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

Compressor Damage: AC Replacement Versus Repair

June 20th, 2022

Did you know that the compressor is the most essential component of your air conditioner? Well, that and refrigerant. Without either, your air conditioner would be nothing more than a very large and expensive fan.

So, if something goes wrong with the compressor, you might wonder if it’s worth repairing your air conditioner, or if the whole unit is doomed. This is a good question too! We don’t have an easy answer, but we’ll explain below to give you a bit more clarity.

Whatever you decide, you can count on our team to help you along. We’re also here to help you make an educated decision about how to best use your budget for your cooling needs. Read on to learn a bit more about this compressor repair/replace debate.

How to Cool Your Home As Efficiently As Possible

June 6th, 2022

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When you live somewhere that gets as warm as it does here in the San Ramon area, then it goes without saying that you need a powerful and effective air conditioner. But you also need it to be affordable, right? This is where its efficiency comes in.

Efficiency is the measurement of how much power your air conditioner consumes versus the output it gives you. Your air conditioner comes with a SEER rating (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) upon manufacturing, and the higher the SEER rating, the more efficient that system is.

But certain practices can help or hurt this SEER rating over the years. The good news is, this is in your control! Read on to learn how to ensure you’re using your cooling system as efficiently as possible.

Signs Your Household Health Could Be Suffering

May 23rd, 2022

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Spring has been progressing right along, and if you’re like a good number of people throughout Concord and the surrounding area, that means allergy season is progressing right along too! This might mean you’re outdoors sneezing, or trying to relieve your scratchy eyes, or wondering if that dry and itchy throat is anything more than allergies.

Fortunately, you can look forward to getting home, swinging open the front door, and finding relief. But what if your indoor space doesn’t bring that relief?

Homeowners often don’t realize this, but their indoor air quality could actually be in worse shape than the quality of that outside. And for this problem, you may need to have a whole-home air purifier professionally installed. Read on to learn more!

How to Tell If Your Air Conditioner Needs Professional Service

May 9th, 2022

Air conditioning repair is one of those services that no homeowner should ever put off. We understand the temptation to put it off. After all, if your system still seems operational–despite maybe a glitch or two–and you really don’t want to budget for repairs right now, why bother?

Consider this: By ignoring your AC repair needs, you risk the cooling system completely breaking down right when you need it the most–the hottest part of summer.

We encourage all Concord area homeowners to take care of their air conditioners as soon as they notice they need a repair. But… how do you know when you need a repair? You are not an AC expert, that’s our job! You can know the basics though, and that’s what we’re here to provide. Read on to learn the top signs that you need air conditioning repair.

The Best Way to Prevent AC Repairs

April 25th, 2022

Nobody wants to face an unexpected or expensive AC repair when they need their system the most. And typically, you’ll never have to. That is, as long as you have your air conditioner professionally installed by a qualified team, and regularly maintained to keep in good shape.

Yes, maintenance tune-ups are the best way to prevent AC repairs. In fact, keeping up on your annual tune-ups can help you avoid up to 85% of the repairs your system may otherwise need! And that’s not the only benefit of maintenance–read on to learn more.

It’s Time to Breathe Easier At Home… Here’s How!

April 11th, 2022

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The last couple of years have left many homeowners increasingly aware of their health, particularly when spending time indoors. The truth is too, long before that time indoor air quality actually suffered in many homes–in fact the indoor air quality of a home can be worse than the air quality outdoors, without the right products and services in place.

One of these products is an air purifier. Depending on the type of air purifier, this system can help eliminate particular contaminants from the air, to help ensure that your household stays as healthy as possible. Read on to learn more about the different types of air purifiers we install and service!

“Should I Just Wait to Service My Furnace?”

March 28th, 2022

As spring begins and the weather starts to warm up, it’s easy to let our heating system needs fall to the wayside. Whether you’ve been hearing strange noises or your furnace just doesn’t seem to be heating your household as efficiently as it once did, these problems can be frustrating–but are they necessary to address right away?

Well, they can be. Sometimes, these symptoms indicate that something is wrong with both of your HVAC systems, not just your furnace. For instance, you can have a problem with the thermostat or the ductwork of your home. In this case, your cooling system efficacy and efficiency will be impacted.

This said, no, you shouldn’t “just wait” to have your furnace serviced if you notice troubling symptoms. Read on as we uncover what some of the most common end-of-season heating repairs are.

End-of-Season Furnace Problems to Be Aware Of

March 14th, 2022

It may almost be spring, and we may not get as severely cold weather in our part of the country as others, but having a fully functional and efficiently operating furnace is still pretty important. This is why, whether you had fall maintenance done or not, it’s important to know if your furnace needs any repairs.

Taking care of repair needs now instead of waiting for next fall makes it less likely to have emergency repair needs when you need your furnace system the most. Of course, this also requires you to know when you actually have repair needs, right? Read on to learn how to tell if you might have some end-of-season furnace repair needs.

What You Don’t Want to Hear Coming from Your Heater

February 28th, 2022

We understand that it can be easy to ignore some of the sounds that the appliances and systems in your home make. It’s easy to deny that something can be wrong with one of those appliances–after all who wants an unexpected repair bill, right?

However, ignoring a sound that your heating system is making could result in an even bigger repair bill later on, and some noises might even indicate potentially harmful problems, such as a cracked heat exchanger that could lead to a CO (carbon monoxide) leak in your home.

Here at Hometown, we get how important it is to protect your household. If you hear ominous noises coming from your furnace, please don’t hesitate to give our team a call. In the meantime, read on as we uncover some specific sounds and what they could mean for your furnace.

Why You Want to Hire a Specialized Pro for Your Commercial HVAC Needs

February 14th, 2022

One of the common questions we hear our customers ask is, “what makes a commercial HVAC contractor different from a residential HVAC contractor?” After all, their job functions are essentially the same… right?

Well–not quite. There are HVAC contractors who specialize only in residential heating, cooling, and ventilation, and they’re amazing at their jobs! But, those who specialize in commercial HVAC services are different. We’re also different from a general commercial handyman too, who can do basic tasks for your building’s plumbing and electrical systems, and some simple HVAC tasks like changing out air filters.

The fact of the matter is, if you have commercial HVAC service needs, then you want a commercial HVAC service provider for the job! Read on as we explain why.