Easy Maintenance Now Translates Into Big Savings Later The fact is that even the best HVAC equipment requires regular service. To ignore these tasks is to risk later equipment breakdowns. Even worse, a commercial unit that hasn’t been maintained properly may still work, but with a severe reduction in energy efficiency. The end result? You may be paying far more in ... Continue Reading
Your Fireplace and Your HVAC System Don’t Always Mix
Don’t Let a Fireplace Burn Through Your Wallet Everyone enjoys using a fireplace, especially around this time of year. Sitting on the sofa, enjoying a cup of hot cocoa or adult beverage when it’s cold outside: for some, it just doesn’t feel like the holidays without a crackling fire. Nevertheless, there are some things you should know ahead of time before savoring ... Continue Reading
Write It Off: There’s Never Been a Better Time To Upgrade Your Commercial HVAC System
Recent Changes to Tax Law Mean Small Business Can Deduct All HVAC Expenses in the First Year of Purchase and Installation It’s been a long time coming, but the folks at the nonprofit Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Distributors International worked hard to show lawmakers that small business could really benefit from revisions to Section 179 of the IRS tax ... Continue Reading
Fall Is Here: Quick Ways To Save Money On Energy For Your Home and Office
Spend the Extra on Halloween Candy or a New Wool Sweater; You Can Thank Your Thermostat Later Thank goodness, it’s finally here. The dog days of summer and the sweaty weather of late August and even September seem to have dissipated in favor of cooler nights and foggy mornings. While the sun is still shining most days, even the leaves are changing in a pale ... Continue Reading
What is a Variable-Speed Furnace?
In the mild Pasadena climate, you need a furnace that can keep the chill away without blasting out hot air. A variable-speed furnace does this by adjusting its output to meet your needs. Modern Motors Offer Greater Flexibility The motor in an older, mid-efficiency furnace can run on a "high" and "low" speed. The furnace runs on high only during times of unusually ... Continue Reading
Tips to Save Money and Increase Energy Efficiency this Season in LA
If you are like many people, you probably take steps such as turning off lights for energy efficiency at home. However, you might not know that you can reduce your energy bills even more by preventing wasted energy during heating and cooling. Here's how to do that this season. Use Better Window Treatments If you have ever touched a windowpane on a cool, cloudy day or ... Continue Reading
Pasadena HVAC: Are There Benefits to Choosing a Heat Pump Over an Air Conditioner?
In this mild climate, the benefits of choosing a heat pump instead of a central air conditioner are many. Both heat pumps and air conditioners cool the air, but the heat pump can do double duty as a heating system in the winter. Cooling systems work by absorbing the heat inside homes using chilled refrigerant that flows through the evaporator coil inside the air handler. ... Continue Reading
Los Angeles EER vs. SEER Ratings: How to Know the Difference
EER and SEER ratings both indicate how efficient air conditioners are, and they're determined by testing both central air conditioners and heat pumps under laboratory conditions. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) requires that the ratings be prominently displayed on all types of cooling units to provide consumers with a guide for determining energy efficiency. The ... Continue Reading
Pasadena HVAC: 7 Things to Consider Before Replacing Your HVAC System
New heating and cooling equipment is not only an expensive investment, it's also a purchase you'll have to live with for the next 15 years or more. When you're weighing different options for replacing your HVAC system, seek the advice of an experienced heating and cooling specialist and keep these crucial factors in mind. Lifetime Costs In addition to the initial ... Continue Reading
Los Angeles HVAC: Ways to Maintain and Troubleshoot Your Ductless Mini-Split
With compact components and versatile installation options, ductless mini-split heat pumps and air conditioners are ideal for cooling and heating practically any area of a home or outbuilding. Ductless systems also offer superb energy efficiency if they're well maintained. Use these tips to ensure your ductless system is operating at peak efficiency this season. Ductless ... Continue Reading
3 Home Ventilation Options to Keep You Cool in Monrovia
Adequate home ventilation has always been a major factor in keeping the house comfortable and the indoor environment fresh. Houses built before the 1970s got a lot more ventilation simply because residential construction standards permitted more cracks and gaps, and air exchange with the outdoors happened naturally. As energy efficiency became a greater priority, however, ... Continue Reading
Easy Ways to Save More Energy in Your Monrovia Home This Spring
In Monrovia, we always welcome the arrival of spring by flinging our windows open and enjoying the breeze. But spring is also a time to plan for the long cooling season ahead. Here are some essential home energy-saving tips that can help keep your energy costs down this summer. Replace your air filter. Scheduling spring HVAC maintenance should be at the top of your to-do ... Continue Reading
HVAC Pasadena: Common Attic Ventilation Myths & Misconceptions
Effective attic ventilation is one of the most basic elements of energy-efficient homes. If your attic has insufficient exchange of stale and fresh air, your living space might get too hot or cold, depending on the season. Poor attic ventilation can also lead to moisture buildup in your attic, damaging your home's roof and walls, as well as insulation and personal ... Continue Reading
How to Compare HVAC Units for Your Monrovia Home
If you're planning to install a new HVAC system in your Monrovia home, you're no doubt researching your choices. Admittedly, your options are numerous and overwhelming, so it helps to know how to compare different HVAC units. Here are five tips that may help you simplify the job. Gather information. Manufacturers provide ample information about their systems. You can ... Continue Reading
Heating Repair Los Angeles: Programmable Thermostats Can Help Homeowners Warm Their Homes More Effectively
When cold weather rolls around, homeowners are always looking for ways to heat their homes more efficiently and save money. Learn how programmable thermostats create a more energy-efficient way to heat your home. With a programmable thermostat, you can set your heating unit for different temperatures at different times of the day. When you plan to be away from the house ... Continue Reading
Do Heat Pumps Cool as Well as Air Conditioners?
Heat pumps in our region are often the appliance of choice to provide both heating and cooling for homes. They're as energy efficient as central air conditioners and gas furnaces, and are simple and safe to operate, since they don't use combustion fuel. These appliances must meet the same energy efficiency requirements that a central air conditioner does, and use the same ... Continue Reading
Signs That It's Time to Replace Your Ductwork
Defective or outdated ductwork can pose a whole host of issues, including exorbitant energy consumption and cost, uneven heating of the home and reduced air quality. The challenge is most ductwork is hidden from plain sight, making it particularly tough to notice whether you're due for an upgrade. Performing an inspection of your home's ductwork will help you determine ... Continue Reading
Install a Mini-Split Air Conditioner and Go Ductless
If you have a space that's hard to cool in your home or are considering an addition or renovation, consider a mini-split air conditioner. These are remarkably efficient ways to cool spaces because they don't use ductwork and deliver the cooled air directly from an air handler. ... Continue Reading
Which Insulation Is Most Effective: Cellulose Or Fiberglass?
The foundation of your home’s energy-efficiency shell rests in the attic, most commonly as loose-fill cellulose or fiberglass insulation. Learn the primary strengths and weaknesses of both types of insulators to help you make the best decision for your home-efficiency upgrade or new installation. ... Continue Reading
Attic Insulation Plus Ventilation: A Winning Combination
You might have already heard about how important it is to have attic insulation, but it’s equally important to have enough ventilation in the attic as well. The combination of insulation and ventilation in the attic will increase the energy efficiency of your house and prevent moisture damage. ... Continue Reading
Evaluating Insulation: Cellulose vs. Fiberglass
With the growing popularity in environmentally friendly products and energy-efficiency concerns there is a great debate as to which type of attic insulation is the best. The two main types of insulating material commonly used in conventional home construction are fiberglass and cellulose. Each material has its fair share of pros and cons and many green builders and ... Continue Reading
Ramp Up Furnace Efficiency With A Variable Speed Blower
Ramp up furnace efficiency in your Southern California home by upgrading to a variable speed blower. With chilly winters (but not freezing cold), a variable speed blower optimizes home comfort and energy efficiency with slow, even heating. ... Continue Reading
Insulation Basics: Control Heat Flow In Your Pasadena-Area Home
Your ability to keep your home comfortable lies, in large part, in the insulation inside the walls and the attic. Your home may not have enough in either place to control the heat flow, summer and winter, which increases your energy bills and lowers your comfort. Insulation is one of the least expensive and most durable ways to increase your home's energy efficiency. ... Continue Reading
Sealing Air Leaks Around Your Greater Pasadena-Area Home
Just a few years ago, homeowners and contractors didn't really understand energy efficiency and energy was cheaper, so sealing air leaks tightly and properly wasn't a priority. These days, however, we do a much better job of using the right techniques to increase comfort and savings. ... Continue Reading
Understanding The EnergyGuide Label
The purpose of the yellow EnergyGuide label found on new appliances is to help you compare the energy efficiency of various different models of a particular appliance. Models with high energy efficiency save you money on energy costs and are better for the environment. Understanding the EnergyGuide label is essential if you're shopping for a new appliance. The EnergyGuide ... Continue Reading
