Heating and Air Conditioning Blog | News, New Products, Local Events

Why Is a Cracked Heat Exchanger Dangerous?

November 23rd, 2020

Are you one of the many homeowners in our area utilizing a gas-powered heater for your home comfort in the fall and winter? If you are, then this blog post is for you!

Gas-powered heating systems, specifically furnaces, are the most common type of residential heating system used throughout the country, and for good reason. They’re powerful, effective, and when properly installed and cared for, very efficient. They produce a large amount of heat and do so at less expense than their electric heater counterparts, since natural gas costs much less.

However, while not inherently harmful, any natural gas appliance has the potential to develop safety issues. This isn’t said to alarm you—after all, today’s furnaces are built with homeowners safety in mind and have features to shut themselves off if they overheat. But something like a cracked heat exchanger, no matter how small the crack is, can lead to harmful CO exposure in your living space.

Beware These Furnace Noises This Heating Season!

November 9th, 2020

It can be easy to ignore subtle noises coming from your furnace. Or rather, tune them out. The whoosh of air through your vents, for example, can become such a natural noise in the fall and winter that you don’t even notice it anymore. You might also hear your ductwork fluctuating with the temperature changes as your furnace or heat pump cycles on.

However, what about the noises that creep up on you or seem to come out of nowhere? Is it ever okay to ignore an unusual or unexpected sound? Well, you could ignore it… but you’d probably regret doing so. Unusual noises are among the first signs that something is amiss with your furnace or heating system. Read on as we uncover some of the most common sounds that indicate a furnace in disrepair.

What’s the Best Way to Prevent Furnace Repair Needs?

October 26th, 2020

We all want our HVAC systems to last forever, right? While this may not be the case, it is possible for you to help it last as long as possible and prevent furnace repair needs at the same time. How’s that? By scheduling maintenance!

Heating maintenance is vital for your heater’s energy efficiency, longevity, and power. There are a number of tasks involved with this maintenance, and they should only ever be conducted by a professional. Why? Because we have the training and the expertise to do your tune-up as it should be done. What exactly happens during this maintenance appointment?

Stuffy Home? How Cleaner Ducts Will Help

October 12th, 2020

One of the most common complaints homeowners make about their indoor air quality is a stuffy or muggy feeling–particularly when temperatures have been as warm as they’ve been lately.

Now, there are a lot of factors that contribute to this. First off, it may simply be an extraordinarily humid day. Relative humidity levels above 50% are considered to be beyond comfortable. A whole-house dehumidifier is one home comfort system that will help with this issue.

Another thing that happens with that humidity though, is that it creates a cool, damp environment inside your ductwork. This leads to the growth of mildew, not to mention the accumulation of dust and other debris as it moves through the ventilation system and gets stuck inside. As you can imagine, over the years this will lead to quite a nasty situation inside your ducts. And this is where professional duct cleaning comes in!

Don’t Neglect These Late-Season AC Repair Needs

September 28th, 2020

Fall is officially here! It’s time to turn off our air conditioners and not worry about them until next spring, right?!

Well, not quite. Temperatures don’t always agree with whatever season it happens to be at the time. Still though, there’s no arguing that in the next several weeks, we will be able to use our air conditioners a lot less. So, that means you can wait on any repair needs that have cropped up, right?

No! At least, we don’t recommend it. The longer you wait to address an air conditioner in disrepair, the higher chance there is that you’ll experience severe HVAC problems. This is particularly true if your AC system shares ductwork with the furnace or if you’re using a heat pump, since that means your heating efficacy can be impacted too.

Even though it’s late in the cooling system, it’s a good idea to watch for the signs of AC problems we’ve listed below, and give our team a call if you notice any of them.

Why AC Refrigerant Loss Is a Big Deal

September 14th, 2020

insulated-refrigerant-line-behind-air-conditioner

There a number of problems that can and will afflict your air conditioner over the years, most of them a result of natural wear and tear. This means some problems will be more minor than others. For instance, you might have a worn-down motor bearing that needs to be replaced, or a loose fan tightened.

There are other problems, however, that really shouldn’t be brushed off and need to be addressed right away. A refrigerant leak is one of them.

There’s a fairly common misconception circulating that refrigerant to an air conditioner is like gasoline to a car–it depletes over time. On the contrary, refrigerant is in a closed-loop system and is recycled throughout the lifespan of your air conditioner, theoretically. If your air conditioner is losing refrigerant, it means there is a leak, and yes it is a big deal. Read on to learn why!

Is a Ductless Air Conditioner Right for You?

August 31st, 2020

In the market for a new air conditioning system? Then you’re in luck. When it comes to a new air conditioning installation in Concord, CA, there is no shortage of options to choose from! Of course, that can also make it pretty tough to find the exact right AC for your needs.

Air conditioners all serve the same basic function, right? They’re there to cool your home. They can go about that in some surprisingly different ways, though. One option you should definitely consider is the ductless mini split.

4 Qualities to Look for in an HVAC Contractor

August 17th, 2020

hvac-professional-shaking-hand-of-homeowner-at-front-door

These days, you can find a lot of people who would be willing to do HVAC work in your home. Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that the professional you find will actually have the expertise and experience necessary to do a good job. We really don’t recommend putting the wellbeing of your HVAC system and the comfort of your home in the hands of amateurs.

Of course, it’s fine to say this, but what should you do then? When you need HVAC work, it’s understandable that you want to find someone affordable and reliable. But what other qualities should you look for?

We’ve provided a bit of a guide below to answer just that–what 4 qualities you should look for in a professional HVAC contractor. Read on, and please reach out to our team if you have any questions–we want your HVAC system and your home to be in good hands!

Compressor Trouble? Here’s How to Proceed

August 3rd, 2020

This doesn’t have a quick or easy answer, to be honest. But we’ll do our best to cover all the bases on what happens when you have a failed compressor.

It’s a particularly unpleasant problem to face, a failed compressor, as this component is essentially the heart of your air conditioner. Your air conditioner literally cannot do the very job it was designed to do without this component–which is to transfer and compress refrigerant in order to return cooled air into your home.

With most components, replacement is the best option. But the thing is, because of the compressor’s importance, it’s the most expensive component in your AC. In many cases, if it fails, it makes more economic sense to replace the whole entire air conditioner. But that’s not always the case. We get it, that’s frustrating. Read on to gain a little clarity on the matter!

Buzz, Bang, or Boom: AC Sounds You Don’t Want to Hear

July 20th, 2020

surprised-woman-covering-ears-and-standing-against-a-white-background

Let’s face it–no air conditioner is ever going to operate in complete silence. There have been a lot of technological advancements that help certain cooling systems function much more quietly, such as inverter drive and variable speed AC systems. But for the most part, you’re always going to hear your outdoor compressor cycling on and off, and you’ll hear the whoosh of air through your vents, plus perhaps even the flexing of your ductwork as temperatures fluctuate.

What you shouldn’t hear, however, is banging, buzzing, booming, or any other noise you’re unfamiliar with. Strange noises aren’t something to be ignored. Neglecting them can only cause problems to grow, until you’re left scrambling to buy a new air conditioner in the middle of summer because yours has completely broken down.

Read on as we uncover what these, and more, sounds mean and why they’re so ominous.