4 HVAC Solutions to Improve Indoor Air Quality

April 20, 2023

Indoor air quality in your home affects your family’s comfort, health, and overall well-being more than you may realize. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air pollutants, such as pet dander, smoke, dust mites, mold, and other particulates, might be two to five times higher indoors than in outdoor air. Thankfully, HVAC technology offers several ways to ensure your home receives more fresh air to minimize pesky household pollutants. These include: 1. UV Technology One way to reduce indoor air pollution, mainly mold and bacteria, is to utilize UV-emitting lights. This air filtration system can get installed directly onto your heating and air conditioning system, treating air before it travels back into the air ducts and home. 2. HEPA Filters The filters on your HVAC system cannot remove pollutants from your indoor air, but they are highly effective at reducing dust, dirt, and other debris. If you want to upgrade your current air filter, a HEPA filter can trap up to 99.97% of dust, pollen, smoke, pet dander, and other debris, improving indoor air quality. 3. Duct Cleaning Over time, dirt, dust, pollen, pet dander, and other debris can build up inside your ductwork, negatively impacting indoor air quality. Scheduling...

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5 Key Differences Between Commercial and Residential HVAC

March 9, 2023

Commercial HVAC systems are designed to work for the needs of large businesses, schools, and other large buildings. These requirements often differ from the needs of residential homeowners, which is why commercial and residential HVAC differ in various ways. 1. Requirements The requirements for commercial systems can be much more demanding than those for homes. Commercial units must sometimes meet emission standards that residential units never need to worry about. They may also have additional features, such as a dedicated drainage system to handle the amount of moisture produced by large HVAC units. 2. Installation Commercial HVAC installations also require specialized knowledge not required by typical residential installs. Commercial installations must be performed by a licensed professional with experience in commercial heating and cooling systems. These professionals also have access to powerful tools, such as computer-aided design (CAD) programs to help them plan their installation. 3. Maintenance Commercial HVAC systems are often more complex than their residential counterparts, making it harder for them to operate for extended periods without maintenance. Commercial units often require several technicians to service. Residential units only need occasional maintenance, with HVAC specialists visiting only once or twice per year. 4. Capacity Commercial systems must be...

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How to Know If Your HVAC System Is Energy Efficient

February 20, 2023

The energy efficiency of your HVAC system is an important thing to consider, as it is a huge factor in how high or low your yearly heating and cooling costs will be. How much insulation your home has, how well-sealed its exterior structure is, and the condition of your ductwork will all affect how much energy your HVAC system uses. However, the biggest factors in terms of energy efficiency are the type, age, and model of your HVAC units. Here is a quick overview that can help you determine how energy efficient your HVAC is. Age and Condition of Your HVAC Units The age and condition of your different HVAC units directly impact energy efficiency in several ways. One reason is that the energy efficiency of all HVAC units tends to slowly decrease the older the unit gets and the more it runs. Annual maintenance is essential in this regard for helping keep your units in good shape and preventing and repairing any issues that could lead to decreased energy efficiency. The age of your units is also important since the minimum energy-efficiency standards have increased quite a bit in the past years. If you have a system that was...

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How to Save Money and Energy With HVAC Systems

January 19, 2023

An efficient HVAC system is essential for the comfort and health of your family, but it can also be expensive. Fortunately, there are easy ways to reduce energy costs and save money. Here are our top tips for conserving energy in your HVAC system. Update Your Thermostat Installing a programmable thermostat can help you save energy by automatically adjusting the temperature when no one is home. Smart thermostats can even learn your habits and optimize the temperature when you’re away or asleep. To ensure your thermostat works efficiently, set the temperature according to the season and have it serviced regularly. Replace Your Air Filter Regularly A clogged filter can reduce airflow, making your HVAC system work harder and consume more energy. Make sure to check the filter every month and replace it as needed. Choose a high-efficiency model that can capture more pollutants when replacing your filter. Install Blinds and Drapes Blinds and drapes can help block out the sun’s heat in the summer and retain heat in the winter. Installing insulated curtains is particularly effective in reducing energy costs by cutting down on air leaks. You can also use awnings to provide shade and reduce the need for air...

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Consider These 3 Top Heating Options for Your Home

December 20, 2022

Even in regions where temperatures seldom fall below freezing, heating your home is needed during winter. To save costs without sacrificing comfort, homeowners should prioritize energy efficiency since heating costs can quickly gobble up over half of the typical household’s energy budget. Here are three heating options that can help you save money and improve your comfort level. Central Heating Central heating systems use a furnace or boiler to heat air or water that then circulates through pipes throughout your home. This type of system is the most common in new homes. Still, it’s also possible to install a central heating system in an existing house by adding a new pipe loop from the main line through each room or by installing radiators in each room where no existing radiator is already installed. Electric Heaters Electric heaters are often used as supplemental heaters rather than primary sources of warmth because they need to produce more heat to keep entire rooms warm. They can be used as additional heaters in kitchens and bathrooms with a venting system that will prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide from escaping into other parts of your home. Heat Pumps A heat pump uses electricity to...

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When and How to Reset Your Heating System

November 16, 2022

Your entire family relies on your heating system during the fall and winter to stay warm in your home in Burbank. However, there are times when you should reset it to keep it running at optimal performance. It’s important to know when to reset your heater and how to do it. When Should You Reset Your Heater? Resetting your heating system is necessary at any point when the device runs into problems. It gives your heater a chance to refresh. Regardless of the type of system you own, it’s normal for it to occasionally malfunction for a variety of reasons. If your system runs on gas or oil, all you have to do is check the pilot light to see if it’s burned out. Electrical systems and heat pumps are not as straightforward, but if they run into issues, you can still do a reset to see if that fixes them. If not, a professional technician can help you. Resetting Your Heater Resetting your furnace depends on its type and age. With a newer type that runs on electricity, you merely need to flip a switch. If it’s older and uses a pilot light, it’s necessary to shut off the...

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How Does a Heat Pump Function in the Wintertime?

October 19, 2022

As heat pumps become more and more popular for residential use, it’s no surprise that many people are trying to discover more about how they work. Since heat pumps don’t use any combustion, it can be a bit confusing to try to understand exactly how they can heat your home during the winter months. The simple answer is that they transfer heat. It’s All in the Transfer A heat pump’s name is derived from its ability to pump heat to an intended destination. During the winter months, a heat pump will transfer heat from the air outside of your home to the air inside of your home. It does this via the refrigerant. The refrigerant inside of your heat pump runs through an evaporator coil, a condenser coil, and copper tubing. Throughout the cycling of these components, the refrigerant will turn from a liquid to a gas state on a consistent basis as it moves ambient heat. A Wintertime Run During the wintertime, your heat pump will take heat from the outdoors and pump it into your home. Most heat pumps are categorized as air-source heat pumps because they take the heat out of the air outside. There are some...

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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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