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

Why You Should Only Trust a Pro for Your Furnace Installation

Monday, December 28th, 2020

furnace-jetsHas the time finally come for you to accept that your old furnace just isn’t what it used to be? Perhaps it’s time for you to upgrade to a newer and higher-efficiency system. Furnace installation is a big job, and one that requires experienced and knowledgeable technicians to handle.

Homeowners often don’t realize this, but a proper furnace installation starts before we actually put the furnace in. We can assist with the important tasks of selecting the right heater for your specific needs, and ensuring it is sized correctly as well.

The fact of the matter is, a lot of work goes into a furnace installation, and messing up this job could leave you with an inefficient, ineffective system. Read on as we explore just why it’s so important to only trust a trained and experienced professional for your furnace installation.

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Here’s How to Boost Your Heating Efficiency

Monday, December 14th, 2020

house-and-money-symbols-on-opposite-ends-of-seesawIf you’re reading this blog post at the time of its publishing, it means you’ve had quite the year—we’ve all had quite the year! With enough to worry about on your plate, it’s easy to forget about a very important home comfort system you’ll be needing 24/7 very soon—your heater.

Hopefully, you’ve already had yours professionally maintained! Professional maintenance allows our technicians to comprehensively inspect, clean, and adjust the components within your heater. Without this diligent care, you can expect your heater to have more repairs and a shortened lifespan. You can also expect it to perform inefficiently, costing you more to use it from month-to-month.

Even with maintenance though, many homeowners wonder if there is any way to lower their heating bills. We get it! The good news, there is. Read on as we uncover some of the best ways to boost your heating efficiency and subsequently lower your heating bills this year.

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What to Know about Potential Heat Exchanger Problems

Monday, October 19th, 2020

furnace-burnersIn just about every city in our country, you’re going to find that if the homeowner has a heating system, the majority of them are gas-powered systems. Tacoma residents are certainly no exception. While we may not experience the frigid temperatures that other folks throughout the country do, we do deal with some pretty consistent chilliness, and it’s nice to have a gas-powered system that delivers powerful heat, quickly, without draining your wallet.

There are, of course, risks to using a gas-powered system in your home. Now, we aren’t saying this to panic you. Gas-powered furnaces are not inherently unsafe.  In fact, there are a number of safety features built in to ensure its safety in your home. However, there are certainly potential hazards to consider, and one of these is the potential of a cracked heat exchanger. Read on to discover why this is a problem, and what you should know.

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Is Your AC Struggling to Start Up?

Monday, September 21st, 2020

two-techs-working-on-outside-ac-unitIn order to work as they should, residential air conditioners require a number of complex components, including wires, switches, capacitors, and more. When something goes wrong, it means that one of these components is experiencing a problem, and it requires a professional to inspect and figure it out in order to safely make repairs.

One of the problems we get called about is an air conditioner that sounds like it is struggling to start up or is “hard-starting,” meaning you might hear a hum or a buzz and then a loud bang as the compressor does finally cycle on. So what’s going on here? Read on to find out!

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Is a Refrigerant Leak That Big of a Deal?

Monday, September 7th, 2020

refrigerant-line-leading-into-ac-unitThe short answer to this is, “yes!”

Look, there are a lot of problems you can run into with your air conditioner over the years. Some are more minor than others. A worn motor bearing, for example, is something to be expected to wear and tear impacts your cooling system. While you don’t want to wait too long before having it replaced, as it can create a domino effect and damage your system, it falls on the list of “minor” issues when it comes to your AC.

But then there are other problems that you don’t want to just label as “minor.” A refrigerant leak is one of them!

If you believe that you do have a refrigerant leak in your cooling system, then you need to give the professionals a call as soon as you can. The longer you wait, the bigger risk there is of serious AC damage. The component that will get the brunt of this damage is the compressor—you know, the heart of your entire air conditioner. But how do you know if you actually have a refrigerant leak? Read on to find out!

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3 Reasons to Hire a Pro for Your AC Installation

Monday, August 24th, 2020

top-view-of-outdoor-ac-unitWhat you’re about to read below are the 3 steps it takes to complete a successful air conditioner installation. Now, we aren’t sharing these steps to encourage you to install your own air conditioner. In fact, we’d specifically advise against that. After all, residential cooling systems are complex pieces of machinery that require a trained and experienced technician to manage.

The reason we share these steps, is because we know how urgent an air conditioner purchase can be this time of year, and we want you to see why it’s so important to hire a professional for the job rather than trying to manage it on your own. Rushing into a purchase like this leaves homeowners with an uncomfortable home and high energy bills. Read on as we uncover the top 3 reasons (a.k.a the steps we go through) to hire a professional for your AC installation.

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Why You Should Invest in UV Germicidal Lights

Monday, August 10th, 2020

uv-lightbulb“Will it help my Tacoma, WA air conditioning work better?”

Well, not necessarily… but investing in UV germicidal lights will certainly help your air conditioner work more healthfully. This is because UV lights—also called a UV air purifier—attack a particular type of contaminant right at the source (your ductwork) before it even enters your indoor air.

We’ll dive into the details more below, but what you should know off the bat is that it is absolutely worth investing in UV germicidal lights, in addition to other indoor air quality products and services. Read on to learn more!

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Is Your Home Ready for an AC Upgrade?

Monday, July 27th, 2020

old-air-conditioner-falling-apartIf your air conditioner looks anything like the image we’ve shared in this blog post, then yes, we can say with certainty that your home is ready for an air conditioner upgrade! Of course, you’re probably not in this bad of shape. To be honest, sometimes the signs that your home is ready for an AC replacement aren’t visual at all–so you may think you have years left of efficient use, or at least this summer.

But the thing is, too many homeowners overlook the signs of disrepair in their air conditioner. They live in denial that it may be time to upgrade because let’s face it–air conditioners aren’t exactly cheap! But the truth is, you’re wasting more money month-to-month if you’re using an inefficient and failing air conditioner.

So, if the signs that your AC is ready to retire isn’t visually obvious, how can you tell? Read on to find out. 

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How Healthy Is Your Indoor Air?

Monday, July 13th, 2020

woman-holding-sign-about-healthy-airThere’s no denying that summer is here, and with all of us spending more time in our homes these days, it’s likely you want to be as comfortable as possible, right? This begins with ensuring that your air conditioner is properly maintained, of course. If you haven’t scheduled an AC tune-up yet, now is the time.

Indoor comfort, though, also is achieved through high quality and breathable air. No matter what time of the year it is and no matter the circumstances, inadequate indoor air quality is a concern for homeowners. Virus transmission is a risk, while contaminants like pollen, dust, and smoke can also get trapped in your living space, causing asthma and allergy symptoms. Long-term exposure to pollutants can cause chronic symptoms as well, like fatigue and respiratory distress.

The good news is, we have solutions! Read on as we uncover a few easy ways to ensure the air you breathe is healthy.

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“Bang! Clang! Hissss” Sounds You Should Never Hear from Your AC

Monday, June 29th, 2020

woman-covering-her-earsIt’s never a good sign to hear alarming sounds coming from your air conditioner. Sure, there’s no such thing as a silent air conditioner, but you know the sounds yours makes from day to day. You hear the fans whirring, the compressor starting up and shutting down, your outside unit running, and maybe even your ductwork fluctuating with the temperature and airflow.

What you shouldn’t hear is banging or clanging, hissing, grinding, or short-cycling. Wondering what all these sounds mean? That’s what we’re here for! Read on as we uncover why these sounds are so detrimental to your air conditioner’s functionality.

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