Sound Heating and Air Conditioning Inc. Blog: Posts Tagged ‘HVAC’

Check Out These Benefits of Ductless Air Conditioning

Monday, May 17th, 2021

hand-turning-on-remote-air-handlerIf you’ve lived in the Olympia area for even just a year, then you know that it stays pretty consistently cold in our area. Summers tend to be brief, and air conditioning systems don’t get a lot of airtime (pun intended). But when you need your air conditioner, you need one that functions well and isn’t going to cost you an arm and a leg to run, right?

This is the reason that many homeowners in our area choose to go ductless for their air conditioning needs. If you’re looking to upgrade your air conditioner this summer, and/or you discovered over winter that you need a new heating system, then a ductless mini-split can be a great option for you. This is because they’re not just air conditioners, they make great heating systems too!

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It’s Time: Prep Your Heater for Cooler Weather!

Monday, October 5th, 2020

tech-looking-over-inside-of-furnaceFall is here! With temperatures already cooling down, soon enough you’ll be using your heater on a regular basis. There are a number of things you can to ensure your home is ready for the colder temps. One of the top things you can do is make sure your heater gets its needed tune-up.

Keep reading to learn why heating maintenance is so important for the health of your furnace, heat pump, or boiler, and way it’s a good idea to have this service done now!

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Is AC Maintenance Really Necessary?

Monday, March 23rd, 2020

outdoor-ac-unitWe understand—when it gets as cold as it does here, and never really warms up to the point we need our air conditioners to run for weeks on end, it’s easy to forget about these cooling systems and the service they need. Still though, however briefly you’ll need your air conditioner for, it’s wise to keep up on your annual maintenance appointments, so when you do need it, you can ensure it works as efficiently as possible.

Just like a tune-up for your care, an AC maintenance tune-up is vital to the overall performance of your air conditioner in addition to repair prevention.

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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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Do Boilers Need Maintenance?

Monday, October 21st, 2019

top-of-boiler-with-pressure-gaugeFor most homeowners, the furnace has long time been the heating system of choice for their homes. Boilers are an alternative to this, mostly found in homes that don’t have a network of ventilation ductwork. If you have a boiler, it operates by circulating hot water through pipes to terminal points in your home, like radiators and baseboard heaters, where the heat then radiates into the rooms.

Most homeowners who utilize these heating systems enjoy the comfort and energy savings (not to mention subsequent monetary savings) they bring. They also appreciate how rarely their boiler needs repair. Boilers have fewer moving parts than furnaces after all, so they wear down slower and will require less fixes over their lifespan.

However, this doesn’t mean that they never need maintenance! Your boiler should never miss a routine fall maintenance appointment. For any type of heating system, we recommend annual maintenance.

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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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When Is an AC Problem an Emergency?

Monday, July 1st, 2019

woman-looking-surprisedWe may not have the boiling heat that other parts of the country have, but summers in Washington certainly aren’t anything to scoff at. When the temperature beings to spike, you need to know that your air conditioning system will function as it is designed to. The best way to ensure this is the case is by keeping up on your annual maintenance appointments! This allows our technicians to thoroughly inspect, adjust, and clean your air conditioner as needed so it will perform at its best. But even with these tune-ups, an AC system can experience a problem.

Of course, when problems occur they don’t always to do on a “9-5” schedule, and sometimes your AC system runs into trouble much later than most HVAC companies stay open. Fortunately for you, our team is here if you do have an emergency with your HVAC in Kent, WA. But, when is an AC problem an emergency?

At what point, exactly, do you summon aid in the middle of a Saturday and when do you hold on for normal business hours on Monday? It’s typically a matter of individual judgment, but we do have a few guidelines to help you make an informed decision.

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This Is Why You Should Change Your Air Filter

Monday, April 9th, 2018

man holding an air filterNot many homeowners give much thought to how important an air filter is to the operation of their HVAC systems. A filter does little to protect against many of the allergens and pollutants that can aggravate allergy and asthma symptoms (for that you’ll want a high efficiency air filtration or purification system). Rather, the air filter is there to protect the inside components of your Tacoma, WA HVAC system from contaminants that can restrict airflow and cause a host of other problems.

You can always reach out to anyone on our staff if you have questions about the impact of your air filter or are worried about HVAC performance. In the meantime, we’ve shared below some reasons you should always stay on top of changing out your air filter every 1 to 3 months.

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HVAC Question: What Type of Air Cleaner Is Best for People with Pets?

Monday, August 27th, 2012

Lots of people have pets, and they are a great addition to your family. However, pet ownership has one very obvious drawback: dander. The fur, dry skin cells and other debris that pets carry around flakes off their bodies and onto your furniture and rugs. The also means they inevitably wind up in your air, recirculated through your Kirkland house via your HVAC system.

Or at least, that’s what happens if you don’t have an air cleaner or some sort of air filtration system. This leads many pet owners to ask, “what is the best air cleaner for me?”

With all the choices in air cleaners, the choice can seem daunting. If the goal is specifically to filter out pet dander, it becomes somewhat easier.

Pet dander is quite large in size relation to other indoor air pollutants, so many air cleaners are equipped to do the job. You can use an air cleaner with a standard pleated HEPA filter, or one that uses electrostatic technology. You will want to make sure that the HEPA filter is rated to handle pet dander. A MERV rating of 8 or more is recommended.

Once you have an air cleaner installed, make sure to change or clean the air filter frequently, in accordance with manufacturer instructions. A clogged air filter won’t help eliminate pet dander from your household air and can actually degrade the operation of your HVAC system’s air handler.

In addition to installing a high quality air cleaner with a HEPA filter, you can also help reduce the amount of pet dander floating around your home by keeping the place clean. Vacuuming often and dusting hard surfaces weekly keeps pet hair and dander from being drawn up into the HVAC system, which reduces wear on the air cleaner. For more tips on upgrades you can make to your Kirkland HVAC system, give Sound Heating & Air Conditioning a call!

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Your Tacoma HVAC System and Ventilation

Monday, June 18th, 2012

The vent system in your home is vital to the operation of your Tacoma HVAC system. Without successful ventilation, your home won’t have the necessary clean air to keep you and your family healthy. So, what does proper ventilation require and how can you ensure your home has it? Here are some quick tips.

Install the Right Parts from the Start

Proper ventilation should result in even air pressure in your home to avoid problems with gas pilot lights. It should also be as energy efficient as possible and provide clean air through proper filtration and cleaning of the air that comes in. The best way to ensure your home has the ventilation needed to stay comfortable and safe for your entire family is to check the total size of the home and then measure the concentrations of certain pollutants like dander, pollen and smoke. A Tacoma HVAC contractor can provide these services for you.

Energy Loss

Another major ventilation issue to keep in mind is energy loss. Ventilation tends to remove heated or cooled air from your home, forcing your furnace or air conditioner to work harder to replace it. As a result, you pay more for energy and it’s never quite comfortable inside.

To avoid this problem, ask about an energy recovery ventilator. These devices are designed to transfer heat from one environment into another. So, in the winter, heated air inside is kept inside and in the summer, cooled air is kept inside. The result is a much lower energy bill without a disruption to your ventilation sources.

Supplements to Ventilation

Proper ventilation should not only provide fresh air, but it should also ensure your home has clean air. The air outside may be fresher, but it can be filled with pollutants like pollen, dander and smoke. These should be removed before they get inside and into the lungs of your loved ones. To do this, you need a full sized air cleaning system that removes particles from the air down to 0.3 microns.

HEPA filters can do this, as will electronic air cleaners which can ionize and remove smoke and gas particles. Make sure you discuss filtration and cleaning with your Tacoma HVAC contractor when they visit your home. Call Sound Heating & Air Conditioning today if you have any questions about how to improve your indoor air quality!

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