Blog - KW Lang Mechanical

Do Plants Help Indoor Air Quality

February 19, 2020

In 1989, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) published a study claiming that plants have a positive impact on increasing indoor air quality. The researchers brought in common, popular houseplants, such as snake plants and peace lilies, to see if they can act as natural purifiers. The researchers found that the presence of these plants reduced volatile organic compounds (VOCs), like benzene or formaldehyde, which are certain types of air pollutants. The Story Is More Complicated The real story, however, is much less certain. While certainly, plants may help, the researchers conducted these experiments in controlled, plexiglass chambers the size of boxes. Our homes are far from these regulated chambers. In reality, good ventilation systems, which exchange indoor and outdoor air continuously, accounts for VOC removal in practice. It turns out, that while plants can improve indoor air quality, they are no substitute for quality air conditioning and ventilation systems because they simply filter too slowly. We at can install your air quality systems in Cleveland and across Northeast Ohio. Plants Help, but They Cannot Substitute Quality Air Conditioning So, do plants help improve air quality? In theory, they do. However, in real-life, their effects are very limited. An...

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Is It Bad to Run My Heating System 24/7?

January 11, 2020

When the colder months hit, do you run your heating system all the time or set your thermostat and allow your system to turn on and off to regulate the temperature? Both are effective ways of keeping your home comfortable, but let’s take a look specifically at running a heating system non-stop throughout the season. If you need professionals to service your furnace or heating system, in Solon, Ohio, can handle your needs. The following are answers to questions you might have when deciding whether or not to run their heating systems all the time. Does Constantly Running a Heating System Cause Excessive Wear and Tear? While running your heating system continuously might seem like a lot of work, they’re designed to handle that type of workload. Also, when you’re not running your system all the time, you’re forcing your furnace and the rest of your system to power up and power down many times throughout a day. This makes your system work just as hard, if not harder, than running it 24/7. Will It Cost More to Run It Continuously? It may cost more, but ultimately, it depends on how efficient your heating system is. Some high-efficiency furnaces and...

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Furnace Tips for the Holidays

December 19, 2019

In the holiday rush, it’s easy to forget to take care of your furnace. Whether you own a gas, oil, or electric heating system, taking care of it properly is important. You can count on a well-maintained furnace to keep you and your family warm over the holidays. Here are our top four tips. 1. Change the Filter Monthly replacements work to alleviate dirt and dust buildup in your system. A dirty furnace can easily overheat and fail when you least expect it. Keep extra filters on hand so that you don’t have to run out every month to buy one. Verify the right size and style of filter if you’ve recently installed new equipment. 2. Request a Maintenance Tune-up If you didn’t begin the fall season with an annual maintenance inspection, request one now. It’s better to ensure everything is in good working order before guests arrive. Annual maintenance checkups help to identify worn parts and other issues that can cause surprise breakdowns. The certified technicians at can help you with maintenance services for your home in Solon. We’re industry professionals, and we service all makes and models. 3. Use Your Ceiling Fans A ceiling fan helps to pull...

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Furnace vs Fireplace: Which One is More Efficient?

November 18, 2019

If you want to save money on your heating, then it’s only natural to use the most efficient option possible. However, it can be pretty tough to figure out exactly how efficient furnaces and fireplaces are. Sure, you can look at your energy bill at the end of the month and check your thermostat, but how can you quantify your fireplace’s energy output? To help you pick the right choice for your house this winter, here’s an efficiency comparison from Cleveland’s HVAC experts at . What Type of Furnace Is Most Efficient? There are four types of fuel to consider for this question: gas, electricity, oil, and propane. While that may sound like a lot of options, only two are really competitive when it comes to cost efficiency: gas and electricity. Oil and propane are mainly used when your house doesn’t have access to a natural gas line, or you need a furnace that will work even if there’s an outage. Between electricity and gas, gas tends to be more efficient to run, whereas electric units are cheaper upfront. If you use your heater a lot, then gas will outperform electricity in the long run. What Type of Fireplace Is...

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Furnace Safety 101

October 15, 2019

What Can You Do to Keep Your Furnace Safe? Although it’s rare for a furnace to catch on fire or leak carbon monoxide, these issues are possibilities. To prevent these problems from occurring, you should take a few safety measures. These include vacuuming the furnace, noticing when the pilot light has changed color, keeping items away from the furnace and scheduling annual maintenance. Vacuum Dust Away From the Vents Dust and pet dander collect on your vents and around the furnace. This lint and dust buildup could start a fire. You should vacuum the furnace and the vents once a month. Your manufacturer’s manual will explain how to clean and maintain the unit. If you have a wall furnace, remember to clean inside the burner compartment. Pay Attention to the Pilot Light Color A safe furnace will have a blue pilot light. If the pilot light is yellow or orange, then your furnace needs a professional cleaning or repair. in Solon is a trustworthy furnace repair company serving the Cleveland area. Keep Flammable and Combustible Items Away From the Furnace Never store paper, clothing, wood scraps, paint, gasoline and other flammable objects in front of a furnace. You shouldn’t even...

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4 Ways to Prep Your Home for Winter

September 25, 2019

The winter season is known for cold temperatures and inclement weather conditions. As a homeowner, you’ll want to stay warm and comfortable while inside. Here are a few top ways to prep your home for the winter season ahead. 1. Perform a Furnace Tune-Up The furnace is often in use each day during the colder months of the year. Therefore, it can suffer from wear due to excess use. You’ll need a professional to perform a tune-up so you can avoid mechanical issues that may develop. The technician will clean all of the parts, identify potential issues, and improve the efficiency of the product. This could lead to lower energy bills. 2. Check for Drafts Any drafts that are present can contribute to your energy usage and can make you spend more than necessary to heat your home. The heater will work harder than necessary to control the climate indoors if drafts are present. Check for leaks that may be present around doors and windows where air can escape or enter the building. Adding new weatherstripping or caulking holes or cracks will help to reduce your energy usage and maintain a comfortable temperature in the home. 3. Check the Insulation...

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Reasons to Work With a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer

August 6, 2019

Carrier is one of the heating and cooling industry’s most familiar brands. Since it was Willis Carrier who invented the modern method of keeping homes cool more than a century ago, the name is rightfully associated with the latest technology and overall dependability. The company authorizes dealers, making it easy for you to work with a company that you can trust. Here are a few reasons to work with a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer. What It Means to Be an Authorized Dealer To become a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer, an HVAC company must do more than just sell the company’s equipment. There is a rigorous set of standards that a company must follow. For instance, an HVAC company must: Take part in extended training to learn the ins and outs of Carrier’s equipment Learn how to assess home comfort issues to recommend the best solutions Effectively encourage consumers to buy the most dependable equipment Hire technicians who are NATE certified Work to turn unhappy customers into happy ones by resolving issues Follow up with customers to ensure 100% satisfaction What It Takes to Be a Carrier Factory Authorized Dealer For eligibility, HVAC companies must be professional. They must have the...

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All About SEER Ratings

July 17, 2019

If you are shopping for cooling systems, you probably come across the term “SEER.” This is an acronym that stands for “Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio.” How The Ratio is Determined The ratio is calculated for a unit by taking one season’s typical cooling output and dividing it by the season’s total energy input. It shows the efficiency of the unit. Just like when you consider miles per gallon in your vehicle, a higher rating is better. A Range of SEERs? The government has set a minimum of a SEER of 13 for all air conditioners currently being sold. Ratings could go up to 21 or 22. Ratings of 16 or 18 would be fairly efficient, with anything above 20 being ideal for those who are very energy-conscious. Most older air conditioning systems have SEERs below 10; that’s perfectly acceptable in many cases. It doesn’t mean that anyone with an old unit needs to run out and buy a new one immediately. It just shows how standards have improved and how advancements have allowed for greater efficiency. Units with higher SEER ratings usually have a variable-speed blower and either a two-stage or variable-speed compressor. These components allow them to work at...

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Leaking Air and Losing Money?

June 11, 2019

Is your home leaking air, and are you losing money in the process? You’re not the only one. This is a common problem. In fact, the Department of Energy estimates that the average homeowner can save 10% by focusing on the airtightness of their building. Ducts has been serving homeowners in Solon, Ohio, with HVAC services since 1927. Our company cannot stress enough how important it is to have your ducts cleaned and inspected every several years or so. Joint seals will wear out over time and allow conditioned air to escape. Such leakage can be particularly problematic and expensive if the air is leaking into the attic. Natural Ventilation A hallmark of modern home construction is that they are sealed well. This is not the case with older homes, including those just built 10 years ago or so. A home that is not sealed well can leak air through walls and even the foundation. Windows and Doors Doors and windows are other common areas where air leaks can occur. Sometimes, the fix can be as simple as new weather-stripping, fresh caulk and a door sock or three. In more serious cases, it may be necessary to upgrade to energy-efficient...

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Symptoms of a Broken AC Motor

May 22, 2019

At , we’ve been providing quality air conditioning repairs, replacement and maintenance services to the people of Solon, OH, since 1927. We pride ourselves on keeping the air conditioning motors of Cuyahoga County running smoothly and efficiently. If your AC motor is displaying the following symptoms, we hope you’ll give us the chance to address them for you. Lack of Cold Air If your air conditioner isn’t able to produce enough cold air, then you may have a motor issue. A professional will be able to evaluate your system and confirm whether or not your motor is to blame for this cooling problem. Inability to Turn Off Your fan’s motor may keep running even after you’ve turned the system off. This is evidence of a probable motor issue. Ignoring this problem can lead to trouble further down the road. Keeps Turning On and Off Even if your motor runs, it might cut on and off intermittently. This is another sign that your air conditioning motor needs to be fixed. An expert will be able to get your AC motor back up and running again. Humming and Other Odd Noises Unusual sounds like humming, buzzing or rattling can signify trouble with...

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