admin, Author at MightyServ

Should I Leave Interior Doors Open or Closed During Heating and Cooling?

The price of cooling (and heating) your home can get pretty costly, especially if you live in West Los Angeles. Even though we are lucky to enjoy some of the very best weather in the USA, there are times when temperatures fluctuate. When the weather warms up or cools down, it can get even more expensive to try and keep comfortable in your home. Therefore, many homeowners and renters alike wonder, is it better to leave my doors open or closed when running my HVAC system? The simple answer is, leave them open. You see, when an HVAC system is operating, it functions best as a whole unit, circulating air throughout your entire home. So, when you shut several doors in and around your home, you’re actually disrupting the nature of how your HVAC system operates. This not only ends up costing you more money in the long run, but it can cause additional problems as well. Why Leave Doors Open? Although it’s a common belief, shutting doors to rooms you are not using will not save you money on heating or cooling costs. It will only force your HVAC system to work overtime, causing potential long-term damage. It can also

July 26, 2017 No Comments

Winter Safety

Surprising as it may sound, residents of Southern California should be mindful of winter safety tips. Although snow and icy conditions are rare in our forecast (never say never!) homeowners should remain vigilant. As the premier service provider of heating services in the San Fernando Valley, our team here at MightyServ takes changes in the weather seriously. Considerations for California Residents in the Colder Months First, the health and safety of your family is the top priority. A cold home is not just uncomfortable – it can actually cause hypothermia. Also, don’t forget about the comfort of your pets! Some animals and reptiles require warmer temperatures to stay healthy. One other item to consider is electronics and other devices that must be stored in conditioned spaces to keep them working. Separately, indoor air quality becomes more of a concern in the winter months. Any heat source fueled by natural gas will generate some carbon monoxide; if it does not vent the odorless gas to the outdoor space, it can be dangerous for your family. And don’t forget: the winter months are prime time for the flu season. Winter Safety Precautions Here are some things you can do to protect your

January 4, 2021 No Comments

Routine Maintenance Heating System Check

Now that the cold season is just around the corner, it is important to have your heating system checked before winter. You wouldn’t want your HVAC breaking down in the middle of winter! Completing a thorough maintenance check avoids costly furnace repair bills. Plus, maintenance gives you peace of mind that your heater will keep on providing warmth and comfort to your home all winter long. The fact is that regular maintenance is important for many reasons – but mostly the prevention of headaches down the road! We always recommend hiring a professional, NATE-certified technician to perform a heating maintenance service. That’s because if you ever need to cash in on your warranty, you’ll need proof of maintenance from a licensed HVAC company. Still, if you’d prefer to tackle a routine heating system maintenance check on your own, we’ve pulled together some tips. Remember, turn off the power to your HVAC before doing any maintenance check, especially when looking at internal components. Get a Programmable Thermostat Get a smart thermostat for your heating system like the Google Nest. This thermostat will learn your behavior and automatically adjust your heating system to just the right temperature. It will always look for

October 22, 2020 No Comments

The Differences Between Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners

When installing a new HVAC system in your home, you will be faced with a decision of whether to select a heat pump or an air conditioner. While they are both designed to keep your home comfortable, they differ in terms of function; even their repair procedure is different. To help you make an informed decision, here is a rundown of their main differences. Key Distinctions Between Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners While a heat pump and an air conditioner share similar components, the way they perform is quite different. Here are some factors that distinguish the two: Use. A heat pump provides both heating and cooling. It expels warm air out of your home during summer and it brings outdoor heat inside during winter. An air conditioner, on the other hand, can only cool your home. Operation. Both systems follow the same principles to condition your home’s temperatures. They use refrigerants to facilitate a process of heat exchange. A heat pump, however, uses a reversing valve built into a compressor to transfer outdoor heat inside your home and increase its temperature. A traditional air conditioner, on the other hand, relies on electric-resistant heat strips within the air handler to produce warm air. It may

January 16, 2018 No Comments

Smart Ways to Retain Heat During Winter

During the colder months, most people tend to spend more time indoors and turn up their heating systems. Because of this, utility costs can soar and many people might be paying more than necessary. The good news is, it is never too late to make a few changes in your home so you can improve your comfort levels and save money. Here are some of our top recommendations. Air Conditioning and Heating Tips While you will need professional service every now and then to keep your heating and air conditioning units in the best condition, there are other ways to warm up your home. These simple and inexpensive solutions not only contribute to energy efficiency but also let you maximize heat in your living space. Take Advantage of Your Curtains. Even on cold days, the sun can still bring warmth. Leave your curtains open during the day to capture as much as of the free heat. Once the night settles in, shut your drapes. This provides an extra layer of insulation to prevent warm air from escaping your home. Your windows should not have leaks or gaps so the heat stays in and drafts stay out. Install a Programmable Thermostat. Instead of manually adjusting

January 23, 2018 No Comments

Why Spring is the Best Time for an HVAC Tune-up

Most people try to take great care of their vehicles. Between oil changes, repairs, simple maintenance, fluid checks, and part replacements, your vehicle gets a lot of love. Routine maintenance is an important part of making sure that your car works properly and it also helps you prevent more costly repair needs further on down the road. Now think about how often you use your air conditioner. Don’t you think this important home comfort system deserves some love too? Spring is the perfect time to schedule a seasonal maintenance visit for your HVAC system. Showing your air conditioner a little love before the biggest cooling season of the year is the best way to ensure that it treats you well this summer. 3 Reasons You Need a Spring AC Tune-Up It’s important to keep up with routine maintenance to keep your system running smoothly and efficiently so that it can help keep your family comfortable year-round. Here are just three reasons why spring is the perfect time to schedule an AC tune-up: 1. A tune-up can help increase your HVAC system’s efficiency. When was the last time your HVAC system was cleaned and inspected? Your air conditioner tends to get

September 28, 2018 No Comments

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!

September 28, 2018 No Comments

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

January 15, 2019 No Comments

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

August 6, 2019 No Comments

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

March 28, 2018 No Comments

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