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Can you run out of hot water with a tankless water heater?

With a tankless water heater system, it heats the water on demand, as you need it; therefore, it never runs out of hot water. Once you know how a tankless water heater works, you’ll agree that a tankless water heater makes sense. 

With a traditional water heater system, the large tank holds water it has heated. When you turn on the hot water faucet, the tank has kept the water continually heated. That energy used to keep that water heated is known as standby heat loss. 

A tankless water heater systems avoid that standby heat loss by heating water only on demand, i.e., when you turn on a faucet. Because you will no longer have that standby heat loss, the tankless water heater system is more energy-efficient.

What size tankless hot water heater do I need?

Before you purchase a tankless water heater, you need to calculate what size, which takes a little calculating based on the quantity and type of appliances and fixtures that use hot water. These facts will determine the Gallons Per Minute (GPM) and are defined as follows: 

• Step One: Add up the flow rate of each fixture that uses hot water, considering the gallons per sixty seconds. You can find this information in owners’ manuals that comes with each appliance and fixture. 
• Step Two: Next, consider the amount of water that will need to be warmed to reach the degree of “hot” desired, typically is 120 degrees Fahrenheit.  Determine the average groundwater temp for the region you live and subtract the groundwater temperature from the hot water temperature you want will help you choose the right size of a tankless water heater. 
• Step Three: The next step is knowing the power source you’ll be using. An electric tankless water heater is typically better for a home with less hot water demand and performs better in warmer climates. If your home has a large amount of hot water demand, gas is the better option. 

Can I install a tankless water heater myself?

A tankless water heater installation is not a simple DIY project and shouldn’t be attempted by a newbie homeowner that has never worked with an electrical or plumbing matter before. There are plenty of online videos, and some big box home improvement stores have in-store classes. If you are still interested in attempting tankless water heater installation yourself, here are some facts that you need to know: 

1. Not every water heater system can be converted, which is something a professional plumber will know before you spend hundreds of dollars on a tankless water heater unit.
2. Determine the size of the tankless water heater you need is determined by the appliances and faucets that will require hot water and how much you require hot water.
3. A tankless water heater comes without any of the required fittings and pipes. Specific tools are needed to do the installation, which a licensed plumber will have already.
4. The water will need to be turned off at the main. The current water heater will need to be drained and disconnected.
5. The electricity or gas power will need to be turned off. 
6. The current water tank needs to be removed and disposed of safely and adequately.
7. A new vent will need to be installed for the tankless water heater, which will need to be wired to the electricity, requiring the services of a licensed electrician.
8. The new tankless water heater will need to be wired into the power.
9. If the tankless water heater is gas-powered, new gas lines will need to be installed to accommodate the new tank, which requires welding.
10. New water lines will need to run and installed, including the pressure relief valve and discharge line, which may require soldering.

Make sure you have checked all building codes and permits. Confirm your homeowner’s insurance coverage just in case something goes wrong. A certified and licensed plumber will have proper insurance, pull any require building permits, and follow all building codes. 

Is a tankless water heater worth it?

A tankless water heater is more expensive to install than a traditional tank water heater, but the ROI comes with the amount you save on energy expenses. While an electric tankless water heater saves just over $40 annually, a gas-powered unit saves over $100 annually.

The following cons of having a tankless water heater should be compared to the pros before making your final decision: 

• Con: One complaint about tankless water heater is the inconsistency with temperature.
• Con:  The initial expense of installing the tankless water heater is more than double of a traditional water heater.
• Con: The hot water from a tankless water heater is steady, but it does get overwhelmed and can’t produce enough if too many appliances are requiring hot water.
• Con: Additional equipment like a water softener is often required to keep the tankless unit clean and to operate correctly. This fact can negate the space-saving feature of the tankless unit.
• Con: If you’re going with a gas-powered tankless water heater, gas lines may need to run.
• Con: The ROI of installing a tankless water heater isn’t realized right away.

Looking into a tankless water heater for your home? We can help you make the best choice for your water heater needs. Call 678-203-4784 today.

What happens if you don’t clean your air ducts?

If you are one of those homeowners that doesn’t believe air duct cleaning is beneficial, think about this for a moment: Has anyone in your home started suffering from allergies or nasal congestion with no prior history? Is anyone, including yourself, feeling lethargic, more than the lazy day here or there? You may be suffering from the results of dirt air ducts. Read on for some other signs that air duct cleaning could fix for you and your family: 

• Dirty air ducts lessen the efficiency of your HVAC system. Without air duct cleaning, debris and dirt are left, builds up, and impedes the efficiency of your HVAC system. This debris and dirt contaminate the air, adding to the possibility of health issues. 

How do professionals clean air ducts?

Professional air duct cleaning contractors use specialized blowers, brushes, and vacuums to clean out the intake, return ducts, and intake throughout your home. A thorough air duct cleaning involves a cleaning the air handler, coils, fans, grilles, housing, motors, and fans through the entire HVAC system.

Can I clean my own air ducts?

Yes, if you know your home needs an air duct cleaning service, but the budget is tight, you can do an air duct cleaning yourself. This isn’t an easy task and will take longer than you may estimate, so plan a full day. Be prepared for insects, mildew, mold, and possible rodent or other vermin. You won’t have the same high-powered, professional equipment and supplies that professionals use, so you shouldn’t expect the same results. 

How long does it take to clean air ducts in a house?

An air duct cleaning for a typical single-family home can be completed within two hour or may take up to four hours. Factors that can affect the time are how many technicians are on the job and how many different turns the air ducts have. If you have indoor pets, it could take longer to compete the job. 

Were there any indications this was about to happen that you ignored? No two homes are the same when it comes to the air conditioning system. The ductwork and insulation are going to vary, which side of your house has the most sun exposure, the age of the current system, and how each homeowner uses theirs, and maintain it with air conditioner air filter replacement and more.. These are all things that can make a difference in the lifespan of your air conditioner.

With the help of HVAC SEO Webmasters, we’ve compiled some tell-tale signs that may have saved those folks from paying for an air conditioner replacement:

• The digital thermostat display is blank or doesn’t have power
• Loud and/or unusual noises coming from the air conditioning equipment
• Water is leaking from the interior part of the unit or if an attic unit, the ceiling has water stains

Things you can do that may determine if your air conditioner is broke or simply needs a repair call:

Temperature Check

Is the house not cooling off, even though the thermostat is set on the air conditioner setting? You could have a problem if the house isn’t cooling off and an air conditioner replacement is in your near future.

How Does the Air Feel?          

If you’re still not sure, hold a hand in front of a vent and it the air isn’t cold, even with the thermostat sitting in the air conditioner mode, then you could have an air conditioner replacement coming soon. First though, turn the unit off and wait for the evaporator coils to thaw out and if still not cold air, call a technician.

How do you know if your AC fuse is blown?

Any electrical device, especially air conditioning, can only endure a certain level of heat until they are damaged. With air conditioners, blow fuses is the most common problem, and when the fuse blow, the air conditioner is done. You may still hear humming, but it isn’t the air conditioner trying to cut on, so yes, you may be looking at an air conditioner replacement or you may need to simply replace the fuse or an air conditioner replacement plug could fix the problem.

Purchase a voltmeter from your local home improvement store and following these steps, you’ll know if it the fuse, the electrical plug, or is you need to buy an air conditioner replacement:

1. Disconnect the air conditioner at the exterior disconnect grey box that is mounted near the outdoor unit.
2. Open the disconnect covers, inner and outer, so that the wire is exposed.  
3. Set the voltmeter at zero, then in the disconnect panel, you’ll see two sets of wires. One is labeled “line” and one is labeled “load” that carries the incoming power, load the wires, then send it out.
4. Connect the leads of the voltmeters to the lugs that connect the two wires. The voltmeter reading should be between 220 to 240 volts. This means power is getting to the fuses.
5. Connect the voltmeters leads to the test the outgoing voltage to the load wire’s lugs. If the meter has a zero reading, the fuse is blown.

Should I replace my 15 year old air conditioner?

Air conditioning experts recommend using the 5,000 rule. Take the age of your unit and multiply it by the cost to repair it. If the cost is over $5,000, then the better option will be to replace the unit. This is why experts say that age is an important factor when determining to repair or replace a unit. Other factors to consider if air conditioner replacement or repair is the best decision:

• Energy Efficiency: The technology in air conditioning has improved over the years. If your current unit is 10 years old or older, it is likely not as energy efficient as it could be.
• Refrigerant: If a repair visit finds that your air conditioner unit requires refrigerant, there is probably a coolant leak, and while the recharge this time may fix it, it will likely need coolant again next summer. Repairing the unit is going to be costly, which makes air conditioner replacement more sensible.
• High Electric Bills: If your electric bills are getting beyond reasonable, it may be time consider an air conditioner replacement.

Is it necessary to service AC every year?

There are many things that require our attention, like paying bills, buying food, putting gas in the car, getting the oil changed, and all those boring but important things. Those are all absolutely necessary things. Is air conditioner maintenance not an absolute necessity? 

If your air conditioner is running okay, does that mean it needs monthly air conditioner maintenance? Yes, but what if my AC system is running just fine? Well, we won’t say “absolutely” necessary, if you don’t mind it goes out on the hottest day of the year.

How often should you have your air conditioner serviced?

It is important to have air conditioning maintenance. How often is important too. Maybe more important is the air conditioning maintenance checklist which makes sure they check every aspect of your air conditioner. The following are suggested by professional air conditioning technicians:

1. Getting a Head Start: Even though you haven’t used your air conditioner for a few months, you shouldn’t expect it to kick right up and perform at peak efficiency. A professional air conditioner maintenance service before summer arrives will make sure it is ready to go that first hot day. 
2. Regular Maintenance is Cheaper Than a Repair or Replacement: No, maybe your air conditioner won’t break down because you skip one year’s air conditioner maintenance service, but why risk it? The cost of an air conditioner maintenance service call by a professional to perform a cleaning and tune up is a lot cheaper than if they are called to repair the unit. It is cheaper than a new unit. 
3. A Voided Warranty: If your air conditioner was in place when you bought the house, it probably isn’t under warranty. If you have purchased a new unit, neglecting basic homeowner maintenance and an annual air conditioner maintenance service call could void your warranty. 
4. Extended Lifespan: Regular air conditioner maintenance service calls will lead to fewer repairs, extend the air conditioner’s lifespan, and improves efficiency, which helps your utility bills. 
5. Lower Your Cooling Costs: For each year you skip air conditioner maintenance service, you are shortening the efficiency of your air conditioner by five percent. How? Your air conditioner collects debris and dust on the evaporator coils which are located inside the house. The outside conditioner collects dust, grass, insects, leaves, and whatever blows up and the unit sucks in.  With both units, this blocks their airflow, the heat transfer, and your air conditioner is working harder but as much as 15% less efficient, which is costing you more money.          

How do I maintain my central air conditioner?

With a few behavioral changes in your household, you can improve the efficiency of your air conditioning system. Like, using the ceiling fan will cool a room as much as four degrees and pulling closing the blinds and pulling the curtains during the hottest part of the day will make less demand on the air conditioner. 

These are small steps that will add up, but you won’t notice those savings if your air conditioner isn’t performing at its peak efficiency. This checklist is recommended by professional air conditioning technicians as things you can do yourself in between professional air conditioner maintenance services:   

What does an AC tune up include?

The basic air conditioner maintenance and tune-up will include the following:

• Condenser Coil Cleaning
• Thermostat Calibration
• Check and Recharge Refrigerant
• Check for Leaks
• Grease, Oil, tighten anything needs
• Analyze the blower belt and motor 

What size of the electric furnace do I need?

It is important to choose the right size electric furnace for homes. An Electric furnace installation with a unit that is too large or too small won’t be as efficient, thus costing you more money than necessary. The following information can assist you in calculating the right size for your home.

• 1,200 square foot house choose an electric furnace size between 36,000 and 72,000 BTUs
• 1,500 square foot house choose an electric furnace size between 45,000 and 90,000 BTUs
• 1,800 square foot house choose an electric furnace size between 54,000 and 108,000 BTUs
• 2,100 square foot house choose an electric furnace size between 63,000 and 126,000 BTUs
• 2,400 square foot house choose an electric furnace size between 72,000 and 144,000 BTUs

Are new electric furnaces more efficient?

As we mentioned above, electric furnace installation is less expensive compared to gas furnace installation, but when it comes to efficiency, an electric furnace is more efficient than its gas counterpart. An electric furnace has a rating of 100% annual fuel-utilization-efficiency, whereas a gas furnace rating ranges between 55 percent to 97 percent.

How do you know when it may be time for a service call? When the current electric furnace buzzing sounds and when your electric furnace is not blowing hot air. An experienced furnace technician can advise you if repairs are feasible and possible or if you need to start shopping for an electric furnace installation.

As you shop for a new furnace, take the information we’ve provided here and done your own research. It is always recommended to go with a professional contractor to install your furnace, as opposed to attempting to do the installation yourself.  Having a professional do the installation for safety reasons and warranty purposes.  A manufacturer may not honor their warranty if the furnace isn’t installed by a professional. Call 678-203-4784 today for your furnace installation in Cumming, GA.

Is Air Duct Cleaning worth it?

Air duct cleaning can be useful in providing cleaner conditions when remodeling is happening or when the system is dirty and needs maintenance in general. It can also solve such problems as uneven airflow in rooms and combatting dust and mold.

How does duct cleaning work?

Air duct cleaning will incorporate a variety of different equipment to clean different sections of ductwork. Technicians can use or change up between manual cleaning products or use power brushes to remove the debris inside duct walls. 

Does air duct cleaning make a mess?

Air duct cleaning can be messy and usually, it’s best to choose an HVAC company that will use drop clothes to keep debris off of furniture and floors. Plastic guards to protect the walls and trim should also be used for additional protection.

How long does it take to clean air ducts?

Air duct cleaning on average takes about two to four hours for a typical single-family home with at least a crew of two technicians. When there are pets or the duct system is older like with aged homes it may take additional time.

How often should you clean air ducts?

Air duct cleaning should be done every 3-5 years according to the National Air Duct Cleaners Association. Depending on certain conditions 2-5 years is recommended as well.

Does air duct cleaning remove mold?

If there is a problem with mold in your air ducts you may see visible growth or notice musty smells. Although air duct cleaning is essential it won’t help with the underlying problem of what is causing the mold. Mold formation begins due to too much moisture in the air or even in the ducts themselves so be sure to speak with a professional HVAC technician to see what needs to be done. Such solutions can be to install a dehumidifier which reduces moisture levels in the air.

Will air duct cleaning reduce dust?

Air duct cleaning will be helpful in reducing dust yet in order to avoid dust build-up it’s important to change air filters every 1-3 months. If there is smoke or pets present every month is more sufficient.

Can dirty air ducts make you sick?

Air ducts will gather contaminants and dirty up like all other areas of a property. In order for mold or dust not to form and aggravate senses air duct cleaning is often a good solution. When air ducts are dirty allergy-like symptoms may emerge like sneezing, coughing, or a runny nose. With dust and mold, you can develop a sore through, experience dizziness, or even get headaches.

How much does it cost to get air ducts cleaned?

Air duct cleaning on average will cost $300-$500 based on such factors like the number of ducts, the size of the home and how they are situated. You may also consider that the average cost per vent for air duct cleaning is around $35.

Contact A Professional HVAC Company For Air Duct Cleaning

When you’re looking for a skilled air duct cleaning service be sure to get in touch with a qualified HVAC company. They’ll be able to conduct inspections, maintenance checkups, or provide tunes ups so your HVAC system will perform well for years to come. When you require new systems they can also refer you to models, like Carrier installations, that will work well with your property. For other property updates like green roofing in Alpharetta, GA you can receive help from a roofer near you. Improve upon your property’s air quality and get air duct cleaning today. Get your questions answered with a knowledgeable representative today.

If you’re interested in air duct cleaning in Cumming, GA call 678-203-4784 with Kennon Heating & Air Conditioning!

Benefits of a Tankless Water Heater Installation

Believe it or not, but there are many benefits to a tankless water heater. Homeowners are often deterred by the upfront costs, but don’t let them scare you! Tankless units can be expensive, but they can be even more cost-saving. Your best bet is to talk with a licensed contractor, like anyone from Kennon Heating & Air Conditioning. They will be able to go over all the pros and cons with you, such as:

• Energy Efficient: Unlike a traditional tank heater, the tankless water heater uses and produces less energy. That’s because it heats water essentially on demand. When you turn the faucet on, only then does it begin to heat the water, very quickly we might add. A 40-50 gallon tank heater has to keep all that water at a certain temperature all the time, wasting energy and money.
• Continual Heat: You’ll find that a tankless unit provides more consistent and continual hot water. Most heaters have a window of opportunity, so to speak, of how long you can shower, bathe, do the dishes, etc., before hot water gives out. That won’t happen with a tankless unit. You can run multiple faucets and still have hot water.
• Compact/Space Saving: As many are aware, typical hot water heaters are big and bulky. They take up a significant amount of space in your home. In comparison, a tankless unit is significantly smaller in size. That’s because there is no tank to account for. You’ll find a large area of your home open thanks to this unit.
• Longevity: One of the best advantages of a tankless unit is longevity. Where a traditional unit may last about 12 years in total, a tankless unit will last up to 20 years! Additionally, there are warranties that can provide you with long-term protection and coverage.

Traditional gallon-sized water heaters are popular because of their low-cost and generally easy installation process. Many homeowners install their own water heaters, but that is not something they can do with a tankless heater. For that, you need to rely on expert knowledge. Anyone at Kennon Heating & Air Conditioning can help you with that. Contact us today to get started.

Are There Disadvantages?

Like any appliance on the market, there are disadvantages to a tankless heating unit. The main disadvantage is sizing. There are multiple sizes for a tankless system and each one fits specific household sizes, needs, and more. Quite often homeowners choose the wrong size and end up experiencing hot water loss. Another disadvantage is sometimes the price tag. Tankless units are, initially, expensive, there is no getting around that. The upfront costs to remove, replace, and install a tankless system are typically more expensive than a gallon water heater. While there are financing and rebate options, some homeowners may not be able to justify those costs.