Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Archive for April, 2014

The Importance of Air Conditioning Maintenance?

Monday, April 28th, 2014

Spring has arrived, and here in Olympia, air conditioning systems are being dusted off in preparation for another warm summer. Before temperatures get too warm, you might consider scheduling maintenance for your cooling system, designed to clean off the dust, recharge refrigerant levels and spot potential trouble issues for later repair. Some people consider such a service a waste of money, but nothing could be further from the truth. What’s the importance of air conditioning maintenance? We have drawn up a list of some of the bigger benefits.

Improved efficiency. Dust and dirt can increase friction on moving parts. Loose components rattle in their housings and waste energy in the process. Low refrigerant levels rob the system of its ability to do its job. A maintenance session addresses all of these things, helping your air conditioner perform more efficiently and lowering your monthly cooling bills in the process.

Longevity and reduced risk of repairs. In addition to helping your system perform more efficiently, a maintenance session lowers the overall strain on your system. That means that internal components will last longer and the chances of a breakdown will be reduced as well.

Flexibility. Maintenance sessions anticipate potential repairs before they become a big issue. Not only does that let you stop a big problem while it’s still a small one, but it gives you the luxury to set repair sessions when you want rather than when circumstances dictate. If you wait for a bigger breakdown, it might take place during a heat wave or similarly inconvenient time: forcing you to scramble rather than setting the schedule at a point that’s convenient to your life.

The importance of air conditioning maintenance cannot be underestimated, and in Olympia, air conditioning systems invariably benefit from timely service. The Olympia air conditioning specialists at Sound Hetaing provide quality air conditioning maintenance, as well as repair and installation sessions for more serious undertakings. If you want your system to perform at its peak this summer, then pick up the phone and give us a call today. You’ll be glad you did!

Continue Reading

Benefits of Installing a High Efficiency Heater

Wednesday, April 16th, 2014

Heaters wear out, just like any other appliance, and lack of efficiency is often a determining factor in deciding to replace an older heater. High efficiency heaters are a sound investment, but they often cost more than lower efficiency heater, which means you need to think about the advantages carefully before you pull the trigger. When you do, our heating service technicians in Olympia ready to do the job, but you need to understand the benefits of installing a high efficiency heater first.

The biggest advantages lies in cost: high efficiency heaters will to the job quicker and more readily than other types, which means they won’t run as long and will save you considerable amounts of money in monthly heating costs as a result. Over time, it may even cover the cost of installation, and because the heater can do the job more efficiently, you can probably use a less powerful (and less expensive) unit to do a perfect job. On top of all of that, high efficiency units put less strain on their components, helping the heater as a whole to last longer and reducing the risk of serious repairs during its lifetime.

Efficiency can be measured with the heater’s AFUE (Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency) rating. It’s a simple measurement, listing the percentage of the total consumed energy that actually goes into heating your home. The higher the rating, the more efficient the unit, and a trained heating technician can help size the new heater to properly fit your home.

For more on the benefits of installing a high efficiency heater, or for general heating services in Olympia, then call upon the heating system experts at Sound Heating to help. We’ll discuss all your options with you and size your home properly, then find the right heater for your needs and budget. High efficiency heating systems will save you money and make an environmentally friendly choice as well. Our trained professionals know all the ins and outs, and we won’t rest until you are completely satisfied with our work. Contact us today to make an appointment!

Continue Reading

How to Prevent Solar Repair Sessions

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

Continual advances in solar technology have made the free power of the sun available to more and more homeowners. Solar power isn’t perfect, however. For all their major benefits, the photovalic cells of solar energy systems can sustain damage and require repairs or replacements. They need less repair work than systems with extensive mechanical parts, such as furnaces, but any problems they encounter need to be taken seriously with professional repair work.

We’ll show you some ways you can prevent needing to call for repairs for your solar energy system. But in the event that you do need solar repair service in Puyallup, WA, you can count on Sound Heating to come to your rescue. We have 24-hour emergency service available for your peace of mind.

How to keep your solar panels from needing repairs

The major concern with solar energy systems are the solar panels on the roof. Although built for durability (the cells contain no moving parts and most have an expected lifespan of more than 20 years according the U.S. Department of Energy), these panels can still suffer damage from weather conditions an aging. Heavy rain is a particular concern in the Puget Sound Area. The best way to make sure that the cells will not sustain water damage is with regular maintenance from solar energy professionals. It’s important to have a yearly inspection to discover places where cracking is occurring in the glass covering the cells (which can sometimes suffer damage due to hail or debris blown from high winds) that will allow rain water inside.

Maintenance will also look for dust and dirt that might interfere with the electrical relays from the panels. The Department of Energy estimates that solar energy systems for homes require about 16 hours per year of maintenance to keep them from breaking down. Although you could try some of the maintenance on your own, most of this will consist of basic cleaning of the glass surfaces. Have professionals take care of a good chunk of the time needed each year to keep the cells in their best shape and out of danger of needing serious repairs.

Maintenance is the key

You can’t do more to protect your solar cells that wouldn’t involve covering them up, which would destroy their effectiveness. To keep away repair needs, you should instead rely on regular professional maintenance. An annual maintenance job is not expensive, and it costs much less than the price of replacing damaged solar cells. You should still do some basic cleaning as well, but leave the rest to the experts.

Contact Sound Heating to schedule your annual visit for maintenance so you won’t need to later make an emergency call for solar repair in Puyallup, WA.

Continue Reading

Reasons to go Solar in Puyallup

Wednesday, April 9th, 2014

We don’t usually think of solar technology as a viable option here in Washington. Cloud cover is a way of life, and in the past, that often meant that solar panels just weren’t viable as an energy source. But that’s not the case today. Technological advancements mean that local homeowners can take full advantage of the benefits offered by solar technology, and here in Puyallup, solar installation companies are standing by to help you. Here are a few great reasons to go solar in Puyallup.

Solar installation is one of the staples of our business, and we have the knowledge and experience to do the job right. Give us a call today to discuss your options and we’ll show you what we can do!

Why Go Solar?

  • Inexpensive electricity. Once installed, solar panels can generate power much more cheaply and efficiently than getting electricity off the grid. In fact, you may even be able to sell electricity back to the grid when you have a surplus, putting money back in your pocket. All of that can seriously help offset the cost of installation.
  • Fewer repairs. Because there are very few moving parts, solar panels rarely need repairs or upgrades. That helps set your mind at ease, as well as ensuring that your inexpensive electrical costs don’t take a sudden and unexpected hit.
  • Home resale value. Solar panels can significantly improve the resale value of your home. Should you ever decide to sell, it will help bump the price up a good deal.
  • Environmental impact. Solar panels require very few fossil fuels or other environmentally unfriendly sources of power: generating clean and reliable energy from a perpetually renewable source. They create no pollution and can reduce your carbon footprint to almost nothing depending on your usage.
  • Remote usage. Rural households may not be able to get connected to the electrical grid, requiring alternate means of power such as generator. Solar power is a safer and easier alternative to such options.

For more reasons to go solar in Puyallup, or to schedule an installation, the professionals at Sound Heating are standing by.

Continue Reading

Maintenance Steps for Your Solar Panels

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2014

Solar panel installation could be one of the smartest things you ever do, decreasing your dependence on costly heating systems and helping create a greener environment in the process. But like anything else, solar panels require maintenance to function as they should. Before contacting a qualified service representative to install your new panel, you should talk about maintenance steps for your solar panels with them. Here in Olympia, solar repair services are available from the same company that installs your panels, but the more maintenance you can do for yourself, the better your system will function over time.

When the time comes to conduct repairs on your solar panels, we’ll be there with an eye on your complete satisfaction every step of the way. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do. You’ll be glad you did!

Here’s a quick rundown of maintenance steps

Most maintenance sessions should involve cleaning the panels off. You can buy a solar panel cleaning kit, though a car cleaning kit will do in a pinch if you need it to. Mix the soap in a bucket of warm water according to instructions and apply it gently to the solar panels using a hand-held brush, then “squeegee” the excess liquid off. You should do this every six months or so, ideally at the beginning and end of the summer. If you just need a touch-up or want to wash off a recent bit of dirt, you can use a simple garden hose, though be careful not to apply cold water to the panels on a hot day.

That, in essence, is the only maintenance step for your solar panels, since they have no moving parts and don’t require much attention. If you detect something wrong with your system, then you should call a repair service, of course, and you may wish to schedule professional maintenance if you don’t wish to scramble around on the roof yourself. In Olympia, solar repair services are provided by Sound Heating & Air Conditioning Inc., and we pride ourselves on doing the job right the first time, every time. We can explain any further maintenance steps for your solar panels, or perform them ourselves if you’d rather leave it to the experts.

Continue Reading

3 Things to Think About with Solar Installation

Tuesday, April 1st, 2014

Solar panels make a lot of sense from a number of different perspectives. Even in cloudy towns like Olympia, solar installation has proven an effective and environmentally friendly way to provide electricity to your home. It can help you stay self-sufficient during a disaster and help helps pay for itself by letting you sell energy back to the grid. But like anything else, solar installation requires proper preparation and planning. Here are 3 things to think about with solar installation.

  • Think about sunlight exposure. Solar panels are strong enough to pick up plenty of sunlight even on cloudy days. (And we certainly have our share of hose.) But they don’t work as well when there’s a lot of tree cover, building cover and similar shadows falling over your home. In order for the panels to work as well as they should, you need them to be exposed to the open sky as much as possible during the day. This may require adjusting your home’s layout, trimming trees and taking a careful approach to where you place the panels.
  • Consider your rooftop. Solar panels are usually installed on the roof, though you can use yard space if your property is large enough. Rooftops come in all shapes and sizes, and some of them prove more difficult for solar panels than others. A good installation company should be able to install panels on most every roof, but you should expect some planning to go into it, especially if you have a sloping roof, Spanish tile or something similar.
  • Expect an up-front cost. Solar installation is not inexpensive and making the leap to solar energy will require an initial investment. You will start seeing returns on that investment over time as you reap considerable energy savings (and increase the resale value of your house to boot), but you need to expect a little patience and look for savings to accrue over time instead of arriving right away.

If you’re thinking about solar installation, call upon the experts at Sound Heating to help. We work in Olympia, solar installation is a specialty of ours, and we can prepare for the things to think about with solar installation before setting up your new system with courtesy and care. Call us today and let us show you what we can do!

Continue Reading