Year: 2019

3 Reasons Why You Need Proper Ventilation in Your Home

You walk into a room and are immediately assaulted with the musty, stale odor of stagnant air. In cases like this, it is easy to see—or, rather, smell—how improper ventilation can create an air quality issue. The problem of inadequate ventilation has increased in recent years. In pursuit of energy efficiency, many modern homes are designed to be airtight, trapping pollutants and allergens. As a result, these homes are chocked off from much-needed fresh outside air. Here are three reasons to ensure proper ventilation in your home. Volatile Organic Compounds These dangerous chemicals are emitted from thousands of everyday building materials, cleaners, and furniture into your home. They can lead to serious health concerns marked by respiratory issues, headaches, and neurological symptoms. Since it is nearly impossible to avoid VOCs in your home, the best way to prevent the buildup of the gasses is to provide proper ventilation. Moisture and Mold Without proper ventilation, a house can quickly suffer from too much moisture in the air. This is especially true in hot, humid climates where moisture is prevalent. The Department of Energy ranks air movement as the most efficient method of conducting moisture. Odors and Allergens Odors and allergens such as dust

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Here’s How to Keep Your HVAC System From Overheating

The last thing that you want to happen on one of those hot, summer days — and this being Los Angeles, those days can extend well into November — is to lose the air conditioning in your home. But it happens a lot more than you might think. And it can make for a really miserable day. HVAC systems overheat for a few reasons. But they’re not supposed to, and they won’t if you take a few simple precautions. There are a few simple things that you can do on your own. And there are some things that you’ll want to trust a professional with. A little diligence on your part, some routine maintenance, and having it inspected by a reputable service company on a yearly basis is the best way to keep your air conditioner from overheating. Maintain Airflow Your air conditioner needs a certain amount of airflow to operate effectively. There should be at least two to three feet of space around the condensing unit outside to allow air to circulate. Restricted airflow is a common reason for overheating. You’d want to check around the outside of the unit, making sure that there isn’t anything blocking airflow. Early in the spring,

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Should I Get My Home’s Air Ducts Cleaned?

In recent years, many companies have begun to offer air duct cleaning as a part of the overall cleaning program. This increased interest in duct cleaning brings up a simple question: is it beneficial to get a home’s air ducts cleaned? The short answer is yes. Coastal areas like the San Fernando Valley have plenty of wind stirring up dust, dirt, and other debris. This paired with the fact that our hot weather puts a higher demand on HVAC systems makes clean, efficient operation very important. Here are several reasons why our clients have found it helpful to get their air ducts cleaned, and why you will too. System efficiency: Dust in the air ducts will impede air flow and congest the air-handling unit, leading to excessive energy use and unnecessary wear on system components. Cleaning the ducts will reduce the resistance encountered by the system’s fan. Occupant health: Dust is a notorious source of allergy problems. The dust itself and the mold that can grow in it can be very irritating to building occupants. Duct cleaning makes the home healthier. Home cleanliness: If you’ve ever thought that your home was getting dusty unusually quickly after you cleaned, you probably have dust buildup

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The Importance of Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your HVAC is an important part of your home. Keeping your house warm in the winter and cool in the summer is a vital part of keeping your family happy and healthy—and a happy and healthy family means less stress for you. Like any vital appliance in your home, your HVAC system requires regular maintenance in order for it to continue running at full capacity. If you see or hear signs of heater damage such as strange noises, foul odors, or your HVAC not heating and/or cooling properly, you probably need a repair or replacement for your unit. However, regularly scheduled, preventative maintenance can prolong your HVAC’s life and keep you from having to worry about the repair or replace argument for a while. Lower Your Bills When your heater or air conditioner has to work harder to heat or cool your home, you’re spending extra money to power the unit for longer periods of time. Dust and dirt can build up inside your system and can prevent air flow from efficiently and effectively reaching all the areas of your home. When your heater and air conditioner has been properly maintained and cleaned regularly, the unit has less work to

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What is a Hepa Filter?

HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. HEPA filters are advanced filters that create cleaner air than traditional air filters. These air filters are tested and approved by The Institute of Environmental Sciences and must trap 99.97% of particulates 0.3 microns or larger in order to be categorized as a HEPA filter. Benefits of a HEPA Filter HEPA filters draw air through them to trap pollutants such as dust, dirt, pet dander, and other harmful particles and pollutants. By installing a HEPA air filter in your home’s heating and cooling system, you’ll trap all the harmful particles that could trigger or worsen asthma or allergy symptoms. Improve Your Indoor Air Quality Switching to HEPA filters in your home is one way to improve your indoor air quality, but it’s not the only way. Change your air filters How often you use your heating and cooling system will determine how often you should change it out, but as a general rule of thumb, you want to change your filter every 30-90 days so that air can filter through unhindered by the dirt, dust, and other particles the filter has picked up. Bring the outdoors inside Keeping plants in your home can

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What is Duct Sealing?

In your home, you want to ensure that everything is working correctly so you’re not wasting energy. Wasting energy can result in expensive utility bills and you may not understand what the problem can be. The ducts in your home are often overlooked; however, many of the problems that homeowners experience are a result of problems in the duct system. As a remedy, duct sealing can be very beneficial to keep everything working correctly. What Is Duct Sealing Used to Fix? Duct sealing can help when you have holes, leaks, or disconnected parts of your duct system. These problems can result in higher utility bills, discomfort in your own home or your rooms feeling stuffy. Duct sealing can help fix these issues by covering up the problems and creating a tight seal, allowing your air to flow freely. Our team uses a sealant that works perfectly on your ducts that will remove any chance of air leaking through holes or gaps in your system. This means your system works more efficiently, saving you money, and allowing you to stay as comfortable as possible in your own home. Why Duct Sealing Is So Important Air duct sealing does a lot more than

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Canoga Park heating and air

Three New Year’s Resolutions for Your Home

As another year comes to a close, millions of Los Angeles residents will reflect on the last twelve months and set the tone for the upcoming year. Setting resolutions for the new year is a practice that dates back to Babylonian times. And while we often look for ways to improve ourselves, let us offer an alternative approach. Consider setting a new year’s resolution for your home!  In this article, we propose a trio of ideas to put home improvement at the front of your mind for the coming year. Resolve to Maintain Your Equipment Owning a home in LA comes with responsibility. If you’re like most homeowners, there’s always another leak to fix, window to seal, or wall to patch. But when a home appliance breaks down, there’s no waiting. You have to fix it immediately to bring your home back to working order. And inevitably, these breakdowns happen at the worst time.  You can help to prevent breakdowns by prioritizing maintenance. Just like a regular oil change for your car, or a check-up at the dentist, maintenance for your home appliances is key to identifying and resolving any issues that could cause problems later on.  Here at MightyServ,

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What the NOx? Furnace Emission Regulations for Los Angeles

Over the years of human history, we’ve experienced a boom of innovation. And while so many inventions have made our lives better, there have been unintended consequences. As a result, governing organizations get involved. That’s why there is a new regulation for low NOx furnaces in the Los Angeles area. So, why should any Los Angeles homeowner be concerned with this rule? Keep reading to learn more.   Tell me: what is a NOx exactly?   Let’s go back to science class for a quick minute. From chemistry 101, you know that two elements can make up a compound. For example, H2O – or water! – is simply hydrogen and oxygen. Also, carbon dioxide is the two elements, carbon and oxygen. In the same way, NOx is simply nitrogen and oxygen. However, the term “NOx” typically includes any combination, like nitrogen oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Where does NOx come from? A furnace works similarly to a gas grill. On a gas-powered grill, the valve for gas opens when you turn the knob. At the same time, the grill creates a spark with the starter. The result of the gas and the spark is a flame. Your furnace is similar. When

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heater repair

Benefits of HVAC Financing

HVAC systems are significant purchases for LA homeowners. HVAC financing reduces the stress of purchasing new heating and cooling equipment. Even if you technically have the savings, financing your HVAC could prove useful.  Low or no-interest financing can make these larger purchases fit seamlessly within an existing budget, rather than disrupting it.  Unforeseen home maintenance is enough of a bother. Depending on the season, you and your family could be stuck sweating in the summer or shivering through the night in the winter. Being under pressure is never the best time to look at your budget and make an important purchase for your home. Air conditioner financing is a breath of fresh air. It allows homeowners to slow down and make an informed decision. Instead of rushing the process and settling for a subpar system,  make a lasting purchase that will support your whole family’s home comfort needs for many years. Don’t settle on your HVAC system selection Choosing an HVAC system that “gets the job done” always feels good initially. When it comes to HVAC equipment, it doesn’t take long for a snap fire decision to catch up with you in the form of performance, energy efficiency, noise levels

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Canoga Park - Freon Phaseout

Important AC Update: R22 Phaseout

If your A/C is more than eight years of age, it might use an older coolant fluid. R22 refrigerant, also known as Freon®, is being a part of a federally regulated R22 phaseout. That means any air conditioner repairs may get more expensive. All air conditioner units contain cooling fluid. Older systems contain R-22, while newer systems usually use R-410A. Sometimes R-22 is called R22 or the brand name, Freon®.   Many years ago, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined causes ozone layer depletion. So the government created a phaseout plan for R22. Starting in January 2020, refrigerant suppliers cannot produce or sell Freon®. The only R22 available will be recovered, recycled, or reclaimed supplies. While there is a good stockpile of R-22 refrigerant now, that may change as time goes on. Schedule an Inspection for Your R22 System Today [gravityform id=1 title=”false”] Check out our infographic to learn more about what you should do to prepare for the upcoming R22 phaseout!

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