SEER Ratings: What Do They Mean?

July 10, 2019

When you start to do research about air conditioners, you’ll likely notice the term “SEER Rating.” You may be wondering what it means and why it’s so important. What SEER Stands For The term stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating. It’s determined by dividing an AC’s cooling output by the energy it consumes. The period of time factored in is a typical cooling season. Since SEER is a ratio of output to input, a higher SEER translates to being more energy-efficient. When manufacturers put a SEER rating on an AC, they’re showing the maximum rating possible. Note that the true SEER is variable, depending on your usage. If you ever have questions, the team at is here to help. What to Look For Here in California, the minimum SEER is 14. Minimum ratings are set by each state, and they’re usually either 13 or 14. However, a unit’s rating could go up to 21 or 22, or even higher in limited situations. If you’re thinking about installing a new AC, consider how efficient you’d like your unit to be. Typically, more efficient units are more expensive, but if you plan on living in your Burbank home for a long time,...

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Save Money on Your Cooling Bills This Summer

June 25, 2019

If your energy bill always feels like a bit of a shock at the end of the month, there are several ways you could address the situation. Here are some of the best strategies for keeping cooling costs low this summer while still staying out of the heat. Clean Your Air Filters Air conditioners can end up catching a lot of accumulated dust in the process of keeping your house cool. All of this extra gunk eventually starts to build up and can reduce the efficiency of the machine. In order to prevent this, we recommend cleaning your air filters at least once a month. Doing so can potentially reduce your cooling bill by up to 10% and will also help the temperature in your house stay cooler. Use Ceiling Fans If your roof is painted black or another dark color, then your house is absorbing a lot of heat. The roof might do better if it’s painted white or reflective color. Note that this will keep your home cool both in the summer and the winter, so if you tend to use your heater in winter, you might be better off trying a different strategy to reduce your energy...

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3 Advantages of Changing Your Air Filter

June 10, 2019

Changing your AC filter is a key step in maintaining a healthy, energy-efficient air conditioner. As air filters become dirty, your air conditioner must work harder to force air through the system. This impacts everything from your AC’s efficiency to the cost of your energy bills. Not to mention, a dirty air filter may lead to mechanical problems that can be costly to fix. Take a look at our top three benefits of changing your air filter: 1. Fewer Breakdowns and Costly Repairs As air filters reach the end of their natural lifespan, they can begin to deteriorate and release fibers and debris back into your air conditioner. As this debris builds up in the machinery, it reduces the unit’s performance and can even lead to mechanical failures. Regularly changing your air filter is a simple and affordable way to avoid costly fixes in the future. 2. Purer Indoor Air Quality As the air filter catches dust and debris from the air, it reduces the amount that you and your family would otherwise breathe in daily. All that debris eventually takes a toll on the air filter as it becomes clogged to the point where it can’t clean the air...

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Find the Right HVAC Contractor for Your Project

June 1, 2019

When you’re experiencing issues with your HVAC system, you’ll need to find a professional contractor. You may worry about finding the best company, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. It’s important to find a company that can provide you with the highest quality of work at an affordable rate. When you need to find a professional HVAC contractor, here are a few things you’ll want to know. Research the Company Before you choose an HVAC contractor, you’ll want to conduct a little research for your project. There are many places online that feature reviews for HVAC contractors, and many of these come from former customers. You might also want to check out the Better Business Bureau for the company’s rating. Your potential HVAC company should have a rating of A or better. When you need to choose an HVAC company in Burbank, you can count on the team at . Make Sure They’re Licensed A professional company will be fully insured, bonded, and licensed. Many companies even go a step further and will perform a background check on their technicians. A professional company will also have EPA, NATE, or Diamond certifications. Every contractor will have a license number...

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How to Maintain Superior Indoor Air Quality in Your Home

May 22, 2019

Creating and maintaining great indoor air quality does not require spending a small fortune. Much of it happens by making small changes throughout your home and choosing the right products to use on a daily basis. Below are a few ideas to get you started. Monitor the Additives to Your Air It seems that all types of cleaners and household products emit some sort of scent that could begin to bring down the quality of your indoor air. Additionally, smoking indoors and not having things like a gas furnace properly vented can add to a buildup of odors and pollutants in the air you breathe. To combat these issues, you can purchase and use as many products as you can that are free of scents and odors. You should also operate vent fans when in the bathroom or cooking in the kitchen. Keep the Home Well-Ventilated and Balanced in Humidity As air-tight as most new homes are, it’s essential to have a way to properly ventilate your living space. Open windows on nice days that are low in pollen. Use ceiling fans to help keep good airflow throughout the home. You can also add a dehumidifier system when the air...

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Areas in the Home that Need More Ventilation

May 12, 2019

Proper ventilation in a home makes it possible to avoid the growth and spread of mold or mildew. It can also prevent certain rooms or floors of a house from getting too hot or humid. Generally speaking, keeping excess moisture out of a home can prevent damage to walls or other components. Kitchens and Bathrooms Tend to Be Warm and Moist Extra ventilation can come in handy in bathrooms and kitchens because these are confined spaces where hot water is used on a regular basis. Without ceiling fans or other ways to circulate air, you could run the risk of mold growth or other problems. The professionals from in Burbank can perform an air quality analysis and take other steps to help with ventilation issues in your home. If necessary, we can install dehumidifiers and heat recovery ventilators. Attics Should Have Extra Ventilation It is not uncommon for air to enter a home through the attic and circulate through the rest of the house. If the air in the attic is too warm or too humid, it can create uncomfortable conditions throughout the rest of the structure. Excess heat and humidity may also cause damage to any items that are...

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Debunking Three Common Cooling Myths

May 2, 2019

Since cooling systems have been around for so long, a lot of misconceptions about them are present. There are all sorts of supposed facts people hear from others that seem reasonable but are actually false. Don’t fall victim to common cooling myths. Educating yourself about why these myths are incorrect will help you save money and improve your indoor air quality. 1. You Don’t Really Need to Pay Attention to Air Filters Air filters are more than just a way of keeping dust out of your home. They actually help to trap microscopic particles that could otherwise end up making it harder for your unit to run. People who change their filters regularly can save up to 10 percent in energy charges. 2. Any Size of AC Will Work Fine for Your Home Many people shrug off concerns about AC size by saying they’ll just run their system more or less to compensate for any differences in size. However, an incorrectly sized unit can cycle on and off more frequently or run longer than it needs to. It can actually be more inefficient for a large unit to cool a space than a small one. This tends to lead to...

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How You Can Lower Your Energy Bills

April 27, 2019

Utilities are not cheap. It costs a lot to keep the lights on and your home comfortable. High energy bills are a reality that many families deal with, and an unexpected spike can be a budget buster. In order to truly minimize costs over the long term, homeowners should not look to life hacks but rather fundamental approaches that deliver lasting change. Schedule a Home Energy Assessment The experts at in Burbank recommend home energy audits to any customers who haven’t scheduled one recently. How can you make real change without knowing what the underlying issues are? An audit encompasses your entire home inside and out and identifies your inefficiencies. You can then target those inefficiencies based on how much they are costing you and what you will save. Invest in a Programmable Thermostat If you donΓÇÖt own one yet, purchase a programmable thermostat, and learn how to use it. You’ll be glad you did. The EPA estimates that the average homeowner can save almost $200 annually, and that covers the cost of the thermostat in the first year alone. Change Your Filters Regularly Among the most common mistakes homeowners make is not replacing their HVAC filters often enough. The...

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Reasons Why Your AC Won’t Turn Off

April 17, 2019

Ideally, your air conditioner will only run when there is a need to reduce the air temperature and moisture content in a given space. However, there are times where it may continue to operate even when a room is already cool and dry. What are some steps to take when your air conditioning unit won’t turn off? Check for Excess Dirt or Debris When the air condenser coil is dirty or clogged, it can be forced to work harder to keep the room at your preferred temperature. Therefore, it may not be able to shut itself off for tangible periods of time or at all. At in Burbank, we can perform air conditioner maintenance such as cleaning or replacing a dirty or worn-out coil. We can also install or replace a unit that’s old or inefficient. Check the Temperature Setting The air conditioner will not stop running until it has cooled the air to your preferred temperature. If that setting is too low, then the air conditioner may not be able to stop running in order to keep the room at your target temperature. It’s worth noting that your unit may have to work harder on especially hot and humid...

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When Should Air Conditioner Maintenance Take Place?

April 7, 2019

Ideally, your air conditioner will be serviced once or twice per year. There are many benefits to doing this, such as catching minor problems before they become expensive repairs. However, the question for many is, when exactly should you make your next maintenance appointment? Call Before the Temperatures Start to Warm Up Generally speaking, you will use your air conditioning unit most often during the late spring, summer, and early fall months. Therefore, it is a good idea to call for a tune-up sometime in March or April just before the weather starts to get warm on a regular basis. At , we service the Burbank, Beverly Hills, and Thousand Oaks. Our crew can install, replace, and maintain a wide variety of air conditioner makes and models. Have Your Air Conditioner Serviced in the Fall It is a good idea to schedule another maintenance appointment in the fall before you stop using your air conditioner for the year. This allows a professional to determine if there are any issues that could prevent it from starting up properly in the spring. It may also make it easier to properly winterize the unit to protect it against falling leaves or animals looking...

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