How to Shade Your Outdoor AC Unit

May 19, 2022

AC units are notorious for breaking down in the middle of summer, just when you need them the most. The constant sun that’s present in Burbank and Los Angeles. County causes many problems for any piece of machinery and can be particularly troublesome for AC units. If there is one thing you should remember to do this summer, it’s to keep your AC unit safe from the sun’s rays. You can take some relatively easy steps to ensure that your AC unit will continue to do its job properly during the hottest months. Build a Simple Frame If you plan to build a shade structure over your outdoor air conditioning unit, the easiest way to achieve maximum protection is by using a simple frame. A frame also makes it easier to measure and cut cloth for custom shading. But if you’d rather not build a structure, that’s okay. You can easily attach canvas or other materials directly to the sides of your AC unit. Attach a Shade Cloth Help protect your outdoor AC unit from the sun with a shade cloth that attaches to your air conditioner by using ties around the cage, allowing for a custom fit to your...

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14 Best Indoor Plants to Promote Healthy Indoor Air Quality

April 18, 2022

Indoor air quality is an important theme that must be addressed in each home, especially with the increasing number of people who spend their time inside. Indoor plants are great ways for homeowners to improve the air quality of their households. The following are some of the best indoor plants that can promote healthy indoor air quality. 1. Ficus Benjamina The Ficus Benjamina is one of the most commonly used houseplants in homes. The plant grows in sunny places. It can grow up to three feet, and its leaves are dark green and glossy. This plant has very few pest problems, which makes it an ideal indoor plant that can help improve indoor air quality. 2. Peace Lily The peace lily is another popular houseplant that can help improve the indoor air quality of a home or office. The houseplant has beautiful, hanging leaves that are bright green, and it grows very fast, reaching a length of up to two feet within a year. This plant will thrive indoors with proper care, but homeowners need to know how to care for this plant properly in order not to kill the plant’s roots due to overcrowding or lack of water. 3....

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How Different Weather Conditions Affect an HVAC System

March 15, 2022

HVAC units are built to withstand and function during a variety of weather conditions so you can keep your home comfortable year-round. However, the extremes of any weather condition can leave their marks on your unit. Outdoor AC components suffer more from extreme weather conditions, but that doesn’t mean that the interior parts are always safe. Most weather conditions leave short-term and long-term impacts on the health and efficiency of your heating and cooling system. Here are some different ways weather conditions can affect your HVAC. Heavy Storms and High-Speed Winds As high-speed winds impact your outdoor HVAC unit, they can loosen and even damage components, as well as blow dirt and debris into them. High-speed flying debris thrown around by powerful winds can leave some parts broken. Dust and particles blown into your unit can collect around the evaporation coils, leading to clogs. Clogs offer a fitting environment for mold growth, which can ultimately affect the quality of air channeled in and out of your home. Clogs can also render the HVAC inefficient and unable to heat your home to the desired temperatures. Call an HVAC tech if your HVAC unit makes strange noises or doesn’t turn on after...

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HVAC Issues That Can Cause Hot and Cold Spots in the Home

February 17, 2022

Uneven heating and cooling is one of the more common HVAC issues. When you run your furnace or air conditioner, you obviously expect every room in the house to be at the same temperature. However, there are numerous potential HVAC issues that can make this nearly impossible. As a result, you’ll end up with some rooms that are sweltering hot or freezing cold. When this happens, it is important that you seek help from an experienced HVAC professional in order to understand the underlying cause of your uneven heating and how best to remedy the situation. Furnace or Air Conditioner Is Too Small If you notice that certain rooms or areas in your house never seem to stay at your desired temperature, it could be that your furnace or air conditioner is too small for your home. Alternatively, it may be that your furnace or AC unit is large enough but not efficient enough. In either case, the result is that your HVAC system will struggle to provide adequate heat or cooling for the entire house. If you mostly only notice the hot and cold spots in your home when running your furnace and not your AC or vice versa,...

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How a Furnace Works Made Simple

January 11, 2022

Your furnace is an integral part of your home, but it often goes without much attention or thought. However, without the right attention at the right time, you may be left with a cold house. Let’s get to the fundamentals of what makes your furnace work, what poses risks to your family, and what attention you should give it as it serves your home. Types of Furnaces When it comes to furnaces, you have two distinctly different types. In moderate climates, like southern California, you may see electric furnaces. These use an electric resistance element to generate the heat needed to warm your house. They are simple, generally safe, and do not rely on any type of fuel to operate. Plus, they are more efficient, with some models reaching a 100% AFUE rating. However, they are still more expensive to run, being electricity is more expensive than furnace fuels. The most common type of furnace used in residences around the United States are fuel-burning systems. There are a variety of options for fuel used, including natural gas, propane, and oil. In more heavily developed areas, natural gas tends to be the fuel of choice, being it’s delivered to the house...

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What Is a Thermostatic Expansion Valve?

October 20, 2021

The thermal expansion valve, also known as TXV or TEV, is a common feature in most refrigeration or air conditioning systems, and it’s usually located just before the evaporator. The thermal static expansion valves work with precision to control the refrigerant’s flow rate into the evaporator chamber, which is essential in improving the efficiency of the evaporator while at the same time holding back the excel liquid refrigerant from flooding back to the compressor section. TXV has a design feature that allows it to create and maintain a separation between the high- and low-pressure sides of an air conditioning system. Usually, liquid refrigerant is at high pressure as it enters the TXV valve via the fluid line. Its pressure is significantly reduced by the TXV when it regulates the amount of refrigerant flowing into the evaporator. Main Components of the TXV The valve body The pin The sensing Bulb The spring The diaphragm The Working Principle of the TXV The thermostatic expansion valve is designed to precisely hold the liquid refrigerant under high pressure from entering the compressor and control the evaporator’s amount. The TXV reduces the pressure of the refrigerant, allowing it to boil at lower temperatures. Boiling is...

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How to Clean Your AC Filters in 5 Easy Steps

September 15, 2021

The filters in your HVAC system remove dirt, pollen, pet dander, and other small particles from the air as it is circulated throughout your home. The filters are designed with fibers that catch and trap these particles. Over time, the filters get full of particles and are less effective. You may notice more dust in your home, or you may suffer from symptoms similar to allergies. These are some of the signs that your AC filters need to be checked. How Do You Know When Your Filters Need to Be Cleaned? In addition to dust accumulation and physical symptoms, there are some other signs that it’s time to clean your AC filters. Less air flowing out of the vents Higher utility bills Costly repairs Unusual sounds from the AC unit indicating that it is worker harder than normal Uneven temperatures in your home Unit runs more often to maintain the same temperature setting Mold colonies in your bathroom, on window sills and walls, and on fabrics, rugs and carpeting What Types of AC Filters Can You Clean? There are two general types of AC filters that the professionals at service for homes in Burbank and surrounding areas of California: permanent...

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Avoid These Home Cooling Myths

August 3, 2021

You want your house to be cool, but you don’t want to have to pay more than you need to for your cooling bills. This can push you to do some things that will actually cause you to expend even more money on your cooling in an attempt to curb the amount of money spent. Knowing what is true and what is false when it comes to energy-saving advice can help you and your family save potentially hundreds or even thousands of dollars every summer in cooling costs. Watch out for these myths about saving on cooling costs. Air Conditioners Don’t Manufacture Coolness One of the first things that you should know about air conditioners is that they don’t manufacture cold air, and to better understand this point, you have to think about what heat and cold are. Heat is the presence of energy, and cold is the absence of heat and energy. So when you turn on an air conditioner, it will pull hot, humid air from your house and remove the heat and moisture from it. Then, the air conditioner will pump the air that now has less heat and moisture back into the room. This is useful...

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How to Reduce Air Conditioner Noise

July 19, 2021

An air conditioner is an excellent lifesaver during winter or summer. However, with time, either due to age or damage to the components, your AC might become noisy. Essentially, a noisy air conditioner causes more discomfort than comfort. When the noise levels get to the worst, you might start thinking about replacement or completely scrapping the whole unit. However, with simple tips and tricks, your air conditioner can keep your home comfortable while running more quietly. In this article, you will learn how you can quiet your air conditioner at virtually no cost. The types of air conditioners covered here include: Window air conditioner Indoor air conditioner Outdoor air conditioner Quieting a Window Air Conditioner Usually, if you are experiencing noise problems from a window air conditioner, the most probable cause is the gaps and spaces left unblocked around the unit. Essentially, these gaps introduce the noise from the outside environment, and then your air conditioner’s component transfers it to your indoor environment. To fix the problem, seal the spaces surrounding the unit that might allow the noise into your house. In essence, you will be blocking the noise produced by your air conditioner from entering your home or office....

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How To Prepare Air Conditioner for the Summer

June 9, 2021

The last thing you will ever want to deal with is a faulty AC on hot scorching days. When the AC sits idle during the cold months, it can accumulate dust and debris. Such contaminants can build up, making the unit run sluggishly, so it might not cool your house adequately. Even worse, the AC can recirculate pollen and dirt particles to your home, lowering the indoor air quality. The debris will strain the unit, and with time, it will break down, calling for emergency repairs. It’s, therefore, a good idea that you check your system for issues and fix them early enough. Here are various ways to prepare your AC for summer. 1. Clean or Replace the Air Filter The air filter traps contaminants like pet dander, pollen, mold spores, and dust particles. These contaminants can build up on the filters limiting airflow. You, therefore, need to clean or change the air filters after every three months. If you live with a heavily shedding pet or reside in highly dusty areas, change the filters monthly. Shut off the power to the AC, then find the air filter near the cold air return vent. For the reusable filter, start by...

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