July 17, 2024

7 Signs That It’s Time to Clean Your Air Conditioner

HVAC experts recommend you schedule an AC tune-up every spring before you ever run your air. A primary reason for this is to ensure that your equipment is as clean as possible. A dirty AC can cause many problems. Let’s explore them so you can identify when it’s time to clean your system. 1. Spike in Your Electricity Consumption You should know how much electricity your household uses each month. One reason for this is that a spike is often the first sign that your AC needs cleaning. There are two key components that every central AC has: a condenser coil and an evaporator coil. The condenser coil is outdoors, where it can accumulate significant grime. It’s responsible for transferring heat energy from the refrigerant to the ambient air. As it gets dirty, that process becomes less efficient, and energy consumption increases. The evaporator coil, which is indoors, is similar. It can build up dust and microbial growth over time, which interferes with transferring heat energy to the refrigerant, thereby making the system more expensive to run. 2. Leaves and Branches in Your Outdoor Unit The outdoor unit houses not only the condenser coil but the condenser pump and fan....

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July 18, 2023

6 Cooling Tips That Can Help You Save on Your Energy Bill

Summertime is the perfect opportunity to get outside and enjoy the warm weather. Unfortunately, it also brings high temperatures that can wreak havoc on your cooling costs. Fortunately, there are ways you can reduce your energy expenses while still keeping cool during the hot months. Here are some summer cooling tips to help you stay comfortable while saving money this summer. 1. Use a Programmable Thermostat These thermostats are designed to automatically adjust the temperature in your house based on your schedule and preferences. That means you can set the thermostat to turn down the AC when you’re not home during the day or sleeping at night without sacrificing comfort. Additionally, if you have a smart thermostat, you can make adjustments remotely using your phone or another device. This will ensure that your home is always at the right temperature when you need it to be. Some companies even give rebates for installing these types of thermostats. This is a great way to save money while keeping your house comfortable. 2. Clean Your Air Filters Over time, air filters can get clogged with dust, dirt, and other debris. This makes it harder for your AC unit to circulate air properly....

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February 14, 2023

How California’s Net Zero Goal for 2045 Affects HVAC Systems

California has become one of the nation’s pioneering states when it comes to environmental awareness. In an effort to help the environment and to reduce the dependency on limited natural resources, the state has set a net-zero carbon goal for 2045. This is the most ambitious climate goal that any government has set so far. While California is just one state in the U.S., it represents one of the largest economies in the world, so this decision will have far-reaching impacts. Residents of California may be wondering how this goal and the accompanying legislation will affect their day-to-day activities and personal HVAC systems. It’ll likely result in the installation of many more heat pumps and the reliance on sustainable sources of electrical power rather than the consumption of natural gas or coal. Why Are Heat Pumps More Ideal? In this move to create a net-zero community, California will be encouraging the use of heat pumps. In fact, state residents might already be able to enjoy rebates or tax credits when they have new heat pumps installed. The reason why heat pumps are going to be more common in the future is that they’re more efficient than traditional heaters. Instead of...

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July 26, 2021

Tips To Keep Bugs Out of Your AC

Bug such as cockroaches, ants, flies, spiders, and mosquitos need shelter just like us. That is why they always try to find a way into a home because they will get food and shelter. These bugs can get into your house through your air conditioning unit and can make your air conditioning malfunction, contaminating the airflow in your home. Therefore, you need to ensure that they do not get inside your home. Below are more details on how to ensure that bugs do not get into your home through your air conditioning unit. 1. Use Duct Tape Duct tape is usually strong and waterproof. You should use it to seal cracks around your air conditioning unit through which bugs pass when getting into your house. For instance, you should use it to seal hairline crevices. However, you should only use this adhesive tape when sealing cracks that are 1 inch thick or less. You should also ensure that the surface on which you are applying the tape is dry and clean. You can use this adhesive tape to cover gaps that the side panels of your air conditioning unit do not seal. When you use this tape, you will not...

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March 18, 2020

Are HVAC Maintenance Contracts Worth The Money?

It is important that you properly maintain your furnace, air conditioner and other HVAC components after you have them installed in your home. Otherwise, they may not run as efficiently as they should or last for as long as they could. Let’s take a look at why you should purchase a service contract for your HVAC components. You’ll Never Forget to Make a Service Appointment A maintenance contract typically comes with one or two free or discounted service appointments per year. Therefore, failing to schedule these appointments likely means that you wouldn’t be getting the most value for your money. Having a technician come to your home for routine service can help to catch minor issues before they become major malfunctions. Periodic maintenance can also help to ensure that your furnace or air conditioner lasts for the entirety of its useful life. The money that you will ultimately save on future repair costs could make up for any upfront costs associated with buying a service package. You’ll Get Priority Service In many cases, you will be near the top of the list to receive emergency service if an HVAC component stops working for any reason. This can be ideal if...

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July 20, 2019

Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Indoor Air Pollutants

We usually associate air pollution with industrial areas and congested highways. However, pollutants can also be a health concern indoors. Our homes gather irritants and substances from the outside environment as well as various appliances within. The following are three ways you can reduce harmful exposure to indoor air pollutants. 1. Reducing or Eliminating Cigarette Smoke Passive cigarette smoke has been shown to be a health hazard for non-smokers who breathe it in. What you may not realize is that the particles from the cigarette smoke that settle onto the surfaces within your home are equally as troublesome. Children and individuals with respiratory or heart problems can be negatively affected by coming in contact with these particles. The best way to avoid health issues from cigarette smoke is to not have people smoke indoors. If you cannot avoid this, keep your air clean by making sure you replace your air conditioner filters regularly. Also, be sure to clean surfaces, including carpets, as frequently as possible to remove unhealthy cigarette smoke pollutants. 2. Treat All Household Cleaning and Repair Substances With the Proper Care Household detergents, cleaners, adhesives, paint, and varnish often include chemical compounds that we are not meant to...

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