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How to Tell if Your Air-Conditioning System Has Mold

Discovering mold in the home sends many homeowners into a panic. Uncontrolled mold can lead to serious respiratory illness, eye irritation, and skin reactions. Some individuals may develop asthma after prolonged exposure to mold. If your air-conditioning system contains mold, act as soon as possible to reduce the risk of negative health outcomes. What Causes Mold Buildup in Air Conditioners? Any space containing high moisture levels is at risk for mold. Most common molds require a wet environment to thrive, and air conditioners only run intermittently, allowing moisture and debris to accumulate in the air handler and ductwork. Whether you notice black mold, yourself, or a service technician discovers it, mold is an unwelcome health risk. Identifying Mold in Your HVAC System You may not notice mold in your AC system until it builds to recognizable levels. Any maintenance technician should alert you to possible signs of mold and give advice for removing it. In the absence of a technician’s discovery, look for these signs to identify the presence of mold: Something Smells Funky Mold has a distinctive musty smell. Most common molds will make the home smell old and unpleasant. You may notice the pungent nature of the smell

October 12, 2016 No Comments

Heat pumps vs. furnaces for heating

Has the time come to choose a new heating system for your home? Chances are, you will need to decide between a furnace and a heat pump. Almost all American homes use one of these two systems, and while both work well they also have many differences. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each system will help you to choose the very best heating equipment for your home. Fuel And Power Furnaces get their energy from either electricity or fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil or propane. Urban homes use electricity or natural gas (provided by utility companies), while homeowners outside the utility supply range may opt for tanks of oil or propane. Any kind of fuel-based furnace comes with a small risk of carbon monoxide exposure and of fuel ignition resulting in a fire or explosion. Heat pumps run on standard residential electrical power. Since they do not run on fuel, they produce no carbon monoxide (which is a byproduct of fuel combustion) and have no risk of ignition. How They Work Furnace systems use thermostats to detect the indoor temperature of a home and turn the furnace on the temperature falls below a set level. The system

December 24, 2015 No Comments

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

March 25, 2018 No Comments

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

March 21, 2018 No Comments

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.

February 27, 2018 No Comments

Main Causes of Heating and Air Conditioning Inefficiency

When you notice a sudden increase in your utility bills or your home is not as cozy as it should be, there could be a problem with your heating and air conditioning units. After all, they account for about half of your overall energy consumption. Several factors can cause them to become inefficient. Some of these are evident, while others require scrutiny. Heating and Air Conditioning: What Causes Poor Energy Efficiency? Faulty heating and air conditioning systems not only compromise your home’s comfort and energy efficiency but can also affect your health. That is why when you notice any of these problems, always seek the help of an expert. Improper Size. A unit that is too small for your home will work harder to regulate the proper indoor temperature. Conversely, a unit that’s too big will cycle on and off many times, which wastes energy. When investing in an HVAC system, have a professional to measure your home’s energy loss rate to identify the right size for your needs. Outdated Unit. According to the Department of Energy, the service life of an HVAC system is about 15 to 20 years when properly maintained. Most older units, however, operate efficiently for about 10 years. When

January 29, 2018 No Comments

Top Resources on Thermostats and Energy Savings

The thermostat is one home device that many homeowners take for granted or at least tend to forget from time to time. However, the thermostat plays a vital role in not only keeping your home environment comfortable but also helping you save energy throughout the year. If you’re curious about how you can better utilize your thermostat to maximize energy savings, take a look at the resources below. Top Resources on Thermostats and Energy Savings If you’re ready to learn more about thermostats and how they help you save energy, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are some helpful resources that will help you better understand how smart and programmable thermostats work and how they help you save more energy each month: Thermostats from Energy.Gov This article on thermostats from the U.S. Department of Energy is a great place to start if you want to learn more about thermostats and how they contribute to energy savings. The article covers general thermostat operation, limitations for certain types of heating, and more information about choosing a programmable thermostat. If you are considering buying a new thermostat, this is a must-read. What Can a Smart Thermostat Do that Mine Can’t Do? In this article

March 24, 2017 No Comments

What is IAQ (Indoor Air Quality)?

Indoor air quality in North American homes may not be as safe as we perceive it to be. According to research, about 96% of homes had one air quality issue at the minimum. This finding is supported by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), which estimates that indoor air in most homes can be 5 times dirtier than air outside. Majority of homes, for example, had high levels of common pollutants such as dust, pollen, harmful gases, chemicals and viruses. Are You Safe Indoors? As shown by figures that have resulted from surveys and research, many homes suffer from indoor air quality that is below par. Common pollutants such as dust, along with biological pollutants such as bacteria, molds, animal dander and dust mites often contribute to health issues that are serious enough to cause sickness and certain diseases, particularly among sensitive individuals such as children and the elderly. In homes where there is at least one smoker, the threat to health also increases. The American Lung Association states that tobacco smoke (frequently inhaled as secondhand smoke) contains 4,000 different chemicals, 200 of which are known poisons, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and carcinogens. Improving Indoor Air Quality Increasing the quality of

September 22, 2015 No Comments

Stimulus tax credit

On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the historic American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. As a result of this act, the federal government announced tax credits for consumers who purchase qualifying high-efficiency heating and cooling products for their homes. Until December 31, 2010, certain high-efficiency HVAC products qualify for a tax credit equal to 30% of their installed cost, up to a maximum credit of $1,500. Some restrictions apply. Your tax advisor can help you determine how these credits may help you. It’s the perfect opportunity to upgrade your home with an energy-efficient heating and cooling system by Carrier plus get a major tax break too! Carrier has more system combinations that qualify for federal tax credits than any other manufacturer. To find out what’s best for your home, give us a call today.

January 6, 2011 No Comments

Before you call for repair

First of all, don’t panic! Check a few basic things before calling for service, it may say you some money! Check these simple items: 1. If the system does not turn on, check your electrical circuit breaker. Be sure and check the condensing unit and the furnace breaker. Remember that many systems have two breakers. 2. Be sure your thermostat is turned on. If you have any questions about the operation of your thermostat, be sure and check the product section of our website for a manual on your thermostat. Or just give us a call, we may be able to help. 3. If your fan is running constantly, check to see if the fan switch is turned on. Many people mistake this for an actual problem. Give us a call if you have any further questions. (818) 348-4768