Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Archive for September, 2013

3 Reasons to Consider Pre-Season Heating Maintenance

Wednesday, September 25th, 2013

It’s not difficult to procrastinate about getting work done on your heating system. You’re probably still thinking about the summer fading behind you and don’t want to face up to the coming colder months. But while you’re procrastinating, your heater could develop problems that will lead to unexpected trouble when you finally need it to turn on. Getting an annual inspection will keep your heating system in good operating condition, and the time to schedule maintenance is now—before the chilly season begins.

Here are 3 reasons to call a professional HVAC company like Sound Heating to perform heating maintenance service as soon as possible. Sound Heating has highly-trained Tacoma, WA heating specialists who can prepare your heater for its upcoming job.

Prevent repairs: The most important service pre-season maintenance provides for you is keeping away expensive repairs. If you wait for winter, you could end up with a plunge in the heat in your house while you wait for repair help to arrive. The worst-case scenario is a total breakdown that could even require a full system replacement. Procrastinating until winter to have your heater looked at increases your chances of some extremely uncomfortable days.

Improved energy efficiency: A heater that hasn’t gotten a tune-up will not run at peak efficiency. If dust clogs, corroded pipes, malfunctioning thermostats, or worn motors interfere with a heater’s performance, it will need to work harder to reach the temperature you set for it. The drain on fuel or electricity will show up as higher energy bills. Regular maintenance will get your heater cleaned and fine-tuned so it gives its best performance and saves you money.

Get quicker, more convenient service: Winter puts a crunch on HVAC technicians with numerous emergency calls. (Calls customers could have avoided with pre-season maintenance!) It’s much harder to get a technician out to your home quickly and at a time that suits you during the middle of the heating season. Right now, however, getting an appointment that works for you is far easier, so take advantage of the slower months.

Now is the time to act to get your heater in good health. Sound Heating offers multiple maintenance plans designed for the type of heater you have in your home in Tacoma, WA. Heating systems like gas furnaces, electric furnaces, and heat pumps will get top-quality check-ups from our technicians. Contact us today before the weather gets any colder!

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This Year’s Heating Options

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

Frequent rain and chilly temperatures are a hallmark for winters in the Seattle area, including outlying suburbs like Puyallup, WA. Heating systems can help combat that, providing warm and cozy homes to act as a refuge against the miserable weather outside. As heating season approaches, it pays to take stock of your particular circumstances and determine your heating options this year. Obviously, every case is unique, but a few general outlines can cover the basics.

The first option is to sit tight with your existing heating system, which is probably what most people prefer to do. Unless your furnace is more than 15 years old and/or is experiencing serious repair issues, there’s no need to install a new one. Instead, you should schedule a routine maintenance inspection from a qualified professional. He can come to your home, inspect the furnace for any signs of damage, clean the components and/or otherwise “spruce up” the unit for the upcoming cold weather.

You may also be in a situation where you don’t need a new furnace, but might want a few upgrades to improve the old one. Upgrades can range from insulated covers on exposed ductwork to better retain the heat to newer thermostats designed with pre-timed start and stop options. Such upgrades won’t break your bank, but can give you more options for controlling your heating, and more importantly, might save you money in your monthly electric bills.

Finally, you may need to consider replacing your existing unit entirely. If it’s more than 15 years old, is struggling to heat your home adequately and/or is undergoing repairs too frequently, a new unit may be what you need. The up-front cost may be high, but you’ll likely save money in repairs (to say nothing of monthly energy bills).

Regardless of what option works best for your home, it pays to consult a professional to understand your heating options this year. Sound Heating provides heating services throughout Puyallup, WA. Heating and furnaces are a specialty of ours, and we can discuss all of your choices with you before beginning maintenance or installation procedures. Give us a call today!

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Why it’s Important to Leave Air Conditioning Repairs to a Professional Technician

Wednesday, September 11th, 2013

Every homeowner loves the occasional do-it-yourself project, but when it comes to the heating system in your home, it is usually best to leave it to the pros. At Sound Heating, we know that you rely heavily on your heating system during the winter which is why we offer a large range of Tacoma heating services. We’ve responded to countless calls for heating repair, and we wanted to share some of the reasons why calling for a professional heating contractor for all your repairs is usually a good idea.

Tacoma Heating Tip: Why Call for Professional Repairs

Check out a few of the reasons why you should call for professional Tacoma heating repair services.

  • Better quality – Your heater is critical to your home’s comfort in the winter. If anything goes wrong with it you want to make sure that the repair work is done with good quality. Most non-professionals don’t have the training or experience that a licensed professional has to do the work properly.
  • Faster service – While it might seem like it would be faster to just look up the solution on the internet and do it yourself, it will actually probably take less time and effort to call for professional Tacoma heating repair services. Here at Sound Heating, we always do our best to respond quickly. Plus, our technicians have likely fixed the exact problem that you’re having many times which will allow them to get in and out of your home very quickly.
  • Safety – Also, depending on the type of heating system that you have, there could be danger to your home and to your person if anything goes wrong with the repair work. In particular, if you have a gas-fired heater like a furnace or a boiler and you damage the gas line or flue you could put yourself and your home in danger.

No matter what type of heater you have, whether it’s a hydronic system or a forced-air system, call the Tacoma heating repair pros at Sound Heating.

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We Wish You a Happy Labor Day

Monday, September 2nd, 2013

On every project that we complete, we ensure that our customers are satisfied. We take pride in the work that we do every day, and this level of diligence and attention to detail has allowed us to grow over the years. On the first Monday of every September, our country celebrates Labor Day as a way of recognizing the hard work that has made this country great. Because making your home more comfortable and convenient is our business, we want you to have an enjoyable and pleasant Labor Day.

Labor Day is a time of good BBQ, the start of the professional and college football seasons, entertainment with family and friends, and, most importantly, taking a day off from work. Labor Day emerges as a federal holiday in the wake of the Pullman Strike of 1894. It was designated as such by President Grover Cleveland and Congress as a way to reconcile the damage done by the faceoff between the Federal government and the Pullman Palace Car Company workers and other railroad workers. But over a decade before it became official, Labor Day began as a workers’ picnic and demonstration suggested by either Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor, or Matthew Maguire of the Central Labor Union of New York.

From our family to yours, we wish you all the best on this Labor Day.

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