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Why Ductless Is the Way to Go
You deserve the most comfort at the best price in your California home or business. You want reliable heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) at reasonable prices. You want fresh, clean air so you and your loved ones can enjoy a healthy home.
Try going ductless.
A ductless system, or mini split, adds comfort to your home without the hassle of having to extend your ductwork. For new construction, additions, retrofits, and remodeling projects, a ductless system is your perfect heating and cooling solution.
At Air Care Heating & Cooling, we offer whole-house solutions that help you get the most out of your HVAC investment while adding value to your Santa Clara home. We believe you should have complete control when it comes to your indoor comfort, safety, and health.
Why Go Ductless?
Air ducts play a vital role in conventional heating and cooling systems—those ducts deliver the goods! But over time, tears and leaks develop in your ductwork that compromise efficiency. The US Department of Energy (DOE) estimates leaky ducts can add hundreds of dollars per year to your heating and cooling costs.
Most experts agree leaky ducts allow up to 25 percent or more of your energy to escape. A ductless system eliminates this type of energy loss.
How a Ductless Mini Split Works
There are two main parts to a mini split: an outdoor condenser and one or more indoor mounted units (additionally there is the conduit connecting the outdoor and indoor components). A few small holes and tubing are required to connect the outside refrigerant lines to the indoor units.
Our professionals at Air Care Heating & Cooling can select the right mini split system to fit your needs and budget, and install it with minimal disruption to your home or office.
Zone Control Systems and Mini Splits
You might already know about zone control systems in which you can set different temperatures in different areas of your home. Zone control systems work especially well in large homes with multiple floors and intricate layouts.
With a ductless mini split system, you enjoy the benefits of a zone control system without the ductwork since each interior unit has its own programmable thermostat.
Advantages With a Ductless System
A ductless system uses a washable filter instead of a disposable filter, which is used in traditional system. Best practice involves cleaning the filter frequently—at least once a month, and more so if you have pets or smokers in your home. Annual maintenance tune-ups and inspections will help extend the life of your system and ensure it runs at full capacity when you need it most.
Here are some other advantages you will enjoy by going ductless:
- Better air quality—Poorly maintained ductwork contributes to indoor air pollution, circulating dust and debris that infiltrates the air ducts through leaks and tears. Eliminating ductwork reduces the chances of exposing your indoor air quality (IAQ) to airborne contaminants.
- More efficient—A quality central air conditioner has a SEER (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio) rating between 14 and 16. A top-performing ductless system will typically have a SEER rating above 20.
- Less noise—Central air conditioners and window units tend to make noise—not so with a ductless mini split. They’re quiet, efficient, and reliable.
Go Ductless Today!
Ductless mini split systems use less energy to provide all your heating and cooling needs in Santa Clara, CA. These innovative systems are environmentally friendly and simple to operate. At Air Care Heating & Cooling, we take great pride in informing our customers about quality products and services that add comfort, safety, and health to your home or business. Call 408-317-2950 or request estimate online today to learn more about ductless mini splits and similar products.
Video – Check Your Furnace Pilot Light
Your furnace may be blowing cold air because the pilot light has gone out. Call us or request estimate online to have it properly fixed. This is indicative of a bigger problem that requires professional help.
What Are Signs I Need a New Furnace?
A furnace is a major investment for any San Jose homeowner. Although it’s not something that will need to be done frequently, most people will face the decision of needing to purchase a new heating system sometime during home ownership.
Our team at Air Care Heating & Cooling wants you to understand how your furnace works and what signs you can watch for to indicate it’s time for a replacement heating system.
Time Has Passed
Perhaps one of the biggest factors in deciding it’s time to replace your furnace is its age. The average life span of a furnace is 15 to 20 years, but this can vary greatly depending on how well you have maintained your system. However, if your furnace is more than a decade old, it may be time to start planning for a furnace replacement.
Repairs Increase in Number, Cost, and Frequency
Another sign that it may be time to swap out your furnace for a new model is its repair record. As your furnace ages, you’ll find yourself calling in your California heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals more frequently. In addition, you’ll probably see the costs of service calls start increasing as well.
If your repair costs begin to reach half the cost of a new furnace within a year or so, it may be worth it to invest in a new heating system.
Utility Usage Rises
Keep an eye on your regular utility bills. If the unit cost of energy doesn’t rise but your monthly bills do, that may be another sign it’s time to replace your furnace. Older equipment tends to work less efficiently over time, which means it will require more energy to produce the same amount of heat.
One advantage of switching to a new furnace is that new models are always more energy efficient than older ones. As a result, you’ll automatically start recouping some of your investment in lower monthly utility bills.
For example, Money Magazine cites one possible example. If your annual heating costs are $2,000 and you increase your annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating by 15 percent in a new furnace, you will save $300 each year. Naturally these numbers depend on your fuel and energy sources.
Excessive Humidity, Dust, or Dirt
Although many factors can play a role in indoor air quality, your furnace can definitely make a difference. If routine maintenance like changing your air filters and regular tune-ups do not solve humidity, dust, or other air quality issues, it may be a sign you need to replace your furnace.
Strange Noises or Odors
Be sure to be attentive to the daily behavior of your furnace. Often, buzzing, vibrations, clanking, or other noises may warrant a service call. If your professional technician finds your furnace has excessive wear or structural damage, it’s a wise decision to invest in a new furnace.
Change in Comfort Level
When you run your furnace, if your home doesn’t feel as comfortable as it has in the past, you may want to explore the causes. Older furnaces that are working inefficiently can cause different rooms in your home to vary greatly in temperature, leading to uncomfortable cold and hot spots. When you upgrade your furnace and its components to newer models, you may be able to boost the comfort level of you and your family.
Physical Appearance
Finally, you can take a quick inventory of your furnace’s physical appearance. If you see signs of rusting, cracks, or other structural weaknesses, it may be a smart idea to evaluate your new furnace options.
Contact Air Care heating & Cooling for All Your Furnace Needs
If you’d like a professional assessment of your current operation costs and the typical return on investment (ROI) of a new furnace, give our team at Air Care Heating & Cooling in San Jose, CA, a call. Our trained technicians can help you evaluate your system and share information about new models available to help you make an informed decision. Call us at 408-317-2950 or request service online.
Video – What Should I Do If My Water Heater Is Leaking?
Is your water heater leaking? Here’s what you need to do: First, find the location of the leak. This will be helpful for you and your service technician. Turn off the power supply by switching the water heater circuit breaker to “off” for an electric water heater or by turning the dial to “off” on a gas water heater. Next, turn off the cold water supply to avoid more water being wasted from the leak. Call us today to have your water heater repaired or replaced.
Heat Pump Versus Furnace
Looking to install a new heater in your Saratoga home? Your two most popular choices are a heat pump and a furnace. Each one has advantages and disadvantages when compared to the other.
The What’s What
Here are some things to consider to help you in your decision-making process. And remember, you can always call one of our heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professionals at Air Care Heating & Cooling for more clarity on this whole subject.
What About a Heat Pump?
The short version of how a heat pump works is that it transfers heat from inside to outside and then outside to inside. It works on the same philosophy as an air conditioner—it doesn’t create heat, it simply moves it around.
A heat pump is also an air conditioner, so essentially you get a two-for-one system. Here are its pros and cons.
Heat Pump Pros
- Runs cleaner. A heat pump runs off electricity, so it’s a cleaner source of energy than gas or oil. It can create one-and-a-half to three times more energy than it uses.
- Can be safer. Because a heat pump runs on electricity, there’s no risk of carbon monoxide poisoning or gas explosions.
- Can provide both heating and cooling. In other words, it is convenient and could be more cost effective in the right home. Moreover, there are no added components or elements. Just be sure to keep the heat pump well maintained, because the US Department of Energy (DOE) notes how this can result in a 10 to 25 percent difference in energy consumption as compared to a neglected one.
Heat Pump Cons
- Is more expensive to run. Since a heat pump operates entirely on electricity, it can possibly cost you more to run—electricity is generally higher in price than gas or oil. Of course, all of this depends on the price of electricity and the efficiency of your heat pump.
- Can sometimes only be used for heat in warmer climates. Some heat pump models only heat well in temperatures over 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (making it an ideal choice for the southeastern coastal part of the United States or California). Otherwise, your Saratoga home will need a supplementary heater, usually a furnace. This is known as a dual-fuel system.
- Has a shorter life span. A heat pump has an average projected life span of 12 to 15 years, while a furnace has an average 15 to 20 year life span. A heat pump suffers more wear and tear as well, since it runs year round, as opposed to a furnace that typically runs only a few months a year.
What About a Furnace?
The short version of how a furnace works is that it uses a fossil fuel to create its own heat, and then its fan blows the heat to different areas of your home via ductwork. Here are its pros and cons.
Furnace Pros
- Has a longer life span. Running only a few months of the year, a furnace’s life span is greater than a heat pump’s. Most furnaces nowadays can last 15 to 20 years.
- Requires less maintenance. Since a furnace is utilized only part of the year, the wear and tear is less, resulting in fewer repairs with proper annual maintenance by a professional — like one of our Air Care Heating & Cooling HVAC experts.
- Can be used in homes everywhere. A furnace can be installed in any climate, regardless of the temperatures, including your California home.
Furnace Cons
- Can’t cool air. Since a furnace can only heat air, unlike a heat pump, you would need to make an additional investment in an air conditioner.
- Not as safe. Any time gas or oil involved, there is an inherent safety risk of fire or an explosion, no matter how minimal the risk. And with gas, a carbon monoxide leak is possible.
- Not as environmentally friendly to run. Gas and oil don’t burn as efficiently as electricity. Their burning produces toxic gases released into the environment.
What It All Comes Down To
As far as which is a better choice, you should take into account several important factors — such as your Saratoga area’s climate, the energy rates for electricity and gas, how environmentally friendly the energy source would be — and go from there. If you have more concerns regarding furnaces or heat pumps, don’t hesitate to contact our highly trained and knowledgeable Air Care Heating & Cooling team.
We Are Your Furnace and Heat Pump Experts
Air Care Heating & Cooling is a team of fully licensed professionals. For any questions or to schedule service, call us at [acf field=”company_phone” post_id=”54″] or request service online today. We service Saratoga, CA, and its surrounds, offering furnace and heat pump expertise, along with installation and replacement, repairs, maintenance, and more.
Video – What Is Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide, CO, is a poisonous, odorless, tasteless gas. It is formed by the incomplete combustion of carbon, or the incomplete burning of natural gas and other things that contain carbon. It can often be mixed with other gasses with odors. CO can result from the burning of any of these, gasoline, kerosene, oil, propane, coal, wood and other things. It is also a byproduct of an internal combustion engine.
The CDC estimates that 400 people per year die of CO poisoning, 20,000 more visit the emergency room and 4,000 people are hospitalized.
Contact us today about installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector today in your home or office.
Thermostat 101 Basics
Every team needs a leader.
In the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) industry, your thermostat is the undisputed leader of the heating and cooling team. It signals your furnace and air conditioner (AC) when to turn on and off. Whenever your thermostat detects a temperature change that’s different from the desired setting in your Santa Clara home, it barks out a new directive to adjust the indoor climate.
You can trust our team at Air Care Heating & Cooling to always add value and comfort to your Northern California home or business throughout the year. We offer practical solutions designed to extend the service life and operating efficiency of your HVAC system—including your thermostat.
What Type of Thermostat Should I Buy?
The thermostat you choose will depend on your needs. Here are the three basic models, along with some pros and cons to each one:
1. Standard Thermostats—
The standard nonprogrammable thermostat is the most common, least expensive, and easiest to use. This is the one most people remember from their childhood homes. The round Honeywell unit designed in 1953 has become so embedded in our American way of life that it has made its way to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History. And it is still in use today.
Pros: Many people favor a simple mechanical design with physical switches. Your biggest decisions involve setting the target temperature and deciding whether to leave the fan on AUTO or switch it to ON. There isn’t much to this unit, so there isn’t much that can go wrong.
Cons: When you adjust the thermostat because of a change in the outdoor temperature, you’ll need to remember to readjust it back to your desired setting later. This model is the least energy efficient of these three options as well.
2. Programmable Thermostats—
The programmable thermostat is a more energy-efficient model. You can have a home and away setting. When you are home, you have the temperature set at your ideal comfort setting. When you are away, you can raise or lower your thermostat setting to save energy.
The climate may not be as conducive, but you won’t be there anyway. The key is to remember it takes a bit of time for your home’s climate to get to your ideal setting, so be sure to allow for that in the programming.
Pros: The programmable thermostat will save energy and prolong the life of your heating and cooling system. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a programmable thermostat can lower your heating and cooling costs up to 30 percent.
Cons: The programmable thermostat is a bit more expensive upfront compared to a standard model. Some may argue that starting and stopping your system is more taxing than the energy it saves.
3. Smart Thermostats—
This is the new breed of thermostats. The smart thermostat learns the behavior patterns of your home. These thermostats offer the latest advances in home automation technology—they can detect when you are home or away, weather patterns, and whether there is an issue with your HVAC system.
By using Wi-Fi, you can remotely control your smart thermostat through a computer, tablet, and smartphone. This is why they’re called smart! Once a smart thermostat has been in place for a while, it can adjust itself. It can show you energy consumption in real time.
Pros: You can control your climate remotely from within your home or away from your Santa Clara home. You can monitor your home’s energy usage.
Cons: This is the most expensive option.
Learn More About Thermostats Today
Never take your HVAC thermostat for granted. It plays a vital role in maintaining the heating and cooling system in your Santa Clara, CA, home. Call 408-317-2950 or request estimate online to have one of our professionals at Air Care Heating & Cooling provide you with more information about improving the comfort and safety of your home.
Video – Energy Tip 3
Close your blinds on sun-facing windows during the day to keep the sun from heating up your home and causing your AC to use more energy.
Common AC Problems and Solutions
When the weather gets really hot in San Jose, the last thing you want is a broken air conditioner. Many common problems with air conditioning systems can arise. Our team at Air Care Heating & Cooling wants you to be aware, prepared, and ready to solve these air conditioning issues so you and your family can stay cool this summer.
Inconsistent Cooling
Do you find some of your rooms are too cold while others are still on the warm side? Many California homeowners have trouble with inconsistent cooling. While factors such as the age and design of your home can cause these consistency issues, you may also have a leak in your duct system. One of our trained professionals can come and inspect your air conditioner and duct system and suggest solutions to this problem.
Failure to Cool
If your air conditioner is simply blowing warm air, you may want to check simple things like your filter. Dirty filters can prevent your system from functioning properly and are easy to change. They can also decrease the efficiency of your system.
In fact, you can save between 5 and 15 percent of the energy used for your air conditioning by changing your filter in combination with other energy-saving actions.
In some cases, you may need to clean condenser coils or have one of our professionals come out and add refrigerant to your air conditioner due to a leak in your system. Other mechanical failures may cause cooling issues as well.
One way to ensure your air conditioner is ready for the season is to have regular maintenance performed. One of our highly trained and experienced professionals can conduct a thorough inspection, cleaning, and tune-up to be sure all system components are running well.
No Air Movement
When you place your hand on a room’s register and feel no air blowing at all, even though your air conditioning unit is turned on, you may have a broken fan or thermostat, or a tripped breaker.
It’s easy to fix your tripped breaker on your own, and you can inspect your unit to see if you notice the fan is running or not. Other less common issues may be a bad blower belt or wiring issues, which may require a professional.
Ice Accumulation
You may notice that ice is accumulating around your air conditioning unit at times. Many situations can result in your air conditioner freezing up. Check to be sure you have good airflow through and around your air conditioning system.
Dirty air filters, closed dampers, or blocked vents or ducts can restrict airflow. If all of these areas seem clear on visual inspection, you may want to call our trained team to conduct a more professional check of your system.
Strange Noises
By being aware of what your air conditioning system usually sounds like, you will notice more quickly if something seems amiss. If you hear strange noises, they can be cues something needs to be repaired or replaced.
Squeaking sounds usually indicate problems with your air conditioner belt, which may need realignment or replacement. If you hear grinding sounds, you may need to inspect the motor’s bearings. Other noises may be easier to remedy, such as rattling can simply indicate a loose cover.
Odd Operation Patterns
In nearly all weather conditions, your air conditioner should kick on at a certain temperature, run for a while, and then shut off. If you find your air conditioner is constantly running or seems to cycle on and off too frequently, you need to address these issues.
If your air conditioner never takes a break, you may have an issue with the fan, refrigerant level, or relay switches. This may require a professional visit from a member of our team to diagnose and repair these issues.
A system that constantly turns off and on may indicate a dirty or blocked condenser unit or evaporator. A thorough cleaning can help solve this issue.
Contact Us Today
If you find yourself with air conditioner problems you can’t resolve, contact our knowledgeable professionals at Air Care Heating & Cooling in San Jose, CA, for help. Call 408-317-2950 or request estimate online today for any of your air conditioning needs.
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