Oklahoma winters are unpredictable. They seem to appear out of nowhere, come and go as they please, and wreak havoc while they’re here. Don’t let the roller coaster temperatures and surprise snowstorms catch you off guard; start taking the necessary steps now to prepare your home heating system for the wild weather.

The first Oklahoma ice event is not the time to find out if your heater made it through the summer intact. Furnace tune-ups and preventative maintenance in the early to late fall are a great way to check the system’s operation, avoid expensive repairs, and ensure it’s ready for that first big freeze.

Our experienced and licensed professionals at Suntech Heat and Air have seen their fair share of frigid-temperature failures, and want to help make sure your heating system is winter-ready. We have been keeping the OKC Metro warm for over 32 years and are committed to ensuring your family stays safe and comfortable with every change of the seasons.

How Can You Prepare Your Heater for Winter?

Here are a few measures you can take to prepare your heater for the months ahead. As with any home maintenance, be sure to take all proper precautions before inspecting or servicing your system, including adequate ventilation and electrical safety measures.

1. Make sure the area around the furnace is clear of any objects, especially flammable items. The exhaust flue, located outside the home, should also be cleared of any debris, as should all interior vents. Any blockages can hinder proper circulation and cause the furnace unit to overheat.
2. Winter heating sources increase the risk of carbon monoxide, so safeguard your home from unexpected leaks. This is especially important if you are testing an old or potentially malfunctioning unit. Check to see that furnace blower doors are properly sealed, ensuring any toxic gas is correctly vented. Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors throughout your home, and make sure existing alarms have new batteries and are functioning properly.
3. Lack of use during the summer months can cause dust and debris to collect on the burners and in the burner chamber. While clearing any accumulation, be sure to check for any rust or misaligned parts.
4. Test your thermostat. Switch the unit from cooling to heating, and set the temperature higher than normal. The startup should be immediate. You can also turn the unit off before switching to heat.
5. Clean or change the filters. Filters quickly collect dust, dirt, and allergens, and should be changed every three months at a minimum to allow air to circulate freely. The cleaner your filters are, the more efficiently your unit will operate.

At some point in its operational life, your heater will require some kind of repair or parts replacement or another, and often at the most inopportune time. Detailed, thorough pre-winter maintenance of your heater can help you identify and remedy any potential problems, and help guarantee an eventless winter.

If you do happen to find something amiss with your heater system, or just don’t feel comfortable handling these preventative measures yourself, our professionals at Suntech Heat and Air are ready to help. We are always on call and pride ourselves on responding within 24 hours.

Contact Suntech Heat and Air for a Full Heater Tune-up

Don’t get left out in the cold. Call us today to schedule your heater tune-up, and let our experts give you confidence and peace of mind in your home’s heating system.

There is nothing worse than seeing your sink fill up with water when it’s not supposed to. Let’s not mention that sick feeling in your stomach when the toilet water is beginning to rise to the top of bowl as your brain races through a multitude of terrible scenarios! We’re here to help with some very simple tips and tricks to try and keep these things from happening and ruining your day.

Kitchen Sink Drain Clogs

The best way to prevent slow or clogged drains is to be careful about what you put into them. Genius, right? Simple things that you may not think about cause drain problems such as coffee grounds, cooking grease, and soap scum are some of the biggest causes of drain issues. Being mindful of these things will help to prevent slow and clogged drains. Here are some tips

• Pour your used cooking grease into a container and then throw it in the trash
• Throw out coffee grounds into the trash or recycle them
• Purchase a cheap drain-grate to cover the drain to prevent as much soap scum from going down the drains as possible. You can find most any drain-grate in the plumbing department of your local hardware store.

Tub and Shower Drain Clogs

Most of us aren’t typically cooking near our tub or shower drains but there are typical shower and bathtub drain clogging culprits. The most common is hair, soap scum and bath bombs. Here are some tips to avoid clogging your bathtub and shower drains:

• Purchase drain-grates for your shower and tub drains. These can be a bit trickier depending on the type of drain you have. Do some research on the type of shower or tub drain you have, and  find one to fit. That will help preventing hair from going down the drain, but you should still clear the drain of any remaining hair after each use.
• Bath bombs are amazing, but they can pose potential problems. Be careful to not purchase any bath bomb that releases larger particles into the water. For instance, some bath bombs have larger gel type particles that are intended to slowly dissolve in the water during your bath. Sometimes they don’t completely dissolve and that gel-like substance can build up in the drain and cause problems.

DIY Tips for Continuous Clogging Problems

Doing everything right and still fighting a pesky slow drain? Try this homemade clog removal formula out!

Ingredients for each drain:

• ½ Baking soda
• Salt
• Vinegar
• 2 Quarts of boiling water

Instructions:

1. Pour the salt and baking soda into the drain
2. Add the vinegar and let the concoction foam for approximately one minute
3. Pour the 2 quarts of boiling water down the drain

Use this combination before you go to bed to allow the solutions to sit overnight giving it more cleaning power!

Sink With a Garbage Disposal? Try This!

1. Fill an ice-cube tray half-full with vinegar and top it off with clear water. (Vinegar won’t freeze well alone. Make sure to mark the tray so that someone doesn’t mistake it for regular ice. It’s not harmful but it will be nasty!)
2. Once frozen, turn the disposal on and then dump the cubes down the drain (the ice will also help keep the blades sharp… BONUS!)
3. If the vinegar smell bothers you, throw a sliced lemon in after the ice-cubes. Your sink will smell great!

If you are still having issues with clogged drains, give the experts at Suntech Plumbing Services a call today at (405) 785-0950 or schedule an appointment here.

Ready For a Vacation? Your Home Should Be Too

Your home should be too! Careful planning can not only help protect your home and your belongings while you travel but also provide your family with some energy savings to spend on souvenirs! Follow these five simple tips to prepare your home for your absence. Whether it’s a weekend road-trip or a stay at the lake house, remember to follow some of these energy-saving tips to avoid unnecessary expenses while you’re away.

Important Things To Do Before You Leave

1. Turn off the lights.

If you decide to keep any of your lights on as a security measure, invest in an automatic timer. It can be programmed to turn on your lights during late evening and early morning hours while preventing wasted energy during the day.

2. Turn down your air conditioner.

While it’s important to keep the air circulating in your home while you’re gone, you can drastically cut down on energy usage by turning your thermostat up to 85 degrees. If you have a programmable thermostat, simply use the “vacation” feature to maintain safe and efficient indoor temperatures while you’re gone.

3. Unplug appliances and electronics.

Even when they’re turned off, anything that’s plugged into the wall can continue to consume energy. By unplugging your devices or using a smart power strip, you’ll avoid wasting standby power. Don't forget to unplug your washer and dryer, too.

4. Adjust your water heater(s).

Turn your water heater down to "low" or to "vacation” mode. If your pool also uses a heater, consider purchasing a pool cover that will help minimize heat loss so that you can avoid the cost to reheat it.

5. Take care of your refrigerator.

If you’ll only be gone a few days, turn your refrigerator’s thermostat up a few degrees. If you’ll be gone more than two weeks, clean and empty the refrigerator, prop the door open, and unplug the unit.

Whether it’s a weekend road-trip or stay at the lake house, remember to follow some of these energy-saving tips to avoid unnecessary expenses while you’re away.

Need a Professional? Call Suntech

To set up an appointment with one of our Experts who check your current systems for efficiency improvements!

Our Top Air Conditioning Tips For Summer

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the forecast for August through October calls for hotter than normal temperatures everywhere. How can you prevent your AC from breaking down when you need it most?

Regular maintenance like changing air filters and duct cleaning help keep your HVAC system running efficiently potentially saving energy and lowering your cooling bills. However, extreme heat, clogged vents or faulty wiring, can overtax your system and may cause AC failure at the worst time possible.

The Importance of Comprehensive Preventive Maintenance

We're ready to handle all your HVAC needs, from preventive maintenance and emergency repairs, to new system recommendations and installation.

A comprehensive preventive maintenance inspection and service by a certified HVAC technician could save you from a costly repair or two.  Being uncomfortable in your own home is the last thing you need.

Let one of our licensed HVAC pros ensure your AC is prepared for the rest of the summer. Regular maintenance like changing air filters and duct cleaning help keep your HVAC system running efficiently potentially saving energy and lowering your cooling bills. However, extreme heat, clogged vents or faulty wiring, can overtax your system and may cause AC failure at the worst time possible.

Our comprehensive HVAC tune-up package includes:

• Coolant level and pressure checks
• Thermostat calibration
• Electrical system inspection and tightening, including wiring, contacts, capacitors and relays
• Evaporator coil and condensate drain cleaning
• Cleaning and inspection of the condenser, outdoor disconnect, fan motor and blades
• Lubrication as needed
• Plus more safety and efficiency checks

Call 405-785-0950 today

Make an appointment with Suntech! We're ready to handle all your HVAC needs, from preventive maintenance and emergency repairs to new system recommendations and installation.