HVAC Company In Washington, LA

How Long Should My HVAC System Last In Louisiana's Climate?

Louisiana's demanding weather conditions affect how long your heating and cooling equipment will serve you.

• Expect 12-15 Years With Proper Care: Well-maintained systems typically reach this range, though Louisiana's extended cooling season and high humidity place greater demands on equipment than milder climates experience.
• Climate Affects Lifespan: Your AC runs nearly nine months annually, fighting oppressive heat and humidity, accumulating more operating hours in a few years than northern systems experience over decades.
• Maintenance Extends Service Life: Spring and fall tune-ups catch small problems before they cause major damage, keep components clean and efficient, and ensure your system operates at peak performance.
• Quality Of Installation Matters: Properly sized systems installed by skilled technicians with correct refrigerant charges and sealed ductwork last longer than equipment thrown in quickly without attention to details.
• Usage Patterns Influence Longevity: Systems that cycle on and off frequently experience more wear than those running steady, comfortable cycles, so proper sizing and thermostat settings affect overall lifespan.

Why Won't My Furnace Start When I Need Heat?

Washington's mild winters mean furnaces sit idle for months, and problems often surface when you finally need heating.

• Pilot Light Or Ignition Issues: Gas furnaces require functioning pilot lights or electronic ignition systems that can fail during long periods of disuse, preventing burners from lighting when cold weather arrives.
• Thermostat Problems Cause Confusion: Incorrect settings, dead batteries, or malfunctioning thermostats fail to send proper signals to your furnace, making it appear the system itself has failed when controls are actually responsible.
• Safety Switches Prevent Operation: Furnaces include multiple safety devices that shut down operation if they detect problems like blocked exhaust vents, dirty flame sensors, or insufficient airflow through the system.
• Electrical Issues Stop Everything: Tripped breakers, blown fuses, or loose wire connections prevent power from reaching your furnace, and these problems often develop during the long periods when equipment sits unused.
• Gas Supply Problems Prevent Heating: Closed gas valves, empty propane tanks, or interrupted gas service stop fuel from reaching burners, and these issues require immediate attention from qualified professionals.

What Are Signs That My Ductwork Needs Repair?

Hidden ductwork problems waste energy and reduce comfort without obvious symptoms that homeowners recognize.

• Rooms That Never Reach Desired Temperature: Consistently hot or cold spaces despite adequate airflow from vents suggest disconnected ducts or large gaps allowing cooled air to escape before reaching those rooms.
• Excessive Dust Throughout Your Home: Leaky return ducts pull dusty attic air into your system and distribute it throughout living spaces, creating housekeeping nightmares and potentially affecting indoor air quality.
• Whistling Or Rushing Sounds From Ducts: Unusual noises indicate air escaping through gaps or holes in ductwork, reducing system efficiency and signaling locations where connections have failed or damage occurred.
• Higher Than Normal Energy Bills: Significant duct leakage forces your system to run longer cycles to achieve desired temperatures, dramatically increasing electricity consumption without improving comfort.
• Visible Problems In Accessible Areas: Disconnected sections, crushed flexible duct, torn insulation, or obvious gaps at connections in attics or crawlspaces indicate widespread problems throughout the entire duct system.

What's The Best Thermostat Setting For Louisiana Homes?

Finding the right balance between comfort and efficiency requires understanding how Louisiana's climate affects your HVAC system.

• Summer Settings Of 76-78 Degrees: These temperatures provide comfortable conditions while avoiding excessive electricity costs during our extended cooling season that stretches from April through November.
• Programmable Thermostats Save Money: Setting temperatures higher when you're away or sleeping, then cooling down before you return or wake, reduces runtime without sacrificing comfort when you're actually home.
• Avoid Extreme Temperature Swings: Setting your thermostat to 65 degrees doesn't cool your home faster—it just makes your system run longer cycles and wastes electricity trying to achieve temperatures it struggles to reach.
• Winter Settings Of 68-70 Degrees: During Washington's mild winter months, these moderate settings keep you comfortable without overworking systems that rarely face sustained cold-weather demands.
• Consider Humidity Levels: Sometimes homes feel uncomfortable due to high humidity rather than temperature, so running your system in continuous fan mode or investing in dehumidification might improve comfort more than lower thermostat settings.

Get Reliable HVAC Service In Historic Washington

Smith Air Conditioning respects the rich history of Washington while providing modern heating and cooling solutions that preserve your comfort. Whether you're maintaining a home built during the steamboat era or updating a newer property, we bring the same dedication to quality workmanship that Washington's builders demonstrated centuries ago. Call us at 337-363-1866 to schedule an appointment with technicians who treat your home with the care it deserves.