Replacing HVAC Air Filters: A Critical, Ongoing Maintenance Task

Performing regular HVAC air filter changes is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to keep the heater and air conditioner in your Puyallup, WA, home running smoothly. This essential, ongoing maintenance task will also protect and improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) and keep your energy bills in check. Thus, it is essential to establish the right filter change schedule and to change filters correctly. What HVAC Air Filters Do All new heaters and air conditioners come with standard air filters installed. These components capture and retain dust, hair, dander, and other particulates in incoming air. When your HVAC system draws air from the building interior, it not only heats or cools it but also leaves this air a bit cleaner. However, despite the obvious IAQ benefits that this basic level of filtration provides, HVAC air filters largely exist to protect heaters and air conditioners. Without a functional filter, many of the allergens and contaminants that are floating in your indoor air would settle on and coat your HVAC system’s most sensitive components. For instance, poor filtration could leave your air conditioner’s evaporator coil covered in dust and unable to efficiently transfer heat. Dirty air filters and dirty evaporator coils...

View Article

Read More

Simple Tips on How to Clean an Outdoor AC Unit

Your air conditioning unit works hard to maintain a comfortable environment in your home, particularly during those long, hot summer days. Similar to any other appliance, regular maintenance is key for optimal performance. Some of these tasks, like cleaning your outdoor AC unit, can be done by some handy homeowners themselves. However, it’s generally best practice to leave your important yearly maintenance to the pros. If you’re a handy homeowner that wants to do a little extra in between your professional maintenance from a licensed technician, here’s a general outline of what cleaning and outdoor unit looks like! Step 1. Cut off the Power Disclaimer: It’s critical to switch off the power to your AC unit before starting any maintenance or cleaning for your safety. Your safety is paramount, so the first step is to disconnect the power to the AC unit. Locate the exterior shut-off box near the unit and turn it off. It’s a crucial step to avoid any accidental electrical shocks. Step 2. Clear Debris Around the Unit Next, make sure there’s no debris around your outdoor unit. Remove any loose leaves, twigs, or grass. Trim back overgrown shrubs or branches that may interfere with the unit’s...

View Article

Read More

Do I Need My AC Fan Speed Adjusted?

Unless your HVAC has a variable-speed blower fan, it will always circulate air throughout your home at the same rate of speed. This rate is determined by how fast the blower fan in your air handler spins. Although the fan only spins at one speed, most units still allow you to adjust the speed to be faster or slower. When you adjust the fan speed, it changes the airflow rate and will allow you to cool the home slower or more quickly. Changing the fan speed is usually not necessary and can potentially create issues with your AC system’s performance. Nonetheless, there are situations where adjusting the fan speed can help improve home comfort. Let’s now take a look at the effect that fan speed has on your AC system and the reasons why you might need to have it adjusted. Fan Speed and Airflow Rates To work efficiently, air conditioning systems need to circulate so many cubic feet of air per minute. The exact volume required is determined by the size of the AC unit. The general rule is that the blower fan needs to circulate between 350 and 400 cubic feet of air per minute for each AC...

View Article

Read More

Will Closing My Upstairs Vents Really Reduce My Energy Bills?

If you’re like most homeowners, you’re always looking for ways to save money on your energy bills. One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that shutting vents in your unused rooms will save you money. If you’re thinking of trying this method to save money, we encourage you to think again. The Concept Behind Shutting Vents Let’s say that you likely have a room or two in your upstairs that doesn’t get utilized that often. You may think that shutting vents in those rooms will allow your HVAC system to work less since it doesn’t have to deliver any air to those rooms. But, in reality, shutting vents has the opposite effect on your energy bill. Understanding Your Ductwork When the ducts were originally installed in your home, it was designed with the objective of delivering treated air to all the rooms throughout your home. When you shut even just one vent, it will cause a pressure increase inside of your ductwork. This pressure increase happens because your HVAC system is designed to work at full capacity with all of your vents open. The more vents that you close, the higher the pressure is going to build. How Does...

View Article

Read More

Why Working With a Licensed HVAC Contractor Matters

Your heating and cooling systems can be expensive to maintain. When you need help with your HVAC system, it can be tempting to look for an option that is less expensive than a professional company. However, online videos or a friend who knows something about furnaces are no match for a trained expert. Working with a licensed HVAC contractor is essential for the best care of your equipment. Specialized Knowledge and Training It takes years of training to become an HVAC expert, but the education doesn’t stop there. HVAC technicians must stay current with the latest innovations in technology. This additional training means that these professionals are best suited to diagnose and repair problems at your home. At , we take pride in the fact that our NATE-certified technicians have the knowledge and skill to provide care for any make or model of HVAC equipment. Experience Professional HVAC technicians do not just study for years. By the time they are working on your furnace or air conditioner, they have had many hours of practical experience. Heating and cooling systems are their primary focus. This background lets them diagnose problems and perform repairs faster than an amateur. For installations, they will...

View Article

Read More

Tips for Getting Your AC to Run Proficiently

Funding your summertime air conditioning shouldn’t have to cost you your entire paycheck. When your air conditioning system is running proficiently, you’re getting the best bang for your buck. We’re going to share with you some of our best tips for ensuring that your air conditioning system is running as proficiently as possible throughout the entire summer season. It Starts With Efficient Settings You can have your air conditioning system set up perfectly so that you’re getting the most bang for your buck for every dollar spent. However, if you don’t have efficient settings on your thermostat, you’re still going to be dealing with high power bills. You should have a programmable thermostat that is set based on your normal weekly schedule. At times when you’re at home, your thermostat should be set around 78 degrees. When you’re away from home, your thermostat should be set 10 degrees higher. This will help to ensure that your air conditioning system isn’t constantly running when you’re not at home. That’s just a waste of energy and your hard-earned money. Frequently Check Your Air Filter Your air conditioning system has an air filter that is responsible for enhancing the quality of your indoor...

View Article

Read More

Vacation Soon? Leave Your AC On

The key to a fun and relaxing vacation is taking care of all the right details before you leave. You can also give your home HVAC system a “working vacation” of its own and save a little money in the process. Here are a few easy tips to help you prepare your home HVAC system for safe and energy-efficient operation until you return from your trip. Choose your Optimum Vacation Temperature The United States Department of Energy recommends setting your thermostat to 78 degrees when you’re at home, 85 degrees while you’re at work, and 82 degrees when you’re asleep. Some families prefer a higher or lower everyday temperature, but the Department of Energy bases their recommendations on what represents the best balance of comfort and energy usage. When you’re going on a summer vacation, you can save some money by raising your thermostat to 82 degrees or higher. If you’re taking a winter vacation, you can set your thermostat to the mid to high 60s. If you’re leaving pets at home while you’re away, you should check with your veterinarian for a recommended pet-safe temperature. If you and your family prefer your home to be a different everyday temperature...

View Article

Read More

What Is the Ideal Temperature for Home Air Conditioning in the Summer?

There’s no denying that summertime can bring some very hot weather. As it starts to make us uncomfortably sweaty, we rely on our home air conditioning systems to keep us nice and comfortable. Unfortunately, these systems can be quite costly to run if not run in an optimal manner. Using a Programmable Thermostat In order to set your thermostat to its most optimal efficiency, you’re going to need a programmable thermostat. Most newer air conditioning systems come with a programmable or smart thermostat. If your system still has an old dial regulator, you really should consider upgrading to a programmable one. The trick to optimal efficiency with a programmable thermostat is being able to set different temperatures depending on whether you’re at home or not. When you’re at home, you want to keep your house at a comfortable temperature so that your family can relax while they’re indoors. However, when none of your family members are home, it makes sense not to have your air conditioner running. That’s simply a waste of energy and your hard-earned money. A smart thermostat takes efficiency to a new level. In addition to programming your schedule into your thermostat, you can control it remotely....

View Article

Read More

New Home AC System: Your Checklist

What You Need to Know Before Buying a New AC System Buying a new AC system can be a stressful experience. After all, it’s an expensive piece of equipment that controls the comfort of your home. This checklist will give you the knowledge you need to choose the AC system that’s right for your home. Size It may seem logical to purchase a new unit that is the same size as your old system. However, there are many reasons why that size may no longer work for your home. Have you added any rooms or replaced any windows? Has your insulation deteriorated from age? It is crucial to have a licensed HVAC technician to do a load calculation to get the right-size unit. This will tell you what size unit you need to cool your home correctly. SEER Values SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it is how an air conditioner’s efficiency is evaluated. The higher the SEER value, the higher the efficiency of the system when it is tested in a lab. Values start at the federally mandated 13 SEER and go up to 21. Which one you need in your home will depend on several factors...

View Article

Read More

Fixing Uneven Cooling in Your Home

If you have a home with multiple stories, you may notice uneven cooling issues in the summer. Consider the steps below that you can take to address uneven cooling in your home. Unblock Your Vents One of the easiest solutions to get more cool air into rooms is to make sure all the vents are clear. Clutter and objects can block the vents and restrict airflow. If the top floor is considerably warmer, you may want to shut off some vents on the lower levels. This will help redirect the cool airflow upward. Also, check to make sure that the upper vents are switched open. Turn the Fan On Try changing the fan settings on your system from “Automatic” to “On”. This ensures that the air in your home continues to circulate even when not being actively cooled. This may result in a slight increase in your electric bill because the automatic setting only turns the fan on when the air conditioning is active. Check Your Ducts for Leaks A professional can take a look at your ductwork to check for any cracks. Cracks in the ducts that allow air to leak out. This leaking cool air will not reach...

View Article

Read More