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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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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The Fascinating Evolution of Staying Warm

Ever since human beings first discovered how to start fires, keeping warm has been a priority for survival and comfort. Looking back at how heating has evolved is a fascinating journey that reveals the innovations of human beings. We no longer rely solely on woodburning fireplaces and stoves but have an array of options to heat the homes in Pierce and King counties, including some that demonstrate a commitment to protecting the environment. Roman Hypocaust The first concept of central heating was developed by the Romans. Their hypocaust expanded upon the single woodburning fireplace to heat an entire room. Flues for the hypocaust were built into the walls and floors. As the exhaust from the fireplace moved to the chimneys through the flues, the heat warmed the entire room. While a brilliant advancement in home heating, hypocausts were eventually phased out because they could only be used in homes that were built of non-combustible products due to the risk of fires. New Fuel Sources Wood continued to be the only method for generating heat in homes until the 18th century when it was replaced with coal. In the 1940s, natural gas replaced coal, and in the energy crisis of the...

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HVAC and Airborne Viruses: Separating Fact from Fiction

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as the Environmental Protection Agency have brought attention to the fact that indoor HVAC systems can affect airborne viruses. This concern has come even further to the forefront as the country and the entire world navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. With that in mind, let’s look at some common misconceptions in addition to some truths that deserve more exposure. We want to help you separate the facts from the fiction. Fact: Ventilation Can Distribute Airborne Viruses A ventilation system can certainly distribute some airborne viruses throughout a home. However, this does not apply to all airborne viruses. Distribution occurs more with germs that can be transmitted through aerosols. In such cases, inadequate ventilation can exacerbate the situation because, just as with pollution particles, those aerosols will accumulate over time. On the other hand, strong ventilation or even natural ventilation, such as opening a window, can mitigate this buildup by introducing fresh air. Fiction: Strong Ventilation Alone Is Enough to Combat Airborne Viruses Strong ventilation helps to ensure that virus-laden aerosols do not accumulate and increase your risk of infection. Your greatest risk of exposure, however, is immediate contact. You should socially...

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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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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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3 Tips to Boost the Energy Efficiency of Your HVAC System

Homeowners in Puyallup and the Tacoma area depend on their heating and cooling systems for year-round comfort. Did you know your indoor temperature system requires your assistance to remain energy-efficient? When it comes to economical operation, stand-alone heaters and air conditioners have the same needs as packaged or central systems. Your HVAC system can maintain superior levels of efficiency and continue to save you money when you follow a few simple tips. 1. Keep Vents and Ducts Clean Nothing slows down the power of your comfort system faster than dirty vents and ducts. That’s because the dirt buildup can block the flow of air throughout your home. Annual cleaning can improve the flow of air and prevent the system from overworking to keep you comfortable. Inspecting your ductwork will help you locate any leaks or incorrectly sealed connection points. Catching a leak can save you money and put a stop to a decline in energy efficiency. 2. Clean or Replace the Filter Filters that aren’t kept clean can be a major cause of system malfunction. They can even reduce efficiency. Your unit must work harder to produce the right air temperature and flow when a filter isn’t routinely cleaned or...

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