Determining whether your air conditioning (AC) system is undersized for your San Francisco, CA home is essential for achieving efficient and effective cooling. An AC unit that is too small can lead to discomfort, high energy costs, and increased wear and tear on the system. This blog post will explore key signs that may indicate your AC unit is undersized, drawing on insights from various HVAC experts.
Investing in an addition allows you to create a better, more spacious home while meeting the changing needs of your growing family. Like most renovations, it requires careful thought and planning. Apart from learning about the potential timeline and budget to get it done, you’ll have to consider the type of HVAC setup that will best fit your home addition. This decision, after all, will have an impact on your home’s overall heating and cooling needs.
If you’re using a gas or oil-burning furnace for heating, you can consider electrification as a way to help reduce your home’s carbon emissions. In today’s post, local HVAC repair company Schmitt Heating & Air Conditioning takes a look at electrification and how it relates to your HVAC system.
Buying an HVAC system is a considerable investment. That’s why you should always be informed so you can make the right choice for your home and family. After all, you don’t want to buy an air conditioner or heat pump and then have to call on a local HVAC contractors a few weeks later.
If you’re planning to sell your home soon, then you probably want to make your home as presentable as possible. This is so the next potential buyer will be more interested in your property and end up purchasing it. In order for this to happen without any fuss, you may need to upgrade on a few of your home’s features, including your air conditioning system. Read more
Knowing the basics of how HVAC systems work can give homeowners a greater appreciation for their system, inform them as to maintenance tasks they should be performing, help them diagnose problems, and communicate with technicians.
There are several types of heating and air conditioning systems in modern homes. In climates that only experience one temperature extreme, a single-stage system may provide either heat or cold to a home. These systems are inexpensive but inefficient and are not commonly used.
Conventional systems will combine a furnace and an air conditioning unit to provide both heating and cooling capabilities. Most of these setups will have single-speed fans, which are only capable of running at full speed or being turned off. Newer systems may have variable-speed fans that run at various speeds to provide greater energy efficiency.
Zoning heating and air conditioning systems allow homeowners to control the temperature of multiple “zones” within their home individually. These systems allow greater comfort within a home and increased energy efficiency, but are more expensive than traditional systems.
Heat pumps are becoming a popular choice for replacing conventional systems. Heat pumps only move heat from one area to another, allowing them to function while using far less energy than other systems. Different types of heat pumps use different sources for heat and work more efficiently down to cooler temperatures.
Homeowners should understand the basics of their own system. Some important details include:
Homeowners who know what type of HVAC system their home uses and the basics listed above will find themselves better able to keep their systems running efficiently, and will be able to communicate more clearly with technicians.
Have any additional questions about your HVAC system? We love educating our customers about how their systems work. Contact us today.
Every industry undergoes changes from time to time. As new technologies are discovered and developed, it takes time for those new technologies to hit the mainstream and be accepted for everyday use as the new industry-standard. In the world of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), there are a number of technologies on the horizon that will begin to change the way that home owner’s heat and cool their homes.
Here are some of the latest HVAC technologies that have already hit the market or will soon be showing up in homes across the country in no time:
Though this is by no means a brand new technology, smart thermostats continue to improve, offering even more features that are not only convenient for homeowners but help them save money. For those not familiar with this technology, smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature and other aspects of your indoor air quality remotely from the convenience of your smart phone.
This Wi-Fi enabled thermostat helps homeowners cut down on energy waste by allowing them to control their HVAC system from wherever they may be. For instance, if you leave the AC on full blast when you left the house, you can adjust it to a more moderate temperature to save energy while you are away.
Smart ventilation is another powerful technology that makes it easier for you to make your home environment more comfortable while also helping you reduce energy usage and cut cooling and heating costs. Smart ventilation uses sensors that allow you to monitor and control airflow in each room in your house.
You can save energy by reducing air flow to rooms that are often empty. You can also increase comfort levels by adjusting air flow to each room in line with the family member’s preference. For instance, if you like to feel the cool air directly on you, you might increase airflow to your room, while decreasing airflow to the room of a family member who easily gets cold. The best part is that all of this can be done from the convenience of your smartphone.
Variable refrigerant flow is also not a brand new technology. However, when connecting this technology to your home automation system, it has the potential to transform the way that home owners maintain a comfortable indoor environment year-round. Variable refrigerant flow gives you greater control over the temperature inside your home and allows you to adjust different rooms to different temperatures.
Everyone has different ideas of what temperature is optimal and which environment makes them most comfortable. This technology allows you to increase comfort for everyone by adjusting temperature to their liking. Combine this with the smart ventilation system, and you will be making your home more comfortable and saving energy in no time.
Some of these technologies are already being utilized in homes across the country, while others are not far behind. If you are interested in what HVAC upgrades might be available to you, contact us today.
Like any commercial appliance, heat pumps sometimes have mechanical issues. Below are troubleshooting ideas for some of the more common problems.
If the top of your unit has a lot of ice, if ice is incasing the coils, or if the whole unit has a thick sheet of ice and snow covering it, you’ll want to take action. That much ice can prevent heat from transferring between the refrigerant and the air outside, and it will impede the heat pump’s operation. Any heat pump covered in ice should be attended to quickly, or the unit could become severely damaged.
What you’ll need to do to fix your unit is dependent upon the type of problem it’s experiencing.
In order to troubleshoot the issue, melt the ice with water from a hose (never use a pointy object). Remove any debris or snow that is blocking the unit. See if any leaking gutters are causing water to drip onto the unit. Repair any you find. Call your HVAC company to troubleshoot further.
A heat pump can run constantly in the summer if it is set to a low temperature in very hot weather. If this isn’t the case, your system might be too small and thus be unable to adequately heat the space, or the space may not be insulated well enough to retain the heat. Another culprit is a system that hasn’t had yearly maintenance, as it may have a buildup of debris.
Heat pumps run longer and heat less than furnaces. However, if in the winter the temperature is warmer than the mid-30s and you still find that it’s running all the time, you might have leaking refrigerant, a compressor problem or a frozen outdoor unit. A service technician can help you determine the problem.
Your HVAC company can help you with ice problems and systems that run too frequently. The company can also help with heat pumps that blow cold air instead of warm. Whatever type of issue your heat pump is experiencing, a qualified technician can help determine and fix the problem.
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These are the 4 most common reason’s your HVAC system breakdown, it normally happens when you least expect it and even some times can’t afford the extra expenses it causes. Trust us, monitoring your system is a very important step that no one should not do. Call us today and we will make sure your system is running smooth!
From air conditioning repair to heat pump installation, Carrier factory authorized dealers are known to excel in the works they do. By hiring these dealers, you are not only assured of dependability but also superior services.
By definition, a Carrier Factory Authorized dealer is a recognized dealer who is certified by the Carrier Corporation to have performed HVAC repairs, installation, and maintenance that meets meticulous national standards. A very small percentage of companies have earned such distinctions, so hiring such a company is an assurance that you will receive state-of-the-art customer service, sound business practices, and high-end expertise on technical aspects of your HVAC installation and repair services.
There are myriad reasons why you need to hire Carrier Authorized for your next HVAC project. Here is an overview of few characteristics that make these professionals stand out:
Working with a Carrier Authorized Dealer provides you with an opportunity to get superior quality and excellent HVAC repair and installation services. They not only offer complete lineup of heating and cooling services but are also certified by EPA for apposite refrigerant handling.
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