Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Archive for the ‘HVAC Unit’ Category

Rainy Day Activities to Keep Your Home in Top Shape

Monday, May 4th, 2020

home-on-street-after-rainfallResidents in our area are no strangers to the rain! No matter the season, we definitely get more than our fair share. As we spend more time inside our homes these days due to the current health crisis, it’s easy to feel down about not even being able to enjoy your own backyard!

There’s good news though. We have ideas for a number of activities you may not even think of as being that important, but can benefit your home in a variety of ways—making it more comfortable and more efficient, plus increasing its value and lowering your energy costs to boot!

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Heed These Signs of Impending HVAC Failure

Monday, February 24th, 2020

vent-in-wallSaying goodbye to something you love isn’t always easy, particularly if you rely on that thing to stay comfortable all winter long. Yes, we’re talking about your furnace.

Purchasing a new furnace for your home can be overwhelming, as they’re not exactly cheap and having technicians working inside your home—no matter how experienced and professional they are—is rarely convenient. But if your furnace is falling apart, a replacement will be more than worth it.

But how do you know when your furnace is struggling to the point that it’s about to fail? We’ve provided a list below for you to look through. Keep reading to learn when it’s time to replace your furnace…

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Could a Bad Thermostat be Hurting Your HVAC Efficiency?

Monday, October 7th, 2019

hand-setting-manual-thermostatWe’re fortunate to live in an area where our air conditioner use is brief. But that also means we’re using our heaters a lot. True, we don’t get the bitterly cold temperatures that folks in other parts of the country have to deal with, however considering how consistently we use our heaters, don’t you want to do everything you can to save energy and money?

Well, your thermostat use plays a big role in this. If the compressor is the heart of your HVAC system, the thermostat is the brain—if something is wrong with the thermostat then something is wrong with the whole heater or air conditioner. Read on to learn more!

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It’s That Time Again: Schedule Your AC Tune-Up Today

Monday, May 6th, 2019

outdoor-ac-unit-with-tools-on-topIn the absence of a complete, irreparable breakdown, there’s never a bad time to schedule maintenance for your air conditioner. There is certainly an ideal time, however.

Still though, many homeowners are resistant to scheduling air conditioning tune-ups at all, seeing them as an unnecessary waste of their money. But what’s actually an unnecessary waste of money is paying more than you should each month for an air conditioner that isn’t working as efficiently as it is designed to. And what can you do about this? You can start by trusting our pros to handle this very important service for your HVAC in Tacoma, WA.

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How to Boost HVAC Efficiency and Save Money

Monday, September 10th, 2018

air conditioning unit sitting on top of moneyIt may still officially be summer—and that being said if you have any lingering Olympia, WA air conditioning services, now is the time to take care of them—but temperatures are already cooling, letting us know that fall and winter are on their way. When the heating system hits in earnest, you’ll want to use your furnace or other heating system as efficiently as possible. After all, given how much you spend to keep your home comfortable all year long, any little savings counts.

Keep reading for some simple ways to boost your HVAC efficiency this coming winter, and subsequently save money!

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Air Conditioning Tips: How to Clean Your Outdoor HVAC Unit

Friday, February 3rd, 2012

That big metal box in your backyard or on the side next to your Kirkland home plays a vital role in air conditioning your home and keeping you comfortable. That box is called the outdoor condensing unit, the key component in your home’s central air conditioning system. The condensing unit houses the compressor, which converts gas into fluid before sending it to the condenser coil, where it is cooled and sent to an indoor evaporator coil.

What you need to know is that the entire outdoor operation runs smoothly when the area inside and around the condensing unit is clean and free of debris. In some cases, the outdoor unit will fail to work if there is too much debris or dirt build-up. That can cost you a lot of money in repairs or a total replacement. Keeping the condensing unit clean is not a difficult chore – and here are some steps you can take.

First of all, try and avoid blowing leaves or grass clippings near the unit. And regularly cut down or remove any weeds or grass that may grow up around the base of the unit.

To clean the inside of the unit, first turn off the electrical power to it. Check for an on-off switch on the unit or on a separate box nearby. Remove the grille from the unit and carefully remove the fan in order to gain access to the coil and other moving parts. At this point, you should be able to clean out any debris from inside the unit using your hands. You can also use a vacuum hose to remove debris. A soft brush or cloth rag can be used to other areas of the HVAC unit.

The fins on the coil require a gentler approach as they can be easily bent or damaged. If you notice a bent fin you can straighten it out by using a simple dull knife or a special fin “comb” which you can buy at your local hardware store. While you are in the unit, check the fan belt on the motor to ensure it is not damaged or cracked. You can also add extra oil to lubrication ports on the condensing unit, if any are available.

Use a garden hose to clean the coil and the grilles on the condensing unit. Do not use highly-pressurized water as it may cause some damage to the fins. Once this last task has been completed, reinstall the grille, switch on the condensing unit, and start up your air conditioning. You should notice if your house is cooling down quicker. If not, you may want to do some more cleaning.

If you have any doubts about cleaning your outdoor condensing unit or if you find any damaged parts that may need repair or replacement, call your local qualified heating and cooling (HVAC) contractor and schedule a service call.

Good luck – and stay cool.

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