Extreme Heat Can Affect Your HVAC

June 20, 2022

Extreme heat can feel unbearable. Many people turn up the air to keep the interior cool and comfortable. The HVAC will have to work extra hard to continue operation during those extremely hot days. You want to ensure the system will continue working without any problems. If you want to know how extreme heat can affect your HVAC system, here are a few things to keep in mind. Hot Weather and HVAC You probably feel sluggish when you head outside on a sweltering day. It takes a lot of energy to move around when those temperatures rise. In the same way, your HVAC will have to work extra hard to cool down your interior. The humidity, heat, and airflow will all affect how hard your HVAC system will need to work in your home. If the sun’s intensity is extreme, the air conditioner must work overtime to keep your home nice and cool. Some people have a few tricks. For example, you can set the temperature as high as you can handle to help reduce the load on your HVAC. Remember that your air conditioner is a heat transfer system with two heat exchangers. It will capture the energy from...

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10 Ways of Preparing Your AC Unit for Summer

June 3, 2022

An AC unit is a key component of any home in the summer months, but people often forget about it during the wintertime. It can be frustrating to have poor indoor air quality in the summer, but you can easily avoid it with a little maintenance. All you need to do is brush off any debris and ensure everything’s still intact. Everything from dust on the filter and gaskets, air leaks at the vents, and dust buildup on fan blades will lead to an uncomfortable experience for you when you turn on your AC unit. Have you ever noticed how cheap filters look? These filters remove particles such as dust and lint that can affect the effectiveness of your AC unit. Here are ways of preparing your AC unit for the summer. 1. Install New Air Filters Air filters are essential to keeping your AC unit clean and efficient. These filters can be easily washed by using a damp cloth to wipe them down. This is also a great time to change the filter that’s located on the outside of your AC unit as well. Changing this filter keeps up with any buildup that may have occurred over the winter months....

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Choosing the Best Size AC for Your Home

May 19, 2022

Buying an AC can help you stay cool during the hot summer months. However, most people don’t know that size matters when buying an AC. If you buy too big an AC, it consumes more energy, and it might not properly humidify your home. A small AC, on the other hand, won’t be able to properly cool the house, thus leaving some hot spots. Figuring out the right size AC for your home will involve a few steps. Here are all the details you need to consider in the process. The Size of the Rooms Calculating the size of your rooms is the key to getting the right size AC for your home. To find the ideal AC size, you will need to measure its cooling capacity using British Thermal Units (BTUs). This applies to both central air units and window air conditioners. To begin the calculations, you need to multiply the length and width of your rooms. For example, if a room is 14 feet wide and 20 feet long, you’ll have 280 square feet (14×20). Multiplying the measurement with 25 BTU helps you know the minimum BTU AC to purchase. In this case, it’ll be 280×25=7,000BTU. That will...

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How to Choose Between a Tankless vs. Traditional Water Heater

May 13, 2022

If you’re looking to replace your water heater, you might be wondering whether a traditional unit or a tankless heater is the better option. Tankless water heaters are generally more energy-efficient, but they also cost more to purchase and install. This is especially the case if you’re changing from a traditional to a tankless unit since this will require retrofitting the plumbing to the unit. On the other hand, tankless heaters take up less space and don’t have the same risk of leaking as a traditional unit since they don’t store any water. Tankless water heaters are the preferred choice nowadays. However, there are some situations where a traditional heater still makes more sense. Here is everything you need to know about both units to help you determine which is the better option for your home. How Tankless Water Heaters Work Whereas a traditional water heater stores a large volume of hot water inside its tank, a tankless heater only runs when hot water is needed. Often referred to as on-demand water heaters, these units use a heat exchanger that brings the water up to temperature in only a few seconds. The units can run off either gas or electricity....

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8 Ways to Eliminate Cold and Hot Spots in Your Home

April 18, 2022

8 Ways to Eliminate Cold and Hot Spots in Your Home Are some parts of your home cooler or warmer than others even after cranking up your air conditioning or heat? You are not alone. Unfortunately, cold and hot spots in a living space are common and annoying. Many people depend on central HVAC units to create comfortable living environments during hot and cold weather. If you’re experiencing big differences in your home’s heating or cooling, your HVAC unit or any other related devices may not be functioning effectively. The formation of hot and cold areas causes disparities in the overall temperature of your living space. Cold spots are worse because they prevent your family from enjoying consistent heating and cooling while increasing energy bills. Several issues may cause uneven heating or cooling in your residence. Figuring out the root cause can help you solve the problem more easily. Below are some tips you can implement to eliminate cold and hot spots in your home. 1. Increase Insulation Insulation plays an important role in retaining warmth in your living space, especially during the cold winter season. If your house has poor insulation, warm air might escape via the walls. You...

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Tips to Help You Pick the Best Air Purifier for Your Home

April 14, 2022

Smog, pollution, dust, and allergens all affect air quality in Seattle, Washington. When allergy season is at its worst, sufferers sneeze and cough, and respiratory issues are triggered. While it is impossible to control the air quality outside of your home, air purifiers are a great tool in helping you manage the air quality in your home. Regardless of the season, clean indoor air means that your family’s hearts, lungs, blood circulation, and health will be better. Many are surprised to learn just how dirty the air in their home is. The EPA produced a report showing that certain pollutants are up to five times more concentrated in your home than outdoors. These include cooking gases, mold, building materials, pollutants from cleaning materials, and pet dander. Smaller particles, which are those under 10 micrometers, are incredibly troubling. Smoke and dust can bury their way into your lungs. Breathing these fine particles for just a few hours each day can worsen asthma attacks and respiratory issues. Studies show a link between poor indoor air quality and heart conditions and premature death. In Seattle, a significant concern for homeowners is volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Formaldehyde and other toxins found in paints, cleaning...

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How Ductless HVAC Can Solve Heating and Cooling Issues

March 17, 2022

Ductless HVAC systems offer a convenient and efficient way to control the temperature in either a single space or your entire home. Also known as ductless mini-splits, they can provide both heating and cooling from the same system. Better still, they don’t suffer from many of the problems that can plague traditional forced-air HVAC systems. This makes them a great choice for overcoming a variety of heating and cooling problems. How Ductless Systems Work A ductless mini-split system consists of two parts: an indoor air handler and an outdoor condenser/compressor. The compressor unit utilizes refrigerant to draw heat out of the air in order to provide heating and cooling, while the air handler pumps the heated or cooled air into the room. The two units are connected via a small conduit that contains the refrigerant line, wiring and condensate drain line. This conduit usually passes through a small hole in an exterior wall to join the condenser and air handler. In most cases, the air handler is mounted high up on a wall, but you can also choose a ceiling- or floor-mounted air handler. You may even be able to have the air handler recessed inside a wall or ceiling...

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Your Guide to Understanding SEER Ratings

March 3, 2022

If you’ve ever looked at an air conditioner’s specifications, you might’ve noticed the SEER rating. This little number has a big impact on how your air conditioner unit runs. What is a SEER rating and why do they matter? Keep reading to learn more about what this rating means and how it affects your HVAC system. What Does SEER Mean? When HVAC experts talk about SEER ratings, they are referring to the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. This is a special type of efficiency measurement that helps you see just how much energy a machine is using. A SEER rating is only used for air conditioners. If it is attached to an HVAC system that heats and cools, the SEER rating only measures the efficiency of the machine while it is cooling. SEER ratings are used on all sorts of cooling products. Standard electric air conditioners, window units, heat pumps, and ductless mini-splits will all have a SEER rating. As you can probably tell from the name, SEER ratings are calculated with a ratio formula. Experts start by looking at the air conditioner’s cooling output over a typical cooling season. In lab settings, manufacturers will run the air conditioner at a...

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10 Common Gas Fireplace Problems and How to Solve Them

February 18, 2022

Many homes in Kirkland, WA include a gas fireplace. With no need to store and haul wood, many people find gas fireplaces to be more convenient than their wood-burning counterparts. These fixtures also offer warmth and create a cozy atmosphere, and they add value to your home. Like other gas-powered appliances in your home, they require maintenance and are prone to certain types of issues. Let’s take a closer look at 10 of the most common gas fireplace problems and what you should do if you notice these issues with your fireplace. 1. Malfunctioning Ignition Ignition malfunctions are common in gas fireplaces. Damaged wiring might cause the ignition to draw too much current. This will trip the breaker in your circuit breaker box. If you notice that the breaker repeatedly trips after resetting it, you’ll need professional fireplace repairs. The fireplace ignition may also malfunction if the gas valve is closed. If there’s nothing to ignite, it can’t create a flame. If you’re unsure of how to open the gas valve or what level to set the gas flow, call for service. Check the other gas-powered appliances in your home. If they are also malfunctioning, your home might have an...

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Reasons to Have a Professional Clean Your Ducts

February 2, 2022

Most homeowners ignore their home’s ductwork until a problem arises. They don’t realize that air ducts play an essential role in keeping them comfortable in their homes. Ducts are pathways that distribute conditioned air from your cooling and heating system to various areas in your home. They also allow fresh, clean air into your home. However, over time, dust, debris, and other substances can accumulate in your ducts and reduce their effectiveness at keeping the air in your home clean. Dirty ductwork can result in various health issues for you and your loved ones. They can also reduce the performance of your HVAC system. This means you’ll have to spend more money to keep your home cozy and comfortable. Although ensuring your HVAC system is running properly and changing the filter regularly is the most crucial thing you can do to improve the quality of air in your home, cleaning the ducts can help improve indoor air quality. Duct cleaning is a simple and inexpensive task that doesn’t consume much of your time. Here are a few reasons why you should get your air ducts cleaned regularly. Minimize Allergens The air in your home gets circulated through the ducts several...

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