Chilly winter nights in the San Joaquin Valley can leave you shivering if you fail to prepare your home for the changing of seasons. Maintaining a comfortable temperature when you’re inside your home is a matter of efficiently utilizing your heating system throughout the season.
Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Fresno’
Maintaining a Comfortable Temperature This Winter in Your Home
Tuesday, December 9th, 2014Learn About VOCs and How They Hurt Your Indoor Air Quality
Thursday, December 4th, 2014
With cooler weather approaching, it’s important to think about the quality of your indoor air. Your indoor air can be many times more toxic than the air we breathe outside. This is partly because of chemicals that are emitted from materials such as paint or lacquer, solvent, home cleaning solutions, and even foam padding under our carpets. These are known as VOCs or “volatile organic compounds.” VOCs may be defined as gases or particles released by carbon-based materials in your home. A good ventilation system should work to remove these chemical irritants from your house, and it should also pull fresh air inside. This dilutes the concentration of these gases, making the indoor air healthier to breathe. VOCs can came from:
Furnace Types That You Can Consider — Single-Stage, 2- Stage or Variable Speed
Tuesday, December 2nd, 2014
When you’re considering replacing your existing heating system, it can be difficult to determine what you need. Aside from efficiency levels and heating capacity, furnaces come in different types with regard to how the gas valve and blower motor operates. Knowing your options and understanding the difference between furnace types will help you in making your decision. Before speaking to an HVAC specialist to determine the best fit for your home, you should understand the differences between single-stage, two-stage and variable-speed furnaces.
Do You Understand AFUE? Here’s Why You Should
Thursday, November 27th, 2014
Furnace efficiency is measured by AFUE, short for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. It’s a simple percentage that gives consumers a basis to compare energy efficiency among similar makes and models of furnaces at a glance. AFUE isn’t the only element that impacts your efficiency and operating costs. Other factors include the airtightness of your home, the amount of insulation, and how many hours a day you typically run the furnace.
An Oversized Furnace Causes 2 Major Problems
Tuesday, November 25th, 2014
To ensure comfort and optimal efficiency, your home’s furnace must be sized accurately just like the air conditioner. Instead of using a rule of thumb to estimate the size, an HVAC contractor should perform a load calculation and consider key factors such as the home’s square footage, orientation, insulation level, windows and ductwork system.
The Types of Insulation That Can Help You Keep Warm or Cool
Thursday, November 20th, 2014
Winter is approaching quickly, which means things are cooling off in the Jan Joaquin Valley. Many of us live here to enjoy the milder climate and to escape the harsh winters of the Midwest and Northeast, but many homeowners forget that proper sealing is still a necessity, even in a warmer region. Insulation is extremely important whether you’re using the furnace or the A/C, as both will run more efficiently in a properly-insulated home. Plus, the house will stay more comfortable in any season with added insulation.
How Do Your Know If Your Heat Exchanger is Cracked?
Tuesday, November 18th, 2014
A cracked heat exchanger in your furnace is a serious problem that needs to addressed quickly. No homeowner wants to check on their furnace and find that the heat exchanger is cracked, but you should be able to identify the symptoms of this serious and potentially deadly problem. Choosing the Right Furnace Filter
Thursday, November 13th, 2014
Are you choosing a good quality air filter for your heating and cooling system? Many people replace the filter regularly, but don’t take the time to choose one of good quality. The result is poor air quality in your home and possibly added strain to your HVAC components. Dust Mites Could Be One of the Allergy-Causing Culprits in Your Home
Tuesday, November 11th, 2014
One morning you wake up and your nose is runny, you’re sneezing and itchy, and you’re having breathing difficulties. At first you might think you’ve just picked up a virus or common allergy, but you could be suffering from a dust-mite allergy. Every home has dust mites, and they can cause a variety of health problems for people who are sensitive to them. Here are some facts about dust mites and how to reduce their presence in your home.
Time to Assess the Insulation in Your Attic
Thursday, November 6th, 2014
Air leaks and poor insulation in the attic will make it more difficult to keep your home cool during the summer and warm in the winter. While air leaks allow conditioned air to escape and hot or cold air to infiltrate your home in winter and summer, respectively, inadequate or missing insulation allows heat to transfer in and out. Both issues force your HVAC system to work harder to compensate. Before the cool fall weather arrives, assess the insulation in your attic to determine if it needs more.