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Energy saving hacks for summer

With summer comes a blast of fun new things to do, but also the scorching heat that watches your energy costs rise. While you’re taking refuge from the blazing sun or trying to cool down after all those fun outdoor activities, check out these 6 energy saving hacks for summer that’ll have you conserving like a pro. Super-Stock That Freezer When you open that door, you’re letting out hours of built-up cold in seconds, which makes the machine work harder to return the temperatures to normal. However, if you keep your freezer well-stocked, those items will hold the cold and make it work less. If you lack food or drinks, simple put water bottles or even newspaper in there. Get a Clothes Line – or Rack Dryers take an incredible amount of power, and even the best-made ones still pump heat into the room – making your AC work harder. To keep them from racking up your electricity bills in the summer, get a clothes line for your yard or (in the case of apartments) invest in a cheap clothing rack to let your items air dry. Plus, this energy saving hack leaves your clothes with a nice sunbathed smell!

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Questions to Ask for First-Time HVAC Purchases

Understand that buying an air conditioner for the first time is not a small purchase. A full HVAC system is an investment that could easily set you back thousands of dollars. With such high stakes, you definitely don’t want to make any mistakes. You don’t want to buy an AC unit and then have to call air conditioning repair services a few weeks later. That’s why doing due diligence is important. With a seemingly endless list of available options, where and how do you even start? At MightyServ, our years of experience allow us to answer all your questions about air conditioning, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. We’ve compiled a list of the best questions to ask your dealer before you invest in a brand new air conditioning system. What Questions Should I Ask? Believe it or not, this is a valid question to ask your air conditioning repair and service provider. Often, discussions about HVAC purchases start with sizes. The size of an air conditioning system is measured in tons. This tonnage refers to cooling capacity and not the physical weight of the unit itself. Here at MightyServ, we determine size requirements based on your home’s floor area. Once the size is

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4 Essential Tips for Emergency HVAC Repairs

Many homeowners don’t know enough about cooling systems. Tackling air conditioning challenges becomes more intimidating. You can always call an AC repair technician to identify and fix system issues. Below are some common cooling system issues and what you can do about them before your technicians arrive. AC Won’t Turn On Check the Thermostat Settings. Your thermostat should be set below the home’s temperature. On programmable models, make sure it is not set to the hold or vacation mode pausing your active settings. Check the Power. Check your unit’s power sources. The exterior unit must be exactly plugged in, and the switch near the condenser should be set to “on”. Ensure that the breakers to the condenser and air handler are not tripped. Check the Air Filter. Clogged air filters prevent the system from firing up. Replace dirty filters or give reusable filters a good cleaning. No Cool Air Check the Air Filter. A blocked filter prevents cold air to travel through the ducts into your home. Replace your clogged air filter or clean your reusable filter. Reinsert the filter in the appropriate direction. Check the Ducts. Duct leaks reduce the supply of cool air. Duct leaks waste up to 30 percent

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The Importance of Springtime HVAC Maintenance

Many homeowners take time in spring to give their homes a thorough “spring cleaning”. It is always meant to tackle every nook and cranny of your home. The components of your HVAC system need cleaning. Dirt can accumulate in its blower compartment, ducts, condenser unit, and other components, resulting in lower efficiency and poor indoor air quality. Dirt can even blow back into the living areas. MightyServ recommends scheduling these services today: Air Duct Cleaning Airborne dirt and dust remain behind in your home’s ductwork. They can blow back into your living spaces, requiring more frequent cleaning. They can also get into your HVAC, hindering performance or even damaging your system. Air Conditioner Maintenance Air conditioner maintenance is a must on any spring to-do list. Dirt removal from your system’s parts will prevent damage and performance issues. In addition, your unit will perform at peak levels, resulting in better all-around energy efficiency. It will last much longer, giving you a better return on investment. Air Conditioner Coil Cleaning Dirt and other airborne debris can get on your condenser coils. Dirty coils prevent the heat exchange process necessary to cool your home. Cleaning dirty coils will ease proper heat exchange and improve system performance.

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How Air Conditioning Units Work

The inner workings of any air conditioning unit are fairly straightforward. You’ll find many parts such as the heat exchange pipes, a refrigerant tank, and an air conditioner damper motor that look complex at first glance. However, a closer examination will show you that it’s not as complicated as one would think. Let’s understand how a basic air conditioning unit works and perhaps, in the future, we can communicate better with AC repair technicians once issues begin to arise. Parts of an AC Unit As with all thermodynamic systems, the basic parts are similar in many respects. The air conditioner damper motor acts as a valve that allows or restricts airflow based on the needs of the machine. The heat exchange and heat sink function to transfer heat from one area to another and the refrigerant acts as a “carrier agent” for heat. The motor itself powers the mechanism, which is basically an air intake and output pump. Induction Motors Most battery-driven devices rely on direct current, or DC, as a power supply, but for large appliances in a household, an alternating current, or AC, is commonly used. The differences between these two dictate the way that a motor works. In an AC

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Common HVAC Problems and How to Prevent Them

Under normal circumstances, your home’s air conditioning unit should perform without too much trouble. However, as with all machines, there’s always an occasional issue here and there that, while they are relatively simple for air conditioning service technicians to handle, can cause a lot of headaches when they occur. Luckily, these issues are even easier to prevent and so we compiled the most common HVAC problems that can be avoided with simple solutions. Obstructions in the Air Flow If your AC isn’t cooling your home as well as it used to, it’s time to call in air conditioning service experts. However, most of the time these problems can be prevented with regular cleaning. Obstructions occur when dust or other particles build up and clog the vents in your system. If you clean your filters regularly, this problem should not occur as often as it should. Leaks and Water Damage Air conditioning service professionals don’t recommend that you shut down your HVAC system frequently. Rapid on-off cycles consume too much energy and may even cause an increase in the humidity inside your home. When this occurs, you can expect condensation to happen, leading to leaks. You can easily avoid this issue by simply turning

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HVAC Science: The Physics of Geothermal Heat Pumps

The earth itself is a sustainable resource for heating and cooling that remains largely untapped by many people. Underneath the shallow ground, the earth maintains a constant temperature of 54 degrees, serving as an almost bottomless heat sink in the summer and a steady source of constant heat during the cold winter months. This is the idea behind geothermal heat pumps—an energy-efficient alternative to household heating and air conditioning that can make do without the usual fixtures of conventional systems, such as an HVAC manual damper, to save you money on your energy bill. Installation Heat pumps distribute temperatures throughout your home evenly, foregoing the need for an HVAC manual damper to control airflow in and around your ducts and vents. This characteristic is shared by the geothermal heat pump, which can be installed to run on existing ductwork. Your heating and cooling will come from the earth itself. Contractors will dig a hole approximately 10 feet deep in your backyard where the heat exchanger will be buried. This may require heavy earth moving equipment and special permits from local authorities. How It Works The heat exchange buried in your backyard is a series of pipes filled with water or antifreeze solution constantly

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Home Improvements: 3 Tips to Keep Cool Air in Your Home This Summer

Having a cool home is important for those who want to stave off the summer heat. There are plenty of things that you can do in order to ensure that your home remains cool even during the hottest of summers. While some of these are going to be quick solutions, others are going to require a little bit of planning. The technique that you choose to use is going to depend on how often the temperatures rise in your area. Sometimes it may not be worthwhile to invest in a full air conditioning system. You need to make sure that you are spending your money wisely, so you will definitely need to take your local climate into account. Shutters If you happen to live in a particularly warm part of the country, then shutters can make all the difference. These can be used to cover up the windows during the hotter part of the day. You will also be able to match them up with the exterior of the house. This will make the place look good and keep it cool at the same time. A lot of people enjoy shutters because they offer a number of other benefits as well.

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How to Calculate Your AC Energy Consumption

The 2012 Residential Energy Consumption Survey data from the Energy Information Administration has shown a 10% decline in household energy consumption dedicated to heating and air conditioning. This decrease is attributed partly to more efficient systems growing in popularity, and partly household practices like maintenance and AC repair. This consumption rate is expected to continue to decrease as more people are taking conscientious steps toward a more energy-efficient future. You can easily calculate just how much your home’s air conditioning unit is costing you in monthly utility bills by following the steps outlined below. SEER Rating Your air conditioning unit has a set SEER rating. You can ask your heating and AC repair technician for more information about the SEER rating, but in summary, it’s a measure of its efficiency in terms of energy consumed versus the cooling effect produced. The higher the rating, the more efficient it is in energy consumption. Older models will have a rating of 6 or lower. Heat Capacity Heat capacity is measured in British Thermal Units-hour or BTU-h. This is a measure of how much heat the unit can process. Higher capacity units tend to have higher rates of consumption but can cool much larger spaces. You can

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All You Need to Know About Gas Heating Systems

When you’re shopping for air conditioning or heating systems, consider natural gas furnaces. They offer many benefits that their traditional counterparts can’t match. In fact, they’re usually less expensive and more reliable than electricity. With the right efficiency ratings, they can cut your energy costs and may even qualify you for rebates. Air Conditioning Experts Show How Gas Heating Systems Work Unlike typical heating and air conditioning units, natural gas supply pipelines are installed underground to shield them from the elements and accidents that may result in electrical outages. This means you can still use the system to keep your home warm and cozy in case of a blackout. Here’s a closer look at how it works: Count on Us for Professional HVAC Repair and Replacement As the top HVAC repair and replacement expert, MightyServ only offers industry-leading natural gas furnaces from Carrier®. We can help you find the right solution for your needs so you can achieve a warm, cozy, and safe home during the cold months. Get in touch with us at (818) 348-4768 to get started.

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