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AC Maintenance Checklist
Can you imagine a hot San Jose summer without air conditioning? Your air conditioning system can be your very best friend on the warmest days.
Be sure you take the time to perform basic maintenance regularly as well as invest in a professional checkup at least once a year. According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), good maintenance can save you money and reduce your energy usage.
Here’s a comprehensive air conditioning maintenance checklist, courtesy of our professionals at Air Care Heating and Cooling, to help keep your system in excellent working order.
Check Air Circulation
Perhaps the most important thing to be sure you have around your air conditioner is plenty of space for good air circulation. Most air conditioners have a unit that sits outside your home.
It’s a good idea to inspect this area to be sure leaves, sticks, and other yard debris are cleared every spring. However, once the summer gets into full swing, don’t forget to mow and weed wack around your unit as well.
Change Filters
Being sure you regularly change your filters accomplishes the same goal of ensuring good air circulation. If you have a clogged filter, it can take your air conditioning system more effort to move the air throughout the unit, wearing down parts prematurely. Pay attention to the recommended life of your filters and change them on time.
Uses Your Senses
General awareness of how your air conditioning system should sound and look can be a simple thing for you to have. If you notice something doesn’t look quite right or your air conditioner is suddenly making unusual sounds or emitting strange odors, it can signal a need for air conditioning repair or maintenance.
Check Coolant Levels
Although the first three items on the checklist are easy for just about any California homeowner to do, the remainder of these items may take a bit more experience. If you are uncomfortable with any of these additional maintenance tasks, be sure to call in one of our professionals to help.
The refrigerant or coolant must be at a specific level and pressure to keep your air conditioning system running efficiently. You’ll want to periodically check this level, and if your coolant is low, you’ll need to call in one of our professionals to refill your system. In addition, leaking coolant can be a significant problem for the environment, so address any noticeable leaks immediately.
Look for Ice Buildup
If you notice your air conditioning evaporator coil has ice building up on it, you probably have an air-circulation problem. Double check to be sure your filter and ductwork are clean.
If you have a great deal of ice, you may need to shut off your system, defrost all of it, ensure air circulation is fine, and then turn it back on. If the problem continues, it’s a good idea to call one of our professionals to conduct an inspection.
Inspect Connections
Be sure all the electrical connections as well as ductwork and other tubing within the system look tight and secure. Again, this may take experience to understand what a solid system should look like, and you may want to rely on a professional inspection once a year.
Most heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) companies will provide a comprehensive service of cleaning and inspection for a reasonable fee. Relying on certified, trained technicians can be an excellent investment in your air conditioning system. Call our Air Cair Heating and Cooling team with any questions you may have.
Check Thermostat
A thermostat is a bit of a tangential part of an air conditioning system, but it’s an important one. If your thermostat is not working properly, it will not be sending the correct information to your air conditioner.
As a result, your system can’t work properly. In addition, if a broken thermostat causes your system to cycle on and off too frequently, it can cause longer-term damage to your entire air conditioning system.
Contact Us for All Your Air Conditioning Needs
If it’s been a while since you’ve had your air conditioning system inspected, call Air Care Heating and Cooling in San Jose, CA. Our trained experts would be happy to come out and provide a thorough cleaning and inspection to help keep your air conditioner running efficiently throughout the summer. Call us at 408.463.6957 or request service online today.
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Keeping clean air circulating your home is very especially important due to more time spent at home. Contact us today for more information.
Spring Money-Saving Tips
Everyone loves to save money, and it’s a good idea to review different aspects of your budget now and again to see if there are more opportunities you have missed in the past. In the springtime, considering how you can reduce your energy bills is always a great idea.
According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), air conditioners use about 6 percent of all electricity in the country at a cost of roughly $29 billion to homeowners.
If you can reduce that usage in Santa Clara, you will be able to make a difference in our environment and save yourself some money as well. Take some of the following ideas from our professionals at Air Care Heating & Cooling to heart and make some money-saving resolutions today.
Tune Up for Efficiency
All air conditioners work more efficiently if they have clean filters, enough refrigerant, spotless coils, and plenty of room for air circulation.
Although you can take care of some of these maintenance items on your own—clearing away fallen yard debris from around your outside condenser unit and regularly changing filters, you should engage one of our highly trained professionals to help inspect and clean your air conditioning components. Our experts can also check your ductwork and be sure you are not losing your cooled air before it reaches its destination.
By investing in regular maintenance, it’s less likely your unit will break down in the dog days of summer. That’s an extra bonus.
Work with Mother Nature
Find ways to use the outdoor conditions to your advantage when it comes to saving energy. For example, during the spring and the fall when nighttime temperatures cool down, open all your windows to let the cool breezes in.
Then, first thing in the morning, close your windows and pull your shades to trap the cooler air inside. You can also consider planting trees to shade your home in the future.
Circulate Indoor Air
Consider investing in floor fans or ceiling fans to help move your indoor air. Fans use a lot less energy than air conditioning systems and do a good job cooling down your home in moderate temperatures. You can also run the fan on your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system or install a whole house fan that pulls in fresh air from the attic.
Relocate Heat Outside
The sun is not always the biggest culprit in generating indoor heat. How often do you find that your appliances are competing directly with your air conditioner?
Instead of turning on your oven or stove, consider grilling outside to keep that heat out of your home. Or get a little creative and find some great cold meals to prepare instead.
The clothes dryer is another heat producer in most California homes. Instead of running your dryer, put that springtime sun and a laundry line to work.
Block and Reflect
Another idea to reduce the heat and associated energy bills is to invest in energy-efficient windows, seals, and insulation to keep the cold in and the heat out. You can also install light-colored window coverings to block sun in the warmest part of the day.
Energy-efficient, reflective roof tiles or a coat of lighter exterior paint can do wonders in reflecting the heat of the sun away from your home’s outside.
Rely on Technology
At the very minimum, install a programmable thermostat that will automatically adjust your temperature requirements while you are away or asleep. Smart technology is advancing each day, and in some homes, rooms can now detect when you are present in them and adjust the temperatures accordingly. You can also control and monitor air conditioning usage from afar using a smart phone.
Don’t Forget the Little Things
Every light that’s left on when not in use generates heat as well as all those electronic devices. Consider switching to LED lightbulbs and turning off electronic gadgets when they are not being used to save money and reduce heat.
Contact Us Today
To schedule an air conditioning tune-up or duct inspection, or to talk with us about other energy-saving ideas, call our Air Care Heating & Cooling team at 408-463-6957 or request service online. Our Santa Clara, CA, professionals would be happy to help.
Video – Why Does My Furnace Smell Like Gas When I Turn it On?
You turn on your furnace, and you smell gas. What should you do? First assess what the smell most likely is, and you may not need to call anyone. Of course, if you’re still nervous because you just don’t know, turn off your furnace and give one of our highly trained technicians a call at 408-463-6957 to come out to diagnose the smell for you.
Why Is My Heat Pump Turning On and Off Frequently?
Homeowners generally favor heat pumps for their efficiency. However, a number of common issues can cause them to run very inefficiently. When your unit turns on and off continuously, this can significantly drive up your energy bill and damage its parts.
No One Likes Short Short
The continuous on-and-off phenomenon is known as short cycling. When a heat pump short cycles, it is having trouble heating or cooling your Saratoga home. The unit can’t maintain the set temperature, so it restarts over and over again.
Here are four reasons this might be happening to your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system and what you should do:
1. Air Filter Clog
Whenever your heat pump has a problem, always check your air filter first. Over time, dust and debris form on your filter. When the filter is unchanged, this restricts airflow, which means your system will not circulate the right amount of air to heat or cool your California home. Short cycling can result.
You should replace or clean your air filter, depending on whether it is disposable or reusable. To prevent future clogs, be sure to do this on a regular basis per your heat pump manufacturer’s recommendations.
2. Thermostat Error
Your thermostat could be giving your system an inaccurate reading. This might be due to your thermostat’s placement. If situated near a vent or window, it is likely to produce a misleading temperature scan that can cause short cycling.
Another possibility is faulty wiring between your thermostat and heat pump. In either case, you should have one of our highly trained Air Care Heating & Cooling professionals assess the situation for you.
3. Leaky Refrigerant
During hot weather, your heat pump’s refrigerant absorbs heat from inside your home and sends it outside. During cold weather, the process is reversed. If you have a refrigerant leak, your system is going to have trouble with the heat transfer. Consequently, it will come up short in trying to complete a cycle.
If you notice any icing on your outdoor unit, this could indicate a refrigerant leak. In this case, be sure to seek help from one of our experienced experts.
4. Oversized Unit
This is perhaps the most serious problem, as improper sizing may call for replacement. It is why our experts at Air Care Heating & Cooling always perform the proper calculations, such as the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) Manual J load calculation, before any HVAC installation.
According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), accurate load calculations have a direct impact on energy efficiency, occupant comfort, indoor air quality (IAQ), and building durability.
If you have an oversized unit, it will heat or cool the area quickly, prematurely detect it has reached the target temperature, then shut off. Then the cycle will repeat. To be sure your system is the right size, you need to have a trained professional from Air Care Heating & Cooling perform Manual J testing in your home.
Call Us for All Your Heat Pump Needs
If you have any heat pump questions or want short cycling explained in more detail, please don’t hesitate to call Air Care Heating & Cooling here in Saratoga, CA, at 408-463-6957. Or call or request service online today if you think you need a repair.
The Basics of Winter Indoor Air Quality
In the winter, being snug as a bug in a rug in your home can be cozy, but it can also play havoc with your indoor air quality (IAQ) here in California, creating some significant health problems. At Air Care Heating & Cooling, we recommend taking precautions to avoid the common issues associated with winter indoor air quality.
Why Does Winter Cause Problems?
During the warmer months, you open your windows and let the fresh air in to your Saratoga home. During the colder months, you do the opposite, locking everything up tight, caulking and blocking anywhere cold air can seep in.
While this keeps you toasty, unfortunately it traps your indoor air inside containing all the impurities from your home. With homes being built more and more energy efficient, there are less ways for outdoor air to infiltrate your home and help ventilate it.
What Are Some Common Issues?
An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) study found levels of “about a dozen common organic pollutants to be 2 to 5 times higher inside homes than outside, regardless of whether the homes were in rural or highly industrial areas.” Dr. Marilyn Black, an early pioneer of indoor air-quality research, noted “poor indoor air quality was directly related to the 500 to 1,000 volatile organic compounds [VOCs] coming from everyday materials, such as paint, floorings, furnishings, and printers.”
In addition, it’s been shown pet dander, cleaning products, environmental tobacco smoke, mold, dust, mildew, personal-care products, asbestos, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and a host of other factors also contribute to your indoor air’s pollution.
As a result of poor indoor air quality, you or someone in your home may experience some of these common symptoms on a regular basis:
• Fatigue
• Flu-like symptoms
• Headaches
• Dizziness
• Itchy eyes, nose, and/or throat
• Worsened asthma, allergies, or chronic illnesses
Tips to Improve Indoor Air Quality in the Winter
Just because it’s winter, do not assume you have to suffer through poor indoor air quality. There are things you can do to help improve it. Here are some of our recommendations:
Get your ductwork inspected and cleaned. Having your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system’s air ducts inspected can alert you to leaks, where unconditioned air could be leaking and contributing to your problem. Then having your ducts cleaned will remove any dust-and-debris buildup, preventing it from entering into your airflow.
Have your furnace cleaned and checked. Ensuring your furnace and its filter are clean helps alleviate more dust and debris from making it into your lungs. Your furnace is an integral component in your home’s HVAC system, so having it regularly checked and tuned up keeps things working efficiently for a long time.
Consider installing an air purifier. Your HVAC system’s air filter can only stop so many types and sizes of particles. Many particles are not visible to the human eye yet can still do harm. An air purifier can eradicate them from your home’s airflow.
Check your home’s humidity levels. Optimally your home’s humidity level should remain between 30 to 50 percent all year long. During the colder months, your home’s air becomes drier. Be sure your humidifier is keeping your home humid enough while not over humidifying. Too much moisture, amongst other things, breeds mold and mildew that are both toxic to your body.
Open your windows every day (or at least a few times a week) for short bouts of time.
During the winter months, your home’s ventilation does not bring in as much outdoor fresh air as other times of the year. Your home is shut up tight to keep the cold out. An easy measure to take is simply to open your windows daily for a short time, even for a few minutes. This will bring some much-needed fresh air into your home and help diffuse the stuffy air.
Use more natural cleaning and personal-care products. Chemicals from cleaning and personal-care products will linger longer in your home’s winter air without the flow of fresh air. Concentrated like this, they can do real damage over the long term to your body. Look into substituting healthier alternatives.
Decorate with houseplants. Houseplants clean and purify your home’s air. Adding more to your home can only help remedy the toxins and stuffiness present during the colder months.
Clean your home regularly, paying special attention to carpets, floors, and dusty areas. Cleaning your home once a week goes a long way in keeping dirt and dust from entering your home’s airflow. Carpets are particularly bad for harboring unwanteds. Vacuuming regularly, especially with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter vacuum, can dramatically cut down on your air’s pollution.
Contact Us for All Your Indoor Air Quality Needs
Call us at 408-463-6957 or request service online today to discuss how we can help.
Video – Indoor air quality is important to your family’s health and well being
Air quality in your home is important to your family’s health. Having the right humidity levels, changing your filters regularly and installing air-cleaning or filtration systems like UV lights and air scrubbers.
Geothermal Basics
In this day and age when everyone is concerned about the world’s limited resources and the impact of energy usage on the environment, it’s encouraging to know sustainable solutions are being developed and improved upon. Geothermal heating is one of those technologies that holds the potential to significantly change the way you heat your Santa Clara home.
What Is Geothermal Heating?
Geothermal heating has been around for more than five decades. It’s the process of using the Earth’s natural heat, just under the surface, to warm your home’s air and water as well as cool your home in the summer. A geothermal heat pump essentially moves heat from your home into the ground in the summer or from the ground into your home in the winter.
How Does Geothermal Heating Work?
Most geothermal heating systems employ ground heat exchangers to move fluid within a closed-loop system. Heavy-duty plastic pipes sit either horizontally about six feet underground or vertically as deep as 600 feet. Less common are open-looped geothermal heating systems, which are connected to a well or pond. This system moves the water from the source into an indoor heat pump for temperature control.
A special fluid produced from water and environmentally friendly antifreeze circulates through the heat exchange pipes to absorb and dispel heat, either to or from the ground. When it reaches the heat pump, the heat is moved either into or out of your home depending on the season. The treated air is then circulated through your California home’s duct system.
Can I Modify My Current System?
An existing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system can be modified to add a geothermal heat pump. Our Air Care Heating & Cooling professionals can simply replace a furnace or air conditioning unit and attach a heat pump.
Local excavators will need to be contracted to help bury the underground pipes for heat exchange. Before digging, you may want to consider the pros and cons of vertical and horizontal piping.
Vertical pipe loops disturb less of your current landscape but are more expensive to install. Horizontal pipe loops are only buried about six feet deep and therefore less expensive. However, they require more land. The least expensive way to install geothermal heating is by submerging the pipe loops in a nearby lake or pond if you happen to live near one.
What Are the Costs and Return on Investment?
Geothermal heating systems can be significantly more expensive than a conventional HVAC system. Installation is much more complex and time-consuming.
However, geothermal systems are built to last for decades. A geothermal heat pump will typically have a life span of 25 years while underground piping loops are designed to last for more than 50 years. In addition, the US Department of Energy (DOE) reports that geothermal heating systems can reduce your energy bills by up to 65 percent.
Taking all of these factors into consideration, a homeowner can expect to recoup initial costs within a single decade.
Are There Other Benefits?
Geothermal heating systems are durable, are long lasting, and help you save energy. They use a renewable, existing resource in the heat of the earth and are both environmentally friendly and sustainable. Additionally, geothermal heating systems require very little maintenance. They use the least amount of electricity, produce the fewest emissions, and reduce water and air pollution.
Geothermal heating systems provide safe, stable, comfortable heat, generate less noise than a conventional system, and produce efficient humidity control for your home.
Contact Air Care Heating & Cooling for More Geothermal Information
For more information about geothermal heating systems, contact Air Care Heating & Cooling in Santa Clara, CA. Our professionals can share the details of this sustainable, renewable source of energy as well as answer your questions. Call us at 408.463.6957 or request service online today.
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