Understanding What an AC Capacitor Is and How to Replace It

It’s an inconvenience at best, if not an outright threat to your family: Your central air conditioner isn’t working. You try to diagnose the issue, and it seems like an electrical problem. Often when your AC unit isn’t getting the power it needs to keep your air temperature comfortable, a faulty capacitor is to blame. A capacitor in an air conditioning unit works sort of like a battery. It stores up the electrical current from the electrical supply and distributes it at a consistent level so that your AC’s motors function. A typical central air conditioner has various motor components: a blower motor, a compressor motor, and a fan motor. Depending on the model, your AC unit might have one central capacitor that supplies power to all three motors, or each motor might have its own separate capacitor. Capacitors can break down suddenly, such as when the air conditioner is hit with a sudden power surge, or they may wear down over time due to normal operational wear and tear. Signs of a capacitor near the end of its lifespan may include a humming or clicking sound coming from the AC unit. Alternatively, you may notice your air conditioner having...

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6 Telltale Signs It’s Time to Install a New HVAC System

An HVAC system is one of the most vital appliances in your home. This equipment keeps you in control of the temperatures in your indoor space by cooling your home during summer and heating it in winter. But when should you install a new heating and cooling system? This is a significant investment and may be a challenging decision to make for most homeowners. Below are the telltale signs that it’s time to consider installing a new heating and cooling unit in your house. 1. Expensive Repair Costs Over time, you’ll need to call a professional to service your heating and cooling appliance. Many parts in your equipment are repairable, and simple fixes will be enough to get it back up and running. But when major components such as the compressor, coil fans, or the motor start breaking down, you’ll need to spend a lot of money on repairs. When the cost of repairing exceeds your expected spending, it’s worth replacing the entire unit. A new appliance will make your household more comfortable, and you won’t experience significant system failures. Once installed, remember to schedule maintenance with our professionals to help extend the life of your unit. 2. Uneven Indoor...

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Is Your Air Conditioner Bad for the Environment?

Air conditioners are a useful convenience in the summer months, but they can also negatively impact the environment by causing air pollution. Ditching your air conditioner altogether may be nearly impossible, but thankfully, there are some ways you can reduce the risks of pollution when using them. It’s helpful to start by understanding the different ways that air conditioners can cause air pollution. Thermal Pollution Air conditioners are effective cooling devices because they take the extra heat out of your home. The problem occurs when that heat is released outdoors. This causes the temperature outside to rise. So, the more air conditioners in use, the warmer the outdoor air becomes. Warmer air outside feeds the need for people to rely on air conditioners to keep them comfortable inside and creates a vicious cycle. The effects of our reliance on air conditioners can lead to something called the urban heat island effect. This occurs when a city or other neighborhood that has a lot of tall buildings and concrete becomes much warmer than the more rural areas that surround it. All the air conditioners running in those huge buildings on full blast is part of the reason urban areas are so...

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Will Closing My Upstairs Vents Really Reduce My Energy Bills?

If you’re like most homeowners, you’re always looking for ways to save money on your energy bills. One of the biggest misconceptions out there is that shutting vents in your unused rooms will save you money. If you’re thinking of trying this method to save money, we encourage you to think again. The Concept Behind Shutting Vents Let’s say that you likely have a room or two in your upstairs that doesn’t get utilized that often. You may think that shutting vents in those rooms will allow your HVAC system to work less since it doesn’t have to deliver any air to those rooms. But, in reality, shutting vents has the opposite effect on your energy bill. Understanding Your Ductwork When the ducts were originally installed in your home, it was designed with the objective of delivering treated air to all the rooms throughout your home. When you shut even just one vent, it will cause a pressure increase inside of your ductwork. This pressure increase happens because your HVAC system is designed to work at full capacity with all of your vents open. The more vents that you close, the higher the pressure is going to build. How Does...

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10 Ways a Smart Thermostat Can Save You Money

10 Ways a Smart Thermostat Can Save You Money Many homes today have a smart thermostat and an app that allows you to control the temperature remotely. There are numerous benefits to this type of device, including its ability to save money on your energy bills. With a smart thermostat and the app, you can start saving by simply making small changes in your daily routine. 1. They Learn Your Behavior Like a smartphone, a smart thermostat can be programmed to learn your behavior and adjust accordingly. Let’s say you start your day at 8 a.m. In that case, the device can predict that and adjust the temperature early to reach the desired temperature by 8 a.m. It will do this to match your comfort, instead of staying on the entire time. 2. They Offer Money-Saving Features The app will allow you to schedule your program to what is convenient for you and sync it with the smart thermostat. You can do the same for away mode, which enables you to pre-set a period that you will be out. The device can automatically determine how long it needs to keep the temperature at your set rate to conserve energy. For...

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Why Working With a Licensed HVAC Contractor Matters

Your heating and cooling systems can be expensive to maintain. When you need help with your HVAC system, it can be tempting to look for an option that is less expensive than a professional company. However, online videos or a friend who knows something about furnaces are no match for a trained expert. Working with a licensed HVAC contractor is essential for the best care of your equipment. Specialized Knowledge and Training It takes years of training to become an HVAC expert, but the education doesn’t stop there. HVAC technicians must stay current with the latest innovations in technology. This additional training means that these professionals are best suited to diagnose and repair problems at your home. At , we take pride in the fact that our NATE-certified technicians have the knowledge and skill to provide care for any make or model of HVAC equipment. Experience Professional HVAC technicians do not just study for years. By the time they are working on your furnace or air conditioner, they have had many hours of practical experience. Heating and cooling systems are their primary focus. This background lets them diagnose problems and perform repairs faster than an amateur. For installations, they will...

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Air Purifiers vs. Dehumidifiers: Which One Is Right for Your Home?

Air purifiers and dehumidifiers are a great investment to make for your home. You can indeed breathe happily in every room when these devices are in working order. No worries about allergies for you or what other pollutants might be lurking in the air around you all the time. If you have a family member living with asthma, it’s essential to make sure the air you’re breathing is clean and healthy throughout the day. Your lungs will thank you later on down the road for taking the time now to check into your options before deciding on whether to install air purifiers or dehumidifiers. What Is an Air Purifier and How Does It Work? Air purifiers are electro-mechanical devices that remove contaminants from the air in a room or building. They are also known as air cleaners, air filters, and air pollution control devices. Air purifiers are used for: Trapping pollutants such as dust, mold spores, and pet dander Removing smoke and other airborne particles Removing odors, such as those from cigarettes and pets Reducing the risk of allergies and asthma symptoms The most common type of air purifier is the electrostatic precipitator, which uses an electric charge to attract...

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Heater New Year’s Resolution Checklist

Each year, you may tell yourself that you’re going to make your heating system work more efficiently. However, how many years have you actually followed through with that resolution? If you’re like most homeowners, you haven’t. Make this year different by setting the manageable resolutions below. Join an Annual Maintenance Plan One of the most common issues that homeowners have in regards to their heating system is remembering to get it serviced by a professional each year. This is necessary to keep the internal components of your system clean and working optimally. And, most people don’t realize that their system’s warranty has a clause that requires the system to get annual maintenance by a professional. Do yourself a favor and join an annual maintenance plan so that your HVAC professional can remind you that it’s time for service. Check Your Filters More Often It can be easy to realize that you haven’t checked your air filter in months. While it may seem like a minimal task to change your air filter, it’s actually super critical to your heater’s ability to perform at its best. If your filter isn’t changed when it gets overly dirty, your heater is going to have...

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What is a Heat Exchanger and How Does is Work?

Most homeowners usually take the functions of furnaces and boilers for granted until something goes terribly wrong. When these appliances are in good working condition, it can be quite easy to forget the components that allow them to do this. Most people are unaware that the heat exchanger is basically the most important part of boilers and furnaces. So, what exactly is a heat exchanger and what does it do? Read on to find out! What Is a Heat Exchanger? A heat exchanger is basically a device that facilitates the transfer of heat between two or more fluids. This usually takes place without letting the two fluids mix together. It is important to note that heat exchangers can be found in all sorts of appliances and industries. For instance, you can find heat exchangers in power plants being used to recycle heat in the waste gases or being used to heat swimming pools. Additionally, heat exchangers can also function in the opposite way. Heat exchangers can also be used in air conditioners and refrigerators to draw heat from mediums and keep compartments cool. How Does a Heat Exchanger Work? When your boiler or furnace is ignited and starts burning natural...

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Making Sure Your Home Is Ready for Winter Weather

If you’ve spent any time at all in Puyallup, you know that the winters can be long and cold. To avoid discomfort during the upcoming cold months, it’s important to know how to prepare your home before the cold weather arrives. Fortunately, there are plenty of action steps that recommends to make sure that your home is warm and comfortable all winter long. Clean Your Gutters When precipitation falls during the winter, you want to be sure that your gutters are ready to divert that precipitation away from your home. That’s why cleaning your gutters is such an important part of winter preparation. If you don’t properly clean your gutters, you could end up with ice dams that cause serious damage to the structure of your home. Even if your gutters aren’t full of leaves, your downspouts may still be blocked by small pieces of debris. Take a few minutes, then, to make sure that everything will flow smoothly during winter rains and snow. Prepare Your HVAC System You’ll want your HVAC system to perform perfectly all winter long to prevent your house from becoming an icebox. That means taking time to give your system a once-over to make sure...

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