Year: 2016

The truth about diy hvac hacks

DIY hacks are all the rage, especially for homeowners; however, when it comes to HVAC systems, you may want to forgo the challenge for a few important reasons. Not only is HVAC repair best left to technicians who have had extensive training to become qualified and/or certified, but they also have to keep up with current HVAC technology through mandatory ongoing training. If that’s not reason enough for you to avoid testing the HVAC repair waters yourself, read on. Reason #1: You Need the Right Tools. First, and this may be the most logical reason not to DIY HVAC repair: you need the right tools to do the job and those tools are expensive. Both HVAC diagnosis and repair require very specific types of tools and gauges that you most likely don’t just have lying around your home. And, if you were to go out and purchase tools for the job, it would end up costing you more money than simply hiring an experienced HVAC professional to do it for you. Reason #2: HVAC is Complicated. Even if you do have all the tools to accomplish a given HVAC repair task, HVAC systems are far more complicated than one might initially

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Get to know carrier: 5 products we love

As a leader in heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration solutions, Carrier continues to provide top-of-the-line HVAC products and systems that help optimize home comfort for homeowners across the globe. Since most individuals do not research the home comfort systems available on the market until they are ready to buy, we thought we would show you 5 of the Carrier products that our team loves right now. Below, we’ll give a brief overview of some of the best HVAC products on the market today. Product Spotlight: Carrier Carrier has a history of creating a variety of effective and efficient heating and air conditioning solutions. It was hard to narrow down our favorites, but here are some of the current best Carrier HVAC products that our team and customers love: Infinity® Series Air Purifier The Infinity Series Air Purifier helps clean your indoor air before it circulates through your home (up to 8 times per hour). This award-winning air purifier uses innovative technology to capture up to 95% of dust, pollen, animal dander, bacteria, smoke, and other pollutants, before using an electrical charge to kill these pathogens, leaving you with cleaner, healthier indoor air. Infinity® Series Air Conditioners The Infinity Series Air Conditioners by Carrier are

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The top hvac resources for new homeowners

It’s hard enough being a new homeowner and adapting to your new neighborhood (or state!) plus figuring out which light switch controls what. The plumbing, electrical, and structural issues are now YOUR problem, not your landlord’s or your dad’s… On top of all of that, you’re probably exhausted from moving all your junk, cleaning the place, painting, and dealing with 150,000 address change forms, right? We get it. It’s not in our wheelhouse to tell you how to organize your spoons and forks (third drawer from the left) or how to landscape that awkward patch of your backyard (pea gravel!) but we DO know HVAC. In addition to perusing our blog â€“ oh, and welcome by the way! – we thought we’d grab a few other resources to help you out! We’re not affiliated with any of these resource providers, but we did find the following articles, PDFs and other resources SUPER helpful and we hope you will, too! Let us know in the comments or on Twitter what you thought of this list & add yours! General HVAC Resources Air Quality Resources Energy Efficiency Resources Were any of these resources helpful for you as a new (or seasoned!) homeowner? Let us

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Which Type of Air Filter Do You Need?

Every air conditioning system uses some type of filter in the air handler. Air filtration keeps dust and allergens from recirculating in the air you breathe, helping you keep your family happy and healthy. The right air filter can reduce allergy symptoms while improving your home comfort. Below, we’ll discuss what types of air filters are available and what benefits each provides. Types of HVAC Filters and Air Filter Benefits Before you add a $3 air filter to your cart, consider these filters, which may improve your health and HVAC experience: Standalone Filters and Air Purifiers HEPA Filters High-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters have been around since World War II. These filters collect 99.97% of the airborne particulates that pass through them. HEPA technology does an exceptional job removing pollen, bacteria, pet dander, dust mite residue, and mold from airflow, but may not capture smoke or chemical-related fumes. HEPA filters are most commonly available as standalone units or in commercial HVAC systems. Ionic Filters An ionic filter won’t slide into your air handler the way other filters do, but they do improve air quality. Homeowners often use standalone ionic filters to reduce the number of allergens and irritants in the

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5 Reasons Canoga Park is the Best During Fall

There is no place we would rather be during the fall season than Canoga Park. The weather is beautiful and perfect for enjoying all of your favorite fall outdoor activities. Not to mention, the area has some of the best seasonal celebrations around! Whether you are just visiting, just moved here, or you are a Canoga Park veteran, check out our list of why Canoga park is the BEST during the fall season. Things to Do in Canoga Park in FallThough the fall season in Canoga Park may not be your typical fall with cool weather and falling leaves, there is no shortage of fun activities to enjoy in the area. Here are 5 reasons why Canoga Park is the best place to be during fall: 1.There are a variety of fun fall festivities for all ages. One of the best parts about fall in Canoga Park is the opportunity to take part in fun seasonal activities. If you’re looking for a spooky evening, there are no shortage of haunted houses in Canoga Park and the surrounding communities. You can also spend a day of family fun at the pumpkin patch. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to enjoy the

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Improve Home Efficiency With These HVAC New Year’s Resolutions

Each year, people all over the country make New Year’s resolutions to help them improve their life over the course of the next year. But what about your home? There are many things that MightyServ homeowners can do to save energy and in turn, cut heating and cooling costs this year. Why not create some HVAC New Year’s resolutions? Below, we’ll offer a few tips for saving more energy in 2017. Energy-Saving HVAC New Year’s Resolutions Let’s face it. Much like any other resolution you might make for the new year, saving energy takes some time and effort. However, cutting back on energy usage in the home can offer big payoffs in the long run by lowering your heating and cooling costs over time. Here are the top 3 HVAC New Year’s resolutions you should make this year to save more energy: Most homeowners know that they need to routinely check and clean or change their air filters. However, not every homeowner is as vigilante about this as they should be. Clogged or dirty filters reduce air flow and can cause your air conditioner or heater to work harder than it should to keep your home comfortable. This can have a drastic impact

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Do I Really Have to Think About Asbestos in 2016? Here’s What You Need to Consider

Researchers in the United States started recognizing the dangers of asbestos in the early 20thcentury. Still many major industries continued to use asbestos to create structures and goods throughout the 20th century, hitting its peak in the U.S. from 1940 to 1975. Though the Environmental Protection Agency banned products containing asbestos in 1989, most of this ban was lifted in 1991. The United States stopped producing asbestos in 2002, but it still imports approximately 3,000 tons per year. This may cause you to wonder, is asbestos still something to worry about in 2016? What You Need to Know About Asbestos Many people are not aware that asbestos is still being used in the United States as most commercial uses of asbestos are still allowed. Here’s what you need to know about asbestos and whether or not it still poses a threat to you and your family. What is Asbestos? Asbestos is a group of minerals that are made up of long, thin fibers, which cannot be seen by the naked eye. These minerals occur naturally in six different forms, mostly in underground rock. Asbestos is a highly durable material that is resistant to heat, fire, and chemical damage. The material works

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What is two-stage heating?

As you start to explore heating options for your home or office, you may need to think about the types of furnaces on the market. A two-stage heating furnace may work best in settings requiring improved efficiency and a subtler heating experience. This is what you need to know to decide if a two-stage furnace is right for your space. What Two-Stage Heating Actually Means Furnace stages refer to the amount of heat allowed to pass through the system. A valve controls the burner, and different settings change the position of the valve to influence the heat output. Most furnaces (single-stage furnaces) have one setting: you can turn them on or off. When using a single stage system on milder days, an owner may notice the system cutting on and off frequently to maintain the desired indoor temperature. Two-stage heating systems, on the other hand, have a setting in addition to the on/off position. In a two-stage system, thermostat settings can completely or partially open the valve to allow heat to pass through. At the fully open stage, the furnace operates on high. At the partially open stage, the furnace releases a reduced level of heat (at about 65% of

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The Dangers of Counterfeit R-22

Incidents of counterfeit R-22 are on the rise—with dangerous and costly results. MightyServ cares about our clients, and we want to ensure they have the best information available. Consider the following before buying or recharging an AC unit. Learning About R-22 R-22 is the refrigerant inside many air conditioning units; the refrigerant is composed of liquids and gases with cooling properties. The refrigerant has a negative impact on the ozone layer when emitted from cooling units. As a result, the government mandated that production must slow down and come to a halt by 2020. Recycled R-22 will remain legal after the cutoff. However, timeframe of the completed phase-out will depend on contractors turning in the refrigerant for recycling, making it difficult to determine how much will be available. Decreased availability of R-22 caused its price to soar. In 1998, a pound of R-22 cost about $10, but by 2013, the same amount cost approximately $50—and prices have continued to climb. Lower availability and higher costs led to a growing counterfeit industry, which presents serious risks. Understanding The Dangers Of Counterfeit R-22 Counterfeit R-22 usually contains combinations of hydrocarbons that make it flammable. Fake versions of the approved alternative R410 (M099

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Warnings on Portable Air Conditioners

As summer heats up in California, many people seek air conditioning solutions for their homes. Portable air conditioner units may seem appealing at first, but several factors make them less attractive than window units. At MightyServ, were committed to connecting clients with the best possible units for their spaces. Before investing in a portable AC, review the FAQs below and feel free to reach out with any questions. How Portable Are These AC Units? We’ve found that portable AC units aren’t as mobile as advertised. Frequently displayed without hoses and marketed as no-installation systems, these units seem like quick, easy cooling solutions. However, all AC units work by dispersing warm air outside the building, which presents some difficulties when it comes to portable devices. Window AC units employ coolants to move heat from inside the home into coils outside the house, where it’s expelled. A portable device works similarly, except the coils are indoors. A hose resembling a clothing dryer vent hose must connect to the coils. Warm air travels through these tubes and is released outside. In combination with its 50- to 80-pound weight, this large hose attachment makes portable AC units less mobile. Because the tube must connect

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