Frequently Asked Questions

To keep your HVAC system running in tip-top shape, we recommend a maintenance appointment twice a year (once for heat, once for air conditioning). This way, a Forest City Mechanical technician can check your filters, coils, wiring, housing, motor, and more to make sure you’re getting the most out of your system.

Don’t worry! Whether your problem happens at three in the morning or on the 4th of July, our HVAC service experts are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to get your system back up and running. Just call 519-808-4182

Most of our HVAC systems come with a 10-year warranty, so you can enjoy your system for years to come. We also have great maintenance plans to help you lower your utility bills and extend the life of your equipment.

If your HVAC system requires constant repairs, is 15 years or older, or can’t heat or cool your home properly, we recommend you replace it. When an HVAC system ages, it doesn’t operate as efficiently and could actually end up costing you more money than it should.

Domestic units that are not in constant use and are used for cooling only generally require one service per year. Units that are in offices should be maintained at least twice per year to keep them running at their optimum level. For server rooms, we recommend at least three service visits per annum. For areas with high levels of pollution or contaminants in the air such as kitchens, hairdressers or workshops, additional service visits are carried out.

Regular servicing and maintenance keep your unit running at maximum efficiency, significantly extends the lifetime of a unit and reduces operating costs. In addition, routine maintenance will ensure that the unit qualifies for the full warranty of up to ten years rather than just the standard manufacturer’s one year warranty.

A system that is too large will cool or heat your house quickly, but you may not feel comfortable. That’s because it will satisfy the thermostat before it can adequately remove sufficient moisture from the air during the cooling mode, leaving you feeling sticky and humid. This could even lead to moisture and mold problems. And, the stress of short-cycling (too many starts and stops) will shorten the life of your equipment and increase your heating and cooling bills.

But a correctly sized system isn’t just based on the size of the structure. Many factors go into determining the size of the system. Including type of house and walls, type and size of windows, insulation, basement and attic conditions, house orientation, and so on. A Forest City Mechanical Technician must visit the house and take detailed measurements and notes while conducting the survey.

There absolutely are! We’ve already mentioned the importance of regularly scheduled maintenance, but you can also dress your windows for the weather. Installing products like shades and shutters, screens and drapes can reduce the amount of extreme sunlight and keep room temperatures moderate. Lastly, keeping the blower settings at “open” to provide consistent air filtration and movement throughout your home or office building.

There are many factors that can cause low water pressure in your faucet. Check the emergency shutoff located under your sink to make sure it’s open. After that check that the rubber washers or seals haven’t started to deteriorate (a trained professional can help); this can cause you to lose water pressure. Calcium and lime buildup will also cause low water pressure.

Be careful what you put down them, do not rinse fats or cooking oils down the kitchen sink. Theses liquid fats solidify in the cold pipes and can create clogs.

Fitting all your tubs and shower drains with a strainer to catch hair and other particles will help to keep them free of clogs. Just make sure that the strainer is cleaned regularly.

Over time sediment can buildup in your tank. As water heaters get older, they accumulate sediment and lime deposits. These deposits should be removed periodically and if they are not, the sediment then creates a barrier between the burner and the water. In turn greatly reducing the performance of the water heater. Draining your tank every three months or so will help remove the sediment.

Check you heater burner from time to time, the flame under the heater should appear blue with yellow tips. If yours appears mostly yellow, or you notice that it is sooty under there, your flue may be clogged, which is a dangerous situation. Call a Forest City Mechanical professional to check it out for you and ensure that it is all working correctly, and have any issues repaired immediately.

It is recommended that you have your water heater inspected by a professional at least once every two years. They can check that the drain valve shows no signs of leakage.

Water rates are usually consistent. Sudden increases are therefore generally symptoms of a bigger problem. If you notice that your water bill increases by more than 20% without explanation (such as guests or a new bathroom having been installed) in any given billing period, it’s time to start looking for causes.

An incredibly sharp increase is almost always due to a leak of some kind. If you cannot find the leak, check your property – there could always be water coming up from a water line somewhere. Whether you can find the problem or not, when faced with a leak or even the idea that you might have one, it’s important to call a Forest City Mechanical professional early to prevent any unnecessary damage.

Studies show that air trapped inside homes and buildings can be far more polluted than the air outside. No matter how often you clean your house, your air can be filled with dust, pet dander, pollen, chemical fumes, viruses, and more. Opening windows helps, but when it’s cold outside, you need a system that brings fresh air in without letting all your heat out.

Homes with consistently high humidity levels are often breeding grounds for mold and dust mites so expect more allergy issues, not to mention warped wood floor and furniture and damaging condensation on windows. On the other hand, extremely low humidity promotes the growth of certain bacteria and viruses that can lead to respiratory infections, and you’ll probably also notice itchy skin, dry coughing, bloody noses, sore throats, and constant jolts of static electricity.

The common culprits that pollute indoor air are relatively harmless—dust, pet dander, pollen, fabric fibers, and other common household particles. If you have allergies or asthma, they can aggravate symptoms, but are usually manageable. Other airborne hazards are not so easily dismissed. Mold, radon, carbon monoxide, lead particles, asbestos, nitrogen dioxide, and secondhand smoke are all serious threats to your health.

New homes are built to be airtight and efficient, but your house needs to breathe. When air is trapped inside, so is excess humidity. This can lead to condensation or ice on your windows in winter—both of which can damage and rot wood frames and lead to mold growth. Not only can we identify and offer solutions for humidity problems, but we also have air purifiers to address the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new carpet, paint, and other construction materials that are likely present in your home.