How Often Should You Service Your AC?

April 9, 2025

Air conditioning systems often become a background feature of modern life. However, that doesn’t mean homeowners should wait until the AC unit fails to deal with issues. Regular maintenance makes a huge difference in the lifespan of an air conditioner, oftentimes extending it by 10 or more years. Cooling maintenance also helps your system run more efficiently, potentially lowering the AC units’s contribution to your utility bills by as much as 30%. Maintaining your home’s air conditioner is an indoor air quality issue, too. Your AC setup plays a role in removing dust, pollen, mold, volatile organic compounds, and other contaminants. If someone in your household has allergies, asthma, or a respiratory condition, then AC maintenance will especially make a big difference. How often should you service your home’s cooling system, though? Here’s a look at the factors affecting service times and how you can develop a maintenance schedule. Maintenance Factors Usage patterns play a major role in determining how often you need to service your AC unit. Here in Burbank, CA and the rest of LA County, air conditioning systems can get a workout for much of the year. This leads to increased wear and tear, and it means...

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Your Guide to the 2025 HVAC Refrigerant Phase-Out

February 1, 2025

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandated that starting January 1st, 2025, only eco-friendly refrigerants will be used in newly manufactured HVAC systems. Here’s what this means to you as a homeowner in the Los Angeles, CA area. The Refrigerants Being Phased Out In 1987, the United Nations finalized a global agreement to protect the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances. This agreement, known as the Montreal Protocol, targeted substances used in products such as air conditioners, refrigerators, aerosols, and fire extinguishers. The Montreal Protocol’s goal was to mitigate global warming. The ozone layer filters out harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun, which is known to reduce agricultural productivity, disrupt marine ecosystems, and increase the prevalence of skin cancer and cataracts. The Montreal Protocol was scheduled to be implemented in different stages as technology improved. After the Kigali Amendment was adopted in 2016, the next milestone in this effort was the 2025 HVAC refrigerant phase-out. This phase-out targets hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are powerful greenhouse gases that, while less damaging to the ozone layer than their predecessors, contribute significantly to global warming. The refrigerants affected in this phase-out include R-410A and R-22. Their production, importation,...

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8 Steps to Take to Improve Your Home’s Ventilation

October 4, 2024

Air pollution is an invisible threat to your health. Most of us expose ourselves to toxic chemical vapors and irritating particles every day without realizing it. The threat often comes from inside our homes. Houses tend to trap air pollution, which gives it a chance to build up to hazardous levels. Good ventilation solves that problem. The air outside of your home is relatively clean, and you can use it to dilute the air pollution. You just need to find a few ways to bring it into your house and vent the polluted air. 1. Open Some Windows Natural ventilation isn’t the most powerful solution, but it’s usually the quickest and easiest option. Every window that you open will help ventilate your house. Polluted air will flow out of your home, and clean air will enter it. It’s a gradual process, so it’s important to leave your windows open for as long as possible. You can accelerate the process by opening your windows as widely as possible, but even a cracked window will help. This method does have a few downsides. You should try to keep your windows closed if you’re heating or cooling your home. The open windows will...

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How Much Does a New HVAC System Cost?

March 14, 2023

An HVAC system is one of the most significant expenditures associated with owning a home, regardless of whether you’re installing one in a new construction or replacing an existing one. As you plan for your new system, it’s helpful to know how much you should expect to spend on installing the system. Unfortunately, HVAC systems have a variety of variables that influence the final price. Consider these factors that will affect how much you’ll pay for a new HVAC system. New Construction Versus Replacement The first thing to consider is whether you’re installing a system in a new construction or replacing an existing system. With new construction, you may also have to install ductwork for a central heating and cooling system. You may not need to replace the ducting every time you install a new part of your system, significantly reducing the overall costs. According to HomeAdvisor, the average range to replace an existing HVAC system is $5,000 to $10,000. For new construction homes, you’ll add the cost of duct installation, which can range from about $4,000 to as much as $12,000 depending on the size of your home and the kind of system you’re installing. HVAC System Type Next,...

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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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Zone Control Systems Could Cut Costs for Homeowners

November 21, 2020

Heating and cooling expenses seem unavoidable. After all, it wouldn’t be beneficial to sit inside a home that was uncomfortable hot or cold. The summer and the winter bring extremes in temperature, and those extremes won’t stay outside. The cold air, in particular, will drive down temperatures in the home. While comfort and, presumably, safety increase when properly regulating temperatures, monthly expenses rise. Solving comfort and safety issues, however, could lead to woes about the household budget. Paying bills with credit cards often leads to debt for already cash-strapped homeowners. Or does it? A solution may exist in the form of zoned control systems. Thanks to zone control setups, a home may maintain a better-regulated temperature in a home. What are some issues of concern that might lead someone to go with zone control setups? Here is some information, just to get you started. What Homeowners Get with Zone Control Systems A family may live in a relatively sizeable home, one with many rooms. Not every room ends up occupied all the time, and some rooms may remain empty for weeks and weeks. For example, a spare bedroom might not have an occupant when a young person goes away to...

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Simple Steps to Ensure HVAC Efficiency

September 19, 2020

Your HVAC system contains some of the biggest mechanical components in your residence. Its efforts to heat and cool your house can account for as much as 50% of your total energy usage each month. Keeping this system operating at peak efficiency will not only ensure that you are comfortable in your home, but it can also result in significant savings. The professional HVAC technicians from [company name] in Burbank have put together a list of signs that your HVAC components may be in need of an efficiency boost. These indicators include: An HVAC system that seems to be running more than usual Inconsistent temperatures throughout your home Unexpected increases in your utility bills Increased humidity in your residence If you are experiencing these or other comfort issues, then read on for five ideas on how you can improve your HVAC performance. Please also feel free to reach out to us. We’ve been assisting customers with professional and reliable HVAC evaluations, maintenance and installations since 2001. 1. Seal and Clean Your Ductwork The ducts and returns are the lifeblood of your HVAC system. They take hot or cold air from your furnace, air conditioner or heat pump and carry it...

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