What is Balanced Ventilation?

Is Balanced Ventilation Right for Your Home? How good is the air quality inside your home? According to experts, the air inside a building that’s sealed from outside crosscurrents can be up to 10 times as polluted as the air outside. Air pollutants you may find inside a building include: Excessive moisture Dust particles Carbon monoxide Mold and mildew spores Viruses and bacteria Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) Radon Balanced ventilation is a method of improving the air quality inside your home. It works by channeling fresh outdoor air into your home at the same time that polluted indoor air is being expelled. How Do Balanced Ventilation Systems Operate? Balanced ventilation systems rely upon a combination of fans, filters, dampers, ducts and controls. They may also use a heat recovery ventilator in drier, cooler climates or an energy recovery ventilator in moister warmer climates. Balanced ventilation systems are specifically designed to provide a stream of fresh air to common rooms and bedrooms where household residents spend most of their time. They dispel air from kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms where pollutants are most likely to collect. The system is managed through the use of a single supply point and a single...

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New Home AC System: Your Checklist

What You Need to Know Before Buying a New AC System Buying a new AC system can be a stressful experience. After all, it’s an expensive piece of equipment that controls the comfort of your home. This checklist will give you the knowledge you need to choose the AC system that’s right for your home. Size It may seem logical to purchase a new unit that is the same size as your old system. However, there are many reasons why that size may no longer work for your home. Have you added any rooms or replaced any windows? Has your insulation deteriorated from age? It is crucial to have a licensed HVAC technician to do a load calculation to get the right-size unit. This will tell you what size unit you need to cool your home correctly. SEER Values SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and it is how an air conditioner’s efficiency is evaluated. The higher the SEER value, the higher the efficiency of the system when it is tested in a lab. Values start at the federally mandated 13 SEER and go up to 21. Which one you need in your home will depend on several factors...

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3 Warning Signs of Water Heater Replacement

We all know that awful feeling of running out of hot water while in the shower. Could it be that your water heater has finally called it quits? Most traditional water heaters last only about 12 to 15 years. Here are three signs that it’s probably time for a water heater replacement. 1. Water Is Lukewarm or Not Hot If it seems like you can’t get the water hot while taking a shower or doing dishes, start by checking a few basic things. The solution could be as simple as turning the heat up on your water heater. However, it could be that you need a new system. Over time, minerals from the water will build up and prevent the heater’s burner from properly heating the water. Eventually, the unit’s heating element will fail. 2. Changes in Water Quality Have you noticed that your hot water looks cloudy or smells metallic or like rotten eggs? It could be a buildup of mineral deposits inside your water heater tank or rusting inside your tank. A decline in hot water quality could be a sign that it’s time to replace your water heater. 3. A Leaky Tank If you see puddles around...

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Do You Need Aeroseal Duct Sealing?

Have you heard people claiming that aeroseal duct sealing drastically cuts energy bills and improves efficiency? This might sound too good to be true, but the reality is that this new technique can be quite helpful in some situations. Here are some things you should know before you decide whether or not you need aeroseal duct sealing. What Is Aeroseal Duct Sealing? To figure out whether or not you need this process, it is important to understand it. Aeroseal is a type of duct sealing created by the United States Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. It involves placing a special sealing machine and sealant particles in a duct system to keep your hot or cold air from leaking out before it can get into your home. Does Aeroseal Duct Sealing Really Work? HVAC experts estimate that the average house loses roughly 30 percent of its temperature-controlled air through duct leaks. However, if you get to help you seal the ducts in your Puyallup home, you may get up over a 90 percent reduction in air leaks. This all combines to create a more evenly cooled and heated home, lower utility bills, better air quality, and an HVAC unit...

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Fixing Uneven Cooling in Your Home

If you have a home with multiple stories, you may notice uneven cooling issues in the summer. Consider the steps below that you can take to address uneven cooling in your home. Unblock Your Vents One of the easiest solutions to get more cool air into rooms is to make sure all the vents are clear. Clutter and objects can block the vents and restrict airflow. If the top floor is considerably warmer, you may want to shut off some vents on the lower levels. This will help redirect the cool airflow upward. Also, check to make sure that the upper vents are switched open. Turn the Fan On Try changing the fan settings on your system from “Automatic” to “On”. This ensures that the air in your home continues to circulate even when not being actively cooled. This may result in a slight increase in your electric bill because the automatic setting only turns the fan on when the air conditioning is active. Check Your Ducts for Leaks A professional can take a look at your ductwork to check for any cracks. Cracks in the ducts that allow air to leak out. This leaking cool air will not reach...

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5 Sounds That Spell Trouble for Your AC

Without regular maintenance or repairs, even a brand-new air conditioning unit can develop problems. Fortunately, most central AC units can let their owners know that something is wrong with the sounds they produce. Below are just five different noises that might spell trouble for your AC in Puyallup. 1. Rattling or Banging You might hear a loud rattling noise that comes from inside the AC unit, in which case there is likely a loose component. For example, there may be loose wiring or a loose motor. Out-of-balance parts will make more of a type of clanking noise. Another possible cause of rattling is the presence of debris in the air ducts. The rattling may change to a banging if the loose part is not repaired. A failing motor bearing might also explain any banging noises. 2. Grinding If the blower fan belt breaks, it can produce a grinding sound. The pistons in your AC’s compressor may also grind against each other. AC compressor replacements are expensive and may necessitate that you get a new AC. At , we can install new systems anywhere in Puyallup. We’re a Carrier Authorized Dealer. 3. Hissing Prolonged hissing or screaming may be the result...

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What to Look for in an HVAC Repair Company

It seems that there are a million HVAC repair companies out there. How can you possibly know which one to choose when you have a problem? Here are some tips on knowing what to look for in an HVAC repair company. Experience Running a successful HVAC company takes years and years of experience. You have to know how to train people to do a good job. You also have to learn how to properly schedule appointments and handle problems. in Puyallup, WA, has been established in the industry since 1946. We’ve helped more than 100,000 customers. Any problem you come across, we’ve seen it and know how to fix it effectively and efficiently. Emergency Services HVAC problems don’t always happen Monday through Friday between normal business hours. If you have a serious problem after hours, you need to call a company that can come out at any time. There are a number of reasons why you wouldn’t be able to wait until the next day, so pick a repair company with 24-hour emergency services. NATE-Certified Technicians Training is essential to getting your HVAC system working properly again the first time around. That’s why companies that want to provide the best...

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Controlling Static Electricity in a Home

During dry and cold weather, static electricity increases inside of a home. Did you know that you can control how much static electricity your home contains? Here are three ways to reduce static electricity in a home: Whole-home humidifier Houseplants Anti-static spray How About a Humidifier? Whole-home humidifiers reduce static electricity by evenly pushing moisture through a home at a constant and consistent level. These devices are often an important part of keeping a dry interior comfortable. A whole-home humidifier installs directly into the overall HVAC system and uses the ductwork to push moisture. A thermostat measures the levels of humidity and keeps it under control. The following are benefits of a whole-home humidifier: Low initial cost – Whole-house humidifiers are not as expensive as people think. To navigate the purchase, do a little research and contact a few companies that can provide quotes. Portable humidifiers are generally not as effective. These units will not last as long as a whole-home humidifier. Energy efficient – Whole-home humidifiers cost nothing to operate but make for a comfortably cool home by putting moisture in the air. Preventing health issues – In addition to eliminating static, humidifiers can reduce allergy or sinus issues....

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Minimizing Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution

It’s important to reduce your exposure to pollutants that can build up in your home. Particles, bacteria, and vapors can all negatively affect your health, Unfortunately, they can be found in large quantities indoors, especially during the winter. Taking steps to keep the air in your home as clean as possible is vital to the overall health of everyone living in a building. Sources of Indoor Air Pollution Damaging particles and vapors can enter the home through a variety of sources. Personal care products can release vapors, pets can create dander, and mold can grow in moist areas. All of these can make asthma worse and cause a variety of respiratory illnesses. Other sources of indoor air pollution are radon seeping in through cracks in the foundation and building materials from recent construction. Even new furnishing and paint can release harmful volatile organic compounds. Improving Your Indoor Air Quality There are many ways that you can keep the air in your home clean and safe. The best thing to do is to bring in as much fresh air as possible. This can be done by opening windows and doors and encouraging air circulation. Even in the winter, opening a window...

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Ways to Keep Every Room in Your Home Cool

Homes can suffer from uneven coolness for a wide variety of reasons. You might find that one room in your home is freezing cold while another is too hot to spend time in during the summer. This type of uneven cooling can cause your energy bills to go up and your home to be an uncomfortable place. There are several things that you can do to improve the evenness of the temperature in your home. Solving Uneven Cooling Issues One of the most common causes of uneven cooling is blocked vents. If a vent is being obstructed by a piece of furniture, it can prevent cool air from entering the room. Closed vents can also block air, so make sure that all of your vents are completely open. Issues with your ductwork system can also lead to uneven cooling. Dirt and debris on your AC filters might prevent air from passing through and cooling down specific rooms in your home. Swapping out dirty filters for clean ones can increase the overall energy efficiency of your entire HVAC system by improving air circulation. Holes in ducts are another culprit. Even small holes may cause cool air to exit the system in...

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