How Does HVAC Maintenance Improve Indoor Air Quality?

January 10, 2021

Keeping the members of your household healthy is likely a top priority. Dust, dander, pet hair and other debris in the air can aggravate asthma or allergies. Scheduling regular tune-ups for your HVAC system can actually improve your home’s indoor air quality and help keep the people who live in your home healthier. Why Indoor Air Quality Is Important We spend a lot of time in our homes. Making sure that the air we breathe when we are indoors is safe and healthy is very important. About 25 million people suffer from asthma. About 17 million of these individuals are children. Indoor air contaminated with pollutants can lead to asthma attacks as well as other health concerns including headaches, eye irritation, allergies or even cardiovascular disease. There are a number of pollutants that may be found in a home. Improving your indoor air quality will help remove the dangerous substances from the air and protect you and the other members of your household. Some of these pollutants include dust, pollen, pet dander, mold and secondhand smoke. Components of HVAC Maintenance That Can Improve Indoor Air Quality Air Filter Replacements As its name suggests, an air filter is designed to filter...

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Is It Possible to Change the Location of an Electrical Outlet?

December 18, 2020

Most of the time, the existing electrical outlets in your Seattle home are sufficient to meet your daily needs. However, if you’re making a major change to a certain room in your home, the location of a specific outlet may no longer work for you. To fix this problem, you have a few options. One option for a temporary fix is an extension cord. However, extension cords aren’t designed for long-term installation. The best option, then, is to move the outlet. Whether you take on this project yourself or have a professional electrician do it for you, moving an outlet is fairly straightforward. Contact an Electrician Today! Be Careful With Location When moving an outlet, location is key. If you simply move the new outlet directly above the existing outlet, everything should work out. However, you may run into a cross-brace between the studs that could cause some problems. Depending on the location of the wall in your home, you could also run into electrical cables, insulation, or even concrete block. Therefore, if you’re unsure of what’s behind the wall in the location where you want to put the outlet, make sure to test it first so you don’t run...

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6 Common Signs Your Home Needs Rewiring

December 9, 2020

Electrical fires not only put your family at risk, but they also destroy your property. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, Americans experience over 24,000 electrical fires every year. Since your wiring produces heat energy as it transfers electrical power, ignoring the signs of trouble can turn out to be a fatal mistake. The following are the signs that your home needs rewiring. 1. Your Wiring Is in Disrepair Just like any other installations, your home wiring has an expiry date. When used as per the appropriate guidelines, it can last for up to 20 years. When electrical cables begin to age, especially in older homes, they deteriorate and start to pose hazards and fire risks. However, age alone doesn’t indicate that the wiring is unsafe. It’s important to ask a competent electrical technician to undertake a thorough inspection. The technician will look for signs of disrepair, such as damaged insulation caused by excessive heat. The presence of naked (live) wires is a safety hazard. If you see any of these signs, avoid the temptation to cap the wires with electrical tape. These wires need to be terminated in a junction box, and only an electrician should do it. Note...

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What Causes Flickering Lights and Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Them

November 21, 2020

We have all experienced the odd feeling of being in a room, and thinking the lights just flickered. Sometimes that flickering is more pronounced and obvious, while other times it is very subtle. Regardless of how significant the flickering, it’s important not to ignore it. In a properly wired and functioning electrical system, there won’t be any flickering at all. However, when this starts to happen, it indicates something is amiss. It can be a very simple and easy fix like tightening a light bulb, but it may be something more significant like a short. Because of the possible significance of the problem, you should take the time to track down the reason you have flickering lights. Here are some ideas of where to start. Simple Fixes Many repairs around the house are quite simple, and really don’t need a professional repairman to fix them. Rather, a little patience and time will solve many simple problems. Some problems with flickering lights can be easily fixed if you know where to look. The first question to ask is if there’s a problem with the light itself. The way you can determine this is to check if all the lights are flickering...

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Here’s Why You Need USB Outlets in Your Home

November 10, 2020

In a world where battery-powered electronics continue to become more ubiquitous, finding a simple and sophisticated way to charge those electronics is more important than ever. Although a basic charging block plugged into a standard wall outlet gets the job done, there are far better ways of keeping your electronics charged in your Kirkland home. By allowing to install USB outlets in your home, you’ll open up a whole new world of possibilities when it comes to your consumer electronics. Charge Different Types of Devices Although some devices are switching to the newer USB-C standard for charging, most devices still use the USB-A standard. This means that if you install USB outlets in your home, you’ll be able to easily charge multiple types of devices. No matter which company manufactures your phone, tablet, smart speaker, or another type of device, as long as the charging cable terminates in a USB-A connection, you can plug it into your USB outlets from . Save on Outlet Space Charging blocks can take up a lot of space. In some cases, they cover up both sockets in a standard wall outlet. Then, if you need to use one of the outlets while your device...

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Landlord or Tenant: Who’s Responsible for HVAC Service and Maintenance Needs?

November 2, 2020

The presence of HVAC units in a rental property comes with responsibilities. HVAC system requires regular services and maintenance in other to prevent it from breaking down often. Sometimes, there may be confusion about who is responsible for maintaining HVAC units on a rental property. This often results in disputes between the landlord and tenants. Contact an HVAC Specialist Today! The implied warranty of habitability mandates that a rental property should meet the following needs: Functional heating, electric, gas, and plumbing system Adequate ventilation Functional smoke and carbon monoxide detector Extermination of pest infestations Functional toilets, shower/bathtub, hot water, and sinks Waterproof walls and roofs Devoid of health hazards such as molds, lead paints, and asbestos Safe emergency exits Doors that lock From the above, landlords are not required to provide an air conditioning system for a rental property. Most people consider this as an amenity. However, each state has its own laws and requirements for rental properties. Common HVAC maintenance issues For rental properties with an HVAC system, issues often arise from the heating units and the control network. This can be observed in: Air filters – HVAC air filters trap dust particles and debris before the air gets...

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What Should You Do When Your Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping?

October 22, 2020

Have you ever been at home and suddenly heard a loud click followed by a loss of power in some parts of the house? This is usually a sign that your circuit breaker has tripped. A circuit breaker that keeps tripping is more than just a minor inconvenience. It means that something in your electrical system is not functioning properly, so you need to take steps to address it as soon as possible. Contact an Electrician Today! Understanding Why a Breaker Trips To handle the problem of a breaker that keeps tripping, it is helpful to understand how a circuit breaker really works. A circuit is a wiring loop that provides electricity to a specific set of outlets, lights, and switches in your home. The wiring is attached to a circuit breaker switch, which is a small black switch inside your big electrical panel. The circuit breaker is an essential safety mechanism. When it senses that something is going wrong in your electrical system, it automatically flips to off, shutting down power to the circuit. You can temporarily solve the problem by just going to the panel and flipping the switch back on. However, the breaker will just keep tripping...

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Dangers of a Loose Electrical Outlet Box

October 10, 2020

Electrical outlets are fixed to outlet boxes, which are fastened to the wall stud or the drywall. With time, the outlet box can loosen from where it was once anchored to. Most people think that fixing loose outlet boxes is a simple task. That’s where they go wrong. Contact an Electrician Today! Handling loose electrical outlet boxes doesn’t merely involve tightening a couple of screws. You may need to make replacements or even resize the holes in your drywall. While you might spot some causes at a glance, there are more hidden and insidious dangers that can lurk within your home. Causes of a Loose Electrical Outlet Box Faulty outlets are one of the leading causes of electrocution and electrical fires. These outlets can pose a danger to your family for several reasons. Old, Ungrounded Outlets: In older homes, it’s common to either find ungrounded outlets or outlet boxes that have outdated wiring with the connection. It would be best if you considered replacing old and ungrounded outlets with new ones to minimize the risk of electrocution and fire. Of course, this should be done by a profession to prevent further damages. Worn Outlets: Over time, your outlets can wear...

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Should I Get an End-of-Season AC Tune-Up?

September 22, 2020

The fall weather is typically mild. People living in areas where summer weather brings scorching heat likely appreciate the relief. They may also feel relief at the reduced electricity bills that start to appear in October. The summertime weather leaves many reliant on their air conditioners for safety and comfort. Although an air conditioner may run for hours upon hours each day and night, well-maintained AC systems handle cooling needs without much trouble. Regardless, the fall weather gives the air conditioner a much-needed break. Likely, homeowners might only use the air conditioner “here and there” in early fall. Once winter arrives, the air conditioner becomes entirely unnecessary and won’t experience heavy use until summer returns. Does the long layoff mean there’s no reason to get a tune-up until the hot months return? Honestly, it might be a good idea to get a jump on things and request a fall tune-up. Not everyone opts to do so in the fall, and the early tune-up might work in a homeowner’s favor. Avoid Experiencing Long Waits Not surprisingly, many wait until spring arrives before they request tune-up or inspection services. A local HVAC company can only fit so many people into their schedules....

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Best Practices to Minimize Wear and Tear on HVAC Systems

September 6, 2020

You depend on your HVAC system to keep you comfortable throughout the year. Many of these units can operate for 10 to 15 years before you need to replace them. However, without proper care, your HVAC system could have a much shorter lifespan. Your HVAC usage might be causing some damage as well. If you eliminate some bad habits, your system can deliver better performance and use less energy. Here are a few ways to stop that wear and tear on your HVAC so that you can reduce utility bills and improve comfort. Schedule System Maintenance Many people do not maintain their HVAC systems. When you use your heating and AC throughout the year, it can put excessive wear and tear on those essential components. From motors to belts, these parts need to be maintained. Without the right maintenance, the components will fail, and you’ll be left with a broken HVAC system. In addition to repair bills, worn HVAC components increase your utility costs and decrease the system’s efficiency. If you want to protect your HVAC system, you need to schedule professional maintenance visits twice a year. The technician can check your system to make sure it’s ready for the...

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