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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How To Choose Between Central AC and a Mini-Split

With average summer temperatures in Puyallup, WA, climbing each year, air conditioning is more of a necessity here than ever before. Right now, the two principal options to installing an AC system to your home are a central air conditioning system or a mini-split. To help you decide between the two, here are the pros and cons of both so you understand what you’re getting into with each. The Pros of Central AC Systems The most common type of whole-house AC system you’ll find in use is a central AC system. The main advantage of such systems is that they offer efficient cooling and relatively low operating costs. On top of that, central air conditioners also have an aesthetic advantage since the only sign of having one is a handful of small vents in each room of your home and a single outdoor unit that serves your whole home. Another advantage of central air conditioning systems is their longevity. You can expect the average central air conditioner to give you between 15 and 20 years of reliable service if you maintain them well. That makes the cost of a central air conditioning system easier to accept when you divide it...

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Pet Dander and How It Affects Indoor Air Quality

All homes are filled with a wide range of allergens, such as pollen, dust mites and mold spores. If you own almost any type of pet, then your home’s air also likely contains a high concentration of pet dander. Similar to dandruff shed by some people, dander is basically just dead skin cells. Specifically, it refers to the skin cells shed by any animal with hair, fur or feathers, including humans, dogs, cats, birds, guinea pigs and other pets. Some animals, such as hypoallergenic dog breeds, shed less dander, but all animals produce at least some. Pet dander is especially an issue for allergy sufferers or people with respiratory issues, but it can really affect anyone and lead to coughing, sneezing, runny or itchy eyes and a variety of other symptoms. Many pets also give off other allergens that can further worsen indoor air quality. For instance, both cat and dog saliva contains various allergens that stick to their fur whenever they clean themselves, and these allergens then get into the air whenever the animals shed their fur. Cat and dog urine contains numerous allergens as well. All of these different allergens mean that indoor air quality is typically far...

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Discover 6 Ways to Save Energy in Your HVAC System

HVAC systems are one of the biggest consumers of energy in the modern household. While it can take a lot of electricity and gas to keep your air at a comfortable temperature, there are ways to reduce energy consumption. Follow these tips to lower your power bills and make your HVAC system more efficient. 1. Adjust Your Temperature Settings The best thing you can do is simply avoid keeping your home toasty warm in the winter and freezing cold in the summer. Just adjusting your thermostat by a few degrees can result in drastic savings without any noticeable discomfort. The United States Department of Energy recommends homeowners keep their HVAC at 78 degrees in the summer and 68 degrees in the winter for maximum efficiency. However, if that sounds too unpleasant, every little change helps. Each degree of temperature change per 8 hours gives you savings of approximately 1%. 2. Use Your Ceiling Fans Correctly If you have ceiling fans, you’re in luck. A ceiling fan can make your home feel a lot more comfortable without using as much energy as your HVAC system. In warm months, a refreshing breeze from the fan can help you stay cool even if...

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5 Simple Ways to Improve the Air Quality in Your Home

The air quality in your residence has a direct impact on your health. In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental health risks. Poor indoor air quality can cause various health problems, including respiratory infections, headaches, and fatigue. If you’re looking for ways to improve the air quality in your home, here are five simple things you can do: 1. Change Your HVAC Filter Regularly A good HVAC filter is one of the most important elements you need to have in your home or office. It plays a crucial role in helping maintain healthy indoor air quality by trapping large airborne particles such as dust, dirt, pet hair, and other allergens. However, the HVAC filter must be changed regularly — ideally, every 1–3 months — to function at its best. This ensures that it is fresh and can capture maximum amounts of these particles. When selecting your filter, make sure you go with a quality product that is rated for smaller particle capture so you can rest assured it’s providing you with clean air. Ultimately, changing out your filter routinely saves time and money by increasing efficiency while keeping everyone in the...

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Uncovering the 4 Major Threats to Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution is a growing concern as people spend a significant amount of time indoors. Poor indoor air quality can cause health problems such as headaches, allergies, and respiratory issues. Understanding these pollutants and the sources that contribute to their presence can improve indoor air quality. Here are four main causes of indoor air pollution. 1. Asbestos Asbestos is a major indoor air pollutant and a hazardous material commonly used in construction and insulation until the 1980s. Asbestos fibers are microscopic and are not visible to the naked eye. The fibers can become airborne and can be inhaled when asbestos-containing materials are disturbed or damaged. Asbestos fibers are not easily cleared from the lungs, and over time, they can cause significant damage to the respiratory system, leading to serious health problems. Asbestos exposure can lead to the development of lung diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. Asbestos fibers can also cause other health problems, such as asbestosis, a chronic lung condition that causes shortness of breath and coughing. While the use of asbestos has been heavily regulated since the 1980s, many older buildings may still have asbestos-containing materials in them. If you live in an older home or...

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