Elevate Your Furnace Know-How with Mattawan Mechanical Services

HVAC Systems Can be Intimidating for Homeowners

Although I have been a homeowner for over a decade, I fully admit there are areas of the house where I am more confident in my abilities than others.

I confidently landscape our yard, and most of my plants thrive year after year. I make sure we keep the dryer vent clear, the fridge water filter replaced, and the water softener regularly stocked with salt.

However, in the corner of our basement lies the furnace: a very large, intimidating machine. A smaller, although equally important machine sits outside to keep us cool. When either of these stop working, it’s a big deal- and potentially, a massive expense.

Consulting the HVAC Experts at Mattawan Mechanical Services

A furnace or air conditioner malfunction can lead to no heat in the winter or sweltering heat in the middle of August, so I call anyone who can help as quickly as possible.

I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. Maintaining heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (or HVACs) can be overwhelming for many homeowners.

We reached out to locally owned Mattawan Mechanical Services to help families with some tips and tricks for managing residential heating and cooling systems- including how to save money on maintenance and repairs:

Top 5 Furnace Ownership Tips

We asked Mattawan Mechanical Services for the most important tips for furnace ownership.

While you should leave HVAC maintenance to the licensed experts, every homeowner will benefit from knowing the following:

1. How to Change Your Air Filter
Changing your filter will maintain your efficiency and air quality in your home.

2. How to Turn off the Power and Gas
Make sure that your main gas valve is labeled and know where to find the emergency shut-off switch.

3. Funny Smells = Service Call
If your furnace smells like rotten eggs or a metallic burning, it’s time to call for service.

4. Listen To Your Furnace
Clicking and blowing = typical sounds. Scraping, banging or clanging= something is loose (and call for service).

5. Schedule Routine Maintenance
Just like an oil change to maintain your vehicle, routine maintenance on your HVAC equipment is critical in its operation.

How to Save Money on Your Air Conditioner

Mattawan Mechanical Services wants to ensure homeowners are prepared for the upcoming air conditioner season by providing the most common reasons A/C units fail and the importance of that filter in their basements.

Why Your Air Conditioner Malfunctions

Many of us have (unfortunately) been there. As you come inside from a sunny, hot day in Kalamazoo, you come inside to…a hot, sticky house. What’s the deal?

There are 11 common reasons why your house is not cooling down:

Why isn’t my A/C Working?

1. Dirty Filter
2. Too Many Vents Closed or Blocked
3. Thermostat is Set Too Low
4. Running A/C When it is Cool Outside
5. Dirty Evaporator Coil
6. Low Refrigerant
7. Bad Blower Fan
8. Improperly Sized Ductwork
9. Blocked/Collapsed Duct
10. Thermostat Needs New Batteries
11. A Storm tripped the Circuit Breaker

As a homeowner, you can’t troubleshoot all of these issues personally. However, Mattawan Mechanical Services does recommend taking these three steps before calling for service.

These checkpoints are easy for any homeowner to do and may avoid a costly service visit altogether:

💵 Money-Saving Tip #1: 3 Steps that May Avoid a Service Visit

1. Check your thermostat’s batteries

2. Reset the breaker switch for your A/C unit

3. Check your furnace filter

Why You Need to Change Your Furnace Filter

The furnace filter is an easy item to forget, but one of the most likely reasons why your air conditioner is not working. It’s also an inexpensive fix that any homeowner can do.

💵 Money-Saving Tip #2: Replace Your Furnace Filter Often

Mattawan Mechanical Services recommends you change your furnace filter every 2-3 months.

Purchase filters in multipacks to save time and money.

TIP: Some online retailers provide subscriptions where you can auto-ship at regular intervals.

These filters were in place much longer than 2-3 months

What does “MERV” mean?

MERV = a filter’s Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, which ranges from 1 to 12. The higher the number, the better filtration it provides. Higher MERV filters also require more energy to pull air through, so balance air quality concerns with energy costs.

5 Reasons to Change Your Furnace Filter

1. Clogged Filters Make Your System Less Energy Efficient
If your air filter is clogged, your furnace and air conditioner have to work twice as hard to move air through your home, which means more expensive energy bills.

2. Dirty Filters Aren’t Good For Your Health
An air filter’s primary job is to clean the air circulating through your home. Dirty air filters cannot prevent dust, dander, mold spores, bacteria and microorganisms from traveling throughout your house.

3. Clogged Air Filters Reduce Your System’s Lifespan
Dirt and grime trapped in your filter can also clog up your HVAC system components, causing extra stress on the system. When your system works harder, it wears out faster.

4. Dirty Air Filters = Higher Maintenance Costs
Clogged air filters can result in dirty ductwork that needs professional cleaning or a blower that needs to be replaced. Regular filter replacement can avoid these maintenance costs.

5. Clean Air Filters = Better Temperature Control
When your air filters are clean, and the air passes through easily, your unit can better maintain the internal temperature of your home.

Choosing an Air Conditioning Contractor

Even with diligent, regular maintenance, all air conditioning units will eventually need service. Or maybe your air conditioner is old and needs to be replaced. This is when it’s time to call the experts.

💵 Money-Saving Tip #3: Hire a Licensed, Insured Professional with Positive Reviews

While you may have a very well-meaning neighbor who can “take a look at it,” this is not the time to call friends for assistance.

In addition to being expensive, HVAC systems can be dangerous if not repaired by a trained technician.

You don’t need that extra headache or expense if it’s not fixed correctly the first time.

Need somewhere to start? Mattawan Mechanical Services recommends doing some homework before calling a professional:

What Should I Look for in an HVAC Contractor?

1. Licensed and Insured
This is a must. Professional HVAC companies are licensed through the state and should list this on their websites. Being insured is also important; if there’s an accident, you’ll be protected as a homeowner.

2. Estimates/Upfront Pricing
The contractor should be able to provide a cost estimate for repairing or replacing a system. Once a final price has been given, you should also receive a list of items and parts.

3. References/Reviews
HVAC contractors should have homeowner reviews. Check Google, HomeAdvisor or Facebook for previous customers’ experiences.

4. Industry Knowledge
Find a technician who is well-versed in industry changes and has the local expertise to diagnose the situation.

Mattawan Mechanical Services’ team checks all of the boxes listed above. Here are some additional reasons why they should be on your list of HVAC contractors:

Meet the Mattawan Mechanical Services Team

Mattawan Mechanical Services started in Owner/Operator Tom Vaughn’s garage in 1992. Tom is no stranger to the HVAC industry, having worked in it since 1984.

This depth of experience and commitment to superior customer service has been their focus for over thirty years, coining the term “Your Comfort Crew Since ’92.”

Philanthropy & Community Focus

Mattawan Mechanical Services prioritizes giving back to the community.

It regularly supports Little Leagues, veteran events, and other locally owned businesses. This HVAC company attends community events and even hosts giveaways on its Facebook page, where prizes include gift certificates to locally-owned businesses.

Timothy and Tim at the Mattawan Lion’s Club Senior Expo

Local Business Partnerships

Mattawan Mechanical Services values working with other locally owned businesses.

The Comfort Crew often works on new construction projects with SWMI builders. In Mattawan, the team is currently partnering with Chateau Homes, based out of Kalamazoo, in the 9-house development being built at Mattawan Airpark Estates!

Airpark Estates is an truly unique development in Mattawan:

Customer Reviews & Accreditations

Customer satisfaction is a big deal to Mattawan Mechanical Services. That’s why they post their Google reviews on their website and diligently respond to any questions or concerns.

More specifics on their ratings and accreditations:

A+ Rating with Better Business Bureau

4.9/5.0 Rating with Google (800+ reviews)