 30 years. One of the common things we find is dirty and clogged dryer vents. This is a preventable problem and making sure that your vents are clean protects your family. Many people don’t realize that when lint accumulates in a dryer vent over time that it becomes a fire hazard. Thankfully, cleaning out your dryer vents isn’t terribly complicated.

Find a Cleaning Kit

You can search online for dryer vent cleaning kits or find them at a local hardware store. They’re relatively inexpensive and once you’ve purchased one, you can use it twice a year to perform a thorough cleaning. Once you’ve got your cleaning kit, you’ll need a power drill and a vacuum to begin.

Turn Off the Power Source to Your Dryer

Determine whether your dryer is powered by gas or electricity by examining it to see if it’s connected to a gas valve. If it’s a gas-powered dryer, you need to cut the gas before cleaning the vent. Regardless of whether it’s an electric or gas dryer, it needs to be unplugged from the wall.

Locate the Vent

You’ll want to disconnect the dryer from the exhaust pipe and then locate where the pipe exits your home. Once you find both locations, remove any visible debris that you find and look for obstructions so that you can clean them out.

Vacuum the Lint from Each End

Use a shop vac to pull out all of the loose lint and debris that can be sucked out of the vent. The vacuum will remove most of the easy stuff, but there will be some dirt and grime left over after you complete the vacuuming.

Brush Out the Duct

Your cleaning kit will come with a brush attachment for your power drill. It’s a good idea to hit both ends of the duct with the brush to be certain you’ve pulled everything loose. If you need to, you can follow up with one last vacuuming.

Reconnect Your Dryer

Reconnect the pipes to the duct and gas supply, if you have a gas-powered dryer, and plug the dryer back in. You’re good to go for another six months now. You should repeat this at least twice a year to ensure your exhaust vent doesn’t become a fire hazard.

Inspect Your Air Ducts

Your air conditioning HVAC unit moves air through ducts into each room in your home. These ducts can become dirty and gather contaminants like dust, mold and bacteria. Morrison Plumbing, Heating and Air specializes in AC installation, air duct cleaning and AC maintenance. We’ve served Collinsville, IL for over 30 years and are available seven days a week.

Learn why Morrison Plumbing, Heating and Air is the first choice for plumbing, AC repair and drain cleaning in Collinsville, IL. Give us a call at (618) 703-5700.