When you hire a service technician to perform work on your HVAC system you're essentially inviting a stranger into your home, and that can be kind of scary. How do you know if they will do a good job? Do they have the proper training? How much training did they receive? All of these questions can leave you feeling uneasy. Choosing a company that is NATE certified will ease your mind and answer many of your questions. Why should you hire a NATE certified technician? Keep reading.
What is NATE?
NATE stands for North American Technician Excellence. NATE is the nation's largest non-profit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians. NATE offers certification tests for installation and/or service in one or more specialty areas.
How does one become NATE certified?
Anyone interested in obtaining NATE certification may take the tests by contacting a NATE-approved testing organization and paying the appropriate testing fees. NATE's certification tests are comprehensive and consist of real-time scenarios in air conditioning and refrigeration. The technician must have enough experience to understand various systems and rectify the heating and cooling complications. The classes to prepare for NATE Certification focus on the full spectrum from basic to the latest HVAC technologies employed in the industry.
Why is a NATE certification important?
If you need work performed on your furnace or your air conditioner is broken, you want to hire a professional who will get the job done right the first time. Choosing a company that is NATE certified ensures you are going to work with technicians who are well trained in fixing any HVAC device. The certification test is not easy, so completing the program means each technician will leave with enhanced skill levels.
At Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning we pride ourselves on being NATE certified. We want you to know that we deeply care about the quality and skill level of each of our technicians to ensure you are getting the best possible service. To learn more about the NATE certification program, visit their website. To schedule your next appointment with Chapman, give us a call at 317-291-4909 today.
Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, your source for qualified hvac repair and installation contractors
We know what you're thinking. It's cold and I want to get warm fast. So while you're busy making sure your furnace is in tip-top shape and you're using a humidifier to balance out the dry air, you might have forgotten about your plumbing. Oh yeah. Your plumbing is going to need just as much tender love and care as the rest of your home maintenance. Icy morning showers, frozen or cracked pipes, flooding and leaks are just some of the many plumbing issues that happen when the temperature drops. Avoid these issues with some of these winter plumbing tips.
Leave Water Running - If the weather channel predicts negative temperatures or a snow storm you need to take preventative measures. Make sure the faucet in your kitchen or bathroom is dripping slightly to reduce pressure in the pipes. A slow trickle is best, not a stream. Be sure to use insulating faucet covers, rags or trash bags around your outdoor faucets.
Keep Your Pipes Insulated - Leave some of your cabinet doors under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms open to allow heated indoor air to circulate around the pipes. You can also use foam padding sleeves to guard your pipes during the colder months. Exposed plumbing should be kept warm! Don't forget about those pipes in the basement or unused areas of your home. You don't want frost to accumulate or cracks to develop.
Don't Forget the Outdoors , When freezing temperatures hit you definitely want to disconnect water hoses from faucets. Drain the hose and bring it indoors if you can. You also need to close the shut-off valve on the pipes that lead to your outdoor spigots. When spring decides to arrive, roll the hose back out.
Spread Out Your Showers , Not having hot water during the winter is just the worst. Eliminate this issue by spacing out showers by 10 minute intervals. This will help maintain hot water and water pressure for everyone in your house. If you decide to turn up your water heater, make sure you keep the temperature below 125 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent burns.
These are just a few tips to help get you through the freezing cold months without any plumbing issues. Still have questions? Call Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning at 317-291-4909 or visit our website today.
Give Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, to answer all your plumbing needs
Disclaimer: we strongly suggest you always call a professional in case you ever run into trouble with your heating or cooling devices. Whether you call Chapman or the manufacturer, you should always get a professional's opinion before picking apart pieces of your furnace or air conditioner. That being said, there are a few things you can do to prevent problems from happening in the first place.
Clean the Filter
Whether it's your furnace or your air conditioner you need to be changing or cleaning the filter every one to three months. Make sure you check with the manufacturer to verify when you should be changing the filter. Dirty filters will reduce t he efficiency of your machine, making it work harder which causes stress on your system. The more stress you put on your system, the earlier it will need to be replaced.
Check the Thermostat
The thermostat controls and programs when heat or cool air is supposed to be produced. If your thermostat isn't working properly it probably isn't sending the message to your furnace. Try changing the batteries to eliminate the problem. If your thermostat is still malfunctioning, call Chapman or the manufacturer for more information about the appropriate next steps to take.
Blown Fuses
The purpose of a fuse is to protect the unit's motor or compressor from overheating. Most fuses are found in the evaporator coil. When the motor in your system starts to go bad, the breaker is one of the first things you should look at. We recommend investing in a surge protector. If trouble persists, get a technician out to your home to take a look. It always helps to have a professional survey the damage in case there is a bigger problem.
These are just a few common HVAC issues that you can prevent with no technical training. Now, if your machine shuts down or a part fails, don't go to Google and search how to repair it. Leave that up to the trained technicians. Save yourself time and money and call Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning, or visit our website today!
Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, your source for qualified hvac repair and installation contractors
Unfortunately, summer has come and gone. After you close up your pool and pack your sandals away, you'll want to think about preparing your home for fall. Making small tweaks around your home before chillier temperatures hit will benefit you in the long run. You will save yourself time, money and a lot of grunt work by preparing in advance. Here are some ways you can prep your house for fall.
Clean out your gutters , Take some time to inspect and clean out your gutters and downspouts. Sure it is disgusting and annoying, but you will be happy you did it before all of the leaves start to fall. Don't put it off any longer, get those gutters cleaned, and then cover them with mesh guards. The mesh guards will help keep debris from returning.
Have a professional look at your furnace , You should always have your heating system looked at by a professional at least once a year. Don't wait until the last minute when heating season begins. Get a leg up on the cold temperatures and schedule an appointment with a heating and cooling professional in early fall. They will be able to clean or replace dirty furnace filters with ease. Also, the technician can get a good look at your system and make sure everything is running smoothly before the really cold temperatures arrive. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a broken furnace when the cold weather hits. Avoid this by calling a professional now.
Don't forget about your humidifier - Cold temperatures lead to a decrease in the amount of moisture in the air. The lack of moisture not only causes itchy, dry skin, but it also takes a toll on the inside of your home. The dry air can cause cracks or splits in hardwood flooring and loosen the arms and legs of chairs. A whole home humidifier reaches every room in your house with equal, even comfort. That means all of your furniture in every room in your home will be protected from the dry air.
Check your smoke detector , You definitely need to check the batteries in every smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector in your home. Don't just stop there. You need to test the detectors too. Make sure they are free of dust and debris. Check each floor of your home, even the basement. Is there a smoke detector installed? If not, get one installed immediately.
These are all easy ways you can prepare your home for fall and cooler temperatures. Don't procrastinate and wait until it's too late. Get an early start on your home maintenance so you can relax and enjoy the changing of the leaves. Are you ready to schedule your HVAC maintenance appointment? Great! Visit our website or give us a call at 317-291-4909 today!
Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, carries a full line of high efficiency furnaces. Contact us to recommend the best services to your home
Everyone is always looking to save money when it comes to home repairs. They can be costly and after watching a certified technician make the repair you might think, Oh, I could have just done that myself! But you are not a certified service technician and the Internet can be deceiving. You might find an online article explaining how you can fix your furnace all on your own, but are you really trained to do so? What happens if the article's instructions don't match up with your machine? You could cause serious damage to your HVAC system and have costly repairs to pay for.
Certified service technicians spend years learning their craft. They know exactly how to avoid major problems when working on your systems and how they should be installed. Messing with the ventilation system in your home can be very dangerous. You might have to remove drywall and mess with seals that keep your heating and cooling systems running efficiently. This project is not an amateur DIY project.
By all means, you are more than welcome to change your furnace or air conditioner filter every month, or switch out the batteries in your thermostat. Those are simple tasks that do not require professional supervision, but when it comes to big repairs, hold off on bringing out the tool kit. It will take you hours to check out your system, learn what the parts are, learn where the parts are located, and then finally start removing pieces. The job could cost you anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars between the time, new parts and potential errors that could occur while you are working on the machine.
Also, did you know that DIY repairs are not covered under your system's warranty? HVAC companies understand the risks associated with improperly installing pieces is higher for those who think DIY repairs are the way to go, so they will not cover mistakes you have made to your machine in the warranty. You are 100 percent responsible for the damage done to your system if you choose to fix it yourself. Again, this will cost you even more money.
The minute you notice something wrong with your HVAC system, call a contractor. They will be able to accurately answer your questions and properly assess your situation. Let the experts at Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning take care of your repair and maintenance needs. Don't over spend on fixing mistakes you made by trying to repair your system yourself. You don't want to risk losing your warranty coverage. Give us a call at 317-291-4909 or visit our website for more information.
Give Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, to provide air conditioning services for your home today
Summer is quickly approaching, which means the temperatures are going to rise. You will be outside having fun in the sun, then cooling off in your nice, air conditioned home. However, you probably haven't thought about how your air conditioner could suffer from water damage. Summer doesn't just bring warm weather. It also brings rain that can lead to water damage. Also, if you have neglected to have your air conditioner checked and it's not running properly you could potentially have mold growth as well.
Air conditioning systems produce large amounts of condensation. If you don't schedule routine maintenance on your machine, all of that condensation can lead to water damage and mold growth. Humidity levels can greatly affect how much water your air conditioner produces a day. If your system is working properly, the condensation will drain off of a coil into a drip pan, then into the sewer system. But what happens if the drain gets clogged? The water will overflow and will lead to damages to your home and mold growth if it goes unnoticed for an extended period of time.
This can all be easily avoided by having your HVAC system checked annually by a professional. Have the technician check your entire system. Also, ask the technician to check for algae. Clogged drain lines are often the cause of algae build up.
By doing just a few simple things you may prevent spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on damages. Don't forget to change your air filter every month. Make sure anything that could block air flow is away from the unit. A dirty filter will cause your HVAC system to work harder, which will cost you more money to repair later on. Talk to your technician about which filter will work best in your system if you choose to replace it yourself.
You can't predict the future, but with routine maintenance and regularly changing your filter, you will be able to prevent water damage and mold growth from happening. Don't let the heat and water damage get the best of you this summer. Call Chapman Heating and Air Conditioning today at, 317-291-4909 to schedule an appointment with one of our excellent service technicians!
Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, your source for qualified hvac repair and installation contractors
Imagine you are leaving your snow-covered home to go on a much needed and highly anticipated vacation to a place with white, sandy beaches and warm island breezes. You might double or triple check your packing list to make sure you have all of the chargers for your mobile devices, your tooth brush and passport, but have you thought about what condition you are leaving your home in? Have you checked the weather forecast? Is there going to be another snow storm? Will the temperature drop below freezing again? Are your pipes going to freeze? You do not want to come home from a relaxing vacation to frozen and split plumbing, damage to your home and costly repairs. Here's how to prevent your pipes from freezing this winter.
First things first, pipes splitting are not caused by ice swelling in place. It is the pressure from the unfrozen water between the ice and the closed faucet that is the primary cause of broken pipes.
How to Prevent Your Pipes from Freezing
If negative temperatures are predicted in the weather forecast while you're away, you need to take preventative measures.
- Ask one of your neighbors, friends or relatives to stop by your house to make sure the faucet in your kitchen or bathroom is dripping ever so slightly to reduce pressure in the pipes. A slow trickle is best, not a stream.
- Be sure to use insulating faucet covers, rags or trash bags around your outdoor faucets.
- Leave some of your cabinet doors under the sinks in your kitchen and bathrooms open to allow heated indoor air to circulate around the pipes.
- Don't forget to disconnect water hoses from faucets. Drain the hose and bring it indoors if you can.
What to Do if Your Pipes Freeze
Life happens. Even if you're prepared for the worst, there's always a chance something could go wrong. If your pipes do freeze and cause damage to your home, follow these guidelines.
- Turn off the water immediately. Leaking water from thawing pipes could cause an electrical shortage.
- Call Chapman Heating & Air Conditioning for help.
- Do not use heat lamps or electrical appliances to thaw your pipes.
- Contact your insurance agency if severe property damage has occurred.
- Take as many photos of the damage as possible before repairs are made.
Mother Nature can be cruel and unpredictable, so it's always best to try and prepare for the worst, especially if you are leaving your home for a few days. Make sure you check the weather and take the proper precautions. If your pipes freeze or split this winter, call Chapman Heating & Air Conditioning right away.
Chapman Heating, Air Conditioning, and Plumbing, carries a full line of high efficiency furnaces. Contact us to recommend the best services to your home