Tips for Improving Ventilation in Your Home

The air that we breathe has a big impact on our health. Unfortunately, the air quality in our homes is often poor. There are several ways to deal with that, including ventilation. The air outside of your house is usually cleaner than the air inside it. Ventilating your home brings clean air in and pushes contaminated air out, which keeps you safe. There are many ways to ventilate a home, and the best results come from combining all of them. 1. Use an Air Filter Air filters will not increase the airflow into your home, but they do improve its quality. You have a few options for cleaning incoming air. Your HVAC system will include a few filters. Keep an eye on them and replace them as necessary. The frequency will vary depending on the type of filter and how often you run the system. You may need to replace them every month. When in doubt, follow the instructions that came with your equipment. You can also get an air purifier. These devices excel at eliminating mold spores, bacteria, and other irritants. If you’re interested in installing one, can help you get started. We’ll help you learn about your options...

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How Can Buying a New HVAC System Save You Money?

Wondering whether it’s worth the time and money to upgrade your home with a new HVAC system? If so, you should know there are at least seven ways a new HVAC system can save money while making your home more comfortable. 1. Reduced Energy Bills Some newer HVAC systems use a variety of advanced technologies like variable-speed motors. These motors adjust their speed based on the heating or cooling needs of the home. This allows the HVAC system to consume less energy when compared to systems that use traditional single-speed motors. High-efficiency components, such as compressors and heat exchangers, maximize energy transfer, further enhancing the system’s overall efficiency. These technologies significantly reduce the house’s overall energy consumption, leading to lower utility bills. When comparing energy savings between old and new HVAC systems, the difference can be substantial. 2. Enhanced Performance and Reliability Newer HVAC systems are usually made from stainless steel or polymers that resist corrosion. These materials have a significantly longer lifespan than those of traditional materials like galvanized steel or copper. They last for years, prolonging the HVAC system’s lifetime while reducing repairs and replacements and the associated costs. 3. Lower Maintenance Costs The enhanced durability and reliability...

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Common Signs Your Heating System Needs Repair

Throughout the winter, it is crucial to possess a functioning heating system to keep your home comfortable. However, like any other HVAC system, heating units are susceptible to issues. Your unit may have poor heat distribution or emit unusual sounds while running, among other issues. Look for professional help from experienced HVAC technicians in these instances. Ignoring signs might result in the breakdown of the unit during the coldest days of winter. Prompt action helps ensure that your system continues operating at its highest efficiency level in the foreseeable future. Here are several signs indicating when repairs may be needed. Irregular Heating Unless you use a zoned heating system, the unit should maintain consistent temperatures throughout your home, except in some areas such as near windows and doors. Sudden temperature drops in other rooms may indicate underlying issues with your heating system. Seeking repair service providers, such as , can help you identify the cause of the heating inconsistency and address the problem. Heightened Energy Bills An unexpected and inexplicable rise in your energy bills could signify that your heating system is not working efficiently. Typical issues that can lead the heating system to incur increased energy include blocked air...

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8 Reasons the Furnace Won’t Blow Warm Air

There’s nothing better than coming home after a long day’s work to a warm and comfortable home. This is especially true for homes in Puyallup, WA during the winter. The average low temperature in this part of the country is 42°F. The average amount of snowfall is 10 to 20 inches each year. Even with the utmost care and maintenance, though, furnaces sometimes experience problems. Let’s look at the top eight causes of a furnace that fails to keep your home warm and what to do. 1. Thermostat Settings or Malfunction A furnace that blows chilly air might be due to incorrect thermostat settings. For example, if you set the thermostat to “ON” instead of “AUTO,” the fan will run continuously, creating cold air circulation. A malfunctioning thermostat can also cause the furnace to blow cold air. This is because the thermostat helps control the heating cycle. If it’s broken, the thermostat will keep the furnace from heating to your desired temperature. Maintaining a well-functioning heating system requires regular checks and calibration of the thermostat settings and rapid attention to any problems. 2. Clogged Air Filter Dirty air filters are one of the most common reasons that a furnace will...

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5 DIY Furnace Maintenance Tips

Your home’s furnace ensures a comfortable living environment, especially during chilly winters. While homeowners can perform some basic maintenance tasks, many aspects of furnace care require the expertise of a professional. This guide provides useful DIY tips for simple furnace maintenance while emphasizing the importance of regular professional servicing to ensure your system remains in optimal working condition. 1. Regularly Clean and Replace Filters Homeowners can easily carry out simple activities, such as changing or cleaning air filters, for their furnaces as needed. Dust, dirt, and other deposits may accumulate in these filters, resulting in reduced airflow and furnace performance. You should clean or replace your filters once every one to three months, depending upon the type and quality. When replacing filters, use the correct size and type for your specific furnace model. You should also check and clean any additional filters on your system, such as those in the blower or air intake. This simple task can improve your furnace’s efficiency and lifespan and promote better indoor air quality. Alternatively, have professional technicians thoroughly clean and inspect your furnace’s filters during their maintenance visit. 2. Keep Vents and Registers Clean Another easy task to improve your furnace’s efficiency is...

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5 Ductwork Design Mistakes To Avoid at All Costs

If you’re planning on installing a ductwork system to support a forced-air furnace, heat pump, or central AC system in your home or business, you should know it’s a big deal. The decisions you make in the process will have ramifications that will affect your comfort for years to come. Here at , we’ve been experts in ductwork design for over 70 years. So, we’ve seen every possible configuration of ductwork you can imagine. Based on that experience, here are five ductwork design mistakes you should avoid at all costs. 1. Improper Ductwork Sizing The most critical part of ductwork design is ensuring that your ductwork has the right capacity for the job you’re expecting it to do. That means understanding how everything from the ductwork’s material to the distance between your HVAC system and your vents will affect airflow. Getting this wrong can wreak havoc on both your home or business’s comfort and the efficiency and lifespan of your HVAC. If your ductwork’s too small, your HVAC won’t be capable of maintaining the indoor temperatures you want. If it’s too big, your HVAC will work harder than it should, leading to poor efficiency and unnecessary wear and tear. 2....

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Replacing HVAC Air Filters: A Critical, Ongoing Maintenance Task

Performing regular HVAC air filter changes is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to keep the heater and air conditioner in your Puyallup, WA, home running smoothly. This essential, ongoing maintenance task will also protect and improve your indoor air quality (IAQ) and keep your energy bills in check. Thus, it is essential to establish the right filter change schedule and to change filters correctly. What HVAC Air Filters Do All new heaters and air conditioners come with standard air filters installed. These components capture and retain dust, hair, dander, and other particulates in incoming air. When your HVAC system draws air from the building interior, it not only heats or cools it but also leaves this air a bit cleaner. However, despite the obvious IAQ benefits that this basic level of filtration provides, HVAC air filters largely exist to protect heaters and air conditioners. Without a functional filter, many of the allergens and contaminants that are floating in your indoor air would settle on and coat your HVAC system’s most sensitive components. For instance, poor filtration could leave your air conditioner’s evaporator coil covered in dust and unable to efficiently transfer heat. Dirty air filters and dirty evaporator coils...

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Do Air Purifiers Work? Research, Best Practices, and More

A whole-home air purifier is an effective way to clean and purify the air in your home. While small, room-size air purifiers can work in an enclosed space, they are not as efficient or effective as units meant to clean the entire house. Clean air is important for everyone, but very young individuals, the elderly, or those who have existing heart or lung issues are more susceptible to poor air quality. Western Washington, including Puyallup, has experienced an increase in wildfire smoke over the past several years. This smoke is devastating to local air quality. At , we understand the importance of creating a comfortable and healthy home, and one way to do that is by improving the air quality. What Causes Poor Indoor Air Quality? One common reason why a home may have poor indoor air quality is due to the quality of the air outside. Even newer homes that are designed to be highly energy-efficient allow some outdoor air in. When the air quality outside is affected by such things as wildfires, the air inside can become uncomfortable as well. Homes are also a good place for many common allergens to thrive. Not everyone will be affected by...

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How to Fix a Clogged AC Drain Line

A clogged drain line is one of the most annoying problems you can have with your air conditioner. It often leads to water leaks in your home, which can cause issues such as water damage and mold growth. As with most issues with your HVAC system, it’s always best to contact professionals if your drain line is clogged. Here are some tips on determining whether a clogged drain line is your issue. Warranties, Insurance and DIY Fixes Keep in mind that fixes that are not considered minor can affect your HVAC unit’s warranty. Many policies require that units must be serviced by a professional to remain valid. If you try and fix your drain line clog and cause water damage to your home, your insurance policy may not cover the damage. 1. Check the Drain Flow Switch Before you do anything else, check to see if your AC unit has a drain flow switch. This switch will shut down your air conditioner if water backs up under the evaporator to avoid water damage. The switch usually sits above a well in the drain line. If there’s a clog in the line and water backs up, the well will fill with...

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Simple Tips on How to Clean an Outdoor AC Unit

Your air conditioning unit works hard to maintain a comfortable environment in your home, particularly during those long, hot summer days. Similar to any other appliance, regular maintenance is key for optimal performance. Some of these tasks, like cleaning your outdoor AC unit, can be done by some handy homeowners themselves. However, it’s generally best practice to leave your important yearly maintenance to the pros. If you’re a handy homeowner that wants to do a little extra in between your professional maintenance from a licensed technician, here’s a general outline of what cleaning and outdoor unit looks like! Step 1. Cut off the Power Disclaimer: It’s critical to switch off the power to your AC unit before starting any maintenance or cleaning for your safety. Your safety is paramount, so the first step is to disconnect the power to the AC unit. Locate the exterior shut-off box near the unit and turn it off. It’s a crucial step to avoid any accidental electrical shocks. Step 2. Clear Debris Around the Unit Next, make sure there’s no debris around your outdoor unit. Remove any loose leaves, twigs, or grass. Trim back overgrown shrubs or branches that may interfere with the unit’s...

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