How to Save on Summer Cooling Costs in Burbank

July 12, 2024

It’s easier to beat the Burbank, CA summer heat with an efficient and reliable air conditioner. Even then, cooling costs can skyrocket when the temperatures soar. Try some of these tips and services to help keep your utility bills low and reduce the stress on your cooling system. Open Windows at Night Opening your windows on cool nights can be a highly effective way to reduce cooling costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, utilizing natural ventilation during cooler hours can significantly lower indoor temperatures and decrease the reliance on air conditioning. This practice can lead to substantial energy savings. By closing windows in the morning before temperatures rise and then reopening them at night, you can create a more energy-efficient home, potentially reducing your monthly cooling costs by up to 30%. Utilize Window Coverings Curtains, blinds, or other window coverings are essential for shielding your home from the blazing sunlight, especially on south-facing windows. The U.S. Department of Energy suggests that window coverings can reduce heat gain by up to 77%, significantly improving your home’s energy efficiency. Keeping window coverings closed during the daytime when the sun is beating down can maintain a cooler indoor environment and help...

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Summer HVAC Myths Debunked: What You Should Know

June 12, 2024

When it comes to home cooling systems, it seems like every homeowner has taken advice on how to lower their energy bills. Unfortunately, not all the advice is based on truth. There are many common cooling system myths that we will debunk below so you get a better understanding of your system. Bigger Is Always Better When the hot summer weather hits, it’s easy to think you need a big cooling system to combat it. The reality is that an oversized air conditioning system for your home will decrease efficiency and skyrocket your energy bills. When your system is too big, it will kick on for a few minutes and turn off quickly as it reaches your desired temperature. This is referred to as short cycling. When this happens, your air conditioning system isn’t getting to run long enough to remove all humidity from your home. When humidity remains, it can make your home feel much hotter than it is. This will have you turning down the temperature on your thermostat. Your cooling system will be short-cycling more often and increasing your utility bill than if you just had an appropriately sized cooling system for your home. Closing Off Unused...

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Is Your AC Unit Energy Efficient? Here’s How to Find Out

August 2, 2023

Do you shudder each time you receive your monthly energy bill, unsure why the cost is so high? If your air conditioning unit is one of the primary contributors to your energy usage, its efficiency—or lack thereof—could be to blame. Understanding Energy Efficiency in AC Units In the context of air conditioning units, energy efficiency refers to the effective conversion of electrical energy into cooling power. The higher the efficiency, the less electricity is wasted in the cooling process. Energy-efficient AC units not only reduce your energy usage but also decrease your carbon footprint, contributing to the fight against climate change. Key components contributing to an AC unit’s energy efficiency include the compressor, the cooling coils, and the fans. The design and efficiency of these components largely determine how much of the electrical energy is effectively transformed into cooling. Understanding the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) One of the most crucial measures of AC energy efficiency is the seasonal energy efficiency ratio, which is the total energy consumed by an air conditioner during an average cooling season, compared to the AC’s total cooling output. SEER ratings range from 13 for most older units to 26 for the most efficient central...

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6 Major Reasons Why Your AC Is Blowing Warm Air

June 1, 2023

All air conditioners are designed to provide a cool and comfortable living environment inside your home. One of the worst feelings you can experience as a homeowner is walking into your home during a hot summer day to cool off, only to discover that your AC is blowing warm air. Not only will you likely experience stress when your AC fails to keep you cool, but HVAC technicians are busiest during the peak season. To help avoid these problems, you should set up an appointment to have your AC unit serviced regularly. Here are some of the top reasons your AC could blow warm air. 1. Thermostat Settings One of the first things you should check when you notice warm air coming from the vents is your thermostat settings. Thermostat problems usually occur in old dial-type units when they are incorrectly calibrated. If you have the manufacturer’s manual, check that your current thermostat settings are correct. You might also want to check that you did not accidentally flip your thermostat to heat mode, a mistake that frequently goes unnoticed. If that does not resolve the problem, you may want to have your thermostat recalibrated or replaced. You can also consider...

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What to do About a Rusty Air Conditioner

September 14, 2019

Though air conditioners are very sturdy machines, they still have the potential to rust just like any other piece of metal that is exposed to moisture. If you have noticed the appearance of any rusty streaks and spots on your AC unit, do not panic. This is typically a very easy problem to solve. Here are some tips for dealing with rust on your air conditioner. The Problem with Rust Can you just leave the rust alone? A lot of people pick this option because they think rust is just unsightly. However, it does real damage as it eats away at the metal, especially if it gets into the condenser. Another issue is that letting rust build up instead of calling for AC repair can end up voiding your warranty. Removing Rust Yourself If the rust is very light, you can usually remove it yourself. First, turn off the power to the unit entirely. Using sandpaper or a nylon brush, remove all the rust. Then, clean the area with a degreaser and paint over the cleaned area with a rust-proof paint and primer. Deciding If You Need Professional Help It is possible to remove the rust yourself in many situations....

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Protect Your Home With Proper HVAC Services

September 4, 2019

If you live in a home or will be moving to one soon, you may or may not be aware that there are special considerations for the HVAC system in your home. With careful attention to detail, an HVAC system will not only keep you comfortable all year long, but it’ll also act as a second level of defense for your belongings and furnishings. A heating and cooling system is an essential component to keeping your Burbank home comfortable. A malfunctioning heating or AC system can cause significant indoor air quality problems, leaving you and your family stressed and annoyed. Hence, it is vital to conduct proper HVAC services to ensure that your system operates perfectly year-round. is happy to provide you with this information for maintaining and protecting your most valuable assets. Proper Ventilation and Humidity Levels Your most valuable items like artwork, antiques, jewelry, wallpaper, and furnishings all depend on your home’s temperature being correctly maintained throughout the year. Humidity for warmer climates can also pose significant risks to not only your home but also your health. This is especially true for homes with asthmatics, those with special needs, children, and/or seniors. If humidity gets out of control,...

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How to Care for Your AC System

August 5, 2019

Your AC system is an investment. It requires ongoing TLC, and an optimal approach to maintenance can help ensure the lowest total cost for operation. Initial Inspection has been serving homeowners in Burbank and the neighboring communities with a full range of AC services since 2001. When you purchase a residence with an AC system already in place, you never know how diligent the last owner was. That’s why we recommend scheduling a comprehensive professional inspection as soon as possible. Seasonal Inspection and Maintenance After installation or full inspection, you only need a seasonal inspection. Early spring is a good target since it lets you identify and correct any issues well before the hottest months arrive. Scheduling service is advisable whenever you notice anything that seems unusual. A Monthly Basic Inspection Our company also recommends that you perform a basic inspection each month. This is especially important if there has been a serious storm that may have damaged any equipment outside. Change Air Filters as Needed Air filters should be swapped out, or cleaned if you have reusables, after three months of use. However, we recommend examining them during the monthly inspection and replacing any that are visibly dirty. Check...

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Can You Leave Your Air Conditioner Off When You Go on Vacation?

July 20, 2019

If you have a summer vacation planned, you likely have a list of things to do around the house before you leave. When you leave your home for a long time, you make sure the doors are locks and all the lights are turned off to save energy. Should you also turn off your AC unit while you’ll be away? The answer to this question is almost always no. While leaving the air conditioner off when you’re away will definitely help to cut your electrical costs for the month, it may also lead to more costly problems. Set the Temperature Higher Instead of Turning the Unit Off Before you leave for vacation, you can set the temperature on your thermostat to a higher level than you’d normally leave it. While you may typically keep your house around 72 degrees on a hot summer day, if you’ll be gone, you can set it around 83 degrees instead. Setting it this high can help to save you money on your electrical bill but won’t cause other problems. Why You Shouldn’t Shut Off the AC Completely If you shut off your AC unit for an extended period of time, it can 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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The Importance of AC Maintenance

June 18, 2018

Maintaining your air conditioner is one of the most important steps you can take to safeguard your home. Your air conditioner does a wide range of tasks for your home. It keeps humidity under control. It aids in ensuring you can maintain Los Angeles’s heat without a concern. It also works to ensure your home has clean air for you to breathe. For these benefits to occur, you need proper and consistent AC maintenance. Air Max HVAC Inc can help you with this process. Why Maintain Your Air Conditioner? AC maintenance is the process of inspecting, cleaning, and repairing the air conditioner and the air duct system. This should be done at least one time every month by the homeowner and, in Los Angeles, about twice a year by a trained professional. At Air Max HVAC Inc., we are happy to come to your home and offer this service as often as necessary. When you have routine AC maintenance, you gain several key benefits: Your home’s air remains cleaner. Though your air conditioner’s main job is to cool air, it also helps pull particles from it. This can help your family breathe easier. It ensures your air conditioner is not...

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