What problem is this guide helping you solve?

Answer first: this guide helps homeowners document heat pump symptoms that are worth sharing before a repair visit. Good notes can make the service conversation clearer and help separate airflow, controls, electrical, and equipment concerns.

Symptoms worth documenting include short cycling, ice, weak airflow, no heating or cooling, breaker trips, unusual sounds, and room-by-room comfort patterns.

What should you check before you call?

Check thermostat settings, filter condition, vents, returns, and outdoor-unit clearance. Note the system mode, outside weather, rooms affected, and whether the indoor blower or outdoor unit seems to run.

Do not open panels or touch electrical components. If a breaker trips, reset it once only. If it trips again, leave it off and include that detail.

What can go wrong if you wait?

Waiting can make intermittent problems harder to identify. It can also allow airflow restrictions, short cycling, ice, or electrical interruptions to place added stress on the system. Early documentation creates a clearer record.

Heat pumps operate across seasons, so a small recurring issue may affect both heating and cooling comfort.

How to choose the right next step

If a simple filter or thermostat correction solves the issue and it does not return, monitor it. If symptoms repeat or comfort does not recover, use the heat pump repair page as the canonical next step.

Bring your notes: what happened, when, mode, rooms, sounds, ice, and any breaker behavior.

When to bring in James River Air

Bring in James River Air when the notes point to a repeated or unresolved symptom. James River Air’s Central Virginia team can evaluate heat pump performance with related electrical and airflow concerns.

To get help, request service and share the pattern you documented.

Reviewed for practical homeowner use

This guide was reviewed by the James River Air team to help homeowners prepare useful symptom notes before repair support.

What problem is this guide helping you solve?

Answer first: this guide helps homeowners in older homes think through heat pump symptoms without assuming the equipment is the only issue. Ductwork, insulation, airflow, electrical capacity, and controls can all influence performance.

The goal is to prepare practical observations before using the main heat pump repair resource.

What should you check before you call?

Check the thermostat, filter, vents, returns, and outdoor-unit clearance. Note whether certain rooms are consistently uncomfortable, whether doors affect airflow, and whether the system struggles more during heating or cooling.

Look for signs of older-home complexity: limited returns, additions, finished attics, older duct paths, or rooms that were not part of the original design. Do not open panels or alter wiring.

What can go wrong if you wait?

Waiting can let comfort problems become normal. A heat pump may work harder when ductwork, airflow, or insulation are limiting performance. Repeated short cycling, ice, or weak airflow can add strain to equipment.

If electrical readiness is part of the symptom, waiting can also affect reliability beyond the heat pump.

How to choose the right next step

If a simple filter or airflow issue explains the symptom, monitor it. If problems return or appear tied to older-home constraints, review James River Air’s heat pump repair page and prepare for a broader diagnostic conversation.

Ask whether ductwork, controls, return air, or electrical support could be contributing to the symptom.

When to bring in James River Air

Bring in James River Air when older-home comfort patterns make the cause unclear. The team’s Central Virginia multi-trade experience helps evaluate HVAC, electrical, plumbing, and indoor comfort factors together.

If you need help, request service and describe the home’s layout and recurring symptoms.

Reviewed for practical homeowner use

This guide was prepared by the James River Air team for safe homeowner troubleshooting in older Central Virginia homes.

What problem is this guide helping you solve?

Answer first: this guide helps homeowners think through heating installation when the comfort issue involves a smaller home, finished room, addition, or area that never heats like the rest of the house. The answer may be equipment replacement, but it may also involve airflow, ductwork, controls, or zoning.

Smaller spaces and additions can be tricky because the original heating system may not have been designed for the current layout. A good plan starts with the room, not the equipment catalog.

What should you check before you call?

Document the problem area. Is it colder all day or only at night? Does airflow feel weak? Are doors usually closed? Are returns available? Was the room converted from a garage, porch, attic, or unfinished space? Does the issue happen in both heating and cooling seasons?

Check safe basics such as filter condition, open registers, clear returns, thermostat settings, and whether dampers are accessible and understood. Do not alter ductwork or electrical components yourself.

What can go wrong if you wait?

Waiting can make comfort problems feel normal when they may be solvable. It can also lead to portable heater use, overloaded outlets, or repeated thermostat changes that make the rest of the home uncomfortable.

If the underlying issue is airflow or sizing, replacing equipment without evaluating the room can leave the same problem in place.

How to choose the right next step

If simple airflow changes help, keep monitoring. If the room remains uncomfortable or the main system is aging, review the furnace installation page and prepare questions about load calculation, duct extension, zoning, thermostat strategy, and whether the current system can support the space.

Depending on the home, the right solution may be a furnace replacement, duct adjustment, heat pump strategy, or a comfort improvement plan that addresses the problem room directly.

When to bring in James River Air

Bring in James River Air when a comfort problem involves layout, airflow, or a changed use of space. The team’s multi-trade Central Virginia experience helps evaluate HVAC needs alongside electrical and indoor comfort factors.

If you want help deciding what the space needs, request service and describe the room, history, and comfort pattern.

Reviewed for practical homeowner use

This guide was reviewed by the James River Air team to help homeowners plan heating installation questions for smaller homes and additions.

Richmond SPCA’s 22nd Annual Dog Jog, 5K and Block Party

Block Party has been Reschedule for Sunday – 3.24.24

As this event is RAIN OR SHINE, The Richmond SPCA has decided, after carefully monitoring the weather forecast, to reschedule the Block Party, Marketplace, and Little Paws Fun Run to Sunday, March 24th from noon to 5 PM. This event is free to attend. Please note, all proceeds aid in the Richmond SPCA’s efforts to rescue and rehabilitate homeless animals and to deliver programs to both pets and people who love them!    

Richmond SPCA’s 22nd Annual Dog Jog & 5K

10 AM5K
5K

The day begins with a chip-timed 5K – 3.1 mile

11:30 AMDog Jog
Dog Jog

Secondly, there is a leisurely 1-mile Dog Jog.

The community is invited to join in on the family-and-pet-friendly fun at the Richmond SPCA’s 22th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run, happening in-person Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Richmond SPCA, Robins-Starr Humane Center, 2519 Hermitage Rd.

James River Air Conditioning is a proud sponsor of the 22nd Annual Dog Jog and 5K, benefiting nearly 4,000 homeless animals in the Richmond SPCA’s care each year.

James River Air has been a long-time supporter of the Richmond SPCA and the critical care the nonprofit provides for our furry, four-legged friends. In addition to saving the lives of hundreds of homeless dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies each year and adopting them into lasting, loving homes, the Richmond SPCA provides extensive veterinary medical treatment and behavioral rehabilitation to dogs and cats in their shelter and operates the community’s first and only full-service, low-cost veterinary hospital for the pets of people of modest means, among numerous other life-saving programs and services.

Along with the return of the Richmond SPCA’s in-person Dog Jog & 5K Run, and in 2021 and 2022, the event raised more than $156,000 to benefit the Richmond SPCA’s work in the community. Help us top that number this year by donating now, buy a raffle ticket, or starting a fundraiser! 

Please visit Richmond SPCA’s website for more details.

Register Here


Donate Here

Event Countdown!

Days Hours Minutes Seconds

The community is invited to join in on the family-and-pet-friendly fun at the Richmond SPCA’s 21th Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run, happening in-person Saturday, March 25, 2023, at the Richmond SPCA, Robins-Starr Humane Center, 2519 Hermitage Rd.

James River Air Conditioning is a proud sponsor of the 21th Annual Dog Jog and 5K, benefiting nearly 4,000 homeless animals in the Richmond SPCA’s care each year.

James River Air has been a long-time supporter of the Richmond SPCA and the critical care the nonprofit provides for our furry, four-legged friends. In addition to saving the lives of hundreds of homeless dogs, cats, kittens, and puppies each year and adopting them into lasting, loving homes, the Richmond SPCA provides extensive veterinary medical treatment and behavioral rehabilitation to dogs and cats in their shelter and operates the community’s first and only full-service, low-cost veterinary hospital for the pets of people of modest means, among numerous other life-saving programs and services.

Along with the return of the Richmond SPCA’s in-person Dog Jog & 5K Run, and in 2021 and 2022, the event raised more than $156,000 to benefit the Richmond SPCA’s work in the community. Help us top that number this year by donating now, buy a raffle ticket, or starting a fundraiser! 

Please visit Richmond SPCA’s website for more details (Event hashtag: #DogJog)

James River Air Conditioning – Steps We’re Taking to Mitigate Supply Chain Disruptions Impacting HVAC Service

Richmond, Va. ⎯ As COVID-19 cases go down and the economy revs back up, complications in the supply chain, from material shortages to labor shortages, are continuing to linger and impact homeowners and businesses across the U.S., including Richmond and surrounding counties. Supply chain disruptions prompted by the after-effects of the pandemic have impacted nearly every industry, including the HVAC industry. The result for consumers: rising costs, out-of-stock projects, and longer service lead times.

Much like the automobile industry, some HVAC equipment requires semiconductor chips to function, and they are in scarce supply globally, a trend that experts say will take several quarters to rebalance Other HVAC parts, “including compressors, motors, and raw materials like copper, steel, aluminum, and plastic,” are also in short supply, according to real estate trend forecaster, Propmodo.

HVAC systems are one of the most expensive and crucial pieces of equipment in residential and commercial buildings, and system failures can not only be inconvenient, but sometimes, catastrophic. For home and building owners, James River Air offers this advice to navigate supply chain issues and prevent one’s HVAC system from reaching the point of breakdown, especially as the season heats up:

What you need to know: Legionella and Your HVAC System

Most of us don’t really consider the indoor heating or cooling system as dangerous. The systems are there to cool or heat the building up and that’s it. Proper maintenance ensures that you can enjoy the heat during winter and cooling during summer. But did you know that your building ventilation systems could make you sick?

If you’re involved in any aspect of a building’s HVAC system, then you need to know about the bacterium known as Legionella.

• Legionella is a bacterium which causes Legionellosis (also known as Legionnaires’ disease). If you don’t know, Legionnaires’ disease is a form of pneumonia which is characterized by chills, a high fever, coughing, aches, and other terrible symptoms you don’t want to experience.

The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease is commonly found in cooling towers or commercial-size heating and air systems.

• It thrives in warm, stagnant water. When people inhale the mist or vapor contaminated by the warm air, pushed through the building via the HVAC system, it easily spreads and causes sickness.

Preventive Maintenance is Your First Line of Defense Against Legionella.

• The bacteria that causes Legionnaire’s disease thrives in stagnant water that has been allowed  to grow warm – the ideal temperature is above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, its main point of contact in commercial buildings is cooling towers within large, centralized cooling systems. The main way to protect your building’s occupants from Legionnaires’ disease is by keeping up with your HVAC system’s preventative maintenance.

• Scheduling routine, preventative maintenance for your commercial air conditioning systems not only saves you money and extends the life of the system, but it will also save lives. 1 in every 10 cases of Legionnaires’ disease is fatal.

Early Detection Equals Early Remediation.

One of the primary goals of early detection is to allow existing and effective techniques to be implemented as quickly as possible to destroy Legionella bacteria. With airborne Legionella and cooling towers making news headlines, call the HVAC professionals at James River Air Conditioning to discuss testing and treatment options that can identify and handle the problem.

Click Here To Download Our Legionella Fact Sheet.

Safety is always first, so call James River Air Conditioning Company to schedule your maintenance visit today!

Spring Into Action – Keep Your Home in Shape

Spring cleaning gets all of the attention this time of year, but spring maintenance is just as important to keep your home working properly, so we’ve created our free Spring Home Maintenance Checklist.

After a long winter, it is a good idea to spend time on preventive measures to help maintain your home and property. Making sure all the elements of your home are in good working order can help keep your family safe and your maintenance expenses lower over the long run.

Do these things now & you’ll be able to spend those summer weekends relaxing!

HVAC

• Service your AC Unit (Yes, this is somewhat self-serving, but it really is important to do.) Before summer arrives, make sure you have a maintenance agreement in place.
• Clean out around your outside AC unit by removing leaves, dust, overgrown shrubbery and debris.
• Change your interior AC filters now and on a regular basis throughout the warm weather.
• Furnace: This is a good time to clean or replace your furnace filter.

Plumbing

• Check for signs of water leaks around toilets, under sinks and around the dishwasher.
• Check all the caulking in your home around sinks, tubs, showers, and toilets to ensure it is in good condition. Be sure to check that there are no leaks, gaps, seepage or mildew.
• Inspect Grout & Joints in bathroom tiles for any discoloration and crumbling. Grout protects flooring, shower enclosures and countertops from water damage, and it costs much less to replace than any of those items.
• Check your water heater for leaks and corrosion.
• Don’t forget to make sure the sump pump is working properly before spring and summer storms hit.
• Check outside hose faucets and their pipes for freeze damage.

Home Safety Devices

• Change the batteries in all your smoke detectors and test each one to make sure they are working.
• Check your electrical outlets for potential fire hazards such as frayed wires or loose-fitting plugs. Make sure outlets, fuse boxes and extension cords are not overloaded.
• Inspect your fire extinguishers, including the hose, nozzle, and other parts, to make sure they are in good condition. Also, check that the pressure gauge is in the “green” range.

Appliances

• Clean out the dryer vent: Dryer lint can build up inside the vent pipe, causing a fire hazard. To clean it, disconnect the vent from the back of the machine and use a dryer vent brush to remove lint. While your back there, clean up all lint, dust, and anything you find behind the dryer. Outside your house, remove the dryer vent cover and use the brush to remove any lint from the other end of the vent line.
• Inspect Laundry Room water-supply hoses each spring for cracks.
• Vacuum behind the refrigerator: One of the easiest ways to improve the efficiency of a refrigerator is by pulling the refrigerator away from the wall and gently vacuuming behind it to make sure it’s getting enough air circulation and the coils are not running too hot.
• Clean your garbage disposal: To remove any food particles left on the blades, simply feed a tray of ice cubes through it while running cold water. To eliminate any bad smells, you can run a mixture of baking soda and vinegar through the disposal.

Windows & Doors

• Check seals around windows and doors: Cold weather can cause seals around windows and doors to crack or loosen, letting air leak in and out of your house. Repairing any problems you find can help increase your home’s energy efficiency and reduce your cooling costs.
• Check & clean screen doors and windows: Before putting your screens in, be sure to carefully check each one and repair any holes or tears, no matter how small, so bugs can’t get in. You can find screen repair kits at most hardware and home improvement stores.

Attics & Basements

• Don’t overlook your attic: Search for signs that indicate insects or animals have made your attic their home. Also, look carefully for mold, which often takes the form of gray or black blotches that look like staining. Proper insulation and good ventilation will deter mold growth in the attic, especially in the heat of the summer.

Roof, Chimney & Gutters

• Inspect your roof: Check for damaged shingles, which can make your roof susceptible to leaks.
• Examine the exterior of Chimney: While you’re looking at your roof, be sure to check out the exterior of the chimney for signs of damage.
• If you have a wood burning fireplace, then have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.
• Clean and examine gutters: Clean leaves and other debris from your gutters and downspouts to keep water flowing and reduce the possibility of water damage. Multiple freezes and thaws during the winter can result in sags and dips so be sure to check for those and get them fixed so water doesn’t drip onto exterior wood like fascia boards.

Wood, Brick & Patios

• Inspect brickwork and stucco: Check for chipping, deteriorated mortar, and unsightly deposits.
• Inspect driveways and paths: Freezing and thawing are rough on concrete, asphalt and other hardscaping materials. Take a walk around your property to look for damage to walkways, paths and driveways, and schedule repairs as needed.
• Inspect Wood Decks, Railings, Windowsills and Steps: Check the wood around your home for any rot that took hold during the winter months. If boards become soft or splinter, they create an unsafe situation for you and your family.
• Probe the Wood Trim: Use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings, and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.
• Repair Paint: Keep painted surfaces in good shape by scraping off any chipped and peeling paint and spot painting exposed surfaces. The worst thing you can do is leave wood exposed because that’s when it will begin to rot.
• Check Foundation Vents: A house with a crawl space has vents along the foundation walls. The vents provide air circulation that helps dissipate excess moisture and prevent mold growth. The vents have screens that keep critters from taking up residence under your residence. The screens usually are recessed and become blocked with leaves, twigs, and debris.
• Trim Overgrowth: Spring is a good time to trim branches of shrubs and trees away from your house. Keep branches 5 to 7 feet away from your house so they can’t conduct moisture onto your roofing and siding. You’ll also help discourage squirrels and raccoons from exploring ways to nest in your attic.

If you’ve found any HVAC, plumbing or electrical issues that you can’t fix yourself, just give us a call at 804-358-9333. Also, don’t forget to call us to have one of our experienced HVAC technicians come out to Inspect and Tune-up your Air Conditioning System before the hot weather hits. Visit JamesRiverAir.com for more information.

Why Is My Sump Pump Not Working?

You’re probably asking this question because you’ve experienced some water in your basement during or after a heavy rain. There are a number of steps you can take to diagnose and fix the problem before the next storm hits.

What are the main causes for a sump pump to fail & how do I fix them?

1. The sump pump is not getting power.

• Check to make sure the electrical outlet the pump is plugged into is working. Plug something else into the outlet & if it’s not working, then check to see if the circuit breaker has been tripped.
• Sump pumps require a lot of electricity, so you want it to be on its own circuit breaker.
• If you have to use an extension cord, make sure you’re using one that can handle the voltage.

2. There is a problem with the float switch.

   • Before checking anything inside the pump, be sure to unplug it from the power source.
   • The float switch on your sump pump operates in a similar way to the float switch in your toilet. If it can’t engage properly, the pump will not turn on or off.
   • The pump may have shifted inside the basin, causing the float switch to lodge against its side. Check to make sure it’s in the proper position.
   • Debris may also be a factor in preventing the switch from operating freely, so clear away any that you see.

3. The screen inside the pump is blocked.

   • Sump pumps have an intake screen at the bottom through which the water flows into the pump. Check to make sure that it hasn’t been plugged by debris and that water can flow freely.

4. The discharge line has become clogged.

   • Sump pumps typically expel water out of your basement and away from your foundation through a discharge pipe. If water can’t exit your home, the system will not work.
   • The end of the pipe will be outside your house, with the drain pipe on a downslope leading away from the house.
   • Inspect the end of the pipe to make sure there isn’t any debris blocking the water flow. Be sure to shine a flashlight into the pipe to see if something is farther inside. Clear away any debris you find.

I think I fixed the problem but how do I test my sump pump to make sure it’s working?

First, make sure the sump pump is plugged back into the electrical outlet. Then dump enough clean water into the pump to raise the float switch and listen for it to start up. If you can, have someone outside to make sure the water comes out of the drainage pipe.

If you couldn’t find the problem or your sump pump is still not working after you test it, then it could be the pump motor is broken, the sump pump itself is defective, or there is a clog in the drainage line that you can’t access. In that case, just give us a call at (804) 358-9333 and one of experienced plumbers will be right out to make sure your sump pump is working before the next heavy rain comes! Learn more about us at www.jamesriverair.com.