Can Your Home Get AC Without Existing Ductwork?

September 14, 2022

Your home doesn’t have ductwork, and maybe you’ve heard about how much of a hassle it is to install. Some homeowners can’t even get it installed even if they want to because their home’s structure is too old to support it. Fortunately for you and many others, there’s such a thing as a ductless air conditioner. It’s called a ductless heat pump or a mini-split system. The Way Mini-Splits Work A heat pump cools a space by transferring heat from there to the outside. There are three main components: the air handler indoors, the compressor outside, and the refrigerant line connecting the two. A mini-split has the same three components, though the air handler and piping are more compact, and the most obvious difference is that it doesn’t channel its cool air to a system of ducts. The air handler on a mini-split can only cool one room, but one positive is that the compressor can support up to eight air handlers. Installation is simple; you won’t have a hard time finding room on your wall for the air handler, and the refrigerant line can usually stretch up to 50 feet. A 3-inch hole in the wall suffices to bring...

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Is There a Problem If You Pressure Wash Your AC Unit?

August 15, 2022

Air conditioners are probably one of the most expensive appliances in any home. Considering the important role they play in cooling homes, most people are always eager to clean and ensure their AC units are in good condition. There’s no doubt that regular maintenance of your air conditioner unit will increase efficiency as well as its lifespan. However, cleaning it with the wrong equipment can cause a lot of damage and render your AC unit useless. Is it safe to power wash your AC unit? And if not, how should you clean it? It is important to consult with professionals at to prevent actions that can damage your AC unit. Why Should You Clean Your AC Unit? A unit that is clogged with debris or dirt won’t perform efficiently. This clogging makes your AC overwork to cool or heat your home. Just like anyone else, you will want to clean the coils to avoid damage and increase efficiency. Power washing may seem like a great option to blow away any dirt and debris, but power washing can do more harm than good to your AC unit. Instead of fixing the issue, power washing will create bigger problems by damaging the...

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What a Multi-Zone HVAC System Does

July 26, 2022

HVAC zoning saves money, prevents energy waste, and makes homes more comfortable overall. If you’re looking for a worthwhile improvement for your Burbank home, having your HVAC system zoned is an excellent choice. With zoned heating and cooling, you can lower your carbon footprint and maintain everyone’s ideal indoor temperature. What Is a Multi-Zone System? A central HVAC system has a single thermostat and a single system of air ducts that uniformly distributes heated and cooled air throughout the entire building. When you set your preferred temperature at the thermostat, your air conditioner or heater will run until every room reaches or nears this setting. Although central HVAC is effective for keeping homes both comfortable and safe, it’s often responsible for higher than necessary energy bills. After all, when homes are uniformly heated and cooled, homeowners are spending money to regulate temperatures in areas that aren’t being used. Multi-zone systems make it possible to alter the temperature in one area of the home independent of all others. When zoning central HVAC systems, HVAC companies install dampers in the existing ductwork. Dampers open to permit airflow when heated or cooled air is needed in a specific zone, and they close to...

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Is a Landlord Required to Fix Your AC?

June 20, 2022

Warm weather can be unbearable if you don’t have a properly functioning air conditioning system. If you’re renting an apartment or home and you suspect that your air conditioning system isn’t working properly, it might be time to contact your landlord to see what your options are. Lease Agreements and State Laws Regarding AC Whether a landlord needs to fix your air conditioning system and how long they have to do it depends on what is in the lease agreement and what the laws in your state or location are. Only in a few select areas are landlords legally required to provide working air conditioning. In most other locations, air conditioning is not considered a safety concern and is therefore not a requirement for habitability. However, most landlords want their tenants to be happy and comfortable, so they’re generally eager to help you get your air conditioning system fixed. An implied warranty of habitability can also help you. An unstated guarantee for most rental situations, this warranty says that any air conditioning or heating systems that were functioning when you signed the lease must be maintained, and it can often be legally binding. How to Get Your Air Conditioning System...

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How to Unclog the Condensate Drain Line in Your AC

May 17, 2022

In addition to cooling your home, your air conditioner also removes humidity from inside your home. The indoor AC unit has a condensate drain line to remove moisture, but it can become clogged. You can try to fix this problem yourself before calling an HVAC company. AC Condensate Drain Line When humidity is removed from your home, the moisture from it condenses on metal coils inside of the indoor AC unit. The water will fall into a drip pan, and from there, it goes into a condensate drain line that drains outdoor. How Can a Condensate Drain Line Become Clogged? Since the line is moist, it’s a great location for mold and mildew to grow. When there’s enough growth, it can clog the line. Water will then back up and can cause damage to the indoor AC unit and your home. Turn Off the Power Turn off your air conditioner at the thermostat and flip its breaker in the circuit breaker panel. Find the Drain Pipe The pipe is outside your home where the outdoor AC unit is located. Remove the cap on the drain line and look inside. Clear any debris you can reach, making sure not to push...

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Which Is the Cheaper Option: HVAC Systems or Window ACs?

April 11, 2022

Central air conditioning systems are usually made up of different units, including condenser units, which are usually placed outside buildings. These systems also have indoor air units and make use of duct systems. On the other hand, window air conditioners are single units that are placed into window frames. They have in-built condensers, evaporators, and thermostats. When you compare these two types of air conditioning systems, you will find out that window ACs are the cheaper option. 1. HVAC Systems Are Usually Pricier Than Window ACs When you do market research, you will notice that the prices of central air conditioning systems are higher than the prices of window ACs. According to statistics, the average price of an HVAC system is around $1500. However, some HVAC systems cost around $10,000. On the other hand, the prices of window air conditioners range between $300 and $1500. 2. Window ACs’ Running Costs Are Lower Than HVACs’ Running Costs HVAC systems usually use more power than window ACs. Therefore, their running costs are generally higher than window ACs’ running costs. However, that does not apply when installing several window air conditioning units in your home. For instance, installing five or more window ACs...

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Big Advantages of Hiring a Licensed HVAC Contractor

March 17, 2022

An efficient HVAC system is vital to keeping your home comfortable. It’s also an investment that you wouldn’t want to waste. Getting the right HVAC contractor to install, repair, or maintain your system can benefit you in various ways. Read on to learn the benefits of hiring a licensed HVAC contractor. Tools and Skills Licensed technicians have the right tools and skills to repair or install a new HVAC system. Since repairing a malfunctioning heating and cooling system isn’t a straightforward job, you need a licensed technician to figure out the problem. Also, repairs require special tools and skills to make accurate and long-lasting repairs. Safety Hiring a licensed HVAC contractor provides you with the most secure option to handle the system. The technicians undergo thorough training on working with electricity and circuit breakers as well as gases and refrigerants used in heating and cooling systems. Protect your family and your home by hiring a certified contractor for any HVAC job. Money Savings The energy usage in your house mostly depends on your HVAC system’s efficiency and correct installation. Also, improper repairs can make the components fail sooner, meaning you spend more money on repairs and replacements. Hiring a licensed...

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3 Ways to Extend the Lifespan of Your Furnace

February 15, 2022

The mild winters in Burbank, CA mean that you’ll only need your furnace to deliver heat for a few months out of each year. Most homes in the area use a gas furnace for wintertime heating. A typical furnace’s lifespan is about 20 years, but you could extend this duration if you follow these simple tips. 1. Change the Air Filter If your busy schedule only allows you to have a few minutes each month to handle heating system maintenance, use it to check and change the air filter. To access the filter, you may need a screwdriver. Open the filter housing’s door, and slide the filter out of its slot. If you see a layer of dust, it’s time to change the filter. We recommend a monthly furnace filter check. Most filters should be replaced every one to three months. 2. Keep Vents and Ducts Open and Clean Dirty air ducts and vent covers impede airflow, which will overwork your furnace. This debris can also make its way into the furnace and cause excessive friction on its moving parts. Dust or debris in the combustion chamber can also damage the heat exchanger. Once each winter, remove the vent covers....

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3 Quick Tips for Cleaning Your Furnace or Heat Pump

January 10, 2022

In order to keep your home’s furnace or heat pump working efficiently and effectively during the cooler months in Burbank, CA, it’s important to perform regular maintenance. In addition to an annual professional tune-up of your heating system, there are a few things you can do on your own to keep the equipment clean. Use these three quick tips to clean your furnace or heat pump. 1. Clean or Replace the Air Filter Check your furnace or heat pump owner’s manual to determine whether the system’s air filter is reusable or disposable. If it’s a reusable filter, wash it once per month according to the directions. If it’s a disposable filter, check it monthly, and replace it as soon as you see a coating of dust and dirt. Don’t wait more than three months between filter replacements for your furnace or heat pump. 2. Rinse the Outdoor Unit Heat pumps have an indoor unit and an outdoor unit. The outdoor unit is constantly exposed to the elements, vegetation, and animals. Pollen, animal droppings, bugs, and sap can all stick to the unit, and this biofilm attracts dust and dirt. Once each month, turn off power to the heat pump. Use...

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Top Reasons Why Your Furnace May Be Blowing Cold Air

December 20, 2021

When chilly weather arrives, you want to be able to depend on your furnace to keep you comfortable indoors. Unfortunately, sometimes things go wrong. A common issue you may experience is your heating system blowing cold air rather than warm. There could be a number of reasons for this problem. Some of them can be easily taken care of on your own. Others will require the help of heating pros. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common reasons why your furnace may be blowing cold air. Wrong Thermostat Setting One of the easiest issues to address is improper thermostat setting. It’s possible someone in your home accidentally set the thermostat to the “on” function, which would cause your fan to run continuously or to the “cool” setting. Take a look and make adjustments if necessary. Low Batteries in Thermostat Maybe your thermostat’s battery is low. That’s another easy fix. Try changing them to see if it makes a difference. System Needs a Reset If you have an electric control panel to run your heating system, it may need to be reset. Just turn the power switch off. Wait a few minutes, and then restart it to see if...

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